I got MY vbac!

I feel so extremely thankful and empowered.

Just a backstory, got induced at 40 weeks with my first (boy) due to high blood pressure and in the end his heart rate dropped and he was born via c-section, a very healthy 4,6kg. Fast forward 21 months later...this is my birth story with our little girl.

I started losing my mucus plug on Saturday, 27 August and had bloody show on the Sunday. My water then broke on the day before I was 39 weeks, Monday, 29 August around 11:00am. It didn't break all at once, but I knew that now we are on a clock. During the day water kept on coming out. And we then went to see my midwife, Deidre, at around 17:00 that afternoon as my husband needed to finish work, by this time I had mild contractions here and there. Deidre put me on a ctg and did a stretch and sweep to help things along. By the time we left her and went back home at 18:00, contractions started coming in stronger and by this time I was starting to time them.

I labored at home for a bit, timing my contractions which was definitely starting to fall into a rhythm at around 20:00. Standing and swaying side to side, or sitting on my gym ball was most comfortable.

By 22:00 we decided to go back to Deidre to be closer to Genesis when things got more intense. I didn't want to drive too far when my contractions got too strong. When we got to her, I was 3cm dilated.

I labored at her practice until just before 02:00am, Tuesday, 30 August when we decided to head to Genesis. By this time I was 5cm and I was moving into active labor. This bit was a bit of a blurr to me, I knew that I kept on asking to just get into the bath, I just wanted some kind of pain relief. My back labor was quite intense, but what did help a lot was a TENS machine.

I got into the bath when I was around 7-8cm dilated. And that was where I knew, the end was insight and that I'm about to do this.

At 5:00am I was fully dilated and could start pushing and by 5:53am our baby girl was born, a healthy 3,4kg. (1,2kg less than my son) This moment I will remember forever. I won't lie, it was painful and intense, but to have THAT moment is something I'll be forever grateful for.

I couldn't have done this without my incredible husband supporting me through every single contraction and the best birthing team. My midwife, Deidré Nel from Bellies and Beyond and my Doula, Magdeleen Moller. My backup gynae, was Dr RB Mia, and he is seriously just so incredibly supportive. I couldn't have done it without them. I am so grateful for them. Make sure you have a supportive team behind you! You definitely can't go wrong having Deidre by your side.

Birth story of Dante Van Wyk 2016

From our first appointment I knew I've come across a very special person. Someone who not only listened so attentively to everything I said, but in whose presence I immediately sensed such calming reassurance, something I was so desperately longing for in a society where everyone seems to question a natural birth more and more. Deidre was so passionate and genuinely excited for me, I began to feel my fears of giving birth give way to excitement as well.

There were two things I decided from the get go: there was no way I would be delivering in a hospital (as they make me incredibly nervous) and there was NO way I would deliver without any pain medications. I was absolutely sure that I wanted an epidural. However, in this journey with Deidre - and I call it a journey because she is really there for you throughout your entire pregnancy and beyond - the birthing classes we took with her helped me realise all the benefits of labouring without meds. Furthermore, her reassuring nature and positivity helped me believe in myself and my body's abilities - I could do this!

Fast forward to 2 weeks before my due date. Deidre already examined me and told me our baby's head was very low into my pelvis and he might come in the next week or so. My husband and I had our usual Friday night of homemade pizza and watched a movie on the couch. Earlier that afternoon my baby was kicking and moving about - I told him, "Well if you're that uncomfortable, just come out already, there's nothing stopping you!!" Little did I know he was planning his escape!

At 1am Saturday morning, I realised my water broke and I announced this rather incredulously to my sleeping husband. We phoned Deidre who immediately reassured me that since I didn't have any other pain or contractions that I should come in first thing the next morning for a checkup and to see how far off labour is. Let me just add, unlike the movies where a husband rushes his wife frantically to the hospital as soon as her water breaks, in real life it hardly ever happens that way. I have already prepared myself for a long labour, as it usually goes with first time mommies. But, not long after my first call, I started experiencing very mild contractions, which gradually began increasing. I was monitoring my contractions, if you could even call it that, for about an hour, and later told my husband that it was about 7/8 minutes apart. Sleepily he suggested that I get some rest in. I gave him such a look that he probably immediately regretted saying that! I wasn't in a lot of pain, I could just feel that the intensity of the contractions were increasing and there was definitely no way that I could go back to sleep!

