Doula VBAC Experience

A reader submitted letter

Hey guys, I'm still riding high after a great VBAC yesterday and wanted to share and give God all the glory. I'm sorry it's so long but there are so many details that God put in place I couldn't leave any out.

I provided labor support yesterday for a good friend of mine and a woman who participated in our Lord of Birth Bible Study (Jennifer Vanderlaan's book). Let me first say that God's hand was evident every step of the way and it was such a privilege to witness this families faith and courage.

Here's a little background.

This was their third baby - first was a vaginal birth nearly 13 years ago, also a natural birth but mainly because they weren't able to place the epidural after three tries. For ten years they hoped for another child, but finally accepted that Gods plan must be for only one child. That is until they were quit surprised to discover she was pregnant, with her daughter now 10 years old. Coincidentally (actually probably not a coincidence at all), it was at the beginning of her pregnancy that I felt God calling me into becoming a certified CBE and the minute I was certified I offered a class to couples in our church - she and her husband were among four couples who were my first brave participants. Unfortunately though she never even finished the series b/c at 38 weeks her water broke and it was also discovered that her baby boy had turned breech. Scared and with her husband on the road she called and I came to the hospital and I was with her during the c-section. The way the nurses and Dr.s approached the whole event left me a little shell shocked - they were somewhat insensitive to say the least. Her husband was literally one hour from being there and they insisted they didn't have time to wait - even though baby was doing fine, it had only been 6 hours since her water broke, and she wasn't even contracting. Later it was revealed that the reality was that they had a full schedule of sections that day... It was my first opportunity to advocate for a friend or teach her how to advocate for herself and I blew it. Needless to say the whole event left her somewhat traumatized and was certainly not the way she and her husband were planning to welcome this long awaited son. The only redeeming event surrounding the whole birth was of course the precious son they now had and that during the c-section it was discovered that she apparently had a significant amount of endometriosis and scaring - which the Ob was able to clean up a bit (and of course might explain years of infertility).

Fast forward to baby number three who was again miraculously conceived while she was still nursing her now 12 month old. I'm sure it was quite a shocker to say the least to now be expecting baby number three - when for nearly 10 years they had settled for one! Immediately she knew she wanted to VBAC and to have this baby naturally. She courageously made the decision to switch to an Ob who was genuinely supportive of VBAC. It's funny to look back on all the events but once again I felt God calling me to a "first" - to offer a Pregnancy/Childbirth Bible Study to women in my church. It seemed that all at once we had several women expecting their 2nd or 3rd child and many of these women seemed ripe for the idea of natural birth. At first I thought God was calling me to offer a Christian newsletter of sorts to these women - but I just never felt satisfied with that "ministry" but also felt completely inept to lead a Bible Study not to mention I couldn't find any material I was satisfied with. But I kept being drawn to the birthingnaturally.net website and all of it's resources for Christians. Just as I was about to give up - Jennifer Vanderlaan announced (on this list, this summer) the release of her book on Amazon. As soon as I got it in I took it to my pastor and proposed the Bible Study idea - he liked it. I had 7 women participate in the study and K (my friend) was one of them.

K had some fears to work through before the big day - one concern she voiced to me was the possibility that maybe her body "doesn't make enough oxytocin" since with both her first and second babies her water broke but contractions didn't follow. That was particularly a concern of course b/c she was VBACing and would not accept pitocin. But she and I talked about all the other things Oxytocin production accomplishes and that without it she wouldn't have successfully breasted two children - she also knew that given enough time in both situations she probably would have eventually started contracting. I encouraged her to take a vitamin c supplement - which some midwives believe builds a strong amniotic membrane. I also told her about Red Raspberry Leaf Tea and how it might help and encouraged her talk to her Ob about it - he was cool with it. Mercifully, God showed us again of His perfect provision - he kept K's membranes strong and intact until 7 cms and definitely confirmed that she indeed has plenty of oxytocin!

And fear number two arose as she sailed through weeks 37 and 38 of this pregnancy (when the previous 6lb babies had been born) and that this baby might become too large. When we talked about this particular fear I encouraged her to remember that she was planning a natural birth where she could move and grove that baby down - big babies are a greater concern for women who are stuck in bed. I also told her something my midwife has said in that - sometimes those little babies have all sorts of room to get malpositioned -sometimes big babies have no where to go but down and out! And finally, I reassured her that if God gives her a big baby it's all the more glory for Him and what he can accomplish through His design in us!

The birth..

