Comments on: VBAC story from Jodi Mockabee

By: >A new sisterhood

>A new sisterhood — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 04:05:13 +0000

[...] it’s totally worth reading either here on her blog or on The Design Mom blog where it was a featured birth story.) I know it’s selfish, but I actually took pause before sharing the link to Jodi’s [...]

By: Marisa (Andresen) Wagner

Marisa (Andresen) Wagner — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 14:53:31 +0000

Jodi, thank you for your story. As I am typing this, I have tears rolling down my cheeks. I feel the same way, planning my births since child hood. Maybe it has something to do with the way we were raised. :-) I too planned a home birth. My little one was posterior. Elle turned her 3 times, every time she turned back around. I pushed for over an hour, every position possible. I just couldn’t get her down the birth canal. She became stressed and we had to head to the hospital, in a middle of a huge snow storm, in the middle of the night (something I had dreamed about a few months prior to this). I much to my disappointment I had a c-section. When Lauren came out, she had a huge bruise on her forehead, she had been stuck on my pelvic bone. I was thankful that she was okay, but struggle with the fact I couldn’t give birth to her vaginally. When we have another, I am planning on staying with relatives out of town to be able to avoid another c-section, since our local hospital will not allow v-backs. Thank you for proving to me I can do this! It can be done.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 02:47:43 +0000

This is beautiful! I was told to read this from my friend Dana, who told me she is friends with your friend…anyways, maybe you can read my birth story as it was definitely NOT WHAT I HAD PLANNED after taking 15 weeks of Bradley classes with my doula and husband. Needless to say, your an inspiration to me. I REALLY want to deliver vaginally next time. and your story gives me hope! xoxo

From thestephenhowardfamily.blogspot.com

-Jessica

By: kelly

kelly — Fri, 20 May 2011 19:55:06 +0000

Your story so touched me! I had a C Section when I could not deliver my first child – the cord was too short. I picked up a nasty infection at the hospital that took nearly a month to recover from. I vowed to die before having another C-section (which I really would not have done, but I wanted everyone to understand how serious I was!). My second child came breech. I took 3 doctors to find one that would allow a Vback Breech delivery. He’s a mellow hippie kinda guy and said sure! When my water broke, his little foot and part of his calf came right out. The lovely doctor pulled his other foot out and waited for me to have an urge to push, which I’ve never had. He was delivered in under the 10minutes it takes to avoid problems. My third delivery was my first head down delivery. Caleb was over due and a whopping 10.5 lbs. I was taping my husband holding him an hour after delivery. Natural delivery is awesome and we have experienced all three delivery styles. Now, if we had only had a girl! lol.

By: easr

easr — Sat, 08 May 2010 04:00:04 +0000

just a little fyi – uterine rupture can and does happen in regular, non-VBAC births as well.

By: Mockabee Mocks the Naysayers’ Mantra of “Once a Cesarean, Always a Cesarean” « Mona Lisa Smiles' Blog

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:28:47 +0000

[...] her blog site http://www.designmom.com/2010/03/vbac-story-from-jodi-mockabee/, Mockabee talks about her campaign to get the vaginal birth she had dreamed of all her [...]

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 02:41:10 +0000

I just discovered this site. Your story gave me chills. What a wonderful experience. I am so impressed! Not only a VBAC, but a HBAC after 2 cesareans. Incredible! I will say my homebirth was unlike anything I could ever describe. It was the most intense and amazing thing I could every experience. So happy to read such a beautiful story.

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 03:51:32 +0000

This story is so beautiful and inspiring, thank you for sharing! I am sure you really had to fight hard to get the birth you wanted, I know I did and mine wasn’t a VBAC, but just a midwife assisted homebirth. I’m so glad that you got the natural birth you always wanted.

By: Macy

Macy — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 18:41:56 +0000

I had to have a c-section due to positioning as well, but I wouldn’t take away from the experience by calling it ‘unnatural’. That sounds awful. I feel that my body naturally created a human life, carried it to full term and delivered a healthy baby. Some mothers feel terrible they couldn’t deliver ‘naturally’ via vagina, but some are just thankful to become mothers. Don’t take away from the experience of how we brought our child into the world by calling it unnatural. I’m happy you were able to live up to the expectations you set for yourself!

