URGENT: HB info for HBACs, Twins and Breech needed ASAP

[sharr610]

Hi there!

So tomorrow, in Oregon, there are some nurses that will be speaking in front of the health services committee of the state legislature about why homebirths for twins, breech and VBACs should be illegal. They are also suggesting that direct entry midwives be brought under the jurisdiction of the medical community (i.e. women would have to have their Dr.'s "approval" to have a homebirth).
I'm involved in the letter writing campaign and have been fortunate enough to get a major political player's ear on the matter. They wants stats and science, though.
So anyone have good studies/science about homebirth outcomes for breech, twins and/or VBACs? This is timely info.

Thanks so much!!!

[Buzzer Beater]

Sharr610, I am searching for you and can't find anything about these specifics and homebirth. Even looked in the notes of Jennifer Block's Pushed... maybe if you post over on the vbac thread or write at ican for vbac stuff. I'll keep looking.
sara

eta

mehl-madrona and madrona "Physician and Midwife Attended Home Births: Effects of Breech, Twin and Post-Dates Outcome Data on Mortality Rates" Journal of Nurse Midwifery 42 no 2 1997.

I have no access to it.

[LiLStar]

i'm in oregon too and i heard something about this through the ican list. i sent off some emails! is ron maurer on our side? his response seemed reassuring. let me know if there's anything i can do to help. show up outside the meeting with signs and an hbac baby?

[sharr610]

thanks, ladies! Rachel, are you on Facebook? If so, there is a group called Birth Choices for Women that has the call to action on it and the list of committee members you can write.
Totally show up tomorrow!! There are no signs allowed, but a silent majority of safe home birthers from HBACs, twins and breech births present, does, send a message. And, of course, being there to take notes and follow up with letters to representatives would be great!

[LiLStar]

i'll look up that group. i'll try and come to the meeting. its in salem, right? a little far, but if i can swing it i will. oh wait.. will my 6 month old hbac baby be welcome? he's mobile, would most likely hang out at my feet with some toys. happy babble likely, not normally fussy. He'd make a great poster child for safe hbac come to think of it he's lusciously chubby, big bright eyes, and rewards anyone who makes eye contact with him with a great big smile and shriek of delight. looking at him, you'd wonder if his cheeks get tired from all the smiling

no signs, how about t-shirts? I could grab a couple white shirts and some fabric paint and whip something up.

[sharr610]

i can't see why a tshirt wouldn't be ok. And most of the ladies going are mamas, so I assume there will be kiddos there.

[LiLStar]

Okay. I'll see if I can hit up a craft store tomorrow. I joined the facebook group. Hoping to find someone near me to carpool with. I'm a non-driver and it would be kind of a pain for dh if he had to take me all the way there. But I might be able to make him see reason that this is something we MUST support, if they change the laws here... the choices would pretty much be move, travel for any future births, or submit to c-section. Who's going to touch me, besides a HB midwife, when my 1st birth was a c-section and the second a 10lb shoulder dystocia?

[MsBlack]

No info for you....but I am really wondering what put the bees in the nurses' bonnets over these issues?

Feel free to pm me, if you have time, and would rather not get into this discussion on this thread.

thanks!

[wbg]

What a bout the book silent knife? It might have some references and resources to quote.

[sharr610]

MsBlack, not PMing because I don't really have a lot of info on that. I am still trying to get it...my midwife said she'll give more info on the phone but we've been playing tag...

[tellmemore]

Vancouver Homebirther

I'd like details on where and when the salem meeting is! I birthed at home in Vancouver with a midwife from Chehalis, Laura Hamilton. I almost did go with a midwife from Portland, and it is the nearest homebirth friendly city. As in, they have licenced midwives to deliver at home, period. I had to drive over an hour for appointments, but it was worth it. This stuff matters to me SO much and there is such a lack of info in Vancouver especially. I'm wanting to start an informal Birth Advocacy Group. But then it's hard with a 2.5 yr old DS and my new DD, 3 mos today. Happy 3 Month Birthday, Amelia!! Not an HBAC, but her birth fulfilled my dream! Anyway, I wanna come and wear her in my AWESOME Born Free Moby wrap! Not sure I can make it, but there's some friends of mine who are PG, planning HBACs w/ pdx mws, and one is a doula. Gimme info! Or direct me to it!

