My husband and I are planning to try for another child later this year, and I am looking for a new doctor (I really liked my doctor, but she does not seem open to VBAC)---I ended up with an unplanned c-section with my son after being induced---after several hours of labor, he was not tolerating contractions well, and his heart rate began fluctuating. My doctor thought it best to do a c-section, and, given the circumstances, I did too. There was no physical reason why I could not have delivered naturally---in fact, up until about an hour before the c-section, everything looked great.
The c-section itself was fine, but I couldn't help feeling that the birth process was very "detached"---I am sad that I did not get to experience a vaginal birth, and would like to try for a VBAC this time. I would still like to deliver in a hospital, but need a provider who is willing to let me try for a vaginal delivery. I have been doing some research and read about Dr. Brendan Mitchell with Women's Care (delivers at Shawnee MIssion, which I understand is one of the only area hospitals that allows VBAC's)...anyone have any experience with him? Also, possibly Jeanne Ward, a nurse midwife. I would appreciate hearing anyone else's experience with a VBAC.
Thank you for all of the advice! I went with Dr. Mitchell and am very happy with my decision. He has been very open to VBAC and is helpful and encouraging.
Dr. Wickstrom is awesome! I know her on a personal level and really think she's amazing! I go to Dr. Mark Finkelston ( if you're okay with a man) and he offered to do a VBAC for me, even though I didn't choose that route. He's very practical and I would think he would be open to the idea, but I know that he determines what he thinks is "right" on a case by case basis. His office is outside of SMMC on 75th and Antioch, right off I-35.
Also remember to check with your insurance - my SIL insurance didn't allow for a VBAC, so had she gone ahead and delivered vaginally THE BIRTH WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PAID BY INSURANCE.
So - double check what is allowed for payment.
Good Luck.
Hi! My situation was very similar to yours. My first was a c-section after a "failed" induction at 39 weeks. The doctor who delivered my first told me at my 7 week appointment with my second that she would "let me try" a VBAC, but she really didn't think I would be able to deliver naturally due to my failure to progress the first time and a "narrow pelvis." Well, she was wrong. My first was 7lb 12oz, my second was 9 lb 2oz and delivered VBAC. I have a million pieces of advice for you, because I know how much my VBAC meant to me and I want every woman to be able to have that. I will try to keep it to a few bullet points, PM me with ANY questions.
- Educate yourself so you can make truly informed choices. Not a choice that a doctor scares you into or a superzealous earthmomma guilts you into, your own choice.
- Do everything you can to keep yourself healthy and low risk. Exercise, eat right, give your body every advantage.
- Stay positive. No one can control the type of emergency that leads to an emergency c-section, so put that out of your mind. Let yourself believe that you can have the birth that you missed.
- Surround yourself with support. Hire a doula with VBAC experience, take classes like Bradley or hypnobirthing to meet people who are supportive of mom's choices, attend ICAN meetings.
- Eliminate the mentality that your doctor will "let you" VBAC. To quote my 4 year old, your doctor is not the boss of you and certainly does not get to make healthcare choices for your baby. No one can perform surgery on you without your consent
You might have to make hard choices. I chose to go to 41 weeks 5 days before I consented to low dose pitocin induction. Did my doctor "let" me? Nope. At one point I just walked out of her office and went home because I would not allow an early induction that I knew would end in another c-section. I ended up getting "fired" as a patient because I "took control of" my own care. In the end, I was able to have the VBAC that I wanted after only 8 hours of labor. By about 4 hours into it I was also med-free, as my body took over from the pitocin. I am NOT some crazy, live off the grid person. I use disposable diapers and wear a suit to work. But I learned that the world of childbirth is a lot more complicated than following doctor's orders, and sometimes mother knows best.
I felt the same way with my " first c-section"...
second pregnancy my Dr. was going to allow me to try a VBAC. Around the 2nd trimester they realized i had placenta previa and VBAC was not an option.
So i had my 2nd c section..emergency... placenta broke at home with contractions, i almost bled out.
Just not meant to be i guess. Make sure if you find a place to do it that they are equipped to handle a emergency cesarean while you have already started labor.. lots of things could go wrong, better safe than sorry.
best wishes
My 3rd delivery was VBAC, and only afterwards did I discover how unusual it was to have a doctor and hospital so open to the idea (and didn't even occur to me that my insurance company might not cover it!) My doctor did tell me that, if the delivery was prolonged and putting too much strain on my uterus and the scar tissue from the c-section, then of course all bets were off and she'd do a c-section. Thankfully my delivery went very smoothly!
With that said, I do understand that a doctor usually won't even consider VBAC if it's been less than 2 years since the c-section.
Good luck with your search . . . I don't live in your area so unfortunately a referral to my OB/GYN won't help you!
I have found that is it is not so much the practitioner but the hospital that they practice at that drives this decision. One OBGYN friend told me that it has to do with wither the L&D has a dedicated anesthesiologist or not. Most hospitals have roving anesthesiologists, that are not as available for emergencies, and no Dr. wants to do a crash C-section (no anesthesia what so ever).
with my deliveries, my 1st & 3rd were vaginal, Pit Drip-induced. My 2nd was a c-section....& my 1st was almost a c.
No matter what you'd like, there are no guarantees. My vote is for the hospital so you are well-prepared for what could be "to come". Good Luck.....
I ended up having a c-section with my first (my situation is quite different, I was on pitocin for nearly 24 hrs, hard labor for over 12 of that and never progressed beyond a 5). I use the Women's Health Care Group in Overland Park. (Dr. Estrin is who I have used since '92!) And she was completely open to me doing a VBAC with my second. (It didn't work out, I went 1 week beyond my due date and still showed no signs of effacement! UGH, has to due with a "minor surgery" that was done when I was 16)
My doc had said that she would not induce for a VBAC (has to do with the increased intensity of the contractions and the weakened tissue from the c-section) so you have to be able to go into labor on your own. (Hence my problem.)
I have never been anything but happy with WHCG, the worst that can happen is you call and talk to one of the Drs. ;-)
Truly, best wishes! J.
I've had two VBACS and planning to have another in Sept. My last VBAC was with Jeanne Ward. I liked her and all went well.
Goodluck!
I had a VBAC at St. Luke's on the Plaza. My doctors were with Obstetrix (Dr. Lu, Dr. Wickstrom, Dr. Gibbs). Dr. Lu did my c-section (2nd baby) and Dr. Wickstrom (female) did my VBAC (3rd baby). She was VERY supportive and excited that I was open to doing a VBAC. My 1st child was a vaginal delivery, so I know that put the doctors' minds at ease.
Here is some information I was given. You can't really "plan" a VBAC. My doctors told me that I would need to go into labor at home (water break, start contractions, dilate, etc) and come to the hospital in labor. That is exactly what happened. By the time I got to the hospital I was 3cm. They gave me a tiny dose of Pitocin and my labor continued. I arrived at 6am and the baby was out at 12 noon. Dr. Wickstrom said my VBAC was textbook!
She warned me, though, that if I hit 39 weeks and was showing no sign of labor, then they would not use extreme measures to induce me. I could not have Cervidil because it could weaken my old c-section incision on my uterus. She also said I could not labor very long--more than 12-15 hours because that could also weaken my old incision.
Oh, and I had my last baby there in July 2010 and they opened a new mother/baby unit shortly after that!
Best of Luck!
