VBAC Facts » VBAC

Woman has 4th cesarean, 8 hour surgery, and requires 33 gallons of blood

Jen Kamel — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 01:48:38 +0000

What a miracle this woman survived! This was her fifth baby and fourth cesarean.

She had a complication known as placenta percreta which is when “the placenta attaches itself and grows through the uterus, sometimes extending to nearby organs, such as the bladder” (March of Dimes 2012). The risk of having placenta accreta, increta, [...]

Chipping away at the “too posh to push” myth

Jen Kamel — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 23:31:20 +0000

Some new research questions the idea that women who are “too posh to push” are responsible for America’s rising cesarean rate. The work of University of Arizona sociologist Louise Roth has been featured in an University of Arizona UA News article dated April 13, 2012.

Watch for Roth’s research which will be “published in the [...]

The best compilation of VBAC/ERCS research to date

Jen Kamel — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 17:11:55 +0000

“There is a major misperception that TOLAC [trial of labor after cesarean] is extremely risky” - Mona Lydon-Rochelle MD, March 2010. "In terms of VBAC, “your risk is really, really quite low” - George Macones MD, March 2010. Both Drs. Macones and Lyndon-Rochelle are obstetricians and researchers who made these statements at the 2010 NIH [National Institutes of Health] VBAC Conference. Now you may think, "Wait a sec. Everything I've heard from my family, friends, and medical provider is how risky VBAC is and how cesareans are the conservative, prudent, and safest choice." Why the discrepancy between the statements of these two doctor researchers and the conventional wisdom prevalent in America? [...]

Confusing fact: Only 6% of uterine ruptures are catastrophic

Jen Kamel — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:47:55 +0000

How many times have you heard "Only 6% of uterine ruptures are catastrophic" or "Uterine rupture not only happens less that one percent of the time, but the vast majority of ruptures are non-catastrophic?" But what does that mean? Does that mean only 6% of uterine ruptures are "complete" ruptures? Result in maternal death? Infant death? Serious injury to mom or baby? This article will explain to you the difference between uterine rupture and uterine dehiscence as well as explain the source and meaning of the 6% statistic. [...]

Placenta problems in VBAMC/ after multiple repeat cesareans

Jen Kamel — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 05:38:12 +0000

I thought that I would take the data from the Silver (2006) that I’ve previously discussed and share it in a different way that would be helpful to women with multiple prior cesareans. (You might find it worthwhile to read this article specifically, where you can view the data below in graphs, as well as [...]

Just kicking the can of risk down the road

Jen Kamel — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 04:27:58 +0000

If primary and secondary cesarean rates continue to rise as they have in recent years, by 2020 the cesarean delivery rate will be 56.2%, and there will be an additional 6236 placenta previas, 4504 placenta accretas, and 130 maternal deaths annually. The rise in these complications will lag behind the rise in cesareans by approximately 6 years. [...]

VBAC Facts presents VBAC Class at the VBAC Summit in Miami, FL!

Jen Kamel — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 18:18:31 +0000

The "Truth About VBAC" will be presented at the VBAC Summit Pre-Conference Session on Friday August 17, 2012 in Miami, Florida! Over the course of 4 hours, “The Truth About VBAC” delivers an evidence-based review of interesting and hard to find information relative to post cesarean birth options to parents, birth advocates, and medical professionals. It is jam packed with statistics and recommendations directly from respected medical journals, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Attendees will receive a handout containing the statistics shared. [...]

Options for mom who will be “forced” to have a repeat cesarean

Jen Kamel — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 06:33:59 +0000

I just received this email tonight and need ideas quick. This term mom seeking VBA2C is in the the Columbia area of South Carolina. Her OB was supportive until 37 weeks. Her cesarean is scheduled in two days on March 5, 2012. She was told that if she shows up in labor, she will be "forced" to have a cesarean. Does anyone know of a care provider in her area that would be willing to accept a new client this late in pregnancy? What other options does she have? Additionally, I'm looking for information on the legality of a hospital/OB "forcing" a c/s? What happens if she shows up at the current hospital and refuses to sign the c/s consent form? What exactly CAN they do?? [...]

Cerebral palsy cases linked with genetic abnormalities

Jen Kamel — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 05:14:13 +0000

Conventional wisdom has historically linked oxygen deprivation during labor and delivery to cerebral palsy (CP), but a new study suggests that the majority of CP cases are actually due to genetic abnormalities in at least six genes.

A Medical News Today article dated January 30, 2012 discusses the study published in The Lancet Neurology:

Although [...]

Study finds vernix protects newborns from infection

Jen Kamel — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:37:45 +0000

There is a reason why vernix is present. Read below for some very technical language which essentially says vernix protects newborns from fungi, parasites, and makes pathogens susceptible to our immune system. In other words, vernix protects newborns from infection which is why it is beneficial to not wash your baby and scrub away all [...]

Study finds pregnant women with prior cesarean choose the delivery method preferred by their doctor

Jen Kamel — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:11:08 +0000

"When patients perceived that their doctor preferred a repeat cesarean, very few chose to undergo trial of labor, whereas the majority chose trial of labor if that was their doctor's preference." Additionally, 73% of the women admitted for a ERCS did not know the chances of a successful VBAC and 64% did not know the risk of uterine rupture. 54% of women choosing a TOLAC did not know the chances of a successful VBAC and 45% did not know the risk of rupture! [...]

Repeat cesarean due to 130/100 blood pressure?

Jen Kamel — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:40:55 +0000

A woman seeking VBAC currently has her 130/100 blood pressure under control with the help of medication, yet her OB is recommending a repeat cesarean. Jen collects and shares information and opinions from the Mayo Clinic, OBs, midwives, doulas, and moms including questions for the mom to ask of her OB. [...]

Mom encounters VBAC ban and request advice

Jen Kamel — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:45:39 +0000

A mom seeking a VBAC runs into major roadblocks at her local hospital which has a VBAC ban. VBAC Facts compiled a list of options based on real live decisions of women who VBACed despite bans. Did you deliver at a VBAC ban hospital? What was your strategy? Are you a health care provider at a VBAC ban hospital and have some insight? [...]

Confusing math misleads women on uterine rupture and mortality risk

Jen Kamel — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:25:50 +0000

VBAC Facts reviews a blog post that shares a study on VBAC along with statistics the blogger calculates, many of which misrepresents the risk of uterine rupture and infant mortality during a VBAC attempt demonstrating why it is important to not only know the source of the statistics, but also know that the blogger can do simple math. [...]

Myth: Risk of uterine rupture doesn’t change much after a cesarean

Jen Kamel — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:33:47 +0000

1/18/12 – The difference in uterine rupture (UR) rates between unscarred and scarred uteri is significant: 1 in 14,286 in an unscarred uterus and 1 in 156 in a scarred uterus. Another way to express this is: 0.7 in 10,000 (0.007%) in an unscarred uterus and 64 in 10,000 (0.64%) in a scarred uterus. This [...]