No more VBAC??? - Page 3

[Butterfly27]

it would be great but problem is we are living on little to nothing really.. we get under 30k a year.. =( The whole home birth water birth thing is what I have always wanted BUT... GRRR!! this is frustrating...

[Mavournin]

I second the idea of hiring a doula and staying at home until transition. There very well might be doulas in your area that will reduce their fee for you. Don't give up hope yet, this is a great place to find solutions to problems and with a little thought and a few phone calls you'll find something that works.

Now-

This article is disgusting! I'm so tired of women, especially pregnant women, being treated like cattle. My uterus doesn't need to be controlled by anyone but me. If only these docs and these dumb%#! insurance companies wised up and would actually work with the woman and her body (and not their dinner schedule) we might have a better c/s, VBAC rate. Oh, I am so ticked off I cannot think straight...

[wemoon]

Butterfly, hun, I had a homebirth with a midwife(2x) and the first time our annual income was about 15k a year, and the second time maybe 20k. For the first baby we bartered with the midwife, x-dh refinished one of the rooms in her house, and I went to her house and cleaned, took care of her kids etc. When my first was born the mw told me that it went so easily that she owed me half of a baby. So when I was PG again we had to pay half the cost.

MOST midwives AND doulas will barter or have a sliding fee scale. Even if you have high doubts of being able to afford them, give them a call and just meet with them. Be very open about what is going on, and just let them know you are trying to see what your other alternatives are. I like the doula idea if you do want to be at the hospital, but it seems that you would really like to do a homebirth. PLEASE just call and talk to your midwives. I was scared to call too because I was so poor, but we met with her and told her where we were at financially. Even when we had to pay for half of the second birth it really strapped us, but when something is important to you, you must sacrifice.

I would not let the drs do a c-section. There has to be a breaking point for all of us women. We can't just keep on letting the hospitals have this much control over our birthing expiriences.

[mamathyme]

Another person with a midwife while bringing in less than $30,000. Heck, under $20,000!

The local midwife charged $2,000 and accepted payments on two of my home births.
MANY of her clients were low income and I know she worked with them on making payments.

All situations vary I know.
Good luck to you!

Hope

[3 little birds]

My insurance paid for my previous homebirth and is paying for the one I am planning now. They originally refused to, but I had to be very persistent. When they said they would only pay out of network, the midwives agreed to accept that with no extra from me. They said it was more than medicaid paid them anyway. For some reason now the insurance is willing to pay in network and for a homebirth (instead of birth center) which they originally refused to do many times.

I agree that if you are interested in homebirth, at least talk to some midwives. They are not in it for the $.

[Butterfly27]

ok.. called Margarret Scott and she is calling me back.. Called my insurance and they siad it depended on the midwife and if they were under a doctor's supervision.. calling my OTHER insurance to see if they cover any of it... When I called the midwife's office I told the receptionist I was a victim of the PLICO situation in Oklahoma.. LOL

[KiwiZ]

I had a VBAC last year with a very supporttive OB prac and consider myself lucky. Since then, I've had a few girlfriends who wanted to have VBACs but their MDs refused. I keep reading about increasing malprac insurance rates and how many OBs are having to pare down to just GYN prac, cuz they can't afford to deliver babies/prenatal care anymore, much less assist with VBACs

[wemoon]

Yay! Glad you are making phone calls Butterfly

[LuvMy2Kidz]

If they have to be under the supervision of an OB then contact the midwives at OU as well.

[Butterfly27]

Problem with OU is I get panic attacks going near that place... My 17 month old nephew died at childrens due to medical mistakes 5 years ago and you would have to give me tranquilizers to get me in the door... I spent a good part of 3 weeks in that hell and I dont want my child born there..

I made lots of phone calls today and my Dr did call me back and said the obstetrics society members in the state decided no more VBACs even if they can still do them until the 31st of december.. *sigh* She said there is a stubborn old woman doctor that wasnt gonna stop doing them till the 31st but she didnt know if she would take me this late..

I called Presbyterian because their doctors do them too.. AGAIN I am so far along now that they wont take me... THe midwife said the insurances sometimes SAY they will pay but end up NOT paying so I have to fight with them to get it all in writing... and they Pay 80% and it is 1750 total.. Medicaide WILL NOT pick up the rest of the bill... The whole reason we went on medicaide was because we couldnt afford any deductible, copay or anything... I am having problems coming up with money for groceries and laundry detergent right now as it is...

I hate how they trap you... You have no money and you stand no chance and they know it.. Thats why they can do it... Lets NOT even go into my whole ultrasound situation...

I also mentioned the midwife thing to my doctor and she said it wouldnt be safe not to monitor the baby.. Again going back to my nephew this scares me... I couldnt stand losing another child... and now it has me paranoid...

[LuvMy2Kidz]

I also mentioned the midwife thing to my doctor and she said it wouldnt be safe not to monitor the baby

This is typical of a dr. she probably doesn't want to lose the money your insurance is bringing her.

[Unreal]

Originally Posted by Butterfly27

I also mentioned the midwife thing to my doctor and she said it wouldnt be safe not to monitor the baby.. Again going back to my nephew this scares me... I couldnt stand losing another child... and now it has me paranoid...

I know there are lots of mamas here that post successful homebirth and labor at home stories, but maybe it might be more comforting to sit down with mamas in real life to talk to them about their experiences?

