13 myths about vaginal birth after cesarean
Over the course of the past 15 years, I have come across a lot of misinformation about VBAC. All of the myths below have come straight from readers who have asked me, “Is this true?” And every single time, the answer as been, “No.” I thought it was time to pluck out the most pervasive VBAC myths and assemble them into one article… and downloadable handout. These myths cover basic things like uterine rupture rates to difficult topics like death and logistical things like hospital policy. In the end, all of these myths confuse birthing women and people about their options making it impossible for them to make a truly informed decision between vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) and elective repeat cesarean section.
My birth story was traumatic: What do I tell my kids?
My birth story was traumatic: What do I tell my kids? Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Like We recently shared the birth story of someone who planned a VBAC, labored, but had a repeat cesarean over on Instagram and received this comment from a reader: “Feeling all of...
Vaginal birth after three or more cesareans (VBA3C/VBAMC): An overview of the evidence
Vaginal birth after three or more cesareans (VBA3C/VBAMC): An overview of the evidence Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Like After someone has a cesarean section, they often wonder if they will always have to have a cesarean for future deliveries. While “once a cesarean,...
Vaginal birth after two cesareans (VBA2C): An overview of the evidence
Vaginal birth after two cesareans (VBA2C): An overview of the evidence Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Like As is the case with vaginal birth after one cesarean, (VBA1C), vaginal birth after two cesareans (VBA2C) is a reasonable option that is often difficult for people to...
What birthing families need to know about VBAC after a classical or T/J incision
What birthing families need to know about VBAC after a classical or T/J incision Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Like We have previously discussed the problematic studies behind the 4-9% uterine rupture statistic associated with vaginal birth after a classical or T/J...
Vaginal birth after classical incision: The true story behind the 4-9% uterine rupture rate
Vaginal birth after classical incision: The true story behind the 4-9% uterine rupture rate Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Like If I were to ask you, “What is the risk of uterine rupture during a planned VBAC after a classical cesarean section?” how would you...
The First Three Steps: How White Perinatal Professionals Can Support BIPOC Birthing People
It is virtually impossible for anyone who was raised in a white colonialist country – like the United States – to come into adulthood without racism in their heart and mind. This is where implicit bias comes from. So if you have heard people say things like, “All white people are racist,” that’s what they are referring to. It’s not using the N-word or going to a KKK rally. It’s not listening to Black women when they report pain in the hospital and missing a potentially deadly complication as a result. That is one way implicit bias presents. So what can white birth professionals do about it? How can they identify and face the implicit bias in their own heart, and systemic racism within the health care system, so racial disparities can improve?
Does VBAC after more than one prior cesarean pose an increased risk? YES.
An advocate claims that the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) said VBAC after more than one prior cesarean (VBAMC) doesn’t pose an increased risk. A reader contacted me asking if this was correct. It is not. ACOG does not say that because it’s not true.
New study reveals surprising truths about the VBAC calculator
VBAC calculators have been embraced with open arms by some providers, whereas others reject them altogether. Who’s right? Trying to predict who will have a VBAC is tricky. We know some individual factors, such as having a prior vaginal delivery, are associated with higher or lower VBAC rates. By combining various factors, VBAC calculators generate a percentage that represents the best guess for an individual’s odds of having a vaginal birth after cesarean. But VBAC calculators, also called VBAC success calculators, are not always accurate and can create emotional baggage.
Where Rinat Dray’s forced cesarean lawsuit stands and what every birth professional should know
In 2011 a woman with two prior cesareans named Rinat Dray was forced to have a cesarean at Staten Island University Hospital in New York. She sued the hospital and two physicians for ‘improperly substituting their judgement for that of the mother’ and ‘pressuring and threatening her.’ During the course of her lawsuit, it was revealed that this hospital had a secret forced cesarean policy. When I learned about this policy, I was shocked. Yes, forced cesareans happen. They are woven into the culture of some hospitals as are other forms of obstetric violence. But to have a formal, written policy saying that it was OK?
Accreta spectrum disorder tied to increased risk of PTSD
We often think of the physical risks and benefits when talking about VBAC versus repeat cesarean section, but what about the toll on mental health? The stress of having a complication like placenta accreta is often not addressed and parents are left on their own trying to figure out how to cope with this serious diagnosis. So I was thrilled to come across a study finally addressing this issue and to include it in our monthly Grand Rounds for VBAC Facts Professional Members. Join me for this Grand Rounds excerpt where we review Tol 2019, a study looking at the connection between abnormally invasive placenta and post traumatic stress disorder.
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