Best hospital for VBAC in VIC

[MumtoLilyB]

Hello,

I'm nearly 10 weeks pregnant with no 2. I had an emergency C-section last time, and the whole birth experience was quite traumatic. I want to try VBAC but am not sure which options to take - home birth or hospital? At the moment, I think I feel more comfortable with hospital option. It will be great if anyone can tell me the best hospital for VBAC in Vic. I am based in the Dandenongs, but am willing to travel if it's not too long. Thanks

[jackrose]

Hi and congratulations!!!

I had a C-sec for my first also and am currently expecting baby number two, going for a VBAC also! From the reading I have done I think that one of the biggest factors in helping you get a VBAC is having a carer who has good statistics for VBAC. Unfortunately this can be difficult information to find easily as you have to ask a lot of different people different questions and sort through a lot of different information on Hospital statistics, visiting lots of different sites. Recently I came across a site that listed all of that info in one place (check out mybirth) and it was immensly helpful. I think there you may find the info you need.

The stats are really the best indication as often a hospital will say 'we are supportive of VBAC' but then in practice do everything that is counterproductive to you achieving that. I understand that an agreed safe rate of VBAC is about 70-75%. That is your hospital or carer should have a rate of about 75% of women who come in wanting a VBAC, successfully getting it. If they don't, you need to start to question why that is the case. I think the best hospital by far in VIC is in Warragal as the lead Ob there is very pro VBAC and his stats reflect that. There are lots of women here who have successfully VBAC-ed with that hospital. Given that, a well qualified midwife and a homebirth often has great stats too. (Having a private midwife or doula with you when you labour also increase your chances of a successful VBAC!)



I went along to a talk run by midwives naturally in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne about VBAC and it was wonderfully informative and inspiring. I have decided to have a homebirth for this birth and have taken on the midwives from midwives naturally and couldn't be happier. I know this is not for everyone, but attending one of their talks (at about $5 a head) is a great way to begin research and get to ask some questions.)

Otherwise, I have found Henci Goer's 'Thinking woman's guide to a better birth' to be really helpful getting through all of the queries I have about birth. It also lays out all of the research in a really approachable way.

Anyway, I hope you find the answer to your question in all that somewhere ! Good luck with the searching, I'm always here if you want to chat as a person in similar shoes!

[DaintreeDream]

I think the best hospital by far in VIC is in Warragal as the lead Ob there is very pro VBAC and his stats reflect that. There are lots of women here who have successfully VBAC-ed with that hospital.

There are a few threads around here on Warragul hospital and VBAC's, they do have the highest success rate in Victoria and the ob is very pro VB.

[Hannahbanana]

I was coming in to say Warragul as well. They have a VBAC program that is mainly run by the midwives. The OB is very pro VBAC like the PP's have said.

Although I had a VBA2C at the Bays in Mornington with the support of my private OB. But yes the best hospital in victoria is Warragul.

[BellyBelly]

Unfortunately all the best places to have a VBAC are in outer/country areas. Warragul used to hold the record for highest VBAC rate, its now second to another country hospital, will see if I can dig up the stats somewhere...

[MumtoLilyB]

Thank you everyone. I am interested in homebirth but my baby is due on July 4th, so I don't know if it's possible. I am having a consultation with Helen from Midwife Naturally once I get my full medical record from the first birth. I'm still waiting for the hospital to send it to me.

Kelly, how do I find those stats? I tried mybirth.com au, but they didn't have current stats for Victorian hospitals. Do you know if Angliss has a good success rate for VBAC? It's is the closest hospital and the one that my first daughter was born. Although my birth experience was a traumatic one, I am considering Angliss an option if I have an independent midwife with me. Otherwise, Warragul is another option, it is about 1 hr from us but it's worth considering given all the positive talks.

[BellyBelly]

There is a report published... I think it's annual. Will need to do some digging...

[Nelle]

Helen from Midwives Naturally probably will be able to tell you about the Angliss and what their VBAC support is like.

As for Warragul, they do sound good, but it depends on if you think an hour is a long time to labour in a car (that's my opinion, I know there are people out there who have no choice!).

[BellyBelly]

Of the birth centres the Angliss has the lowest transfer rate (into the main wards) as a few middies who work there are independent midwives. In the main hospital though they aren't so woman friendly... of course you can't VBAC in the Angliss Birth Centre.

