New VBAC Guidelines

I'm so happy to see that ACOG has revised their guidelines for VBAC. Not that I needed them telling me I can attempt a VBA2C but it certainly will help my case for my next pregnancy (not sure when that will be yet, but I do hope to have another baby).
Here's a yahoo article summarizing the news and here is the ACOG press release statement.
Main take away quote: "Attempting a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) is a safe and appropriate choice for most women who have had a prior cesarean delivery, including for some women who have had two previous cesareans, according to guidelines released today by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists."
VBAC facts gives an analysis of the statement and ICAN has a response as well.

Yes, this is a step in the right direction. Now I hope to see it put into practice.

What makes a good VBAC candidate

(This was written by Michelle Lang, a woman on one of my VBAC lists, VBAC HOPE, which is a Christian VBAC list. I love it! Printed here with her permission)


"A good VBAC candidate is a mother who dearly loves her children and her unborn child and wants the best for them today and in the future. She is a mother who respects the birth process and God's special interest and involvement in it. She prays and asks God for strength and wisdom.

Daniel 11:28 but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

A good VBAC candidate chooses a wise and helpful birth attendant and a safe place to give birth. She is fully learned in the risks and benefits of each intervention and can say no and defend her own body and that of her unborn child when pressure comes. She surrounds herself with supporters so that she remains firm in her decisions. She studies up on issues so that she is not taken by surprise or flustered during labour or when giving birth. During labour, she requests and takes those things that she needs and takes care of herself.

A good VBAC candidate is healthy and nurtures herself and her child who is being knit in her womb. She is aware of her child's uterine nutritional needs and developmental stages. She provides a safe environment for her unborn baby and allows her child ample time to grow and develop naturally. She knows the indicators and stages for labour and giving birth and is focused on recognizing the stages as they progress and listening to her intuition which guides her.

I know you were looking for a different response, but I couldn't resist! ;) You can do it Mamas! I'm praying for you and my heart longs for you to be able to go into labour naturally on your own in your own time.

Michelle in AB"

The NBC Video

Here it the video from the news segment on the VBAC birth that I had the privilege to attend as a doula 2 months ago. I am so proud of Jen for sharing her story! She is an amazing woman and I'm sure her story will help others. It is all over the birth blogs now and I think it's worth looking into for the broader issues that the news segment doesn't cover, mainly VBAC.



The Unneccesarean does a great job covering the story, with links to Jen's birth story that she wrote and links to the ICAN of DuPage leader who was guiding Jen during the last few weeks as to what her rights are. She played a big role in helping Jen. I was so happy for Jen when she had her vaginal birth after cesarean, and so happy now that her important story is being told.

Very intense birth story

Do you love birth stories? I sure do. I can't get enough of them, especially natural birth stories. I read this birth story just now and Wow! I loved it. It is a story of a HBAC breech birth! It's ironic that breech births are automatic c-sections in the hospital, and so therefore women who do not want that have to birth at home, with or without a skilled attendent. Doctors simply don't know how to deliver breech babies anymore, or are unwilling to learn. They are trained in doing surgery, not in supporting a birth.
This myth that breech babies cannot be born vaginally is very ingrained into our minds these days. I myself had my first c-section because my twins were both breech. That might have been the best option for me anyway, but I honestly didn't realize breech babies could be born safely by a vaginal delivery until I did some reading and spoke with people. I know a woman had had a double footling breech 30 years ago in the same hospital Audrey was born. I love her story. I think it's sad though that a woman going to that hospital today would not be given that option. Where are our options going?
Another area where options are diminishing is in VBAC. There are so few providers in the Chicago area that offer VBAC, and even less that truly support it. There are two doctors in the entire Chicago metro area (population in the millions) that will offer a VBA2C. One is in the city of Chicago and one is in Hoffman Estates, neither which are close to me. However, I am grateful there is at least that. Some states have next to no VBAC options at all. And nation wide, a breech baby means a c-section, usually at 39 weeks.
So anyway, I think it's sad that women's choices are so limited in terms of birthing options today. Often the only place a woman can have an opportunity to give birth, instead of being told she needs automatic cesarean surgery, is her home. And almost all the time, those births are safe and satisfying.