HBAC: One mother’s journey to her home birth after a C-section

This story is from a sweet mama, Amber, who had a HBAC (home birth after Cesarean):

“Birth started around 1AM on Saturday with me waking up to feeling a popping sensation. I thought “Well, that felt familiar” thinking it was my water breaking, but I didn’t feel any water leaking so I just assumed the baby had kicked real hard or something. Shortly after that, I had two pretty intense contractions back to back and got up to use the restroom. That’s when I felt water leaking and knew labor was starting.

Contractions started coming 3-5 minutes apart but were only lasting 40 seconds or so. By the time I had my midwife come around 9 that morning contractions had pretty much subsided. Labor had started with Elijah (my first baby) with my water breaking and his birth was very traumatic, so I spent the day trying to deal with my emotions about how this labor was going. Most women whose labor starts with their water breaking deliver their babies within 24 hours, so I thought for sure he would be born on Saturday.

Fast forward to 9PM on Saturday night and nothing was really picking back up. I did a few spinning babies exercises and my midwife told me to just try to rest as much as possible. Around 3AM they picked back up and were stronger than ones I had had previously but were coming 8-10 minutes apart. Keith and I went for a walk Sunday morning around 6AM and I thought “Surely this is it!” By lunch time they had fizzled out again though.

Knowing there was a risk of infection with going too long with your water broken (although we were taking all precautions necessary to ensure that didn’t happen - constant temp checks, Vitamin C, no cervical checks, and sterilized toilet paper) I knew if this baby didn’t make his way down and out by 1AM the next morning that I’d probably end up having to get induced at the hospital.

This labor was nothing like my others in that it was a total mind game the entire time. I was emotionally and mentally exhausted from constantly renewing my mind in the Truth of my circumstances and the Truth of Who God is and His goodness that it was also wearing on me physically. Many tears were shed when the contractions spaced out and I began to wonder if I’d ever get to hold my baby.

Sunday afternoon, Melinda (my midwife) encouraged me to use my breast pump for 10 minutes on each side, take a 30 minute walk, then pump again for 20 minutes and take a shower. Then she came over to do some more spinning babies exercises to get him into a better position.

It was amazing how quickly things picked up as a result of doing those things! I noticed as soon as I was on the breast pump, contractions were becoming steadily 2-3 minutes apart. After the shower and exercises, she had me lay on a peanut ball in bed for 45 minutes on my right side. Contractions were getting a little further apart it felt like but I was able to get some rest and they were still intense when they were coming. At one point, I let out such a loud moan that Melinda and her assistant came rushing into the room to set everything up because they thought it was time.

That’s when the mind game became the hardest. I knew where I was feeling contractions. I knew it wasn’t time to push no matter how much I wanted it to be time. That was where I truly fought to surrender my thoughts and will to God for this labor. My doula and husband spoke Truth that I needed to hear and when I became resolved, I laid on the peanut ball on my left side for another 45 minutes. Contractions were getting more intense but instead of making outward noise, I began to look inward and breathe the baby down. “Soften (breathe) Open (breathe) Release (breathe)” is what I would tell myself as those contractions hit while laying in bed. When I got out of bed, I felt like things were progressing. I felt like he was finally on his way down.

With lots of swaying and counter pressure and an acceptance to work with my body instead of fighting it and trusting God with His timing, it was time to push. I got on all fours on the bed and pushed for what seemed like an eternity (which in reality was about 10 minutes). At first I felt like I was pushing and nothing was happening. I began to wonder if he was stuck up in my pelvis somehow. Thanks to my wonderful support team, they reassured me that I was doing this, and I would be holding my baby before I knew it. I tried my best to catch my breath and not hyperventilate. I was sweating like crazy, but then I began to feel him crowning. As soon as I felt his shoulders and the rest of his little body fly out all I could say over and over again was “THANK YOU JESUS! THANK YOU JESUS!” He was the One who sustained me. Reminding me of His goodness once again!

Actual active labor lasted a total of about 3 hours which is my fastest yet! He weighed the same as his brother Nehemiah - 8 lb 8 oz and came just in between his sister (10 days past her due date) and Nehemiah (8 days past his due date). He was 9 days past his due date.

For future babies, y’all just remind me to push whatever “due date” they give me back a week for my sanity. 🤪

I’ve pretty much experienced every birth scenario possible (with the exception of an unassisted birth and an emergency c-section). This was my first Home Birth After Cesarean after having a VBAC in the hospital with Baby #4. It was also my first birth where I didn’t have to have stitches! That was one of my major desires and priorities that I expressed to my midwife for this birth, and she helped make it happen!

Home births are my favorite. Always and forever!”