My mother, god rest her soul, was a nurse 44 year's, she used to tell me all the time..."you are your best advocate when hearing the doctors options, you can listen to the doctor but, the little voice in the back of your head should never be ignored!"
My 4th child was breech and we tried an external manipulation to get him to turn. He was turned, but almost immediately flipped breech again. So I had a c-section since he was such a stubborn redhead, and he was 2lbs more than my first 3 babies! We thought we were done having children, but #5 slipped in before I weened #4. So I was going to give birth again 18 mos after my only c-section. I begged for vbac delivery because I would be going home to 5 children under 8, and I didn't want to deal with a c-section recovery again. My dr was willing to give me a chance to vbac while holding an OR open for me. Thankfully, I had a sucessful vbac with no complications!
I'm a Bradley Method childbirth educator and CLC and listening to your first birth sends me into a rage! I'm so sorry you were coerced and fear-mongered into an unnecessary induction and CS. The whole reason I became an educator is so I can support families and so they'll never have to say "I wish I had known".
I’m a nurse, I’ve observed a few c-sections in the OR. I went through Bradley when I was pregnant with my first - the first story sent me into a rage too. I despise everything about these ignorant nurses and doctors who know nothing except hyper-medicalized births.
I had all 4 of my children doing the Bradley method. I'm 73 yrs old. We were in a small town in Northern CA and Susan McCutchen was our coach. She has written books on the Bradley method. She was a true pioneer.
3 C sections and 2 vaginal births. 5 labors and no inducing. No meds during labor. My 1st VBAC was 40 yrs ago. It’s always been so hard to find a Dr who encourages a VBAC.
You don’t know how encouraging this is to hear! I’ve had two C-sections and it was traumatic with the last one but I’m not done having babies. The doctor said I could maybe have one more C-section but nothing after that. “It’s not recommended” and that breaks my heart because I’ve been pushed to have a C-section with both. But I also want a houseful. It’s encouraging to hear this though!
C section mom! This was a therapeutic message, thank you. My c section left me feeling desecrated and afraid to have more children. I feel like I have a better perspective now and can take the Lord by the hand and let him lead me and my family forward. God bless!
My first c-section with my second baby left me feeling similar. I wanted a VBAC with my 3rd but he was breach and transverse so I wasn’t given the chance, and while years later I still wish I could have had a VBAC, I don’t ever dwell on the c-section trauma. Please don’t let the fear stop you from having more children. Trust in the Lord and ask Him to help you with future deliveries and the feelings that may come. He will help you.
My sister has had 4 healthy babies all from c section. And I’ve had 3 healthy babies, 2 were vaginal and 1 was a c section. What I’m saying is.. if you want to have more kids, It’s totally possible 🥰
1000% relate to your feeling and struggled to find the words and you just gave them to me, thanks to God I just had such a redemptive experience with a HBAC I had to lean in God heavily it was a really hard 24h labor and what makes me feel better is I know if I had baby in the hospital it would have most likely ended in a csection due to failure to progress or meconium in the waters or failure to descend too but Glory to God I had my midwifes full and undivided attention and that is what I attribute to my success from God ❤ it was such a healing experience
Here’s my story in case it can help: I felt utterly traumatized, desecrated and betrayed after my first c-section. It shouldn’t have happened. It was totally avoidable. I did everything to be able to VBAC with my 2nd. Including getting a new doctor who was willing to give me til 41 weeks to VBAC. I felt labor starting for 3 weeks but it never got going. Contraction monitor looked weird and “irritable.” Can’t induce with that set of facts, so I went in for a scheduled “gentle” C-section (which I HIGHLY recommend for anyone needing a c section). It was a weird feeling but I knew by that point it was necessary. When Doc got in there, she noticed significant scarring binding off a portion of my uterus, from first surgery. Meaning I would have ruptured if labor managed to start. That birth, even though it wasn’t what i wanted, was healing and not traumatizing. I healed MUCH faster than my first. And felt at peace with the outcome. I’m pregnant with #3 now. And even though I’m about as crunchy and natural and holistic as it gets, I’m totally fine with the idea of another c-section. My daughter wasn’t distressed having cooked so long, but she did have amniotic fluid burns on her feet and hands because SHE was trying to be born and sending all the hormone signals and shedding vernix for weeks before birth. I don’t want my new little one to get stuck like that. If that means a 39.5 week c-section, that’s ok. That said, I am praying my doc cleaned up the scar tissue enough and that the mesh she put in there worked to prevent more scars from forming worked so I can VBA2C. But as long as baby is healthy and safe, I know I will be okay with the outcome.
That broke my heart. With my third it took what seemed like forever for them to hand my baby over and I was so filled with anxiety about it. GIVE ME MY BABY!
Good job, Allie! My first pregnancy they wanted to do a C-section because the baby was turned. I had an angel nurse that asked the doctor if she could work with me she was able to turn the baby I was able to have a natural delivery. Thanks to her-the next day, we went to look for her with flowers and there was no such nurse. God is a good God.!
Nurses are the best. They notice us! They see distress on our faces that for some reason, doctors especially in hospitals overlook. So glad you had a wonderful nurse who definitely saw in your face and knew that she might be able to turn your baby! My brother was born breech, he was so beat up and my Mom wasn't allowed to have anyone in the room! She wanted my Dad to hold her hand. It still horrifies me that she went through that, no husband, no Mother.
I am GIDDY with joy for you Allie and admire your bravery!! I loved hearing this and watching you tell your story!!! Thank you for sharing! I’m also really passionate about birth and am currently 17 weeks pregnant…your story was so encouraging! Birth is miraculous. Praise God! Congrats Allie! 🥹🙏🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Allie Beth, I'm so grateful that you were able to have a successful VBAC... as a 3× Cesarean Mom, I know how hard it must have been but just how special it must feel, too... CONGRATS! GOD IS AWESOME, and deserves ALL PRAISE!!! Congrats on the wonderful addition of a precious, healthy baby to your family 💗
The VBAC. Sounds even more painful. But I've not been through either, so what do I know. As long as the baby is out and healthy, that's the most important thing.@@natashajones6379
I’m an adoptive parent and cannot bare children. I LOVE loving vicariously through others birth stories. I will cry happy tears with you, I love hearing these birth stories. Thank you for sharing and making my morning commute this morning enjoyable.
I too like to live vicariously through other women's birth stories. Maybe the Lord will still fill my womb after four years and being 40. He is in control of our stories and uses each one for his glory.
We have similar stories with our first two children. With my second child and the necessary csection for that one, God spoke to me. Although csections have been difficult whether physically or emotionally, God has brought me to a level of trust and surrender I am grateful for. I just had my 9th csection.....if someone is comforted by knowing that not all csections bring a limitation of children. He decides each of our paths. We just need to surrender to Him. Very happy for you that you did have a successful VBAC!
Thank you for sharing your story. I just had my second emergency c-section after a failed vbac attempt. I was heartbroken that this might limit my family size. But you are right, God has really used this birth to bring me to a place of surrender. My hope is in Christ, not in my body’s abilities or inabilities. Whatever number of children and whatever birth method he has for me are in his hands. I no longer need to worry about it. He has blessed me richly and if he sees fit to bless me again, I will happily accept.
3x cesarean mom... it brings me joy and happy tears to hear you were able to do it! My only chance was taken from me by the only hospital that would have supported me because of a possible window that was noted with #2... low and behold, said window was non existent being cut open for baby #3. Your feelings are so relatable and I thank you for sharing your story. I often grieve not experiencing having a natural birth.
Same here... but then, I remind myself my birthing experiences are no less valid for not having had natural deliveries... and I am so utterly and completely grateful for healthy children, however they made their entrances! Yes, I could lament... and did... but time has shown me that focusing on the positive of what I can't change brings peace and freedom. I pray that for you and all mothers that experienced the difficulties we did!
I’m so sorry. They also told me I had a window with my second. But then I learned that that’s really a subjective term and that it’s normal for the uterus to be stretched that late in pregnancy! I hate that they used that as a scare tactic. Thank you for sharing.
@AllieBethStuckey I wasn't offered a VBAC with my third, and my second child had very severe health issues that made me personally fear for his ability to survive a vaginal delivery, even though they actually encouraged a VBAC at that time. I made the correct call and I'm glad I did. I trusted my instincts... it just goes to show, despite what sometimes the "experts" advise us, a woman knows her body and her capabilities and we have instincts for a reason! It didn't work out for me (of course my youngest is now 21 so LOTS of things have changed in the L & D arena in that time)- but I'm glad it did for you and you advocated for yourself to have the delivery you wanted!! ❤️
Im 25wks yesterday and going for vba2c as well!!!! I'm so thankful for your success and for sharing your story with us! I'm so hopeful I can do this!!!! Please pray for us!
This is so encouraging to me! I had a c-section with my first over a year ago and have been dealing with the disappointment ever since. I’m really praying and hoping for a vbac with my next one!
Love!! We're expecting our 8th baby in February. I could talk about pregnancy/labor and delivery all time and anytime. I'm so happy for you, Allie! Thanks for sharing your birth stories!
I had my daughter at 40 weeks 6 days. My midwife said we would discuss induction at the 41 week mark. I’m so sorry that your first doctor was so manipulative. Praising God for your latest delivery!
I'm one of those less than 1% people. I had my first csection with my 7th due to placenta previa so I was a great candidate for a vbac since I had 6 vaginal deliveries prior. But, my uterus ruptured with my eighth. It tore from the fundus (very top) down to the old incision and across the incision which also caused my bladder to rupture. But, I don't regret any decisions I made. I knew I was doing what God wanted me to do and it would all end up okay. This year has been a long road of recovery, she just had her birthday this week! I am so grateful I have God as my guide! A rupture can happen but I wouldn't discourage anyone from trying a vbac if you feel good about it!
