VBAC SUPPORT

Aah man Widget

I'm so sorry about your bad experience with your gynae. I'm glad that you've made an appointment with a midwife who may be able to give you the answers you need.

I'm preparing myself for this conversation with my Gynae next week (then I'll be 25 weeks) and I have a strong feeling that she is going to say NO to normal/natural birth.

I think also that I hubby's don't realise how strong we women actually are and for them it's also easier if they know the exact date when things happen and we just go and get it all done, no fuss.

Speak to your husband again and explain things to him once more from your point of you.


Lots of hugs and kisses to you!!

Oh, and off course I have to agree with Anneke about the HypnoBirthing!!! I mean, how could I not take the chance to pimp my course... I have a group starting early January if you are interested!

Hi Widget!!

I feel so sorry for you and I feel like kicking your gyni in the nuts.

The truth is that a repeat c-section is MORE RISKY than a VBAC. And he's thumb sucking when he says that 80% of women who attempt VBAC end up with repeat c-sec. Its the other way around. I think (will have to check the exact stat - I don't like making things up) its around 75% of women who try VBAC are successful in having a vaginal birth. Although I don't like using the phrase successful, as it implies that having a repeat c-sec would make you a failure, which is utter BS.

Henny would be able to give you proper info. Also try Sue King, she is the VBAC queen. I think it would be a good idea to get hold of some statistics, and go see a midwife with your hubby so that he understands that you are NOT doing something to risk your baby's life, but rather choosing what is the best for you baby.

Why people think that major abdominal surgery is safe, I do not know.

Hi, Gave birth to a beautiful girl 25 October using hypno birthing techniques. Can definitely recommend. My first baby. Went to dr Peter Koll initially and he was pro natural. Decided in end to go with midwife tho. Birth was so quick midwife did not even have time to get to genesis and a sister there helped me birth. I am thinking of you. Go see Hennie or go see Marilyn Sher. Definitely do hypno birthing. You can also try TheoniTheoni for this. Details on the genesis site under courses. Your gynae sounds like he only does cesarean so I would definitely find another gynae. Koll very good and as mentioned very pro natural even on VBAC. Also try dr Maasdorp at genesis. My theory always been a hospital is for sick people. Try genesis. You are healthy and able bodied!

Hello everyone!

Kiewiet I really look forward to reading your stories when you have the time. In the mean time hope you are enjoying your beautiful new bundle of joy!

Just an update from me; I am feeling rather vulnerable and upset after my last visit to my gynecologist.

We had the fetal anatomy scan & everything is perfect. I have a very healthy pregnancy, thick uterine wall, placenta is well out of the way. Baby boy is 500 grams already!

So we sit down again after the sonar and doctor asks me if I have decided on a birth date for baby yet? And I just blink at him in surprise. So he goes ahead to say that well, I will be having a cesarean again this time and we usually do it 10 days before due date....I couldn't believe what I was hearing and my heart just sank. It was like we never even had the discussion about TOLAC two months ago!

I told him that I strongly feel that the baby needs to stay inside until his due date and he agreed to only schedule cesarean for the 26th of March next year, which is right on my due date.

When I asked him again then about trying for natural should I go into labour before my due date he was definitely not for it at all! And what's worse is he now scared my husband into believing the absolute safest and best way to deliver is by repeat cesarean. When we got home my husband said to me he was under the impression that we had agreed and decided on having a cesarean and he just straight out told me "no more natural birth". I understand his concern and I need to respect his feelings as well, so I don't know how I am going to convince him otherwise.

To be very honest now I don't trust my doctor anymore. I asked him if I need to book the cesarean with his secretary and he said not to worry he sorts that out with the maternity ward....I don't know so much about that. Come 38 weeks he is going to find some reason to convince me to have the cesarean earlier.

So this morning I e-mailed midwife Hennie from Growth spurts again asking to book an appointment because I need to talk to someone about the facts and someone who can be very honest with me about my chances of actually achieving VBAC without any damage to me or baby. I feel like I could just burst into tears. I was so happy and confident the last two months and now I feel like my gynea are just like the majority of others - promoting c-section! He is a surgeon trained in child birth, why did I not see the warning signs before?

Things that he said before like: "80% of women who try for VBAC end up having a repeat cesarean again" - that's probably in his hospital because I know this fact not to be true! But I didn't argue, I just sat and nodded my head. "You're baby will be big and you're a small mommy, now you want to try and push him out." "When you get closer to your due date you might want the baby to be born earlier because you'll be tired and uncomfortable so you could ask to have the cesarean sooner."

I just really need some emotional support, because I know in my heart that I need to give natural birth a fair chance again and I will always be sorry if I don't! I cannot talk to anybody who understands, no one in my family and not even my husband. It is just this unheard of dangerous thing that I want to attempt in their heads & I am being selfish for wanting to put myself and my baby and the rest of my family at risk. But doesn't normal childbirth in itself do just that?? Someone once said that a women is never as close to death as when she gives birth to a child! Just because I have had a cesarean before I now have to wear this label, where has people would not even have thought twice about it if this was my second natural birth.

Hi there,

Yes yes, I agree, midwifes provides tonnes more support than a gyni ever could!! Yes. But very often midwifes and doulas works together on a regular basis! The doula supports mom in a way that the midwife can't, because her main focus is safety of the birth while the doula's focus is comfort of the mother.

Doulas are trained in using natural pain relief methods, like correct breathing, moxa, pressure points, endorphin releasing massage etc. Supporting mom, like MM said, just letting her squeese your hand. Assuring her that she is great. Making sure she drinks enough fluids and drinks and eats what she wants to. Changing the music, the aroma therapy oil, making sure no one comes into the birthing room (eg like a cleaner just quickly changing the dustbin, can add a hour onto mom's labour!!) These are things that the midwife usually doesn't do. Or at least not at any of the births that I've been to.

If I doula for a HypnoBirthing mommy, I also use hypno relaxations as part of my support role, something very few midwifes can do.

Helping dad to help mom and really getting him involved in the experience is also a big part of the job.

So yes, where its definitively easier to "go it alone" with a midwife, a doula still plays a huge role if you have her there. I for one are planning on doing a home birth with a midwife if I fall pregnant again, and I will definitely hire a doula.

Hi ladies

I see the doula debate is heating up nice to hear different views... I don't have feedback on my doula-status.....yet....

So, a bit of a scare....somebody please tell me it's normal and we'll be fine... Went for my 32 weeks check-up...we are fine...but... Baby already engaged...4/5....midwife worried if I'll make it to full-term..... Somebody pleeeeaaaaazzz tell me it's normal, or you've gone through it, that I'll be fine and she'll stay put.... I haven't even started preparing for her yet cos I don't wanna be okay with her coming...just now she sees that and comes early. And I think what freakes me out more is the stitch keeping my cervix closed, it better keep it closed and lock her in there!!! At least till 37 weeks..21 Dec..oh gosh I wish it was 19 Dec today .....