Induction is wrong, wrong, wrong… wait, what?

Thoughts on VBA3+C (VBAC after three or more prior cesareans)

A mom recently asked over on the VBAC Facts Community, “Does anyone have some facts on vab3c?” I provided this mish-mash of info… [...]

Study: Two-Thirds of OB-GYN Clinical Guidelines Have No Basis in Science

PushNews from The Big Push for Midwives Campaign CONTACT: Katherine Prown, (414) 550-8025, katie@pushformidwives.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 15, 2011 Study: Two-Thirds of OB-GYN Clinical Guidelines Have No Basis in Science Majority of ACOG Recommendations for Patient Care Found to Be Based on Opinion and Inconsistent Evidence WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 15, 2011)—A study published [...]

VBAC Ban Rationale is Irrational

Since obstetrical complications arise during labor in women with no history of uterine surgery that require immediate surgical delivery, or more commonly in women with multiple prior repeat cesareans, how can a hospital claim that they are fit to attend those births, but not yours? [...]

ACOG issues less restrictive VBAC guidelines

Removing the “immediately available” standard while supporting VBAC with twins, after two prior cesareans, and with unknown scars is a huge step in the right direction. It seems that the option of VBAC is now available to hundreds of thousands of women, many of whom, up to this point, were left with no choice at all. [...]

Umbilical cord around baby’s neck rarely causes complications

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. [...]

ACOG makes plea for bad out-of-hospital stories password protected

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 [...]

Women gives birth vaginally in her car after three cesareans (VBA3C)

I love this! I meet women all the time whose confidence in their bodies has been dashed by the “failure to progress” diagnosis they received in past labors. This woman had three cesareans, all with that same diagnosis, because, as she says, she got to the hospital to early. And look what happens when she [...]

The Role of Interpretation – ACOG Refines Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring Guidelines

“Since 1980, the use of EFM has grown dramatically, from being used on 45% of pregnant women in labor to 85% in 2002,” says George A. Macones, MD, who headed the development of the ACOG document. “Although EFM is the most common obstetric procedure today, unfortunately it hasn’t reduced perinatal mortality or the risk of cerebral palsy. In fact, the rate of cerebral palsy has essentially remained the same since World War II despite fetal monitoring and all of our advancements in treatments and interventions.” [...]