tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36894408535699806892024-03-13T17:40:19.512-07:00Cesarean EpidemicCesarean Epidemic is a place to highlight the growing Cesarean Birth rate in The United States, as well as around the world.
What the negative effects are on mothers and babies, and subsequent pregnancies.
Cold hard, cut and dry facts.Cesarean Epidemichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475971462749244667noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689440853569980689.post-19959797052803722782010-03-06T07:56:00.000-08:002010-03-06T07:57:44.983-08:00Survey for Cesarean MothersIf you have had a cesarean section, could you please take a moment and fill this survey out, it would be a great help in a project <a href="http://momotics.com">Momotics</a> & <a href="http://healthybabynetwork.com">The Healthy Baby Network</a> are working on.<br /><br />The more women replying, the more accurate numbers they will get from all walks of life.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MFVCYTZ">Post Cesarean Feelings</a>Cesarean Epidemichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475971462749244667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689440853569980689.post-27790299528562870252010-02-09T15:30:00.001-08:002010-02-09T16:00:42.982-08:00Mainstream Birth ReportingIn the past two weeks, there have been a number of crappy mainstream morning shows reporting on childbirth. From water birth with Good Morning America and an ignorant Ob/GYN as their "expert" to an elective cesarean section for a "big baby" on the Today Show.<br /><br />While watching both segments, I continued to get the though of how much bad, inaccurate, and biased reporting was taking place... 'I'm up to my eyeballs in bad information"<br />Then it struck me... a commercial I had seen in the past that I could compare it to...<br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WFMwYNX5qUk&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WFMwYNX5qUk&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />But what is the point? People are going to believe exactly what these television "experts" have to say, despite the information to the contrary.<br /><br /><object id="msnbc533de7" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=10,0,0,0" height="245" width="420"><param name="movie" value="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640"><param name="FlashVars" value="launch=35196101&width=420&height=245"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="wmode" value="opaque"><embed name="msnbc533de7" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640" flashvars="launch=35196101&width=420&height=245" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="opaque" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" height="245" width="420"></embed></object><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); margin-top: 5px; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; text-align: center; width: 420px;">Visit msnbc.com for <a style="border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153) ! important; text-decoration: none ! important; font-weight: normal ! important; height: 13px; color: rgb(87, 153, 219) ! important;" href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/">breaking news</a>, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153) ! important; text-decoration: none ! important; font-weight: normal ! important; height: 13px; color: rgb(87, 153, 219) ! important;">world news</a>, and <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153) ! important; text-decoration: none ! important; font-weight: normal ! important; height: 13px; color: rgb(87, 153, 219) ! important;">news about the economy</a></p><br /><br />After watching this video, there are some things that need to be cleared up.<br />First off, there should never be anything routine, or scheduled when it comes to a cesarean, especially one being aired on TV. They should ONLY be happening for real medical reasons.<br />Then the doctor, mid surgery starts discussing cesarean section rates, which she is grossly inaccurate on. She quotes that depending where you are 25-30% of babies are being delivered by cesarean section when the fact is, this hospital which this planned cesarean took place at has a surgical birth percent of well over 40% and the national average as of 2007 was 31.8%.<br />Then they tackle the reasons for cesarean section, starting with "baby too big"<br />Well who gets to decide if that baby is too big? Third trimester ultrasounds that are infamous for being inaccurate up to 2 full pounds? The Doctor who wants to be out on the golf course by noon? Come on! Women birth "big babies" daily!<br />Then another listed reason was a mother with a previous cesarean section, and this stigma is the reason out maternal mortality rates are climbing with the cesarean section rate, while the VBAC number is dropping. Having a previous cesarean section is NOT a reason to sign up for an elective cesarean in the vast majority of cases.