Maybe you could contact a few midwives and find one you are comfortable with and ask to talk with a few of her previous clients?

[be11ydancer]

Butterfly, I hope you could have a little more faith in your body's ability to have a normal birth and your baby's ability to be born healthy. I might have mentioned this book earlier in the thread but I would HIGHLY recommend that you read "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" by Ina May Gaskin. It addresses many of these issues, including VBAC and how successful it is when a woman believes in herself and has proper support. If you are having a hard time finding ways to afford a midwife, I would find one who works on a sliding fee scale or barters. Also, consider a doula who will work for free or a doula-in-training. You can find those at www.dona.org in their directory. There are other doula organizations but I don't know if they have a directory as extensive as DONA's. And you could always take a roadtrip to Tennessee and give birth at The Farm. I know the idea is far-fetched but don't rule it out completely. It has a great birthing center and excellent outcomes for mother and baby. You can read all about it in the book I mentioned.

Your body does not belong to doctors. It does not belong to Medicaid. It does not belong to PLICO. It does not belong to the state of Oklahoma. It does not belong to the hospital. It is YOUR body and it is capable of a lot, including birth.

I hope you'll keep us posted on how things are going with you.

[feebeeglee]

Originally Posted by be11ydancer

Here's a link to Plico Insurance Company:

http://www.plico-ok.com/pro-main.stm

You can find emails to their employees, phone numbers, the works. They've also listed the names of their Board of Directors and CEO. I'm thinking we ALL have some letter writing to do and phone calls to make.

It is our responsibility to do something. We CAN'T just sit back and let this happen. WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. I hope that every single person here who has read about this will do something.

(Can you tell this has upset me?! I'm going to take a breather now.)

Well I live in OKlahoma too. I've had 3 vaginal births, 2 of them homebirths and am planning a homebirth for my 4th babe, due in October.

So at the moment I am not affected. I'm still angry.

I'm not the world's best activist however, on anything more than a one-on-one level, person to person sort of thing. Hence I forwarded the link and a link to this discussion to all the birth-related groups I am in. It ain't much but perhaps a more ambitious mind than mine can be a stronger voice.

I'll stop mixing metaphors now and go fume in private.

[mama brat]

#4 due 3/05 NO C-Section wanted!

I fall under the new PLICO bologna! My first dd was a c-section 11 years ago! I've had 2 more kids since then, #2 all natural, #3 induced w/ no complications.. It completely stinks that they can tell me how I have to give birth. Hubby and I are both fuming over this..we are talking home birth OR waiting it out and showing up ready to deliver... I guess we'll see what happens. We plan on voicing our opinions though..Everyone needs too!

[rustysmaus]

Originally Posted by 3 little birds

Maybe if more doc's lost vbac patients to mw's, they would think about it.

Would they? Or would they simply move on to legislating away the competition?

~Laurie,
Wife to Rusty,
Momma to
hospital birthed ds 11, ds 10, dd 8,
c-section birthed dd 7, and
UC birthed dd 22 mos, and ds 10 mos.

[sovereignqueen]

Originally Posted by Butterfly27

I hate how they trap you... You have no money and you stand no chance and they know it.. Thats why they can do it... Lets NOT even go into my whole ultrasound situation...

Butterfly -- maybe you should take your story to the media. May local news statiosn has a "we want to know" or "we're in your corner" segment. The people should know how greed is going to affect their personal decisions. I think someone should be interested in your story. Many women are affected by this, and maybe by speaking out you can get the help you need to have the birht you deserve -- the one you choose.

[be11ydancer]

[QUOTE=rustysmaus]Would they? Or would they simply move on to legislating away the competition?

QUOTE]

Yeah, no kidding. Can you imagine? No more midwives? I'll see you in another country if it ever comes to that.

[MsMoMpls]

Part of the problem is that the AMA recommended this year that hospitals doing VBACs needed to have a anesthesiologist (sp?) available at all time. This is very expensive. Here in the Twin Cities- with lots of pretty great medical care- it was nearly impossible to find anyone willing to give me a chance to even attempt a VBAC- I was 40 with two previous CS for failure to progress- two 10 lb babies- both late. These were all strikes against me. My doula recommended a midwife who told me the only way it was going to work was to keep my weight gain down (I put on 25 lbs) and we were going to have to get this baby to come early.

To get to the happy ending- at 37 weeks I started natural induction (herbs, breast stimulation, sexual intercourse, chiropractic and accupuncture) and Zach popped out after a wonderful 10 hour natural labor. My little guy was 2 weeks early and "only" 9'4".

I did make sure and write a thank you note to the president of the hospital for continuing to support VBACs. Hey it is a business and just wanted him to know he had a loyal customer.

[Butterfly27]

Originally Posted by MsMoMpls

Part of the problem is that the AMA recommended this year that hospitals doing VBACs needed to have a anesthesiologist (sp?) available at all time.

Thats not the problem here... It's the malpractice insurance.. Soooo... Who wants to picket??? I am trying to look into options but still am not sure of how this is all gonna go.. If I HAVE to have a C-Section then by god I am switching back to my ORIGINAL doctor whom I like alot... I am just so undecided on this and my family is NOT supporting me at all on it... I was already depressed all during this pregnancy and now it is only getting worse... =(