[BellyBelly]

Here you go see below. Yep the inner city ones have dismal rates around 14-20% and I think some would be even lower. So many women believe their intervention was necessary, because their doctor told them so or the baby got stressed (usually by inductions). But when you see massive differences like this, you HAVE to question what these doctors are telling you.

http://www.health.vic.gov.au/materni...m-ind-0708.pdf (07/08)
http://www.health.vic.gov.au/materni...m-ind-0809.pdf (08/09)

[MumtoLilyB]

Thanks Kelly!
West Gippsland is also based in Warragul, and I can't seem to find the VBAC rate for Warragul hospital in that publication. Are these two the same hospital or two different hospitals?

[Emma1979]

hi guys
i work for west gippsland healthcare group, which is in fact the warragul hospital (they are the same thing)... am due to have my vbac with dr simon there in 4 weeks time.... dr simon is the very pro vbac ob with the great stats.... that said, i heard a whisper he may be leaving and going to LRH (Latrobe Regional Hospital) in Traralgon, which as far as I know has a shocking rep, and my first hand experience was pretty dam bad with my first birth (ended in c-section).... will be interesting to see how this affects both the hospitals if he does move...

i saw my midwife today and the warragul hospital is actually booked out for births in january (the month i am due in).... eeeeeeeeeeek!

everyone at warragul is very pro vbac, its not just the one ob... they have a program their called K.Y.M which stands for Know Your Midwife, i can't speak highly of it enough in regards to getting over a traumatic birth experience and getting in the right head space to attempt a vbac.... it has worked wonders for me.

good luck!

[briggsy's girl]

warragul/west gippsland were very pro vb all round when i was there earlier this year. i wasn't under dr simon, was under dr mclennan, although dr simon was the dr to eventually do my c/s after trying everything to avoid it. it was a really positive birth even though it was a c/s.

[julie_ann_jules]

I had a VBA2C with Dr David Simon (and my awesome IM Andrea Bilcliff) in March this year! I can't say enough good things about the place. They are awesome!! I live in Narre Warren and truely believe the drive is worth it!!!!!!

[javic]

Hey Kelly and all,

I am very late to this thread but just wanted to comment that I think you read the stats wrong.

Page 14, figure 6, shows an almost 80% rate of women at west gippsland health who plan VBAC. This is not what percentage actually succeed. It is a great indicator though that the hospital encourages VBAC hugely, which is great in itself. Or, perhaps, those living in the west gippsland region are just very pro natural birth! I can imagine that

Page 15, figure 7, shows the percentage of women who had planned a VBAC who did actually succeed! The rates here are far more similar and the winners are - central gippsland health and wimmera health - both above 80% success rates - hooray!!

I wish NSW hospies and birth centres had such informative resources available. I'm planning a VBAC and choose to have it in NSW where a birth centre will actually take me.

[zap]

Hi,
Just a quick post. I had my VBAC last year at the womens and it was a great success! I think you need to be going in with the right frame of mind and determination. maybe a doula or your own midwife might be a good idea just for the extra support and medical knowledge. YOU CAN DO IT! good luck

[shewolf]

hi i know im laTE TO THREAD TO, BUT HAVE TO ASNSWER THE query of how Dr Simon will go in Latrobe. Im after a vbac and he at first said yes then a few weeks later said that because of hospital policy and the other 2 obs wont do it so he cant fully support it. i was recommended to hjim by another dr for the reason he takes vbacs on so i am really dissappointed. Warragul is 1.45 hrs away from me so isnt really an option.

[JennaJayen]

Shewolf - I saw Dr Danso and had my VBAC 7 weeks ago at LRH (my son was born by emergency c-sec at CGHS in Sale and I was told then after 41 & 1/2 hours of labour and 2 failed vacuum extractions that his 34cm circumference head was too big to fit out of my pelvis, my daughters head was 34cm as well and she came out just fine), I was told that Dr Simon was ok, but had heard a few unhappy reports about him so decided not to go with him. See if you can get in to see Dr Danso if Dr Simon continues to not allow you to VBAC, and don't forget that you don't have to do anything that you don't want to do!

I had gestational diabete's as well, so they were pushing me to have a c-sec at 38wks, but I was adamant that I would have my VBAC because we don't plan to have anymore kids and I wanted to do everything that I could to experience a natural birth. In the end my membranes were atificially ruptured at 40+2 as I was already 2.5cm dilated and while I had to be on the CTG the entire time they do have one that is semi wireless so tht you can walk around a bit and have a shower to help with pain, and they also have one fully wireless one (I wanted it but some other lady who didn't even give birth until the next day had been given it without even having to ask for it before I came in) so that you can hop in the baths in the birthing suites (which I didn't get to use because of the mentioned lady even though it was in my birth plan).
My daughter was born 4 hours and 43 minutes after the membranes were ruptured and it was the most rewarding (if painful) experience ever.
Don't let them wear you down, keep fighting for what you want darl.
If you ever want to chat, PM me as I'm in Latrobe Valley too