We phoned Deidre again and since I didn't sound in pain she told me I should continue to monitor my contractions, but not to worry. However, I think her sixth sense kicked in because immediately after our conversation,she sent me a message that we should rather head to the clinic as soon as possible. I, on the other hand, still wanted to shower, clean the kitchen and get myself ready before just jumping in the car. In the shower I already had four contractions. My husband now had my phone and was updating Deidre on my situation. She kept telling him we should leave and I kept on getting ready, not realising how close my contractions were getting. My husband finally put his foot down and told me "We're leaving NOW" and some time before 5am we left our home.

We stay an hour's drive from the clinic and when I got in the car and had a contraction while sitting, I cried to my husband that we were leaving too late. My contractions suddenly felt so intense that I didn't know if we'd make it to the clinic. Then we realised that our car didn't have enough fuel, and after the third petrol station we were finally on our way. Deidre had instructed my husband that I should lie on my side with the seat lowered. If it wasn't for this, I don't know how I would've coped with the pain. With every contraction, I held onto my husband's seat's head support and tried to breathe my way through. By now my contractions were 3 minutes apart. As soon as my hubby would put (what he meant to be) a reassuring hand on my leg I would have another contraction. Not wanting to discourage his support, I asked him nicely only to touch me during a contraction, not in between :D! Sometime during the rush to the clinic, Faith Hill's song "Breathe" was playing on the radio and I could here the words "Breathe, just breathe" as if it was being sung to me.

As every contraction intensified, I could feel my body started pushing. Everything I've mentally prepared for before this moment was "Don't fight the pain", "Each contraction is like a wave, which brings me closer to my baby", "Just let go". I could feel I was making the pain worse by trying to fight each contraction. I knew I did not want to deliver my baby somewhere next to the highway in the dark in our car, but I eventually gave in and went with the wave - which now started to feel like a tsunami. I did not want to alarm my hubby by telling him I was pushing already, but as he was monitoring my contractions, which were one on top of the other, he probably sensed the birth wasn't far off, as he started sending Deidre voice notes of our location, in case we had to pull over!

At 05h15 we stopped at the clinic's entrance, and Deidre was immediately by my side. She was eager to help me get out of the car, but I stopped her, "Let me just finish this contraction first". I even tried to put my shoes back on, but both Deidre and my husband exclaimed, "Leave your shoes, come barefoot!"

Deidre walked with me to our room. I cannot describe the immediate relief that washed over me when we entered the dimly lit, warm space. I felt safe, I was in the most capable hands, Deidre was there and I could let go. She quickly checked, and I was 9cm dilated already! At this point she told me to get into the bathtub, which was already drawn for me. I had such an urge to go to the bathroom that I headed for the toilet rather than the tub! However, once in the water, the pain was so much more manageable. I could really relax and go into a meditative state. Hubby was fidgeting about with a camera, trying to find the perfect position to place it when I told him I could feel our baby's head - I could feel a hairy little baby head as he began to crown. My husband didn't believe me at first. How is it possible that it was happening so quickly! At this point I couldn't believe there was an actual baby coming out of me either, that I would meet him soon!

With my hubby right behind me and Deidre coaching my pushes, at 05h37, just 22 minutes after we arrived at the clinic, our little baby came into the world. Deidre quickly but calmly unwrapped the cord, which was wrapped around his neck twice! She handed me my son. I could hold him in my arms just seconds after he was born. No one whisked him away to be immediately weighed and cleaned. I spent precious moments holding him and soaking up the beauty of the moment. I looked up at my husband in disbelief. Everything felt surreal! After a while, baby was quickly weighed and handed to his shirtless daddy who could hold him skin to skin, such a precious bonding moment! Deidre helped me deliver my placenta, after which she helped me into the bathroom to have a hot shower. She helped me get dressed and into bed, and baby was placed on my chest. I could immediately start breastfeeding under Deidre's watcful eye, assisting me to find the best position.

My husband and I could crawl into our king size bed at the clinic, holding our baby, never leaving our sight. We could soak up every delicious moment together as a new family.

