VBAC comes in many forms. At its most basic, VBAC is simply the vaginal birth of a child after a previous cesarean. For some mothers, this is listed as a "procedure" and for others it takes the form of HBAC (Home Birth After Cesarean), WBAC (Water Birth After Cesarean) and VBAmC (Vaginal Birth after Multiple Cesarean) and on and on. And for some mothers, their plannned VBAC will become a CBAC.
The point is simple. Only you have the right to choose whether or not to use your vagina. Vaginal birth is not a dirty word nor a procedure. Vaginal birth is the normal biological consequence of pregnancy, whether or not the mother has a prior cesarean. You deserve complete information about the risks of vaginal birth and elective cesarean so that you can make the healthiest choice possible for you and your baby. We’re not here to make your choices for you. We’re here to make sure that you understand that you HAVE the choice. After all, it’s still your body, your baby, your vagina and your uterus involved. Who else is better qualified to weigh the research and evidence and determine it’s importance in your life?
My Hospital Is Currently Not Allowing VBAC
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My hospital is currently not allowing VBAC and forcing me to have a cesarean; what are my options?
- Contact ICAN with the name and city/state of the denying hospital, along with the name and contact information of the Nurse-Manager of Labor & Delivery/Birthing unit that is forcing you to have surgery against your will.
- You may choose to present a signed VBAC Consent Form as proof of your understanding of the benefits and risks involved in childbirth.
- According to the Patient Care Partnership of the American Hospital Association, you have the right to refuse recommended treatment, including a cesarean section. If you refuse a recommendation, alternative treatment should be provided. In this case, a VBAC.
- State you require more time to consider your decision. Ask to postpone the surgery until you have been given adequate time to research your decision thoroughly.
- When labor begins spontaneously, some mothers feel more comfortable laboring in the comfort of their own homes for as long as possible. It may be possible to find a doula or monitrice for labor support.
- It is never too late to change caregivers or birth location. Begin seeking another caregiver or birth location immediately. Even a physician’s slightest counter to VBAC may ultimately become a forced cesarean.
- Write a letter to your local television station and/or the editor of your local newspaper, telling them you are being forced to have a cesarean against your will.
- Contact the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists and ask them to reconsider their restrictive VBAC guidelines. Express how denial of care has affected you. Direct your correspondence to:
| American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) Committee for Practice Bulletins c/o Nancy O’Reilly 409 12th Street Southwest PO Box 96920 Washington, D.C. 20090-6920 (202)638-5577 (202)484-5107 (fax) | Dr. Benjamin Sachs Chairperson of the ACOG Committee for Practice Bulletins Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center 330 Brookline Avenue, KS 3182 Boston, MA 02215 (617)667-4507 (617)667-1459 (fax) |
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