VBAC

Lollipop my friend used Marianne and Dr Dumbrill and all was fine. It was her first birth so not Vbac, but I think this is your best bet. x

Mystic just read that link of yours from Marianne John and couldn't help but feel for once I am in the right hands. Case in point :

Saba was seeing her obstetrician, Dr Douglas Dumbrill, for regular checks at the Vincent Pallotti Hospital in Cape Town.

Been reading this thread for a while now.

I just want to say that you are your own advocate. I know how much gynaes can bully. I saw one as a stand in and he didn't even know me and tried to push me into a c section.

It is your body and your birth so while the gynae has to give you all the concerns that he has, he also has to support your wishes and you need to tell them this. I think it is time that we start asking the gynaes for the postitive aspects of a natural birth. Seems none of them remember what they are.

The birth is just the beginning of a constant need to speak up when it comes to your life and your child's life so you might as well start now.

Why am I so passionate about this, well I am that c section, hysterectomy mommy. I have one child and no chance of having any more. I wasn't even conscious to be able to give permission for my hysterectomy. I am not saying it was totally a result of the c section, however things may have been managed and noticed sooner had I had a natural birth.

I am really proud for all of you for standing your ground. This is such an important time of your life, one that you only get to experience a couple of times so unless there are really truly obvious reasons for not going natural then I don't see why you can't go Vbac.

Claudia, super! I agree on all points!

Mysticdoula, are you a doula? I would love to chat if you are as i'm training to be one. Why would you have to use a state back up? You can still use a gynie at a private hospital as back up.

Logan'smom, did you tell them its a vbac? They don't normally do vbacs at genisis. But a private midwife will do it at home especially if you have a doula's support. And then you can stay with dr T as back up or go to femina. I am over the moon that you are not giving up but going for what you want! Go empowered mommy!!

Hello Ladies

Thanks for all your support.

So I have an update... hubby is totally fine. Did some maths and research and realized that Genesis Clinic isn't THAT far away and I wanted to go there from the start.

I have made some calls and got appointments with a midwife and backup gyne. And the can fit me in YAY. My medical aid will pay. A friend of mine had her birth there and she says it was amazing.

What really irritates me about the gynes's is that they underestimate our intelligence. You would swear we are all illiterate without any access to information. We are not going on Kamakazi quests to kill ourselves and out babies, we are making informed decisions.

Ok rant done, super excited to go and meet my new midwife!

@Claudia_B

Well said!

I hope with my next to have a homebirth VBAC, if I can find a midwife to support me. It means using a government facility as a back-up, but I have faith that my body is perfectly capable to do what it needs to, with the right support. The idea of all the interventions in hospital for a VBAC just don't seem conducive to success.

I really enjoy what Marrianne Littlejohn has to say about VBAC.

Sorry to hijack this post, but seriously gynaes in SA really PEE ME Off.

1) If women just "couldnt" give birth naturally we would have died out as a species long ago.

2) The more C Sections you have, the more likely to have severe complications including the need for a total hysterectomy, so what if women want big families - not everyone wants one or 2.

3) Yes a planned C section is better than an emergency one, but I would rather my baby get the oxytocin from normal labour (the synthetic stuff they give does not cross the blood brain barrier) and there is more evidence coming out that this is important for long term brain heath (less incidence of ADHD, depression etc in the baby, plus lower PPD in mom)

4) SUrgery is risky, and I'd rather try avoid a hospital aquired infection.

5) Gynaes clearly do not care about a succesful breastfeeding relationship because birth interventions do make it more difficult to achieve (obviously not impossible)


arghh, is it any wonder SA is 2nd highest for surgical births in the world (and still an appalling maternal and child mortality rate)