Lisa, a BWF mama and doula, sent in these pictures she took while supporting her good friend Helen. She says,
“These photos of my dear friends water VBAC in April this year. I am a birth doula but when Helen asked me to support on her journey towards her planned VBAC, it was the first time I would be doula for a close friend. Nothing could prepare me for the emotion I felt …I’m so glad I picked up my camera at just the moment that I did because I never tire of soaking up the raw emotion in these pictures. Seeing her bring baby Ollie to the surface while her amazing partner Craig had his first experience of a vaginal birth will stay with me for the rest of my life. We cried. Tears of pure joy. I’m still in awe of her.”
Just love Daddy’s face…
Welcome to the world Ollie. He weighed 9 lbs 6 oz.
A supported, hospital water VBAC! What a high and the smile shows it!
Recommended Reading
VBAC Birth Pictues, Intimate and Special
Faith and Healing: A ‘Post Dates’ Home Birth After a Cesarean
VBAC Birth Story
Deep Rooted Faith Leads to a Healing Second Birth
The Long Journey Home: An HBA2C Story, {Part V}
The Long Journey Home: An HBA2C Story, {Part IV}
An Unplanned Home VBAC!
Two Amazing Hospital VBAC’s!!!
My CBAVBAC – Cesarean Birth After VBAC
A Long-Awaited Natural Birth: My VBA2C
14 Comments
Lisa
Thanks for sharing Mrs BWF! Big love and respect going out to YOU too!! x
Brittany
hooray! how awesome! rockstar mama! what a ROCKIN hospital too!
Lisa
Also love that the MW and student MW are COMPLETELY hands off and literally sat at the side of the pool watching and waiting once she was in there. It was tough getting them to finally ‘allow’ her in the pool. The MW in blue in the background was the one ‘without fear’. We went the whole night pushing to get in that pool and she stuck her neck out. The fear of them never having had a VBACer birth in their pool was always in the background. And now these very pictures are on the walls in the hospital promoting water VBAC. What an achievement for this mama!! Yes she IS a ROCKSTAR!!
birth smart
Gorgeous. There’s always an amazing pioneer who does something for the first time! Bring on the positive change . . .
Sarah
This is an awesome post!! I had all my babies in the water, but where did she find a hospital that allows waterbirth??
helen
@sarah the Hospital is Russell hall in Dudley West Midlands, England. i was really lucky to meet a woman Named Andrea who has started up a vbac clinic supporting mums own birth plan. i was very lucky to have their support although shaky at times, i had a brilliant doula who also gave me empowerment. it just proves that times can change and everyone can get the birth they want if they get educated and think positive about it.
kim
How lovely to see theses pictures
sky
Great pics,made me teary.I love the look of wonderment on dad’s face.How fantastic that she found a hospital that would allow water birth & a vbac at that,that’s a rare thing indeed.
mikkiroo
I’ve had 3 c-sections and am hoping for a hospital vbac water birth in June. Thanks for sharing!!
Tina
I doulaed for another woman who had a VBAC in that very pool in November 2011! Big thanks to Helen for paving the way 🙂 xxx
Rachaelle
Well done on acheiving such a wonderfull experiance.
It was after reading your success story that i made Russell Hall my hospital of choice to have my 4th baby.I requested a waterVBAC at my 1st consaltant app and fully expected to get the consent,how very wrong was i!!After months of fighting for my right to birth the way i wanted,i was finally given the “go ahead” only to have it withdrawn at 38weeks, with no offer of explanation, only that the decsion has been made(by 3 male consultants )to with draw the option of water VBAC.The sucess rate of these water VBAC’s was really good and at last women were gaining control of there birthing experiances so why oh why did they have to pull it from under our feet???When i first went in to the anti-natal ward there were posters and litreture of VBAC and water VBAC all over the information boards,they have sadly all been taken down now.So in a nutshell,dont waste your time trying for a water VBAC at Russell hall,it is no longer an option,sadly.
Everyday Miracle Doula
rachelle. Please don’t give up. You don’t need anyone’s blessing to go ahead with your plans. Please get in touch with Tina who commented above you. She’s a VBAC advocate on the ground in the midlands and can help you. x
Rachaelle
I am so pleased to be able to announce the safe arrival of my 4th Baby who was born on 30/06/12 @Russell hall hospital and “YES” i got my water vbac!!I
It saddens me to think that i may well be the last wvbac that is allowed at Russell hall,my experiance was AWESOME and the most inpowering thing i could imagine it made the horrendous fight to get there well worth it.
I wish all women on what ever birthing journey they are on strength, hope and the support of many.xx
Wendy
I would love to find a hospital that supports VBAC waterbirth. None of the ones around here will even allow you to labor in the water if you’ve had a c-section! Mikkiroo- I hope you’ve gotten/will soon get the VBA3C waterbirth you’re hoping for. Please post a birth story when you can (I’m a birth story addict) :).