More and more women are overcoming the old adage 'once a cesarean always a cesarean'. Worldwide, the rates of VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) births are increasing as women become better educated and are opting for a 'trial of labour' over a repeat cesarean. 

Ellen's story is one example of successful VBAC.

Birth Announcement:

Who: Kayla Ai Porter-Bhassi (Meaning 'Pure Love' /of Greek and Japanese origin)
Darling Daughter of Bal and Ellen
Little Sister to Kynan Zeke
Born Where: Thomson Medical Cntr, Singapore
Born When:  26th August 2004, 19.50hr's (3 days past edd)
Born How:  VBAC (Vaginal Birth after C/Section) Natural un-medicated labour and normal birth)
Weight: 4.14 kg's
Length: 52cm
Head Circumference: 37cm
Looks:  Like big brother Kynan.  (Black hair, brown eyes, squashed ears, but with bigger nose, sharper chin, longer head, and chubby just like him)


Birth Story- A Brief Overview:

Labour proper started 9pm 25th August.  SMS'd my doula (birth assistant) on and off through the night, while Bal and Kynan slept. Next morning granny came to watch Kynan while Bal went to hand-over stuff at work.  I chatted w her on the sofa and went to our bedroom w each contraction.  Kynan played.  As contractions got closer, cdn't get to the bedroom on time, so got up and leaned over the sofa back.  Every now and then Ky asked 'Mommy ok?', but wasn't particularly concerned, as I'd already explained it all to him well in advance. Granny on the other hand said it was hard to watch, but i assured her the pain was really not very bad, and I was a long way away from delivering.

Bal came back around noon , and called for my doula, as i was feeling tired of standing/ leaning.  Needed her to show me some new positions.  He drove Kynan and Granny to her place.  Ginny, came around 1+pm and said i was doing just fine.  She stayed a couple of hrs, helping me w pain-coping techniques.  Went for a break around 3pm i think.  Not long after, contractions changed, much stronger, i was howling and thought mb i needed another position-change.  Bal called Ginny to come over.  In the meantime, he helped w lower-back pressure/massage.  After a few such contractions, my waterbag burst all over the bed!  Bal was shocked and surprised... It was an expensive mattress!  I thought it was quite funny! Another bad contraction... Bal called Ginny in a hurry.  'Where r u?' 

Ginny soon arrived, and w each contraction I was bearing down already. 'I can feel it coming' I said. 'Let's go to the hospital' someone said.  'No I can't, the baby's coming now...Ginny?'  'We can call Paul (my ob), now, and ask him to come; or we can leave for the hospital now, she commented.  Bal didn't wait for my response, 'Come, we're going now!'  he said firmly, as he pulled on my elbow.  I obliged, as they grabbed my bags and helped me out the door, to the lift, and into the car... What would the neighbours think I thought... Clothes dripping wet, barefoot, no make-up, hair a mess..., and hobbling....!

Well, Bal drove to the hospital like a madman...me in knee-chest position, head banging into the door handle with every sharp turn he took; Ginny kneeling behind me, easing my lower back/ sacral pain w each contraction.  my head hurt by the time i got to the hospital!  A few more contractions and i was settled in Delivery Room 6, hanging on to the tap and basin at the wall.  A nurse checked baby with a doppler, and all was well.  Paul arrived and put on his gumboots.  I guess it was ok to push, because i don't remember him saying not to. That means when I arrived around 5pm , I was already fully dilated and over the worst bit?  Hoorah!  I'd actually managed successfully to labour at home w/o any meds.  Now i just had to push.  So easy I thought... Well, so near yet so far...

After moving from the basin, to the birth-stool, and finally to the bed, I was worried that the time was drawing closer to 9pm ... That wd mean I'd have been labouring 24hr's (ie no sleep/ only sitting/ kneeling back briefly between contractions.  A cheese sandwich and some isotonic drinks were unable to sustain me much longer.)  I felt exhausted.  I wanted the world to stop for an hr,  so i cd take a bath perhaps, or even run away and not come back!  I felt like a trapped animal, desperately wanting to escape, put a stop to the fiasco, to run away and keep my baby firmly inside of me!

As the time drew closer to 8pm , I was becoming more and more fed-up. I shook my head and put up my hand in protest.  'Stop!'  But they didn't.  They kept telling me I cd do it.  Towards the end, Paul, Ginny, the nurse, and even Bal chimed in.  Then, after what seemed like forever, I asked Paul to help me with vacuum extraction. Eventually he agreed, but it was one big con! (Or so I later discovered...)  I thought he was helping each time I pushed.  So eventually I wanted to get it all over with, and just kept going despite the pain and exhaustion.  I felt like I couldn't breathe, and Bal couldn't find my inhaler, so a long breath of pure oxygen had to suffice.  Not long after, I birthed baby Kayla. 

It was so so amazing to finally hold this heavy creamy white vernix-coated bundle in my arms. Screaming in all her chubby natural naked beauty.  Slick black hair and dark eyes, wailing her welcome to the world.  Daddy cut her cord.  We all had some bonding time and admired this new little life.  The placenta was birthed w/o me even noticing, and Paul repaired a minor tear.  Compared with his normal professional appearance, he seemed somewhat in disarray.  Very un-Paul-like indeed... Sweaty shirt clinging and hair disheveled, but beaming a big smile! 

Daddy followed Kayla for her checks, Paul said his goodbyes, and Ginny helped me into a lovely tub of hot water. Then she promptly started tidying up, and continued her seemingly endless tasks. She foresaw my every need, and patiently watched over me as I lingered in the bath.  Ginny, a true gem I could not have done without.... Saw me through the worst, but somehow made it feel the best! 

After thoughts...

Ginny: for pregnancy, labouring, and birthing, my doula was someone I could trust to be there for me with the questions and the answers on hand.  She helped give me the confidence that this birth could be different. She helped provide the facts for my husband too, so he was more aware and supportive of my options, and the decisions I chose to make.