VBAC: it's not just a cool acronym
This just in from Reise. It burns me up. If any of you out there in ReaderLand have experience in the Cesarian department I would be interested to hear your remarks, as I am burning up in a vacuum here.
The following SF Weekly article should be of concern if you are pregnant, planning to have a child in the future, know someone else who is or if you are just interested in women's health and rights. In the name of safety and certainty, VBACs (Vaginal Birth After Cesarian) are being banned in our hospitals, even though there is little evidence to suggest that they are unsafe for the majority of women. The procedure can save lives, but the statistics tell us that we have not saved a greater number of babies or mothers since the national Cesarean rate tripled from under 10% to almost 30% in the last 30 years. Cesarean births make more money for the doctors, anesthesiologists and hospitals, don't require doctors to learn special techniques (such as forceps or how to turn a breech baby) and fit into the 9-5 weekday schedule (more convenient for your doctor). They are considered reliable and quick, whereas labor is a natural process that is different for each woman and happens according to its own schedule. Cesarean section is major abdominal surgery, requires a longer time to heal, can have complications and may delay/prevent breast-feeding and bonding with your baby. I am not advocating against Cesarean, only the unjudicial practice of it.
The Home-style Midwifery Center at St. Luke's Hospital is being closed because it provided services that were considered "above and beyond basic obstetrical practices." Why is the non-hurried and low-interventionist birth attended by midwives considered "above and beyond" basic care?
A march is planned for May 11 to protest the ban of VBACs at St. Luke's. If you can, come show your support. This is not just about women facing Cesareans. It's about our rights to choose the kind of care we need and for health policy makers to hear our voices.
From the New Yorker on How Birth Went Industrial:
http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/10/09/061009fa_fact?printable=true
SF Weekly article:
http://www.sfweekly.com/2007-04-25/news/no-hail-caesarean/print
Labels: activism, pregnancy, san francisco
posted by sarah @ 6:13 PM
4 Comments:
I actually heard a very interesting theory that the concept of the 'witch' in European mythology comes from the shift towards a patriarchal society. The male power structure then went after the most influential members of the female power structure: the mid-wives. Mid-wives were guardians of centuries of female folk-wisdom on plants that influenced fertility, and on the techniques of childbirth. Doctors make mistakes when treating pregnant women that an experienced mid-wife would never make. I think that the institution of mid-wife in modern pre-natal care should be re-evaluated.
Hospitals and doctors make far more money (and save far more time) on scheduled c-sections than they do on spontaneous vaginal deliveries. So, of course they're going to force women to have c-sections while refusing to allow VBACs!
DON'T LET HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATORS AND YOUR DOCTOR'S OR HOSPITAL'S LIABILITY INSURANCE COMPANY TELL YOU HOW TO GIVE BIRTH TO YOUR OWN BABY!
Angela Hoy
Author of
DON'T CUT ME AGAIN! True Stories About Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC)
C-sections are not fun. We have had one emergency c-section which saved my babie's life and my wife's.
We had another and it was really very hard for my wife.
But I do not believe that VBAC is being banned - rather there are centers that simply dont want the risks. It is not the money -- I really believe that is too cynical.
Rather, the cost of insurance for doctors is crazy. They are looking for any way to reduce risk. So even if a vbac is not riskier by much- or at all - they have to take the absolutely most risk free way.
Lastly, it does save the lives of many other babies and women each year.
I think that patients themselves demand the c-sections too. Let us not forget that many people want their lives all planned out. They want to know everything and plan everything, and do not like surprises.
Does this discussion mean that you are expecting???
Heh. Thanks for asking, but no. Working on the husband part first. :)
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