AWS - Dr Dawson - VBAC

wuhhoo · August 2012

I know there are a lot of ladies here who love Dr. Dawson. I was wondering if anyone has had a succesful VBAC with him specifically or Atlanta Womens Specialists? If you'd prefer not to post here, my email is wuhhoo at yahoo. I've recently heard that Dr. Dawson may be okay with a VBAC but some other doctors in the practice may not be. This is obviously challenging because they rotate their on call days and unfortunately, I'm not able to schedule labor (ha!).

myrall · August 2012

I consulted with AWS and Dr. Dawson about a VBAC. I ultimately left the practice because they only allowed you to go a week past your due date before performing a c-section. That wasn't long enough for me considering what happened with my first birth. I got to one week past my due date with DD and they induced - which failed - thus leading to a c-section.

I ended up VBACing with Intown Midwifery. Feel free to email me if you'd like to talk further. myraoviatt at gmail dot com

hthomas02 · August 2012

Ditto Myra....while Dr Dawson is definitely pro-VBAC, he is part of a practice whose policy is to not allow their patients to go more than one week passed due date. The policy also is to not induce a prior c-section momma, therefore you have to go to labor on your own before the 41 week mark or else it is an automatic VBAC. So if you're dead set on a VBAC, my recommendation is to move to a midwife practice or Dr Tate. I had a c-section with my first (breach), tried a VBAC with Dr Dawson but didn't go into labor had another c-section and with the third it was an automatic c-section. I could have changed practices, could have switched to a midwife, yadda yadda, but ultimately we didn't and there you have it. My honest opinion is that you should switch if you have your heart set on a VBAC. I know SO many people who have had successful VBAC's with midwives. I love Dr Dawson more than anything, but if I knew then what I know now I would have switched.

frlcb · August 2012

I can't speak to Dr Dawson but can say that Intown Midwifery is definitely supportive and encouraging of VBACs and they were awesome (disclosure, I didn't have a VBAC but still loved them).

susangilchrist · August 2012

I've never had a VBAC, but have been with AWS for 2 deliveries now. Dr. Dawson is my "main doctor," though he's not been at either one of my deliveries. I went into labor naturally with both girls (though the second HAD been a planned c-section), and had to go with the doctor on-call. So my point is, while Dawson may be pro-VBAC, it truly matters more that the whole practice is on board. If it matters a ton to you, I'd go with a midwife or a practice that doesn't have the "1 week over" policy, as PP have mentioned.

wuhhoo · August 2012

Thanks ladies! This is very helpful feedback. I'm completely torn about what to do. I obvioiusly hate switching doctors this late in the game (as I'm 22 weeks), but I'd also really like to avoid another c-section if I can. I'm slightly to hesitant to go to intown midwifery as I'm up in Roswell, but I guess you do what you have to do....

Please, please chime in if you've attempted a vbac with Atlanta Women's Specialists.

JulesDiane · August 2012

I *think* I am going to attempt a VBAC. I am still a bit up in the air. I go to OBGYN of Atlanta (affiliated with Northside Hospital) and they are very supportive of VBAC. They will let me go as long as I want.. at least that is the impression I have gotten. It is a large practice with quite a few doctors... my favorites are Dr. Parker and Dr. Bassil. I have also had a couple appointments in a row with Dr. Dennard-Hall, and she was really supportive and helpful in answering my questions and giving me insights into my different options.

leahrachel521 · October 2013

I know this post is very old, but if you see this, would you mind updating on whether your VBAC with AWS was successful? Dr. Dawson delivered my baby a couple of months ago via unplanned c-section. Whenever the time comes, I would love to try to avoid a repeat c-section. I love Dr. Dawson, but I am just curious about how many successful VBACs AWS performs. It is fairly premature for me to be looking into this, seeing as it will probably be awhile until I am pregnant again, but it is a topic I just can't get out of my head.

wuhhoo · October 2013

Wow, blast from the past! Here's the update as my little one just turned 10 months. I stayed with AWS and attempted a VBAC. Dr Dawson was quite supportive. There were in fact others at the practice that were less so. One word of caution is that they only let you go one week over your due date and that's after a little arm twisting. I naturally went into labor and Dr. Dawson was not on call that day. In fact, one of the doctors that was not overly supportive was there. It made me worried about how everything would go. Despite my initial concern, the doctor was quite supportive during my actual VBAC attempt. This is kind of irrelevant but I did not successfully VBAC but it was through no fault of AWS. After a long labor, dialating to 10, and hours of pushing, I ended up with another csection. Recovery was much easier the second time. Well I'm not entirely certain it was easier or if I just knew what to expect. Even after that long, painful second attempt, I felt reassured in the fact that I did need to have a csection. I do not regret attempting it at all. I hope you have a successful vbac!!! You may want to consider getting a doula.

leahrachel521 · October 2013

Thanks! I knew about the 41 week policy. Luckily this time around I went into labor 2 days before my due date, but that kind of blanket policy is still cause for concern. I appreciate the update.

shacadu · October 2013

Check into Atlanta Midwifery and ISIS ob/gyn - they both deliver at North Fulton which has one of the lowest (if not THE lowest) c-section rate in the metro area.

keg · October 2013

If you are interested in a VBAC, the two consistently tried and true providers are Dr. Tate (delivers at Emory Midtown, office in Norcross) and Intown Midwifery (delivers/office at AMC). I VBACed with Tate recently and he is amazing. He'll let you go to 42 weeks if no issues and then induce. He also is old school in that he'll attempt to deliver breeches vaginally and is skilled in the use of forceps if necessary so his c-section rate is really low. I also highly recommend a doula and checking out the ICAN of Atlanta group.

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