12/29/2023
I'm so excited to share with you a victorious VBA2C (vaginal birth after two cesareans) story! 💪 If you know of a mama who is hoping to achieve her own VBAC or VBA2C, please share this story with her. It can be accomplished with the right team and supportive providers!
I first met Brittany in November of 2021 when she was (very) overdue with her second baby, Damien. Brittany had hired one of my very best friends, Jessi Ann Photography + Films, to document her HBAC (home birth after cesarean). Brittany's first baby, Paisynn, had been delivered via a medically-required cesarean at 35 weeks due to a birth defect known as an omphalocele. When Brittany found out she was pregnant for a second time, she was certain that she wanted a VBAC. Because she was low risk, she opted to birth at home, with a midwife she adored and felt respected by.
When Brittany's due date had come and gone - at nearly 43 weeks pregnant - Jessi had to fly out of state for her brother's wedding. During Jessi's brief absence, I stepped in as back up photographer in the event Brittany would go into labor while Jessi was gone. Jessi was sure Brittany would have her baby while she was gone over those several days, but wouldn't you know it... Brittany was still very much pregnant when Jessi returned, with no sign of labor at all!
Damien's due date was October 18th, and on November 16th, he failed a routine biophysical profile due to low amniotic fluid levels. Unfortunately, this meant Brittany was no longer a candidate for home birth, and her transfer of care was only accepted as a cesarean because of the failed BPP. Because Brittany was 44 weeks pregnant with no sign of labor, coupled with the low level of amniotic fluid, the transferring provider felt it was too risky to attempt an induction.
Damien was born on November 17th during a repeat cesarean, and to this day, he is the wrinkliest and most overcooked baby I think I've ever seen in my life 😅 (When I tell this story, birth workers are often skeptical that Brittany was actually 44 weeks pregnant, but she tracked her cycles and knew exactly when she ovulated. Her dates were correct and lined up perfectly with her dating ultrasound!) When Damien was lifted from the womb, it was discovered that he was bound up very tightly by his umbilical cord. We believe this is the reason he couldn’t descend and why labor never actually began.
When Brittany found out she was pregnant for a third time, I was honored when she asked me to be her doula and birth photographer. After her home birth transfer, she felt more confident planning a hospital birth this time around, with the same providers who delivered Damien. Brittany remained low risk and healthy all throughout her pregnancy, with the exception of a few high blood pressure readings, where she was sent to L&D for observation but quickly sent home.
As Brittany approached her due date, she was wrestling with so many different emotions and feelings. She knew she wanted her VBA2C more than anything, but she was feeling defeated and constantly questioning if her body would even go into labor on its own. When a repeat cesarean was mentioned at one of her prenatal appointments, it was nearly more than she could stand. As she sat in her car sobbing, and after trying to encourage her the best way I knew how, I did the only other thing I could think to do - I reached out to one of my favorite midwives, Marianne, and asked if she could speak with Brittany personally. I am so thankful to Marianne for taking the time to connect with Brittany, where she calmed many of her fears and hesitations. Marianne reassured her that she was still an excellent candidate for a vaginal birth, and she would make sure no other provider in their practice mentioned a repeat cesarean again. (I love that woman.)
Once again, Brittany's due date (October 11th) came and went. I reminded her often that this was her first vaginal birth - she should expect to go past her due date. Her body was not broken! Her body and baby just needed more time. (Isn't that so often the case in birth?) I know that at any moment, Brittany could have thrown in the towel and called it quits, but I am so proud of her for persevering, even when she had doubts and didn't think she could do it anymore.
For days before Brittany birthed, she was kept awake every single night by contractions - so much so, that she began questioning her ability to birth without an epidural. She had never previously experienced contractions with her first two babies, so this was new territory for her. The contractions she was feeling were incredibly painful, but she wasn't sure what to make of them since they always fizzled out by morning. As her doula, it was also difficult for me to gauge whether she was experiencing prodromal labor, or if she was in the earliest stages of labor, which can sometimes take several days - especially for a first time vaginal birth! Regardless, I was confident her body and baby were doing important work - and reminded her of that often! Throughout that span of time, Brittany and I remained in close communication, and I tried my best to encourage her and give her reminders to rest and hydrate.
