Silas’s Birth: VBAC

Where do I even start…. this past week has been a complete world-wind! So to back up a little bit, I had to have a c-section with Roman(my first). He was breech and we even attempted to flip him, but during that process they noticed the cord was around his neck and at 38 weeks I had a c-section. He actually had the cord around his neck twice, so the c-section saved his life. If you have had a c-section you know the recovery is tough. I literally couldn’t stand up for a week. I felt like the first week of having a newborn was lost because I was in such pain from recovery from such a major surgery.

Fast forward to baby number two, August, I was determined to at least try to do a vaginal birth. Doctors have varying opinions on VBACs. Some say once you have had a c-section they will just automatically do another one, but a lot of studies show that the risks of a repeat c-section are actually higher than attempting a VBAC. And other doctors believe that VBACs are a great way to go. I also think you have to take a lot of things into consideration. Why was there a c-section to begin with? In my instance I never even went into labor, so I had no idea if my body could labor and have a baby. You can read that full birth story with August HERE. Through that process I became a BIG fan of supporting other women that want to VBAC. I mean night and day experience. My blog post with August’s birth is one of my most visited posts to date. I hope it gives other women that had to have a c-section hope. There is seriously nothing more empowering to me than being able to bring your child into the world. Whether you have had vaginal birth or a c-section though the end reward of healthy mom and baby is really all that matters!

So fast forward to being pregnant with baby number three, Silas. With August I went into labor on my own at 38 weeks 6 days. Of course they calculate due dates from the last cycle so Silas’s due date was 2-18-15. At the first trimester ultrasound they estimated his due date to be 2-22-15, and a lot of times that ultrasound is more accurate so I kept that in the back of my mind but again that doesn’t change your “due date”. I assumed being my third that I would go into labor around 38 weeks to maybe around 39 weeks since that is when I did with August. BOY WAS I WRONG! Days just kept passing by and nothing was happening. At around 39 weeks I got a lovely stomach bug and ended up in the hospital dehydrated and having contractions(from being dehydrated of course) and two bags of fluids later contractions stopped. I literally tried all the old wives tails and let me tell you nothing was going to work. My due date of 2-18 came and went. Since I have had a c-section, there is very little that can be done to induce labor because of increased risks, plus it is not advised to go past 41 weeks again because risks increase. Then my “ultrasound due date” 2-22 came and went. If I am being honest the last 10-12 days of being pregnant I was miserable… MISERABLE. I couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep, couldn’t breath, and was emotionally done. I was dropping weight like crazy at the end. I was waiting for labor that I was afraid was not going to start on its own, and then after all the waiting I would still end up with a c-section. I literally would cry one day saying I am done I am just going to schedule a c-section. Then the next day I would tell myself I can do this to just hang in there. I think labor is a natural process, I mean our bodies were built for it…. but try telling a very sick 40 week plus pregnant woman that. All sort of rational was out the door.

Around 2-20 I started having contractions. I would literally have 5 or so an hour that lasted 60-90 secs. They were uncomfortable but not unbearable. They would not get closer together or stronger though. They were like false hope that just kept drawing out. So when I went into the doctor on Monday the 23rd I was already 3cm dilated and contracting, but again not getting closer together so stuck in pre-labor . At this point I was 5 days past my due date and even a day past my “ultrasound due date”. I had a c-section scheduled for that Thursday because again, I would then be over 41 weeks. Since I was already in early labor we decided that if he didn’t come by Wednesday we would attempt to break my water to see if it brought the contractions closer together and with a c-section as a backup. Something that I did not want to do but, it was basically my last option to try after all this waiting before my c-section so I was willing to try anything. Countless worries were going through my mind… Is baby okay, is he too big, is he stuck which is why he wouldn’t come naturally… I mean at this point I was worrying about everything.

Tuesday’s night we had all our bags packed and ready to go. We were going to be heading to the hospital around 6am the next morning to somewhat attempt an “induction”. I had given up all hope and in my mind it was my only option but i was just ready to meet this baby. My mom came over to spend the night so that when we left early in the morning she could get the older boys off to school. On Tuesday I could not stay awake. I took a nap that morning and then took another nap that afternoon. It was like my body was getting ready for what was about to take place because I had no idea what was coming.

