Encouraging new policy from Oregon Health & Sciences University for VBACs

[LynnS6]

I don't usually post here because my kids are 7 and 10 and I'm done. But they had an article in the Oregonian the other day about OSHU's trying to change their c-section rate and encourage vaginal birth in circumstances where they might have previously done c-sections. I checked on their website and their opening paragraph says:

"Our certified nurse-midwives strongly support vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) as an option for women who have had a previous cesarean birth. We have a high success rate: about 80 percent of the women who try to give birth vaginally after a cesarean with us achieve their goal."

http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/health/services/women/services/midwifery/our-services/vbac.cfm

For Portland metro area moms this might be a good thing to know about. (They also are delivering some breach babies vaginally.)

[mamapigeon]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting this!!! I thought I would use OHSU for a vbac when I get pregnant again and this confirms the decision.   I should have gone there the first time!

[areawoman]

Thanks for posting this. I have attended several successful VBACs at OHSU as a doula, even one which was induced for pre-eclampsia. It is not just the nurse midwives there, although they are utterly fabulous -- two of my clients were attended by their OBs. The hospital as a whole is encouraging VBAC in an effort to lower c-section rates.

[Beth R]

I had a successful VBAC with the OHSU midwives in April and I don't think it could have gone better.  I live 6 hrs south of Portland in Northern California and coordinated care with the midwives throughout the pregnancy which they were great about.  I did 75% of my prenatal care at home and would see them when I went to visit family up in Portland.  I then "moved" up there at 36 weeks and stayed with family until my son was born at 39w2d.  They were willing to accommodate for my distance and work with me as much as possible.  Their requirements for VBACs were totally reasonable and I felt totally comfortable in their care.  I never once felt like any of them thought that I wouldn't deliver vaginally.  They were even willing to adjust my due date to a later date when I explained my conception date/early ultrasound date/longer menstrual cycle length and it was adjusted to 5 days later which was correct (LMP said 4/11, conception date said 4/16).  When I went into the hospital at 7cm I had to sign a consent for emergency surgery but didn't feel like they were going to try and trick me into the OR so I signed it without hesitation.  They let me call the shots throughout the labor for the most part.  It was a fantastic experience!