Deidre's amazing level of personal and intimate health care is nothing like I've experienced before. We didn't walk out the clinic doors to never see her again. Instead she went from my midwife to being a very good friend. Someone who visited my home multiple times to check up on me and my son, who made me feel as if she had all the time in the world for me. Someone who never got annoyed with all the text messages of a paranoid new mommy and always responded with so much patience and helpful advice.

I cannot, for the life of me , imagine my birth adventure without her. Deidre has helped to make my birthing dreams become a reality by believing and supporting me every step of the way.

Celina and Bruce

Before I begin my story, please allow me to share with you a little about myself.

The birth story of Joshua

I am 36 years old, first pregnancy, couldn’t even handle a normal headache without taking pain medication. So here I am taking up the route to have a natural birth with no pain medication- sounds hilarious right ?! In addition to this my husband can’t see blood. He squirms at its sight. Now that you have pencil sketch of me let me start my journey, an easy to crack nutshell.

It all started way before the birthing of my precious son Joshua. Deidre was apart of it from the beginning and my husband and I were truly blessed every step of the way.

On Friday the 25th October, my husband took the day off to spend with me, after a day out and a yummy lunch we got home to enjoy a chilled evening with movies. At 23h while lying in bed watching a movie I felt a warm wee sensation on my panty. I went to the bathroom to change it, thinking Joshua was placing pressure on my bladder. i went back to bed and again a few mins later the same feeling.

Deidre had already shared with us what I could expect should waters break - either a gush or perhaps little trickles or even no gush or trickles until delivery. Both Bruce and I had a little book of what to expect and truth be told we followed that book of notes Dedrie gave us to the tee.

I messaged Deidre as soon as it became clear to me that it was definitely my waters which was trickling out. She responded so quickly, calm as she always is.

Deidre told me to meet her at Oxford Maternity Hospital (OMH) the next morning at 10h. What a feeling putting my head down to sleep, knowing that it was now getting close to the time for our little baby to finally arrive.

My husband and I got to OMH around 10h the 26th October 2024, and litterally as we walked in Dedrie was right at the enterance waiting for us, what a huge relief and comfort.

There wasn’t enough rooms at at OMH upon arrival, but Deidre made a plan to administer the appropriate medication to me in an overflow room, provide me with reassurance and a calming sensation that we are a team and we got this!

O my goodness, I cannot explain what a warm peaceful feeling I had. I was not stressed. I was full of smiles and just knew the Lord had placed Deidre to be our midwife and way more.

At the point of entering OMH I had zero contractions. Just the trickling. Deidre needed to give me some medication to allow for the contractions to start and this took a while. However I ate, took a walk, and just enjoyed the day patiently waiting for the contractions to start. Deidre was with us the whole time. She litterally did not leave the hospital since we arrived and man did it make me feel safe.

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It was about 5pm that evening that the contractions started. Both the Doula and Deidre were there so assist me from breathing to natural techniques to manage the discomfort.

Deidre actually held my hand so many times and literally went on her knees to encourage me on. I will never in my life forget the absolute care I had.

Around 8:30pm or so I had dilated 10cm and was ready to push. Deidre had prepared the bath, which was the perfect temperature and truly did ease the contractions.

Joshua was in the wrong position for natural delivery so Dedrie did some robozo to gentely move his position to an accurate birthing position.

She guided me all the way with birthing our son. I listened to her attentively and ensured I pushed only during the contraction and not after or before.

When I was tired during the push she advised me to have some fluids and just allowed me to take a few seconds nap - which felt longer.

Around 9:26pm Joshua was born. My husband was allowed to deliver him with the guidance of Deidre. He was 3,4kg. I started to loose blood and immediately before I picked it up or my husband, Deidre had given me an injection to stop the bleeding. It quickly helped and literally all this time I was just enjoying our baby on my chest.

I had spend quality time with Joshua while we did the delayed cord clamping.

Deidre assisted my husband to cut the cord which was super special. And skin to skin was thereafter done with my husband whilst I delivered the placenta.

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I was able to see the placenta and sack Joshua was in for 9 odd months - quite an experience and very special.

