The three biggest concerns with ACOG’s VBAC Guidelines
Last week, ACOG released Practice Bulletin No. 184, their latest VBAC guidelines. For those not in the know, this document has the potential to greatly influence VBAC access in America. These are the words that hospitals and obstetricians point to when they create...
Eleven things I love about ACOG’s 2017 VBAC Guidelines
When I found out that ACOG released their 2017 VBAC guidelines yesterday, I couldn’t wait to devour them. This morning, I had an opportunity to cuddle up with the new recommendations and I’m quite pleased. As always, there are things to like and areas...
How being a colorblind birth professional hurts your clients
Recently, I had a great extended conversation on racism in birth work at a VBAC Facts training for professionals in Covington, LA. And I wanted to share it with you. One doula shared that we simply needed to treat all clients the same regardless of race. What she was...
Evidence or Experience: Which Matters More?
So what matters more: Our personal experience? Or the conclusions of medical evidence? I suspect that most of my readers would say, the evidence. Hands down. And that is what most people believe… until they experience a bad outcome. That’s when things...
Why I’m feeling conflicted about AB 1306: CNM Physician Supervision vs. Home VBAC Hurdle
Update September 2, 2016 This bill was not passed. Update August 25, 2016 1:32pm The Senate floor vote for this bill has been postponed until Monday. Update August 25, 2016 9:57am For those of you watching this issue closely, this bill will be up for a Senate...
Judgment in the birth community: Fitting in after a cesarean
A woman who had four cesareans, after planning VBACs and home births, recently contacted me. She didn’t know where she fit into the birth community. My heart went out to her because there have been periods in my life when I have felt isolated and alone. And...
When you are the statistic: Uterine rupture loss
Above: “I donated my wedding dress to be made into gowns for deceased infants to be buried in. I had pictures done in my dress before I donated it. This is one of my favorites.” – Kaila Flory Kaila Flory lost her baby to a uterine rupture eight...
Calling women who plan home VBACs “stupid” misses the point
I’m in an online group for labor & delivery nurses where the discussion of vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) at home came up. While some understood the massive VBAC barriers many women face, others simply said, “Find a hospital that supports...
“Hospitals offering VBAC are required to have 24/7 anesthesia” is false
Since this article was published, ACOG released even stronger guidelines specifying that any Level 1 hospital should be offering VBAC. In 2010, I was sitting next to an OB/GYN during a lunch break at the National Institutes of Health VBAC Conference. She was telling...
“No one can force you to have a cesarean” is false
Update: Since this article was originally published, it has been updated with several new resources (listed at the bottom) as well as a video. “No one can force you to have a cesarean.” I see this all the time in message boards. Don’t worry about...
