After two miscarriages, Rica Peralejo delivered her second son, Manu, through home birth.
"Kasi hindi ko kaya ang feeling sa ospital," she told her followers who expressed concerns about her decision to go for home birth.
She wrote in an Instagram post last June 15, "When I last labored there, nailang ako and nahirapan pakinggan ang aking katawan."
Rica clarified that she was "a good candidate" for vaginal birth after caesearean (VBAC).
WebMD.com listed down the following as the possible reasons an OB-GYN won't permit a pregnant woman to give birth via VBAC.
- Obesity (her body mass index is 30 or higher)
- Pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy)
- Age (usually older than 35)
- The fetus is very large
- The previous cesarean was in the last 19 months
Rica, 38, had a C-section delivery when she gave birth to her first son Philip five years ago.
Determined to do VBAC, she found an OB-GYN who supported this.
"She was agreeable naman with my plan and even offered to lend me her doppler to monitor my baby as I labor at home," the celebrity mom continued in her post.
"Dito ko na naisip na kumuha ng midwife para at least isang professional healthcare provider na lang ang tumitingin ng vital stats ko at ng heartbeart ni baby as I labor in the house."
The former ABS-CBN actress said she spoke with her doula, a birth companion, to help "clarify" her options—home, hospital, water or dry birth.
She wrote, "It all really depends on how I fare as the due date is nearing.
"We need to be sure that I was fit and healthy, and walang complications like bleeding or low amniotic fluid or any placenta complications to achieve the gentle VBAC I was after.
"(Note that I also was in touch with my immuno every month for the management of my suspected apas. Sinunod ko din ang mga payo nya sa treatments even if I had the option to say no. I did all that to stay on the safe side.)
"The best that I could do while waiting was be faithful to follow ob gyn's requests for check ups and scanes, and also pray and meditate to get into the mind of God."
RICA ON CHOOSING HOME BIRTH
The major concern of her followers were the risks of giving birth at home.
But the celebrity mom argued that even hospital birth comes with risks, too.
She wrote, "All we need to do is check that stats to see deaths and complications that also arise in the hospital, and not only the ones at home.
"Katulad na lang ng repeat CS, highly medicalized births where mother is under powerful drugs to help the birth.
"May mga pinipirmahan tayong waiver nun for risks and side effects diba? So lahat MAY RISK. Hindi pwedeng wala. Ospital man or bahay."
Rica then elaborated on her personal reason for choosing to give birth at home.
"Personally, iniiwasan ko yung heavy drugs and CS bes I feel like after ko maoperahan for my CS five yrs ago, that's when my body began to change and it became sick.
"Medicines help, yes, but also, it does something bad to our guts. Diyan ako pinakatakot, na malagyan ako at ang baby ko ng sobrang daming gamot na hindi naman kailangan and compromise our gut and immune system.
"Marami pako masasabi about this but another time na lang. You can also do you own research if interested.
"But for now let me just say that if you plan to do vbac, or homebirth, or hospital birth, NEVER GO INTO IT WITHOUT BEING INFORMED OF THE RISKS AND YOUR CHOICES.
"Also, do not go without getting the best healthcare providers. Hindi pwedeng magisa lang gawin ang ganitong mga bagay, lalo na sa dami ng information out there.
"Make sure someone guides you through it all and for me, that was my ob gyn, doula, and midwife. All reputable and can be trusted.
"I listened to all of what they have to say and made my own mind about the matter.
"It wasn't done in haste and ignorance."
Rica suggested some reading and viewing materials about VBAC and birthing options.
"You may also read books and watch videos that inform you of your choices! Risk of Being Born is a docu, Birth Reborn on Netflix has three episodes na, VBAC handbook is also good, Ina May Gaskin’s book is always a good idea also! Microbirth.com has a film for rent, as well as IN UTERO — it’s a docu for rent also just search in utero film!
"Do your own research for the kind of birth that you want and I pray God will bless you with great answers!"
