Apparently V-BAC's are important to me

This is a post I wanted to write back in February, but everything was so crazy I never got around to doing it.  It was thinking about it today, and I decided it's still relevant, so here you go.

The twins were born via a C-section because Lydia (Baby B) was breech.  I trusted my doctor's judgement and I was just fine with that procedure.  When Derrick came along a lot of people assumed that I would need to have another C-section.  Most of these people were older and came from the "once you have a C-section you have to have C-sections" generation.  Thanks to some awesome friends who were willing to talk about V-BAC's I knew that a C-section wasn't my only option.

It also helped that I had the same doctor for Derrick that I'd had for the twins.  She knew that a breech baby was the only reason we'd done a C-section.  From my very first visit with my second pregnancy she was totally willing for me to do a V-BAC.  

Derrick was born via a successful and rather uneventful V-BAC.  I compared the two birth experiences a few weeks later.  (You can read that post here.)  I summed up the post with these words.  Having done both I highly recommend vaginal births over C-sections.  But that doesn't make C-sections terrible.  If you have to have one, just go with it.  I think it's good that a lot of labors turn out differently than expected.  It helps you learn quickly that you're a Mom now.  NOTHING is ever going to go exactly like you planned it ever again. The sooner you learn that lesson the better.

I still feel that way, but in February I learned that having the option to V-BAC is rather important to me.  I'm not the type of person who will do a C-section "just because."  Here's how I learned that about myself.  

Getting the IUD out was one of the very first things that had to happen after I found out I was pregnant with Baby D.  I was assigned a doctor and went to her office to have the procedure done.  She took a look at my history and said, "congratulations, you can successfully V-BAC.  But unfortunately you can't do it with me."  She went on to explain that while she fully supported V-BACs, the hospital where she had rights currently didn't allow V-BACs. 

She said that she understood if I switched doctors.  At the time Brandon was at the NTC in California (and still didn't know I was pregnant), my closest relative lived 3 hours away, and I knew maybe less than 10 people in the whole state.  I figured it was probably a good idea to hang on to my doctor for now.  I made a follow up appointment and went home in a daze.  

The prospect of a C-section did have some good points.  Brandon's unit was going to be deployed to Korea in June. A scheduled C-section would help insure that he was home for the baby's birth.  I also could possibly have a tubal ligation at the same time - if that was something I decided to do.  

However, it bugged me that I really had no choice in the matter - and neither did the baby.  I was just fine with a C-section if it was for something like a breech baby or placenta previa (which I like to call placenta premavera because it makes me laugh).  But to HAVE to have a C-section just because the hospital didn't allow V-BACs seemed ridiculous in this day and age.  

The day for my follow up appointment came.  It was actually a "pregnancy class" that was required for all patients to take - regardless of whether or not this was their third pregnancy in as many years.  The doctor had warned me that I would hate the class, but I was a new patient and so there was nothing I could do to get out of it.  

Brandon was home by now (and adjusting to the idea of a 4th baby) and so he watched the kids while I went to the appointment.  He was a little late coming home from work, and traffic was heavier than expected on the 10 mile drive, so I ended up being about 15 minutes late to the class.  When I walked in and interrupted the class the teacher said I would have to reschedule.   

I grumbled under my breath about how I'd already been through two pregnancies and could probably teach her a thing or two.  Then I went to talk to the receptionist to reschedule.  I asked her if there was a different time of day to take the class since this one didn't really work with Brandon's schedule.  She rudely told me no.  And I just as rudely told her not to bother.  I explained that I was already upset that I couldn't have a V-BAC and that I was planning on switching doctors anyway.  As I left the office I slammed the door loud enough that all the people in the class could hear it - that felt good.  

So then I had to find a new doctor - and one that would allow me to V-BAC.  I was worried that it would be a difficult process.  After all this was all new to me, new state, new insurance, new employer, new healthcare providers, and so on.  I vaguely remembered the doctor mentioning to me that the only way I could guarantee a V-BAC was to go with Scott and White healthcare.  At the time that company name had meant nothing to me.  The only reason I even remembered the name was that it closely resembled the name of one of my bishops from my parents' ward.  

So I did a google search and found out that the hospital two freeway exits away was a Scott and White Hospital.  I found a doctor that looked promising and gave him a call.  The receptionist confirmed that they would accept my insurance AND that the doctor could do a V-BAC.  I was so relieved.     

From my very first visit I was so much happier with that doctor.  The staff was better, the office was closer, the wait was shorter, I didn't have to take a class, and best of all my doctor was just fine letting me V-BAC.  

As this pregnancy has progressed I am grateful I took the time to change doctors.  I love that at every visit my doctor will mention that things still look good to V-BAC.  Yes, I'm okay with the idea of having a C-section if I need one, but I'm so glad that I don't HAVE to have one.