A VBAC Story: Sailing Through the Blues of Childbirth
- Provinciated Mooma
- Sep 3, 2022
- 4 min read
A personal birth story and tribute to all who helped on this prayer-filled VBAC journey
Childbirth is not an easy journey and requires holistic preparation. While most stories about it revolve around how it's like emotionally, testimonies about its physical cruise seldom come along. To help shed light on how awe-inspiring the whole ride is, I'm more than happy to share my Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) story with you.
I had my second child through VBAC delivery. While I was admittedly nervous, I also manifested that it will be in striking contrast to my first cesarean delivery. The "once a c-section, always a c-section" belief has ultimately been disproved not only in my case but in many others who have yet to tell their birth story when also given the chance.
It was a total healing experience that inspired me to put it into words, hoping that other would-be mothers can also achieve their goals with peace of mind.
VBAC is considered a road less traveled which I think is mainly because the streetlights that could lead to it are scarce. While it is similar to the usual vaginal birth, it may just need heightened monitoring as it may pose a higher risk of uterine rupture wherein the scar from the previous C-section breaks open. To address my worries, I get myself informed.
If there's anything that I've absorbed and highly appreciated during my research is getting to know that encouraging communities of mothers exist. My heart swelled with gratitude when I joined a VBAC Facebook group for support and was able to find OB VBAC advocates who led me to my goal. I was under the care of Dr. Karen Torredes, who patiently guided me throughout my pregnancy, and Dr. Menefrida Reyes, who covered the delivery. Both are legends when it comes to natural, VBAC, and gentle births in the country.
I immersed myself again with classes from the pioneer childbirth educator in the Philippines, Rome Kanapi. I even got myself a VBAC doula, Ros Padua, who was with me remotely throughout my pregnancy and delivery. All have been incredibly helpful in guiding me through my preparations and managing my expectations. There are also tons of mom communities, like MOMspired Tribe, and it's only a matter of choosing which resonates with your values and goals the most.
With prayers and the support of said advocates and communities, I just knew that I'm not alone in my journey. My fears slowly dissolved as I became surer with my steps. I attended routine check-ups online and physically, did my laboratory tests and ultrasounds accordingly, followed a healthy diet, watched my sugar and blood pressure, and exercised.
While VBAC is something that I can recommend, it's still a personal decision that should be made after carefully weighing the risks and benefits. Compared to my first pregnancy, which lasted 18 hours of labor, I delivered just an hour after we arrived at the hospital when I had my second. It certainly varies from one case to another, but with the right preparation, I believe any would-be VBAC mother can experience the same pregnancy and childbirth as mine.
My dream is for more mothers to realize that VBAC is also a safe option.
Some of VBAC's benefits include a lower risk of hemorrhage and infection, having no abdominal surgery, and faster recovery, among others. Despite these advantages, I advise that you still look into whether it's appropriate for you as there are factors that must be considered, such as whether you have a low-transverse incision or you're carrying twins. You can surely sort out your concerns with your doctor and even with your informed support group.
I cannot be grateful enough for getting all the assistance and comfort I needed from Dr. Torredes, Dr. Reyes, Ms. Rome, Doula Ros, the VBAC Support Group, and the MOMspired Tribe Community, which paved the way for a positive childbirth experience. True enough, motherhood is empowering–for both bearing life and having incredible people ready to celebrate it with you.
It can still be difficult when you're in the process of choosing the procedure to take. The one thing I want you to remember is that the top priority is your and your baby's safety. Also, there shouldn't be a stigma around certain medical interventions when it comes to pregnancy and childbirth. Pay attention to what your body is telling you. You already have too much to think about, so I hope you can throw out the door birth-shaming anxiousness that might be looming around.
Needless to say, giving birth is excruciating. It was actually my most painful and frightening experience, but those days were, without a doubt, also the best of my life. And yet, it was just the start of the most humbling and challenging journey, which is motherhood.
Admittedly, like many other women, I chose to concentrate on the birth rather than the years of parenting that lay ahead. It was similar to worrying about the wedding rather than the marriage. It turned out that my favorite parts of being a mother were the days leading up to and following the birth. Mom guilt, juggling work and family obligations, and never feeling like I've contributed enough in any area would soon enough set in. But at first, it was just unadulterated love.
After having my VBAC experience, I committed to informing women about the aspects of childbirth that they don't always hear about.
I mostly owe my sufficient confidence in taking this journey to the women who shared their birth experiences. They gave me a sense of "if she can, I can" notion, and now here I am–paying it forward with a story that could be your story. You got this!
After all, you're a mother. What can possibly stand your way?
Birth Resources
Dr. Karen Torredes
SLMC- BGC
+63 949 945 4773 (Secretary)
Dr. Menefrida Reyes
SLMC- QC
+63 916 588 9659 (Secretary)
Rome Kanapi
romeinquiry@gmail.com
+63 917 541 5114 Click to read our article: "7 Reasons Why We Highly Recommend Rome Kanapi's Childbirth Preparation Class"
Doula Ros
doularos@gmail.com
IG: @doularos
VBAC Philippines Facebook Group
MOMspired Tribe Facebook Group
Note: This is NOT a sponsored post. We do not receive any commission or discounts for sharing this content nor for referrals to the above listed birth resources.
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