Have you had a cesarean?
The facts can give you peace
Do you want balanced, unbiased information about vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC)?
Wading through the evidence on VBAC and repeat cesarean yourself can be confusing and time consuming.
I'm sure you have read medical research, googled way too much, joined VBAC groups, and asked people you know.
But what do you do about conflicting information and how do you know who to trust?
Hi, I'm Jen Kamel, CEO & Founder of VBAC Facts®.
Since 2007, my focus has been to provide objective, accurate information about the data available on VBAC and repeat cesarean to parents, professionals, policymakers, and the court so all decisions can be informed, ethical, and just. And I can help you.
If you have had a cesarean, this is a non-judgmental, evidence based space where you can learn about the available research so you can make informed decisions and be fully prepared for your VBAC without fear controlling you.
Let's dream together...
Imagine if you had the facts at your fingertips and you felt so comfortable with the VBAC evidence that you could confidently make informed decisions as well as advocate for yourself in the moment.
My big vision for you is that you are able to plan the birth that you want. That your pregnancy is a time of joy and celebration rather than stress and anxiety. All of this is possible.
And it's why I created "The Truth About VBAC™ for Families."
thorough, unbiased, and hard-to-find information
For women exploring their options after cesarean, "The Truth About VBAC™ for Families" is a must.
VBAC is unique in that you have to understand more than just the science in order to wade through the myths and misinformation, and here is thorough, unbiased, and hard-to-find information on the subject as a whole: science, history, and politics.
I wish that every woman out there who has had a cesarean had the opportunity to get the truth about what her options are and why they may be so artificially limited.
This class has the power to change how we think about VBAC.
- Cristen Pascucci
Birth Monopoly Founder
So why did I start VBAC Facts®?
My surprise cesarean changed my life
It all goes back to my first child's birth in 2004.
A cesarean wasn’t even on my radar (in fact, I intentionally skipped that chapter in my birth books). But at 35 weeks, my daughter was breech.
All of a sudden, I was on the road to a surgical birth. While my cesarean was straightforward and my obstetrician was sympathetic and kind, I felt like I was hit by a truck and handed a baby.
My OB told me that I would be an excellent candidate for VBAC (I am eternally grateful he planted this seed), so I knew I had options. My postpartum was rough, so I was committed to doing everything in my power to avoid another cesarean. However, there was a lot I didn’t know which fed the “what ifs”.
I knew enough to realize that I didn't know what I didn't know, so what helped me reduce my unease was to learn the facts. Through that process, I was able to truly understand the evidence and make informed decisions.
The challenge was, there was nothing out there for parents who wanted a higher level of information.
I wanted to know what the evidence actually said. So I learned how to evaluate medical research and created it myself.
Through my research, planning, and the whiff of luck that is always at play in birth, I was able to have a transformative VBAC in 2007 and meet my sweet son.
To immediately hold him, breastfeed him, and be fully mentally present from the moment he was introduced into the world was absolutely priceless.
Being able to eat, use the restroom, and shower shortly after delivery made me feel human.
To sleep without waking up to stabbing pain for weeks meant that while I was tired, I wasn’t painfully exhausted.
I felt like me, with a baby, and it was an entirely new experience of motherhood. My son and I spent the first three days of his life sleeping, nursing, and relaxing. It was night and day in comparison to my cesarean in every single way.
While my cesarean recovery was difficult in many ways, I came out of my VBAC with the realization that there was nothing in this world I couldn't do. I felt unstoppable.
An VBAC educator and advocate is born
The contrast between my cesarean and my VBAC... the injustice of so many people being denied this option... the lies, misinformation, and manipulations... the number of hysterectomies and other serious preventable complications from "routine" repeat cesareans... it lit a fire in me. At two weeks postpartum, on a cold November morning, I dreamed up VBAC Facts® and got to work.
Within three years, I had created this program and was traveling the United States speaking to parents and training professionals.
I have presented grand rounds at hospitals and trained thousands of perinatal professionals - including physicians and midwives - on the VBAC evidence around the globe.
