1st appointment this week: ?'s to ask?

whyhellopoppyseed

I have literally done months of research on VBAC but I can't for the life of me remember what questions or issues I should go over???

I requested my paperwork from my C-section in June 2010 to be sent to me, so I have that (we live in a different state now), which I'll give to my physician.

I guess this appt is to have our 1st sono and meet/greet the PA, and I guess at that point see if I'm a good candidate for a VBAC. They have midwives in their practice and they CAN deliver a VBAC if the OB's approve me.

 

I guess I just need some good guidence? Seriously anything will be appreciated.

Brownie_222

Congrats on your pregnancy!  I picked a midwife this time and couldn't be happier, so hopefully you like the practice and get the go ahead to deliver with the CNMs there.

Some questions I asked:

1) How long postdates will you "let" me go before talking about induction or referral for rcs?

2) What kind of monitoring will be required?  i.e. continuous fetal monitoring, will you have to be in bed or do they have telemetry.

3) How does a VBAC pregnancy differ for them from a policy standpoint than a non-VBAC? 

4) How long will you "let" me labor before diagnosing the labor with failure to progress?

5) Who will I deliver with?  If not guaranteed to get my midwife, do the other midwives and the OBs who may attend the birth support VBAC?

6) How do they feel about doulas? 

7) Overall philosophy on pregnancy and birth.  Gut instinct on their overall support level...will they pull a bait and switch at 37 weeks and say "baby's too big"?  Do they have you sign a VBAC consent form or discuss uterine rupture in terrifying terms without mentioning the risks of repeat cesarean? 

I'm preparing for a VBAC delivery at a freestanding birth center with CNMs, so a lot of the hospital politics won't come into play for me, unless I have to transfer.  So many of my ultimate questions focused on that unique situation (birth center environment).  If you decide that's something you want to explore I have a whole list (much longer) that I posed to my midwives when I was deciding.

GL at your appt!

Erica92

Ditto the previous poster I think those are all REALLY good points ESPECIALLY the one about getting their overall philosophy on birth.

We moved after my first birth (c/s due to breech baby) and when we first moved I found an OB practice and they "said" that they would do a VBAC but the more research I did the more questions I started asking and I got a very clear impression that while they SAID they would do a VBAC they'd have me in the OR in the end so I found a midwifery practice that is AWESOME. They beleive that labor is a natural and that babies come when their ready to come (not pressure to induce as long as baby appears healthy) they don't believe that women grow babies that are "too big" to be birthed, none of the bull that SO MANY OB's pull these days and freak women out....

Also WHO you deliver with is a big deal. Make sure that EVERY single OB that could be on call when you go into labor is VBAC friendly and VBAC supportive b/c while the practice in general may be willing to do a VBAC if there is even one Dr that isn't and he/she's on call when you go into labor you have a problem.

I would also do some research on the hospital's policy b/c some hospitals and their nrusing staff are more supportive than others-- So sometimes it's not just what your Dr/midwife rules are but hospital rules so look into hospital policies. If you're unsure find a local ICAN board, or ask you Dr/Midwife their experiences...

That's all I can think of for now. My best advice is to DO your research, ask as many ?'s as possible to really get a gut feeling about how supportive your medical team is b/c that really is one of THE most important things. If your docs are not supportive you've already starting at a disadvantage.

hope this isn't too rambly