CentraState - Healthy Directions

Making the Best Birth Choice When 30-year-old Gianna Mezynski, a stay-at-home mom from Edison, found out she was pregnant with her second child, she was determined to make her experience different. “Even though I had wanted a natural birth, I ended up needing a C-section with Nathan, my first child,” Gianna says. “It took me a long time to recover after the procedure—and I didn’t want to be stuck in bed while recovering from another C-section and raising a 2-year-old.” Gianna sought the help of Casandra Hicks Autry, MD, FACOG, board-certified ob/gyn with Woman to Woman Obstetrics and Gynecology, LLC, and on the medical staff at CentraState Medical Center, to see if she could deliver her second child naturally. “Dr. Autry has been my physician since I was 16, so we have a close relationship, and she knew how important it was to me,” Gianna says. “It was a subject we talked about at every checkup.” Weighing the Options Vaginal birth after C-section (VBAC) has its own set of risk factors, including uterine rupture, which could endanger both mother and child. However, this option may offer women a lower risk of infection and blood loss than having to undergo multiple C-sections. “Women who have only had one C-section are generally ideal candidates for this birth option,” Dr. Autry says. “However, patient and physician should consider the patient’s history and continually discuss this choice from the first prenatal visit until the time of birth, because factors can change throughout pregnancy.” Even Gianna had her doubts—but Dr. Autry and the medical staff at CentraState were there to boost her confidence. “A week before I delivered, I began to feel overwhelmed by my choice and started to change my mind,” Gianna says. “Dr. Autry was so supportive and reassured me that I could do it. Once I was in the delivery room, all the nurses were rooting for me. They walked me through it one breath at a time—one breath for me, one for the baby, and then push. Once I focused on that, it was the easiest thing.” Gianna, her husband Gary and son Nathan welcomed Jeremy into the world in January. Gianna is confident she made the right choice. “Delivering Jeremy this way made such a difference—I was able to get out of bed the same day, something I wasn’t able to do after my C-section,” Gianna says. “Now, just a few months later, I’m able to keep up with my sons and take them to the beach to dig in the sand or go to the YMCA for swim class. I would definitely make the same choice again.” To learn more about maternity services at CentraState, call (866) CENTRA7 (866-236-8727) or visit www.centrastate.com/maternity. HD

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