I have testified in front of various legislative and regulatory bodies educating those who make laws and rules about VBAC as well as consulting with attorneys and educating the court on the VBAC evidence, medical ethics, and bodily autonomy.
During the course of this work, I have cultivated an encyclopedic and intimate knowledge of not only the VBAC evidence, but how fear, politics, bias, paternalism, litigation, and convenience often supersede what birthing people want... all while they are subtlety coerced into repeat cesareans under the guise of safety.
You deserve better than that. You deserve access to evidence based care. You deserve the truth. You deserve the space to make your own medical decisions. You deserve to be heard.
This is the world I want to create.
This is why I do this work.
summarizes the evidence in understandable language
Bravo! I absolutely loved "The Truth About VBAC™" online program – I learned SO much! Jen does an amazing job of summarizing the latest evidence on VBACs and repeat cesareans in a way that is easy to understand.
If you're worried that Jen is going to try and talk you into a VBAC– well, that's not how she does things. In this class, Jen simply presents accurate facts and lets the evidence speak for itself. Every woman and family needs to make the decision that is best for them.
In this class, Jen has created a non-judgmental environment for people who are exploring their options. I strongly recommend this class to anyone who is interested in learning about VBAC!" Read Rebecca's entire review.
- Dr. Rebecca Dekker
PhD, RN, APRN, Founder, Evidence Based Birth®
This is a 6-week program
Ready to bust some myths?
Achieve clarity on the VBAC evidence, national guidelines, and the numerous factors that can stand between you and having a VBAC.
This is not just any VBAC course. What makes it different? My work for since 2007 as an international speaker, nursing continuing education provider, expert witness, policy consultant, and VBAC subject matter expert.
It is that depth of intersectional knowledge that sets this training apart from other VBAC courses in addition to my personal commitment to integrity, honesty, and ethics.
I've made learning the facts simple and easy. You don't need to decode confusing words and statistics in medical studies. I’ll break it all down for you in everyday language so you understand what these studies really mean and what they don't.
In 30 bite-sized video lessons, I share every step of the process for achieving clarity on VBAC and repeat cesarean.
Curious about what you will learn?
Inside The Truth About VBAC for Families™:
Get the facts:
Instant access to the entire 6-hour program broke into 30-bite size lessons
Understand the Evidence:
Learn about the risks and benefits of VBAC
Identify misinformation:
Discover how much of VBAC conventional wisdom is false
Simplify provider interviews:
Download the Provider Interview Cheat Sheet
Grow your confidence:
Speak intelligently with anyone, anywhere, about VBAC
Make informed decisions:
Made possible by standing on the foundation of the evidence
Build community:
Join our Facebook group for parents birthing after a cesarean
Ask questions:
Have a quick question? Post it in our Facebook group and I'll give you a quick answer!
Achieve clarity:
Enjoy the peace and power that comes with knowing the facts
Lifetime access:
Return to the course again and again and review the content for as long as you want
Learn about birth locations, red flags, and more
Achieve clarity on the VBAC evidence, national guidelines, and the numerous factors that can stand between you and having a VBAC.
Where to have your VBAC:
Hospital, birth center, or home
In this course you’ll learn about the pros and cons of birthing locations -- whether you want a home, birth center, or hospital birth -- and the many factors to consider including the latest evidence on community (home or birth center) VBAC.
How to hire a VBAC supportive doctor or midwife:
Questions to ask and answers to seek
My downloadable Provider Interview Cheat Sheet outlines all the questions I recommend you ask providers. Many of these questions are followed by a quote from ACOG's VBAC guidelines or other relevant facts which will help you interpret their answer so you can hire a midwife or physician who is most aligned with the evidence. It also includes space under each question to track the responses of three providers so you can easily compare their replies.
What informed consent looks like:
How to identify manipulation
In addition, I'll highlight for you red flags to watch for while you discover the difference between manipulation and informed consent as well as your legal rights. You will also learn how to maximize your VBAC odds.
What hospitals are "allowed" to offer VBAC:
How VBAC bans violate national guidelines and medical ethics
You will become familiar with hospital policies, VBAC bans, and US national guidelines so you can understand what the leading OB/GYN organization actually says about VBAC (you will be shocked) and the real reasons why hospitals claim they can't attend VBACs (which we will dismantle).
