A confession and a question? VBAC? long

I don't see how that is even possible!! A c/s costs $25,000 and a natural delivery costs $11,000 so how is it cheaper?! That was a lie!

Most midwives cost between $5000 - $6000 and that includes all prenatal visits, birth, and postpartum visits.

I'm not too far from you and I was quoted $2800 for an assisted home birth from a midwife in Macomb. I declined because it would take her an hour to get here and my last labor was less than 30 minutes. I never did find one in the Flint area.

I don't think there are any in Flint, that I know of, but I do have a friend who is in White Lake/Pontiac and their midwifery services extend to Flint. I however UC so it's no biggie for me. She's agreed to be back-up if I need any but I'm not doing prenatals or anything.

My shortest birth was 45mins, but the next birth was longer so I wouldn't go by the last baby's L&D since it varies.

Mine went as follows:
#2 - 3hs 50min
#3 - 1hr 45min
#4 - 2hr 50min
#5 - 1hr 30 min
#6 - 45min
#7 - 1hr 40min

So it can vary still. ;)

I agree though that costs can be even cheaper than what I quoted. I was just averaging. ;) I've seen some as chep as $2000 for services too.

My comment about insurance reasons is NOT BS, in the state of NJ the malpractice insurance rate for doctors is SO high that they refuse to provide certain services b/c it increases the premiums that they pay. 

I was not saying that some will not do it, but most won't and you have to shop around for a doctor or midwife who will. I did not pull this out of thin air, I shopped around for a LONG time looking for a doctor who would attempt a VBAC for me and even one's who did them would not touch me, and I am only about 10 mins from where the OP lives.

You just stated "insurance" which could mean, and I took it as, health insurance.

Yes, the major reason is because of MALPRACTICE INSRUANCE, which is what I�stated earlier. It's not because health insurance will REFUSE VBAC's. It's, again, because doctors don't want to get sued and pay more on their MALPRACTICE INSURANCE.

I don't want women thinking that they might not get the VBAC they want because their HEALTH INSURANCE might not "cover it". YK?!

However more and more insruance companies were denying women health care if they ever HAD a c/s, because they deemed it a "pre-existing condition" KNOWING�that they would probably end up with a repeat c/s and cost the insurance company more $$$ than a vaginal birthing mom.

Big hugs to you Karen!  Thanks for starting this thread - you're very insightful and you were able to articulate so clearly what I think a LOT of women out there feel with respect to C-sections and VBAC and not being given a CHOICE... 

I haven't given birth yet so I can't share my own experience but I understand where you're coming from - my sister had an emergency C-section for her second child - she had placenta abruptio from the L&D nurse breaking her water too early - baby was too high still - and it caused placenta to separate and start to deliver - putting both baby and Mom in danger because heart rate was going down fast and OB couldn't get a firm grip on it so he opted for an emergency section.  Even in the emergency she kept asking if he was SURE they couldn't deliver vaginally but he said he didn't feel comfortable putting the baby and her at any more risk and had to deliver.. Two and a half years later, she went on to have a successful VBAC (same OB) with her third last June.  That said, there are many practitionners who aren't into the VBAC. 

I recently saw The Business of Being Born - a documentary on birthing in the US by Ricki Lake and it was quite the eye opener in terms of American women and birthing choices or lack thereof...  You should see if you can rent it or view it online - definitely worth a watch.  I laughed, cried..

You are no less of a Mom/Woman/Goddess because you didn't birth your baby vaginally... bottom line is YOU created a life and sustained it..

Oh Karen ((hugs))

I know what your feeling. Even though I fought the odds and had a vaginal delivery with an induction my delivery was FAR from what I wanted. My fiance didnt get to cut the cord, I didnt get to hold her until after they had cleaned her up, and I did not get to breastfeed right away which is the reason I feel we never got a good latch to this day and I have given up (let me not even start on the anger and frustration I feel about that). It sucks. Next time I am fighting more for what I want and will threaten to leave any hospital that wont give me what I want...or at least I will scream bloody murder until I get it.

I think you should try for that VBAC. Whats the worse, they can tell you no. So try, try, and try. And hey, if you start looking for a supportive dr as soon as you start trying, I am sure you will find a good OB. Your smart and I am sure forceful so I believe you can do it.

Simone

I am really sorry that you feel this way- and believe me I think a lot of woman experience this...I was not planning to have a c-section either....but I told myself that the end result was having my healthy baby. (I cant recall all of the details forgive me-bigger baby & stuck?) But you must have needed the c-section for medical reasons...other wise you were rising the health of your baby and you.  I would encourage you to put a positive spin on it- and think about how healthy sage is for you making that sacrifice and doing the right thing for HER.  That is not to say that it has to be that way for your next baby. It doesn't even have to be that way IF you need a c-section- some DR's let you peek over the sheet- and some even let you cut the cord (even though they do the first cut).  My husband saw my dtrs born, and cut the cord.  He was very involved in the process- he comforted me, and helped me to understand the end result was my healthy baby no matter how I felt (nervous, sore, upset, like I let others down, without my mom, etc).  But you can make birth plans for c-sections, and I would encourage you to remember that if you need another c-section.  My sister came right from delivery (c-section) and got to watch them bath and clean the baby right while she recovered....because it is what she requested.  Hugs- I hope you find a DR to consider VBAC- and if not, you go forward better educated to the things that you can still request.