VBAC and lookoing for homebirth midwife

[love2nurse]

I know there was a previous discussion of this exact thing, but it was a few years ago and I am wondering if there is ANYONE (I am begging) who knows of an underground midwife (or even doula) who will do a homebirth VBAC in the area of Ketchikan, AK? I am all set for an unassisted if necessary but my husband is so worried that I think having someone stand by my side (for his sake) would help him get over the fears. I have looked into a traveling midwife with NO response back-I am assuming this means they are NOT interested in coming here. One side note-we are military so there is NO WAY my insurance will cover any of this! It will all be out of pocket but at this point, my hubby is willing to pay anything for his piece of mind!

[roadfamily6now]

I dont but there are some here that know the names of a few traveling midwives.

[nik_907]

love2nurse: Pm me for info. I am having one in May and she will be here for me and she loves alaska!
Sorry to hear no one has contacted you back, I would assume it is because they have no availability around the time you are due. But they should at least be considerate enough to contact you back.

[treetop]

Good for you! I live in Ketchikan also! Unfortunately, I do not know of anybody who can help The hospital here was doing them for a short time but stopped. The anasthesiologists decided that they did not want to be on standby. I am sure you know all of this. So, I am in the same boat as you. I would like to keep in touch with you and see what you find out. I am in the same boat and it looks like we are going to fly into Anchorage for our VBAC.

[1stimestar]

Originally Posted by treetop

Good for you! I live in Ketchikan also! Unfortunately, I do not know of anybody who can help The hospital here was doing them for a short time but stopped. The anasthesiologists decided that they did not want to be on standby. I am sure you know all of this. So, I am in the same boat as you. I would like to keep in touch with you and see what you find out. I am in the same boat and it looks like we are going to fly into Anchorage for our VBAC.

They may SAY that but they can't force you to have unconsented surgery. You have to know your rights and call them on it.

[roadfamily6now]

Originally Posted by 1stimestar

They may SAY that but they can't force you to have unconsented surgery. You have to know your rights and call them on it.

yup yup!

http://www.emtala.com/faq.htm

[Millicent]

Lawyer

Have you heard about the lawyer from a Womens' Legal Resource center in Seattle that is looking to work with someone like you two in Ketchikan. I'll try to dig up the info. She wants to make an example of these hospitals for forcing unwanted surgery on women.


As for trying to use emtala and your "patient rights", good luck. If you roll into a hospital with a vbac ban and try to deliver vaginally they will do everything in their power to bully, scare and stress you into consenting. With the stress and drama, labor stalls. Then they have cause for the c-section. I have read scores of birth stories of women that tried that route and they end up with horrible, long drawn out battles ending in c-sec. Better to call this lawyer or stay home!!

For the travelling midwives, contact Nik907.

[Millicent]

VBAC ban lawyer

Northwest Women's Law Center
907 Pine Street, Suite 500
Seattle, WA 98101


Phone:
Legal Information & Referral ( 206 ) 621-7691


I believe her name is Sarah Ainsworth?

Let us know if you call her!!!

[angelamariebee]

I know there are threads somewhere on this board where people have gotten midwives covered under military insurance.

[love2nurse]

I have spoken to the hospital and they agreed for me to SIGN a contract stating I do not want a c-section (gee, thanks!) but I HAVE to agree to pitocin and an internal fetal monitor upon walking into the hospital-gee, can you see another guranteed c-section with those two beautiful interventions?! Which is why I am not even thinking about walking in there once labor begins. I have read about the attorney who is looking into this issue but at this point, she can not gurantee me a non-invassive labor (which is what I would want, or maybe just a midwife instead of a doctor) so really all she can do is support my signing of the "contract" and thus I get the pitocin and internal fetal monitor-gee, I love medical intervention for a natural bodily function-next time I have to go to the bathroom, I will run to the hospital and see if they can monitor me!!! Why must I fight so hard for something so natural??!!!

[1stimestar]

Get the contract, bring it home to read. Cross out and initial any part that you do not agree with. Make a copy before returning it to them.

[JosieAK]

The pitocin is absolutely stupid. That makes contractions harder than natural and ENCOURAGES uterine rupture (even on Moms that aren't having VBACs). I know you know this, but it is just DUMB. Why does everyone think that the faster a labor is the better it is? I can understand them wanting to monitor the baby (even though that has been shown to encourage false-alarm c-sections and epidurals for the poor moms who are stuck on their backs), but pitocin? They need to get their heads examined.

[onyxravnos]

Originally Posted by love2nurse

I have spoken to the hospital and they agreed for me to SIGN a contract stating I do not want a c-section (gee, thanks!) but I HAVE to agree to pitocin and an internal fetal monitor upon walking into the hospital-

they can't make you agree to that. in fact legally they can't even touch you in anyway without your consent. don't let them bully you into something you don't want.
I have info for a couple of traveling midwives pm me if you want their info

[Millicent]

This is all really rotten. I'm sorry you are having such a hard time finding a decent provider.

So it seems like you have three options.

1)Travel somewhere.
2)Have someone travel to you.
3) Go to your hospital and do battle.

I have often thought as a VBACer that if I had to give birth in an unfriendly hospital I would bring a lawyer, an investigative reporter, a midwife, a doula and a bodyguard (big enough to pick me up and carry me out if necessary). But then again it would be cheaper to fly to The Farm than to hire all that help.


We're rootin' for ya! Keep us in the loop.
Elke

[alaskaberry]

They tried to ban VBACs at my mom's hospital (she's an ob nurse in VT) and *tons* of moms complained and they ended up bringing them back. I am doing a VBAC up in Fairbanks...

But I would recommend getting a travelling midwife or going down to the Farm. Good luck.

[roadfamily6now]

Originally Posted by HBACtivist

This is all really rotten. I'm sorry you are having such a hard time finding a decent provider.

So it seems like you have three options.

1)Travel somewhere.
2)Have someone travel to you.
3) Go to your hospital and do battle.

I have often thought as a VBACer that if I had to give birth in an unfriendly hospital I would bring a lawyer, an investigative reporter, a midwife, a doula and a bodyguard (big enough to pick me up and carry me out if necessary). But then again it would be cheaper to fly to The Farm than to hire all that help.


We're rootin' for ya! Keep us in the loop.
Elke

Well, there is option #4. UBAC.
But I agree that is not for everyone.

I'm so sorry you are having such a hard time. I wish there was something I could do.