Tried to find the group on FB. My name is Bethann Flack, if anyone can help. TIA!!

[tellmemore]

I want to add that my midwife takes WA DSHS, state covered HB!!! I searched forever for info, before I was even pg. There was NO info on MDC. So here it is. Laura Hamilton takes open coupon and Molina in WA state, and she travels as far as Portland, I know. Vancouver DSHS mamas, you CAN have your HB paid for!

[JenChaffee]

I am curious to hear how this goes. I am sad to hear of things like this. I grew up in that part of the country, but now live in Maryland. I am currently pregnant with twins, and it is illegal here for midwives to work with me at home. I find myself thinking fondly that if I still lived out there, I wouldn't have to be fighting as hard as I have been for anything other than an OR delivery, most likely a c/s. But I guess that may change if these folks get their way.

Thankfully there are midwives who operate outside the system (HB is my plan, even though it's not legal for my mw). I wish it didn't have to be that way.

Best of luck. I hate to hear that more states are taking steps backward along these lines.

[sharr610]

Tellmemore, if you want to PM me your email, I'll forward the email calls to action and info about the meeting.
The Facebook group is called "Birth Choices for Women." The call to action and everything is on the group's page.

Let me be clear about what is happening. The health services committee has a meeting on informational matters. IF one or more of them is sympathetic to the cause that is presented to them, they could offer up a bill to change the laws at the next legislative session.

The hope, today, is since they are the last item on the agenda(and were almost bumped a few days ago) is that they will get bumped as the meetings often go over.

I'll try to keep you all posted on what I hear. I had hoped to be there, but the pg nausea is horrible today! The thought of being in a car for more than 10 minutes just seems like a bit much right now.

[LiLStar]

I think I'm going to be able to make it to this.. about to head to the craft store for some fabric paint and blank shirts to decorate Is there anyone that can carpool with room in the car for an infant seat? Even if you're not coming from Beaverton, I could easily meet you somewhere in Portland. My dh would be very grateful if I could spare him the trip to Salem!

[Gena 22]

There are really few twin studies. I know because I combed over them while I was pregnant. But how about the Farm? Their stats include twins, breeches, VBACs.

Another argument I'd use is that vaginal births of twins, breeches, VBACs have been proven to be safe. But you're HARD pressed to get one in the hospital, or possibly even with a CNM. And does induction really improve outcomes?

I have my twins at home because I didn't have a choice if I wanted to avoid induction, epidural and eventual surgery. My hospital has an 80% twin c/s rate and I was a first time mom. I homebirthed and felt like I was ransoming my body.

Wish I could help more!

[Zangua]

I would contact Melissa Cheyney. She is a midwife and childbirth anthropologist who has done a number of studies on homebirth outcomes in Oregon. http://oregonstate.edu/cla/anthropol...-staff/cheyney
I am sure she will be up to date on what is going on in Oregon and be able to point you to any available studies.

[sharr610]

Originally Posted by Zangua

I would contact Melissa Cheyney. She is a midwife and childbirth anthropologist who has done a number of studies on homebirth outcomes in Oregon. http://oregonstate.edu/cla/anthropol...-staff/cheyney
I am sure she will be up to date on what is going on in Oregon and be able to point you to any available studies.

she was my midwife for DS . Love her and ended up getting the info from her. she is super busy, tho, so i was covering all my bases looking for stuff. thx!

[homebirthing]

I wish I already lived in Oregon! I had twins at home last year at 40w3d. Easiest birth ever and both in the water.

[*Christa*]

Did you end up going Rachel?