Let me start out by saying, I whole heartedly apologize to the woman that gave birth to her baby on the toilet bowl but had no clue she was in labor and or that she was pregnant…
By week 33, I was feeling it; nauseous, pains in my hips, my baby boy was dropping low, the round ligament pain was in full effect AND massive amounts of pooping. I will warn you that the rest of this birth story talks a whole lot of poop so if you’re feeling triggered, look away!
At first my doctors thought that I had picked up a stomach bug from somewhere, somehow; although that seemed hard to believe because I barely left my house or was in contact with people since we’re in a pandemic. My meetings with the toilet were nonstop and felt never ending, painful and so depleting. By week 35, I had seen my OB and was checked. To my surprise, I was 3 CM and 50% effaced. I had no idea that I had made some kind of progress and it was this whole stomach/bathroom episode to thank for it. At this point, my doctor believed that my stomach and bathroom issue was thanks to the final surge of hormones that our bodies go through during the last part of pregnancy, before labor kicks in.
With weeks still ahead of me for a full term baby, I would still experience these erratic episodes. I started to see a licensed prenatal chiropractor whom my doulas had recommended. I was so desperate to get rid of some of this pain and discomfort and so adjustments it was for me. To my surprise, when going for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean), a chiropractor can greatly help increase the rate of a successful of VBAC. Lord knows I was desperate and willing to do and try any and everything to have a vaginal birth this time around.
While I continued to go for adjustments from the chiropractor, I also continued my bathroom occurrences. I was getting overwhelmed with frustration as I could feel my body becoming weaker and weaker with everyday and every week. My wonderful doulas would check in on me constantly and I felt like such a nuisance, constantly complaining about the same thing; going to the bathroom, not keeping food in and wanting the end to be near.
By week 38, our OB had scheduled us to be induced on July 25 if our baby had not made an appearance yet. I was hoping by now he did since I was in so much discomfort. By Friday, I was starting to feel so defeated. My body was really saying no more and I found myself breaking down emotionally. I had scheduled a massage with this “miracle” man that is know to naturally induce women through massage techniques. When I said I was desperate, I meant it! It wasn’t that I didn’t believe this could work, but I had never heard of this. Upon meeting him, he had explained that the biggest take away from this service was to ensure that my body and soul became relaxed because that was the most important thing for me and the baby. He also explained that every woman he had tried this with had went into labor within a 5-48 hour time frame; I was down with that! While he was massaging me, he kept telling me that this baby was on his was and I was hoping he was right. I had felt this instant release and this readiness after my massage was over but I didn’t want to get my hopes up. So, I continued that evening by eating some incredibly hot Indian food, in hopes that it would aid in me going into labor. If that induction massage and spicy food did not help, than I knew I was going to just have to let this baby boy come when he felt good and ready or on the 25th when the OB would force his little butt out.
That night I woke up like usual, needing to constantly pee but I also noticed that my reflux was really bad. I didn’t think that much of it, as I had eaten that spicy food, I figured it was really getting to me. Well, one burp led to two rounds of puking in the bathroom. I knew this was different but I figured it was just this wonky hormone surge or the Indian food was a terrible idea. By 3 am, I started making rounds to the bathroom. I felt like there was no end in sight.
That morning I decided to call my OB who was on call and let her know how I was feeling. Pepto Bismol and no food for the day was her orders and I would hopefully get some kind of relief. Well, that wasn’t happening. After countless rounds to the bathroom, the pain was greatly intensifying. The pain was pure pooping cramps followed by a round of diarrhea. Each time, my husband had to hold me up on the toilet as I started to pass out on him from exhaustion and pain. I cried and kept breaking down, telling him that I couldn’t do this anymore. I just wanted the baby out. My body truly felt as if it was suffering.
My husbands concerns grew since I NEVER cry from pain and he could see I was going downhill. He kept asking me if I was in labor and all that I could say was, “I don’t know.” I mean to be perfectly honest, I was having massive pooping cramps followed by a lot of poop. The pain was so intense that I couldn’t feel anything else. My husband however started to realize that these bathroom episodes were becoming more frequent. He decided to contact our doulas whom than told us we needed to call our doctors right away to make sure the baby and I were ok and that I was not becoming dehydrated which would cause further issues. While my husband spoke to the doctor, I became more emotional. I felt mixed emotions of wanting this pregnancy to be over to not being ready to give up my baby bump.
