[PurpleStar]

So, I've mentioned before about all the obstacles, hurdles, and hoops I'll have to go through in order to even TRY to get a VBAC here on Maui...well, yesterday I looked up birthing centers on Oahu and if I remember right - all but 1 of their major 4-5 hospitals/birthing centers offer VBACs, allow midwives, seem to be pro-natural/minimal non-emergency interventions, and the cherry on top - most have standard labor tubs in each room

Holy cow!!! Seriously?!!! Man, I'm even more bummed Maui is so far behind when a sister island less than 30 mintues away (by plane) is totally more advanced and mother/child centric.

BUT the thing is, I did "long distance" with Josh once, out of necessity, but that is an experience I don't want to have again. I want to share and bond over this baby WITH Josh this time, instead of via phone/text/email/FB, kwim?!

However, I've very intrigued now and am thinking of flying over to do facility tours and just get a feel for how it would work. The one thing that that could still throw a wrench in plans is my insurance. I don't know if it will even apply to Oahu. And even if we went out of pocket for a midwife, in the event I DID have to go to the hospital - those are costs I DON'T want to rack up without insurance.

Sigh. This really shouldn't be so difficult! Thanks for letting me do some thinking out loud...

[Memi]

I share in your frustration for so badly wanting a VBAC! I had a terrible birth, delivery and recovery with DS that I'll do anything to prevent for this next time. I am ever seriously considering a home birth, which is the last thing I would ever have considered before, but after my last experience the pain seems worth the little envasion, support, comftort, etc.
All I can say is I'm right there with you trying to find the right choice to get the ultimate goal of a healthy baby and a nice VBAC delivery. You need to do what you feel more comfortable and confident with. If that's going to Oahu, then maybe that's what you should do. I'd at least look into it and gets your questions answered. If you did choose to go there, would you just go your last week of pregnancy so you could be on the island when your labor started and DH come when you called with the word? How would that part work?

[PurpleStar]

I hear ya girl! I had a great pregnancy, but birth was a whole other story. Basically, my OB put out on the table that Vaughn was going to be huge, vaginal-not-possible huge if he stayed in much longer...I was skeptical that the baby was going to be THAT big, and she recommended an induction before Vaughn got to teh point where trying for natural would TOTALLY be out of the cards for me. At the time as well, Josh was on Maui with me in Las Vegas. He had paternity leave for 6 weeks and after some talking we decided that we'd go with an induction at 38wk5days. It was really important to us both that Josh be able to bond with baby too. Original due date was 5/12 - if I was "late", it was very well possible josh could miss Vaughn's birth and what a thing to not be present for but the birth of your first child. Looking back, i guess that sounds selfish but it wasn't with a selfish heart we made that decision...it wasn't like I was just "done" being PG or impatient...we just had other things to consider as well.

Anyways, after Cytotec, Pitocen, a Foley Ballon, and breaking my water over the course of a 40 hour labor, my OB said we needed to get him out and could try forceps/vaccuum but there was a chance his clavicle/collar bone would be broken...and that was if we lucky...there were worse scenarios she pointed out. So the hammer was thrown down and a c/s was the end result with a 10.8 1/2 baby.

And the thing is I'm not anti-C/S...I truly believe that every women knows what is best for her. BTDT with C/S...I know that route, now I want the opportunity to go down this path because its right for me. And if at any point in time my baby or myself are in medical emergency than I will be more than willing to get rolled in again...Neither one of our lives is worth the vanity or egotistical pride of blindly or stubbornly having a dangerous NCB.

Oops...sorry, guess I needed to vent a bit

But from what I can gather when I spoke to a midwife here on Maui is that I would have to go over to Oahu like the last month of the pregnancy. What I don't know is how prenatal care would be planned. Like would I see someone here? Would I have to go monthly to Oahu to see a midwife there? Do I need to work in conjuction with an OB on Oahu? So those are the kind of logisitcal details I'm trying to sort out.

I'm thinking on Maui the only way I'm getting a VBAC is if I do an HBAC, then my problem is finding a midwife who is willing to do it, since they are legally banned here on the island. The midwife who I loved here said she can't take me on to deliver...I could see her prenatally/counseling in conjuction with an OB...but she did mention she knew of another midwife on Maui who would do an HBAC. So, that's somewhat of a glimmer of hope

Ugh...so stressful...I hope to have this part hammered out soon...this is def toxic stress I don't want to carry or weigh on me while trying to conceive!

[Irish_Wristwatch]

I hope youre able to figure something out

do you know why home births are illegal? how do they inforce that?

[Steph604]

how frustrating for you

I had a homebirth with my DS and it was amazing. In BC where I live, you chose to either have a doctor or midwife for your pregnancy and either is covered by medical. If you decide on a homebirth that is covered too. I feel so sad for you that your choices are so limited due to stupid laws/rules/insurance issues. Thats crazy that the hospital in Maui wont let you have a VBAC! I cant even imagine- so hows does that work- if you go to the hospital when you are in labor and refuse a c-section what would they do? Kick you out? Im so not into doctors TELLING me what I can and cannot do with my body so I would be having a major issue with that!

I say have the HBAC, but Im biased!!!

[cocosmumNco]

its something you would have to look into hun do some digging then make your choice.
here you always get op of vbac they actually encourage it but it scared me so i went for another c/s and so glad i did because it would of ended in another c/s for me cause he even got stuck in my c/s.