Thank you for sharing your story. ~ Henci

Hi,

I wanted to chiime in and say that I also had a classical cesarean.  Many of the details of my firstborn child's arrival were similar to the lady who wrote in first.  My daughter lived for 3 precious days.  The surgery and recovery period were considered to be normal but I couldn't bear to have another one.  My husband and I chose to have a home VBAC in spite of potentially outdated statiscs regarding uterine rutpure.  We know that is the path God paved for us to have a normal birth.   We intentionally spaced the births 25 months apart to increase the likelhood of success.  It also gave us much needed time for healing, both emotionally and physically.  My son was born via VBAC at home with a  midwife.  During labor my baby and I were carefully monitored and would have transported to our closest hospital (10 minutes away) if the need arose. My son was born at home, weighing in at 10 pounds.  :-)  It was a healing birth in many ways.

one more thing... there is a yahoo support group out there for women with special scars, im not able to post the link but it's called Special_Scars-Special_Women

lots of good info and support there for mommas wanting to educate themselves and receive support from others with similiar experiences.  hope that helps!

hi!  i happened to stumble across this thread and wanted to add some info.  i had a vba3c after an initial inverted T incision this past August.  it was a perfect, completely drug-free delivery.  i also showed up at the hospital complete and my baby was born shortly after.

my provider was very supportive, and also does vbac's after verticle and J incisions.  his name is Fred Cummings, in Denton, TX.  i have also heard that Dr Tate in Atlanta GA also takes these incisions for vbac. 

good luck to other mommas out there!

I am sooo happy for you! Congratulations!

-- Henci

My VBAcC took place at Shands Hospital-Jacksonville (FL). The maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialist who worked with me did not consent to a VBAcC on the record but supported me off record.

I hope someone out there responds, but I have to say that it's a long shot. I suggest you get in touch with people at the International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN). If anyone would know who might be willing to take you on, they would. The ICAN website might have helpful advice too. It should be your absolute right to give informed refusal to surgery, but unlike any other patient, it is a right denied to pregnant women. Here are some agencies that affirm that right:

Office of Personnel Management HIPAA Consumer Rights and Responsibilities. Appendix A. Consumer bill of rights and responsibilities. Chapter four:  Participation in treatment decisions.

“In order to ensure consumers' right and ability to participate in treatment decisions, health care professionals should:

 

Provide patients with easily understood information and opportunity to decide among treatment options consistent with the informed consent process. Specifically,

 

Discuss all treatment options with a patient in a culturally competent manner, including the option of no treatment at all. . . .

 

Discuss all risks, benefits, and consequences to treatment or nontreatment.

Give patients the opportunity to refuse treatment. . .

 

Abide by the decisions made by their patients . . .  consistent with the informed consent process.”

Department of Health and Human Services. Chapter IV -- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid services, Department of Health and Human Services: Part 482--Conditions for participation for hospitals. In: National Archives and Records Administration; 2005.

“A hospital must protect and promote each patient’s rights. . . . The patient’s rights include . . . being able . . . refuse treatment. . . . The patient has the right to be free from all forms of abuse or harassment"

The Joint Commission. Speak Up: Know Your Rights. Note: "The Joint Commission" is formerly "Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations"

·         “You have the right to be informed about the care you will receive. . . .

·         You have the right to make decisions about your care, including refusing care. . . .

·         You have the right to be listened to.

·         You have the right to be treated with courtesy and respect.”

 

 Please let us know how things work out for you.

-- Henci

Hi.

Please could someone give the contacts of any caregivers in the USA or Canada that is willing to handle VBAC after a Classical Incision? I am pregnant and don't want to go through the traumas of a CS again.

Regards,

Eby.

I am absolutely thrilled for you! I know personally that an empowering birth experience can be a life-changing event--and that the reverse is also true.

I am sure your hands are full with your new baby and your older child, but if you can find the time, it might help others if you would write the hospital telling them how much it meant to you to have a flexible care provider who was willing to work with you and who respected your right to make informed decisions about your care.

-- Henci

Hi Henci and all,

I just wanted to update this posting to report that I had an intervention-free vaginal birth after classic cesarean on 3/29/2007. I labored at home for less than 6 hours and arrived at the hospital 26 minutes before our daughter was born. I was complete upon arrival and she came out with 3 contractions. I will say this birth was the most rewarding event in my life. It was significantly empowering. I am quite thankful that I didn't experience uterine rupture and found a supportive provider who respected my wishes to VBAC (although he didn't make it to the birth because of the brief time I was in labor there).

Thank you for your feedback during pregnancy!

Angie