HOME BIRTH IN THE PHILIPPINES
In 2013, under the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the Department of Health issued a "No Home Birthing Policy" as its answer to the increasing number of maternal and infant deaths due to home births unsupervised by skilled health professionals.
In 2015, during former President Benigno Simeon Aquino III's term, the local government units were asked to formulate their own maternal, newborn, child health and nutrition strategy. And some cities and municipalities issued an prdinance supporting the "No Home Birthing Policy."
Back to Rica, read her full post, published as is: "It has only come to my attention now na may mga comments pala in my previous posts. For the sake of their peace let me address their concern.
"Let's begin with my goal from the beginning, that which is to have a vaginal birth after caesarean. I am a good candidate as my last birth via CS was five years ago. Did I always plan to do the birth at home? No, but I was very clear to want to labor at home. Why? Kasi hindi ko kaya ang feeling sa ospital. When I last labored there, nailang ako and nahirapan pakinggan ang aking katawan.
"Bec of these desires that I sought an ob gyn who is a vbac supporter and she was agreeable naman with my plan and even offered to lend me her doppler to monitor my baby as I labor at home. Dito ko na naisip na kumuha ng midwife para at least isang professional healthcare provider nalang ang tumitingin ng vital stats ko at ng heartbeat ni baby as I labor in the house.
"As the pregnancy was progressing, and I was preparing for labor at home naisip ko what if I actually give birth at home? But talking to my doula helped clarify my thoughts. That we can have home, hospital, water or dry birth naman talaga but it really all depends on how I fare as the due date is nearing. We need to be sure that I was fit and healthy, and walang complications like bleeding or low amniotic fluid or any placenta complications to achieve the gentle VBAC I was after. (Note that I also was in touch with my immuno every month for the management of my suspected apas. Sinunod ko din ang mga payo nya sa treatments even if I had the option to say no. I did all that to stay on the safe side.) .
"The best that I could do while waiting was be faithful to follow ob gyn's requests for check ups and scans, and also pray and meditate to get into the mind of God.
"I also used the time to inform myself of the risks — both of home and hospital births. Kasi kung akala ng madami na sa home lang may risks, hindi po, sa ospital meron din....
"All we need to do is check the stats to see deaths and complications that also arise in the hospital, and not only the ones at home. Katulad nalang ng repeat CS, highly medicalized births where mother is under powerful drugs to help the birth. May mga pinipirmahan tayong waiver nun for risks and side effects diba? So lahat MAY RISK. Hindi pwedeng wala. Ospital man o bahay.
"Personally, iniiwasan ko yung heavy drugs and CS bec I feel like after ko maoperahan for my CS five yrs ago, that’s when my body began to change and it became sick. Medicines help, yes, but also, it does something bad to our guts. Dyan ako pinakatakot, na malagyan ako at ang baby ko ng sobrang daming gamot na hindi naman kailangan and compromise our gut and immune system. Marami pako masasabi about this but another time nalang. You can also do your own research if interested.
"But for now let me just say that if you plan to do vbac, or homebirth, or hospital birth, NEVER GO INTO IT WITHOUT BEING INFORMED OF ALL THE RISKS AND YOUR CHOICES. Also, do not go without getting the best healthcare providers. Hindi pwedeng magisa lang gawin ang ganitong mga bagay, lalo na sa dami ng information out there. Make sure someone guides you through it all and for me, that was my ob gyn, doula, and midwife. All reputable and can be trusted. I listened to all of what they have to say and made my own mind about the matter. It wasn't done in haste and ignorance.
"You may also read books and watch videos that inform you of your choices! Risk of Being Born is a docu, Birth Reborn on Netflix has three episodes na, VBAC handbook is also good, Ina May Gaskin's book is always a good idea also! Microbirth.com has a film for rent, as well as IN UTERO — it’s a docu for rent also just search in utero film!
"Do your own research for the kind of birth that you want and I pray God will bless you with great answers! "