Fighting for my Right to VBAC - UPDATE -Decision Made

[Quail_Antwerp]

OK I'm super torn about what to do - I really really really like my Dr. and this is the first thing we've disagreed on (VBAC)

I have found a hospital within 30 minutes of me (currently the hospital I would deliver at/c-section at is 45 minutes away) and they allow for Mom's to VBAC.

These are my options:

1) Talk to my Dr on Tuesday (next appt) and tell her I refuse to consent to a RCS and possibly have her refuse to treat me and be forced to switch doctors. (They have said they would be OK with releasing me NOT in a snarly way, but understood if I wanted to switch Dr's so I could VBAC)

2) Not say anything to my doc and continue to see her, but if I go into labor go to the hospital that allows VBACs and just tell my Dr. we went to the closest hospital (wouldn't be a lie). Pro would be I have chance for VBAC Con would be, if I needed an emergency c-section a doc I don't know would be doing it OR

3) Switch docs and hospitals providing I find a doc that accepts my insurance and delivers at the VBAC hospital. or

4) Absolutely refuse to sign consent for c-section with current doc and hospital. And no clue what the repercussions would be out of this.

The other hospital that allows VBACS only has 3 doctors that support VBACS.

there is no medical reason for me to NEED a c-section this time.

the ICAN website says I can LEGALLY refuse to consent to a c-section, even if VBAC is against hospital policy.

I just am not sure what to do. I have 8 weeks to figure something out.

Advice?

 

[big brown horse]

My sister's first baby was c-section, the last 3 were VB. She used a midwife for all of them, obviously needing the er too for her first. That is about all the advice that I can give, cuz that's all I know.

 

[rhoda_bruce]

My last birth was VBAC. A little history. I had 3 vag births within 7 years. Then I had placenta previa, which was closely monitored. I was told that the problem had corrected and I could go natural, but apparently that was not correct because on 5-3-07 I began to hemmorage. So I got my first ambulance ride and first C-section and felt horrible about it. Was very glad I had a live baby though. But I thought C-section was my only method of birth. I spoke with my old labor and delivery instructor from nsg school, who suggested I study about VBACs.
I had a problem talking to my doctor about it. He was nervous doing a VBAC. But from all I studied it was more dangerous doing a section. There were a few problems that could occur with VBAC, but that could be erased by allowing mom to go into labor on own. Apparently too much pitocin can cause serious problems. Doc was afraid I would have too much of a big baby, but from what I read the danger was greater with the pit than with the big baby and advised him that if he didn't want a big baby he needed to find a time machine because thats all I have, etc.... Anyway he agreed to try, but naturally I needed a delivery room set up for 'double set=up'....I think they always do that now anyway.
Question: Why did you need a c-section to begin with? Sometimes the reason is stupid and the mother realizes later that the doctor should have waited.
Also: have you ever delivered naturally? Because a second vaginal delivery will be easier than if you have never done it before.
Going natural 4 years ago helped my self-esteem greatly. I felt bad remembering that I once could have babies in a normal way and those years thinking I no longer could was not well with me, so going VBAC restored something I felt I needed.
If you gonna talk to your doctor, ya'll should both be completely honest, but if he/she doesn't satisfy you, don't give in, unless the doctor is truely right in this case. I am with you, but if there is something truely wrong that would make you not a candidate for VBAC, you need to swallow that pill and submit to the section.

 

[DianeS]

In my opinion, you need a new doctor. One who delivers at the other hospital that will support a VBAC, and one who agrees to examine you well and with the intention to find out if your body can handle a VBAC.

There are many factors that work in to whether your body can handle a VBAC. The reason you had the c-section the first time, how the operation was completed, how you healed from it, the condition your muscle wall and uterine wall are in today (in regards to scar tissue), etc. Many women can have a VBAC, but sometimes a particular woman can't or shouldn't. If your doc supports VBACs and has performed them before, and can fairly evaluate a woman's chances of successfully having a VBAC, then you can get a fair evaluation about your own situation.

Hang in there and stand up for what you want! There's a good chance you can get it if you handle things correctly. I wish you success in it!

