I heard Jaimie’s story of trusting God for a VBAC after 3 c-sections and was so touched by it that I asked if I could share it on my blog. I pray that her story encourages your faith for whatever type of birth you are asking God for and whatever season of mommyhood you are in. He is good, He is for you, and His Truth is truer than any truth in this world.
Here’s her story…
I had always had a deep relationship with my Father. I loved spending time in the Word, seeking Him and knowing Him more. And so things were no different as I prepared for the birth of my fourth child.
I was so thankful and grateful for another life. I felt so incredibly blessed that God gave me the desires of my heart with another child. And even before my pregnancy I began to think if I should ever have another baby, I would heavily consider pursuing a VBAC.
I knew the risks increased with each c-section. And I had three. I also knew the risks of attempting a VBAC after having had three surgical births. But I also knew the Lord. And I sought Him. I shared with Him my heart and my desire to have an unmedicated vaginal birth and I very much felt His leading in it all.
As I began my preparations for the birth, I knew many wouldn’t approve or understand of my plans. In fact, I didn’t share them often. My heart felt so tender and my desire so deep. It was hard to face possible rejection from those that I loved and even those I didn’t know.
I knew it would be difficult to find a doctor to support my wishes. I realized I was up against a lot. But I also knew that God was right there with me. And I clung to His promises. I held onto Psalm 1.
“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.”
God truly taught me to listen to His words. Not man’s words, not my words….His words. His words are truth. They don’t change and they have power.
It took a lot of courage for me to step out and do something different. To not just consent to another c-section, but to boldly take a step of faith and travel a new route. Alone. No other human to hold my hand and comfort me (though I did have wonderful friends and family who supported me). But no one really knew what it was like and what I had to work through emotionally, mentally and spiritually as I searched for my doctor, found my doctor and prepared for my VBAC. I faced fears I didn’t even realize I had. There were online support groups and I spoke for about 20 minutes to a wonderful woman who had succeeded in what I was attempting . But in reality, I felt alone on my journey. Which in many ways was actually a blessing as I put all my trust and hope in God. And I turned to Him when I faced anxiety, fear, sadness or uncertainty.
My water broke on the way to my 40 week check up. With that we turned around and headed home for about six hours. When we decided to go to the hospital and settled in, I continued to put my trust in the Lord and speak aloud His truths to myself. I needed to hear them. I needed to say them and it helped me to believe them even more.
In the end, I was able to have an unmedicated VBA3C. My labor went smoothly with no problems or complications. And it was really and truly awesome to have a birth just the way I was believing for, just the way the body was intended to birth. I cherished those moments with my baby as I bent down and took her from my doctors hands immediately after she was born. I held her for a good long hour undisturbed and I had never had the opportunity to experience that before. I don’t know if words could capture my feelings in those moments. I see it in my mind even now. It was the hardest physical work I have ever done. And the road leading to it – all my prayers, all my phone calls, all the confused looks and questions I received from others, I had persevered through that. I had the opportunity to have my baby as I wanted to.
Though the birth was amazing, even more so was the deepening of my relationship with God. The many months in the quiet of the night, times of turning to Him and His word and in worship, I strengthened myself in Him. I learned to depend on His Word. That I can bank on it. That I can trust it. It’s truer than any truth in this world that I know. It beats out any facts or ideas, even by doctors (and doctors can be great! And helpful and wonderful as well). But I knew that I would trust Him above anything else or anyone else at all.
The day my baby was born was also the day that I was born. It was a wonderful experience that has deepened my relationship with Christ and has allowed me to live a life in freedom. As a person who has experienced the struggle of worry, people pleasing and fear in general, I felt like the chains were broke free for me on that day. Instead of having a full time job of always wondering what bad thing might happen to me or my family, I know I can cast my anxieties on Christ because He cares for me. Knowing His perfect love through that season in my life has taught me that there’s no room for fear. Whether in childbirth or life, we can totally trust our King.
* Jaimie Schrock is a child of God, wife to a wonderful husband, mother of four, writer and professional birth doula. She enjoys her family and encouraging others. You can find her at BraveintheWaves.com or connect on Facebook at A VBAC Mom and Her Journey.
If you have an encouraging VBAC story or a way that God met you in your pregnancy and birth, I’d love to hear it below!