Colin's Birth Story and my VBAC Success

I first of all want to thank all of my family and friends for being so sweet to us the past few days, we have felt so loved.

Our new baby boy is finally here! Here's the story of how he made it into this world....

I posted my 39 week update on Monday feeling like labor was 2 weeks away, and literally as soon as I hit "post" I started to feel different. We had the hospital tour on Tuesday and I started to get really excited for labor and delivery. So I began doing a ton of walking. I got really tired and went ahead and gave my mom the green light to come from AL. I cancelled a lunch with girlfriends on Wednesday (very out of character for me) due to fatigue...so they all suspected Colin would be here soon :)

When my mom arrived on Wednesday I took a 3 hour nap, then we ran errands and walked the neighborhood after supper. I still went to bed that night feeling like I would probably make it to my 40 week Dr. apt on Monday and began to get worried about induction pressure.

Thankfully, Colin decided to cut me a break and come early. On Thursday morning, August 18th, a contraction woke me up around 3:45AM. I knew exactly what it was and began to watch the clock, after about 3 contractions that were 10 minutes apart, I woke Cory and told him that "today could be the day". I told him to go to work that I would labor at home all day, my mom could watch Carson, but to keep a watch on his phone just in case. I of course could not go back to sleep after this.

I tried to watch some TV and surf the internet in order to "ignore early labor" but by 6:30AM, I began needing to breath through my contractions that were then 5 minutes apart. At that point I called Cory's parents and let them know, and my mom called my Dad since they all had to travel from AL. I got in the bath tub to see if the contractions would stop b/c I didn't want everyone making the drive from AL for false labor! But the bath only sped things up. Contractions were then 3-4 minutes apart and I even had some come every 30 seconds or so...but still manageable.

I called my Dr. and she suggested I head to the hospital. So I called Cory and told him to come home and at that point contractions were still about 3 minutes apart. So I continued to labor at home with a toddler who wanted only me that morning and not Nana.....very hard. I started to really feel the pain after that and began to get everything together for the hospital, I put on some make-up but could not do my hair.

Cory got home around 7:45 and by 8:15 we were on our way (in morning rush hour traffic) to the hospital. I was warned by my sister-in-law that the ride to the hospital would be very painful, and that was so true, I needed to move around and squat and bend over for contractions and being restricted made the pain worse. Contractions were 1-2 minutes apart and Cory made some more phone calls on the ride over, he was so excited. Thankfully we weren't caught in any traffic jams and arrived at the hospital at 9:30AM.

They checked me and I was at 3cm, they offered to give me pain meds and break my water, but I declined and said I wanted to walk the halls. But before I could do that they had to make me lay on the bed and monitor me and the baby for 30 minutes or so. This was excruciating, at no point in my labor was I able to lay down, I just couldn't manage the pain, and I insisted on sitting on the edge of the bed and leaned on Cory during contractions.

Contractions were coming constantly then, I felt a gush and my water had broken, I knew there was no way I could handle the pain all day, so I insisted on getting an epidural. In order to do that they had some forms for me to sign, they had to get 1 liter of IV fluids in me, and had to do some blood work before I could get it. They offered me some narcotics while I waited on the epidural, but I declined that for fear of adding vomiting to the chaos. It felt like forever waiting on the epidural and I began telling Cory I wanted to die, and that I couldn't do this; the L and D nurses were very helpful in reminding me how to breathe. Cory was so calm and tried to help, but there was nothing he could do except fan me with a pillow, let me squeeze his hand, yell at him, and dig my claws into his arm every contraction (I still feel terrible about this). He was able to apply some counter pressure to my back and legs that helped a few contractions. He tried to help me make it through w/ out getting the epi, but I just couldn't take another second of pain and at that point I wasn't really getting any break between contractions, I couldn't do anything with my body anymore to manage the pain, nothing helped.

I had to sit still during contractions to get the epi, which was unbearable, then they made me lay down for it to take effect. I kept asking why it wasn't working b/c with my c-section it took effect instantly...but for the c-section, I was given a spinal block and this was different. It took about 15 minutes to work, then they checked me and to my surprise the nurse said I was COMPLETE (10 cm). I was in complete shock, I had no idea that I had made it to the end, and shocked that they didn't check me before giving the epi, and that they didn't notice the signs of me being in transition. But they probably just went ahead and let me have it since I was being so demanding (I apologized to every nurse for being rude after it was all done, they all laughed at me and said it was no big deal).

They called my Dr. and she gave the green light for me to start pushing. I pushed for about 15 minutes with just Cory and one nurse and then my Dr. arrived and a few more pushes, I was able to feel Colin's head emerge and then after about 8 hours of labor he was here; Colin Alexander Phillips was born at 12:24pm weighing 7 lbs, 13 oz and measuring 20 inches long.

Cory told me all during the pregnancy that he didn't want to see what was going on down there, but when the action happened he was glued and when they asked if he wanted to cut the cord, I answered YES for him, I would have let Cory catch Colin if the rules would have permitted that! We didn't get any video footage...this all happened so fast. It was such a whirlwind and I can't believe my labor progressed so quickly. I attribute the speed of it all to the fact that my body went into labor on its own, my water broke on its own and I was able to wait until the end for the epi.

I am so happy that I educated myself and got the birth experience I wanted, and most importantly my sweet baby boy is here safe and sound. It is still surreal that I got my VBAC, I am so happy to be a part of the growing number of VBAC's out there, and it would not have been possible without the many birth bloggers out there that sparked my birth curiosity and education, my supportive hubby, great friends and family, supportive Dr., and an amazing hospital...when I got checked into my room, the nurses were going over my chart and they were so excited for my VBAC, North Fulton Regional Hospital was just wonderful, I can't say enough positive things about their staff.

We stayed at the hospital for 48 hours and then we were released. I am pretty sore "down there" and I was given an episioteme, which is no fun but much better than having a c-section! Breastfeeding is going ok, we have a few challenges but I am committed to trying as hard as I can this time. I lost about 10 pounds so far and have MANY more to go...

Carson is doing amazingly well, he loves Colin and wants to touch, hug, kiss, and play with him every time he sees him. So far he hasn't shown any jealousy, he is genuinely happy to have Colin around which makes me so happy.

Cory went back to work today, we miss him so much. I am so blessed to have such a sweet husband and such an amazing father to my boys...that feels so good to say "my boys". :)

And excuse me while I brag......I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!