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Trusting Our Bodies
For more information on The Bradley Method®, for an international listing of instructors or to contact the American Academy of
Husband-Coached Childbirth® directly, please contact:  The Bradley Method®, Box 5224 Sherman Oaks, CA 91413-5224,  1-800-4-A-BIRTH
or 1-818-788-6662, www.bradleybirth.com
SPECIAL BEGINNINGS BIRTH CENTER MIDWIVES PRACTICE WILL DO VBACS BUT ONLY
AT THE ANNE ARUNDEL MEDICAL CENTER:

There is an excellent team of midwives practicing at the Special Beginnings Birth Center in Arnold,
Maryland (located near Annapolis) that enjoy assisting VBAC mothers.  (If you live an hour away,
do not fear; it's worth the drive!!)

A few years ago after the ACOG changed their wording on VBACs from having an OR readily
accessible to immediately accessible, the birth center changed their policy of allowing VBACs in
the birth center to attending VBACs only in the hospital.  

SBBC midwives though have tons of experience catching babies at the Anne Arundel Medical
Center and have the Annapolis OB/GYN group backing them up if the need for an OB or surgical
birth arises.  The AAMC has a Level III NICU and is staffed with L&D nurses accustomed to
assisting in hospital births with the SBBC midwives.  

AAMC requirements/SBBC policy for VBAC patients:
  • Electronic fetal monitoring is only necessary once an hour for 15 minutes.
  • An IV is not required but a heplock in the mother's arm is required just in case she may
    need IV fluids quickly.
  • She may eat and drink during labor.
  • They will not induce a VBAC mother with Pitocin and only use Pitocin if necessary at the end
    of labor.
  • The VBAC mother may choose to have an unmedicated birth.

The SBBC midwives have NEVER had a mother's uterine scar rupture during a VBAC.


EVELYN MUHLHAN, CNM - VBAC:

She provides gynecological care, prenatal care and birth care.  She will travel to a client's home
that lives within 1 1/2 hours of Baltimore City.  She does more VBAC births each year.  She has
NEVER had a mother's uterine scar rupture during a VBAC.  www.altbirthchoices.com

Her contact info:  (410) 455-9659 4 East Rolling Crossroads, Suite 207, Caytonsville, MD 21228


MIDWIVES AT MERCY HOSPITAL WILL DO IN-HOSPITAL VBACs:

The midwives at Mercy Hospital - the Kathy Slone Group will catch VBAC babies.  In 2004, their
VBAC rate was 100%.  They have only ever had one VBAC uterine rupture that ended in cesarean
but both baby and mother were fine.  They also do water births but VBAC patients may not use
the birth tub.  Electronic monitoring is required but a continuous IV or heplock is not required.  
VBAC mothers may drink during labor but a decision is made on a case by case basis as to
whether she may eat during labor which is based on the individual herself and what stage of labor
she is in.  Women who must have a cesarean can still have their prenatal care with the midwives
and they will have their cesarean performed by their back-up perinatologist, Dr. Atlas.  However,
the midwives at Mercy do not recommend cesarean unless it is absolutely necessary.

Their contact info:  (410) 235-0506, 3501 St. Paul St #143, Baltimore, MD 21218    

WISDOM MIDWIFERY AT WASHINGTON HOSPITAL CENTER WILL DO IN-HOSPITAL
VBACs:

Whitney Pinger, CNM can catch VBAC babies at Washington Hospital Center where she has
privileges.  She provides gynecological care, prenatal care and birth care at Washington Hospital
Center.  She was on the forefront of the VBAC movement in the late 70’s early 80’s and has
helped hundreds of VBAC mothers with about a 90% success rate.  She does not induce VBACs
and is loathed to use pitocin at all but will in active labor, if needed.  She encourages natural,
normal labor and has had 5 homebirths herself.  She has seen uterine rupture over her 30 years
of practice.  Then, again, she's seen it all!  WHC imposes hospital rules about continuous EFM, IV,
etc...  Her clients need to work with the rules of the hospital because she is on the medical faculty
at WHC and the doctors are her colleagues, so she is careful to avoid getting into adversarial
situations.  There are no tubs for water births or laboring in water.

Her contact info:  (202) 255-3108, wpinger@verizon.net


MIDWIVES ATTENDING VBACs AT HOME:

There are many midwives in our area offering homebirth assistance to couples seeking to VBAC
even VBAC after multiple cesareans.  I have a list of midwives for any VBAC couple interested in
homebirth.

Please contact me to request a list of midwives who can also assist with homebirth
VBACs.

I'm continuing to interview providers to add to this list.  If you've experienced a
successful VBAC with a doctor or midwife and they have a high rate of VBAC success,
please let me know!  Check back to see if more are added soon!  (Edited June 2008)
Vaginal Birth After Cesarean

Several studies report VBAC rates around 70%, so your doctor
or midwife should have a VBAC rate no less than 70%.  A few  
of the Maryland area attendants have a VBAC rate over 90%!

Valid reason not to do a VBAC:
  • Classic vertical uterine scar (used for placenta previa, some breeches, some
    emergency cesareans) or extensive prior uterine surgery

These are not good reasons to deny a woman who wants to have a
VBAC:
  • Prior cesarean for poor progress (failure to progress) - VBAC Success is 2
    out of 3
  • Suspected large baby - VBAC Success is over 1/2 to 3/4
  • Uterine scar type is unknown
  • Low vertical uterine scar (this scar is as strong as a transverse scar)
  • Twins
  • Breech baby (even an external version is considered safe)
  • Certain cases of myomectomy do not rule out VBAC as an option!
Maryland VBAC Birth Attendants/Birth Places
Natural Childbirth Classes
& Birth Doula Services