As the Lord would have it, K had a most gracious labor. She was now 40 weeks and 1 day, pregnant longer than any of us ever expected but still trusting in God's timing. Saturday morning she began having contraction from 12:30 to 4:30am. Her husband Called me at 2.30am wondering what they should do saying they were about 50 seconds long, 3 minutes apart, and she had had some discharge. I encouraged them to wait till they were closer to a minute long in length but secretly I panicked and became discouraged thinking I might miss her birth, knowing I had a class to teach that morning 45 minutes away. Immediately I prayed, asking God to help me and K understand why it might be His will that I miss her birth. At 4:30am I called back to check in and K was now sleeping - contractions were now gone... God is always on time isn't He!... Sunday morning, same story, different day - contracting for 4 hrs in the middle of the night. Again, they were strong, requiring lots of breathing and relaxation and lasting approx. 60 seconds in length, but these too petered out. Sunday after church I stopped by to check on her mood - she was somewhat discouraged. I kept encouraging her to trust in God's timing and lay it all before his feet. We also talked some about the different layers and muscle fibers of the uterus, that Kelly uses in her book Christ Centered Childbirth. I also explained that either she was having prodromal labor (and encouraged to find some birth stories on the net about it) or she was just getting (in my opinion) one of the most forgiving labors of all - dilating a little each and every day. We also went through the checklist of things that might cause prodromal labor and what she could do to remedy it. It was kind of cute however because her husband admitted that during the night he (having delivered a few calves before) even decided to do a vaginal exam and what he described sounded like 3-4 cms - which would be quit significant considering that she was only 1 cm earlier that week. I forgot to mention that she had been taking EPO daily since 37 weeks.

At 11:30am on Sunday night her husband calls and says they have started up again and are lasting a little over a minute and they are heading to the hospital. Once there she is found to be 5 cms and 80 percent effaced - WOO HOO! Her husband and I high five - I'm highly impressed with his vaginal exam skills, lol. We also see God at work yet again, as I had been praying and encouraged M and K to be praying for the Dr.s and Nurses that would care for her. We find that we have an incredible nurse who is so excited that K is already 5cms, VBACing, and all the while still smiling and laughing. Obviously, something she doesn't see very often. She also shares with us that she encouraged her sister to VBAC recently, her sister also used the same Ob, and she was her labor coach - definitely another bonus and certainly not coincidental. But her compassion didn't stop there. While K was laboring on the birth ball the external monitor wasn't picking up the baby very well - so this awesome nurse kneeled on the floor for almost 2 hours collectively, holding the monitor in place - all the while never freaking about a heart rate that at times appeared to be all over the place or completely absent.

It's also worth noting that K found an interesting coping technique all on her own. At about 6cms or so, with her outbreaths or exhalations she would blow like she was blowing a rhasberry or something. I thought it was particularly interesting because I had read that this is a technique Ina May Gaskin has observed among some of her clients and has now began recommending this "horse lips" blowing on occasion. She attributes the success of it to her "sphincter law" theory (if there are some of you who haven't heard about it she talks about it in her "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" book). It basically says that a relaxed mouth and throat promote a relaxed bottom, cervix, perineum etc. and the horse blowing seems to be instinctive to some women. It was also neat to see that as long as she was blowing she was able to stay calm and in control.

All I can say is that this birth was a beautiful, God graced birth. I rubbed her back while she leaned on her husband. Her mother and I also read scripture and the three she wanted to hear again and again were -

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
~Philippians 4:13

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
~Isaiah 40:31

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
~Isaiah 41:10

She also wanted to hear "The Voice of Truth" over and over again by Casting Crowns.

And I can't tell you how awesome it was to know these words were penetrating the ears and hearts of her caregivers as well. And thanks to Christine (I think that's who it was, if it wasn't Christine please correct me b/c I want to give due credit!) I remembered her birth story and her thanking God for the really strong contractions - so at various points I would pray aloud and thank God for each and every sensation, and for the reminder of how fearfully and wonderfully made K was.

And now alas, I am so incredibly blessed to announce that after 7 hours of active labor (15 all together) and rocking and swaying to Casting Crowns and Mercy Me, K gave birth to a 9lb. 8 oz baby girl, over an intact perineum at 4:56 am on Monday morning! For 20 minutes she growled like a fierce mother bear and pushed her baby girl into the world. She had an uncomplicated, totally natural vaginal birth. She was brave, beautiful, strong, and courageous and her precious husband held her up every step of the way.

God was invited in and boy was He ever at work!

Jennifer Dean, CCCE

Thank you Jennifer for sharing your experience with other readers. I'm sure it will encourage all who read it.

Related Topics: The Coach's Notebook explores more ways to prepare for childbirth with comfort measures and techniques you can use. Prepare your physical body for childbirth with exercise and nutrition. The Christian Childbirth Resource Directory lists websites, books and organizations all created to help you honor God through childbirth. Birthing Naturally Books publishes books to help you grow closer to God during this special time of life. Find other childbirth professionals near you in the Natural Childbirth Directory.

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