Welcome to another Birth Story Friday on the MamasteFit Podcast. Today, we have an extraordinary birth story from Monica, who experienced a precipitous VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) that resulted in an unexpected car birth. This thrilling account highlights the unpredictable nature of labor and offers valuable insights on how to handle a fast labor, including what to do if you find yourself delivering your baby in a car.
Monica's Birth Story
Monica discovered MamasteFit on Instagram in 2021 during her pregnancy with her son. Due to the pandemic, her local hospital wasn’t offering live birth education classes, so she and her husband enrolled in our prenatal exercise program and online birth class. This preparation proved invaluable, especially as she approached her second pregnancy, hoping for a VBAC after an emergency C-section with her first child.
Monica was determined to have a VBAC despite facing skepticism from her doctors, who doubted her pelvis was adequate for a vaginal delivery. She diligently practiced stretching exercises and pelvic opening techniques from MamasteFit, focusing on flexibility and creating space within her pelvis.
As her due date approached, Monica faced the usual anxieties of VBAC moms—would she go into spontaneous labor, need an induction, or face another C-section? After scheduling a C-section due to a solar eclipse causing hospital scheduling issues, Monica went into labor that very night.
If you want more daily workouts to support a strong pregnancy as you prepare for birth, join our online prenatal fitness programs!
MamasteFit is unique in that we are one of the ONLY prenatal/postnatal training facilities in the United States. We develop our workout programs from our experience of working with in-person pre/postnatal fitness clients and work closely with physical therapists to refine our programming. In addition, we are birth workers, so we combine our experience as perinatal fitness trainers and birth professionals to ensure that our programs actually support your birth preparation and recovery!
Our prenatal fitness programs are offered in several formats:
- 40-Week Prenatal Strength Program in the Teambuildr App:
- This program is a self-paced workout with shorter demo videos. This is ideal if you like to workout in a gym setting and prefer a traditional workout delivery format.
- This program syncs to your current week of pregnancy, so you can start anytime, with one-time payment or month-to-month payment options.
- This program has a full and mini version, depending on how much time you have to dedicate to workouts!
- Prenatal On-Demand Fitness Program:
- If you prefer to follow a video as you workout at the same time, this workout program will be the best option!
- This program syncs to your current trimester, so you can grab the trimesters you need!
- Birth Prep Workout Program:
- If you already have a workout routine or you only want birth prep-focused workouts, check out this program!
- This program includes full-length workout videos to follow as you workout at the same time.
- Prenatal Yoga Classes:
- If you want prenatal yoga, join our prenatal yoga program! This also syncs to your current trimester.
The Unexpected Labor
Monica’s labor began around 10 PM. Initially thinking it would be a marathon like her previous labor, she tried to rest through the contractions. However, the intensity of the contractions quickly escalated, leading her to realize that this labor was progressing much faster than anticipated. By midnight, she informed her husband, who had not yet slept, that they needed to prepare for the hospital.
Despite her belief that they had plenty of time, Monica’s labor rapidly intensified. She labored on all fours in her master bathroom, feeling the urge to push without realizing it. With the stormy weather and the urgency of the situation, Monica and her husband decided to leave for the hospital, but not before her water broke, signaling the imminent arrival of their baby.
The Car Birth
En route to the hospital, they faced another challenge—a stopped train blocked their quickest route. With contractions intensifying and the baby’s arrival imminent, they diverted to an alternate route. Monica’s labor was so advanced that she felt the “ring of fire” and knew the baby was about to be born. Realizing they wouldn’t make it to the hospital in time, they pulled into a brightly lit Walmart parking lot.
Monica’s husband called 911, and with the dispatcher on speakerphone, he prepared to catch the baby. In a surreal and awe-inspiring moment, their baby girl was born in the front passenger seat of their van. The couple was both stunned and overjoyed as they held their newborn, waiting for emergency responders to arrive.
What to Do If You Have a Fast Labor or Car Birth
Monica’s story underscores the importance of being prepared for any scenario during labor. Here are some tips if you find yourself in a similar situation:
Stay Calm: It’s easier said than done, but remaining as calm as possible helps you think clearly and make informed decisions.
Call for Help: Immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Inform the dispatcher of your situation and follow their instructions.
Prepare Your Space: If you’re in a car, pull over to a safe location. Lay down towels or blankets to create a clean area for the birth.
Follow Your Body: Trust your body’s signals. If you feel the urge to push, it’s likely that the baby is coming soon.
Support and Catch the Baby: If a birth partner is with you, they should be prepared to catch the baby. Support the baby’s head as it emerges, and ensure the baby’s airway is clear.
Keep the Baby Warm: Once the baby is born, place them on your chest for warmth and cover both of you with blankets or towels.
Wait for Help: Continue to follow any instructions from the emergency dispatcher until help arrives. Focus on keeping yourself and your baby calm and safe.
Monica’s birth story is a testament to the unpredictability of labor and the incredible strength and resilience of mothers. Her preparation, trust in her body, and ability to stay calm under pressure resulted in a safe and empowering birth experience, even in such unexpected circumstances.
For more inspiring birth stories and expert advice on prenatal fitness and birth preparation, tune into the MamasteFit Podcast and explore our resources online. If you’re looking to prepare for your own birth journey, consider our programs designed to support you through every stage of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery.
Prenatal Support Courses
Learn the science of pregnancy and birth to take the mystery of labor away! Understand why you are feeling what you feel, and learn strategies to confidently move through pregnancy and birth!
- 9h+ of Video
- Support Group
- Close Captioning
- 5 Workouts/Week
- Gym Workouts
- Self-Paced
Instructor
GINA
Workout on-demand with our prenatal fitness workout videos! Each workout is 30-40 minutes to follow along as you exercise at the same time!
- Birth Prep
- All Trimesters
- Mobility Work
Instructor
GINA
Find comfort and relief from pelvic girdle pain throughout your pregnancy and postpartum period! This program incorporates myofascial sling focused exercises to stabilize across the pelvic girdle joints.
- 3 Weeks
- On Demand Workout Videos to Follow