"Successful VBAC with MGP"

I recently had my baby at KEMH under the guidance of the incredible MGP 4/5 midwives.

After a 3 day labour which lead to an emergency caesarean 2.5 years ago with my first, I was really hoping to achieve a natural birth mainly for the recovery physically and mentally.

I joined all the Australian VBAC support groups on Facebook and listened to podcasts on VBAC as well as some wonderfully insightful episodes on the great birth rebellion and read birth after caesarean by Hazel Keedle. I felt like I had prepared my mind the best I could and did my best physically to get baby in the optimal position pre birth.

My primary midwife changed when I was around 35 weeks and I was thankful to be assigned a midwife who was equally as supportive that I could have a natural birth. I felt safe, heard and confident that I had the right people on my team.

At 36 weeks I met with the KEMH obstetricians (an OB and a snr OB) which was terrible. I felt I was given every scare tactic of having a natural birth without a cannula or CTG Vs, the one negative of repeat caesarean being a weakened area where my scar is…. No information on what I can do to help have a natural birth given I was wanting a VBAC and very much felt like I was being swayed for another caesarean without the honest risks being discussed for the major surgery (higher risk of infection, higher blood loss, scar tissue adhesions, long term pain, blood clots ect)

I was told I’d be induced at 40 weeks for no other reason than I would be due. I left the appointment with no intention of seeing them again unless s*** hit the fan during birth, with full faith in the midwife team who are trained for the natural and normal, no part of my pregnancies had been high risk other than now wanting a natural birth after caesarean.

At 40+2 I had contractions in the afternoon and overnight that I stayed home for as long as possible, I called the midwife at 5am (now 40+3) to let her know and by 6:30am I was having at least 3 contractions in 10min. Drove to KEMH and were met at MFAU by a lovely midwife Jessie at 8am - i was 3cm, and then my care was taken over by the incredible Ginny from MGP, not my primary midwife but an absolute angel. I’d taken in my ideal birth plan and had a wireless monitor put on when we got in the birth suite which was taken off once baby’s heart rate was recorded and I laboured under the shower in the dark with a Doppler monitoring the baby’s heart rate very regularly but I was left with my husband exclusively and student midwife and Ginny coming in and out to see how I was progressing. The birth pool wasn’t even half full before I could feel baby’s head and by 10am I had successfully birthed my baby naturally in the bathroom with no instruments or drugs for the pain - just an incredible team of women and my husband cheering me on.

I felt so safe with the women from the MGP and Ginny was instrumental in keeping a close eye on me while letting me deal with my labour and then giving me all the encouragement and coaching to birth my baby. In such a vulnerable moment I couldn’t have felt safer.

I’ll recommend continuity of care under a midwife until my last breath, they’re amazing