I am a first time Mama and my provider didnt catch that my baby was breech, so we had an emergency c-section at the hospital, but had we known in advance we would've done things differently. God is the redeemer though, and used it for His glory and my sanctification. Praying for a vbqc next time around. Thank you for the encouragement! ❤
Thank you for sharing you story! I had my first child at 18 and I knew zero. I had a healthy baby boy (now a young man!) and I was so sad that a lot of facts were held back from me about birth. What you described is absolutely birth trauma and you speaking about it will hopefully prevent others from going through that. God bless!
I love how open you are about the emotional aspect and how women and children and becoming g a family is one of the biggest emotional life changes ever
I'm so happy for you!! What an amazing birth story!! I was listening to this the other day at work and it made me realize i was late, i went home and found out i was pregnant with my fourth!
Wonderful story, Allie, My 1st VBAC after my twin C Section was a very fast delivery, (2 1/2 hours) and an incredibly fast recovery, ....almost NO recovery at all. After 12 hours, I felt like I could have turned cartwheels. My second VBAC was almost the same. If you do a VBAC again for your 4th child, consider the time for labor and delivery to be cut in half, and will be a much more efficient process. Your body now knows how to complete the task and will get to work and get the job done much more efficiently. Thanks for your story. Well done for pressing for a natural delivery. I am so glad I did too.
My jaw dropped several times! The way your first provider routinely induced patients for no reason is mind blowing !!! And that he told you you hadddd to have an epidural the second time. Wow. 😅 soooo many people fight so hard when I try to convince them of what you said that it’s normal to go to 42 weeks and even past as long as mom and baby and amniotic fluid are all okay.
I also can’t believe he told you “your body just doesn’t go into labor”. I’m so passionate about encouraging and empowering women. We don’t know how strong we are. I’m with you in that I feel like I could be an honorary midwife for how much I’ve researched this stuff and having 2 Unmedicated births out of hospital.
Thank you sharing! I am so mad and sad for first-time Mom Allie being bullied into that c-section. I’m very thankful that you’ve had three healthy babies. 💕
As a woman looking to have children in the near future, c-sections are what I find most scary. Hearing your encouraging message at the end was so uplifting. Thank you for all the tips as well!
Ive had 1 natural birth and 1 csection. My natural birth was out of body chaos and my csection was awesome. I was awake. I was happy. It was great! I have medical stuff that made it necessary but I really enjoyed my csection. You dont need to be afraid of it.
Thank you for sharing you story! I have had 2 children by c-section. The first ended with a t-incision scar, and I was told I could never try VBAC due to rupture risk. I have pushed aside feelings for wanting another child due to being unsure of going through another CS. Recently (a decade after our last,) my husband and I decided to go for it. I have found amazing stories of women who have been successful with VBACing after multiple CS and even with scars like mine! If we are blessed to conceive, I will be standing up for my right to a VBAC.
Thanks for sharing this story, Allie! I had a C section because my daughter was born 7 weeks early and definitely felt all the things you described. The encouragement you provide about Jesus being the only one who can fulfill in the end is truth, though. Great job working through that and putting your trust in Jesus!
So glad my area of the NHS sees home births as normal even for first baby, I was determined to have a natural home birth and read everything I could, didn't even visit the hospital or ever see a Dr. an it payed off my kids were all born at home without ever needing any pain relief - some of the best experiences of my life
Congratulations Allie! This grandma still loves to hear birth stories, keep them coming! ❤ I’ve been so blessed to be at 3 of my grandbabies births, it never gets old, such a blessed miracle!
So happy for your experience.....I'm crying! I love birth and not because mine were easy.....2 of them gave me a run for my money. The key was the midwife and the doula. Doctors often destroy the birth experience and have no ability and/or desire to navigate difficulties in order to accomplish natural childbirth. Just after I had successfully birthed my first with a neuchal hand and head turned to the side with 66 hours of labor, my midwife whispered, " If I was a doctor, that was a c-section." Women everywhere! Learn about birth. Read, read, read. Be informed and go in prepared .
With my second birth, he was given Petrosian to hurry things up. Goodness....I remember hearing the doctor telling a nurse that he hoped things would speed up so he wouldn't miss an event. My baby was born healthy but later they had a hard time waking him up. A nurse told me that was because of the drugs I was given to speed up the delivery. That did it for me. The next births were all natural and very successful! I'm grateful that your delivery was so good for you, Allie. Praise God for a healthy baby and wonderful parents!
I just had my first baby - emergency c section because he tied a knot in his cord. My surgeon recommended me for v bac on the operating table. It was so encouraging. I love my baby boy and I want to give him lots of siblings, and I really feel emotional about not getting to push or have the natural birth I was picturing and preparing for. I learned so much and feel like I want to practice having babies and get better at it!
Uterine rupture is a risk for first-time moms. Yes its a risk, but not rhe big scary thing that so many doctors try to make it just so they can cut again and make their lives easier! Thank you for sharing your VBA2C story! So happy for you!
Thank you for sharing and just to offer a different perspective. I was told by many people the same thing, that c sections are often preferred by doctors because it's easier for them (I don't doubt this is true for some health professionals) In my experience, i had a very difficult birth and many things were going wrong. I knew I was going to need a c section, I accepted it and I kept asking for one. All the nurses and two doctors kept telling me to wait and encouraging me to hold out. They kept saying a c section is a major surgery and we shouldn't go down that road until we have to. They really tried everything (and I mean everything) for many many hours to help me have a regular birth and it just wasn't going to happen for me. In my case I was able to feel secure that I (and the doctors) did everything that could be done. This was at an Oschner hospital. Anyway, just offering a different perspective. If I wasn't asking for the c section and desperate to have a vaginal birth I may have felt it was pushed on me, I don't know. But I did enter the hospital believing that c sections were possibly never really necessary and left knowing that my son and I likely would have died without one. I share this in case anyone feels that their c section was the result of a doctor trying to make their own life easier. I don't know if that was the case 🤷🏻♀️ But I know it's not always the case. God bless.
Allie, you look wonderful and healthy, despite a cold. Your faith, and sharing of God's grace, and sovereignty is such an encouragement. Thank you for sharing with us
Great birth stories! It brought back so many memories for me. My sons are just a few years younger that you are. A couple months ago I was leaving my hairdresser and I opened the door for a gentleman coming in. I looked at him and realized it was my OB/GYN. I said hello and told him he delivered my baby and that baby is now 32. 😂 I then said oh I hope that doesn’t make you feel old. He laughed and said I’m used to it.
I'm so glad you were able to find people who were supportive of your wishes! I've only had one child and didn't know anything about what was going on. The doctors just act like they don't really owe you an explanation of what they are doing or any options! We knew that my son would have a cleft lip and cleft palate, and we made plans for upcoming surgeries to repair them, but I didn't have any idea how that would affect birth, nursing, and feeding as he grew. A week before his due date, he kicked so hard that he broke my water! I didn't go into labor for several more hours. I got an epidural, but no one told me that would slow my labor. The doctor took care of several other births while I lay there worried why my son's heart rate would slow any time I rolled to my right side. Then they gave me another medicine that would speed up my contractions (why didn't we do this earlier?)... After he was born, I discovered I didn't have any milk. He wouldn't have been able to nurse, but I could've pumped. No one told me why this happened or what else might have been possible! My son is now almost 16! He is a great blessing to all of us. However, I hope more people will seek advice from midwives and doulas who will give better advice and information! Enjoy your babies! They are wonderful no matter how they got here❤ God bless all of you!
Such an amazing end “Jesus is the true redeemer and he is the one who redeems.” I am currently 40 weeks and 3 days pregnant praying for a vbac. I had such a terrible first experience, I felt the cut due to it being an emergency c section. Doctors not listening when I said I can feel my left leg as I lifted it up. When they started cutting I screamed my head off, my husband was kicked out and they put me to sleep. I never got to hear my daughter’s first cry until 3 hours later. I keep saying this is my redemptive birth but now I’ll change it to “Jesus is my redeemer and however all this plays out I still gave birth the first time” Truly amazing to hear your vbac story!
Currently 39 weeks 3 days pregnant with our first and my husband and I cannot wait to meet him... anytime! 😅😊 The Lord has been so very gracious and we are praying for endurance.
I'm praying for you! My biggest tip is to be so patient in those last few days, I almost was admitted to labor and delivery at 2 cm dilated. But my OBs are very pro- women's bodies knowing what to do and they sent me home. 24 hours later I came back at 7 cm and was blessed to have a totally unmedicated delivery because we had been patient and didn't rush the process. ❤
I’ve had 2 successful Vbacs and will hopefully have my 3rd vbac in March next year! Congrats Allie! I so enjoyed this episode. So happy for you 🤩 thanks again for sharing!
