[redmach03]

Hi mamas!

We have just found out that we will be moving to HI in less than 2 months!

I am SO excited to be going back!! We are a military family...

I will be about 28-30w preggo by the time I get out there. I also will be a VBAC2C

Could anyone give me some homebirth references and experiences for homebirth in Oahu? We will be living in Honolulu. I looked online but so far the references I found are for midwifes working under a OB's care. I am afraid of this because most OB's I know will not touch me because of my VBAC status.

Oh and while I'm at it...chiropractors...does anyone have a good one?

Thanks so much in advance!

Amie

 

[Maluhia]

Only OB who will do VBAC on Oahu is Dr. Eesha at Queens. He takes Tricare but is not taking new patients - if you explain he is your ONLY VBAC option he may let you in. He no longer has midwives in his practice as all hospital midwives are now at Kaiser (no military access even on Standard) or at Tripler AMC. The midwife program at Tripler is great (if you are not overweight, they seem to not take Mamas with anything but tiny BMIs), but takes no VBACs.

Dr. Lori Kimata is a Naturopathic Physician and Midwife who did a homebirth VBA2C waterbirth with a woman I know.

THIS is a site with a lot of current information by the local Midwife Chapter President.

 

[momtofourinhawaii]

There are many many many MANY OB's who do VBACs on the island. I can think of at least 20 docs who will do a VBAC after 2 c/s. I'm not saying they will be HAPPY about it (Eesha wouldn't be either) but be nice to you and agree to attend, yes. Aside from Lori, check out Madeleine Portuondo if you are planning a homebirth. She is also at Sacred Healing aRts (like Lori) and is great! Tripler CNMs do not accept VBAC patients (at least that was the last I heard from the midwives there).

 

[momtofourinhawaii]

p.s. hey Maluhia

dinner was fun tonight

The kids played so well!

 

[redmach03]

Thanks for all the info ladies!!

I am definately going to call Lori..she sounds wonderful and hopefully find a back up OB that will VBAC as well.

 

[redmach03]

Quote:

Originally Posted by momtofourinhawaii There are many many many MANY OB's who do VBACs on the island. I can think of at least 20 docs who will do a VBAC after 2 c/s. I'm not saying they will be HAPPY about it (Eesha wouldn't be either) but be nice to you and agree to attend, yes. Aside from Lori, check out Madeleine Portuondo if you are planning a homebirth. She is also at Sacred Healing aRts (like Lori) and is great! Tripler CNMs do not accept VBAC patients (at least that was the last I heard from the midwives there).

Can you PM me some of those OB's names that you know of? Thanks so much! Its always nice to have a OB who will stick up for me if I needed to go to the hospital.

 

[Maluhia]

agreed dinner was fun

I need to know a few other names of OBs to give out!
Speaking of which...I think homebirth is the best option as even the "good" OBs are not going to be "happy" aobout it. They can say all the nice things you want but in the hospital your going to be a patient with high risk and it's not going to be the hands-off you can get with a homebirth

 

[CoconutCutie]

MW @Trippler will not see VBAC ladies. I am VBACing at Trippler with my OB in May. Hes been pretty awesome about it. I dont know their standards for VBAC2C but I do know they are VBAC friendly--just incase you wanted to know!!

 

[MangoMommy]

Congrats on the Hawaii orders, I know we love it here! I can't help you on homebirth options, unfortunately. I had DD at Castle with Linda but she's one of the midwives who went to Kaiser.

I hear the midwife program at Tripler is very good, though picky about who they take, but I also have heard (LOL don't you love that) that your chances for a VBAC at Tripler are good too.

 

[redmach03]

Thank you all for your information!

We are very excited to be moving to HI again...sometime in April! It can't come soon enough as I'm tired of looking at snow!

I actually called Dr. Lori's office and was just blown away by how nice her nurse/assistant was (can't remember her name..preggo brain) She does VBAC2C and sounded SO excited for me to be attempting a VBAC2C and at home and she doesn't even know me! Good sign... Anyway Dr. Kimata is off island right now but I was promised a phone call on her return. I am very excited! My homebirth mw here was just telling me that HI is one of the more vbac friendly places to birth.

