Local hospital's VBAC rate...I think it's HBAC for me

[Phoebe]

I am planning an HBAC for my second child. First babe was a very long hard attempt at homebirth but in the end ended in surgery. That's another story...
The doc that did my csec is a very nice woman and she really did a great job with me I feel. She is very sweet and I would trust her to operate on my female parts again if I needed it and I would recommend her as well. But, I went to her for a Pap smear back in January right before dh and I started TTC. I spoke with her about VBAC. At the time I was toying with the idea of VBACing at the hospital as well as HBAC. Although she seemed supportive of me having a VBAC, I was surprised by the hospitals VBAC stats. Now, these aren't official stats, just what she gave me off the top of her head. She said they do around 350 births per month there and maybe 2 or 3 or them are VBACs! Does that sound like a VBAC friendly hospital to you?? I don't know what kind of stats a VBAC supportive hospital should have. I mean, if say 25% of the 350 births are csections that is 87 surgical births. I have read that 70-80% of all previously sectioned women (lowtransverse scar, no chronic problems...) can be sucessful at VBAC. That means that it should be possible for that hospital to boast 60-70 VBACs per month instead of 2-3! Of course that is a very best case scenario but I mean 20 VBACs would have been encouraging. At least that's almost 1 a day.
Then I reminded her of how big my son was (10lbs) and that I went to 42 weeks last time. She said that 'should be fine' but seemed tenative about it. She said I could see the CNMs there but apparently they aren't helping out with the VBAC factor much. I just got the feelinging that at 35 weeks along they'd start the "uh, I think we may need a change of plans" bit.

I don't know why I'm blabbing about all this. I've pretty much made my decision to HBAC. I called my midwife, the wonderful woman who was 8 months pg herself when she spent 52 hours by my side with ds #1. Now I TRUST her! I remember in the hospital asking her an hour after birth if she did VBACs. Her response was "I love VBACs!" So I'll meet with her and unless she seems totally sketchy about something (which she won't) then I'm goin' that route. I was going to talk to the CNMs at the hospital but I think I'm gonna pass. I hope that isn't irresponsible.

It feels good to know I have another shot at a beautiful birth experience. (Ds' was beautiful in it's own way...and definately a story to tell!!)

Thanks for listening to my babbling! We don't tell anyone we're pg for 3 months and I gotta talk!!!

amy

[tika]

You are very fortunate to have a midwife, willing to support HBAC, available who you trust. That must be very exciting! If I could only be so lucky...

I think the reason why this hospital's VBAC rate is so low is because many women do not know that VBAC is a reasonable option and they are just choosing to have elective repeat c-sections (gag) for various, possibly misinformed, reasons. C-sections are the "in" thing. *shudder*

The birth climate in the U.S., and other parts of the world, is in sad shape. I want to scream.

[Phoebe]

I know exactly what you mean....that most are just misinformed and don't know that VBAC is not a scary/risky option. I don't think that makes this hospital look any better though. Dr.s should be actively informing women about VBAC and promoting it! That is what is such a shame to me. But OBs are surgions after all. I know that it's not all that popular to VBAC these days though. I can't tell you how many times I've heard "It's great! You can plan and you know exactly when the baby will arrive!". I don't get that. How boring and unnatural. Makes me want to puke.:tsk

[maureenfh]

I do think that the provider's support of VBAC is more important than the hospitals, because most women just aren't told that VBAC is an option usually, so they don't ask for one. I know more than one woman who told me she was having an ERCS because she just "didn't want to take a chance" that something could go wrong. And plenty of providers working out of that hospital might not be supportive, even if yours is. I actually was more concerned with the hospital's c-section rate rather than its VBAC rate (although I imagine that a low c-section rate results in more VBACs usually).

That said, I do think HBAC is pretty safe, so if you feel comfortable with your homebirth midwife, I'd say go with your gut.

[warrior mama]

Women are not encouraged to VBAC these days, the rate is so low as they listen without question to their OB's. Very sad. Those who what a VBAC have a fight on their hands. A friend of mine had her 2nd c-section recently, she had an emergency c-section with her first and was interested in a VBAC. Her MD scheduled a c-section for 39 weeks and said if she went into labor before then she could have a trial of labor. Not even 40 weeks. Her baby was tiny and she once again had a crap experience.:(