VBAC SUPPORT

Hello ladies

Gloie@ alot of ppl have been giving me lists of Dr's to see but most of these Gyneas cost R700-R1300+ for a consult, only to arrive and get a "no, I don't backup anymore" 2hrs waiting for the Dr to arrive then only seeing him/her for 10+-min, R1000 paid and you get a no. Its frustrating.

As much as you stand a better chance of a vbac with a midwife there are times and locations that just don't allow it and your only option is a doula and gyneas.

I'm also wondering if maybe the doula would be able to labour with md at home or hotel 2 blocks away from the hospital so if i need to get to the hospital asap I'm there in a flash.

I will be trying some homeopathic meds and reflexology as alot of ppl have sworn by those. Hoping the amount of exercise and healthier eating will help me alot with having a successful vbac.

love the pic Gloie, I can imagine holding that bundle in for 20min felt like ages

Hi Ladies,

Just came across this pic of a successful VBAC in America. Apparently mom drank A LOT of raspberry leaf tea...This seriously made me smile.

Her post text:

So I got my vbac no drugs , I also made the fergus news as I delivered my son in my car on the way to hospital I held him in for as long as I could as soon as I saw hospital I said screw it and pushed him out could hold him in any longer I had been clenching my butt for 20 min !

www.babycenter.ca/thread/998561/my-vbac-...scape-#ixzz3E7fU7w00

Hi Ladies,

Nels_n: I agree that we just want a plan drawn up so that we can stop hopping around between doctors!

Hasie, what is your opinion on staying at home as long as possible (taking in mind we are considering VBAC's)? I would also prefer to stay home for as long as possible. If one would get a doula, could one phone the doula and ask to come to your house (obviously not too far away) and check if all is well before one goes to the hospital too soon?

Nels, I am definitely doing the hypnobirthing as soon as my first trimester is over and I feel better again! I am sure your doula would be able to recommend good antenatal classes in your area too.

Hi ladies

thanks for the explanation Hasie.
Gloie@ you have the same concerns i have.

I have a feeling my last resort will be a gynea and doula combination as i cant keep going from gynea to gynea, its financially sound.
I am meeting with some doula's soon.

I'm hoping to labour at home as long as possible to avoid being strapped in bed like last time.

I'm also considering antenatal classes to prepare us for the birth.

Hi Hasie,

Thank you so much for your detailed reply. The way you explained it makes sense to me now - about rather getting a doula. I am still surprised to hear that a doctor in this day and age (even at Femina) will still opt for you to lie on your back while giving birth. There is so much information that this is not the best way to birth, it seems kind of outdated that they would still encourage it this way.

It is very reassuring to hear that the safety of the baby is first!

I am so excited about the open day!

Sorry, my mistake, yes it is Dr Boshoff.
At Midwives-Exclusive, they don't take chances, they will call for help from your back up gyni if it is needed. I know this, because I recently experienced it at my own birth where I was going to do a home birth and developed special circumstances during labour and we decided to ransfer to Femina BEFORE an emergency situation arises, then my back up OB came in and helped as well. And I still gave birth naturally with a bit of help.

The situation that you describe with midwife and doctor, isn't going to work medically. Who would take the responsibility for the patient? The midwife would have to stand back and be a doula. So it would be better to rather then have a doula - doctor combination because a doula never takes medical responsibility and it would also be a lot cheaper for you.

You will meet doulas at the info day at Midwives-Exclusive. But I still say, having a midwife and doula is the best birth team for most moms. Remember a doctor WILL let you birth on your back, they just do that. A midwife is an expert in natural birth and like I said, our midwifes don't take chances, they are not going to put you in a dangerous situation, when your situation becomes a high risk situation, they call the doctor.

Hi Ladies,

Hasie, thank you for all the info. Yes, the midwife told me on wednesday that Dr. Suliman is out of the question. I thought she said Dr. Boshoff is the new back-up doctor - perhaps my pregnancy brain is in full force again! I just e-mailed Midwives exclusive for their next open day work shop - thank you for letting me know.

I was so impressed by the midwife from Midwives exclusive. My husband was still very sceptical about the VBAC and the midwife route but after he saw the birthing unit and spoke to the midwife he was totally converted. We both felt it seems as if they have the perfect balance between a natural active birth style and being aware of keeping mom and baby safe first at all cost. I find it a bit a scary if someone seems so set on natural birth that they will be willing to endanger the baby and moms life to persevere to a natural birth - at any cost. I never got this feeling from the midwife that I spoke to which really assured my husband and I.


I still have a lot of homework to do in terms of who my caregivers are going to be and what my medical aid will pay.

Dr. Swart said that he can do my checkups until 20 weeks and then midwives exclusives can take over from there and then I can use one of the back-up doctors for midwives exclusives.

On why the Gynaes seem to stop supporting the midwives...Dr. Swart explained to me that he runs 2 practices and he basically doesn't have time to do it anymore. This actually makes sense to me. If he gets called in for an emergency in the middle of the night while he is already on standby for his own clients as well, this can become quite busy! I understand it correctly he then also has to act in an emergency situation with a patient that he never monitored and should something go wrong he needs to report and take responsibility for the emergency. To me this does not sound like such a good situation. Personally I feel there should be perhaps a higher fee for a back-up Gynae that will probably be rather paid by the patient and not the medical aid. It seems like a big risk they take for they pay-off.

One thing I wondered about but don't know if it is offensive to a midwife: Can a doctor monitor you through your pregnancy and perhaps you see the midwife 3 times during the pregnancy and then on the day of the labour the doctor is still the main caretaker but the midwife supports you during the entire labour? Or does that mean you are going to have to pay 2 caretakers around R10 000 for each person's involvement. I am still trying to figure out how all of this works...