Deidre got me out of the bath tub and did an inspection before I had a shower. My doula had opened up the shower with the perfect temperature for me to shower after birth. It was just perfect. My clothes was ready and everything was just so peaceful and beautiful. We even had our dinner waiting for us.

Soon after my shower, my doula was there to help Joshua latch to enable me to breast feed.

After this entire journey, Deidre only left the hospital 4 hours later, after checking up on me, and swaddling Joshua around 2h in morning. Deidre was therefore, with us for close to 16 hours straight, never leaving my side. The next day she came in to see us, to ensure we are well.

There was zero complications with us. I had no cuts no stitches. Joshua was absolutely perfect.

What a beautiful experience and today Joshua has grown so well, is happy and very healthy.

grobbelaar Gesin

Ons eerste ontmoeting met Deidre was in 2022 toe sy ons vroedvrou gehelp het met ons tweeling se geboorte. Sy was 'n groot seën vir ons tydens dié geboorte. Twee jaar later was ons weer swanger en het nie twee keer gedink voor ons vir Deidre gevra het of sy ons vroedvrou sal

wees nie.

Ek sal nooit ons eerste afspraak by Deidre vergeet nie. Haar passie om swanger mammas te dien is merkwaardig. Ons onthou hoe sy met soveel vreugde saam met ons vir die eerste keer geluister het na ons dogtertjie se hartkloppie. Ek het vinnig aanklank gevind by Deidre, omdat sy lief is vir die Here en ook drie dogters grootmaak (waarvan twee ook 'n tweeling is).

Deidre is sagmoedig in haar aanslag en het die vermoë om goeie onderskeid te tref. Sy het goeie kennis oor die geboorteproses en doen baie moeite om dit oor te dra aan jou. Sy het ons goed ingelig gehou oor wat gebeur tydens verskillende tydperke in the swangerskap en ook 'n idee gegee van wat ons kan verwag. Ons het gevind dat dit die tydperk as 'n geheel spesiaal gemaak het en groot opgewondenheid geskep het vir die groot geboortedag. Sy het ook moeite gedoen om ons tweeling dogtertjies in te sluit tydens die afsprake en ook na die

geboorte.

Tydens die geboorte was Deidre kalm en jare van ervaring was sigbaar in die manier wat sy die geboorte gedoen het. Ons is dankbaar dat die

geboorte goed verloop het. Deidre het selfs na die tyd nog ure van haar tyd afgestaan om saam met ons te spandeer en seker te maak dat

ons en baba goed doen.

As jy die begeerte het om natuurlik te kraam is die beste pad een wat jy saam met 'n vroedvrou loop. Deidre is 'n uitstekende vroedvrou wat

die ekstra myl saam met jou sal loop. Sy was baie ondersteunend regdeur die swangerskap en het selfs in ingeloer met ons op WhatsApp

lank na die geboorte.

Deidre, dankie dat jy 'n spesiale pad saam met ons stap! Jy het 'n goeie indruk op ons gemaak en ons is dankbaar vir God se voorsiening

deur jou! Ons hoop dat God jou en ander paartjies sal seën met nog baie spesiale geboortes!

Baie liefde van al 5 van ons!

Adriaan, Bianca, Mia, Clara en Amelia Grobbelaar

Daniel birth story

When I met Deidre that day, I just knew I wanted her as my midwife, the way she spoke, she had so much knowledge and experience and it put me at ease. The more I got to know her, it was such a relief for me to know that she was going to be with me when I went into labor that day, I felt safe with her. Sunday after church we came home and I decided to bake muffins. I also let my midwife Deidre know that I had lost my "mucus plug" and I was also starting to get mild cramps, so I knew the time was almost, very excited but still also stressful. Deidre communicated with me all the time to hear how was it going. It's my second pregnancy and people always say "oh you've been through it before" "you know what to expect" etc. Even though it's the second time I've had to give birth, it's still very stressful because HOW did I get it right the first time? It feels so unreal.

