[wombatclay]

Heyla all!<br><br>
Hope this is the right place to post this...<br><br>
Just a reminder for AP/NFL/Crunchy mamas in the Fingerlakes area that there is a meeting of the BirthNet of the Fingerlakes tonight (Tues April 24) to talk about the changing birth environment in the region. I've actually used the two practices named below (Every Woman's Care is one of the few local groups that will support natural birth for VBAC mamas, and Cayuga Family Medicine is a wonderful family practice that is pro-natural birth, pro-delayed/selective/non-vax, pro-breastfeeding/extended breastfeeding, and pro-cosleeping). Losing the care offered by these providers is a huge set-back for families who want to deliver naturally!<br><br><div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">Have you heard of the impending lack of choice in birth options in<br>
the Ithaca Area? Spring is here and time for the rebirth of BirthNet of the Fingers Lakes.<br><br>
Come to meeting of BirthNet of the Finger Lakes on:<br>
Tuesday, April 24th at 6:30<br>
at Autumn Leaves Bookstore - upper level (115 The Commons)<br><br>
As of July 2007, our community has lost the option of having the physicians at Cayuga Family Medicine and Every Woman's Care deliver our babies, this loss is in in addition to two midwives being laid off this year.<br><br>
We are hoping to alert Cayuga Medical Center that we need to maintain woman's options. Many women are now going to Schyuler County and Cortland to deliver their babies. Cayuga Medical Center has been responsive in the past, and with the potential loss of income, may have greater incentive to make changes.<br><br>
Please pass on this message to anyone that you know that might be<br>
interested in helping. They can come to the meeting and write a<br>
letter to CMC.</td>
</tr></table></div>

 

[ASusan]

If I still lived in Ithaca, I'd be there.<br><br>
I have to give birth in Ohio, where you need your doctor's permission to see an acupuncturist.

 

[wombatclay]

Sooo...I was at work, but my DH went with my DD.<br><br>
Although the meeting was supposed to begin at 6:30, nothing actually got underway till a bit after 7pm, and then dd got a bit "melty" (she's 2yo)...so he wound up only getting to hear the first 10-15 minutes.<br><br>
But it looks like the crux of the matter is that Cayuga Medical Center will no longer maintain a hospital based on-call OB service. Individual care providers (be they midwives, family practice docs, or OBs) will need to provide their own OB backup and many of these practitioners either can't afford this or can't afford the changing insurance premiums that will go along with this change.<br><br>
A list of providers who will continue to provide OB care at the hospital was handed out at the meeting, and the one thing that jumped out at me was the absolute lack of providers willing to attend VBAC mothers. And those that do take VBACs had notes next to their name with things like "as long as mother progresses quickly" or mentioned that if that specific OB was unavailable at the time of delivery then a c/s would be done. As a VBAC mama that is just unacceptable to me! Especially in Ithaca, a town "famous" for it's holistic and naturalistic health support!<br><br>
Anyway, Cauyga Medical provides an online feedback form (<a href="http://www.cayugamed.org//contact/index.cfm" target="_blank">http://www.cayugamed.org//contact/index.cfm</a>) and BirthNet is encouraging people to contact the hospital with comments and concerns about this change and the impact it will have on local birth options.

 

[Unreal]

Can I copy this info over to the <a href="http://homebirthers.org/discussion" target="_blank">Homebirthers of New York site</a>?<br>
Or would you want to come over and post it?<br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/loveeyes.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Loveeyes">: <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/loveeyes.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Loveeyes">:

 

[wombatclay]

If you'd like to post the info I think that would be fine!<br><br>
The quote in my original post is the "official" post sent out by BirthNet of the Finger Lakes. And the link is to the Cayuga Medical Center Comments form. DH said they would be providing actual mailing addy information for the various hospital board members and hospital trustees later in the meeting but he couldn't stay...but since Cayuga Family Medicine provided my birth care last pregnancy (and are our family doctors/pediatricians) and the husband-wife OB team at Every Woman's Care is providing my fabulous VBAC support this time I'm sure I'll be able to get more detailed info at my next appointment!<br><br>
Anyway, I think the more people who know about this and who contact the medical center the better it will be in terms of maintaining birth options in the region. So please do share! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
And thanks!<br><br>
It makes me sick thinking about what could have happened if I'd gotten pregnant just a month or two later than I did...I'm planning a VBAC and Dr Heidi and Dr Rudy are simply amazing. So extremely birth friendly and just gung-ho for natural birth and VBAC and simply "being there" for the mama. They encouraged me to explore hypnosis for this birth, practically demanded that I have a doula and a birth plan, have been totally fine with everything I've requested, don't have any limits on VBAC mamas, support tandem nursing/nursing while pregnant (Dr. Heidi nurses their 25mo between appointments and was a LLL leader), etc. So when I think that I "snuck in" just a few weeks before the cut off I really do feel a little ill.

