Before I say what I think, I want to know what other hippie mamas think. Do you approve of VBACs? Would you ever have one? How do you feel about out-of-hospital VBACs? How do you feel about VBAC bans in hospitals?
VBAC (Vaginal birth after Cesaeran section). I think it's necessary to try a VBAC. For the baby's sake, for the mother's sake. Usually scheduled c-sections result in smaller babies that have harder times latching on, and also result in mothers that are more stressed or are more likely to suffer PPD/PPP. I think it's almost better to attempt out-of-hospital VBACs because in some researrch I've done, it seems that it's the interventions that doctors make that cause the uterine ruptures in VBAC births. And I also think it's utterly ubsurd for hospitals to refuse to perform VBACs. Who are they to dictate to a mother how her child should come into this world? To cover their own ass? In the unlikely event that something bad THAT THEY CAUSED should happen. VBACs are necessary.
what hospital bans VBACS? I had a c-section with my son. While they were sewing me up I was talking about having a VBAC with my doctor. Obviously I am for them. I don't think I would attempt an out of hospital VBAC, unless I had already had a child vaginally after my first c-section. But that is just me. My doctor and I are very close, and she knows how strong I am and how important a vaginal birth is to me.
Unfortunately, more and more hospitals are refusing VBACs. They tell you you're not "allowed" to have a VBAC at their hospital, that you have to go elsewhere or have a C-section. Most women don't realize that they can show up in labor and refuse a C-section or that they don't have to show up for their scheduled C-section. I've seen so many threads on other boards discussing births where women have said "All my children were C-sections because my first was, and my doctor/hospital/state doesn't allow VBACs." This is all because of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology's new recommendations (a few years ago) that all VBACs be done in a hospital with immediate in-house anesthesia for emergency C-section. So now most hospitals that don't have in-house anesthesia are refusing to do VBACs, even though ACOG's recommendations are not rules and hold no legal bearing. Just one more thing to add to our culture of fear about birth.
My ob told me that a vbac was fine because mine was an emergency. I had already had a vaginal birth before. I just can't get induced. The only thing is, that in SC, it is illegal for midwives to assist hbvac.
Yeah, my doctor said she would let me labour as long as needed second time around, as long as my labour was progressing. The reason I had a c-section with Mandred is because the little bugger was breach with his arm and shoulder stuck in my canal... the doctor felt his fingers when checking on my dialation. So, the section was not "my fault", ergo a vaginal birth should be possiable next time around, unless my next child is also a gymnast in-utero. I think its important to have a doctor you trust, who knows what you as a person can handle and who knows and respects what YOU want. Luckily I have all of that in my doctor, as well as a friend.