That night around 9pm I went to bed and noticed I was having more contractions than normal. But I think I had become numb to the pain and my tolerance level was a lot higher, and I really thought nothing of it. The contractions were waking me up and I really wasn’t able to sleep but again that was nothing abnormal from that last week. I remember Jeremy coming to bed and I got up to pee. When I stood up I felt different and remember feeling a pop. MY WATER HAD BROKE! Jeremy was not even asleep yet and very calmly I said, “Jeremy my water just broke.” He was like ummm what? I repeated myself again. He says are you kidding? … NO I AM NOT KIDDING! Luckily my mom was there, bags were packed, because as soon as my water broke those contractions started coming every 2 minutes!

Jeremy called the doctor from the house to let them know my water had broke and we were on our way in. Once we got into the car the contractions were very uncomfortable and coming every two minutes. I was having to breath through them. Jeremy went into panic mode and while I was having contractions I had to calm him down. He had his flashers on, was running red lights, and he was wanting to call the doctor so they would meet him at the hospital door…. We got to hospital around 12. Checked in, got hooked up to monitors, and then they had to confirm water had broke… which of course it had. Contractions were not letting up. They asked me if I wanted pain management. Because I was a VBAC they recommend having an epidural so that if anything goes wrong I can easily be taken for a c-section. But I also didn’t want to get an epidural too early because I didn’t want to slow contractions….. because again I couldn’t have pitocin to speed contractions back up so I decided to see what I could handle.

*I set the camera and my mom got all these delivery pictures.* 🙂

When I first arrived at 12 I was a 4. Contractions were not easing up and were getting more and more uncomfortable. They had to take blood to do labs and also had to give me two bags of fluids before they do an epidural. WELL….. 1 am and 2 am went by and oh my goodness was I in pain. I was having to breath through contractions and around 2 something changed and I was no longer able to breath through contractions and I was having the desire to push. I can not even begin to describe the pain and how uncomfortable I was at this point. I went from I am okay I can do this…. to Jeremy go find my nurse and NOW. And that is the PG version. 🙂 Finally at 3:15 am I got an epidural and it was immediate relief. I had no idea how dilated at this point I was, I just know I was to a point of wanting to push. The nurse told me I should try to rest for a couple of hours. Jeremy laid down on the bench beside me to rest, but I just couldn’t rest from still being so uncomfortable and feeling a lot of pressure.

I told my nurse and as soon as the doctor got done delivering another baby she came in my room check me and guess what….. FULLY dilated. I was like what? She said lets try pushing once to see how it goes. Jeremy had dozed off and woke up to let’s try pushing once. At this point it was around 5 am.

On 2-25-15 at 5:27 a.m. we got to FINALLY meet our Silas. He was a healthy 9 pounds 12 ounces and shocked us all!!! Dr. Jacequline Walters did such an amazing job coaching me through delivering this baby. It was SOOOOOO different than more other vaginal birth. (you might recognize her name from the show Married to Medicine on Bravo.)

No makeup…. swollen from all the lovely fluids… exhausted but I will treasure this picture forever. Love, joy, happiness, relief… I got my VBAC and most importantly I got myself a healthy perfect baby boy!

Nothing better… nothing.

His little eyes were swollen and nose was bruised. I mean he waited to get 10 pounds before he decided to make and exit.

Look at those big hands! HE IS PERFECT!

We could not believe it!

14″ on head circumference and 20.25 inches long.

Look at his feet prints…. they would not even fit in between the purple lines!

Daddy holding Silas for the first time.

We were suppose to be down at the hospital at 6:00 am…. This is at 6:00 am when we got into our room. Yes I look horrible and am swollen but this is Silas’s first picture with a very tired Mommy and Daddy.

Snow was coming in that day, but the boys were able to come meet Silas before the weather. August was like awww baby and then was on to the next thing of seeing what he could get into. Roman was on cloud 9 and smiling from ear to ear. He has been so helpful and eager to help out with baby.

One day old…. It was perfect we were snowed in at the hospital, and we got to spend some alone time with just Silas and get some rest so of course I had to take some pictures of our new little addition.

I LOVE THIS PICTURE!!! It was like he was saying gosh I am so happy to be able to move and be out!

That dimple….

Those lips and nose….

This was two days old…

He is perfect!

Our other boys had DARK hair. This little dude has peach fuzz strawberry blonde hair!

My little man!

Daddy with his boy.

Right before we headed home.

Going home!

LOVE HIM!

Heading home to be with brothers! This little boy made us wait and wait, but he was SOOOOO worth the wait. He came when he was ready. I thank God everyday for three healthy perfect boys. I am one happy Momma and also thankful for my hubby that was right by my side through the entire process. I could not have done the last couple weeks or labor alone!

Welcome to the world Silas Grey Dickerson! We love you!
xoxo
Mommy