Allie, you were cracking me up with the “I want the nitrous! I need more nitrous! I now need an epidural! More epidural!” So relatable😂 I too, have a low pain tolerance. But you did it Mama!!💛💛
Love birth stories! Way to go girl for rocking it! Keep educating yourself on the ins and outs of birth, there is always so much to learn! No mama I know has ever come out wanting a more medicalized birth, each time it’s always desiring to be more how birth is meant to be! I went from induced in the hospital with my first, labor naturally in hospital with my second, home birth with my third, and free birth with my fourth 7 months ago! One of the best experiences of my life! ❤️
Loved hearing your birth story, thank you so much for sharing! I loved the balance between fighting for the birth you want and standing up to doctors when needed, and also remembering that at the end of the day the type of birth we have doesn’t define us. Congratulations on that sweet baby girl! 💕
Thanks for sharing. I currently don't have any coworkers or friends with newborns and it has been awhile since I listened to a birth story. Im glad God provided a supportive medical team for you this round. Congratulations 👏
Your experience after your first C-section sounds so much like mine! I cried through my whole decision to get a C-section because my baby was breech. My midwife tried to flip her when I went into labor and then followed us to the hospital and I prayed so hard I said “God if my baby doesn’t need to born this way let me have this baby on the side of the road! I am ready for this birth in the woods if she doesn’t need help.” But the Lord said “no” and my baby had her feet down so we had the C-section and I hated it but my beautiful girl is alive and healthy and I have back pain so hopefully next time I can have a vbac!
Only read the title cause I USED to love birth stories, but since my last birth I have found myself a little to emotional about them (it was real rough and I only seem to remember how rough it was when I hear birth stories now, yikes). But I am so thrilled that you were able to have a vbac. I hope and pray that it was so healing for you and that you are able to just love these newborn months. They are so difficult but so precious at the same time. Such a strange, special, exhausting, indescribable time. God is so good. Maybe I’ll come back and listen all the way through in a few years 🤣
Congrats, Allie! 🥳🥳 I too love birth and hearing the story behind each one! They are all so special. I've birthed 5 children vaginally and have 2 in heaven. My three youngest were without pain medication and first two were inductions with epidurals. Each were so unique! Congratulations again, Allie!! I love all that you share ❤️
My first baby boy was breech and I had a scheduled c section at 39 weeks. I wish I had waited to go into labor naturally and given him more time to turn. The c section experience was very traumatic for me like it was for you. I pray for a VBAC with my next baby if I’m blessed enough to have another. Thank you for sharing your story.
I loved hearing this! And I'd love to tell you my birth stories - since you said you enjoy hearing them. I love to tell mine - I've had 9, including hospital birth, c-section, homebirth, water birth and stillbirth.
Ugh, Allie, can we just be BFFs already?! I will talk to ANYONE about their birth stories. I love it too and no one understands my passion 🤣 also, I'm a fellow vbac mama and I think it just hits different with us 😉
I've never understood that either. Talk about the baby, sure! Will love to see them and hold them and love on them. But I promise I don't EVER need to hear the gory details of the birth. Not ever. No one needs to hear that.
Wow, it really takes a village to bring little ones in the world. 🤓 l have friends/family done both C-section & vaginal birth. What women go through to give birth is amazing. 💕
As a trained doula, and mother of 7 (all natural non-medicated births) I think you were in a better place after your second c-section because you were more part of the decision making process and you went into it much more educated and prepared than your first birth. Congrats for you getting your hearts desire
Thank you for sharing this! I love your perspective, and the encouraging message you offer! Like you, I love hearing birth stories, even after 7 births myself! Loved your interview on the spillover a while back on thus topic, and enjoyed hearing your stories after both of your previous births! Have been looking forward to hearing this one too! What an encouragement! Congratulations! ❤
Yay! I've been hoping you would share your birth story! I love hearing...so encouraging to hear stories of how God brings little ones into the world. Also, I've tried the fall costume for two years in FL. I'm giving up and moving to Idaho. :)
My first birth was emergency c section due to failed induction- I was past my due date but otherwise completely healthy. I had 2 unmedicated VBACs after..the most incredible experiences! I'm so happy for VBAC moms!
My friend is a cnm and she always shares all the birth stories with me! I love it! Her family doesn’t want her to share with them because they get grossed out
I had an HBAC (home birth after c-section), and it's the proudest I've ever been of myself. It's not for everyone, and it's not without risks (though statistically, I think, less risky than a second c-section), but it was 2020 and the doctors were being completely inflexible, and I wanted my birth MY WAY. And since all the birthing centers weren't doing vbacs because of covid protocol, that left home birth. Thank goodness for online groups and a wonderful recommendation for a midwife who had done hbacs before. It was amazing and painful and empowering and WILD to give birth in my own house! But oh man, it was SO COOL, and a night and day difference than my 1st scheduled c-section. I definitely recommend, even if you won't do an HBAC, definitely attempt a vbac!
I love birth stories! I'm not even a mom, I just love pregnancy and birth so much. My mom had a c-section with her second (I was her first) and then had six more children- none of them were c-sections!
Wow what an amazing birth story!! Thank you for speaking out about your experiences...you may never know how many women just received hope AND permission to advocate for themselves & their birth stories! My oldest daughter had 2 natural births, one of which was a twin birth!...16 months apart & all 3 girls...then had a c-section 2 wks ago with baby #4, a nearly 10 lb baby boy! She says recovery with the c-section has been the easiest...thank God, with 4 children under 5! As believers, we have the glorious knowledge that God will superintend our births, no matter how those play out. His presence & intervention is the best kind of all!
Thank you so much for sharing this, Allie! As someone who is, God willing, going to be a mom one day, this was so inspirational! Praise God for a healthy little girl and a healthy mom!! 💝
Loved hearing your story.❤ I had complete placenta previa with my first, so had to have a c-section at 8 months that saved our beautiful daughter and me. 3 years later I delivered our second beautiful daughter naturally at 9 months, no meds or episiotomy and she weighed 8 lbs 8 ounces. I was so grateful for both. God is good.🙌🏻
I had a c-section 2 weeks early because of dangerously low fluid and him being breach - also was high risk pregnancy in general and my blood pressure was getting high. For them to just push for a c-section just because - wow - that’s crazy! I was ok with my c-section due to the circumstances- but I’m still numb in my stomach 5 years later and probably won’t get that feeling back ever from what I’ve been told. My recovery was fine-thankfully. I’m glad you had a successful VBAC! ❤❤
Listen, I have SO much respect for the ladies who have birthed their babies without an epidural...but I'm SO grateful for mine!!! I also was induced, and after they broke my water, my labor sped up drastically but so did the pain!!! 3.5 hours later, baby was born! But I loved hearing your stories. It's amazing how different all of our stories are for something that is so commonplace.
I feel so validated for the first time! All the women in my family had c-sections and I’m the only one who’s had vaginal births…any time I’d say anything about a hard recovery it was always “well at least you didn’t have a c-section”, so hearing you say your recovery this time was harder than your second c-section just really makes me feel understood for the first time! ❤️ I would never opt for a c-section over vaginal by choice but birth is birth and recovering takes time both ways.
Congratulations! Thank you for sharing your birth stories. My first birth was similar to yours. It was a 30 hour failed induction, ended in an unnecessary c section. I just didn't know and I trusted my doctor. I got induced for no reason other than being over due. The worst part for me was hearing my doctor say, "We couldn't have done anything differently. Baby was just too big." I've had 2 VBACS since then, with a different doctor and doula support. It was a lot of standing my ground with what I believed was best. All of my babies have gone overdue, my VBAC babies were 9lbs and 10lbs. Natural labor and unmedicated birth. Our bodies can do amazing things when we let them.z
I loved hearing your birth stories Allie! Thank you for sharing them with us! I have had 2 vbacs now and it has been such a good experience, but I agree with your conclusion at the end. Birth is hard, recovery from birth is hard. Csection or vaginal birth, it's all hard! No one birth is the end all be all. You are still a mother and only God redeems our births and stories. One experience can't redeem you and fix all the hard you have gone through! Only God can do that. All birth is beautiful and miraculous! Congrats Allie! :)
I had 2 c-sections because both babies stayed breech even after external cephalic versions, chiropractic work, and exercises I tried. I was so disappointed to not have a natural birth two times in a row. With baby # 3 I had a successful VBA2C! I was blessed to live near a hospital with midwives that were educated and supportive of that. I went a week and 5 days past the due date, too. It's so true that you feel like you're racing against the clock when you are trying for a TOLAC. I'm so glad you found care providers on your side and you got to experience a natural birth ❤ I'm pregnant with baby #4 and it's 5 days past the due date. Just trying to remain in His peace while we wait and take it one day at a time like the last pregnancy.
I’m sooo glad you are sharing your birth story 🥰 I love hearing them also! I’m due in January with my first baby and I live in the Dominican Republic where they have the highest cesarean rate in the world… I don’t know anyone here who has had a natural birth. My desire is to have a natural birth and I’m terrified of having a c section. They try to push it on women, and tell them that they need one, because it gives them more money. But whatever the Lord wills will happen and it is a great opportunity to trust Him! Your story gives me hope that if I do end up having a c section this time, I may still be able to do it naturally 💛
Amazing, thank you for sharing your story, Allie! God bless you and your family. Health care providers use fear mongering and bullying technics here in Europe as well and most first time parents (myself included) comply. I had 3 vaginal births (first two in the hospital and the third one in the midwife practice) and I understand this longing for smooth, natural and "perfect" birth. But you're absolutely right, no matter how it went you still did deliver a precious human and that's all that matters. 😊
Congratulations Allie and family on your new little daughter. I’m a 70 year old grandma and had 3 C sections 41 years ago was the first baby. I was so happy to just have 3 healthy beautiful babies and never had any regrets. I’m so happy to hear your stories because I always wondered if it would have been easier having vaginal deliveries. It’s such a miracle to give birth and the absolute best time of my life. BUT wait, having 5 grandchildren is pretty awesome time too.🥰
I had my third pregnancy baby (fourth child due to previous twins) at home. I had a Lamaze birth in a hospital for my third child, but I was not happy with how a lot of things were done. So , for my home birth, the doctor missed it because my labor was so short . My husband caught him and our doctor arrived about 20 minutes later! Our other children were able to watch (ages ten and 7) and one of my girl friends was there also. It was the best experience ever. I find the key to getting through labor with no medication of any kind is using the Lamaze method. The breathing techniques get you through the pain. For me, it was very important not just to have a vaginal birth, but to feel it, so no medication whatsoever. For me, it was VERY important that the birth be completely natural. And I just loved the whole experience. Congrats to you Allie. It's great that you got what you wanted for yourself. Best of luck.
