Refusing a c-section?

rockymountaingirl

I had my first ob appointment last week and was pretty disappointed to hear that the hospital that I will be delivering at will not allow vbacs.  And all hopsitals within a couple hours drive of me also won't allow them.  My ob understood my disppointment and said that I could refuse a c-section.  She said she would work with me and schedule my c-section later than 39 weeks so I can hopefully go into labor on my own. 

I have been trying to research this option and so far google has told me many stories of women who refused a c-section and then got their baby taken away for child abuse and neglect.

Has anyone here had experience with refusing a c-section or know anything about it? 

nosoup4u

Ugh, that sucks! Have you thought about hiring a montrice, or a really experienced doula who could labor with you at home until you're really far along, and then you could get to the hospital pushing? Will the doctor you're working with require a c-section if you show up pushing, or just if there's someone you don't know on call? Have you looked up ICAN of WY? They might be able to help you out somehow, too.

Another option is to birth at home. My sister hired a traveling midwife with 20+ years of experience, including lots of experience with VBAC (my sister had a VBAC with her). You can always PM me for her info.

mommem

I have heard three things regarding this type of worst-case-scenario:

1) hospitals cannot turn away a woman in labor

2) hospitals cannot perform a c-section without your consent

3) hospitals CAN put the life of the baby above the life of the mother

I think your best bet is to do a homebirth or travel to one of the hospitals or birth centers that allows VBACs. You may have to get in the car at an early stage of labor to make it there comfortably, but it could be done. Otherwise I would try to find an OB/midwife/doula combination that will support you and will make arrangements with the hospital staff ahead of time (at your local hospital). I have heard of women walking into hospitals with laws and policies in hand so that the doctors know she means business.

rockymountaingirl

lisajay09:

I'm not sure of this, but it just popped into my head...

If you refuse a csection could that be considered AMA (against medical advice) and then not covered by insurance?  Maybe check that out.

That's a very good point, I'll have to look into that.

rockymountaingirl

nosoup4u:

Ugh, that sucks! Have you thought about hiring a montrice, or a really experienced doula who could labor with you at home until you're really far along, and then you could get to the hospital pushing? Will the doctor you're working with require a c-section if you show up pushing, or just if there's someone you don't know on call? Have you looked up ICAN of WY? They might be able to help you out somehow, too.

Another option is to birth at home. My sister hired a traveling midwife with 20+ years of experience, including lots of experience with VBAC (my sister had a VBAC with her). You can always PM me for her info.

I don't think my Dr. would require the c-section if I show up pushing.  She seemed like she didn't agree with the hospital's no vbac policy.  But it's the other 3 doctors, who are all male, that are against vbacs.  If one of those doctors are on-call when I go into labor I don't know if they would support me or require a c-section.

I've thought about a homebirth and I'm not sure if I am comfortable with that option.  I guess I have lots of time to research and really think about how important a vbac is to me.

Thanks for the suggestions!

rockymountaingirl

mommem:

I think your best bet is to do a homebirth or travel to one of the hospitals or birth centers that allows VBACs. You may have to get in the car at an early stage of labor to make it there comfortably, but it could be done. Otherwise I would try to find an OB/midwife/doula combination that will support you and will make arrangements with the hospital staff ahead of time (at your local hospital). I have heard of women walking into hospitals with laws and policies in hand so that the doctors know she means business.

Thanks for your input.  I've considered traveling to a different hospital, but I'm due at the end of December.  The road conditions here can be dangerous in the winter and highways are often closed due to blowing snow.  I have family in Minneapolis and used to live there until just recently.  I'm considering staying with family the last month of my pg so I can go into labor while I'm there.  But then that means DH won't be there.  Ugh, it just seems like RCS is the easiest option.

lara&aaron

mommem:

I have heard three things regarding this type of worst-case-scenario:

1) hospitals cannot turn away a woman in labor

2) hospitals cannot perform a c-section without your consent

3) hospitals CAN put the life of the baby above the life of the mother

I think your best bet is to do a homebirth or travel to one of the hospitals or birth centers that allows VBACs. You may have to get in the car at an early stage of labor to make it there comfortably, but it could be done. Otherwise I would try to find an OB/midwife/doula combination that will support you and will make arrangements with the hospital staff ahead of time (at your local hospital). I have heard of women walking into hospitals with laws and policies in hand so that the doctors know she means business.

 

Hospitals cannot perform c-sections without consent or court order. Hospitals can petition for a court order, but most judges believe in patient autonomy and will deny the petition, especially after the death of Angela Carder, a women forced to have a c section.

lara&aaron

lisajay09:

I'm not sure of this, but it just popped into my head...

If you refuse a csection could that be considered AMA (against medical advice) and then not covered by insurance?  Maybe check that out.

 

It would not be AMA and AMA does not disqualify you from insurance coverage. That is a threat doctors/hospitals came up with.

holly321

lara&aaron:

lisajay09:

I'm not sure of this, but it just popped into my head...

If you refuse a csection could that be considered AMA (against medical advice) and then not covered by insurance?  Maybe check that out.

 

It would not be AMA and AMA does not disqualify you from insurance coverage. That is a threat doctors/hospitals came up with.

Yeah, I work partly in the billing dept at a doctors' office. Insurance doesn't care about what is best for the patient, they care about what is cheapest for them.

RandiDeeAnn

There is a really good article about this on ICAN's website. It is in the right-had bar down the page. Something about pregnant woman rights.