VBAC

EQUINOX HEALING ARTS
5343 Tallman Ave. NW Suite 204
Seattle WA 98107
(206) 789-8567

VBAC

Equinox Healing Arts is utterly committed to supporting Vaginal Birth After Cesarean. We firmly believe in a woman’s right to choose her place of birth, choice of attendants, and method of birthing. Women’s bodies work!

Equinox provides many services specifically tailored to the needs of post-surgical birth women and families, as well as those already planning a VBAC.

Doula support:
“Facing unprecedented pressures to reduce expenses, many hospitals are targeting the largest single budget item – labor costs… (An) unintended consequence of nursing cutbacks may be an increased cesarean rate; the inability of pared down nursing staff to provide continuous coverage to laboring mothers (has been) shown to increase the chance of a cesarean…Doulas clearly improve clinical and service quality; they provide an absolutely safe way to reduce cesareans and other invasive birthing interventions.” Coming to Term: Innovations in Safely Reducing Cesarean Rates. Medical Leadership Council, Washington D.C. 1996
“Professionals have paid much attention to innovative technology and the many new options for monitoring and managing labor. While the technology is important, it can become so prominent that clinicians ignore both the natural aspects of labor and the non-technical needs of women in labor… Changes that support the patient in labor and reinforce the natural, physiologic process…. Includes providing one-to-one psychological support for patients using nursing staff or doulas.” Reducing the Cesarean Section Rates while Maintaining Maternal and Infant Outcomes. Bruce L. Flamm et al. Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Boston, 1997
“The continuous availability of a caregiver to provide psychological support and comfort should be a key component of all intrapartum care programs, which should be designed for the effective prevention, and treatment of dystocia (non-progressive labor).” Guidelines on Dystocia. Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, 1995.
Jane specializes in VBAC doula care. She is intimately familiar with most of the major providers in the Seattle area, having supported families in homebirth and hospitals, with obstetricians, certified professional midwives and certified nurse midwives. She has been a guest speaker at the I-CAN of Seattle support group, and is honored to have been able to support many I-CAN members.

Doula Services include:
One 90 minute pregnancy or postpartum massage
At least 1 prenatal visit. Others may be scheduled as needed and without extra charge
Unlimited phone and email support
On-call for your birth
Attendance at your birth, regardless of length
1 postpartum visit
Cost: $1000
(Please see next page for combined massage/doula packages)

Massage
Prenatal massage is beneficial for almost all pregnant women. Both Jane and Elisabeth hold an advanced certification in pregnancy and postpartum bodywork.

VBAC women can also benefit from myofascial scar work, in which any superficial adhesions are removed. This is a very gentle form of work, which should not be painful. This work can also decrease the numbness some women experience above the scar tissue. It can also be psychologically beneficial to some women, integrating their physical and emotional response to a previous surgery. Scar work is never done without previous discussion and permission.

Most women find that our massage, which is based in trigger point and myofascial release, significantly reduces hip and lower back pain. While quite relaxing, this is by no means a spa experience. It is technically precise bodywork, designed to specifically target the hip rotators, round ligaments, and sacral attachments, allowing for maximum opening during labor and birthing.

Prenatal Massage
60 minute session $70
90 minute session $95
Combined massage/doula packages
Labor support plus five 90 minute massages $1250
Labor support plus ten 90 minute massages $1655

VBAC Preparation Childbirth Class
Vbac-ing families have different needs than other birthing families. Topics include but are not limited to:

VBAC statistics, including medical safety, and local hospitals’ numbers

Psychosocial factors: feelings around previous cesareans (and why that matters,) the decision making process, and the partner’s perceptions and experience

Ethical Issues: informed consent, VBAC constraints, the laws in state, non-medical factors which may contribute to cesareans, and women who choose a repeat surgical birth.

Factors influencing a successful VBAC: assembling your birth team, choosing your birthing environment, clearing and healing from a previous surgical birth, alternative care during pregnancy, childbirth knowledge, and enhancing communication between you and your partner.

This one time class is individualized to meet the needs of its participants. It has been developed, and is taught by, Jane Drichta.

Dates: TBD
TIME: 1-5 pm
HOW: Please call 206-789-8567 or email equinoxhealingarts@yahoo.com and fill out THIS form.
COST: $65 per couple, limited to five couples.

Counseling
As a registered counselor, Jane is qualified to provide a supportive environment in which to process pregnancy and birth related events. She cannot prescribe medication, but has an active referral list to other birth professionals in the greater Seattle area.

VABC families often need a safe listening ear for:
Surgical birth trauma
Fears during subsequent pregnancies
VBAC options
Finding a VBAC provider
VBAC anxiety
Exploring homebirth

COST: $65 per hour session or $45 per half hour