6 Things We're Doing to Prepare for a Home Vaginal Birth After C-Section
We’re adamant we’re not having a Cesarean section (C-section) again!
Believing that a C-section was unnecessary when Anna gave birth to our firstborn, Jere, we’ve done a lot of research and preparation to ensure we can have a successful home birth after C-section (HBAC).
A home vaginal birth after C-section requires careful planning, education, and support. So, allow us to share with you the key strategies that have empowered us to take control of our birth experience and make informed choices.
Getting a Doula
One of the most impactful decisions we've made in preparing for our home vaginal birth after C-section is booking a doula during the second trimester of our pregnancy.
The difference between a doula and a midwife is that the former provides emotional and informational support, while the latter primarily offers medical care.
Our doula has been instrumental in helping us navigate the complexities of planning for a home vaginal birth after a previous Cesarean.
From helping us understand the data to make informed choices to aligning with our birth preferences, her support throughout our second pregnancy journey has been invaluable to our preparations.
Educating Ourselves
Education has been a cornerstone of our preparation.
After our first C-section, we realised the importance of being well-informed about the birthing process and all the options available to us.
Our doula has helped accelerate our learning, providing resources and answering our questions. This education has empowered us to make informed decisions and feel more confident about our home vaginal birth after a C-section plan.
Switching Hospitals to Find the Right Support
We switched hospitals for our second pregnancy after we realised that our previous hospital didn't genuinely support vaginal birth after C-section, more so a home birth, which was disheartening.
We explored other hospitals in our area and found one that aligned with our birth plan and philosophy.
This change allowed us to have a more supportive environment and even consider a home birth.
Learn more about our hospital switch by reading here.
Understanding a Husband's Role During a Vaginal Birth After C-Section at Home
In a vaginal delivery at home, husbands like Gabes play a crucial role as birth support partners offering mental, emotional, and physical support to mums like Anna.
As our doula puts it, Gabes is the “guardian of oxytocin”, with oxytocin being the significant hormone that supports women during pregnancy and vaginal childbirth.
Education
Gabes has educated himself from the moment Anna told him about her wishes to have a vaginal birth for our second child.
Part of educating oneself about home vaginal birth after a C-section is understanding how home vaginal delivery after C-section works, the benefits, and associated risk factors, and preparing for emergencies.
Birth support partners must have a clear plan in place for emergencies, including knowing emergency hotlines and the quickest route to the nearest hospital, and having a packed bag ready.
Advocacy
A loving husband should be an expectant mother's number one advocate.
Along with our doula and team of midwives, Gabes should ensure Anna's preferences, including but not limited to possible interventions and birthing positions, are honoured and her sentiments are heard.
Encouragement
Husbands like Gabes must constantly reassure birthing mums like Anna, providing positive affirmations to help alleviate anxiety or fear about the normal vaginal delivery process.
It's Gabes' responsibility to always remind Anna of her strength and the careful planning that went into the home vaginal birth preparations.
Presence
A husband's presence can be incredibly comforting for women in labour during vaginal deliveries at home.
Staying close to Anna and holding her hand, especially during her uterine contractions, are some ways Gabes can be fully present by her side.
Throughout the process, maintaining a calm and composed demeanour is vital in keeping the birthing environment peaceful and supportive.
Physical Assistance
It's Gabes' duty to help Anna move into different birthing positions that may be more comfortable for her or more effective for labour. This can include taking walks with her, helping her into a birthing pool, or supporting her in different labour positions.
Pregnant women like Anna who are about to give birth have limited mobility, so birth support partners like Gabes have to ensure they have access to essentials, such as snacks and water.
Postpartum Care
Birth support partners should ensure immediate skin-to-skin contact between the mum and baby, which is vital for maternal bonding and breastfeeding initiation.
Getting to Know the Female Body
One of the most enlightening aspects of our preparation for a home vaginal delivery after C-section has been gaining a deep understanding of the female body and its natural birthing capabilities.