I had 4 c-sections. The first was an emergency and we chose to continue with c-sections because we live in a rural area and our hospital didn't offer that care. While I have good memories of all of my births and I have supportive care at my hospital it is hard to not think that I missed out. Also the feeling that I'm not a strong capable woman because I didn't make it triumphantly through labor and delivery is hard to combat. Thankfully God is so much bigger than all of that. And like you said He planned each one of my kids births and I'm very thankful for the provision and protection He gave through it all! Thanks for sharing your story and for relentlessly pointing us all to the One who us worthy of all we have to give!
My daughter ended up being born 12 days past her due date and I really didn't want to be induced. I am from Canada and here you can either choose a midwife or an OB. I chose a midwife which was in line with my viewpoint on childbirth -- they never pushed for an induction, as long as me and baby were doing okay. BUT I do remember how others (family, friends, other health professionals) around me acted when I was past 41 weeks and the pressure to be induced was very strong. However, I ended up going into labour naturally and I didn't have to be induced. Of course, there are health reasons to be induced and there is nothing wrong with that. There is such a culture around unnecessary pregnancy interventions and I can completely understand how women feel powerless in these moments. I would encourage everyone to read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth....it changed my whole perspective on childbirth.
Thank you so much for sharing, Allie! I’m pregnant with my third boy and absolutely love hearing birth stories. I’m so glad you were able to have your VBAC!
I’ve been an L&D nurse for 10 years and have been very lucky to work at a hospital that really truly supports a vaginal delivery and especially VBACs. I’m so heartbroken for you that you were totally taken advantage of in your first delivery.
Allie, I just want to say that I am so happy for you that you were able to have a VBAC! What a sweet, personal & intimate blessing from our gracious, loving Heavenly Father!! I grinned from ear-to-ear hearing you say how excited you were realizing that they were setting up for YOUR vaginal delivery 😊 I also love hearing birth stories and they bring back the fondness and joy of birthing my own four blessings. 💕 Thank you for sharing your story, and telling us honestly how you were feeling and what you were thinking. And thank you for the encouragement and gospel- re-focus at the end. Even with four vaginal births, my births did not go as planned (from my first being rushed to the NICU right after a full-term birth, to an epidural with my third that never worked!!! 😮) But your encouragement that JESUS is the redemption we ALWAYS need was a blessing to me. I am thankful for you, Sister! And I praise the Lord for His kindness and faithfulness to you with this baby ❤
I agree - birth stories are beautiful! Congratulations on your new little one. Funny thing, I had 4 children. I remember the first child’s birth like it was yesterday (she’s 42) and the last child’s birth. However I remember almost nothing about the middle 2. All mine were natural with no pain meds. So weird I can’t remember the middle, lol.
Awe! I love it! Praise God! So happy you were able to deliver vaginally. The experience of my 5 babies was incredible. I love birth stories. Thank you for sharing yours. Also, I have a friend that has had 7 C-sections. God is so good. 😊❤
My first labor & delivery was a dream. Went easy, 6 pushes, healthy baby, healthy mamma. My second delivery was pretty traumatic, similar to your first. I was progressing fine, but my baby had flipped breech and we weren’t aware until my water broke. I had to have an “urgent” csection. The way you described a csection & recovery when speaking about your first birth is exactly how I’d describe it. I had ppd bad afterwards and I mourned the birth I could’ve had with her. My third baby was a successful VBAC! My dr (different from my first & second) was absolutely AMAZING. he was SO supportive & I don’t think he would have taken a csection for an answer. He made sure I had a VBAC despite my daughter being sunny side up AND needing a lot of interventions to keep her heart rate up through contractions. My third delivery went so smoothly & I sobbed when she was out & I knew I did it. Women are amazing! Motherhood is amazing! 💪🏼
My second baby was 24 days late! I'm glad I had an old-fashioned doctor that wasn't in a hurry. But the baby had started lose weight and very dry skin. Once he decided to come, he came in a hurry! The doctor didn't get his second glove on! Oh, I love birth stories -- especially my own children! Such precious babies. Each birth (3) had its own excitement!
Allie, you are my hero!!! I’ve also had 2 C-Sections. My first is very similar to your story, my daughter was face up and I got to 9cm after 17 hrs of labor. They turned her and she turned back and then, without asking/telling me, gave me pitocin to get me complete which caused my daughters heart rate to drop. The doctor recommended a c-sec bc he said that they would “probably have to reshape her head” bc of how long she’s been in the birth canal. I now feel bullied into the c-sec. My 2nd baby was breach but broke my water trying to turn and he did, in fact turn, after I got to the hospital and was being prepped for surgery. I kick myself for not waiting to see if I would have dilated before the surgery. I would love to have a VBA2C on a 3rd. Thank you for sharing your story!!!❤
I was really impressed by how you were able to clearly and accurately explain a lot of complex medical topics! I'm a medical student and I was learning a lot from how you explained things about birth. You can be my midwife in an apocalypse :)
I am so excited for you! I had a c section with my 1st and it was definitely traumatic for me. I was shaking so badly that I couldn’t even hold him for a couple hours. My husband took him to the room and did skin to skin while our families were in there gushing over him and meanwhile I was alone getting closed up. He couldn’t latch, I was pumping and feeding for a month then got horrible mastitis and had to stop while trying to heal from such a painful surgery. My 2nd pregnancy I did the same thing. PRAYED, researched, found VBAC friendly community. I went into labor on my own after getting my membranes stripped the day before, and got an epidural at 7 cm. I sent my husband to McDonald’s to get dinner because they said it would be a couple hours. I had to call him and tell him to hurry back because after 30 minutes I was at a 10! Lol!! It was honestly so healing for me. I felt zero pain during pushing, got to watch in a large mirror, and my Dr. Grabbed my hands and had me help pull her up to my chest. Literally the best experience after laboring in agony all day and having a successful VBAC! My hospital was also very VBAC friendly and I was the 3rd one of the day there! With my 3rd, I went into labor in the morning. My husband and I took a walk in the 108 degree heat while I pushed the stroller trying to keep things moving along. I ran up and down the stairs during my contractions. Finally when they were between 2-3 minutes apart I was like “I think we need to go NOW.” Went through transition in the car, and was like a lady out of a movie walking into the hospital yelling” Help! I’m having a baby!” 😂 by the time I got checked I was 8 cm and no time for my beloved epidural. Thankfully I did get the Nitrous to take the edge off. After she was born, I was praising God and yelling thank you to Him for our daughter that my husband jokes to this day it sounded like I broke out in tongues. 😂 I’ve had all 3 types of birth and felt like that was really cool. Each child has a unique story. God is sovereign over every life and I appreciated your perspective in wrapping it all up. While He is the only true Restorer, I too encourage women to try for a VBAC if possible. ❤
So so happy for you Allie! Congratulations on all your babies. I had a c-section with my daughter, similar to your first. It was awful recovery and i also suffered from extreme anxiety. Breast feeding was awful. Thankfully, baby girl and i bonded right away. So grateful for that. But my fear of another c-section holds me back from ever trying again.
My mother, god rest her soul, was a nurse 44 year's, she used to tell me all the time..."you are your best advocate when hearing the doctors options, you can listen to the doctor but, the little voice in the back of your head should never be ignored!"
Very good advice!!!!
My 4th child was breech and we tried an external manipulation to get him to turn. He was turned, but almost immediately flipped breech again. So I had a c-section since he was such a stubborn redhead, and he was 2lbs more than my first 3 babies! We thought we were done having children, but #5 slipped in before I weened #4. So I was going to give birth again 18 mos after my only c-section. I begged for vbac delivery because I would be going home to 5 children under 8, and I didn't want to deal with a c-section recovery again. My dr was willing to give me a chance to vbac while holding an OR open for me. Thankfully, I had a sucessful vbac with no complications!
I'm a Bradley Method childbirth educator and CLC and listening to your first birth sends me into a rage! I'm so sorry you were coerced and fear-mongered into an unnecessary induction and CS. The whole reason I became an educator is so I can support families and so they'll never have to say "I wish I had known".
The Bradley Method changed my life: my first birth was in a hospital and the last four at home ♥️.
I’m a nurse, I’ve observed a few c-sections in the OR. I went through Bradley when I was pregnant with my first - the first story sent me into a rage too. I despise everything about these ignorant nurses and doctors who know nothing except hyper-medicalized births.
@@acky6174 it truly is so empowering to take such a comprehensive class
@@estherruth4692 it's so frustrating that the system is broken. Educating couples is my passion because of that
I had all 4 of my children doing the Bradley method. I'm 73 yrs old. We were in a small town in Northern CA and Susan McCutchen was our coach. She has written books on the Bradley method. She was a true pioneer.
I've had six c sections and three vaginal births 🙌 doctors don't know everything. 😉
Exactly. C-section 3 and 2 vag
5 c section 2 vag. We tried v back, but it led to c section. Very blessed.
