XP - HBAC?

liv97

Anyone trying for a HBAC?  Are you seeing a doctor at all as back-up?  I had super early onset pre-e last time, but everything is going well so far (at 17 weeks), and we're definitely crossing our fingers that we don't have to set foot in a hospital this time.  Our OB from last time is gone, and all the current ones aren't very vbac friendly, so I think we're ditching the OB and just sticking with a midwife. 

SoxChamps

I am seeing a hospital based midwifery practice that my midwives are associated with as back up. Mostly so that in the slim chance that we have to transfer, I like knowing that we won't be met with bad attitudes. Plus they will have my file there and I use them so that my lab work goes through our insurance. Plus I can pre register at the hospital so that I wouldn't get charged for not having it pre approved if we had to go.

iris427

I'm glad you posted over here.  I think HBAC is a good option for moms who are comfortable with home birth, especially when you don't really have any good options for a hospital VBAC.  Ideally, we would all be able to give birth in hospitals without any risk of having unnecessary interventions, c-sections, doctors worrying about getting sued, stupid hospital policies that don't make sense, etc.  But that's not reality in the US right now.

I think if you choose HBAC, there is a small possibility that a rupture will occur that will be better handled in a hospital.  But you balance that risk with the larger possibility that a hospital birth will end with interventions and a c/s that you didn't really need.  Some people are more comfortable with the first risk and some are more comfortable with the second risk.  It's all a matter of what seems best for you.  

I don't have any studies on HBAC but there is one on VBACs done in a freestanding birth center.  Since birth centers and home births are similar in their capacity to respond to a sudden emergency (no OR, they have to transport you), I think it has some helpful information.  The authors of the study say they think VBAC should happen in hospitals but if you look at the data in their abstract, the VBAC success rate is very high and the rupture and mortality rates are very low.

https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Abstract/2004/11000/Results_of_the_National_Study_of_Vaginal_Birth.9.aspx 

nosoup4u

My sister had one, she did shadow care with hospital-based MW. They did call her MW and get a letter confirming she had a healthy pregnancy after her daughter was born, just in case she was ever given a hard time about it (BUT, CPMs aren't recognized in IL - I don't think it would be necessary if they're legal in CO). hth

ShansBride

we are having a HBAC any day now

I am not seeing a doctor as a back up or anything, but if we had to transfer, depending on the circumstances, we may or may not be heading to a VBAC friendly hospital.

I also want to add that I agree with that Iris said about choosing your risks.  Just like we have to choose the set of risks we are more comfortable witih when deciding whether to VBAC or ERCS, we have to choose the risks we are more comfortable with when deciding to have our babies at home or in a hospital.

I had my first VBAC in a hospital with a CNM and while everything went fine (I got there pushing), I didn't like how I was treated and I didn't like how they tried to push interventions on me even in just the 30 minutes I was there.  After that experience, I feel safer at home than in a hospital and for us, the risk of being at home if I were to rupture feels better than the risk of something happening with unnessesary medical inverentions. 

MissyOlivePants

I am going for an HBAC and about to interview midwives.   I will not be seeing an OB, but have to have one sign off on a homebirth (there is an OB in the Miami area that will meet with many couples at a time who are needing the sign-off).

babyike

I just moved back to TX from CO.  Not sure what area you're from, but I had a waterbirth VBAC with the midwives at UC-Hospital in Denver.  My experience was phenomenal to say the least!

I also know of a fellow ICAN member that had a wonderful HBAC in the Denver area as well, but I don't remember if she had shadow care or not...

If you haven't already, try to get in touch with your local ICAN group and attend some meetings.  The group of ladies in Denver are AMAZING!  GL!