by Jen Kamel | Nov 5, 2012 | Birth myths, Uterine Rupture
Becky recently ask this question: I read somewhere that the risk of uterine rupture is actually higher during pregnancy than during birth. Does anyone have a source for this? Becky, I had heard the same thing many times. However, no one who shared this stat with me... 
by Jen Kamel | Sep 13, 2012 | Legal Issues, Maternal Outcomes, Placental abnormalities, Planning your vbac, VBAC, VBAC after multiple cesareans, VBAC Bans
Note regarding “TOLAC.” When reading from medical texts, remember that you are no longer in the land of emotion and warm fuzzies. Rather, envision that you have been transported to another world, a clinical world, where terms like TOLAC/TOLAMC, or trial... 
by Jen Kamel | Jul 9, 2012 | Birth myths, Using statistics, Uterine Rupture, VBAC
RETRACTION/ CORRECTION: I originally posted this article challenging the thought that you are more likely to die in a fatal car accident than during a VBAC. I tried to crunch the numbers in the way that I felt most accurate. However, it has been bugging me ever... 
by Jen Kamel | Jun 22, 2012 | Birth myths, Hospital birth, Infant Outcomes, Maternal Outcomes, Planning your vbac, Uterine Rupture, VBAC
Some care providers discourage epidurals in VBAC moms fearing that it will mask the symptoms of uterine rupture (namely abdominal pain) and delay diagnosis resulting in a poor outcome for baby and to a lesser extent, mom Other care providers suggest or even require... 
by Jen Kamel | Jun 13, 2012 | Birth myths, Using statistics, VBAC
I have often heard, “If two numbers are less than 1%, they are similar.” Typically this is expressed while comparing the risks of rupture in an unscarred versus scarred uterus. But is this true? How different can two numbers less than 1% be? Two... 
by Jen Kamel | May 27, 2012 | Birth myths, Inductions, Large/macrosomic babies, Planning your vbac, Uterine Rupture, VBAC
Note: Since this article was published, ACOG released new VBAC guidelines in 2017 and 2018. Both maintain that LAC (labor after cesarean) induction remains an option. Many of the comments left at the Forced Cesarean story questioned the safety of LAC induction. Many... 
by Jen Kamel | Apr 11, 2012 | Infant Outcomes, Maternal Outcomes, Planning your vbac, Resources for unsupportive family members, Using statistics, Uterine Rupture, VBAC, VBAC after multiple cesareans
“There is a major misperception that TOLAC [trial of labor after cesarean] is extremely risky” – Mona Lydon-Rochelle PhD, MPH, MS, CNM, March 2010 In terms of VBAC, “your risk is really, really quite low” – George Macones MD, MSCE, March 2010 Both Drs.... 
by Jen Kamel | Apr 3, 2012 | Birth myths, Infant Outcomes, Maternal Outcomes, Planning your vbac, Using statistics, Uterine Rupture, VBAC
It is important to note that the information shared in Guise (2010), the 400 page Evidence Report on which the 2010 NIH VBAC Conference was based, collected the best data we have available on trial of labor after cesarean. That said, they reported, “Overall,... 
by Jen Kamel | Mar 30, 2012 | Cesarean section, Placental abnormalities, Planning your vbac, Resources for unsupportive family members, VBAC, VBAC after multiple cesareans
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... 
by Jen Kamel | Mar 2, 2012 | Hospital birth, Informed consent, Legal Issues, Planning your vbac, VBAC after multiple cesareans
3/26/12- The ACLU has posted an article on their blog regarding this case where they released the letter they faxed to the OB group on behalf of the “forced CS” mom. This letter is an excellent resource for any person who works with pregnant women as it... 
by Jen Kamel | Feb 11, 2012 | Hospital birth, Informed consent, Planning your vbac
Update: Metz (2013) came to the same conclusion of Bernstein (2012). Metz concluded, “Less than one third of the good candidates for TOLAC [trial of labor after cesarean] chose TOLAC. Managing provider influences this decision.” Read more here.... 
by Jen Kamel | Jan 23, 2012 | Home birth, Hospital birth, Planning your vbac, VBAC, VBAC Bans
Amber recently left this comment on the Quick Facts page: i am pregnant for the second time my first child was delivered by c-section my goal is to have my second child natural but the obgyns in my area will not allow someone who has had a c-section to have a natural... 
