Midwives and c sections

Aimlc1281

DH and I just started TTC #2.  I had a c section with DS and am hoping to VBAC next time.  Possibly a stupid question but, in the event another c section is needed, who performs it?  I needed the c section due to failure to progress and DS's heart rate kept dropping.

pinkmoonlight

Midwives typically have a backup OB that they use and that you will see at some point in your pregnancy. If a c-section is needed they will preform it.

chicsub

Ditto pp.  Although I find it interesting that I didn't have to see the backup OB during my first pregnancy that ended in a c/s and I did this time. 

MAprincess

Yes, my CNM had a back-up OB but I never met him (or "them", it was actually a back-up practice).

soontobe05

One of the OBs in the practice that I had a consult with about risks and such at 30wks will be doing the surgery and my MW will be "assisting" and being there for me. 

rena5498

The ob will do it. and if you have any issues that could be risky the midwife follows up with the ob on call if yours is na. They do not make the final decision if something risky arises. be sure that the obs in your practice are all vbac supportive as i had a midwife or saw midwives who were but when i went into L&D at 39 weeks because of issues but i wasnt in labor. They found out my pressure was elevated and my midwife consulted with the ob who recommended and scared me into a rcs. Come to find out my pressure wasnt that high to get a rcs and there were other options that could of been offered.

seells

In the group of midwives I'll be seeing with the next baby one of them actually performs the csections.

ILoveRunning

seells:

In the group of midwives I'll be seeing with the next baby one of them actually performs the csections.

One of the midwives actually performs the c-sections?  I had never heard of that.  I had a midwife with my DS, but ended up with a c-section.  The OB did the actual c-section, but my midwife scrubbed in and was there to take pictures. 

lorryfach

I've never heard of that either. Midwife training does not include surgery, but I suppose an individual midwife could also have surgical training. That must be pretty unusual.

Geekchick921

IIRC, CNMs, at least hospital-based ones, are requires to have a referring physician they can call on if a patient requires a C-section or something else that goes beyond their scope of care.

 Some midwives actually bother to become RN first assistants for surgeries, so they can help the doctor during a C/S, but I don't know how many bother to do this.  A physician is always the primary surgeon.