 

[Unreal]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>wombatclay</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7953909"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;"><br>
It makes me sick thinking about what could have happened if I'd gotten pregnant just a month or two later than I did...I'm planning a VBAC and Dr Heidi and Dr Rudy are simply amazing. So extremely birth friendly and just gung-ho for natural birth and VBAC and simply "being there" for the mama. They encouraged me to explore hypnosis for this birth, practically demanded that I have a doula and a birth plan, have been totally fine with everything I've requested, don't have any limits on VBAC mamas, support tandem nursing/nursing while pregnant (Dr. Heidi nurses their 25mo between appointments and was a LLL leader), etc. So when I think that I "snuck in" just a few weeks before the cut off I really do feel a little ill.</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/yikes.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="EEK!"><br><br>
no kidding!!<br>
How awesome that you did manage to catch them! It is amazing how some things work out, isn't it?<br><br>
I'm going to post over there now. Feel free to come by anytime--we aren't just for people having homebirths....that is the focus, but the real energy behind it all is protecting women's birth options.<br>
We should all be able to birth where we are most comfortable and with the people who we feel can give us the best care.<br><br>
how sad that we have to start a grassroots movement to protect those rights<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/dizzy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Dizzy">: <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/dizzy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Dizzy">: <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/dizzy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Dizzy">:

 

[Luvourlives]

Hi all! I am a hopeful VBA3C mama, due in Sept. I wish I had known about this meeting, I just found this site this morning. Presently I am planning to deliver at Arnot Ogden and have had "approval" (not sure about support yet) to do so from the practice I go to, but I am trying to research all my options. It sounds like CMC and its providers all not going to work forms but I thought I would double check and ensure that I don't have options (aside from homebirth) that I haven't considered. any Thoughts?

 

[wombatclay]

Heyla mamas!<br><br>
So, I haven't read it yet (just got back from a BUSY weekend out of town) but there are notes from the meeting online at <a href="http://www.birthnetfl.org" target="_blank">www.birthnetfl.org</a><br><br>
I think it's a google group or something and you need to "join"? Not certain...I followed the link the morning and was prompted to create an account (I know it's a brand new website for BirthNet).<br><br><b>Luvourlives</b>-<br><br>
When I was just beginning to research my VBAC options I looked at Cayuga Medical versus Arnot Ogden (the thread is around here somewhere). The basic breakdown was that Cayuga Medical is MUCH more VBAC supportive than Arnot. Once I started digging past the pretty "birth center" pictures the newly renovated Arnot maternity ward provided I heard a lot of "off the record" comments about VBAC at Arnot...and it's not pretty. (I'm a doula and although I've never attended a mama at Arnot, I've met several of the staff Obs and spoken with some midwives who attend births there).<br><br>
Given a choice, I'd go with Cayuga Medical hands down in terms of VBAC support and a pro-natural birth environment. However, a lot will depend on which care provider you use. You can learn more about the Ithaca area birth options on the Ithaca Birth Group website at <a href="http://www.ithacabirthgroup.org/resources.php" target="_blank">http://www.ithacabirthgroup.org/resources.php</a><br><br>
This group was founded in the 70s to support local homebirth options and they've remained birth advocates since then. Although their "resources" page doesn't reflect the new care provider scenario it would be a good idea to see what options might be available through the OBGYN Associates (in Ithaca, they have a midwife group and I know they attend VBAC at Cayuga Medical and that although they are losing midwives the practice will continue to take VBAC mamas).<br><br>
Sorry I don't have better news...but everything I've heard from Arnot is that they'll support a VBAC "to a point" and then an "emergency" c/s will be done. And the only doctors I've ever heard the "Dead Baby" speech from are all associated with Arnot. One even told me that VBAC should be illegal! And he's a pretty influential doctor in that hospital...<br><br>
Anyway, welcome to mdc and happy birthing! I hope you can find the right combination of care and comfort to make your VBA3C a reality! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">