Pregnancy

Mom Refuses C-Section Against Doctor’s Orders

Aneka and her son

Photo VIA Gail Montgomery Photography

Aneka is a proud mom of four, enjoying the bliss of her newborn baby. But to some, she is more. She is the woman who stood up and defied her doctor’s orders for a repeat Cesarean Section. While some mothers are praising her strength, some in the medical community are calling her irresponsible.

Aneka’s first three births were c-sections. Her first ended after 20 hours, when her doctor told her she was not progressing. When she was pregnant with her second, she was told a vaginal birth after a c-section was too risky and not allowed. The same reason was given when she was pregnant with her third child.

However, during her fourth pregnancy, something changed. Near the end of her pregnancy, Aneka began looking into childbirth groups online. There, she found women who were working toward VBACS, or vaginal birth after cesareans. She also discovered the movie “The Business of Being Born” by actress Ricki Lake. At that moment, she decided to fight to avoid a forth c-section.

“I was a little bit angry after watching documentary,” she said. “It made me realize I’d been robbed of the birthing experience. If possible, all women should be allowed to birth naturally.”

“I asked my doctor if I could try delivering vaginally, and she said no,” Aneka says. “I called the hospital and they said they wouldn’t allow it, and I called three other hospitals and they wouldn’t let me deliver vaginally, either.”

After several calls, Aneka managed to find a local midwife who was willing to help her have the birth she wanted. When the day came for her scheduled c-section, Aneka refused to show up. She waited at home until her baby, and body, was ready to go.

After a c-section, a woman faces an increased risk of uterine rupture. After one c-section, a woman can have between a 0.5 percent and a 0.9 percent of the fatal condition happening. For women who are being induced, this risk can be even higher. Many doctors and hospital refuse to allow women to attempt vaginal birth after a c-section because of this risk. After some pressure, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists released a statement earlier this that was more VBAC friendly than previous policies. However, many women still cannot find local doctors who are willing to let them try.

Though Aneka is being praised as a hero by many women in childbirth groups, experts are quick to dismiss Aneka’s success as a one-time occurrence. Dr. Jeffrey Ecker, a spokesman for ACOG and director of obstetrical clinical research and quality assurance at Massachusetts General Hospital, says other women who are thinking about VBAC should not let Aneka’s birth be a deciding factor.

“Anecdote is no way for folks to make plans,” he says. “Just because something turned out well for one patient doesn’t mean there are no risks and it will turn out well for you.”

Aneka, however, is thrilled with how her birth went and already looking forward to her next one.

“Once you have that experience there’s no other way to go, being in the comfort of your home without any unnecessary interventions and feeling like you’re in charge,” she says.

– Summer, staff writer

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About the author

Summer

Summer is a mom of three, living life in the slow lane along historic Route 66. She writes, homeschools, gardens, and is still trying to learn how to knit.

2 Comments

  • I totally understand where ur coming from. I had a baby this past aug and it was a eventful delivery. I wanted a epidural for my 1st child and was very active so it could be quick and not so brutal since reading and talking to other moms. I was a week past my due date and ready to go. I had multiple water sacs so when I thought my water broke it just one of the 3 sacs. The nurses were very rude and told me Go Home. 3 days later I was in labor at home dealing wit the pain and counting contractions. At 4-5 minutes apart I went to the hospital and again the nurses where rude and lazy. They told me I was 2cm so it would be hrs b4 the baby came. Long story short I never got my epidural necause the hospital couldn’t find my bloodwork and they had to do it over n wait for results. I dialated fully in 2hrs going through the pain naturally and scared the doctor when she saw hair. My body was rejecting the baby pushing while I’m trying ro hold on. Every doctor in that hospital saluted me for such a amazing delivery. I pray this dosent happen to anyone else. I would have had a home birth if I had known the hospital was so shady with it’s records. Only reason I say everything happens for a reason is my son had the cord wrapped around his neck and I think a epidural would have slowed the process and harmed him. He was alert, eyes open and all, an epidural would have drugged him and taken that away. I must see that movie, keep hearing good things.

  • Its people like her who prove its possible! I had a csection with my first I wasnt having complications the doctor was in a hurry so when I was close to being able to push he decided to do a csection I wanted to refuse but I was told to stop being such a child and I needed to put my baby first I was 17 and scared my baby would be taken from me if I refused! With my second they said I had no choice and my third I was set on vbac and my son was coming fast I was 6 cent dilated having contractions every 3min they still trapped with a csection I was way to emotional and I feel women should not be made to sign anything in that condition unless its a real emergency! I plan to have more children and no csections im more aware of the risks and from what I see csections are riskier than vbacs!

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