About Me
I am a woman who is passionate about birth. I have always been interested in birth and even considered becoming an OB/GYN. I am so glad I didn’t. The medical climate today towards birth is very sad. Normal birth is rarely seen in hospitals. Normal birth is a birth that begins spontaneously and progresses without interventions. In the US, 40% of women have their labors induced and an additional 20% have their labors augmented with drugs such as Pitocin. (”Born in the USA,” Wagner) In a climate such as this, where birth is managed rather than respected, where the definition of normal has become more and more narrow resulting in everyone thinking that they are high-risk, women have become fearful of birth. We are lead to believe that birth is dangerous. That birth must be managed . . . or else.
It was when I had my cesarean section with my daughter, and was lead to believe that VBAC was dangerous, that my quest for evidence-based information, went into full tilt. And I started writing. I wanted women to have the facts. I wanted to direct them to the studies that substantiated the facts. I wanted them to know that they have options. I wanted to share resources with them. I wanted to provide them with support. I wanted them to know that their quest for a normal, vaginal birth, VBAC or not, is a valid quest. That it does matter how a baby is born - to the mother and her baby.
While the focus of this site is VBAC advocacy, a variety of topics relevant to birth will be discussed.
I hope the information I share here empowers you to attain the birth you seek.
I am not a medical professional and the contents of this website do not constitute medical advice.
All the articles on this website are protected under copyright. You are welcome to link to this site, however the information on this site may not be reproduced or republished on another webpage or website.
10 Responses to “About Me”
Hi. Thanks for stopping by my site. I think I found a midwife in Montana, licensed in VBACs, who wants to come over here to Italy! She is sort of retired and that is what she does now: travel the world and deliver babies. I feel so relieved.
By Tonya on Feb 15, 2008
Tonya - That is so great! I’m so excited for you! I’ll be reading your blog, so I can share in your journey!
By admin on Feb 20, 2008
We need help in Arkansas! I am looking for women who could lend support for the women in Arkansas, a STATE where VBAC is almost completely banned. We are trying to fight the ban in our area. Please visit www.bringbackvbac.org to find out more about what we are doing and sign our online petition, tell your story on the blog and forum and visit the site often to drive up our hits numbers- the local hospital is checking the site too. Women in my state who have had a c-section face either having a repeat cs or going it alone at home (it is illegal for anyone to attend an HBAC mom) or traveling to another state where they can get a VBAC. Thanks for you support!!
By ann on Feb 28, 2008
Hey, I’m working on a blog just like this, for myself, but I’m wondering if I should just link to yours? Great job here! Maybe I can focus on my doula-in-training blog since you’ve done such fantastic work here. My story could be your story’s twin: C/S for breech presentation for first pregnancy (after planning natural, intervention-free birth with CNM), and now planning an HBAC for our next pregnancy (TTC right now).
By Jackie on Mar 29, 2008
Do you have an email where I can reach you? I want to send you my hospital’s VBAC ban policy and I have a couple other questions I don’t want to clog up your blog with. You can email me if you want.
Thanks!
T
By Tonya on Apr 12, 2008
I just wanted to thank you for your website. I couldn’t find an email. I have been frequenting this site so much during my pregnancy while I was planning my HBAC. The information you provided me really helped me to be confident in my decision. Unfortunately, after 40 hours of labor with my water broke it was time to transfer to the hospital. There are no hospitals in the area that allow VBACs therefore I was left with no choice but a RCS. So, now I have 2 unnecessary c/s under my belt (literally). It makes me angry. Anyways…thank you so much for your site. I will continue to read and hopefully can come back and tell you I had a beautiful HBA2C in a couple of years!! =)
Thank you.
Jessica
By Jessica on Jun 7, 2008
Hi. I’m a few years off from being ready to have children but I do know this: when the time comes, I want it to be natural and vaginal. My sister thinks that I’m crazy but it just goes to show what kind of society we live in and what it thinks of women. Women are built for birthing and for some reason, we’ve lost sight of that. I’m glad that you have made this website with all kinds of good information and references. I want all women to have the information they are entitled to and to be able to make their own decisions. I am just sick and tired of all the decisions being made for women by “experts.” Again, I appreciate this website very much. Keep up the good work! (Sorry about the little rant.)
Cassie
By Cassie on Jul 2, 2008
Cassie, I’m so excited that you are reading & learning now, years before you have children. So many women wait until they are pregnant before they do any reading and by that time, it’s almost to late. Decisions that determine the outcome of your pregnancy, such as who you hire as your care provider, are made very early in the pregnancy, pre-reading and researching, when most women don’t realize that there is a difference between OBs & midwives. And then when they do learn, they think they are to far along to change OBs or worse, they don’t want to “hurt the OBs feelings.” Thanks for the compliment and share the site with your friends. It’s critical that we reach women before they start having children so we can prevent the unnecessary cesareans because once that surgery is done, as you can see, the battle truly begins.
By Jennifer on Jul 2, 2008
I am ttc #3 currently and instead of being happy about a possible new pregnanct I am terrified that I will have to under go another c-section. I badly wanted to have a vbac with my daughter but my OB shot me down in less then the time it took to ask the question. 1st c-section failure to progress (they induced me 2 weeks early) 2nd daughter was a premie. Is it possible to even do it VBAC? If so are there ways to find docs that will do it? sorry so long just don’t know who else to ask and get a truthful answer …thanks
By jennifer on Aug 12, 2008
jennifer, your risk of uterine rupture does go up after two CS to 0.9% (Landon 2006.) There are OBs in the US who attend VBA2C in a hospital, but they are extremely rare. You will have more options if you consider a homebirth. Go here for more information: http://vbacfacts.com/2008/04/13/the-three-types-of-care-providers-amongst-obs-and-midwives/ Best of luck and I wish you peace.
By Jennifer on Aug 12, 2008