To everyone who has had a hundred doors shut in their face, trying to get the kind of birth they deserve...<br><br>
Many have read my horror story of my last pregnancy from my posts on the boards, I'm sure. I had my daughter via UC after no OB/CNM within 3 counties (that was on my insurance) would "allow me" a VBAC and no midwife would take me because of the local laws regarding VBACs.<br><br>
We moved 45 min south about a year ago which expanded my "territory" just a little bit. Someone reccomended I go check out a practice that was literally in the middle of nowhere. I almost canceled my appointment out of fear (I have massive white coat fear now) I went in, and they asked if I was a homebirth or birth center birth (boggle!!) Didnt even know there WAS a birth center in SC. Figured I would just risk out though from being a VBAC.<br><br>
So they do the whole blood work/urine analysis/blood pressure deal, and I wait for the CNM. (till this point I had difficulty seeing a CNM as a midwife, because the last CNMs I dealt with were very medicalized and just horrible) She asked me what kind of birth I want, what I don't want, and then SHE suggests that we should avoid an IV or constant monitoring or staying in bed during labor, if we can help it. She further goes on to discuss my last birth with me, and while she has some reservations about the safety of UC, she didnt flip out at all about it. She asks me what kind of proceedures I would be comfortable with during pregnancy, and even said I could opt out of the ultrasounds, labwork, basically wants my permission on every single step that we go through, before buldozing ahead with them.<br><br>
She said we might be able to birth in the birth center, but had to run it by their OB, as they havent had a VBAC there yet (remember, small practice, small town) but that she would have no problem with it. She also said that if we did choose the hospital route, she would be with me the entire time, and that we could do all of the walking around, eating, showering, birthball, no IV, intermittent monitoring, etc, that we wanted, as long as there were no complications.<br><br>
I just wanted to share my visit with her, to encourage everyone out there that has been in my situation, with door after door slammed, to keep on trying to find someone who will give you the birth you want. They may be a bit of a drive, or in the middle of nowhere, but they ARE out there somewhere.<br><br>
For me... I have to decide now if I want to give up my plans on UC'ing to birth with this midwife, and if I can overcome the fear left from my last two pregnancies enough to do so. I have a lot of soul searching to do.
Many have read my horror story of my last pregnancy from my posts on the boards, I'm sure. I had my daughter via UC after no OB/CNM within 3 counties (that was on my insurance) would "allow me" a VBAC and no midwife would take me because of the local laws regarding VBACs.<br><br>
We moved 45 min south about a year ago which expanded my "territory" just a little bit. Someone reccomended I go check out a practice that was literally in the middle of nowhere. I almost canceled my appointment out of fear (I have massive white coat fear now) I went in, and they asked if I was a homebirth or birth center birth (boggle!!) Didnt even know there WAS a birth center in SC. Figured I would just risk out though from being a VBAC.<br><br>
So they do the whole blood work/urine analysis/blood pressure deal, and I wait for the CNM. (till this point I had difficulty seeing a CNM as a midwife, because the last CNMs I dealt with were very medicalized and just horrible) She asked me what kind of birth I want, what I don't want, and then SHE suggests that we should avoid an IV or constant monitoring or staying in bed during labor, if we can help it. She further goes on to discuss my last birth with me, and while she has some reservations about the safety of UC, she didnt flip out at all about it. She asks me what kind of proceedures I would be comfortable with during pregnancy, and even said I could opt out of the ultrasounds, labwork, basically wants my permission on every single step that we go through, before buldozing ahead with them.<br><br>
She said we might be able to birth in the birth center, but had to run it by their OB, as they havent had a VBAC there yet (remember, small practice, small town) but that she would have no problem with it. She also said that if we did choose the hospital route, she would be with me the entire time, and that we could do all of the walking around, eating, showering, birthball, no IV, intermittent monitoring, etc, that we wanted, as long as there were no complications.<br><br>
I just wanted to share my visit with her, to encourage everyone out there that has been in my situation, with door after door slammed, to keep on trying to find someone who will give you the birth you want. They may be a bit of a drive, or in the middle of nowhere, but they ARE out there somewhere.<br><br>
For me... I have to decide now if I want to give up my plans on UC'ing to birth with this midwife, and if I can overcome the fear left from my last two pregnancies enough to do so. I have a lot of soul searching to do.
