Gynae supportive of natural childbirth

Hypnomom, so sorry to hear about your bad experience. I'm hoping you can find someone who will help you. I understand the limitations that being on Key Care places on you, but if its at all possible, I would have tried a homebirth if I was in your shoes. You would probably have to pay the midwife out of your pocket, but then you see any gyni on Key Care's list just as a backup. Even if you don't tell them that they are only the backup... Good luck, I really hope it works out for you.

I am doing hypnobirthing and the instructor has only had mom's with Johan VanHeerden and Michelle Mark at Milnerton Mediclinic. Both mom's with Johan ended in c-section. She has a current mom with Christine VanHeerden but she's made some unusual responses with regards to that couples birth preferences. I'm currently with Johan and his disposition changes with mention of natural childbirth. He wouldn't even look at our birth preferences. Got irritated when I simply asked about waterbirths and went red in the mug when I asked about having a doula. He even makes comments like "don't even know if you can give birth." Um, excuse me? Am I not a woman? So he's out. If I wasn't on Keycare, I'd be with a midwife at Vincent Pallotti in a heartbeat! Next baby. And it is ridiculous that private hospitals cause us to be nervous...we are paying and should be treated better than being bullied into medical interventions unless deemed necessary. Pregnancy is not a disease but that's how we get poked and proded during labor these days.

I hope you find one who is. If not, just refuse. You're the one paying for the service, so you should have a say at how it's given. With my first I was in a public hospital, it was natural, as we all know, they only do c-sections if there's an emergency and pain meds are not offered. Now I'm going to a private hospital this time and I'm more stressed about unnecessary interventions, when I should be happy about a better environment to deliver in. I'm just going to refuse if they want to try anything funny, I did it the first time, who says I can' t do it again.

Johan van Heerden is very supportive. He delivered my friends two babies naturally. Was never pushy. He was my gynae too, but I chose to deliver at Panorama so changed gynaes years before having a baby. Charges medical aid tarrifs and is never late.

Maybe you can ask your childbirth educator, are you doing HypnoBirthing classes?

Are there any gynae's in Milnerton Medi Clinic (MMC)or Christiaan Barnard or UCT Netcare that are supportive of a natural childbirth? I've heard that Michelle Mark (MMC) just had a mom who did a hypnobirth that lasted 24 hrs without any medical interventions. Anyone had a similar experience with Dr Mark?