Off to the hospital we went at 4PM, packed as if we were going to have a baby but in my head I just thought they would send me back home, saying it was just a weird hormonal thing I had to deal with till the baby came like all the other times.
As we arrived at the hospital, our concerns grew in a different way as we were having a baby during a pandemic. For those of you who don’t know what this would look like, let me first tell you that laboring through a mask is NO walk in the park. Every single person in the hospital had a mask on and proper PPE, security limited the number of people coming in through the hospital along with keeping a six foot distance between people. To boot, my husband was not allowed with me in the Triage section of Labor and Maternity, while I was getting examined.
After a very quick and uncomfortable check to see if I was dilated, she immediately asked, “So do you want to have this baby right now? You’re at the start of labor; at 5cm and 75% effaced.” She continued to explain that some women experience labor and contractions through bowl movements and well, that was exactly how my body decided to take on this delivery. Thanks body!
She quickly got my husband and my doula whom had to be tested right away at the hospital for COVID, in order to come with me. At about 6PM, my doctor came in to see if my labor had progressed. I was no longer running to the bathroom but was experiencing some minor contractions. She had recommended breaking my water or administering Pitocin to help move things along. After a terrible experience with Pitocin, we opted for a more natural route and had my water broken. I was not only determined to have a VBAC but also to have a natural, drug free delivery.
Around 8 or 9PM, the contraction were starting to regulate and intensify. I was managing them pretty well, giving deep breathes into each contraction (with a mask on), changing positions and moving around in the room.
As the contraction were starting to pile up, the pain became excruciating and I felt as if I was no longer in control of my breaths. My doula kept using natural pain reduction techniques which truly helped but there was a horrific pain on my pelvic bone that was becoming unbearable. Around midnight, I started asking for an Epidural, literally begging for one. I couldn’t see myself managing any more pain that I already was and the thought of more pain did not seem do able. How would I push? I knew that this was the best decision for myself. My doula and my husband kept asking if I was sure I wanted it as I was progressing and almost at the end. I was so thankful that they were there to encourage me and to help see my labor through the way I wanted it but it needed to look a little different now.
It took over an hour and a half for the Anesthesiologist to finally make his way to my room and give me my epidural. At that point, I was right there, just about 9CM dilated. The instant relief was amazing and it was time to rest up as I knew pushing was not too far away.
I don’t remember the times at this point but I was woken up by the monitor going off and my nurse and doula turning me saying that the baby’s heart rate was dropping. As they helped to move me around, his heart rate would stabilize. My doctor came in and that was the final check, I had made it! 10cm and 100% effaced, we were in the green to push. After a few pushes, the doctor and nurses were getting worried since baby’s heart rate would not stabilize.
Here was my warning: I had one last chance to push and have him make come down, or I was being taken in for a C Section. My sweet boy was making his way but he was taking too long to come down and with his heart rate not stabilizing, my doctor did not want to keep this going on for long. She knew how determined I was for this VBAC and also knew that another C Section may cause me to not be able to carry another child (years of reproductive issues and previous surgeries,) she prompted the nurse to remove my catheter, told me we were having this baby vaginally and that a vacuum was going to be used to help him move down faster.
I was on board with my doctors plan and was not going in for a C section. My husband grabbed my hand and pep talked me, telling me that we needed just ONE very strong push to help him come down and that he knew I was strong enough to do it. My doula helped me to visualize bearing down and pushing my baby to help move him. With all efforts combined, my doctor and the nurses started cheering me on and screaming, “Oh my God you’re doing it! He’s coming! Don’t stop pushing! Keep going.” I remember feeling like my head was going to explode from how hard I was pushing.
The minute my doctor said “here he is,” I put my hands down there, felt my baby boy and grabbed for him.
I DID IT!!!!!!! After the most abnormal and painful labor and delivery, it was all so worth it! My son was born at 6:04AM, healthy and perfect.
I was overwhelmed with joy, disbelief, empowered and most of all exhausted. I had no idea what my recovery ahead was going to look like, but I will leave you with this much. BOTH, a C Section and vaginal birth are NO joke. Neither one is easier and both recovery is just as hard. Like anything else, there are pro’s and con’s.
I am till this day, amazed and so proud of what my body was able to accomplish. I couldn’t be more thankful for my VBAC experience and my incredible labor support team I had throughout as well as my absolutely, amazing Doctor who was just as determined as I was!
