refusal of care

[mum2thhtss]

Can a doctor or hospital refuse to accept you if you dont agree with their birthplan? Is it illegal? I haven't met with my doc yet, but I wanted to make sure he or another doc couldnt threaten me with this. Im just afraid of being turned away and not know where else to go.

Im wanting a vba3c with twins this time. My doc has supported me in the past, but he got a lot of criticsim from his colleagues. Im just afraid that now Ive had 3 cs's and now am pregnant with twins he may refuse to be my doc if I dont agree to a cs.

What can I do?

[Tobily]

I guess my first question would be do you really want to force someone who isn't supportive of what you want to be your carer, or are you just in a position where there are very limited options?

I'll be honest I would seriously doubt there'd be many doctors around that would support a twin vbac after 3 caesars..but I don't know your doc so I could be wrong! But he would be very rare indeed.

To give yourself the absolute best shot at a vbac it's so, so important that your careprovider/s are supportive, and completely onside. Otherwise they will just pull the rug at the first opportunity.

As far as what recourse you have if a doctor refuses to care for you...I'm not sure. If you're public with no other options I'd expect that would be different than if you were private and choosing from a number of doctors. Maybe someone else will have some info.

All the best, and good for you! And congrats on the twins!

[Diamond75]

Have you choosen your hospital yet? Why not give the a call. I'm not 100% sure but I think a hospital can refuse you due to legal reasons should something not go to plan. Best bet to keep an open mind and be open for anything. Good luck and congrats on your pregnancy!

[mum2thhtss]

I just want to make sure that I cant be denied a vbac.

From everything Ive read its still safer than a cs. As long as the first baby is head down. I've been with this specialist with my 2 other vbacs and Im really comfortable with him and I know that if there was an emergency (like my last birth) they would be able to attend to it very quickly.

[Schmickers]

The hospital can place a lot of pressure on you to change your birth plan, and might even threaten to withdraw care but at the end of the day, unless they have staffing or resource issues and refer you to a larger hospital, they cannot refuse to care for you under any circumstances - that would be a major ethical breach.

[satya]

Why would you want to go against your docs advice? A twin pregnancy is riskier than a singleton so if you have already had 3 c sections there must have been risks present in those pregnancies. I doubt you will find a doc that would be willing to take the risk.

Vaginal birth is not always what its cracked up to be. It can be very long and painful and can result in some interventions that you don't expect.. My experience with it has put me off having another child as I just don't think I could put myself through it again. Can't imagine having to push out two bubs!!!!

[cookiemonster]

Hiya - there's another thread on this somewhere, although it was twins post only one CSEC. I'll see if I can find it. I'm pretty sure she decided on a homebirth but did find some supportive ob's. After three csecs you may find it difficult but im sure it worth a shot trying.

The thread is here: VBAC with twins

[Lulu2]

How supportive .

You might have to search around for someone that will support you, and you may have to fight for it. It sounds like you are researching and gaining knowledge on your own, and thats terrific.

You will find alot of support and information here, good luck with it all.

You may even find birthing a baby a less than horrendous experience, I've done it 3 times and I'd go back for more if I have the $$$$.

[Jennifer13]

Good luck in your quest for a vba3cs! I will be going for a not-quite-as-impressive vbac one of these days and your courage will definitely inspire me not to take cr@p from hospitals and drs!

I hope you find all of the support and information you need. It's your body!

[mum2thhtss]

Originally Posted by satya

Why would you want to go against your docs advice? A twin pregnancy is riskier than a singleton so if you have already had 3 c sections there must have been risks present in those pregnancies. I doubt you will find a doc that would be willing to take the risk.

Vaginal birth is not always what its cracked up to be. It can be very long and painful and can result in some interventions that you don't expect.. My experience with it has put me off having another child as I just don't think I could put myself through it again. Can't imagine having to push out two bubs!!!!