On the afternoon of the 21st, Brittany let me know that she had lost a good chunk of her mucous plug, which also had streaks of old blood in it, so I knew her body was progressing just as it should. By the morning of the 22nd, and after another sleepless night, Brittany's contractions had remained steady and consistent, this time not fizzling out as they normally would. Throughout the entirety of the day, we kept in touch, and around 8 PM, she let me know that she thought her water had broken. She sent me a photo of the pad she had been wearing, and when I saw how saturated it was, I knew this was it! With her contractions getting closer together, I encouraged her to call the on-call provider and ask them for next steps, since Brittany and her husband lived nearly two hours away.
Thanks to God's provision, Marianne was the midwife on call. I was so grateful to hear that she would be the one taking care of Brittany, her husband, and baby, after being such an advocate for Brittany previously. (God is so good like that!) She encouraged Brittany and her husband, Sam, to head into town. She told them to get a hotel room if contractions were still spaced apart, but she preferred them to be nearby once active labor kicked in.
As Brittany and Sam began packing up and getting their kids together to be dropped off with family, Brittany's contractions quickly escalated. She let me know they would be heading straight to the hospital and would be getting there around 11 PM. I told them I would be right behind them and would be there closer to midnight.
Upon arrival at the hospital, it was confirmed that Brittany's water had broken (though we had no doubts about that!), but the best news of all... she was 5 centimeters dilated and 80% thinned! 😭👏 I nearly cried when I heard those numbers, and I know it gave Brittany so much encouragement! She could hardly believe it herself! I excitedly told her, “GIRL! LOOK AT YOU! YOU ARE HALF WAY THERE!” So much hard work had been done on Brittany's part to get to this very moment, and I could not wait for her sweet gender surprise baby to be in her arms!
When I finally got to the hospital around midnight, Brittany was already settled into her room and quickly let me know that she had asked for an epidural. Her contractions were back to back and she was not getting any relief. Marianne also popped into the room and helped Brittany through a few contractions before the anesthesiologist came in to administer her epidural.
Once the epidural was placed, Brittany was still struggling to cope with the pain of her contractions. It usually takes a good 10-25 minutes for the medicine to fully take effect, and Brittany was nearly coming off of the bed because of the amount of pain she was in. Because of this, Brittany's nurse asked if it would be ok to do another cervical exam, and much to our surprise - Brittany was nearly completely dilated and her baby was right there! Once again, I nearly burst into tears... I had prayed for this moment for so many months for Brittany. Her baby was almost here! I told Brittany she probably didn’t need that epidural after all 😂😉 She was doing this all on her own and she was so strong!
Brittany's nurse called Marianne, and when Marianne walked back in the room, we all just looked at each other in amazement and laughed. She said, "What is going on?! What?! Look at you! What is even happening right now?!" Brittany was birthing her sweet baby like a THIRD time vaginal birth... not a FIRST! Despite the pain of Brittany's contractions, I can't even begin to describe the spirit of JOY and CELEBRATION that enveloped the room as Brittany worked to bring her baby into the outside world. It was truly one of the most magical and redemptive births I've ever had the unique privilege of being a part of!
At 1:55 AM on Monday, October 23rd - twelve days past her due date and not even three hours after arriving to the hospital - BRITTANY DID IT! SHE GOT HER VBA2C AND BROUGHT HER BABY EARTHSIDE! (With exactly zero help from that useless epidural...) 🙃
As I glance over the photos from Brittany's birth, the pure joy that I felt on that night still washes over me. What an honor to be present during such a sacred and holy moment. And to find out that Paisynn and Damien would be getting a new baby BROTHER! Colton Henry, you are so special and so loved, uniquely designed and put here on this earth with a distinct purpose by God!
Brittany, I continue to be amazed by you. So much was required of you to get to your sweet baby... fears, worries, and mental roadblocks... you conquered them all, my friend! You did it! YOU. DID. IT! I am so proud of you! Thank you for letting me share a little bit of your story, to empower and encourage other mamas who are walking a similar journey.
And to the mamas who are reading this right now, who are also praying and hoping for their own VBAC:
Please know, first and foremost, no matter your previous birthing history... you did not fail! Not one mother FAILS at birth. You did exactly what you needed to do to get your baby here safely. If you are local and want more information on VBAC friendly providers, please reach out to me. I am also happy to offer other suggestions and resources to increase the likelihood of achieving a VBAC. This mama delivered with Dr. Christopher Stroud's team, who has a very high VBAC and VBA2C success rate. I encourage you to reach out to them, if a hospital VBAC is what you desire! I also highly recommend visiting the The VBAC Link page.
This birth was so good for my soul and continues to remind me of why I got into this work to begin with 🤍
