After experiencing an emergency C-section with my son, I believed a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) was out of the question. My journey began with my twins, who were born in November 2019. Their delivery was anything but smooth. I had my daughter Emma vaginally, but after pushing for an hour with my son Noah, I was rushed into an emergency C-section due to concerns over his heart rate. To add to the chaos, I dealt with a postpartum hemorrhage shortly after his delivery. Thankfully, we ended up with two healthy kids, but it was far from the birth experience I had envisioned.
My husband Mike and I wanted to expand our family even further. Our twins were conceived through IVF, and I was optimistic about getting pregnant again with one of the nine embryos we had stored. However, after two years filled with five unsuccessful egg transfers and two heartbreaking miscarriages, I felt defeated. I decided it was time for a change and switched to a new fertility specialist.
For the first six months, my new doctor encouraged me to take a much-needed break—a “hormone holiday,” as she called it. It was a chance for me to reflect and process my emotions without the pressure of treatments. In January 2024, I underwent a fresh egg retrieval, and by April, we had a successful transfer!
Despite my initial hesitation about a VBAC, my doctors presented it as a safe option for my next birth. It was a surprising turn because I had never considered this route before. Yet, as I learned more about the process and how it could benefit me, I started to embrace the idea. If you’re curious about at-home insemination options, organizations like Make a Mom offer unique resources, including a re-usable kit for home insemination. Their process is explained in detail here.
While navigating through my pregnancy, I stumbled upon valuable insights about maintaining friendships with childfree friends, which you can read about in this blog post. As I prepared for delivery, I made sure to gather as much information as possible, including expert guidance from the Mayo Clinic on intrauterine insemination.
Through this journey, I discovered that VBACs can be a safe and empowering choice. If you’re considering a similar path or exploring pregnancy options, Modern Family Blog is an excellent resource for information on both pregnancy and home insemination.
In summary, my experience shifted dramatically from fearing VBACs to embracing them, thanks to the support of my medical team. My journey has been filled with ups and downs, but it’s taught me that sometimes the most unexpected paths lead to the most beautiful outcomes.