Our doula played a pivotal role in this empowering learning journey, offering insights into how the body moves, how the baby navigates through the pelvis, and how to handle labour effectively.
Anatomy and Preparation
Oxytocin
Oxytocin is released in pulses during labour, stimulating powerful contractions that help thin and open the cervix, move the baby down the birth canal, and push out the placenta.
Pelvis and Uterus
The female pelvis, designed to facilitate childbirth, provides support for the growing uterus and baby. The uterus surrounds the baby, growing as the baby grows.
The structure of the female pelvis allows for significant flexibility and movement, creating ample space for the baby to pass through during labour.
The importance of positioning during labour can’t be overstated.
When a birthing woman is upright and mobile, the pelvis can move and open up, providing the maximum space for the baby. In contrast, lying on the back can restrict these movements and reduce the available space, making labour more challenging.
Cervix
The cervix is a part of the uterus that opens into the vagina.
During pregnancy, the cervix is thick and closed. As labour approaches, contractions draw the cervix up into the body of the uterus, and it becomes thinner, a process known as effacement, and opens, a process known as dilation.
Vagina
The vagina is a muscular tube that connects the cervix to the outside of the body. It expands and contracts to accommodate the baby during childbirth.
Labour and Delivery
Contractions
Contractions occur as the uterus contracts to push the baby down the birth canal. These contractions help dilate the cervix and move the baby closer to the vagina.
Dilation
The cervix dilates to allow the baby to pass through. This process typically begins at 3 cm and continues until the cervix is fully dilated at 10 cm.
Pushing
As the head of the baby emerges, the mother is asked to push to help deliver the shoulders and the rest of the baby.
Placenta Delivery
After the baby is born, the placenta and amniotic fluid need to be delivered. This can happen spontaneously or may take some time. The mother may need to push to help deliver the placenta.
The Natural Mother-Baby Coordination
What we find particularly fascinating is the constant non-verbal communication between a mother and baby during labour. It’s interesting to discover that the baby knows exactly what to do as they navigate through the birth canal with remarkable precision.
Our doula emphasised that labouring in various positions and maintaining mobility are key to facilitating a smoother birth. She also taught us about the optimal position for the baby’s descent, where the baby’s head enters the pelvis with its spine to the left, aligning the widest part of the head with the widest part of the pelvis.
This instinctive process highlights the incredible coordination between mother and baby.
With our doula reinforcing the idea that the female body is intrinsically designed for childbirth, Anna has learned to trust herself and her body fully.
Doing Prenatal Yoga
Yoga has been proven to help women prepare for vaginal birth, and improve pregnancy and childbirth outcomes.
Strengthens Pelvic Floor Muscles
Yoga exercises can strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which can help support the baby during delivery, and reduce risk factors and possible complications.
Enhances Flexibility and Circulation
Prenatal yoga can enhance a pregnant woman’s flexibility, which can help the body adapt to the physical demands of vaginal birth.
It also enhances blood flow to the heart, which means more oxygen-rich blood is going to the baby, keeping it healthy during development.
Leads to Better Labour Experience
A pregnant woman who does yoga regularly is more likely to have reduced labour duration, which means shorter and easier delivery.
The meditation and breathing exercises help minimise anxiety during labour, making it less painful. These promote a woman’s overall well-being, reducing the risks of complications.
Improves Fetal Positioning
Yoga poses can help position the baby optimally for delivery, which can eliminate the need for interventions and make the delivery process smoother.
The Bottomline
By embracing a holistic approach to preparation, we've transformed our home vaginal birth after C-section plan from a daunting prospect to a confident and empowering endeavour.
Our experience has underscored the importance of aligning with healthcare providers who help everyone make informed decisions, and respect and support everyone’s birth choices.
With a supportive doula, a well-informed husband, and a carefully chosen hospital, we're poised to take control of our birth journey.
Have you given birth naturally after a C-section? How did you prepare for it and what was the experience like? We’d love to hear your stories, so please feel free to leave a comment below!
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