No someone had 4 C-sections.
3 C sections and 2 vaginal births. 5 labors and no inducing. No meds during labor. My 1st VBAC was 40 yrs ago. It’s always been so hard to find a Dr who encourages a VBAC.
You don’t know how encouraging this is to hear! I’ve had two C-sections and it was traumatic with the last one but I’m not done having babies. The doctor said I could maybe have one more C-section but nothing after that. “It’s not recommended” and that breaks my heart because I’ve been pushed to have a C-section with both. But I also want a houseful. It’s encouraging to hear this though!
C section mom! This was a therapeutic message, thank you. My c section left me feeling desecrated and afraid to have more children. I feel like I have a better perspective now and can take the Lord by the hand and let him lead me and my family forward. God bless!
My first c-section with my second baby left me feeling similar. I wanted a VBAC with my 3rd but he was breach and transverse so I wasn’t given the chance, and while years later I still wish I could have had a VBAC, I don’t ever dwell on the c-section trauma. Please don’t let the fear stop you from having more children. Trust in the Lord and ask Him to help you with future deliveries and the feelings that may come. He will help you.
My sister has had 4 healthy babies all from c section. And I’ve had 3 healthy babies, 2 were vaginal and 1 was a c section. What I’m saying is.. if you want to have more kids, It’s totally possible 🥰
1000% relate to your feeling and struggled to find the words and you just gave them to me, thanks to God I just had such a redemptive experience with a HBAC I had to lean in God heavily it was a really hard 24h labor and what makes me feel better is I know if I had baby in the hospital it would have most likely ended in a csection due to failure to progress or meconium in the waters or failure to descend too but Glory to God I had my midwifes full and undivided attention and that is what I attribute to my success from God ❤ it was such a healing experience
@@Romans08.31 this is so encouraging and congratulations!
Here’s my story in case it can help: I felt utterly traumatized, desecrated and betrayed after my first c-section. It shouldn’t have happened. It was totally avoidable. I did everything to be able to VBAC with my 2nd. Including getting a new doctor who was willing to give me til 41 weeks to VBAC. I felt labor starting for 3 weeks but it never got going. Contraction monitor looked weird and “irritable.” Can’t induce with that set of facts, so I went in for a scheduled “gentle” C-section (which I HIGHLY recommend for anyone needing a c section). It was a weird feeling but I knew by that point it was necessary. When Doc got in there, she noticed significant scarring binding off a portion of my uterus, from first surgery. Meaning I would have ruptured if labor managed to start. That birth, even though it wasn’t what i wanted, was healing and not traumatizing. I healed MUCH faster than my first. And felt at peace with the outcome.
I’m pregnant with #3 now. And even though I’m about as crunchy and natural and holistic as it gets, I’m totally fine with the idea of another c-section. My daughter wasn’t distressed having cooked so long, but she did have amniotic fluid burns on her feet and hands because SHE was trying to be born and sending all the hormone signals and shedding vernix for weeks before birth. I don’t want my new little one to get stuck like that. If that means a 39.5 week c-section, that’s ok. That said, I am praying my doc cleaned up the scar tissue enough and that the mesh she put in there worked to prevent more scars from forming worked so I can VBA2C. But as long as baby is healthy and safe, I know I will be okay with the outcome.
Ugh. The “NO” in your first cesarean. So heartless, so cold. 😭💔
Congratulations Allie! What a beautiful redeeming birth!
That broke my heart. With my third it took what seemed like forever for them to hand my baby over and I was so filled with anxiety about it. GIVE ME MY BABY!
Good job, Allie! My first pregnancy they wanted to do a C-section because the baby was turned. I had an angel nurse that asked the doctor if she could work with me she was able to turn the baby I was able to have a natural delivery. Thanks to her-the next day, we went to look for her with flowers and there was no such nurse. God is a good God.!
Nurses are the best. They notice us! They see distress on our faces that for some reason, doctors especially in hospitals overlook. So glad you had a wonderful nurse who definitely saw in your face and knew that she might be able to turn your baby! My brother was born breech, he was so beat up and my Mom wasn't allowed to have anyone in the room! She wanted my Dad to hold her hand. It still horrifies me that she went through that, no husband, no Mother.
I am GIDDY with joy for you Allie and admire your bravery!! I loved hearing this and watching you tell your story!!! Thank you for sharing! I’m also really passionate about birth and am currently 17 weeks pregnant…your story was so encouraging! Birth is miraculous. Praise God! Congrats Allie! 🥹🙏🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
My first born went to 43 weeks and weighed 10 pounds, 4.5 ounces. He was and is healthy... He's now 40!
That's amazing!!!
Allie Beth, I'm so grateful that you were able to have a successful VBAC... as a 3× Cesarean Mom, I know how hard it must have been but just how special it must feel, too... CONGRATS! GOD IS AWESOME, and deserves ALL PRAISE!!! Congrats on the wonderful addition of a precious, healthy baby to your family 💗
For the life of me, I have no idea why people WANT to go through that.
@@Yesica1993 a VBAC? Or just birth and pregnancy, in general? I'm not clear on the exact meaning of your statement.
The VBAC. Sounds even more painful. But I've not been through either, so what do I know. As long as the baby is out and healthy, that's the most important thing.@@natashajones6379
I’m an adoptive parent and cannot bare children. I LOVE loving vicariously through others birth stories. I will cry happy tears with you, I love hearing these birth stories. Thank you for sharing and making my morning commute this morning enjoyable.
I’ve had two miscarriages, adopted 5…I love your stories!! Thank you for sharing.
I too like to live vicariously through other women's birth stories. Maybe the Lord will still fill my womb after four years and being 40. He is in control of our stories and uses each one for his glory.
We have similar stories with our first two children. With my second child and the necessary csection for that one, God spoke to me. Although csections have been difficult whether physically or emotionally, God has brought me to a level of trust and surrender I am grateful for. I just had my 9th csection.....if someone is comforted by knowing that not all csections bring a limitation of children. He decides each of our paths. We just need to surrender to Him. Very happy for you that you did have a successful VBAC!
Thank you for sharing your story ❤️
Thank you for sharing your story. I just had my second emergency c-section after a failed vbac attempt. I was heartbroken that this might limit my family size. But you are right, God has really used this birth to bring me to a place of surrender. My hope is in Christ, not in my body’s abilities or inabilities. Whatever number of children and whatever birth method he has for me are in his hands. I no longer need to worry about it. He has blessed me richly and if he sees fit to bless me again, I will happily accept.
He will never forsake you! Stay close to Him and trust.
3x cesarean mom... it brings me joy and happy tears to hear you were able to do it! My only chance was taken from me by the only hospital that would have supported me because of a possible window that was noted with #2... low and behold, said window was non existent being cut open for baby #3. Your feelings are so relatable and I thank you for sharing your story. I often grieve not experiencing having a natural birth.
Same here... but then, I remind myself my birthing experiences are no less valid for not having had natural deliveries... and I am so utterly and completely grateful for healthy children, however they made their entrances! Yes, I could lament... and did... but time has shown me that focusing on the positive of what I can't change brings peace and freedom. I pray that for you and all mothers that experienced the difficulties we did!
I’m so sorry. They also told me I had a window with my second. But then I learned that that’s really a subjective term and that it’s normal for the uterus to be stretched that late in pregnancy! I hate that they used that as a scare tactic. Thank you for sharing.
@AllieBethStuckey I wasn't offered a VBAC with my third, and my second child had very severe health issues that made me personally fear for his ability to survive a vaginal delivery, even though they actually encouraged a VBAC at that time. I made the correct call and I'm glad I did. I trusted my instincts... it just goes to show, despite what sometimes the "experts" advise us, a woman knows her body and her capabilities and we have instincts for a reason! It didn't work out for me (of course my youngest is now 21 so LOTS of things have changed in the L & D arena in that time)- but I'm glad it did for you and you advocated for yourself to have the delivery you wanted!! ❤️
Im 25wks yesterday and going for vba2c as well!!!! I'm so thankful for your success and for sharing your story with us! I'm so hopeful I can do this!!!! Please pray for us!
My best friend just had one, and it was AMAZING!
Awesome. My cousin was able to do bvac as well. Your body was indeed designed for this. 😊
Hello 👋 how did it go if you don’t mind sharing? I am 6 months pregnant planning on a vbac too .
@@crystalglopez91623 I DID IT!!! 2/26/24 He came right out! My body isn't broken and yours isn't either! Good luck and prayers for you and babe 😘
This is so encouraging to me! I had a c-section with my first over a year ago and have been dealing with the disappointment ever since. I’m really praying and hoping for a vbac with my next one!
Love!! We're expecting our 8th baby in February. I could talk about pregnancy/labor and delivery all time and anytime. I'm so happy for you, Allie! Thanks for sharing your birth stories!
I had my daughter at 40 weeks 6 days. My midwife said we would discuss induction at the 41 week mark. I’m so sorry that your first doctor was so manipulative. Praising God for your latest delivery!
I'm one of those less than 1% people. I had my first csection with my 7th due to placenta previa so I was a great candidate for a vbac since I had 6 vaginal deliveries prior. But, my uterus ruptured with my eighth. It tore from the fundus (very top) down to the old incision and across the incision which also caused my bladder to rupture. But, I don't regret any decisions I made. I knew I was doing what God wanted me to do and it would all end up okay. This year has been a long road of recovery, she just had her birthday this week! I am so grateful I have God as my guide! A rupture can happen but I wouldn't discourage anyone from trying a vbac if you feel good about it!
