USA Today VBAC Article
Click on the link to view the full article. You have to purchase the rights to it in order to copy/post any or all of it. I would rather send you straight to it (I am sure they would too). I found out from the midwife (in the last post) that they are changing the wording on VBAC and the official stand. Not much changed. However, they are verbally saying (as you will see in the article) that they are in support of women having VBAC's now. Of course, they mean in a hospital with staff alerted to what is going on.
I have come to the conclusion that this does not apply to me. I am not one of those c-section people who went and got pregnant right after having the first one. (It is recommended that you wait at least 18 months before becoming pregnant again. Go here for an article about this.) Kaine is 26 months old. I have been doing exercises to strengthen my core (or the muscles used to support the uterus and baby). I did not have muscle separation. I was almost completely healed at 3 months (no stitches, no bleeding, no pain, no complications, etc...) Plus, while laying on the table I was told, "You are a GREAT candidate for VBAC". Thank you very much! I accept!
I am moving forward from my tragic birth. I am no longer going to ask myself "what could have been?", I am no longer going to dwell on "what might happen". When and if we get pregnant we are going to treat the birth like a first timer going through it. My uterus will just have to learn how to get a baby out. I am letting go of the fear that something terrible is going to happen (Go here for stats on uterine rupture caused by VBAC). Basically it states that:
"Dozens of studies report that for women who have had one prior cesarean birth with a low-horizontal incision, the risk of uterine rupture is 0.5% to 1.0%." That number is just not high enough for me to worry. Plus, I have NO other warning signs for rupture (I am currently losing weight to lower my risk factor even more. I am not sure if this is a medical truth, but I figure that it could not hurt. The idea being that if you are overweight you don't have good tone and therefore, are putting more stress on the belly (with the help of gravity) and making your scar weaker. This, by association, means that you would not have the muscle support you would need to help your uterus hold a baby and give birth.)
I am moving on. I am having a home VBAC. I am finally healed from my trauma (enough to know that you can never be healed and you accept and learn from what has happened). I will use this to help others, someday.
Showing posts with label VBAC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label VBAC. Show all posts
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
A stressful day
Today has been stressful. Not only did I have a midwife tell me that I should not be considering going to midwifery school unless I "was prepared to have another mommy" for my kids. I also had a two hour conversation about my birth experience and birth beliefs, including the possibility of a VBAC home birth (with the same midwife). We did not see eye-to-eye only because she thinks that her future in VBAC may be in jeopardy due to the fact that the Dr. that approves them wants to have a contract (with a substantial fee) with the midwives that she approves. Because this midwife is a small home birth (independent) midwife, she does not do enough business for it to be beneficial for her to pay the fee. I guess in a few days I/she will know where she stands on this issue (she requested to stay on with the Dr. without paying the fee and using her on a needed basis, kinda like she is doing now).
I think my biggest issue with the conversation was the fact that I might have gotten my hopes up (she came highly recommended). I was told that her "mission work" was VBAC, I just didn't get that feeling from her (not that the person who told me was off base). I just feel like she wouldn't really fight for a VBAC if there was ANY opposition to it. (She even said at one point that she "had the problems of birth drilled into her head. But, she could still miss some". That just doesn't strike me as the type of person I want at my labor. Someone looking for something to go wrong with the VBAC.) Therefore, I do not think she would be a good fit with us.
Also, she doesn't believe in the Bradley Method and, from what I gleaned, doesn't feel like husbands have a place at birth. This is definitely NOT something that I agree with (or Matt for that matter). I feel like a well informed and WILLING husband is the perfect coach for his birthing wife. Especially in Matt's case. He is a physiologist, he knows forward and backward, how the body works and what it should be doing. Plus, he has my utmost interest at heart (and his child's). Unlike someone that I will be getting to know for only 9 months and then the relationship is over with the final paycheck. (I know, that seems cold and mean, I do not mean it to sound bitter. I believe in midwives and I believe in the 9 month relationship). She even said, "I cringe when I hear that someone is taking Bradley classes" (this was said after I told her I was planning on becoming a Bradley instructor). She is NOT the midwife for us.
Also, speaking of Bradley, I answered a call from the headquarters around dinner. She said that because I had a medicated birth that I would have to attend 20 Bradley (unmedicated) births to be eligible to go to the teaching seminar. Seeing as how this is 2 months away, I told her to go ahead and send my money order back. I do not see how, even a year from now, I would have that many births under my belt. I did, however, ask her what would happen if I had an unmedicated Bradley birth and she said that I would be good to go. So, at least I know. I figured it was going to be something like that. I didn't get my hopes up. So, now I plan to just take the general child birth educator course that is offered ever so often at the birth center, just so I can have the prerequisite met. I am not heart broken. There will still be time, later, to go back and do the Bradley thing.
