Since we moved to another town, I would be looking for another Doctor to have this baby. I did consider a homebirth and met with a midwife. We both prayed about it. My husband was not at peace with a homebirth, but would pray about it while I sought out options for this birth. I kept having the thought that I could have a VBAC. It just seemed the right way to go, instead of another major surgery. Six sections seemed like enough to me!! Through some referrals I found a Doctor about 1 1/2 hours away that would consider a VBAC if I scheduled a section and then when I went into labor, went to the hospital and refused the section. Somehow, I knew this would not work, as I needed to walk into an environment where I knew I would have people on my team, wanting me to succeed.

Remember earlier I told you that I had read “Silent Knife” by Nancy Cohen. I found her website and contacted her via e-mail sharing my testimony and my desire to have a VBAC. She e-mailed me back and gave me her phone number to call her. I finally made contact with her and we talked. She gave me the name and number of another midwife that has done over 3000 births including a home VBACs.  She has flown around the U.S. to help women with "difficult" cases. She read my testimony and said she would pray about doing my birth. She would fly in ten days before my due date, start labor and leave after the baby was born.  We prayed and waited to hear from the midwife about her decision. Meanwhile,
I had gone to a scrap booking party and over heard a gal talking about her  Doctor in the same town where I live. She said he was "naturally minded".  This caught my attention. I asked her his name and called and made appointment with him. Before the appointment, the midwife e-mailed me and said she very seldom says no, but she just could not do my birth. She wished me the best and asked me to let her know when the baby was born.

My next step was to go to the Doctor in my hometown. I was so very nervosas he reviewed my records. After all, it doesn't look that great!! I have” white coat syndrome" anyway. He spent 3 hours with me. We talked about the  politics of medicine and philosophy of birth. He was anti-abortion and proceeded to tell me he would support me in a "trail of labor". This was  before I even asked!! The Lord was obviously opening the door for a vaginal birth. I e-mailed the midwife back to let her know what I had found and asked her to share her apprehension with me. She said she was excited for what I had found and that is exactly the situation she would like to  have me birth in. In the hospital with the medical support needed in case  of an emergency. I now had a total peace and my husband felt really good  about this decision. I continued on with my pre-natal visits.

My blood pressure was starting to climb, but did not get out of control. It did become an issue at the end, but not a major problem. I was exercising  everyday and watching my diet. I was concerned about gaining too much weight this time, as I started out over-weight. I did the glucose tolerance and it  came back high. One of the concessions I had to make going to a medical  doctor. The doctor gave me the option of doing the extended test or just  doing the "diet". I did the "Zone" and my blood sugars were perfect. As result I only gained 19 pounds. This was an answer to prayer. I read about 30 books, including several Christian books, during the second half of my pregnancy to prepare my heart and mind for the VBAC and to fight the fear that enemy of our souls wants to defeat us with.

The Doctors plan was to break my water 10 days before my due date. He felt that by breaking my water there would be less pressure on my previously ruptured uterus and scar. He also felt better about having more control of the  birthing process. At this point, I trusted him and knew I would have to make some concessions in order to have a vaginal birth. My final appointment before the scheduled induction my blood pressure was up and I was instructed to go home and stay down. The doctor would schedule my induction the next night instead of waiting two days. The hospital refused to take me at first, at all, because of my history. They changed their minds, as the head nurse said they could not legally refuse me a trial of labor. However, they would not take me on the weekend due to inadequate staffing. By this point, my blood pressure was stable, but my pulse was very fast, I think just the stress. We went in to do a stress test and the
baby was fine.