I am a first time Mama and my provider didnt catch that my baby was breech, so we had an emergency c-section at the hospital, but had we known in advance we would've done things differently. God is the redeemer though, and used it for His glory and my sanctification.
Praying for a vbqc next time around. Thank you for the encouragement! ❤
I’m a first time mom (currently 7 weeks!) and I’m so glad to see you posting about your birth story. I’ve been listening to you for years now.
We go to church with a family where the mom has had 11 c-sections. She loves her kids dearly and has an amazing testimony!
I know someone who had 11 c sections too. I wonder if it's the same person
Thank you for sharing you story! I had my first child at 18 and I knew zero. I had a healthy baby boy (now a young man!) and I was so sad that a lot of facts were held back from me about birth. What you described is absolutely birth trauma and you speaking about it will hopefully prevent others from going through that. God bless!
I love how open you are about the emotional aspect and how women and children and becoming g a family is one of the biggest emotional life changes ever
I'm so happy for you!! What an amazing birth story!! I was listening to this the other day at work and it made me realize i was late, i went home and found out i was pregnant with my fourth!
Glory to God!
Wonderful story, Allie, My 1st VBAC after my twin C Section was a very fast delivery, (2 1/2 hours) and an incredibly fast recovery, ....almost NO recovery at all. After 12 hours, I felt like I could have turned cartwheels.
My second VBAC was almost the same. If you do a VBAC again for your 4th child, consider the time for labor and delivery to be cut in half, and will be a much more efficient process. Your body now knows how to complete the task and will get to work and get the job done much more efficiently. Thanks for your story. Well done for pressing for a natural delivery. I am so glad I did too.
My jaw dropped several times! The way your first provider routinely induced patients for no reason is mind blowing !!! And that he told you you hadddd to have an epidural the second time. Wow. 😅 soooo many people fight so hard when I try to convince them of what you said that it’s normal to go to 42 weeks and even past as long as mom and baby and amniotic fluid are all okay.
I also can’t believe he told you “your body just doesn’t go into labor”. I’m so passionate about encouraging and empowering women. We don’t know how strong we are. I’m with you in that I feel like I could be an honorary midwife for how much I’ve researched this stuff and having 2 Unmedicated births out of hospital.
Thank you sharing! I am so mad and sad for first-time Mom Allie being bullied into that c-section. I’m very thankful that you’ve had three healthy babies. 💕
As a woman looking to have children in the near future, c-sections are what I find most scary. Hearing your encouraging message at the end was so uplifting. Thank you for all the tips as well!
Ive had 1 natural birth and 1 csection. My natural birth was out of body chaos and my csection was awesome. I was awake. I was happy. It was great! I have medical stuff that made it necessary but I really enjoyed my csection. You dont need to be afraid of it.
@@sarahruiz1869you are an exception to the norm. Surgery is scary
Thank you for your encouraging words!@@sarahruiz1869
Thank you for sharing you story! I have had 2 children by c-section. The first ended with a t-incision scar, and I was told I could never try VBAC due to rupture risk. I have pushed aside feelings for wanting another child due to being unsure of going through another CS. Recently (a decade after our last,) my husband and I decided to go for it. I have found amazing stories of women who have been successful with VBACing after multiple CS and even with scars like mine! If we are blessed to conceive, I will be standing up for my right to a VBAC.
Thanks for sharing this story, Allie! I had a C section because my daughter was born 7 weeks early and definitely felt all the things you described. The encouragement you provide about Jesus being the only one who can fulfill in the end is truth, though. Great job working through that and putting your trust in Jesus!
So glad my area of the NHS sees home births as normal even for first baby, I was determined to have a natural home birth and read everything I could, didn't even visit the hospital or ever see a Dr. an it payed off my kids were all born at home without ever needing any pain relief - some of the best experiences of my life
Congratulations Allie! This grandma still loves to hear birth stories, keep them coming! ❤ I’ve been so blessed to be at 3 of my grandbabies births, it never gets old, such a blessed miracle!
So happy for your experience.....I'm crying! I love birth and not because mine were easy.....2 of them gave me a run for my money. The key was the midwife and the doula. Doctors often destroy the birth experience and have no ability and/or desire to navigate difficulties in order to accomplish natural childbirth. Just after I had successfully birthed my first with a neuchal hand and head turned to the side with 66 hours of labor, my midwife whispered, " If I was a doctor, that was a c-section." Women everywhere! Learn about birth. Read, read, read. Be informed and go in prepared .
With my second birth, he was given Petrosian to hurry things up. Goodness....I remember hearing the doctor telling a nurse that he hoped things would speed up so he wouldn't miss an event. My baby was born healthy but later they had a hard time waking him up. A nurse told me that was because of the drugs I was given to speed up the delivery. That did it for me. The next births were all natural and very successful! I'm grateful that your delivery was so good for you, Allie. Praise God for a healthy baby and wonderful parents!
I just had my first baby - emergency c section because he tied a knot in his cord. My surgeon recommended me for v bac on the operating table. It was so encouraging. I love my baby boy and I want to give him lots of siblings, and I really feel emotional about not getting to push or have the natural birth I was picturing and preparing for. I learned so much and feel like I want to practice having babies and get better at it!
Uterine rupture is a risk for first-time moms. Yes its a risk, but not rhe big scary thing that so many doctors try to make it just so they can cut again and make their lives easier!
Thank you for sharing your VBA2C story! So happy for you!
Thank you for sharing and just to offer a different perspective. I was told by many people the same thing, that c sections are often preferred by doctors because it's easier for them (I don't doubt this is true for some health professionals) In my experience, i had a very difficult birth and many things were going wrong. I knew I was going to need a c section, I accepted it and I kept asking for one. All the nurses and two doctors kept telling me to wait and encouraging me to hold out. They kept saying a c section is a major surgery and we shouldn't go down that road until we have to. They really tried everything (and I mean everything) for many many hours to help me have a regular birth and it just wasn't going to happen for me. In my case I was able to feel secure that I (and the doctors) did everything that could be done. This was at an Oschner hospital. Anyway, just offering a different perspective. If I wasn't asking for the c section and desperate to have a vaginal birth I may have felt it was pushed on me, I don't know. But I did enter the hospital believing that c sections were possibly never really necessary and left knowing that my son and I likely would have died without one. I share this in case anyone feels that their c section was the result of a doctor trying to make their own life easier. I don't know if that was the case 🤷🏻♀️ But I know it's not always the case. God bless.
Allie, you look wonderful and healthy, despite a cold. Your faith, and sharing of God's grace, and sovereignty is such an encouragement. Thank you for sharing with us
Great birth stories! It brought back so many memories for me. My sons are just a few years younger that you are. A couple months ago I was leaving my hairdresser and I opened the door for a gentleman coming in. I looked at him and realized it was my OB/GYN. I said hello and told him he delivered my baby and that baby is now 32. 😂 I then said oh I hope that doesn’t make you feel old. He laughed and said I’m used to it.
I'm so glad you were able to find people who were supportive of your wishes! I've only had one child and didn't know anything about what was going on. The doctors just act like they don't really owe you an explanation of what they are doing or any options! We knew that my son would have a cleft lip and cleft palate, and we made plans for upcoming surgeries to repair them, but I didn't have any idea how that would affect birth, nursing, and feeding as he grew. A week before his due date, he kicked so hard that he broke my water! I didn't go into labor for several more hours. I got an epidural, but no one told me that would slow my labor. The doctor took care of several other births while I lay there worried why my son's heart rate would slow any time I rolled to my right side. Then they gave me another medicine that would speed up my contractions (why didn't we do this earlier?)... After he was born, I discovered I didn't have any milk. He wouldn't have been able to nurse, but I could've pumped. No one told me why this happened or what else might have been possible! My son is now almost 16! He is a great blessing to all of us. However, I hope more people will seek advice from midwives and doulas who will give better advice and information! Enjoy your babies! They are wonderful no matter how they got here❤ God bless all of you!
Such an amazing end “Jesus is the true redeemer and he is the one who redeems.”
I am currently 40 weeks and 3 days pregnant praying for a vbac.
I had such a terrible first experience, I felt the cut due to it being an emergency c section. Doctors not listening when I said I can feel my left leg as I lifted it up. When they started cutting I screamed my head off, my husband was kicked out and they put me to sleep. I never got to hear my daughter’s first cry until 3 hours later. I keep saying this is my redemptive birth but now I’ll change it to “Jesus is my redeemer and however all this plays out I still gave birth the first time”
Truly amazing to hear your vbac story!
Currently 39 weeks 3 days pregnant with our first and my husband and I cannot wait to meet him... anytime! 😅😊 The Lord has been so very gracious and we are praying for endurance.
I'm praying for you! My biggest tip is to be so patient in those last few days, I almost was admitted to labor and delivery at 2 cm dilated. But my OBs are very pro- women's bodies knowing what to do and they sent me home. 24 hours later I came back at 7 cm and was blessed to have a totally unmedicated delivery because we had been patient and didn't rush the process. ❤
I’ve had 2 successful Vbacs and will hopefully have my 3rd vbac in March next year! Congrats Allie! I so enjoyed this episode. So happy for you 🤩 thanks again for sharing!
Allie, you were cracking me up with the “I want the nitrous! I need more nitrous! I now need an epidural! More epidural!” So relatable😂 I too, have a low pain tolerance. But you did it Mama!!💛💛
So glad you're back!! Congratulations! 🎉 2nd and 3rd children were VBAC 🙌🏼 Love The FREEDOM shirt.
