Dr. Blackham was my OB for my VBAC last January. I was very please with the care I received.
I interviewed Dr. Blackham after learning that my previous care provider had a "C-section at 41 weeks" policy for VBAC patients that was not medically necessary, but was in place solely to protect the practice from litigation. I brought a list of questions to the interview, and was pleased that Dr. Blackham answered them all very candidly and realistically, giving specific medical reasons for his preferences and requirements.
During my prenatal care, he continued to treat me like a partner in my health care. I had an uneventful pregnancy, but whenever I did have a concern he was able to answer all of my questions promptly.
Dr. Blackham delivers at Northwest Hospital, which requires EFM and a heplock for at least VBAC patients. While I was in labor, he stopped by to check on me personally every couple of hours, increasing the frequency to every 10 to 15 minutes as I got closer to transition and pushing. I opted to have some pain relief during labor through IV during transition, and Dr. Blackham worked with me to find the appropriate medication to "take the edge off" without impairing my ability to move or leaving the baby or I sleepy after birth. My baby was handed to me immediately after birth, and when they did take her to weigh her, etc., the number of procedures was kept down so that she could get back to me before she was interested in nursing. I did not ask for these things - it was simply "how it's done" - but I was very pleased. During the entire labor I felt like I was respected and listened to, but was also confident that I was receiving excellent and expert medical care.
Immediately after the birth, Dr. Blackham played some guitar music for us. By coincidence, the first song he played was the entrance song played at our wedding! He made our birth not just a medical event with a healthy outcome, but also a memorable family experience.
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