_{This forum post manually restored}

I would like nothing more than to help even one mom have the experience i had. I am hearing more and more everyday about moms who are robbed of this

experience and feel guilty, useless, depressed and cant put their finger on why they feel like this.
i am so glad to have found this website and would really like to be able to do more….
lots of love.
J

_{This forum post manually restored}

Hi Everyone

I have just had the good fortune of having a wonderfully successful VBAC (thanks to Henny and the Growth Spurt Midwives and Genesis Clinic). I am extremely

passionate about this and my first question was how can i get involved. But first – my story:
In January 2008 I was told by my doctor that i was way too small (wearing a size 4 shoe and size 8 clothes) to have natural birth. I trusted my doctor and

agreed to the elective C-sec at 39 weeks. While the C-sec experience was not a bad one it left me feeling empty and useless (that i couldnt even do what i

was made to = birth my children naturally). I didnt bond with my baby and only a year later was i diagnosed with post natal depression. While i do not

entirely blame the C-sec for the depression it definately had something to do with it. The sad thing is i have only recently bonded with my son and i still

look at him sometimes and think – did you really come out of my body? I believe that has do the with the fact that my body did not go through the natural

process of labour and birth and therefore i was unable to wrap my head around the fact that this baby came out of my body.
When i found out i was pregnant with number 2 i didnt really think about which way i would like to give birth because i was told by my doctor that i would

never be able to have natural birth now that i have had a C-sec. When i was around 20 weeks pregnant i started thinking about having natural birth – i

researched it very thoroughly (i drove everyone mad with my constant banter about VBACs). My first obstacle was my hubby who had heard all the scare tactics

from my doc – like you have a 80 % chance of rupturing and then dying etc etc = VERY HORRIFIC. I then spoke to my doctor about letting me at least have a

trial of labour and she would not even entertain the thought. My Ceasar was booked for 6 May 2010. I still could not accept this – i then came across Genesis

clinic!!! I met the Growth Spurt team and from then on they took care of my pre-natal visits. By this time my hubby had seen the light and was 100 % behind

me. At 38 weeks pregnant i was starting to get antsy because i was adiment not to have another Ceasar so i started going for reflexology then on Monday 10

May 2010 i had a stretch and sweep (2 days before i was 40 weeks). And later that afternoon i went for another session of reflexology. I went into labour

that day and ended up having a most amazing and wonderful water birth at Genesis Clinic early the next morning. My dreams and hopes were completely fulfilled

- i feel like a woman!!!!!!!!!!!!! Henny De Beer from Growth Spurt delivered my angel and man that lady is amazing – she was so kind and caring when i was

scared – teaching me to let my body work for me. The entire experience is one which i will cherish forever and never forget. I feel so blessed that i got to

have such a wonderful experience. It is a week later and i am not hobbling around hunched over all sore and swollen – i feel GREAT!!!!!! And the best part is

- no sign of post natal depression. My baby is amazing and we have bonded so amazingly – because at birth i got to pick her up out of the water and put her

on my chest – i was the first one to hold her not some stranger.
For the moms out there considering this = DO IT. But first do your research and get a midwife who you trust and let them “drive” the whole thing. Also dont

listen to other people and what they say about how you could die or your baby could die etc – that is absolute nonesense, i almost made this mistake and i

shudder to think where i would be right now if i had not carried on searching for somewhere and someone who would allow me to have natural birth. If i have a

3rd child Genesis and Growth Spurt will be my first stop for a compeletly natural and spiritually inspiring VBAC. I really want to get the word out there and

help other moms who are in the position that i was in a few months ago. I believe that the grace of God alone led me to Genesis as everywhere i turned i came

up blank.
I cannot say thank you enough!!!
Luv
Jayne
( New VBACactivist)