I just moved to a new area and would have had to change doctors anyway since my previous one flat-out won't do a VBAC. I just made appointments with one doctor and one midwife for preconception visits, based on recommendations from the local ICAN chapter. Any advice on what to ask the doctors specifically, regarding their VBAC policies? I feel like anyone can just say "oh yeah we do them" to get you in the door, but I'm hoping for something more reassuring than that. TIA.
The most common barriers women post here seem to be about how the long the pregnancy can go on before the provider begins to oppose a VBAC (ie - 39 weeks, 40, 41, 42 . . .), what kind of devices the woman needs to be hooked up to during labor (just a heplock vs you "must" have an epidural), and time limits on the labor.
I also like to know how the provider handles the most common labor complications, regardless of whether its a vbac patient: meconnium in the fluid, "stalled" labor, decels during contractions, water breaking before labor starts, breech.
I also like to know what proactive things the practitioner encourages patients to do - suggest different positions, walk around, take a shower, etc. That starts getting a little into doula territory but I find that the practices with the best rates in my metro area have practitioners who tell their patients - "hey, maybe you wanna go for a walk" or "hm, let's try having you switch sides" - even if that practitioner is then going to leave you & DH to do it on your own, at least they've planted the seed.
Re: what to ask
I am using this guideline
https://vbacfacts.com/2009/06/06/interviewing-care-providers-questions-to-ask/
Sorry it's not clicky
The most common barriers women post here seem to be about how the long the pregnancy can go on before the provider begins to oppose a VBAC (ie - 39 weeks, 40, 41, 42 . . .), what kind of devices the woman needs to be hooked up to during labor (just a heplock vs you "must" have an epidural), and time limits on the labor.
I also like to know how the provider handles the most common labor complications, regardless of whether its a vbac patient: meconnium in the fluid, "stalled" labor, decels during contractions, water breaking before labor starts, breech.
I also like to know what proactive things the practitioner encourages patients to do - suggest different positions, walk around, take a shower, etc. That starts getting a little into doula territory but I find that the practices with the best rates in my metro area have practitioners who tell their patients - "hey, maybe you wanna go for a walk" or "hm, let's try having you switch sides" - even if that practitioner is then going to leave you & DH to do it on your own, at least they've planted the seed.