Previous post here.
Age: 32
Pregnancies and births: 2 & 2
Children: 2 sons, 21 months and 19 days
I am trying to get this finished while both of my boys are sleeping, so it will be short:) I had my first son via cesarean for a placental abruption in September of 2008, and knew, even in recovery that I would shoot for a vbac with my 2nd child. After his birth, I had PPD and struggled with feeling good about becoming a mother.
After his birth, I found ICAN through The Shape of a Mother and have become very active in my local chapter. In September of 2009, I found out I was pregnant again and my husband and I were thrilled. I found a very vbac supportive provider and a fantastic doula. 19 days ago, I went into labor naturally at 39 weeks and 3 days. After a very short, powerful, and very supported labor, I had an amazing hospital VBAC surrounded by people who believed in me and my body’s ability to birth. It was a mostly natural birth and I got something called a paracervical block at the end to help me through the last bit of transition. It was the single most powerful experience in my life and I am so grateful to the people around me who trusted and believed in the safety of vbac.
I am 5′ 8″ and started the pregnancy at 133. I gained 21 pounds and ended my pregnancy at 154. I continued to exercise and stay active throughout the full 9 1/2 months, ate (fairly), and just trusted that my body knew what it could do. For me, the exercise was less about how I looked and was more to prepare for the work ahead during labor. i wasn’t going to let anything stand in the way of getting my vbac.
At 19 days PP, I have 7 pounds to lose to get to prepregnancy weight, but am really not worried about that bit. It will come off with some work. I think that my body looks pretty good for being so newly post partum, but even better, I feel wonderful! I feel empowered, loved, and worthy of being a mother. The post partum depression is non-existent and I am really proud of fighting for the birth that I wanted.
Photos:
1st: 37 weeks pregnant with my husband and son
2nd: 19 days post partum
3rd: 19 days post partum
4th: My two boys
July 2nd, 2010 at 7:32 am
Congratulations, Catherine!
July 2nd, 2010 at 11:51 am
Thank you Jill!! I love the Unnecesarean website. It is full of much vital information. It helped inspire my determination to VBAC.
July 2nd, 2010 at 2:09 pm
You have a beautiful family. Congratulations on your VBAC. I loved your story and the work you did to ensure you achieved what you wanted for your labour! You look fabulous
Congratulations!!
July 2nd, 2010 at 5:17 pm
Just what I needed to hear
July 3rd, 2010 at 4:10 pm
Congratulations! We have a cute hapa baby like you. I’m glad you got the birth you want but would like to add that even though I had to have a scheduled a c-section, I still feel like I gave “birth” to my baby. Enjoy your family!
July 5th, 2010 at 12:09 am
p.s. you look amazing!!
July 5th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
u look amazing!! what kind of workout did you do?`
July 6th, 2010 at 10:43 am
@ Kay, I did all kinds of stuff really. Yoga, walking, running, toning classes, light weights, that sort of thing. I tried to make sure I did something at least 2-3 days a week, even if it was just a walk.
July 11th, 2010 at 5:55 pm
I can’t believe you gave birth 19 days ago!! You look AMAzING!! Congrats on the birth of your children!
July 12th, 2010 at 2:36 am
You look lovely in these photos!
November 5th, 2010 at 8:31 pm
I am petite but we look a lot a like PP. I just had baby number three 16 days ago and my second VBAC.