You can choose one of these, or choose to combine your care -> eg,
a midwife and an Ob GP team, or an Ob GP and an Obstetrician team,
etc. Again, this choice of caregiver will be related to your local
birthing community's views of VBAC labour, and the appropriateness
of each type of childbirth professional in regard to supporting
VBAC clients. With a little research, though, you may find you have
quite a few options available to you in regard to this choice.
Remember that you do not have to go with the first practitioner
you visit, or are referred to. If your discussions with the practitioner
leave you feeling uncomfortable, or unsure about their true dedication
to your VBAC success, then interview others until you find one you
feel confident to have managing your maternity care.
'As well as the shared care between the hospital
and my family GP, I now also had ante-natal visits with Dierdre
(my midwife) - what a difference!'
The continuity of care that can be attained by hiring an independent
midwife should be noted. The midwife may support you in either a
homebirth VBAC, or a hospital VBAC, depending on what you want and
how she feels about each birth environment. Each individual midwife
will have her own protocol, but most visit you at home during your
pregnancy, for regular antenatal appointments and build up a trust.
They then come to you when you are in labour, and stay with you
right throughout your labour (no matter how long -> though they may
share your care with another independent midwife during an especially
long labour). When your baby is born they continue to care for you,
and your baby, up until 6 weeks after the birth. Most women develop
a friendship with their midwife that lasts a lifetime.
'My support person held my hand, something very
simple but which gave me great comfort, and strength to endure.'
The other childbirth support person that you might like to employ
is a doula. Doula supposedly means 'with woman/female servant' and
she will support you emotionally and, to a certain extent, physically
during labour, birth and in the days following. A doula may not
have any educational training in regard to childbirth, though some
states of Australia now run doula -training courses, but she is
generally very knowledgeable about the natural birth process. A
doula can provide you with the emotional support you may need during
pregnancy (i.e., coming to doctor's appointments with you, etc)
and labour, and her role can vary from support person for you, to
support person for you partner or child/ren. Your doula may find
herself directed by you to take the photos, massage your back, affirm
you ability to birth. Or she may suggest ways of easing labour pain,
remind you of your birth plan, etc. A doula should not replace the
childbirth professional that you organise to be present at your
VBAC birth, but she can enhance the whole experience with her presence
and emotional support.
'My doula was WONDERFUL! I'm so glad that I had
her there and encourage ANYONE to use a doula. She really kept my
head on straight and didn't let me give up.'
To find out how to obtain a free copy, or how you
can organise to distribute the booklets, please click
here.
