VBAC SUPPORT

Excuse me for popping in . For some reason I can't explain, I am also very pro-natural (don't know why I feel so passionate about it).

Zee13, I want to share 2 stories with you. First one is my friend's birth of her twins (this past Saturday). With her living in the UK, a selective C-section was not even an option (where it is the norm for twins in SA). She was induced at 38 weeks (which I do have an issue with, because there was no reason for not waiting for her to go into labour on her own). The induction failed, and unlike what would happen in SA, they didn't rush her in for a C-section, she just had another induction. Her boys, one weighing 2.98kg and the other weighing 3.01kg were born without any issues after the second induction. They looked so alert on the pic she posted on Facebook.

Second story is about a baby that was too big for natural birth (not). When I was in hospital for the birth of my daughter in 2011, I talked to the one daddy about his son that was born the same day as my daughter. I was walking around in the ward with my LG, which his wife could obviously not do yet, as she had a C-section. So this daddy told me his wife had a C-section as the doctor told them the baby is big and waffled on about the risks. The next day, just before I was discharged (day after giving birth, another thing that she could not do), I saw this big baby for the first time. I, being blonde and having forgotten what he said about the baby being too big for natural birth, then said to him: "Awe, he is so tiny. My daughter will flatten him if she sits on him". I guessed he weighed something like 2,5kg max. Big baby my .

One more thing, I got an induction with my daughter at 38 weeks, because of the amniotic fluid being too little (and gynae gave it a week before she made the decision), and it so happened that it was before a long weekend. You can guess what happens before a long weekend in the labour ward. They ran out of beds with all the babies being born. I counted on the board and there was something like 32 babies in the ward. And guess what, only 3 natural births. All those C-sections just so that the gynaes didn't have to work over the long weekend. If a gynae says a C-section must be done, I won't easily be convinced that there is really a good reason for that decision.

Zee, if you PM me your email address, there is a book in PDF format that I can send to you about natural birth stories.

Its all in the mind hey! I didnt attend any hypnobirthing course - didnt even know something like existed! Its what i wanted and i set my mind to it! It helped that the sisters at the hospital encourage a all-natural approach, and my husband was the BEST birthing partner i could have asked for! He really took the antenatal classes - a BIG help and definitely recommended - to heart and encouraged me throughout! Dont think i would have had a totally natural birth without him! My best "doula" - hehehe!

I liked the fact that if there were complications we were in a hospital already!

Anthea, that's incredible! no pain medication at all? what did you do to prepare yourself for it? Hypobirthing, antenatal classes? did you have your own private midwife or the hospital sisters are good enough?

Zee - if you read back on this thread you'll notice Hasie and I had great stuff to say about Femina Hopsital.... i had a totally natural birth (no painmeds or epidural) at that hospital in 2010. Am due in 2013 again and will be going that same route again... My gynae (Dr Marais) is also at that hospital and is fantastic... Pro-natural birth!

I'm in the east rand, will be having the baby at Femina in Pretoria ( that's where my Gynae is).... heard there are a few midwives there. I just need to convince my fiancee to support the natural route.

Yes, there are some gynaes who are truely pro-natural - sadly few and far between, but still. A midwife is a great way to go.

Which area are you in?

Ag no, I doubt i'll go for a C-section now. which is why i'm researching the natural route.... Will chat to my gynae on my next appointment and check if she's pro-natural if not i might have to think of a midwife as so many ladies have had a good experience through them.