My journey through pregnancy was anything but straightforward. After undergoing IVF treatments, I faced the challenges of carrying twins, dealt with a scary first trimester due to a blood clot, and ultimately ended up with an emergency C-section five weeks early. Thankfully, we all made it through, but it wasn’t the birthing experience I had envisioned. Despite the complications from fertility treatments and the subchorionic hematoma, I had my heart set on a natural delivery—no epidural, no pain relief, just me and my body working in harmony to welcome my babies into the world. When the emergency C-section occurred, I was heartbroken.
Fast forward less than two years, my husband and I were excited to discover I was pregnant again. I convinced myself that the issues from my first pregnancy were due to the fertility treatments and the fact that I was carrying twins, and that this time would be different. With just one baby on the way, I was fully committed to having a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). I found a supportive team of doulas and shared my desire for a natural delivery with my new OB, who didn’t focus on multiples. I felt completely confident.
However, things began to take a turn for the worse during my second trimester. I became severely anemic, losing weight faster than my baby could grow, and my skin turned pale and yellow. I was utterly drained, barely able to care for our twin toddlers while trying to find the energy to eat enough for my growing baby. My OB suggested a C-section, but I was determined to stick to my VBAC plan.
As my due date approached, my doulas and I managed to get my anemia under control, and I thought I was on track for my dream delivery. But as my due date passed without any signs of labor, my OB expressed concern about the baby being in a breech position. He recommended scheduling a C-section.
“Just give me the weekend,” I pleaded. “If I can get the baby to flip, can we wait for natural labor?” He reluctantly agreed, and I spent the weekend trying everything I could think of to encourage her to turn—hanging upside down, playing music, and even shining a flashlight at my belly. By Monday, she had flipped, but my doctor still seemed doubtful.
“It’s unusual for your uterus to be this flexible,” he said. “I suspect you may need another C-section.” When I asked if my baby was in danger, he said no. And when I asked if I was in danger, he replied, “Not yet.” With that reassurance, I decided to keep waiting.
Days passed with no progress, and I was back at the office every two days, my cervix still tight and no contractions in sight. My doulas tried to console me, suggesting that perhaps another C-section wouldn’t be the worst outcome, but I was fixated on my plan. I began attempting to induce labor myself, eating spicy foods and even just fudge for a day—whatever it took. I finally convinced my husband to try acupressure.
This triggered something. A few hours later, I began experiencing contractions, but they didn’t feel right. The pain was intensely localized around my previous C-section scar. By midnight, I was in so much pain that I knew we had to go to the hospital.
Upon examination, the doctor revealed the harsh reality: I wasn’t experiencing labor contractions; my uterus was rupturing, threatening to tear open along the old scar. My baby was trying to escape, and they needed to rush me in for another emergency C-section. I was lucky that we didn’t wait until morning; the internal bleeding could have been fatal.
After five hours of excruciating pain, even with an epidural, I finally met my beautiful baby girl. The recovery was brutal; I struggled to lift my legs and couldn’t even climb the stairs to our third-floor home after leaving the hospital. By trying to stick to my ideal delivery, I put us both in grave danger.
Ultimately, it’s not about how you give birth but rather that you and your family are healthy and can go home together. It’s crucial to heed medical advice. Don’t let pride or fantasies of a perfect delivery cloud your judgment. A flawless birth isn’t worth risking your life or your baby’s.
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Summary
My experiences during pregnancy taught me the importance of listening to medical professionals and not letting the desire for a perfect delivery endanger my life or my baby’s. Health and safety should always come first.
Keyphrase: pregnancy complications and decisions
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