Birth Story Shared by Sydney Deville Locke
Twenty months ago I gave birth to my first daughter via C-Section due to a failed induction after 37 hours. My charts indicated “failure to progress” and a “small pelvis” at 39 weeks. When induced, my cervix was not soft at all and I was dilated maybe a half centimeter. She had not descended into my pelvis at all. However, despite all the factors suggesting my first born was not ready, my previous OB looked me in the eyes at my 2 week postpartum appointment and said, “He knows in his heart of hearts that he doesn’t cause C-Sections” and “I would never be able to deliver vaginally some people that just can’t.”
Fast forward to the birth of my daughter today. We went into the doctor at 10 pm on Thursday because we were advised to come in if my water broke or I lost my mucus plug. I have Group B Strep, so I needed plenty of time to get antibiotics during labor. We were given the choice so to be on the safe side I decided to stay at the hospital and got induced via foley balloon. I had it in from Friday 2 am- 2pm, and got to about 3 centimeters. They had Pitocin going along with it. I got to 5 cm around 6 pm on Friday. I got my epidural and then had my water broken shortly after. I continued to labor with Pitocin through the night and remained at a 5 until early in the morning.
It got a little discouraged since I didn’t have much change in my cervix for a while and I began to doubt the whole process. I used the peanut ball to rotate back and forth in the bed, but felt a lot of pressure doing that and it felt like I needed to sit up. So, I told the nurse I was going to take a break from the peanut ball and sit up for a while. I turned the lights down, listened to music, moved my legs in the butterfly position. We also decided to stop the pitocin for a while because I had the highest dosage allowed for someone attempting a VBAC and was having contractions, but wasn’t making progress.
I am so thankful I listened to my body because I had a cervical check after about an hour or two of that, then was at 7-8cm and 80% effaced. I sat up the rest of the time. Once I got to that stage of labor everything went really quickly. It went from nothing happening for 12 hours to, "Oh you’re ready to push!" After 31 hours of labor it only took 9 pushes total and our newest addition Emma was here!! I am so glad I stayed the course and was patient, giving my body time to do what it was made to do. At 9:15 am my beautiful Emma Lucille was born via VBAC.
Birth Story Shared by Sydney Deville Locke
To prepare for your birth, consider using Affirmation Cards during labor or in your labor preparation and sign up for a free preview Birth Education course at Birth Made Mindful.
