In an effort to bring the consumer perspective to the 2010 NIH VBAC Conference, Jennifer Kamel, Founder of VBAC Facts, asked women across America, “Why is the option of VBAC important to you?” This is what they said.

I recently received this comment from Angie in response to Homebirth vs hospital birth for the number cruncher:
You give statistics but don’t list any of the sources. If you want to lend any kind of credibility to this article you really should consider actually posting where you got your information from. Not to mention some [...]

I know I’ve been neglecting the blog lately. 
I see things daily that I want to write about, but never actually have the time between laundry, dishes, meal prep and daydreaming of going to the National Institutes of Health’s upcoming free conference entitled Consensus Development Conference on Vaginal Birth After Cesarean: New Insights.  I’m hoping [...]

Jeri left this comment at I’m pregnant and want a VBAC, what do I do?:
I want to plan for a VBAC I am not pregnant as of yet but will be ttc in 2 months. I am from La Crosse WI area and they have two hospitals Gunderson Lutheran and Franciscan Skemp..when I called them [...]

The next VBAC Class has been scheduled for Sunday, March 14, 2010 from 1:30 – 5:30pm.
This is the same weekend as the Trust Birth Conference, so if you are in town, you will have ample time after the conference is over at noon on Sunday to scoot on over to Century City (10309 Santa Monica [...]

I receive this comment on the post Hospital VBAC turned CS due to constant scare tactics:
I am very disheartened by the tone of this website. I am a board certified Ob/gyn and a very strong advocate for VBACs, IF a patient chooses one within the hospital guidelines. I DO believe and say to my patients [...]

Claremont VBAC Class
The "Truth About VBAC" seminar in Claremont, California is 8 days away on Saturday, October 24th from 1p – 4p.  Don’t miss out on your opportunity to experience an extensive review of the best VBAC and repeat cesarean research as well as learn specific, practical tools to maximize the likelihood of hospital or [...]

I’m forwarding this from ICAN.  Please forward far and wide.  We have the government’s attention.  They are ready to hear our stories.  Let’s turn the frustration, anger, and pain into real change!
If you have have discriminated against due to your prior cesarean, our government needs to hear about it!
ICAN needs stories about discriminatory insurance practices [...]

As I promised at the VBAC class today, here is Birth by the Numbers, by Eugene R. Declercq, PhD, Professor of Maternal and Child Health, Boston University School of Public Health, where he presents the sobering statistics of birth in the United States today.
I had the privilege of hearing Dr. Declercq speak at the 2009 [...]

Parents often have a visceral and fearful response when they see a cord wrapped around their baby’s neck which is called a nuchal cord. Even though umbilical cords around the neck and body are common and occur 25% – 35% of the time, they very rarely result in the death of a baby.

perinatal = “occurring during the period around birth (5 months before and 1 month after)” (wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn)
Perinatal Death Low with Home Births
By Nancy Walsh, Contributing Writer, MedPage Today Published: August 31, 2009 Reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD; Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco [...]

Five days till the Fullerton “Truth About VBAC” class and spaces are still available!
There is also the Claremont class in East Los Angeles County on October 24th.
These are the only classes for 2009.  Register and save your spot!

Stand and Deliver recently conducted an excellent interview with Dr. Stuart Fischbein, a Southern California VBAC and breech supportive OB.  It’s an excellent read and I’m including my favorite parts below.  You can read the entire article here: Stand and Deliver: Interview with Dr. Stuart J. Fischbein.
First, our definitions of the day from Wikipedia…
Evidence-based medicine [...]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Class Explores Birth After Cesarean Options in Fullerton & Claremont
POMONA, CA (September 2, 2009) – VBACFACTS.com announced “The Truth About VBAC,” a class on vaginal birth after cesarean, will be offered in Fullerton on Sunday, September 20 and in Claremont on Saturday, October 24. Incorporating the latest medical research, the class provides clear [...]

It’s interesting that ACOG is only interested in collecting stories of out-of-hospital births with poor outcomes… what about all the women who give birth in hospitals who otherwise would have had a completely normal labor and delivery but for the hospital procedures, unsupportive staff, and resulting stress?  There are wonderful OBs and great hospitals, but [...]

Many women do not interview OBs/midwives when selecting their VBAC care provider.  They either stay with the GYN who has been providing their well-woman care or the same OB who performed their cesarean because they like them.
Women they really believe that if they are good patients, if they are friendly, if they don’t question [...]

The Los Angeles based Berlin Wellness Group is sponsoring a $100,000 VBAC Giveaway.
What Is It…                                                                 
To further support women’s right to choose their birthing experience, Berlin Wellness is offering gift certificates totally for $100,000 in labor preparation and prenatal services to women planning a VBAC.
What We’re Offering…
In exchange for our amazing giveaways, we’re looking for [...]