Vbac and Natural Friendly Ob's in Memphis and Surrounding Areas

You live in Tennessee and you don't know about the world famous Midwife who lives and has a huge communal birthing center right there? Look up The Farm and Ina May Gaskin. I'm sure she has a huge waiting list... so might as well put yourself on it!!

VBACs are best done by a Midwife who will actually allow you a trial by labor. Most OBs will SAY they offer trial by labor but have a list of restrictions and pre-requisites a mile long and you end up with another cesarean anyways even if things would have gone smoothly if they just supported youwhile you moved around and labored.

Never forget... your OB must follow hospital policies no matter what and the hospitals have even more restrictive limits to procedures than the actual OB.

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As a Nurse, I was required to do at least 3 days at an OB Hospital, since it was my preferred area - I got 8 days. EVERY SINGLE 'VBAC" that walked in that door - thinking they'd get a chance to birth their baby, NONE got more than 2 hours worth of laboring time before they were quickly prepped for an OR for another cesarean. In fact, I heard the OB residents, CNMs, Nurses and OBs there joking "What you want a Vbac? Sure... go tell the OR to prep a room!" This was a MAJOR OB hospital that people would come to from out of county to have their babies there. My experience was not uncommon. They also had a lot more inappropriate things to say about women with Birth Plans or preferences - but I'll let that go.

I'm a HUGE advocator of VBACS, in fact I'm to have a home birth VBAC with a midwife in July - I cannot wait! As a Nurse, I went back and read my chart and was appalled at all they did without expressing the full ramifications, the full disclosure or even being remotely truthful about my situation. If I hadn't waited so long to check, I probably could have had a very good lawsuit against them. This was the same OB hospital I did my clinicals at.

$5000 compared to a high possibility of another major abdominal surgery seems a lot better to me, but then I'm a medical professional and know all the risks. My Midwife is charging $5200 and does it by a payment plan. Over 9 months @ roughly $580 a month - pretty damn good deal! Also, Home Births and Birthing Center births have a lower rate of complications, cesareans and fetal/maternal death. Did you know that?

Hi M.

I live in Collierville and am an RN and understand your dilemma. I am currently researching VBAC options myself. I must say that Dr. Dulaney has been recommended to me several times. I have not met her yet, but wanted to share that with you. I currently see Dr. Huff Peeler at Ruch Clinic and adore him, and he has delivered my 2 children: one vaginally and one CS. We have not discussed VBAC yet, but I wanted to ask around with other Mamas too, and Dr. Dulaney was mentioned several times.

J.

Well I say to each their own! On to my suggestion: When I became pregnant with my second, I was also concerned about an OB that was pro VBAC and found Dr. Joseph Dewane in the East Memphis area. We had a discussion about my history and situation and he was very open to VBAC. That is as far as I can go about it because I had a miscarriage but I would recommend him. My short experience was great and I hear lots of great things from other women I've talked to who have used him including my nurse at the hospital when I suffered the miscarriage.

I don't have any recommendations in your area, but I had a VBAC in July. I saw a team of perinatologists (high-risk OBs) and they were very supportive. I did a lot of research beforehand and VBACs are becoming much more popular. It may not be hard finding a doctor or midwife to support your decision.

M., sorry about some of the other responses -- I guess most people expect that a city the size of Memphis would have more options. :-(

Anyway, two of my friends have had Dr. Betty Jo Delaney out of Germantown as their OB and recommend her; one of the friends had a VBAC (first C/s was because baby was transverse when her water broke); the other friend had a home-birth with her first, but that midwife was unable to attend her second pregnancy/birth, so this friend went with a natural-friendly OB. Although she didn't "love" her during prenatal visits, she was very attentive during labor and was there for quite a bit of it; she said she'd definitely go with her again

hi i had a vba2c nov 9,2011 with dr joseph dewane with only 3 pushes i was induced that morning at 845 and had a 8lb 5oz baby boy at 357 pm it was the greatest labor ever after being denied by many drs the right to have a vba2c i found the best dr in the world.

Hi M.,

I used to live at Fort Campbell, KY and belonged to the Nashville Birth Network. Here is the link. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Nashvillebirthnetwork/
This group consists of birth assistants, lactation consultants, homebirth midwives and possibly some natural birth friendly OB's/nurses.

I know you can find answers to your question. I also suggest you contact the International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN) Chapter of Nashville. http://icanofnashville.webs.com/

Best of luck to you on this journey.

Peace & Light,
J.