<br /><br />After weighing this little boy, 10 pounds even, everyone starts to exclaim how they chose the right way to deliver this baby! Oh and don't forget, Mom Kerry was PAST HER DUE DATE! OMG EMERGENCY!<br />HURL!<br />But wait! It gets worse.<br />Their "medical expert" Dr. Nancy chimes in that because of the history of big babies in both families (these were not petite parents by any means) and because she was past her due date, a cesarean section was the SAFEST option. Where did she get her medical degree from? A cracker Jacks box? Apparently they just had those out to anyone today. What a grossly INACCURATE and DANGEROUS piece of information to be giving out!!<br /><br />The Today Show should be completely ASHAMED of themselves for giving this kind of dangerous information out, not only that but completely leaving out ALL the MAJOR medical risks of a cesarean section.<br /><br />Morning Show Fail!Cesarean Epidemichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475971462749244667noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689440853569980689.post-33479449673140357242009-12-26T07:37:00.000-08:002009-12-26T07:59:56.026-08:00Patient Choice Cesareans & Physician EthicsOne of the oaths Doctors take when they become Doctors is do no harm. Now this can be interpenetrated in a number of different ways and I understand that many may not agree with my interpretation of this oath and subject in general.<br /><br />We see a small portion of women today choosing elective cesarean sections, whether they be elective primary, better known as first time cesarean sections, or repeat cesarean sections with no medical indication in subsequent pregnancies after already having one cesarean section. Though the estimated number of elective primary cesarean sections is estimated to take up only 2% of the current 31.8% cesarean section number, that is still a large portion of women that are choosing a potentially harmful major surgery for no medical reason. In turn the Physicians that are caving in to these patient request cesareans are clearly not living up to <span style="font-style: italic;">do no harm.</span><br /><br />Not only is there the possibility major and dangerous complications when major surgery is being performed for no medical reason, but delivering a baby via cesarean section poses possible complications to subsequent pregnancies. <br /><br />We see the increased risk of hysterectomy, placenta acretta which is where the placenta grows into the wall of the uterus which could be potentially life threatening, increased infertility, and the list goes on.<br />But are these women making the choice for surgery with no medical need being fully counseled and educated on all the risks that their choice could present to themselves, and also their baby?<br /><br />If these women were being given full disclosure of this procedure it would be highly unlikely they would just sign up. No mother wants to willingly put their child at risk for anything that could possibly hurt them in any way.<br /><br />So are these Doctors really following their code of ethics? <br /><br />Or are they just following the money trail?<br /><br />Makes you think doesn't it?Cesarean Epidemichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475971462749244667noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689440853569980689.post-37444912541367946212009-12-20T07:27:00.000-08:002009-12-20T07:28:19.310-08:00VBAC : Is it Safe?<object width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/x0ovwK5cuFM&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/x0ovwK5cuFM&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object>Cesarean Epidemichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475971462749244667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689440853569980689.post-69790391670890147382009-12-16T07:43:00.001-08:002009-12-16T08:02:36.724-08:00The Forgotten History of Hospital Birth<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGteSae1fJzmgW4ALNUf2k_kMpikV9qWGzXev50UJIpwhu92CJwUIID1YoKJ3E31is9ExCl1NU2rFlCyWv4fZ1v8oqZt3x3G5-c_tRluvbk2y2KZBTPMRraeO7AmvUO-D4v0D-V4PrPHg/s320/+sedated_birth.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGteSae1fJzmgW4ALNUf2k_kMpikV9qWGzXev50UJIpwhu92CJwUIID1YoKJ3E31is9ExCl1NU2rFlCyWv4fZ1v8oqZt3x3G5-c_tRluvbk2y2KZBTPMRraeO7AmvUO-D4v0D-V4PrPHg/s320/+sedated_birth.