Am I the only one who is just now learning that she was pregnant this whole time? 😅I must really not pay very much attention to things 😂
Love birth stories! Way to go girl for rocking it! Keep educating yourself on the ins and outs of birth, there is always so much to learn! No mama I know has ever come out wanting a more medicalized birth, each time it’s always desiring to be more how birth is meant to be! I went from induced in the hospital with my first, labor naturally in hospital with my second, home birth with my third, and free birth with my fourth 7 months ago! One of the best experiences of my life! ❤️
Loved hearing your birth story, thank you so much for sharing! I loved the balance between fighting for the birth you want and standing up to doctors when needed, and also remembering that at the end of the day the type of birth we have doesn’t define us. Congratulations on that sweet baby girl! 💕
Thanks for sharing. I currently don't have any coworkers or friends with newborns and it has been awhile since I listened to a birth story. Im glad God provided a supportive medical team for you this round. Congratulations 👏
Your experience after your first C-section sounds so much like mine! I cried through my whole decision to get a C-section because my baby was breech. My midwife tried to flip her when I went into labor and then followed us to the hospital and I prayed so hard I said “God if my baby doesn’t need to born this way let me have this baby on the side of the road! I am ready for this birth in the woods if she doesn’t need help.” But the Lord said “no” and my baby had her feet down so we had the C-section and I hated it but my beautiful girl is alive and healthy and I have back pain so hopefully next time I can have a vbac!
Only read the title cause I USED to love birth stories, but since my last birth I have found myself a little to emotional about them (it was real rough and I only seem to remember how rough it was when I hear birth stories now, yikes). But I am so thrilled that you were able to have a vbac. I hope and pray that it was so healing for you and that you are able to just love these newborn months. They are so difficult but so precious at the same time. Such a strange, special, exhausting, indescribable time. God is so good. Maybe I’ll come back and listen all the way through in a few years 🤣
You go girl!!!! I had a VBAC last Thursday at home! It's so awesome that feeling knowing you gave birth to your baby!
Congrats, Allie! 🥳🥳 I too love birth and hearing the story behind each one! They are all so special. I've birthed 5 children vaginally and have 2 in heaven. My three youngest were without pain medication and first two were inductions with epidurals. Each were so unique! Congratulations again, Allie!! I love all that you share ❤️
My first baby boy was breech and I had a scheduled c section at 39 weeks. I wish I had waited to go into labor naturally and given him more time to turn. The c section experience was very traumatic for me like it was for you. I pray for a VBAC with my next baby if I’m blessed enough to have another. Thank you for sharing your story.
I loved hearing this! And I'd love to tell you my birth stories - since you said you enjoy hearing them. I love to tell mine - I've had 9, including hospital birth, c-section, homebirth, water birth and stillbirth.
Ugh, Allie, can we just be BFFs already?! I will talk to ANYONE about their birth stories. I love it too and no one understands my passion 🤣 also, I'm a fellow vbac mama and I think it just hits different with us 😉
I've never understood that either. Talk about the baby, sure! Will love to see them and hold them and love on them. But I promise I don't EVER need to hear the gory details of the birth. Not ever. No one needs to hear that.
Same!!! I love talking about birth stories!!! It’s an odd passion, glad to know we aren’t alone haha!
Wow, it really takes a village to bring little ones in the world. 🤓 l have friends/family done both C-section & vaginal birth. What women go through to give birth is amazing. 💕
As a mother of two and doula, I’m teary listening to this. 🥰 so happy for you and your family!
As a trained doula, and mother of 7 (all natural non-medicated births) I think you were in a better place after your second c-section because you were more part of the decision making process and you went into it much more educated and prepared than your first birth. Congrats for you getting your hearts desire
I was thinking that but didn't have medical knowledge or experience to say or express something like that
Thank you for sharing this! I love your perspective, and the encouraging message you offer! Like you, I love hearing birth stories, even after 7 births myself! Loved your interview on the spillover a while back on thus topic, and enjoyed hearing your stories after both of your previous births! Have been looking forward to hearing this one too! What an encouragement! Congratulations! ❤
Yay! I've been hoping you would share your birth story! I love hearing...so encouraging to hear stories of how God brings little ones into the world. Also, I've tried the fall costume for two years in FL. I'm giving up and moving to Idaho. :)
My first birth was emergency c section due to failed induction- I was past my due date but otherwise completely healthy. I had 2 unmedicated VBACs after..the most incredible experiences! I'm so happy for VBAC moms!
My friend is a cnm and she always shares all the birth stories with me! I love it! Her family doesn’t want her to share with them because they get grossed out
I had an HBAC (home birth after c-section), and it's the proudest I've ever been of myself. It's not for everyone, and it's not without risks (though statistically, I think, less risky than a second c-section), but it was 2020 and the doctors were being completely inflexible, and I wanted my birth MY WAY. And since all the birthing centers weren't doing vbacs because of covid protocol, that left home birth. Thank goodness for online groups and a wonderful recommendation for a midwife who had done hbacs before. It was amazing and painful and empowering and WILD to give birth in my own house! But oh man, it was SO COOL, and a night and day difference than my 1st scheduled c-section. I definitely recommend, even if you won't do an HBAC, definitely attempt a vbac!
Also, though very painful, the bonus of an unmedicated birth is definitely the ability to push correctly. I didn't tear at all!
I love birth stories! I'm not even a mom, I just love pregnancy and birth so much. My mom had a c-section with her second (I was her first) and then had six more children- none of them were c-sections!
Wow what an amazing birth story!! Thank you for speaking out about your experiences...you may never know how many women just received hope AND permission to advocate for themselves & their birth stories! My oldest daughter had 2 natural births, one of which was a twin birth!...16 months apart & all 3 girls...then had a c-section 2 wks ago with baby #4, a nearly 10 lb baby boy! She says recovery with the c-section has been the easiest...thank God, with 4 children under 5! As believers, we have the glorious knowledge that God will superintend our births, no matter how those play out. His presence & intervention is the best kind of all!
Missed you girl!!! So happy to have you back! Happy that you had a safe delivery and everyone is doing well. 🥰
Thank you so much for sharing this, Allie! As someone who is, God willing, going to be a mom one day, this was so inspirational! Praise God for a healthy little girl and a healthy mom!! 💝
Loved hearing your story.❤ I had complete placenta previa with my first, so had to have a c-section at 8 months that saved our beautiful daughter and me. 3 years later I delivered our second beautiful daughter naturally at 9 months, no meds or episiotomy and she weighed 8 lbs 8 ounces. I was so grateful for both. God is good.🙌🏻
I had a c-section 2 weeks early because of dangerously low fluid and him being breach - also was high risk pregnancy in general and my blood pressure was getting high. For them to just push for a c-section just because - wow - that’s crazy! I was ok with my c-section due to the circumstances- but I’m still numb in my stomach 5 years later and probably won’t get that feeling back ever from what I’ve been told. My recovery was fine-thankfully. I’m glad you had a successful VBAC! ❤❤
Listen, I have SO much respect for the ladies who have birthed their babies without an epidural...but I'm SO grateful for mine!!! I also was induced, and after they broke my water, my labor sped up drastically but so did the pain!!! 3.5 hours later, baby was born! But I loved hearing your stories. It's amazing how different all of our stories are for something that is so commonplace.
Thank you for sharing your story! God bless you for having this platform to put other mothers at peace. ❤
I feel so validated for the first time! All the women in my family had c-sections and I’m the only one who’s had vaginal births…any time I’d say anything about a hard recovery it was always “well at least you didn’t have a c-section”, so hearing you say your recovery this time was harder than your second c-section just really makes me feel understood for the first time! ❤️ I would never opt for a c-section over vaginal by choice but birth is birth and recovering takes time both ways.
Congratulations! Thank you for sharing your birth stories.
My first birth was similar to yours. It was a 30 hour failed induction, ended in an unnecessary c section. I just didn't know and I trusted my doctor. I got induced for no reason other than being over due. The worst part for me was hearing my doctor say, "We couldn't have done anything differently. Baby was just too big."
I've had 2 VBACS since then, with a different doctor and doula support. It was a lot of standing my ground with what I believed was best. All of my babies have gone overdue, my VBAC babies were 9lbs and 10lbs. Natural labor and unmedicated birth. Our bodies can do amazing things when we let them.z
I loved hearing your birth stories Allie! Thank you for sharing them with us! I have had 2 vbacs now and it has been such a good experience, but I agree with your conclusion at the end. Birth is hard, recovery from birth is hard. Csection or vaginal birth, it's all hard! No one birth is the end all be all. You are still a mother and only God redeems our births and stories. One experience can't redeem you and fix all the hard you have gone through! Only God can do that. All birth is beautiful and miraculous! Congrats Allie! :)
I had 2 c-sections because both babies stayed breech even after external cephalic versions, chiropractic work, and exercises I tried. I was so disappointed to not have a natural birth two times in a row. With baby # 3 I had a successful VBA2C! I was blessed to live near a hospital with midwives that were educated and supportive of that. I went a week and 5 days past the due date, too. It's so true that you feel like you're racing against the clock when you are trying for a TOLAC. I'm so glad you found care providers on your side and you got to experience a natural birth ❤ I'm pregnant with baby #4 and it's 5 days past the due date. Just trying to remain in His peace while we wait and take it one day at a time like the last pregnancy.
I’m sooo glad you are sharing your birth story 🥰 I love hearing them also!
