If this is your doctor or if you have experience with this group, please let me know your thoughts! I am most interested in having a VBAC but am going back and forth with doctors again. I thought I had it figured out still today but then received some information on one that I had an appointment with that made me think I might want to change my mind! Any advice appreciated. Thanks ladies!
I added St. Luke's on the plaza, sorry for not clarifying before. Dr. Hartung at St. Luke's North was my main doctor for my first pregnancy and Dr. Nichols delivered my daughter. They do not do VBAC's at St. Luke's North.
She delivered my daughter. She's great--very warm and caring. I don't know her stance on VBAC, though. I went to this group for both pregnancies. Dr. Hartung was my primary, and I can't say enough good things about her. Good luck!
I have had one csection, one VBAC, and one home birth. My doula, Sarah Wallbaum (www.mamasara.com), helped me immensely with the VBAC and home birth. She is currently apprenticing to the home birth midwife (Suzanne Ryan, CNM, www.ksmidwife.com) who was also wonderful, but she does have nice things to say about Lee Voi and her approach to birth.
I have to say, though, that Lee practices in the Clinic for Women at 4400 Broadway in KCMO, and although I liked Dr. Bohon well enough (she gave me my csection and did an awesome job), when I went to see Julie and told her I wanted to have a VBAC, she said all the "right" stuff, but I could tell she would just as soon section me than let me labor.
So, my advice to you is that you use a midwife. The midwives at Midwest Women's Healthcare used to be a good choice, but I'm not sure they are anymore. The problem is that no OB's want to supervise VBAC's because they have to remain in the hospital the entire time you're in labor in case you need an emergency csection. That is a burden to them. In addition, hospitals all have very anti-VBAC policies. That's why I ultimately went with a home birth for my third child.
Ask for their VBAC rates, ask for their csection rates, and make your choice based on that, not what they say, because they'll say anything to get you in and then operate. Also, consider seeing a chiropractor (Alyssa Zonerich at First Choice Chiropractics is great) to help be sure you are in alignment. This will decrease your labor time, something which many hospitals and OB's set arbitrary limits on so they can say you're not progressing and section you.
Do your research, and good luck!
I had my baby with Lee Voi (midwife) at St. Luke's on the Plaza and she was AWESOME! She worked with a Dr. named J. (can't remember her last name), but I only saw Lee. I had a wonderful experience there. I highly reccommend!
which st. lukes?? northland!!!??