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Taking a look back at the history of birth in hospitals, is not a pleasant picture for many, but it is something little people in our society know about today, because when looking for information, pictures, and research during this disgustingly abusive time in history, it seems as though most of it has been erased, hid, or destroyed. There are very few pictures of what was actually done to women from twilight sleep, to restraining women, all the way to the twilight sleep cribs that laboring mothers would be put in. I look back at his as a modern, empowered, mother and feminist, and I wonder how any women, especially the feminists of this time would allow these type of mistreatment of women. Many connected the pain of labor to the sins of Eve during this period of time, so many of the feminists basically said, anything that could take away the pain of birth is what I need, not knowing that the drugs that would be used would also take away their self control, and memory of the event.<br />While the births of my two children were not the most wonderful experiences, considering they were both major abdominal surgery I had no desire to have, I still as a mother want the memory of their joining out family.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMzAhnQOeKueee4Vf0eCHFmC3uEL9IjTrntY-al2lxTefHGgMnyMjtqd2Dsoxl88Mh3_trgx1KoQ_rmvpszNTRV9tlvfkZf1GnQAUFKidDlJYJoYN7iy8jG1Ucjx9rlgLp7RJ5kbfRuo/s320/twilight+sleep.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMzAhnQOeKueee4Vf0eCHFmC3uEL9IjTrntY-al2lxTefHGgMnyMjtqd2Dsoxl88Mh3_trgx1KoQ_rmvpszNTRV9tlvfkZf1GnQAUFKidDlJYJoYN7iy8jG1Ucjx9rlgLp7RJ5kbfRuo/s320/twilight+sleep.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I just cannot see how anyone in the medical community can look back at these pictures, and the way Obstetrics has practiced over the past century and say much positive about it. These pictures are a huge piece of evidence that there were mass amounts of not only abuse but misogynist activity taking place. But it is still happening today, just in a slightly more humane way. So we don't blindfold women, tie them to beds, or let them lay in their own poop and pee for long amounts of time, we just "treat" them with unnecessary medical intervention after medical intervention until all the interventions add up and they land in the operating room for the biggest medical intervention at all.<br />Choices in Childbirth released the cesarean section rates for some of the New York City hospitals recently, and MORE than a few have c-section rates that reach, and exceed 50%. When we know HALF of the 31.8% of cesarean section births taking place in our country are completely unnecessary.<br />I am sure there is a huge link between lack of access to VBAC in this area also, and the common misconceptions and flat out lies women are being told about VBAC which discourages them from even considering it as an option, when in reality it is the safest option.<br /><br />I seem to have got a little off topic, but back to my point. How can we say that hospitals are these shining safe places which all women should be birthing in, when they have such a dark and abusive past?Cesarean Epidemichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475971462749244667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689440853569980689.post-60197453492260530512009-12-09T13:51:00.000-08:002009-12-10T11:44:34.122-08:00Proof Is In the NumbersWell after Dr. Amy's sad attempt at turning the rising cesarean section, and labor induction rates into a debate about home birth in Colorado..... (Kinda like the price of tea in China) I figured I would further aid to my debate with some simple numbers.<br /><br />This is exactly what tells us that there is a problem in the United States Maternity Care...<br /><br />2008 Cesarean Birth Rate = 31.8%<br />1970 Cesarean Birth Rate = 5.5%<br /><br />Maternal Mortality Rate per 100,000 live births in the United States<br />1970 - 21.5 (5.5% Cesarean Section Rate) *2.2% VBAC Rate<br />1975 - 12.8 (10.4% Cesarean Section Rate) *2% VBAC Rate<br />1980 - 9.2 (16.5% Cesarean Section Rate) *3.4% VBAC Rate<br />1985 - 7.8 (22.7% Cesarean Section Rate) *6.6% VBAC Rate<br />1989 - 7.9 (22.8% Cesarean Section Rate) *18.9% VBAC Rate<br />1990 - 8.2 (22.7% Cesarean Section Rate) *19.9% VBAC Rate<br />1991 - 7.9 (22.6% Cesarean Section Rate) *21.3% VBAC Rate<br />1992 - 7.8 (22.3% Cesarean Section Rate) *22.6% VBAC Rate<br />1993 - 7.5 (21.8% Cesarean Section Rate) *24.3% VBAC Rate<br />1994 - 8.3 (21.2% Cesarean Section Rate) *26.3% VBAC Rate<br />1995 - 7.1 (20.8% Cesarean Section Rate) *27.5% VBAC Rate<br />1996 - 7.6 (20.7% Cesarean Section Rate) *28.3% VBAC Rate<br />1997 - 8.4 (20.8% Cesarean Section Rate) *27.4% VBAC Rate<br />1998 - 7.1 (21.2% Cesarean Section Rate) *26.3% VBAC Rate<br />1999 - 9.9 (22.0% Cesarean Section Rate) *23.4% VBAC Rate<br />2000 - 9.8 (22.9% Cesarean Section Rate) *20.7% VBAC Rate<br />2001 - 9.9 (24.4% Cesarean Section Rate) *16.4% VBAC Rate<br />2002 - 8.9 (26.1% Cesarean Section Rate) *12.6% VBAC Rate<br />2003 - 12.1 (27.6% Cesarean Section Rate) *10.6% VBAC Rate<br /><br />Now, I am no expert in analyzing statistics or numbers, but you can see a clear trend starting around 1980, though the cesarean section rate increases, so does the number of VBAC's. While VBAC's continue to increase the maternal death rate goes down.