to ladylee

[zombiemommie]

I was wondering how you are doing with your "search" for a comfortable birth experience. I haven't seen you post lately much (or maybe I've missed it) and hope that you are getting closer to an answer for yourself :)
Happy New Year !!

[ladylee]

Julie, wow-how did I miss this? Thank you for asking! We just found out recently that we're pregnant, and I've begun sorting through my options. How are you??

[KatherineinCA]

ladylee--

Congratulations! I will be interested to see what you end up doing. I just had my 3rd c-section and will most likely schedule another one if we have another baby. But there's part of me that doesn't want to give up that dream of a vaginal birth...

Love,
Katherine

[ladylee]

Hello Katherine-how are you? I think of you often.

Well, the realities I've discovered so far are: the 2 local hospitals here don't do VBACs.

The closest hospital that does is an hour drive through the mountains-not particularly comfortable with that option.

No birthing center nearby.

So, if I'm bent on a VBAC it will have to be a HBAC. I have to sit with that for a while--I am not certain I *must* have a VBAC. But I certainly don't like being told what to do.

One thing I'm thinking of is challenging the hospital administration for an exception to be made. The reason I was given as to why there are no VBACs performed was that they don't want to pay an anesthesiologist to be around continuously just in case. But that argument makes no sense to me--what do they do for first-timers who come in and end up having to have an unscheduled C? I've yet to meet my doc--I'm hoping to enlist her to help fight my cause--because I think I'm an excellent candidate for a VBAC and should at least be given the chance. The doc's staff said she's pro-VBAC and dislikes the hospital policy, so we'll see if this is an option. I'm certainly up for the challenge.

I'll also find a midwife and talk to her about a HBAC. I'm fully aware that the hospital environment may be a set up for failure anyway even if they do let me try, yet I'm not completely comfortable with birthing at home.

It's a little overwhelming to feel like there is no clear answer, yet at the same time, I have a lot of faith about whatever outcome happens and the whole process of getting there.

And I know what you mean about wanting to know what it's like. A part of me gets angry and sad thinking I might never know, another part doesn't really mourn it that much considering all the other wonderful experiences I've had in life--I'm not exactly short-changed. But I know myself--I can't accept some "authority" depriving me of a rightful experience because it's not to their financial benefit.

Thanks for asking-it feels good to talk about it. :love