Lottie’s 42+1 VBAC Story

THE PLAN

My plan from early on in pregnancy was to have a VBAC. My previous had been a long back to back labour resulting in an unplanned caesarean and I wanted to birth my second the way my body knew how and to have a water birth. 

I also wanted to be in a MLU rather than labour ward and this was outside of NHS guidelines with a VBAC. 

I had a birth choices meeting with a wonderful consultant midwife which absolutely aligned with my thinking and made sure my notes acknowledged we knew the risks and were comfortable with the Spires unit at the JR, Oxford, a couple of floors above the labour ward if we needed it. 

Pregnancy went smoothly, and like last time I knew I’d benefit from some time off work before my due date to switch off and relax and prepare. Little did I know this would be 7 weeks! I attended Amy’s yoga classes and also went to a chiropractor regularly to prepare my body for birth.

Prior to my due date, I was convinced I’d be early. My husband, Iain, was away for work a lot, and then my parents were away over my due date, so we were always planning ‘what if XYZ’ in the run up, especially with a toddler to think about this time. 

THE WAIT

My due date came and went, and we realised we’d have a July baby not June. But I was relaxed enough approaching 41 weeks, knowing it’s incredibly normal and VBAC was still the plan. We had an obstetrician appointment at 41 weeks which was a really helpful discussion around the risks of going later in pregnancy, and I was pleased I had no pressure to book any sort of intervention. We booked for a scan the following week, and monitoring at the JR the morning after that. 

I then had 5 days of what was probably early labour, with mild contractions or cramping every other night and lots of Braxton Hicks in the daytime. Twice I thought it was starting and Amy was ready to come to us overnight, my mum even came up in the early hours to be with our toddler once, but nothing really kicked in properly. 

At this point I felt like I was never going to relax enough to go into labour. Mentally that week was a huge challenge. People were asking where the baby was, it was a heatwave again,  we were weighing up risk daily and discussing options. The hardest thing about a longer pregnancy was the lack of data (understandably) to inform a decision, and what the actual risk was of something going wrong. I wanted to trust my body and baby to give birth when it was right. 

Amy was so helpful and reassuring during this time, making it clear she’d be there to support whatever decision we made, providing stories of other later pregnancies and reassuring me it would happen.

At 42 weeks our scan and monitoring were all showing a healthy baby which was hugely reassuring. I had another obstetrician discussion and was urged to book a back up (caesarean) at some point in the next week which I definitely felt I would want as it got towards 43 weeks, but knew I’d feel gutted. 

THE BIRTH

We’d agreed to go back to the JR for monitoring the following day (45 min drive away so not ideal), and I boldly told Iain he could dash off to the Wimbledon semi-finals he had tickets for – if it tempted fate and I went into labour while he was 2 hours away, great!

I had a quiet day and then picked up Finlay from nursery and did bedtime with him. I realised I was having contractions which were becoming stronger than I’d had previously. I feebly asked Finlay if he could get himself to sleep (obviously not!!) so lay there cuddling him knowing it would be the last time I saw him as my only child.

Iain at this point was on his way back and due home at 9:30pm. Amy was also on her way and reckoned things might move quickly. In between contractions (already 2 mins apart) I gathered my things ready to go and my friend dashed round to be with Finlay.

When Amy and Iain both arrived we got in the car and hot-footed it to Oxford. My contractions were between 1-3 mins apart but in between I could talk quite normally. It was the exact right time to do that journey looking back.

Amy had called ahead and been told we should go into the MAU for assessment first, as they were waiting for a community midwife to come in. We got there about 10:15pm. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. Things were getting pretty intense for me and I was leaning on a birthing ball, eye mask on, tens on, breathing through each contraction.

After about an hour the midwife was in and the student midwife had got the pool ready – we were able to go up. 

Kathryn the midwife and Alice the student midwife were immediately kind and reassuring, told me my birth plan was perfect and Kathryn said “let’s go have your baby” – I was surrounded by confidence and support. 

I was given gas and air (hooray!) and got into the pool at about 11:30pm, and from that point on all I really know is I moved steadily and quickly from active labour into second stage by about half midnight, feeling the urge to push and going with my body. I moved into positions that felt right and was guided gently by Amy and the midwives but the most amazing thing was how calm and quiet everyone was, letting me do my thing. Iain held on to me for every contraction and gave me gas and air and water.

I remember Amy reminding me to push “down and out” which I did! The pushing was incredibly intense and hard work, but I went with my body as much as possible. I wasn’t sure how long it was going to take and at one point tried to see if I could feel her head but she wasn’t there yet which was frustrating, but I knew it couldn’t be long.

Eventually when I felt her head it was such a relief. It’s a strange thing knowing your baby’s head is out in the pool and you have to wait for the next contraction to push her body out. I caught her in my hands at 1:20am and pulled her up to my chest and it was done!

I stayed in the pool holding her for 15 minutes before Iain cut the cord. I decided to have the oxytocin injection at that point to help with the placenta coming out, as it was taking a while. I had a few 2nd degree tears which were sutured, and then was able to feed the baby before we were moved to a private room to try and rest before being discharged later that morning. 

Every single one of the Spires midwives and nurses were kind, caring and supportive and I had such a great experience there and from everyone I came across in the OUH trust throughout. 

Having Amy as our doula was the best choice we could have made. During labour she was an invaluable pair of hands, with calm suggestions, working in partnership with Iain and our midwives throughout. The last two weeks of pregnancy she was a voice of steadiness and reassurance that I would have really struggled without. Thank you for having your phone on loud every night for 4 weeks!