By: Allyson

Allyson — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 02:17:37 +0000

Thank you, gretchen! I had the same reaction to that passage in the story! My first son was breech, and delivered by C-section. It was not the natural, doula-assisted, birthing center birth I had planned, but his health and safety were far more important to me then my birth plan. I had such a positive experience with it, I opted to have his younger brothers the same way – and at no point did I ever consider my C-sections to be “abnormal” On the contrary, my sons’ birthdays are the three most wonderful powerful and awe-inspiring memories I have…

By: Maz

Maz — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:46:00 +0000

Thank you for sharing this experience. I to loved your story and can well understand the desire to experience a natural birth. My first son was breech too (or feet first whatever that is called in English?) and delivered with c-section. It was a very smooth and painless experience for me, there were no complications, I had a very fast recovery and I am grateful that this option is available, since a breech baby not to long ago equalled a lifethreat for both mother and baby. Still, I grieved not being able to give birth vaginally. The main issue for me was I would have liked to "be part" of my sons delivery and to me it felt very strange to hand it all over to anonymous surgeons. It made me feel more like a thing than a person during delivery. Am expecting my second son now and hoping he will perform a headstand when the time comes :) The doctors should not pose a problem since I have never heard of a doctor here (in Sweden) that opposes vaginal birth after c-section (as long as there are no other medical reasons for a c-section of course)Doctors here seems to be of the opposite opinion, opting for vaginal births for as much as possible.

By: Maz

Maz — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:46:00 +0000

By: FC Mom

FC Mom — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:06:36 +0000

This post gave me goosebumps!
I was lucky enough to be there for my sister's accidental home birth (her second, right in the bathroom) and it was the most incredible thing I have ever experienced- totally changed my view of birth.
Anyone who does not understand why a mom might be upset about not getting to try a VBAC is a fool. (Not that every mom SHOULD want that- but many moms get flack for wanting a vaginal birth- or for wanting no epidural- and I think it's shameful they get pressured for medical interventions.)

By: FC Mom

FC Mom — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 07:06:36 +0000

By: gretchen

gretchen — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:50:05 +0000

"I also knew this blew my chances for a VBAC in the future as two cesareans usually means your chances to give birth like a normal woman would are gonzo."

This quote really disturbed me as someone who has had an emergency c-section. "normal woman"??? Seriously? Luckily my baby was healthy and that is what is most important. I can't believe you would feel abnormal b/c something as unpredictable as childbirth didn't go according to your childhood dream. I had no desire or intention of having a c-section or even using drugs during labor and delivery. However I found out quickly that things don't always go as planned this realization alone has helped me immensely as a new mother.

By: gretchen

gretchen — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:50:05 +0000

"I also knew this blew my chances for a VBAC in the future as two cesareans usually means your chances to give birth like a normal woman would are gonzo."

By: Toddler Boy Clothing

Toddler Boy Clothing — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:55:26 +0000

Fantastic story, Beautiful little girl!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:12:24 +0000

Congratulations on the birth of your daughter! I have three children–one was born "naturally" and two were born via c-section and I VASTLY preferred my c-sections. Much faster recovery and my poor body wasn't torn from stem to stern. All three of my babies were 4 weeks early and had to spend a short time in the NICU, including my first, who was delivered vaginally. I did not feel like a "ninja" sneaking in, I'm sorry you had that experience. The nurses were amazing and did everything they could to help me establish nursing. I called them any hour of the day or night (during the few hours I wasn't there myself, ha!) and they were always so kind. I felt empowered and supported during my most recent (and final) birth in the OR. My team was all female and they were amazing. My daughter's birth was a joyful, spiritual experience for me and for everyone in the room. I held her immediately after she was born. I hate that women get scared and/or feel bad about their births. It is one day in your life and your baby's life. A beautiful day to be sure-but one day. No need to get hung up on how the baby arrives, truly. I'm glad you got the birth that you wanted given how important it was to you.

By: Eliza

Eliza — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:35:48 +0000

Beautiful story.

Just had to add, because I have a personal interest in this topic...the risk for uterine rupture in a VBAC (especially a VBA1C) is lower than 1 percent in unaugmented labors, closer to 1 in 200, while in augmented (such as with Pitocin or Cytotec) labors it is higher. But it is still a scary risk...all the more reason to avoid a C in the first place if you can! In general, repeat C-sections are more dangerous than VBACs, but it is always best to make an informed decision about that along with an informed doctor or midwife, as others have said here.

I delivered a healthy baby girl (hospital VBAC) seventeen months ago. It was the most triumphant day of my life up to that point and I was very grateful for all the factors that came together to make it a wonderful experience. I also have a friend who had a home VBA2C and was very happy with her choice.

My unsolicited advice to other hopeful VBAC moms (or any expectant moms) who want it is: Follow your heart, do your research, and hire a trusted professional, and your birth will be as safe and as wonderful as possible. (Since I want to have more kids, and the "Previous C-Section" stamp is always going to be on my medical records, I need to follow this advice too. :) I definitely also recommend the combo of Birthing from Within by Pam England and The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer! Loved them!!

Yay for healthy and happy newborn babies and moms, no matter the circumstances.

By: Amber

Amber — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:00:48 +0000

wow, this is awesome. what a strong woman to be so in tune with her body and know exactly what to do.