<br />Lets move to the year of the peak VBAC numbers which is 1996. We see a low maternal mortality rate, which starts to increase as the number of VBAC's and an increase in cesarean sections continues.<br />We get to 2003, which has a 27.6% cesarean section rate, a LOW 10.6% VBAC rate and a high maternal mortality rate.<br />It is not rocket science to know that the increase in cesarean sections and decrease in VBAC's are aiding this issue.<br /><br />The risking cesarean section rates are killing mothers.<br />More so than Midwives in Colorado.Cesarean Epidemichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475971462749244667noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689440853569980689.post-76724312344984883532009-12-08T10:30:00.000-08:002009-12-08T10:38:53.683-08:00Open Letter to "Dr" Amy TuteurI must admit, I do follow your blog, because I find it comical and slightly amusing, but one question has really been plaguing me for a while now, and as I am sure you chronically google your own name on a daily basis I am sure you will eventually stumble upon this.<br /><br />Your primary subject to post about is home birth and midwives, when there are so many more important issues taking place in the obstetric community, and the maternity care system in The United States today. As someone who previously practiced medicine in this system, I would assume you would have seen the serious flaws that we are facing in the hospital birth system which makes up for over 90% of the births that take place in our country.<br />First, the cesarean section numbers. The amount of women and babies that are being subjected to unnecessary cesarean sections, early cesarean sections, complications from cesarean sections in post partum periods, as well as in future pregnancies. Why not discuss all of this?<br />Or what about the premature birth rates which are being increased by not only cesarean sections before 40 weeks gestation, but the amount of labor inductions taking place also. Whether for medical or non medical reasons. Shouldn't there be stricter guidelines in these practices to help ensure lower premature babies, or lower neo natal death rates since our country is ranking horribly in that?<br /><br />What about the amount of women who are dying through this current maternity care system. Not just the women who die from home birth, or unassisted births but the women who are dying in our hospitals, sometimes victim to the number of interventions women are being put through in the current drive-thru type birthing system we are currently seeing?<br /><br />Why not address the real issues that are killing mothers and babies at higher rates than the hand full of home birth horrors? Is it a personal vendetta or is your only concern to try and slander home birth as much as possible since you can't practice medicine anymore anyways?<br /><br />I am sure you will either call me out to a debate or simply ignore everything I have said, but I only hope I can plant a seed as to what the real problem in our country is.<br /><br />Signed,<br />2 Time Cesarean Section Mother & AdvocateCesarean Epidemichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475971462749244667noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689440853569980689.post-73694882311296986882009-12-06T12:18:00.000-08:002009-12-08T10:40:27.518-08:00Why Won't The Government Step In?We are seeing historically high cesarean section numbers in this country, and the sad fact is over 40% of all these cesarean sections are being paid for by the government funded health program medicaid. I normally would have never known this, but in 2008 I met with then Congressman Christopher Shays from Connecticut, who in turn provided me with this information.<br />When I had my second cesarean section, which was not planned or elective, I received a bill from the hospital because they had not been informed of my updated medical insurance information. For a cesarean section, and a 3 day stay, because I got out of there has fast as I possibly could, and they would allow me, it was over $15,000. In 2007 there were 4.3 million births in The United States.<br />So lets break this down.<br /><br />4,300,000 Babies Born<br />1,337,300 cesarean sections<br />31.1% cesarean section rate<br /><br />1,337,300 Cesarean Sections<br />534,920 Cesarean Sections Paid by The US Government<br />40% of all cesarean sections<br /><br />Now, lets use my hospital bill, which is smaller than some because I chose to leave early, and not use any pain medication.<br /><br />534,920 x 15,000 = $8,023,800,000<br />Over 8 BILLION dollars being spent on cesarean sections, when it is estimated that almost HALF of them are not medically necessary, or caused by medical interventions put in place by hospital staff.