 

[Sunny]

Our hospital here does not allow VBACs.. They are not equipt to deal with an emergency if one arrised from it..My first child was breech sideways.. No amount of trying to make the baby move into possition would work.. I had to have a c-section.. Almost 5 years later, I was pregnant with my son.. I was wanting to try it natural since baby #2 was in the correct possition.. I was thinking about going to the next town that was 1 1/2 hours away. Im actually glad I did not do that.. And stayed with the doctor I had.. Because when I went in for my scheduled c-section, they cut me open and my son wasnt even in my uterus.. My uterus had busted open where the old c-section was.. If I had went into labor, it would have most likely killed us both the docs said.. None of the doctors around here had ever seen any thing like it.. But there is a chance it could happen, and that is the reason our hospital has the no VBAC policy.. And now because of the damage I can no longer have any more children.. They forced me to get my tubes tied before I left the hospital.. They said if I ever got prego again, one or both of us would day. And it would most likely have been both..


From my problem and a few other girls I know had problems with VBACs, although they werent as bad problems.. I agree with places that dont allow VBACs. Because the previous c-section causes lots of scar tissue.. Scar tissue does not stretch right, scared muscles do not work right.. So things can go wrong..

 

[rhoda_bruce]

A hospital is a place of business and businesses are in place to make money, while offering services and products.
For my last child, I learned that a c-section would cost over 5,000 dollars while a vaginal delivery would cost just over 2.000 dollars. The risk of uterus rupturing is real, but has to do with the previous cut....not on the abdomen, but the cut on the uterus, which may go in a different direction than the one on the abd. If it does rupture, their will be no contraction, but sever, horrible, pain and iimmediate emergency c-section, without time for annestesia. But its rare. Most women are cut in a way to allow for a VBAC. There are a few other considerations too that can lead to the problem, but they are avoidable. I don't blame hospitals for not allowing a BVAC, because I do have a business mind, in a sense and I can do the math, and I'd want the bigger money too. But when you like to do everything natural and suddenly you can't, it messes with your mind.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

But when you like to do everything natural and suddenly you can't, it messes with your mind.

and you're emotions.

I've decided to take it to prayer, and keep it there, and I know die hard VBAC supporters would disagree with me, but I can't just switch doctors.

Don't want anyone to think I'm trying to push my personal beliefs on them, so please don't take this post as "preachy" this is just my personal experience with my personal faith in God.

When we found out we were expecting our 3rd child, I prayed long and hard for a doctor who shared my beliefs. I also prayed for that doctor to be a woman. There's a definite shortage of women ob/gyn's in our area.

Not long after, I found out about my doctor that I currently have. She was new to the area, just setting up her practice after having finished her residency at a bigger hospital (bigger city), and had chose to set up her practice in her home area. On top of that, she has a deep faith in God. That was most important to me, and when we went in to interview her as our doctor, it was the first thing I asked her.

She has serene art work on the walls, with scriptures. She plays Christian music that can be heard in the exam rooms - not the rock forms of it, but the relaxing, praise and worship forms. She's very open to praying with her patients when they request it (or as in my case, when the patients demand it be charted that prayer before surgery is a must).

So my issues isn't with my doctor herself. She was an answered prayer, and I almost feel like I'm throwing God's answer back into his face if I switch doctors.

When I first found they did not support VBAC's, she did give me the option of going to another facility. I told her honestly that I had thought about it, but I do not want to give up my doctor.

Still, doesn't mean I am thrilled with the idea of a repeat c-section.

So far, our "game plan" for the RCS is to have prayer first, same as last time - and she's even been supportive of my having our pastor and whomever else wants to come pray with us before going to the OR.

After working through my emotions, and fears, and reading scriptures this morning, and talking to my Aunt who's also a nurse, I think the issue I'm having is NOT the procedure itself, but the fear of being awake for a surgery. It just blows my mind that once again, I'll be awake and someone is going to open me up.

There is also a slight fear that if I attempt a VBAC, it may end in an emergency c-section, and I don't want a doctor that I'm NOT familiar with doing that procedure on me. I'd rather it be my Doctor who's seen me for nearly a decade, knows my beliefs, knows my medical history, and who also knows how fearful I was the last time.

I also want to add, she went above and beyond herself as a doctor to make sure that all the staff knew how scared I was, and I had a great supportive team in the OR. The anesthesiologist and my personal nurse kept up light conversation with me, and at one point I remember hearing my doctor say, "I'm so glad she's carrying on a conversation and focusing on other things" and to me, that spoke volumes as to she really DID care about how I felt.

My doctor has had 2 c-sections herself - back to back, a year apart. I'm 3 years out from my last one.

I'm at this point ready to leave it in God's hands, although I am still human and am still struggling not to let it worry me.

 

[big brown horse]

But when you like to do everything natural and suddenly you can't, it messes with your mind.

and you're emotions.

