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Unmedicated VBAC with MW Whitney Pinger & Doula Rose Quintilian
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Anonymous
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I wanted to share my birth story here to encourage women whose goal is to have an unmedicated birth and/or VBAC. On Sunday afternoon, I welcomed to the world an amazing baby girl via unmedicated VBAC with my stellar midwife Whitney Pinger at GWU Hospital. I truly believe that this VBAC wouldn't have happened with any other in-hospital practice in this area.
I began having contractions a little before noon on Saturday. I continued about my day normally, cooking dinner and caring for my son. I had an in-home prenatal visit scheduled with my wonderful doula Rose Quintilian, also a Hypnobabies instructor, for 12 noon. She came by and timed my contractions and gave me some tips for preparation for labor. My contractions continued throughout the day and, by evening, I was convinced that this could actually be the real thing. I labored some in the shower, in the garden tub and in bed while listening to my Hypnobabies CDs. Around 12 midnight, the contractions were coming closer and began requiring me to focus and work through them a little more. Imagine my disappointment to find that I was only 1 cm, 50% effaced when I arrived at the hospital. Around 6:25 a.m., after laboring some in the bed and some in the shower, my water finally broke. By 7:30 a.m., I was at 4-5 cm. I labored more while doing some squats and swaying in the shower. Transition hit around this time and I started to feel the urge to push. I began demanding an Epidural and feeling that this was not what I signed up for (as all the books said I probably would). Thank goodness, Whitney, Rose and my DH all reassured me that I WAS doing it and could do it WITHOUT meds. Around 9 a.m., I got into the tub which gave me some relief; pushed some on my back in bed while watching progress in a mirror (which I did not particularly like but now appreciate because I learned to push properly in this position); tried the squat bar which seemed useless; and then moved to the toilet to continue pushing. Within a few hours, my amazing 6 lb, 2 oz. baby girl was born via an unmedicated VBAC with NO perineal tearing & only a very minor internal vaginal tear (thanks to Whitney's coaching & warm compresses)! Many thanks to Whitney Pinger, my women's healthcare hero, for being such a supportive, committed, patient and knowledgeable health care provider. She demonstrated a genuine interest in the outcome of my birth and created a homebirth-like environment at GWU, balancing both the effective use of medical technology and the advantages of the midwifery care model. She made me feel completely comfortable and safe throughout my birthing experience. I truly believed that, if my VBAC was going to happen anywhere, it was going to happen under Whitney's care and WE DID IT! She was an unbelievable provider before, during, and after the birth. Also, many thanks to doula Rose Quinitilian for her nurturing and encouraging presence. She was there to remind me of all the reasons I did not want an Epidural and all the reasons I wanted to avoid a c-section. She incorporated Hypnobabies code words into my labor experience and was a calming, reassuring presence for me, reminding me that I was doing great when I felt like I couldn't go on. I am a believer and now witness that, with the right provider, the right environment, and carefully selected birth team support, unmedicated VBACs are attainable even here in the DC area! Best wishes to all you women out there who are seeking an unmedicated and/or VBAC. There are many naysayers but I say, YES WE CAN! 
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Anonymous
| Congratulations! Fantastic story. Thanks for sharing! |
Anonymous
| What a beautiful story! Congrats OP. I also delivered with Whitney. I agree she's great. There's a reason she books up so far in advance. |
sybersus
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| Congrats! |
Anonymous
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I'm 12 weeks with #2 and have started seeing Whitney and her team with the same goal for a natural vbac - so I appreciate and am encouraged by your success. Congrats! Thanks for sharing your story! I'm going to think of it for encouragement the next time I'm having a pity party over Whitney's diet when I really really want a donut. (not that I think her diet alone is going to guaranty me a successful vbac or anything, but every feather in your cap helps...) Thanks again - enjoy your new and improved family!
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Anonymous
| Absolutely inspirational. Congrats! Kiss your sweet baby for me! |
Anonymous
| When did DCUM turn into the Mothering forums? |
Anonymous
you're a sourpuss. off you go.
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Anonymous
| I had an unmedicated VBAC at WHC earlier this month, with Kandice from the Family Health & Birth Center. It was awesome, and I think it's not that uncommon. |
Anonymous
| Do they have tubs now at GWU? I gave birth there in July and they only had showers.. wondering if they added tubs with the midwife practice. |
sybersus
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I've heard they now have one aquadoula tub. |