I’m due in January with my first baby and I live in the Dominican Republic where they have the highest cesarean rate in the world… I don’t know anyone here who has had a natural birth. My desire is to have a natural birth and I’m terrified of having a c section. They try to push it on women, and tell them that they need one, because it gives them more money. But whatever the Lord wills will happen and it is a great opportunity to trust Him! Your story gives me hope that if I do end up having a c section this time, I may still be able to do it naturally 💛
Amazing, thank you for sharing your story, Allie! God bless you and your family. Health care providers use fear mongering and bullying technics here in Europe as well and most first time parents (myself included) comply. I had 3 vaginal births (first two in the hospital and the third one in the midwife practice) and I understand this longing for smooth, natural and "perfect" birth. But you're absolutely right, no matter how it went you still did deliver a precious human and that's all that matters. 😊
Congratulations Allie and family on your new little daughter. I’m a 70 year old grandma and had 3 C sections 41 years ago was the first baby. I was so happy to just have 3 healthy beautiful babies and never had any regrets. I’m so happy to hear your stories because I always wondered if it would have been easier having vaginal deliveries. It’s such a miracle to give birth and the absolute best time of my life. BUT wait, having 5 grandchildren is pretty awesome time too.🥰
I had my third pregnancy baby (fourth child due to previous twins) at home. I had a Lamaze birth in a hospital for my third child, but I was not happy with how a lot of things were done. So , for my home birth, the doctor missed it because my labor was so short . My husband caught him and our doctor arrived about 20 minutes later! Our other children were able to watch (ages ten and 7) and one of my girl friends was there also. It was the best experience ever. I find the key to getting through labor with no medication of any kind is using the Lamaze method. The breathing techniques get you through the pain. For me, it was very important not just to have a vaginal birth, but to feel it, so no medication whatsoever. For me, it was VERY important that the birth be completely natural. And I just loved the whole experience. Congrats to you Allie. It's great that you got what you wanted for yourself. Best of luck.
I had 4 c-sections. The first was an emergency and we chose to continue with c-sections because we live in a rural area and our hospital didn't offer that care. While I have good memories of all of my births and I have supportive care at my hospital it is hard to not think that I missed out. Also the feeling that I'm not a strong capable woman because I didn't make it triumphantly through labor and delivery is hard to combat. Thankfully God is so much bigger than all of that. And like you said He planned each one of my kids births and I'm very thankful for the provision and protection He gave through it all! Thanks for sharing your story and for relentlessly pointing us all to the One who us worthy of all we have to give!
Yes & amen!
I had a VBAC sixteen years apart!! God bless Ally and your family and new wee one. 🙏🏻
My daughter ended up being born 12 days past her due date and I really didn't want to be induced. I am from Canada and here you can either choose a midwife or an OB. I chose a midwife which was in line with my viewpoint on childbirth -- they never pushed for an induction, as long as me and baby were doing okay. BUT I do remember how others (family, friends, other health professionals) around me acted when I was past 41 weeks and the pressure to be induced was very strong. However, I ended up going into labour naturally and I didn't have to be induced. Of course, there are health reasons to be induced and there is nothing wrong with that. There is such a culture around unnecessary pregnancy interventions and I can completely understand how women feel powerless in these moments. I would encourage everyone to read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth....it changed my whole perspective on childbirth.
God is the Author of ALL Life : Physical and Spiritual.
Thank you for sharing so transparently, Allie. I pray your message brings healing to someone who needs to hear it.
Thank you so much for sharing, Allie! I’m pregnant with my third boy and absolutely love hearing birth stories. I’m so glad you were able to have your VBAC!
I’ve been an L&D nurse for 10 years and have been very lucky to work at a hospital that really truly supports a vaginal delivery and especially VBACs. I’m so heartbroken for you that you were totally taken advantage of in your first delivery.
Allie, I just want to say that I am so happy for you that you were able to have a VBAC! What a sweet, personal & intimate blessing from our gracious, loving Heavenly Father!! I grinned from ear-to-ear hearing you say how excited you were realizing that they were setting up for YOUR vaginal delivery 😊 I also love hearing birth stories and they bring back the fondness and joy of birthing my own four blessings. 💕
Thank you for sharing your story, and telling us honestly how you were feeling and what you were thinking. And thank you for the encouragement and gospel- re-focus at the end. Even with four vaginal births, my births did not go as planned (from my first being rushed to the NICU right after a full-term birth, to an epidural with my third that never worked!!! 😮) But your encouragement that JESUS is the redemption we ALWAYS need was a blessing to me.
I am thankful for you, Sister! And I praise the Lord for His kindness and faithfulness to you with this baby ❤
So glad you switched doctors Allie! My experience with midwives was wonderful too!
I agree - birth stories are beautiful! Congratulations on your new little one. Funny thing, I had 4 children. I remember the first child’s birth like it was yesterday (she’s 42) and the last child’s birth. However I remember almost nothing about the middle 2. All mine were natural with no pain meds. So weird I can’t remember the middle, lol.
Awe! I love it! Praise God! So happy you were able to deliver vaginally. The experience of my 5 babies was incredible. I love birth stories. Thank you for sharing yours. Also, I have a friend that has had 7 C-sections. God is so good. 😊❤
My first labor & delivery was a dream. Went easy, 6 pushes, healthy baby, healthy mamma. My second delivery was pretty traumatic, similar to your first. I was progressing fine, but my baby had flipped breech and we weren’t aware until my water broke. I had to have an “urgent” csection. The way you described a csection & recovery when speaking about your first birth is exactly how I’d describe it. I had ppd bad afterwards and I mourned the birth I could’ve had with her. My third baby was a successful VBAC! My dr (different from my first & second) was absolutely AMAZING. he was SO supportive & I don’t think he would have taken a csection for an answer. He made sure I had a VBAC despite my daughter being sunny side up AND needing a lot of interventions to keep her heart rate up through contractions. My third delivery went so smoothly & I sobbed when she was out & I knew I did it. Women are amazing! Motherhood is amazing! 💪🏼
My second baby was 24 days late! I'm glad I had an old-fashioned doctor that wasn't in a hurry. But the baby had started lose weight and very dry skin. Once he decided to come, he came in a hurry! The doctor didn't get his second glove on!
Oh, I love birth stories -- especially my own children! Such precious babies. Each birth (3) had its own excitement!
My sister in law broke her tailbone during delivery. So I feel certain pelvic floor therapists are under appreciated and desperately needed.
I’m giving birth in March! I am so nervous maybe hearing your story will relax my nerves.
Allie, you are my hero!!! I’ve also had 2 C-Sections. My first is very similar to your story, my daughter was face up and I got to 9cm after 17 hrs of labor. They turned her and she turned back and then, without asking/telling me, gave me pitocin to get me complete which caused my daughters heart rate to drop. The doctor recommended a c-sec bc he said that they would “probably have to reshape her head” bc of how long she’s been in the birth canal. I now feel bullied into the c-sec. My 2nd baby was breach but broke my water trying to turn and he did, in fact turn, after I got to the hospital and was being prepped for surgery. I kick myself for not waiting to see if I would have dilated before the surgery. I would love to have a VBA2C on a 3rd. Thank you for sharing your story!!!❤
I was really impressed by how you were able to clearly and accurately explain a lot of complex medical topics! I'm a medical student and I was learning a lot from how you explained things about birth. You can be my midwife in an apocalypse :)
Congratulations, Allie, on your 3rd child!
I am so excited for you! I had a c section with my 1st and it was definitely traumatic for me. I was shaking so badly that I couldn’t even hold him for a couple hours. My husband took him to the room and did skin to skin while our families were in there gushing over him and meanwhile I was alone getting closed up. He couldn’t latch, I was pumping and feeding for a month then got horrible mastitis and had to stop while trying to heal from such a painful surgery.
My 2nd pregnancy I did the same thing. PRAYED, researched, found VBAC friendly community. I went into labor on my own after getting my membranes stripped the day before, and got an epidural at 7 cm. I sent my husband to McDonald’s to get dinner because they said it would be a couple hours. I had to call him and tell him to hurry back because after 30 minutes I was at a 10! Lol!! It was honestly so healing for me. I felt zero pain during pushing, got to watch in a large mirror, and my Dr. Grabbed my hands and had me help pull her up to my chest. Literally the best experience after laboring in agony all day and having a successful VBAC! My hospital was also very VBAC friendly and I was the 3rd one of the day there!
With my 3rd, I went into labor in the morning. My husband and I took a walk in the 108 degree heat while I pushed the stroller trying to keep things moving along. I ran up and down the stairs during my contractions. Finally when they were between 2-3 minutes apart I was like “I think we need to go NOW.” Went through transition in the car, and was like a lady out of a movie walking into the hospital yelling” Help! I’m having a baby!” 😂 by the time I got checked I was 8 cm and no time for my beloved epidural. Thankfully I did get the Nitrous to take the edge off. After she was born, I was praising God and yelling thank you to Him for our daughter that my husband jokes to this day it sounded like I broke out in tongues. 😂
I’ve had all 3 types of birth and felt like that was really cool. Each child has a unique story. God is sovereign over every life and I appreciated your perspective in wrapping it all up. While He is the only true Restorer, I too encourage women to try for a VBAC if possible. ❤
Never had kids. However, I noticed a pattern in labor storieS that one intervention leads to more
So encouraging to hear this! I’m planning on a VBAC this winter 😊
Good luck, mamma! I had a VBAC 3 weeks ago. You got this!!
So so happy for you Allie! Congratulations on all your babies. I had a c-section with my daughter, similar to your first. It was awful recovery and i also suffered from extreme anxiety. Breast feeding was awful. Thankfully, baby girl and i bonded right away. So grateful for that. But my fear of another c-section holds me back from ever trying again.