To risky for homebirth?

[mommymcnair6]

Hi ladies. Just wanted to get your opinions since you all are so smart : )

I have six kids and it goes like this
#1 c/s for failed induction
#2 c/s (transfer from homebirth and c/s because OB wouldn't let me labor any longer because bag of waters had been broken longer than 24 hours and I was two week past my due date)
# 3 HBAC
# 4 homebirth with 10 lbs and 12 oz baby
#5 homebirth
sad miscarriage at 10 weeks followed by infection
#6 cesarean due to placental complications in late pregnancy and me "knowing" something wasn't quite right (I was right - slight placenta accretta NOT over cesarean scar but probably where the scar tissue was from the miscarriage infection) Note: My OB cleaned all the scar tissue away during my cesarean.

Any way - we are planning to have another baby later this year (not pregnant yet, but hopefully by fall) and I am planning to have another homebirth. I had the same midwife for my three homebirths and she also provided my care throughout my last pregnancy.

I have talked with several other homebirth midwives who said they wouldn't touch me due to my three cesareans, age (38), and high parity.

I plan to use the same midwife as before, but why the sudden turning away from VBAC at home? It didn't used to be this way.

I don't really feel there is any higher risk after 3 cesareans than 1 or 2! Am I wrong?

Am I putting myself and my future baby in danger by staying at home just because I had 3 cesareans? I think not, but what do you think??

Thanks in advance : )

[AustinMom]

No, studies show that VBAMC has similar outcomes as VBA1C. Especially since you have had 3 HB after 2 CS, and the last one was due to more than "failure to progress". If you had only 3 kids, all born by CS, after traumatic labors, and no progress, baby/you in distress, then no, I'd say that's too risky, but that's just me, and that's not your case.

Here are a couple articles I know of
http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/C...arch.htm#VBAMC Research Since The 2004 Guidelines
http://www.rcog.org.uk/news/bjog-rel...ior-caesareans

Also, if you haven't read Birth After Cesarean, it's great and touches on this topic.

Also, IMO, if, supposedly, a MW won't touch you, I don't see why an OB would have a more "natural" approach and "allow" you to VBAMC, so if you are going to have another kid, I'd HB with MW.

[mommymcnair6]

Thanks for the links and book referral. I will definitely check them out. When I get preggo again I am going to use the same midwife who helped me with my homebirths. She is the only one who will - thank goodness for her : )

Appreciate your reply. Thanks a bunch! Makes me feel a little better : )

[sharr610]

Something to think about as you go forward. I was recently dumped by my HB midwife. One of the things I asked her point blank was, "what is going with an OB and delivering in the hospital going to give me that you can't?" This is considering that I live 5 minutes from a hospital...She said to me, "absolutely nothing." She just didn't want to take on the liability of some of my risk factors.
I am meeting with an OB this week just so I can ask him the same question and see if there are things I may not be considering. I feel educated enough now to read through the fear mongering and actually, this is supposed to be a pretty good OB...one who has actually referred his low risk patients to HB midwives.
I would think with your experience you could do the same. That way you give the midwives a chance to admit what they are really afraid of and you a chance to consider all of your options.

[GOPLawyer]

I think the term "too risky" is subjective. What is too risky for one is not for another. Your risk for a UR is about .7%. Personally, I don't think that's too risky for a HB. Then again, my risk for a UR was about 1-2% and I was planning a HB.

Personally, I don't blame MWs for running from VBACs simply as the climate is so hostile. It's bad enough for VBACs at a hospital....a MW attending a HBAC is like evil incarnate to much of the medical world. My MW did everything right yet she was still brought up on charges in front of the Board of Medicine for taking me as a client (DD was born @ 30 weeks so I HAD to go to the hospital and deal w/ the OBs).

If *you* are comfortable with the risk...go for it!