VBAC

As rumour has it the reason Genesis hasn't happened in Ct is because there is a by-law restriction on a 'private facility' having an operating theatre because of the high cs rate!! If they wanted to open it would have to be without a theatre on the premises which would mean emergencies would need to be transferred out to the existing state or private hospitals...not such an ideal situation.
As Hasie says, gynaes/obstetricians SHOULD NOT be seeing normal healthy pregnant women...that should be left to the experts of natural births...MIDWIVES. It is really hard to be an independant midwife in CT as the obstetric back -up is very hostile, so these poor midwives are stuck btwn honouring the wishes of their clients' (moms-to-be) and maintaining a good working relationship with the few gynae's in private practice. Women need to stop assuming that the dr knows best!!! it's your body...YOU know better!! Obstetricains cannot divorce themselves from the training they received...that birth is an emergency waiting to happen...and that you (drs') must do something to make it happen whereas the midwifery model of care sees birth as a normal physiological life event & to just "let things happen....

This is such an awesome thread! Congrats to all the ladies on standing your ground! Hasie, how cool you're training to become a doula!!!!

Does anyone know anything about the Genesis clinic that was supposed to be opened in Cape Town?

As some of you have mentioned above, the most annoying thing is that many gynaes are not upfront about their preferences and pretend to be supportive of natural birth until you hit the 34 week mark. My gynae (Dr. Gaertner just like Lollipop) pulled that kind of stunt, too. When I presented my birth preference sheet to him he felt personally offended and became very defensive, saying things like "you know things that only medical students in their final year should know, stop reading so much" and informing me about maternal and infant mortality rates with natural birth. All of that behind the background of me having lost my first child at 27 weeks and anyway being a nervous wreck!

After this conversation with him, I was even more determined to get the birth I wanted! I knew I had to have a positive birth experience with this baby in order to be able to heal emotionally and move on. In the end, Lilly arrived at 5 in the morning (drug free vaginal delivery) and I was so glad the sisters had to ring the a***h*le out of bed!!! He still thought he had to have the last word though and told me the following day that I should really consider an epidural or even c-section next time around, as I wouldn't have torn and things would've been more 'controlled'! Uhm...ja, right!

I'm quite glad my next baby will be delivered in Germany, where maternal care is midwife driven and elective caesars are a big NO! They even deliver twins naturally there most of the time. And guess what, Dr. Gaertner: the maternal and infant death rates are amongst the lowest in the world!

Good luck to all the preggie ladies! You can do it!!!

So true Spiral, its just so importand to get the right care in your first pregnancy, but most people are naive and just goes with what a gynie says. In my opinion, we shouldn't even be going to gynies as our primary care givers, we should go to midwifes and have gynies as back ups.

Logansmom, I'm so glad you found a midwife willing to do a vbac at genisis. That is great!!! When are you seeing her? Would you mind telling me who it is? I'm just getting into this doula thing and really would like to get to know who supports what and where. I hope you have a great birth experience, keep us updated!

If I can reply on mystic doula's behalf and as a doula myself - you would use a state hospital as back-up for a vbac or homebirth if you were not on medical aid. You have a much better chance of an hbac& vbac with a state facility if you can find a midwife that will support you. South African women have no idea how hard it is to choose wisely when trying for a natural birth the 1st time round. As I'm sure you are all seeing just how much harder it is to try for natural after a cs!

I agree completely Justine. My gyane joked early on and said when you get called out at 3 in the morning you vow never to do another natural birth, but was kidding. He was totally supportive right till the end.

I also feel that if they say upfront that they are pro c section then you can change gynaes which lets face it is why they don't. Instead like you say they wait till you are 37 weeks and then all of a sudden they have all these concerns!

Logansmom, well done for standing up for what you want.

You know, I dont have a problem with gynaes prefering Csections. That's their choice. I personally feel its preferable to birth with a midwife rather than a gyane anyway for a whole myriad of reasons that I wont go into now. and that is my choice.

I DO have a problem with a gynae who professes to support you in a natural delivery while all the time knowing that come the sticky, unconfortably, scary end of pregnancy its as easy as pie to talk you out of it.

HONESTY is whats important. Our medical professionals need to be upfront about what their preferences are from the first appointment. Then we, as their customers (as well as their patients) can make an informed choice of whether to stick around or find someone else.

Hasie - Yes (thats why I am so happy)

The midwife I am seeing has experience with VBAC. Aparently they are nervous of VBA2C there, but they will help me.

Thanks very much for the offer but what I like about Genesis - I can go in the minute I am labour if I feel nervous. There is a Gyne on standby in case of emergency. Then I can be in a supportive place without having to make round about plans. Plus I have a moral issue with using someone like Dr T who knows my views and wishes (and the reason I changed to him) and still disreguards me.

julzdylan, thanks for those words. And I am so sorry to hear about what hapened to you.