<br /><br />I know it does not seem like a huge amount of money compared to the amount of debt the country is in general, but if we could cut over 4 BILLION dollars in this type of spending, it would make a difference. If medicaid started providing more coverage for midwives, birth centers, home births, again this could all be cut. These numbers are ONLY for hospital births, this does not include the bills for pre natal care, ultrasounds, pre natal testing, bloodwork, and everything else that our current maternity care system puts woman through.<br />Granted there are some needs for high tech maternity care, just not in every woman, which is what is being suggested today. In low risk, healthy women, the routine testing, inductions, cesarean sections, and what we are seeing are complete over kill.<br /><br />When will our government notice this and not only save themselves money, but help to lower our maternal and infant death rates?Cesarean Epidemichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475971462749244667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689440853569980689.post-19059691953919908902009-11-27T16:54:00.000-08:002009-11-27T16:55:41.319-08:00Things More Likely to Occur than Uterine RuptureI came across this post years ago, and I love it. I thought I would share this with everyone.<br /><br />Written by Eileen Sullivan, with assistance from her husband, Patrick.<br /><br />After checking, it seems I was a bit off on the frequency of deadly lightning strikes... you are more likely to suffer a rupture than to be struck and killed by lightning, by about thirty times. Then again, how many people do you know who HAVE been struck and killed by lightning?<br /><br />Ruptures are also more common than dying in a plane crash. Henci Goer's review of the literature on VBACs found 46 ruptures in 15,154 labors. This equates to a 0.3% rate... or 1 in 333, if you prefer. Your annual risk of dying in a plane crash is 1 in 4000, according to one source, and 1 in 700,000 according to another. I can't explain the massive discrepancy between the two figures, except to quote Mark Twain about "lies, damn lies, and statistics."<br /><br />Since you asked, here are some more probability statistics for you:<br /><br />Your risk of dying in a car accident, over the course of your lifetime, is between 1 in 42 and 1 in 75. This is roughly 4 to 5 times greater than the risk of uterine rupture.<br /><br />You're about twice as likely to have your car stolen (that's an annual risk) than to experience a uterine rupture.<br /><br />Your odds of being murdered are 1 in 140 over the course of your lifetime. That's 2 times more likely than the risk of rupture.<br /><br />The annual risk of having a heart attack is 1 in 160, 2 times more likely than rupture. Your risk of dying from heart disease is roughly 1 in 6, or 55 times greater than your risk of rupture.<br /><br />The annual risk of having a heart attack is 1 in 160, 2 times more likely than rupture. Your risk of dying from heart disease is roughly 1 in 6, or 55 times greater than your risk of rupture.<br /><br />If you're a smoker, your risk of dying from lung cancer is 1 and a half times more likely than a VBAC mom rupturing during her labor.<br /><br />You're about 17 times more likely to contract an STD this year than you are to have a uterine rupture; more likely to contract gonorrhea than to rupture, as well.<br /><br />You're 13 times more likely to get food poisoning than to rupture.<br /><br />You're more likely to have twins than a uterine rupture. Odds of twins: 1 in 90. That's about 3 1/2 times the likelihood of rupture.<br /><br />If you ride horseback, you're 3 times more likely to die in a riding accident than you are to experience a uterine rupture.<br /><br />If you ride a bike on the street, you are 4 times more likely to die in an accident (annual risk) than you are to suffer a rupture.<br /><br />Having a serious fire in your home during the next year is twice as likely as experiencing a rupture.<br /><br />You're ten times as likely to win at roulette as you are to have a uterine rupture.<br /><br />If you flip a coin, you'll be more likely to get heads (or tails) 8 times in a row than to rupture.<br /><br />The risk of cord prolapse is 1 in 37 (2.7%), or nearly ten times more likely than that of rupture.<br /><br />And a final irony (heads up, those of you who want a doc to give his/her opinion on your likelihood of rupture next pregnancy!)...<br /><br />You're 6 times more likely to have a doctor who is an impostor than you are to suffer a rupture. Two percent of docs are phonies (1 in 50), according to several sources I found.<br /><br />So instead of worrying about rupture, why not take a few minutes to check up on your doctor's credentials? ;) It'd be a more profitable use of your time, and a substantially more likely cause for alarm.Cesarean Epidemichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475971462749244667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689440853569980689.post-28061096209307647122009-11-16T05:11:00.001-08:002009-11-16T05:12:15.951-08:00Get On Track, With a Successful VBAC!By VBAC Mom, Sally H.
