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...
Shoulder pain is a symptom of uterine rupture
I’ve written before about the symptoms of uterine rupture as well as how having an epidural does not interfere with the diagnosis of uterine rupture. One uterine rupture symptom that some parents – and professionals – are surprised to learn about is...
Applying medical research to clinical realities
Isabel recently asked over on Uterine rupture rates after 40 weeks: “I wonder however if there are studies that compare the method of induction. My Doula said that the increase rates of uterine/ scar rupture was due to using high dosages of Pitocin, but now the...
New Research on Home Birth with an Obstetrician
Over the last five years Dr. Stuart Fischbein, a Southern California obstetrician, has attended 135 home births. These deliveries included VBACs, vaginal breech and vaginal twin deliveries. A summary of these births has been recently published. Here are some...
What I told the California Medical Board about home VBAC
A little backstory Back in October, I attended my first Interested Parties Meeting held by the Medical Board of California regarding new midwifery regulations as required by AB1308. (Read more about AB1308 here.) Up for discussion was which conditions or histories...
