My son was born via an emergency c-section, something I was not prepared for, nor a true participant in outside of being cut open. The care providers I had hired failed me, and left me feeling like I was incomplete as a woman, like I would never be able to give birth vaginally and I ached.
My recovery was hard. Infection, post partum depression. I sunk further and further, and ended up sliding to the point I was no longer caring for me or DS and it was something I couldn't handle watching.
I got back on my meds, pushed to lose the rest of the baby weight and got healthier. Low and behold I found out I was pregnant. And that is when I found ICAN. The support, information and friendships I have gathered from this amazing group fo individuals helped support me through the pregnancy with my daughter. The change of providers, to a VBAC friendly provider. Knowing that other women had forged the path ahead of me, and had been successful made me even more determined to do what ever I could to make the best foot forward in attaining a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean, just a note).
Come August 10, 2010, I added a success. My DD was born, vaginally, no pain medication outside of a 40 minute period where the paracervical block I had allowed me to focus my contractions. I held her immediately. I didn't get to hold my son for almost 4 hours. The difference in my experiences was night and day.
I stand by the idea that an informed patient makes informed decisions. That doesn't just apply to childbirth, but across the board. It is why I will stand with my ICAN sisters on Saturday, at a Cersarean Awareness Rally, to encourage other women to become informed.
So much more I can say, but I will leave it at this. ICAN and I did. VBAC.
