Sunday, July 25, 2010

VBAC after Inverted T!

Another mama in from the special scars special women support group had a VBAC after inverted T incision!!
This is an incredible birth story in so many different ways. I am amazed at the human body, it's power, it's capacity, it's endurance. We certainly are "fearfully and wonderfully made!!"
After being dilated fully for 20 hours, this mama brought forth her baby with incredible tenacity. While I don't know her, and she lives all the way on the other side of the world, I am so blessed to have been able to "witness" this on facebook and participate with my prayers, well-wishes, and positive energy. She is such an inspiration and I hope you read her complete birth story here!
http://doulamomma.wordpress.com/2010/07/25/the-birth-of-stella-rose-home-water-birth-after-inverted-t-cesarean/

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

ACOG revises its VBAC policies

While I am uber excited to see this released, and think it's LONG overdue, it's just a start at the work we have to do!
I'm hoping doctors everywhere are paying attention and planning to give their patients the very best shot at VBAC!
Here are some great links to check out and get the scoop!
http://blog.ican-online.org/2010/07/21/ican-responds-to-new-acog-guidelines-on-vbac/
http://www.acog.org/from_home/publications/press_releases/nr07-21-10-1.cfm
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38349267/ns/health

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Special Scars, Special Women

I just wanted to make sure to highlight this fantastic yahoo-based support group (that I just so happen to have been asked tonight to help moderate, yay!).
I joined this group for women with atypical cesarean incisions like mine when I was planning my VBAC and got so much information and support here. The members are awesome, the leader is a fabulous source of facts and statistics, and I am so blessed to be a part of this.
I have become quite passionate about VBACing in general since my own, but especially for women who either have been given a non-transverse scar, or have be sectioned so many times that no one wants to touch them other than to slice them open again. I just think it's so amazing our bodies' incredible resilience to heal, and believe that women should get to chose how to birth their babies.
More attention needs to be given to the issue of VBACing after special scars, more studies and statistics need to be compiled, and more OBs and midwives need to make themselves available to give mothers a shot at VBACing.
I still feel blessed to have crossed paths with the right people who led me ultimately to the supportive OB who gave me my VBAC. If I can be a part of spreading the message that *IT CAN BE DONE*, I feel I pay forward the blessing that I received.
So, if you or anyone you know has had an inverted T, classical, low vertical, J, or upright T incision, please pass along the following link! (It's also under my VBAC resources to the right)
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Special_Scars-Special_Women/?yguid=347970953

Baby M's birth


I became a traveling doula to help my dear sis have her baby and turned it into a mini vacation to spend some time with family in my home town.
I have to say, my sis is so awesome, and one of the strongest women I know! She delivered baby M at 41 weeks, and had a great Hypnobabies birth. Other than a touch of pitocin just to get her labor going, it was completely drug free! Dad was a great support too, very involved and attentive, doing anything he could to help! They worked together as a great team!
Induction started with my sis already at 5cm, so the tiniest bit of pitocin was used. After she got to 6cm, the drip was stopped and her body did the rest on it's own. Baby had some slight positioning issues and a nuchal hand, but nothing that caused too much of an issue. Baby M was born at 3:11am on July 8th weighing in at 7lbs 14.9oz, and 18 3/4 inches long.
His birth is not the first birth I have attended, but this was the first that actually counted toward my certification. It was great to put into practice all the new tricks I've learned from my training and get to see the benefits!
It was such a blessing to get to be a part of this birth! Pics soon to come!