The new plan is: take the Doula and breastfeeding course in September, take a child birth educator course (when I figure out when it is), take a business math class (and possibly just finish my degree) and move on into midwifery school. Also, throw in looking for another midwife (although I think I might have decided on one) and having another baby. And, Kaine is starting school and we are going to be looking into Catholic schools and churches too. We have also put the house plans on hold and are waiting a year in order to save more money and build our already "okay/good" credit. (As the mortgage guy said, "it is no good to be house rich and money poor".)
I think my biggest issue with the conversation was the fact that I might have gotten my hopes up (she came highly recommended). I was told that her "mission work" was VBAC, I just didn't get that feeling from her (not that the person who told me was off base). I just feel like she wouldn't really fight for a VBAC if there was ANY opposition to it. (She even said at one point that she "had the problems of birth drilled into her head. But, she could still miss some". That just doesn't strike me as the type of person I want at my labor. Someone looking for something to go wrong with the VBAC.) Therefore, I do not think she would be a good fit with us.
Also, she doesn't believe in the Bradley Method and, from what I gleaned, doesn't feel like husbands have a place at birth. This is definitely NOT something that I agree with (or Matt for that matter). I feel like a well informed and WILLING husband is the perfect coach for his birthing wife. Especially in Matt's case. He is a physiologist, he knows forward and backward, how the body works and what it should be doing. Plus, he has my utmost interest at heart (and his child's). Unlike someone that I will be getting to know for only 9 months and then the relationship is over with the final paycheck. (I know, that seems cold and mean, I do not mean it to sound bitter. I believe in midwives and I believe in the 9 month relationship). She even said, "I cringe when I hear that someone is taking Bradley classes" (this was said after I told her I was planning on becoming a Bradley instructor). She is NOT the midwife for us.
Also, speaking of Bradley, I answered a call from the headquarters around dinner. She said that because I had a medicated birth that I would have to attend 20 Bradley (unmedicated) births to be eligible to go to the teaching seminar. Seeing as how this is 2 months away, I told her to go ahead and send my money order back. I do not see how, even a year from now, I would have that many births under my belt. I did, however, ask her what would happen if I had an unmedicated Bradley birth and she said that I would be good to go. So, at least I know. I figured it was going to be something like that. I didn't get my hopes up. So, now I plan to just take the general child birth educator course that is offered ever so often at the birth center, just so I can have the prerequisite met. I am not heart broken. There will still be time, later, to go back and do the Bradley thing.
The new plan is: take the Doula and breastfeeding course in September, take a child birth educator course (when I figure out when it is), take a business math class (and possibly just finish my degree) and move on into midwifery school. Also, throw in looking for another midwife (although I think I might have decided on one) and having another baby. And, Kaine is starting school and we are going to be looking into Catholic schools and churches too. We have also put the house plans on hold and are waiting a year in order to save more money and build our already "okay/good" credit. (As the mortgage guy said, "it is no good to be house rich and money poor".)
Monday, August 2, 2010
Current VBAC Climate in Florida
First of all, let me state that this is very dear to my heart. This is a cause I can and will get behind. I would be considered a VBAC patient for all of the births that I am destined to have. I do not mind (I used to) but I know how to take care of myself and plan to do just that. I wanted to post about the current legal status of VBAC's in Florida. For those of you who do not know VBAC = Vaginal Birth After Cesarean. This is what is currently being fought for:
VBAC's in birth centers across the state of Florida. They are currently being challenged and were previously considered as a "de facto ban" in all of Florida. This means that:
I am appalled to see that it has come this far! Do our human rights really have to mean so little? If women are given the choice to end a pregnancy, just because it is not wanted, don't you think we have the right to birth the way we want? (I am not advocating abortion here!) We won the right to choose, but we do not have the right to choose where, when and how we give birth to our babies. Many people feel it is dangerous to even be given this right. Others have no clue and are blindly walking into a situation that can cause more harm than good. Our right to educate ourselves and make our own decisions, about what is right for us and our children, are being taken away from us! And, worse, we are letting them do it!!
Moreover, I am appalled by the midwives in this state. I am horrifically offended that there is not more fighting going on in the midwife communities of Florida to better a woman's right to choose a home birth or a birth center. Many are to afraid to stand up and fight for what they know is right and good and just. Just because birth centers and home birth are still allowed does NOT mean the fight is over ladies!! That was just the beginning. What about the other women who would be perfectly fine having their babies at home or with a birth center? What about the breech babies, the VBAC's, the twins?? Not enough has changed. We should not be afraid to upset the status quo! Fight for what you believe in. I know you gals are out there!
Don't let us go underground. Let us stand in the light and fight for the rights of women. The rights of our daughters, our friends and our babies. There is still more to do. Don't let what we know to be right be taken away. It is our right and our choice.
