OB/GYN And/or Midwife Recommendations?

Hi S.,
I have two people to recommend to you. The first is Elizabeth Ruzga and the 2nd is Dr. Angelina Gangestad. Elizabeth is a midwife and just about one of the nicest people you will meet. She has an office at the UH bldg in Westlake, at the corner of Clague and Detroit. The other is an OB/GYN and just a fantastic. She can be found at the UH downtown or at her office in Beechwood. They are both with the Macdonald's Women's group.
L.

Dr Paul Hudock, who works out of Parma, is an excellent OB/GYN> He was there through both of my pregnancies and while he was on vacation when my oldest was born, *his associate was very good, also) he was there to deliver my youngest. He's personable, professional, an excellent MD. I recommend him highly.

I'd recommend going to one of the bigger hospitals for VBAC, such as Metro or UH. I work at Metro and we do see a number of VBACs, but it all depends on where your incisions was and the reason for the section the first place.

I love my OBGYN. I just switched with my second. I don't know her status on the vbac, but she is very relaxed. Her name is Keisha Smith out of Fairview. Her office is in Strongsville.

I absolutely loved my experience with Colleen Brezine, CNM ###-###-####). Her office is at Lakewood Hospital's Medical Building (but she also delivers at Fairview) and she helped me have a VERY successful VABC (after an emergency c-section with my first child in GA). She has a great bedside manner and is truely interested in getting to a vaginial birth is at all possible. (Of course the circumstances of your c/s have alot to do with whether or not you are a good candidate for VBAC.)

You can also get some information on the International Cesarean Awareness Network (http://www.ican-online.org/) which promotes information on VBACs.

Good luck!
E.

Hi S.

I can tell you that I had a successful VBAC delivery with my son. It is true, a lot of doctors are not nuts about the idea, but if it is something that is really important to you, they have to let you give it a go. They will explain the risks involved and make you sign an agreement saying that you understand the risks and in agreeing to take them, they will not be held accountable if anything goes wrong, but of course, they will fix it, but I'll tell you that it is a proven fact that 80% of VBAC deliveries are successful, so I don't think you have anything to worry about, as long as the baby is in the right position and not breech, there is no reason the doctor should not let you give it a try. The main risks involved in VBAC deliveries, is that your incision scar could tear, mine did, but it was a little tear and it healed on it's own and did not need surgery or anything like that. My daughter was born C section, and it was very dissapointing for me because I had attended lamaz classes with my husband and we were prepared for a normal delivery, I did not expect a C section, but I'm thankful for it because it saved her life.
The good news was, that my doctor was able to make the horizontal cut, so that I could have a future vaginal delivery, so when I got pregnant with my son, I was bound and determined to have a VBAC, and I did. One thing is, that the doctors really don't like to induce labor for a VBAC, they prefer you to go into labor naturally, but I was induced and did just fine, they did tell me, as they were inducing me, that my chances for delivering vaginal were not good, and that I was at high risk for needing a C section, but I didn't listen to them, I just kept calm, and had faith in God that he would see me through, and that me and the baby would be safe, and we were! I had a successful VBAC, and so will you, if you keep good faith in the Lord.

All the best of luck to you!

Colleen Brezine at Lakewood is wonderful. Like any midwife, she is under the supervision of an OB, but she is very independent and some of the best hospital birth stories I've heard are of her. Good luck!