VBAC SUPPORT

Hi Ladies,

Feeling a bit disappointed that I have just found out that Dr. Swart stopped being a backup Gynea for Midwives exclusive at Femina 3 months ago...I am having my appointment with him today but after that I will have to move yet again to another gynea that does work with midwives exclusive.



I really wanted to go with Dr. Swart as 3 of my friends used him and he comes highly recommended. I am meeting with midwives exclusive after my appointment with Dr. Swart and hopefully they can assure me that there other gyneas are good options.

Hantielab - So there you have it, if you want to use midwives exclusives you are not going be able to stick with Dr. Swart.

Hi Ladies,

I can't comment on the other areas but in Cape Town your best best for a VBAC is with a midwife and back-up at Vincent Palotti. There are a couple of gynaes that will support but literally one or two at other hospitals.

I have taught about 15 moms with successful VBACs, and also 3 twin moms - one of those birthed her twins at home in water!

The right support in any of these births was the key..

Hello ladies

Sma@ wow, your birth story is amazing. I really would love a water birth as well am still trying to find a gynea that will be my back up.

Gloie@ i pray that Dr Swart gives you an all clear to go the midwife route.

hantielab@ I have read a few twin natural birth incl seeing one on the reality tv and it was awesome to watch. It sucks that it was in the usa and sa dr's seem to want csections even when its not needed.

I have joined a Facebook group called VBAC IN SA they have been very helpful and even encouraged me by giving me info on provbac Dr(from moms with experience with those Dr's). There are woman from all over the country.

i have been exercising as often as i can lately to increase my chances of a vbac. Finding a Dr has been hardest, the last gynea i went to stopped backing the midwife the week before i went to her so am on the road again of trying to get a back up gynea. Being in pmb kzn makes Genesis out of the question.
I would have Loved a waterbirth. To the point where im starting to consider a home birth as scared as i am. I really don't want a gynea, fortunately my husband with me having a midwife just not keen on a home birth.

Please let us know how things went. I really wanted to go the midwife route this time round, so it will be nice to hear other's experiences as well.

Sma, Thank you so much for sharing your positive births story!! It means so much to me to read how it can be done, while so many doctors say it can't be done! Genesis sounds amazing - just a pity it is very far away from me.
I am so glad you could have the birth you wanted and that it went so quick.
Your little boy and girl are too cute for words...I can see why you want baby no. 3....

Hantielab, ah, wow, great to hear you are also with Dr. Swart! Amazing that he is even willing to talk about twins and a normal birth - a good sign! But I agree that I would trust him with his opinion and the risks are certainly something to take into account.

I want to go to the midwifes exlcusive team after my appointment with Dr. Swart and want to hear about a combination dr/midwife approach.

Hi Gloeiwurmpie

I'm also with Dr Swart, we did discuss normal birth since I really want to. He said we can consider it if both are head down and big enough when time comes but he didn't sound to optimistic. My hubby is also scared for natural and feels the risks are to high. So I'm waiting until closer to the time and if all looks good I will press the matter again!!

I know Dr Swart also works very close with the Midwives Exclusive team, so maybe it is a good idea to go see him and then go the midwife route!!

Let us know what he says!!

Congrats Hantielab!!

Neebs, all the best on the search for good Dr. Why don't you use a midwife?
I'm in Joburg. In 2010 with my first son, GP wanted scheduled c-section cos I was thin, he basically diagnosed me with small pelvis weeks before labour. I disagreed, but when labour started he had scared hubby so much we rushed to hospital, they intereffered too much, didn't just leave me to labour, I pushed for 10 minutes and he said I must stop nothing is happening, I'm not kidding you, only 10 minutes, and this is first labour. So I had an emergency c-section. It was horrible, hardly any memories till we got home days later. Lost feeling in my legs 2 weeks after, fortunately I wasn't holding my baby, was stuck on the floor till hubby got home. It was just a blessing that baby was the sweetest thing ever, ate and slept nicely, cos I don't know what I would have done if he maybe had colic.
Late 2011 got pregnant, at 22 weeks early 2012 I miscarried. They were not really sure but assumed it's incompetent cervix. Birthed myself so no surgery was done, thank God.
Got pregnant again so quick, was surprised but so happy. At 19 weeks a cerclage was put in. It was a loooong pregnancy, but not that hard, just had to be forever careful not to strain myself.
Then I decided that I do not want to give birth in hospital, I don't want a Dr, I don't want uneccessary rules that are more for the convenience of the Dr than me. I'm all for reasonable rules and safety measures, but some are just really not called for. So I started seeing a midwife at Genesis Clinic. Wow, for the first time I didn't feel apologetic that I had a c-section and a miscarriage. Don't know how to explain it but it was like I dont' have to keep on explaining myself. The midwife totally didn't make it an issue. At 37 weeks the Genesis emergencies Dr removed the cerclage, he's totally amazing. We thought I'll go into labour latest by 38 weeks. Aaahh guess what, I went overdue hahaha. I was drinking that herbal tea, I was exercising daily, squatting, and was soo big and had the most pointed stomach haha. Nothing. So at 40 weeks midwife said it's fine we'll wait till 41 weeks, but if nothing happens then we'll induce at 41 weeks. One day before 41 weeks I went into labour!! Contractions woke me up around 3. They were manageable, only woke up hubby around 6, called midwife, arranged to go in. Now we lived in the south of Joburg, which meant we had to take the M1 north through the CBD!!! Then I was already bearing down hahaah poor hubby had to stop and ask traffic cops to escourt us hahahaahahaha. Got to Genesis Clinic around 8h30, measured, got in the tub, and it was like aaaahhhhhh waterbirth is the greatest!! Then I over-relaxed , wasn't pushing effectively, got out of the tub, just squatted down on the birthstool and she was out, it was around 9h30. And she was 3.9kg!! Yet I was too small to birth my son who was 3.4kg...mncccmmm... It was amazing, I was laughing and crying hahahaha. Family and friends are still calling my husband to find out when we are going to hospital and baby is already there. Then they didn't believe that I've given birth cos I was so talkative, I got that energy burst after, it was my husband who was all sleepy haha he looked more exhausted. I couldn't stop talking and laughing ... This was 17 January 2013, best day ever. Now baby is running around with older brother, and starting to talk and potty train, so I'm looking at all this and I'm thinking "I don't have a baby anymore", think I should talk to hubby about number 3