I've decided to take it to prayer, and keep it there, and I know die hard VBAC supporters would disagree with me, but I can't just switch doctors.

Don't want anyone to think I'm trying to push my personal beliefs on them, so please don't take this post as "preachy" this is just my personal experience with my personal faith in God.

When we found out we were expecting our 3rd child, I prayed long and hard for a doctor who shared my beliefs. I also prayed for that doctor to be a woman. There's a definite shortage of women ob/gyn's in our area.

Not long after, I found out about my doctor that I currently have. She was new to the area, just setting up her practice after having finished her residency at a bigger hospital (bigger city), and had chose to set up her practice in her home area. On top of that, she has a deep faith in God. That was most important to me, and when we went in to interview her as our doctor, it was the first thing I asked her.

She has serene art work on the walls, with scriptures. She plays Christian music that can be heard in the exam rooms - not the rock forms of it, but the relaxing, praise and worship forms. She's very open to praying with her patients when they request it (or as in my case, when the patients demand it be charted that prayer before surgery is a must).

So my issues isn't with my doctor herself. She was an answered prayer, and I almost feel like I'm throwing God's answer back into his face if I switch doctors.

When I first found they did not support VBAC's, she did give me the option of going to another facility. I told her honestly that I had thought about it, but I do not want to give up my doctor.

Still, doesn't mean I am thrilled with the idea of a repeat c-section.

So far, our "game plan" for the RCS is to have prayer first, same as last time - and she's even been supportive of my having our pastor and whomever else wants to come pray with us before going to the OR.

After working through my emotions, and fears, and reading scriptures this morning, and talking to my Aunt who's also a nurse, I think the issue I'm having is NOT the procedure itself, but the fear of being awake for a surgery. It just blows my mind that once again, I'll be awake and someone is going to open me up.

There is also a slight fear that if I attempt a VBAC, it may end in an emergency c-section, and I don't want a doctor that I'm NOT familiar with doing that procedure on me. I'd rather it be my Doctor who's seen me for nearly a decade, knows my beliefs, knows my medical history, and who also knows how fearful I was the last time.

I also want to add, she went above and beyond herself as a doctor to make sure that all the staff knew how scared I was, and I had a great supportive team in the OR. The anesthesiologist and my personal nurse kept up light conversation with me, and at one point I remember hearing my doctor say, "I'm so glad she's carrying on a conversation and focusing on other things" and to me, that spoke volumes as to she really DID care about how I felt.

My doctor has had 2 c-sections herself - back to back, a year apart. I'm 3 years out from my last one.

I'm at this point ready to leave it in God's hands, although I am still human and am still struggling not to let it worry me.

 

[miss_thenorth]

Funny I just got this email this morning from a friend. Thought it might do you some good

Hello all, yes sorry this is a generic e-mail, but I am
suppose to be at the hospital right now.

August 8th, we had a scheduled C-section. Cathy woke me up
last night around 1 AM telling me it was time. By the time,
the babaysitter showed up, Cathy had her shower, we packed
our bags, we left at 3:30 with contractions 15 minutes
apart. By the time we got to Windsor 20 minutes away going
100 to 110 in an 80 zone, the contractions were 3 minutes
apart. Now through Windsor, we kept the 100 to 110 in a 60
zone and every red light became nothing more than a yield
sign. By the time we got to the hospital, the contractions
were 1 minute apart.

We parked in front of the hospital, the heck with the
parking lot, the security guard saw us coming, had a wheel
chair ready for us and told us to skip registration and to
rush to triage.

At the triage desk, the nurse, asked me to stay and sent
Cathy in, less than a minute later, she told me to skip the
paper work and to get into Triage with Cathy. Usually she
would be given a gown and asked to get changed. Two nurses
with my help took help clothes off and put her in her gown.
As the nurses started to examine her we explained that this
was to be a C-section that we had a C-section 16 months ago.
The reply was you are not having a C-section, you are
having this baby now.

There were no rooms ready (we were not the only source of
chaos), it seems we had more nurses and doctors than
required as they had no time to make a plan, so anyone free
just showed up. We delivered in the recovery room. By the
time she started pushing, only three good pushes were
required. Jonah was born at 4:05, 35 minutes after leaving
home. The medical staff could not believe that we did not
have to give birth in the truck.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

LOVED it, miss_thenorth! and had to read it to E - I'll admit, we chuckled a bit, but it's ironic that their experience is pretty much what I've been praying for since being told I'd have a scheduled c-section!

Well, if it could happen for them, I spose it could also happen to me

Thank you!!