In 2016, I had a complicated cesarean. My daughter was breech and I ended up with a crash cesarean resulting in internal organ damage; furthermore, she was born with a complete cleft lip and palate, so breastfeeding was not possible. In spring 2020, as the world was locking down for Covid, I found out I was having a baby boy, due in September. I wanted to try for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) to reduce my risk of complications and to heal emotionally from the complicated cesarean. My OB-GYN advised me to stay home as long as possible, as my designated hospital was not known for encouraging VBACs. I woke up on August 29 at 4:30am, 2 weeks before my due date, having mild contractions. I ate, read a book, and timed my contractions and tried to be quiet so as not to wake anyone up. By 6:30am, the contractions were strong so I woke up my husband and we dropped our two girls off with a family friend. We dropped them off at 7:20 and raced to the hospital. Luckily the hospital was only 2 miles away. I showed up fully dilated and ready to push. I would have had my son in the parking lot if a bystander hadn't brought a wheelchair. I had to sign a consent paper and do the rapid Covid test after delivering my son. It was an incredibly healing birth.
My Drug-Free VBAC During Covid