Today, I feel betrayed. I feel defective. And I am angry about it.
3 years ago, I had a c-section for a breech presentation. I do not think typically that breech babies need to be delivered via c-section, but doctors don't do vaginal breeches anymore and I was delivering with a doctor. But I digress.
I have double horizontal cuts, which is what they want you to have for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). I thought that, because I had the ideal cuts, I would be set for having a great birth with my next child.
In the state of Arkansas, midwives aren't allowed to attend VBACs. Some will do them "under the table," so I called around with no luck. My next option is an unlicensed midwife. So I've been in touch with the 2 I've been able to find in my area. I spent about an hour on the phone with one last night and the verdict was: you must NOT have had a single layer closure on your internal incision.
A midwife posed this question to me several months ago, so I called the OB that delivered Spencer to ask. Her standard is, guess what?, a single layer closure. This is the same OB who, at my consult about 3 weeks ago, said "vaginal birth is overrated" and "in 30 years you won't care that all you had were c-sections". Nice. Somehow I doubt she sewed me up nice and tight for my VBAC.
I'm terrified of going to the hospital. Hospitals in this area are very VBAC hostile. In fact, I'm pretty sure at least one of them has a "VBAC ban". The last thing I want is so many interventions that I have to have a repeat c-section.
I feel so betrayed by the OB who preformed my c-section. All I've wanted, from the time my complications set in with Spencer, was some normalcy. I thought this was my chance. I am bummed.
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About Me
- Mandy
- Young-ish mother of 3 very wild boys. Head marriage compromiser. Shepherd to many animals. Avid reader. Dedicated friend. Rounding the last corner of a Master's Degree in Library Science.
2 comments:
Don't give up! I had a homebirth VBAC after two c-sections. It was the hardest thing I ever did. It sounds like you are doing all the right things - investigating your (limited) options. When I was planning my VBAC, I found the following website very helpful:
http://vbacfacts.com/vbac/#FFR
Also, join the mothering.com community support boards - you might find some more local leads there (if you haven't already done so).
I am a firm believer in letter writing, letters can make a difference. Please write to ACOG and let them know of your concerns about limited VBAC options:
Douglas H. Kirkpatrick, MD, President
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
PO Box 96920
Washington, DC 20090-2188
And definitely write a letter to the OB who claims you "won't care" about c-sections in 30 years. I had my first c-section 10 years ago and I still think about it every day.
Good luck with everything!
Well first off... congrats! I am so excited for you! Secondly... don't give up. I hope for your sake that you find out that you can successfully have a VBAC. I know you wanted a midwife, but have you talked to any other OB's who might be open to a vaginal birth? If I had another one, I have no options. They did a classic C-section.. vertical cut. not that I am having any others.. we are done. I wish you luck sweetie. I know how much it means to have some normalcy.
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