Amanda Nicole's Birth Story

With my first child, I was induced and had a grueling 36 hours of labor. I had only dilated to four when my son’s heart rate began to slow. I was rushed in for a C-section where they delivered my 10-pound, seven ounce baby boy.

With my second baby, my due date was September 24 and I was exactly two weeks overdue. I really didn't want to be induced because my first pregnancy resulted in a C-section and I was hoping for a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) with this baby. I was afraid an induction would mean another C-section.

So, I was fine with waiting it out in hopes the contractions would eventually start. I tried walking, having sex, doing everything they say to try. Finally, someone told me that nipple stimulation would cause oxytocin to be released, and that would start contractions so I began to use my breast pump.

On October 8, I had just finished using the breast pump and contractions finally began! They were eight minutes apart, and then very quickly they were four minutes apart. We got to the hospital at 6:40 p.m. and when they checked me, I was only dilated to one, which I had already been at for two weeks. I was devastated and couldn’t believe that after all those contractions I was still at one. I was very discouraged and thought I would have to have a C-section again. I kept thinking I should have just planned a C-section and was pretty emotional.

At 8:30 p.m., the doctor came in and checked me and I had dilated to six! That was such good news because I knew at that point that I could do it. At nine centimeters, I was so exhausted from the contractions and I felt there was no break between them so I got a dose of Stadol, which really got me through the next hour. I would literally fall asleep during the few seconds between the contractions. Stadol did make it a lot harder for me to breathe through the contractions because I felt so tired. But I did need that calm period before it was time to push.

At 10:15 p.m., I told my husband to get the nurse because something was wrong. She came in and I said, “Something feels really weird.” She said it was time to push. I about died! I was thinking, "What? It’s time to do what?” I guess since my first was a C-section, I really didn’t think I’d be able to have my second vaginally after such a traumatic first experience. I only pushed for an hour and then Amanda was out. It felt so good to push because it gave me something to focus on during the contractions. Since Amanda was late, she had passed meconium and there were some scary few seconds after her birth. They had to clear her lungs and make her breathe because she wasn’t breathing on her own. But she is fine and a healthy five-month-old now. It was an amazing experience! I am so glad I opted for a VBAC. I did tear, so there was some recovering, but it was so worth it!