Oklahoma Nesties
I was wondering if any of you have given birth at St. Anthony's in OKC or know someone who has? What was your experience like and would you recommend that hospital as a place to give birth?
I had my son at Mercy 2 years ago and although I enjoyed my hospital experience there, my doctor gave a a c/s for simply having high blood pressure. I am aiming for a VBAC this time around and I know my only options are St. Anthony's or OU Children's.
Thanks so much!
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Anyone deliver at St. Anthony's? VBAC related
Hi Ladies! I am new to this board and I just found out I am pregnant. I tried posting over at the bump but it doesn't appear to get much activity.
Re: Anyone deliver at St. Anthony's? VBAC related
I thought I heard that Dr. Ryan was no longer doing VBACs. Maybe that was a rumor. I don't have any experience at St. Anthony's, but wanted to tell you good luck!
I do know a lot of women that have had good experiences with VBACs at OU.
Thank you very much, I appreciate that! Dr. Ryan is still doing VBAC's. he is my doctor right now and has been very supportive. I just don't know much about St. Anthonys and that makes me nervous.
I do know quite a bit about OU but I'm not crazy about the fact that the midwives rotate seeing you thought your pregnancy. I would much rather have a developing relationship with one person.
I would be a little nervous to deliver at saints because they keep seem too wishy-washy about vbac to me. I'm due in April and am doing a vba2c at ou with Dr. Schultz. He is extremely supportive of my choices and he is the only provider I have seen through my entire pregnancy.... I can't recommend him enough! GL!
My friend had a VBAC at St Anthony 4 years ago and was very pleased with her experience. The thing that scares me though, is like PP said, they go back and forth all the time about their VBAC policy and if Dr Ryan isn't there or can't get there when you go into labor, they section. I think in a lot of ways, hospital politics have Dr Ryan's hands tied.
I had a VBAC at OU with the midwives and it was 3 1/2 years ago, but I saw the same midwife the whole time and she was the one in the room when my daughter was born. One of my friends just had her baby at OU in October and she saw the same midwife also. I liked OU becuase it didn't matter who was on call since all OB and midwives attend VBAC (though some are definitely more VBAC friendly than others. Hope that helps!
Thank you guys! All this information is wonderful!
Pinksprkl- that's so awesome about your upcoming vba2c! I would love to hear how that goes! I wasn't aware that the doctors at OU also attended VBAC's. I thought it was just the midwives. Do you mind giving me his contact information?
Shansbride--do you mind sharing your VBAC experience? I definitely want a VBAC but of course, I do get worried about the uterine rupture risk. I healed very nicely from my c-section and haven't had any pain associated with my scar so I am hoping I don't have any adhesions stuck to any organs that would make my chances of a VBAC decrease.
Not a bit! I love to talk VBAC! I had a c/s at 38 weeks because my son was footling breech. He was born blue and not breathing and it was scary. I didn't get to see him for a while and my incision hurt for months. It was pretty terrible and I knew I wasn't going to go through that willingly again.
When I got pregnant with my older daughter, I read everything I could find about VBAC. I recommend "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" by Henci Goer and "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth". Ina May's book is a little out there but she has some great birth stories! I started seeing a midwife at OU and took Bradley Birth classes. I hired a doula and made sure that I I only spoke positively about my VBAC (I was going to VBAC, not try for example. First time moms don't "try" to have a baby vaginally and I decided I wasn't much different than any first time mom). I went into labor at 4:30 am at 39w 1d and pushed her out at 10:40something (poor second child). I was pushing in the car on the way to the hospital just like I wanted.
When I got pregnant again, we knew we were going to VBAC and we hired home birth midwives and I did everything else the same as with my second pregnancy ( except we didn't take Bradley again). I purse her out in my bedroom after 2 hours and 19 min of labor at nearly 41 weeks.
When I was in labor, rupture never crossed my mind, though I thought about it frequently during my pregnancies. For me, the risk of rupture was minimal compared to the risks of a ERCS. I found it slightly comforting that the risk of rupture with VBAC is the same as with a first time mom augmented or induced with pitocin.
So, now that I've written you a novel, I just want to add that my friend and I started a VBAC support group in the OKC metro in 2009 and there are lots of women with lots of info there. If you want the info, just let me know!
I'll be glad to tell you all about it after it happens!
I believe Dr. Schultz's number is 271-9494... Just the general scheduling line.
I have no VBAC experience but I have gone to Dr. S at OU with both of my kids. I LOVE LOVE LOVE him! A good friend of mine just had a VBAC with him in November and he supported her throughout! Dr. S let me deliver and labor anyway I wanted which meant that I delivered both of my kids on hands and knees because that is what my body said to do.
I also recommend Ina Mays book, these days I don't see it as being out there like I did before having kids. 
It seems like the further I get in life the crunchier I get.
Oh, and have you looked into a Doula? I had one this last time and would hire her again.
You girls are so helpful it makes me want to cry happy tears! Thank you so much for sharing your stories, Shansbride. I would actually love to do a home birth but I want to make sure this VBAC goes without a hitch first and with a NICU nearby...just in case!
Thank you other girls for the info on Dr. Schultz! I don't know what to do now. Midwife or doctor? They all seem to be supportive at OU and from what you guys are telling me, the doctor(s) will let you deliver how you want.
Can any of you tell me if it is possible at all to deliver in a tub at OU? That is what my heart desires the most--a water bath. Last I heard from my sister-in-law (who is my doula) was that "you aren't supposed to" deliver in the tubs but that the midwives usually say that they won't make you move if that's where you are. They will instead just remind you it's against hospital policy.
Thoughts? I would sure love to at least labor in a tub!
thats how I felt too! Everything was fine and it gave me some more confidence in my body
I think Dr. S would have let me deliver in the tub without even trying to get me out, especially this last time. I know he has had patients do that before.
Like Horsepig said... It's against policy but it happens quite often.
You should come to a GTG, I think you would enjoy it!
What do you mean that's the wrong side? Tastes great to me!
Thanks for the invitation, jesseandbre, I would love to come sometime!