Did you have a VBAC with a private OB?

[~mamaspice~]

Just wanting to hear stories from those who got to VBAC in the private system.
And any advice you have?

[Arimeh]

Consider going with an independent midwife if you can

But I would have done it in the private system if I had not moved state.

[rufalina]

My OB is totally supportive of VBAC, infact he suggested it before I could bring it up. I will be using a public hospital thought, as a private paitent...

I suggest doing the ringaround of local obs and ask the question. There are lots out there. Good luck.

[Rouge]

I had a private Ob who was well known for supporting VBAC's. He was awesome. There are some out there but you do need to do your research. And still go with a private midwife and doula if you can.

[Hannahbanana]

I had a VBA2C with a private OB!!
I also had an independant midwife so I could stay home for as long as possible, and for extra support in hospital.
If you can find an OB that is happy for you to VBAC, the biggest thing you can do is negotiate any 'conditions' that they put on you when you go in with your birth plan. If you can compromise on/or get rid of things like continuous monitoring, regular VEs, a cannula (for just incase), time frames, then the hospital midwives will go along with what has been agreed on by you and your OB when they see your birth plan as they will ring the OB to check to make sure this and that are ok.
It can be done but beware the OBs that say yes but really will try to talk you into a CS closer to the due date. Just stay firm and don't let them scare you with statistics!!

My birth story is in this section too, maybe a page or so over if you want to have a read.

[~mamaspice~]

Thanks guys

It's is good to know there ARE people out there who've VBAC'ed in the private system

Mel, I'd love an independant MW, especially for support whilst labouring at home because I've never laboured before, and even if I have a hospital birth I'd want to stay at home as long as possible and I worry that because I've never laboured before, I wouldn't know when it might be time to head in IYKWIM? But I don't think we could afford one Would I be right to say the out of pocket expense for an IM would be in the vacinity of $5K? I think my health fund pays a benefit of about $100 for midwifery services. Big whoop!

Hannabananna, thanks for all your great suggestions

FWIW the Ob I had from my previous birth does support VBAC's. She also supported someone I know in their quest for a VBA2C, which sadly after about 20 hours of labour ended in another CS (at the mums choice not the OB's) so I'm fairly confident she would be supportive of my choice.
I still just worry about the stigma attached to private OB's though. Also a lot of the MW's at this particular hosp are more obsetric nurses in the way they think, so I worry about having a doddgy one on shift when I go into labour.

[berrme]

I had my vbac in a private hospital with a private ob. He was the same ob I had seen for my first pregnancy. He gave me info on vbac at my 6 week check after my c/s with DS1 so I was fairly confident going back to him. I didn't have anyone except DH and the hospital midwives supporting me. I found the midwives were very enthusiastic about my vbac as they don't get to support very many.

There are generally restrictions. I found that there were some that I didn't have a problem with, but other people do so push to get rid of them. Don't stress and focus on things unless you think they will be a problem for you during your labour. For example, that cannula was a non issue for me so I didn't spend time negotiating my way out of it. I think the most important thing for me was that my ob never wanted to set an 'in case' c/s date. He also said from the beginning that I had at least until 42 weeks before we did an internal or even considered interfering. These things made me feel less pressured to get DS2 out in a hurry as I neared my due date. You really need to be relaxed going into your vbac.

I honestly think that sometimes the low percentages of vbacs in private hospitals are because there are many women out there who are happy to have a repeat c/s, not just because private obs are against vbacs. Ask your ob lots of Qs and make sure you are comfortable that she will support your choice to the end. You just need to find the right ob. I am sure you will.

[~mamaspice~]

Hi Berrme,
thanks for your reply. You've made some really good points. I'm like you with the fact that I don't mind having to have a canula in because I don't see how it would adversly affect my labour because it wouldn't be hooked up to anything. I think that it would actually give me a litle peace of mind IYKWIM. I would definately be saying NOOO to continuous monitoring or anything that kept me on the bed though. And I guess you are probably right, Most of the midwives would love the opportunity to support a VBAC because they seldom happen in private hospitals. I think my friend just got a bad one when she went in for her VBA2C and that kind of stuck in my mind.

Hannabananna, do you mind if I ask how much your IM cost?

[Hannahbanana]

Hannabananna, do you mind if I ask how much your IM cost?

From memory I think I paid about $1500ish. I can't exactly remember as the payments were spread out through my pregnancy, so it wasn't a big lump sum up front or at the end.

I'm like you with the fact that I don't mind having to have a canula in because I don't see how it would adversly affect my labour because it wouldn't be hooked up to anything.

True in the fact it wouldn't be hooked up to anything but the reason I mentioned trying to not have one is because if you have one in your hand or arm you have to be careful not to knock it or get it caught on stuff while you are moving around and coping with contractions. The last thing you want is to have a needle in your hand or arm that stops you from bending it properly or adds to the pain if you knock it . Yeah they are handy if something happens and you need fluids/drugs/whatever quickly but it really only takes a minute to put one in if that happens unless you go into shock and then it may take a bit longer. Just some food for thought though.

[~mamaspice~]

Hi Hannahbanana, thanks so much for replying.

I've actually decided that I'm going to go through the public system for bub #2, but I still do love the sound of having an IM for labour and postnatal support, particularly because the hospital here does not have a continuity of care program.
$1500 was pretty reasonable. Thats not much more than a doula. For some reason I was under the impression it was $5-6K, but perhaps that is for full antenatal, birth and postnatal care.

[Hannahbanana]

Yep I'd say so. With my IM, I did shared care with her and my OB so there wern't as many antenatal visits like you would have homebirthing. I have just looked at her website and she has put her fees up. For support in a hospital setting she now charges $2000 and you pay it over 5 installments. It includes 5 pre and post natal visits. That gives you an idea of what to expect when you talk to some IM's in your area.
The extra support is a very good idea especially in a public hospital setting because you don't have that familiar constant person that you have seen throughout your preganacy when you get into labour, it's just pot luck unless you are lucky enough to get into a midwife program. So to have someone there that has shared your pregnancy and knows the circumstances of your previous birth is invaluable. It just takes the pressure off you and your DH so you can get on with the job of birthing your baby.
Good luck Mara I hope you can find some good care providers.