I have had 3 vaginal births, so I know what Im in for and a cs is way worse. My first cs was due to an impatient doc, the 2nd my bub presented facially and the 3rd bub would not come down after a week of labor. Its not that I want to go against my docs advice, but these days they air on the side of caution because they dont want to be sued, and that is in their best interest not mine. Risks rise drastically for me to have another cs. Having a vbac under favorable circumstances would be much safer for me and bub. Im not completely against having another cs, if I REALLY needed one. If the 1st bubs head is down I will be going for a vbac for sure. I just needed to make sure that they couldnt refuse me care.

[Trillian]

Good for you for wanting to do what you know is best. You've proven that your scar is strong, so it should be treated no different to any other vaginal birth. have you considered a homebirth even?

[Yael]

I think it depends on whether you were private or public. Public i think they have to treat you, but i'm pretty sure a private doctor doesn't have to take you on if you don't agree with his advice in regards to your situation. Obviously most private doctors wouldn't do this over a small issue, but if he felt it was too risky, he could say no.

I wouldn't want to go to a doctor who i had to threaten or vice versa. But then again, if i felt my doctor was saying it was too risky for the right reasons, i have a good relationship with my obs, so i would believe him also. It's hard to know whether they are just trying to cover themselves, but i have to believe that they are right some of the time, and maybe don't shut yourself off to the idea it might be safer for a c-section. How far along are you?

[hoobley]

I'd talk to your ob first. He has supported you through your vaginal births, which show that your scar is strong. In the UK many hospitals don't treat a VBAC as a VBAC if there has been a VB in between, if that makes sense - like once you've laboured and birthed vaginally they don't worry about your scar so much anymore.

Talk to your ob and discuss your concerns and IF he is not in agreement, THEN you can look around for other options. With twins anything can happen, so things might or might not be favourable by the time you reach term, for this to go ahead.

I too would avoid a cs like the plague, even with twins, so i know where you're coming from (though i'm lucky enough not to have had to have a cs at all). You sound a very wise woman and i'm sure you'll know the difference between cs being an option you don't want and cs being the ONLY option.

Best of luck hun keep talking and we'll keep cheering you on

Bx

[SamiH]

OMG - does that mean you already have 6 kiddies and twins to make 8???

[christy]

I think you are going to find it hard with private OB's to be honest. I went public for my VBAC and everything was good until I hit 40 weeks, than I faced issues. My VBAC was a singleton but I had to fight for it.

And for what its worth, my VBAC was so much better than my c/s. Physically and emotionally.

goodluck on your journey

[blackduckies]

Hi, Ithink if you are going ot have success it will be at a large hospital that have fulltime surgial team ready to go, just in case of scar rupture or other emergency, I do think your ob can refuse you care after all it is them who is going to be sued if it all goes wrong, I guess if you just presented at a public hospital in labour they would treat you to the best of their ability under the circumstances. Do you understand the risks completely I had no idea until I did more homework on the subject and have to wonder if it is worth the risk, after all I can live with having had a C-section, but would never forgive myself if I left hospital with out my baby or a very sick damaged one. If you want check out my posts and you can have a look at the reasons why I have been advised against a VBA2C, not denied but advised against, I am still up in the air, but think I will end up electing to have the C-section.
Good luck with the decision and the disscussion with OB.

[mum2thhtss]

Thanks to everybody for your support and advice. Thats why Im here. Im trying to find out as much information before we make a final decision.

Yep, thats 8 kiddos! My dh and I are greatly blessed The hospital I will be at is RPA in Camperdown, which I believe is supposed to be one of the best hospitals in Sydney. So they do have a full time medical team and it is public. I just wanted to be clear on my rights before we went in for an appt. I am only 10 weeks, so Im not due until Feb. I am definetly looking at all the pros and cons and will make a decision based on whats best for the bubs,even if thats another cs for me. But it may not be a decision made until the end to see the what postion bub #1 is in! I will keep everybody posted

[MantaRay]

Best of luck to you hun. I love how you are so well informed. And I don't think the doctors will be able to dismiss you too easily, you have a bit of experience on your side!!