As for Tripler I am jumping down to standard so I can avoid going there in the event of a hospital transfer. I had my son there and it was horrible and traumatic and I am terrified of hospitals and have a huge distrust of doctors because of my birth and how I was treated there. The midwifes at Tripler are the ones who missed my pre-e/pih diagnosis.. BUT that being said I've heard others have had wonderful experiences there...just like with any hospital..it has the good and bad. I'm just not going there if I don't have to.

As for hospitals, I have to find which ones are more laid back in regards to natural birth and vbac...

 

[Maluhia]

Castle in Kailua is more natural friendly but won't do VBAC.
I would never go to Kap after experiences with how they treated my SIL.
Queens I think is the place to be IF you need to be in a hospital at all.

 

[momtofourinhawaii]

Unfortunately, none of the OBs will 'back' Lori or you for VBAC. I thought you meant an OB who would deliver you as VBAC. Tons of them will do that. *maybe* Eesha would agree to be your OB knowing you were attempting VBACa2 but be prepared for him to review all the risks at your visits with him at length. Honestly, at least at Tripler, they have to see you prenatally, right? Even though you don't want to deliver there it might be one of your only options as back up in your situation. I think Kapiolani can be fine but the residents can be a mixed bag and you know, it just depends who you get when you come in. I'd agree Queens is probably a better choice. The fact is, if planning a homebirth, you likely won't end up at any of them unless it is an emergency in which case, go wherever Lori thinks you should go. She can also tell you which OBs might be a better person to approach in your situation as she has hands on experience with who is rude in that situation and who is helpful.

 

[FiveLittleMonkeys]

Even though I didn't end up birthing with Dr. Lori/Dr. Madeleine due to complications that came up in my pregnancy, I LOVED them both, and would highly, highly recommend them.

 

[MangoMommy]

I wanted to point out that you don't need to go to Standard to deliver anywhere. You can stay on Prime, have your prenatal stuff done at Tripler. If a complication should arise and you need to be transferred to a hospital, Tricare will pay because it's an emergency and they will not make you be transferred to a military hospital in labor. You just call Tricare after the fact. I went Standard because I wanted to see a midwife out in town because Tripler midwifery wouldn't take me (risk reasons.)

 

[boomertea311]

I had my son at Tripler under the midwife program. They were great in most aspects, but this time I am looking forward to a home birth. I to have been looking into Sacred Healing Arts. I have been going into the Tricare office to speak with a lady about being approved through Tricare.

She had told me-- I need to get my PCM to write up a referral for a midwife who does home births then hope it is approved by BOTH Tripler and Tricare. This makes me nervous. Anybody have any advice on this matter?

I dont know what questions to ask Sacred Healing Arts and is there anything specific that I want written on the referal form? Any advice will help.

Thanks Ladies!

 

[Maluhia]

I'll be impressed if you get Tricare and Tripler to approve, but I wish you luck!

 

[MangoMommy]

Best of luck as well. I think most moms I know who had homebirths on island paid out of pocket.

 

[momtofourinhawaii]

They are not licensed midwives so it won't be approved. They will only pay for CNMs and there aren't any practicing homebirths here. However, talk with Lori and MAdeleine, they are very flexible with payment plans/sliding scale options etc... It will be worth every penny you spend I promise!

 

[Maluhia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by momtofourinhawaii They are not licensed midwives so it won't be approved. They will only pay for CNMs and there aren't any practicing homebirths here. However, talk with Lori and MAdeleine, they are very flexible with payment plans/sliding scale options etc... It will be worth every penny you spend I promise!

This lady knows of which she speaks, I'd take her advice and move forward if I were in your shoes.

 

[momtoafireteam]

Tricare will never ever cover a HB on Hawaii, I have spent years and years fighting them on it. SHA are only $2500 anyway, but to be honest I had a bad experience with Madeleine and I am really disappointed with it so I cant recommend them.

I am being seen by Dr B for my VBAMC and upon his advice I am delivering at Queens, which he says is a far better option than Kap for what I want to do. Best of luck to you.