[Sultana1980]

Hi all - this is sort of a crazy question, I'm sure, but seeing that this is such an active VBAC forum I figured if anyone would know, it's you folks.<br><br>
I'm driving to Toronto from Brooklyn, New York, next week. I'll be 36 weeks pregnant on the way up there, and 37 weeks on the way back. I feel really good about it, and my doctor is fine with it as well, but I do want to be prepared just in case I go into labor along the way.<br><br>
I'm currently trying to compile a list of hospitals in the following places. If you have any feedback or could let me know hospitals in the area that you know permit VBAC, that would be great. In a couple of places I've noted hospitals that have been described to me as good by friends and acquaintances, however, I haven't yet checked to see what their VBAC policies are. Thank you!<br><ol style="list-style-type:decimal;"><li>Scranton</li>
<li>Allentown</li>
<li>Ithaca</li>
<li>Syracuse - Upstate</li>
<li>Rochester - Strong Memorial</li>
<li>Buffalo</li>
<li>Hamilton</li>
<li>Burlington/Oakville</li>
</ol>

 

[mediumcrunch]

I had an awesome VBAC at Rochester General. Completely unmedicated, unpressured, midwife-caught, mother-baby nursing, nursery was for sick babies only.<br>
Granted this was 11 years ago and things may have changed.<br>
RGH is not in a nice neighborhood, the ER is downright scary but my experience in their LDRP's was the best out of any of my 8 births (7 VBAC's).

 

[Climbergirl]

Check the ICAN website. They have info on hospital policies that can probably get you started...

 

[oddduck]

Not in Hamilton or Burlington personally but I would be shocked if hospitals in either city turned away a VBACer in labour. TOL's are very common and often encouraged here by most OBs. I'd personally contact one of the midwife groups in either city and see which hospital they'd recommend though.<br><br><a href="http://www.aommembersonly.ca/find_a_midwife/Search.aspx" target="_blank">http://www.aommembersonly.ca/find_a_midwife/Search.aspx</a>

 

[wombatclay]

I had a vbac at Cayuga Medical Center (Ithaca) and another at Arnot Ogden Medical Center (Elmira/Horseheads, it's about a half hour from Ithaca). VBACs are currently allowed at both hospitals but ALOT has changed in the last 3 years and VBACs are no longer encouraged. A <i>lot</i> would depend on the on call provider and how determined you were. One thing to keep in mind would be NICU options... Arnot has a level III, Cayuga Med a level II. So if you did indeed deliver early, Arnot might be a better choice.<br><br>
A few women I know have driven to Syracuse for high risk vbacs... I'm not sure which hospitals specifically though. Crouse maybe? Anyway, <a href="http://www.ican-online.org/vbac-ban-map" target="_blank">here's</a> the ICAN vbac map.<br><br>
I traveled in my 7th month in my first pregnancy and did the same thing (well, not vbac then, but the hospital check). I hope you have an uneventful trip and a wonderful birth "back home"!

 

[Sultana1980]

These are great resources. Thank you all so much. As this trip approaches I am getting a bit nervous about it...we'll see if I have the guts to go through with it. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngtongue.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Stick Out Tongue"><br><br>
Thanks again.