What the medical evidence says about VBAC:
A deep dive into the medical literature
And of course we dive deep into everything uterine rupture, multiple prior cesareans, epidurals, big babies, postdates, birth intervals, single versus dual layer suturing, uterine thickness, the VBAC calculator, how prior cesareans impact future pregnancies, frank and honest talk about the risks of a bad outcome for you and your baby, and more... you will learn it all.
Are you ready?
The Truth About VBAC™ for Families will help you:
I can't wait for you to join us!
There are two ways to join The Truth About VBAC™ for Families:
The Essential Package:
The Truth About VBAC™ for Families
$299 payment plans available!
Looking for additional support?
If you would like to talk with Jen about your individual situation whether that's reviewing the circumstances of your cesarean, examining a specific topic, or answering your growing list of questions, a consulting call with her is your next step!
Our Support Package includes lifetime access to "The Truth About VBAC™ for Families" as well as a 60-minute 1:1 consulting call with Jen. This is your time to be fully supported and heard.
The Support Package:
Get Additional Support
The Truth About VBAC™ for Families
$549 payment plans available!
All the questions you have, answered.
After working with countless families over the years, I know the questions you have, the information you need, and the emotional journey you are on. I have been there. I get it.
This 6-hour online program is designed to answer all the questions I’ve been asked by expecting parents and growing families like yours. And, more importantly, all the questions you may not know to ask.
I’ve dedicated the time to gather the facts so you don’t have to wade through the information yourself guessing whether something is true or not. Enroll today and start learning the facts!
learn how to interpret the numbers and the risk
After attending "The Truth About VBAC™ for Families," I knew the facts, the studies that supported the facts, and I knew how to interpret the numbers to best understand what they were saying about my risk.
When OBs heard me actually talking about "1 in xxx" instead of just percentages, they realized that I really did understand what I was asking for and were more willing to have the discussion I wanted to have.
Professionally, I am better able to point my doula clients to real evidence and help them translate the studies into information they can use to make the best birth decisions for themselves, their babies, and their whole family.
- Heather Schweich
VBAC Mom & Birth Doula
How to know if this course is for you...
"The Truth About VBAC™ for Families" has helped countless women and birthing people move from feeling powerless, lost, and scared to informed, empowered, and confident.
You're a perfect fit if:
This course is NOT for you if:
And you know, there is nothing wrong with these bullet points. It's all about knowing what you want and what is right for you. I just want you to know the kind of person this program was developed for. Again, no judgement. This is your birth!
*I don't entirely disagree with you. All research does have weaknesses. We discuss how to identify them in this course so you know how to find strong VBAC studies in the future.
Parents and professionals describe "The Truth About VBAC™ for Families" as outstanding, easy to understand, non-judgmental, priceless, and the best resource to date.
To show you I'm 100% with you on this...
I want to offer you a 100% risk-free guarantee.
When you join, you’ve got 3 days to decide if this purchase was right for you. If, within those 3 days, you attend Part 1 and 2 and still feel like this course isn’t delivering on its promise, I will refund your purchase.
Just send an email to support@vbacfacts.com to let my team know.
That’s just the right thing to do.
get the facts without a side of guilt
VBAC Facts® was literally the ONLY place I could find facts and not feel guilted into a decision.
I always direct my friends to VBAC Facts®, because I want them to make an informed decision no matter what they choose.
I did have a VBAC (with this cutie in the picture) and I was so thankful because it was MY choice to do so. So THANK YOU!
- Lauren D.
Registered Nurse
Can I be honest with you?
I became a VBAC advocate because I experienced first hand how hard it was to find solid facts about VBAC
My research journey started with my own questions and quickly grew to include things people said in Yahoo Groups. Soon I was answering questions in these groups with solid information AND providing citations. People loved it.
But the queries kept coming about so many topics relating to VBAC, uterine rupture, where to birth, VBAC bans, and more. I saw a need for a comprehensive course, so I slowly started developing this program based on the questions and concerns parents expressed.
