Who I Am & My Experience with VBAC/HBAC
I'm Barbara E. Herrera, LM, CPM and have been in the birth arena for 25 years and have assisted at about 900 births. I am Ama Mama Midwifery and attend births in San Diego and Riverside Counties, California.
I have extensive experience with VBACs and HBACs and really enjoy assisting women as they walk through their painful and disappointing cesareans towards their VBACs. It is such a joy to watch as baby after baby slips out normally and naturally into mom's reaching hands! I can't even begin to describe the honor it is to witness such amazement.
The law in California is very tight on VBACs and HBACs, but with the appropriate information and consents, we can do it together.
If you feel a hospital birth is safest for you and you have a supportive physician, I would love to talk with you about being your monitrice - a midwife for you while you are in labor at home, a doula for you in the hospital and then your midwife once again after you go home. Many women find having a monitrice is the best of both worlds for their VBAC since I would be able to monitor the you and the baby during labor, yet you would still remain in your own home for as long as possible.
If you are wanting to meet with me to discuss an upcoming VBAC or HBAC, please find me here Ama Mama Midwifery and let's schedule a consult in your home or a local coffeehouse so we can meet.
San Diego Midwife - Barbara E. Herrera, LM, CPM
Ama Mama Midwifery
- San Diego Midwife - Ama Mama Midwifery
- As an experienced midwife, I want to offer you a great - and safe - home or water birth experience. I am also able to assist you if you choose to birth in the hospital, being your midwife while you labor at home, your doula when you are in the hospital and then your midwife once you are home again.
Read about me and decide for yourself whether we would be a good match or not. I am glad to meet with you in your home or a local coffeehouse for a FREE consult!
My Birth Stories Blog
Several VBAC stories can be found here!
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byVBAC Must-Reads
A short list of important books to help you acheive your Vaginal Birth After Cesarean
Silent Knife: Cesarean Prevention and Vaginal Birth after Cesarean (VBAC)
A classic that never seems to go out of style. This was the first really popular book that helped women see they didn't need to have a repeat cesarean.
Amazon Price: $37.75 (as of 11/26/2009) 
DON'T CUT ME AGAIN! True Stories About Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC)
Many women second the title's vehement command. Read empowering stories from those that know.
Amazon Price: $13.45 (as of 11/26/2009)
The VBAC Companion: The Expectant Mother's Guide to Vaginal Birth After Cesarean
From one of the women who wrote "A Good Birth, A Safe Birth," this classic and powerful book is fantastic.
Amazon Price: (as of 11/26/2009)
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth
This could be titled, "Ina May's Guide to Natural Childbirth" as it addresses the myriad of interventions that contribute to that first cesarean - or repeat surgery. Great information and beautiful (if someone meddling from the midwives) birth stories included.
Amazon Price: $12.24 (as of 11/26/2009)
Birthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation
Any fears can be addressed in this wonderful book. If you can attend a Birthing From Within childbirth class, DO! If not, the book is a great way to move through the pain and sadness of your first (or subsequent) cesarean and prepare for your VBAC or HBAC.
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 11/26/2009)
Empower Yourself Through YouTube!
Here, I share some awesome videos found on YouTube.
Natural VBAC Photos
- 2 Natural Births in the Hospital (1 VBAC)
- Here are a 2 natural birth photo essays. While they are in the hospital, they are noteworthy in their flowing with the natural processes (thanks to a great doc and hospital, of course). One of these births is a VBAC. Both of these births occurred in San Diego, California and I was the monitrice for them both.
- Anna's Hospital VBAC
- This beautifully graphic VBAC in the hospital inspires women to know they, too can do it!
A Pushing Video (with a birth right before the end)
Birth 9
A wonderful birth in a Spanish speaking natural childbirth clinic. This touching video takes a much more emotional/family look at childbirth. If you would like to contact the mother in this video, you can find her YouTube account here: http://www.youtube.com/user/nairalirba
Runtime: 489
486730 views
252 Comments:
curated content from YouTube
Other Lenses to Read About Natural Birth
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Natural Birth Fanatic
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For those of us who understand natural birth, this lens might seem redundant. You might want to send your confused friends and family over this way to answer the plethora of questions about why you are crazy enough to be wanting a birth without medic...
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Home Birth Preparation
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There is plenty of information out there about getting YOU ready for a homebirth, but what about your surroundings? This Lens is all about getting your house set for the changes that occur during and after a homebirth. Most of it isn't a huge product...
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San Diego Midwife
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Looking for a San Diego midwife? I'll tell you great ways to pick through the similarities and find the perfect midwife for you and your family.
Are you planning a VBAC? Have you had one?
Tell us about it!
Tell us all how you are planning your VBAC. Midwife? UC? Homebirth? Hospital birth?
Have you already had a Vaginal Birth After Cesarean? VBAmC? Women would love to hear your powerful stories!
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- Zackfaire Zackfaire Sep 16, 2008 @ 6:16 am
- nice and informative lens. really nice and i love the articles. thanks for sharing and writing this one. you deserve 5 stars from me.
http://www.siakoi.com/health/water-birth.html
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Reply
- Rashelle Rashelle May 2, 2008 @ 12:16 pm
- My first child was a c-section (failure to progress) followed by 2 succesful VABC's. I am currently pregnant with my 4th child which should be my 3rd VBAC!
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- tina tina Dec 14, 2007 @ 9:21 pm
- my first was vaginal. My second was c-section only due to prematurity and breech. I never want a section ever again. Vaginal birth is the way to go.
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- EverythingMouse EverythingMouse Dec 3, 2007 @ 10:56 am
- I tried for a vbac. I had the support of my wonderful midwife and for good medical reasons it didn't happen - but the support of my midwife made the c section a positive experience which has made a huge difference to me.
by NavelgazingMidwife
I'm Barbara E. Herrera, Licensed and Certified Professional Midwife and working as Ama Mama Midwifery. I'm in a solo pract...
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