You can prepare as much as you want but at the end of the day you have to have a good team that is going to motivate you, support you and give you guidance and help, and that's exactly what I experienced, with Deidre, my husband and Chianti my doula (she and Deidre work together and I recommended a doula, specifically for Chianti !!!) Fast forward it's Monday morning and my husband keeps letting Deidre know how my contractions are going etc. Deidre was on her phone with us all the time, promptly replying and giving advice. (I wanted to work at home for as long as possible but Deidre thought well I should come to Oxford because it's traffic in the morning AND the rooms at Oxford are limited (first come first serve) it's 6 o'clock in the morning and my husband then loaded everything into the car and I went to shower, still have my cramps but not too bad, I then take my bowl of muffins that I baked the day before and have a nice snack in the car) then arrive at Oxford about 7am side I tell my husband I think they are going to send me home because I still feel FINE, What if I'm still only 2cm unlocked??

Birth story of Dante Van Wyk 2016

It all started in a fruit & vegetable store. While shopping for some fruits for Kian I started feeling some cramps. By evening the cramps were intensifying but still quite far apart, coming every 20minutes or so. I let my doula know to be on standby in case we needed to go to the hospital during the night, although I still wasn’t sure if I was actually in labour or just experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions. •••
Around midnight I started timing my contractions which were now 6-7min apart. I could not sleep. Tayla was very active, dancing around in my tummy. Around 02:00 my mucus plug came out... Now I was certain I was in labour! And then, suddenly, everything slowed down... Tayla stopped moving and my contractions were now 30min apart. What now? This was not right. Could Tayla be in distress? •••
I messaged my doula who assured me that this (prodromal labour) was quite normal for a second time mom and that perhaps Tayla had gone to sleep. She advised me to get some rest and I managed to fall asleep for a little while...
•••
Around 7am I was woken up by a strong contraction. My contractions were now 10min apart. We made the necessary arrangements with my midwife and started getting ready to go to the hospital. •••
At the hospital my midwife performed a CTG scan to check that baby was fine and to time the contractions. They were now coming regularly at 7min apart and getting stronger. I was 4-5cm dilated. Tayla was in a posterior position (facing up) and my midwife and doula suggested I go for a walk, bending forwards with each contraction to get her to turn (face down).

I managed to get as far as the hospital entrance when my doula said she was rather going to go prepare a room for me to birth in. Dewald started bringing in all our bags from the car while I stood at the little white table at the hospital entrance, swaying my hips from side to side & leaning over the table with each contraction (Thank goodness Genesis Maternity Clinic is a natural birth hospital so no one really stared too much at the woman in labour in the reception area!)

Dewald suggested we walk to the car while my doula was busy preparing the room. The contractions were coming frequently now and the pain was immense. Each time I felt a contraction coming I would stop & lean forward onto Dewald to get Tayla to turn. I was now 6cm dilated. My midwife suggested breaking my waters at this point. Tayla’s head was against the amniotic sac and very little water came out. Things progressed very quickly from then on. •••
The contractions were now extremely intense. My cervix dilated 4cm in half an hour! I was still very active during labour, standing upright & leaning forward, resting my head on Dewald with each contraction. Transition remains the toughest part of labour by far! When the cervix dilates 8-10cm, contractions are at their most intense & last up to 90 seconds with very little rest in between. Basically, you feel like you’re about to die! •••
When my legs started feeling too sore from standing up Dewald suggested I go sit on the toilet like I did when I was in labour with Kian as it helps to relax the pelvic floor muscles. I sat down & when the next contraction came I suddenly felt the urge to push. My doula advised not to push at this stage as my midwife wanted my cervix to thin out just a bit more on the one side. The bathtub was prepared and Dewald got ready to climb into the bath with me for the pushing phase. With every contraction everything in me was urging me to push. My doula helped me into the bath with the idea that the warm water would help me relax enough not to push... I am still amazed by how your body just takes over at this point. No matter how much I tried not to push, I literally could not help it! My body took control and all I had to do was surrender. Tayla’s head started emerging. At this point my midwife took over and said to just do what my body was telling me to do. Dewald did not even have time to get into the bath with me and with 2-3 hard pushes Tayla’s head was out! My midwife said to push again to get her shoulders out and with another push Tayla was out! It was the most intense and satisfying feeling all at once!
•••
Tayla was born on 5 February 2020 at 12:36, weighing 3,30kg and 52cm tall.

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