Over the years, I have received countless emails, DMs, and even old fashioned cards thanking me for this work. Because this knowledge enables parents to engage in informed conversations with their provider. Identify misinformation. Find peace and power in their pregnancy and birth. Make informed decisions. And plan the birth they want.
And now? I want the same for you.
That’s why I created “The Truth About VBAC™ for Families.” And why I advise advocates seeking regulatory or legislative change in their state, serve as an expert witness in legal proceedings, offer online continuing education trainings to physicians, nurses, midwives, and other health care professionals via my professional membership as well as in-person trainings.
Offering this course to you is just one of many strategies I employ to ensure that parents receive respectful, evidence based care.
clearly understand the risks involved
I knew that I really wanted to try for a VBAC. I also wanted to make sure that it was a wise decision. There is just so much conflicting information out there on VBAC that I was unsure what to believe and where to begin.
"The Truth About VBAC™ for Families" helped me to clearly understand the risks involved in whatever birthing option I chose.
With this information in mind, I decided to go the VBAC route and to put together a very VBAC supportive birthing team (which was a midwife group for me). The result was a natural, unmedicated VBAC with no complications what so ever!
- Allison M.
Stay at Home Mom
Ready to bust some myths?
Questions about the course:
he thing that makes this course different is my almost 20 years experience which informs its content and tone. As an international speaker, expert witness, policy consultant, continuing education provider, VBAC subject matter expert, consumer advocate AND a mother who has had a cesarean and a VBAC, I offer a unique perspective that encompasses not only the medical research, national guidelines, and legal concerns, but also the emotional journey of a VBAC parent.
The other thing that makes this course different is my personal commitment to integrity, honesty, and ethics. This is not just a business for me. This is my life's work. When I had my cesarean, there was nothing like this available. I had to create it from scratch. You don't need to do that. You don't have to do this alone.
Questions about the investment:
Okay– if you’re worried about spending money right now, I get it. The world feels like a crap storm. So it’s definitely important that you feel safe + supported if we work together.
That said, we both know that it’s nearly impossible to feel peaceful during your pregnancy while trying to navigate a system that routes most people into a repeat cesarean. It is a constant fight.
If you’re having trouble with the mystery of how to piece together the VBAC evidence, let me help you solve it.
Let's get clear on the evidence together so you can enjoy the rest of your pregnancy and look forward to your birth rather than researching, stressing, and wondering if you made the right choice.
How much is that worth to you?
Questions about the time commitment:
That's why I created this course. I want you to be able to quickly and easily understand the evidence without wasting more time googling, researching, and scrolling through VBAC groups. How much time do you spend doing that right now?
Should you try to free up some time to take this course?
Or should you take this course and have it free up some of your time?
You know my answer.
I’ve designed this course for even the most time-strapped parent. Each module has short, bitesize lessons so both watching and reflecting on what you want are quick. Plus, I'll email you every 2-3 days with the next lecture so you can easily finish the program in six weeks.
I have another question that wasn't answered here.
Send my team an email at support@vbacfacts.com and we will get back to you!
biased towards fully informed patients
I'm a busy OB/GYN physician with a particular interest in ensuring that women in my region have a safe and well-publicized option for post-Cesarean hospital birthing.
Ms. Kamel has put together a presentation that is biased in only one very appropriate direction — that of fully informed patients and birth attendants.
Our patients and communities can only benefit from a more-informed discussion about C-sections and post-Cesarean birthing and we're all lucky to have someone out front with such informed passion.
- Dr. Nathan Meltzer
OB/GYN
Are you ready?
The Truth About VBAC™ for Families will help you:
I can't wait for you to join us!
There are two ways to join The Truth About VBAC™ for Families:
The Essential Package:
The Truth About VBAC™ for Families
$299 payment plans available!
Looking for additional support?
If you would like to talk with Jen about your individual situation whether that's reviewing the circumstances of your cesarean, examining a specific topic, or answering your growing list of questions, a consulting call with her is your next step!
Our Support Package includes lifetime access to "The Truth About VBAC™ for Families" as well as a 60-minute 1:1 consulting call with Jen. This is your time to be fully supported and heard.
The Support Package: