Yeah, unfortunately my second sister to give birth was through a hospital in Brisbane that is quite renowned for its intervention. She was very well-informed and well-educated on birth, was going through the midwifery program (set up in preparation for the new birth centre being built). I'm not sure of the details, but at 12 days past her EDD she went in to be induced. I imagine she faced some pressure from hospital protocol past 10 days over. She ended up with an emergency c/s under GA and a baby in ICU early the following morning.They are both at home now and doing well. Bfing is going well too. I am sad for my sister, especially since she didn't get to hold her baby for about 12 hrs and then wasn't with her for over 24 hrs. But I haven't gone into the details with her, just happy with how well they seem to be doing at home (which is probably where most mums and babies should STAY!).
Her bub was only 7lb at birth, and although I know the women in my family all have teeny tiny new babies (my own barely make 6 lbs!) I think this is an indication that she was not 'overdue' but still well within the realms of normal gestation.
My conclusion is that pg women and women in labour should stay away from hospital as long as possible! My patience for hearing about medical management of pg and labour where it is not required is running very thin.
The outcome of both of my sisters' births has, however, stopped my Mum from going on about how you can have a good birth in hospital (she felt a little threatened when I took her to the Face of Birth premiere). I have told her things have changed for the worse in the last 30 years. She can't deny it when of her four grandchildren's births, the three in hospital have all been c/s and the one born at home involved no drama and the best possible outcome for mum and bub. You may be able to have a good birth in hospital, but it's no longer the norm. From where I'm standing it looks like a miracle. And by 'good' birth, I don't mean only that the baby came out of your vagina, which in itself is becoming a 50/50 proposition at a lot of hospitals.
On a positive note (let me step down off my soap box!), I completed a HBAC survey for someone who presented at the Midwife's conf in Tasmania last month and she sent me her presentation. She interviewed/surveyed 53 women who planned HBACs. The stats speak for themselves. 83% successfully birthed at home with no complications, 17% transferred to hospital, but of these another 4% had VBACs. So of women planning a HBAC (and not all used an IM, some had just doula or freebirth plans), only 13% had a repeat c/s. Compare that to the successful VBAC rate at my local hospitals - 16% successful VBAC rate at the public hospital and 6% successful VBAC rate at the private hospital.
Kinda makes planning a VBAC a no-brainer...
If you'd like to see her presentation, PM me. She sent us all a copy.
Will they be published anywhere?
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