VBAC's in birth centers across the state of Florida. They are currently being challenged and were previously considered as a "de facto ban" in all of Florida. This means that:
De facto is a Latin expression that means "in fact" or "in practice", commonly used as opposed to de jure (meaning "by law") when referring to matters of law or governance or technique (such as standards), that are found in the common experience as created or developed without or against a regulation. (From here).
De facto standards
A de facto standard, for instance, is a technical or other standard that is so dominant that everybody seems to follow it like an authorized standard. The de jure standard may be different: one example is the metric unit of kilometre, which is the de jure standard for road distances in the United States, while the mile (=1609.344 m) is the de facto standard. In addition, there is no law preventing one from adding a twenty-seventh letter such as รพ to the alphabet, as letters were added, centuries ago, without much difficulty, but one is prevented from doing so today by the practical difficulties involved. Thus there is a de facto limit on modifications to the alphabet. The de facto standard is not even formalized in all cases and may simply rely on the fact that someone has come up with a good (hopefully unpatented) idea that everybody else likes so much that it is copied/plagiarized. Typical creators of de facto-standards are individual companies, corporations and consortiums.
A de facto standard, for instance, is a technical or other standard that is so dominant that everybody seems to follow it like an authorized standard. The de jure standard may be different: one example is the metric unit of kilometre, which is the de jure standard for road distances in the United States, while the mile (=1609.344 m) is the de facto standard. In addition, there is no law preventing one from adding a twenty-seventh letter such as รพ to the alphabet, as letters were added, centuries ago, without much difficulty, but one is prevented from doing so today by the practical difficulties involved. Thus there is a de facto limit on modifications to the alphabet. The de facto standard is not even formalized in all cases and may simply rely on the fact that someone has come up with a good (hopefully unpatented) idea that everybody else likes so much that it is copied/plagiarized. Typical creators of de facto-standards are individual companies, corporations and consortiums.
In English, this means that there is an "in practice" ban of VBAC's across the state. People are not in favor of doing them in their practices. This DOES NOT mean that they are illegal!! It just means "as a rule" people do not do them. In fact, there is currently only one OB-GYN in Florida that is even willing to approve VBAC's. She is in Miami and will travel the state to come and see you.
The BirthGirlz website is currently mounting a legal battle to help support those of us who would desire VBACS out of hospital. Please visit their website and see how you can help to support this worthy cause! Go here for the post that alerted me to their existence. Here is the original post (Just in case it disappears):
Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration is expected to permanently ban Vaginal Birth after Cesarean (VBAC) in the state’s birth centers. In response, BirthGirlz, a national nonprofit based in Florida, is mounting a legal challenge, arguing that the ban is beyond the scope of the state health agency’s role.
The ban aims to close the loop on what is already a stringent policy on VBACs in Florida. To have a non-surgical birth after a C-section, women are compelled to go to hospitals that permit it (which are not accessible throughout the state), or, if a physician signs off on the procedure, they can have one at home with the guidance of a licensed midwife. VBACs currently don’t occur in Florida birthing centers because of what is being a called a “de facto ban” due to outdated language in the state regulations. The language, which will be updated this week, will turn the ban from de facto to explicit—making VBACs illegal in all of Florida licensed birthing facilities.
Miriam Pearson-Martinez, a licensed midwife who serves on the Pushing for VBAC committee of BirthGirlz, said that the organization has hired an attorney and will file a legal challenge to the ban when the AHCA moves to amend its regulatory language.
This is the current action being taken by BirthGirlz:
We have secured and paid for the attorney that will be fighting for a woman's right to choose a birth center setting for her VBAC. We have paid her fee in full and just need a little help flying her to Tallahasee. Due to the fact that the state acted with NO NOTICE to open the rules governing birth centers.
I am appalled to see that it has come this far! Do our human rights really have to mean so little? If women are given the choice to end a pregnancy, just because it is not wanted, don't you think we have the right to birth the way we want? (I am not advocating abortion here!) We won the right to choose, but we do not have the right to choose where, when and how we give birth to our babies. Many people feel it is dangerous to even be given this right. Others have no clue and are blindly walking into a situation that can cause more harm than good. Our right to educate ourselves and make our own decisions, about what is right for us and our children, are being taken away from us! And, worse, we are letting them do it!!
Moreover, I am appalled by the midwives in this state. I am horrifically offended that there is not more fighting going on in the midwife communities of Florida to better a woman's right to choose a home birth or a birth center. Many are to afraid to stand up and fight for what they know is right and good and just. Just because birth centers and home birth are still allowed does NOT mean the fight is over ladies!! That was just the beginning. What about the other women who would be perfectly fine having their babies at home or with a birth center? What about the breech babies, the VBAC's, the twins?? Not enough has changed. We should not be afraid to upset the status quo! Fight for what you believe in. I know you gals are out there!
Don't let us go underground. Let us stand in the light and fight for the rights of women. The rights of our daughters, our friends and our babies. There is still more to do. Don't let what we know to be right be taken away. It is our right and our choice.
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