<br />
<br /><meta name="GENERATOR" content="OpenOffice.org 2.4 (Win32)"><style type="text/css"> <!-- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --> </style> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="CENTER"><b>Get On Track, With a Successful VBAC</b></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> When I was approached to write a blog about my experience with a VBAC, I have to admit that I was little reluctant. I mean who wants to hear another story about VBACs? But when I starting to tell other women about my VBAC experience they encouraged me to share my story. You see, like me they wanted to try to have one, but unlike me, they were told they couldn’t. I couldn’t believe this. Even though the success rate of having a VBAC is 75%, many women are denied this either because her doctor does not want to risk the liability or her doctor or even her spouse is afraid of the possibility of her uterus rupturing. Sure, there are many risks with pregnancies and many risks with birth. In fact, death is a risk for both mother and baby any time when giving birth. In fact, according to ICAN, “the risk of fetal death among the 13,115 women attempting VBAC was 0.038 percent (5/13,115). Thus the risk of a baby dying in association with VBAC was 12 times lower than the risk of a baby dying from non-rupture-related causes.” So how do we change the tide and encourage our doctors, spouses and even the hospitals that VBACs are safe and they are worth the attempt?</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">When I was pregnant with my second child in 2005 I knew that I wanted a VBAC. My first delivery was a nightmare and my doctor explained that the need for the ‘emergency C-section” was eminent. I did not want to go through with the pain of another C-section again. I certainly did not want to miss the opportunity of giving birth naturally. I had read enough to know that I was not in the high risk group, however my biggest obstacle was getting my doctor to be in agreement with me. More importantly, I had to get my husband to be in agreement as well. We barely fight, but we fought over this for weeks. This is a serious decision to make. If there is not the support from your doctor or midwife, nor your spouse, then I suggest you get them to agree with you or find another doctor or hospital. I guess you cannot go out and find another husband, but there is so much supported evidence as to why VBAC are safer than repeat C-sections that he may oblige. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">VBACs are safer for both mother and baby. VBAC is not major surgery, repeat C-sections are and who wants more surgery?</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">So, you have to get them to be in agreement with you. I was fortunate that I had my doctor’s approval. There were other doctors in this practice who were not with me and my VBAC but I explained that this is what I really wanted. They all agreed for me to go into labor naturally and when the time came to be in a birthing room next to the ER, you know just in case. I had my plan and the hospital made me sign a consent form which basically said that I knew of my risks of attempting a VBAC, but I am willing to take it anyway. It is so funny how even at the last minute the head nurses and the hospital were still asking me if this is what I wanted. I remember looking at them and saying through my grunts of labor, “don’t you think this is what my baby wants?” My first one was poked in the eye in utero, was drugged from the anesthesia and I did not get to hold nor see her for three hours after birth. I was not going to go through this again. Again, I had the support of my doctor and my doula who helped me through the worst part of my second child’s labor. I had to push through the old scary memories of the first birthing process and move through the second, natural one. To have everyone in that birthing room to be in agreement with me and to be on the right track, was part of my success. It all came down to that moment when I pushed her out and heard her cry. To be able to be there for the whole process was surreal and beautiful. I encourage anyone who is thinking about VBAC to go for it, but please make sure everyone supports your decision. Now, if I can only encourage my husband to go for a third, but this story I will keep for another day. </p>
<br />Cesarean Epidemichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475971462749244667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689440853569980689.post-22496406130611967822009-10-27T08:33:00.000-07:002009-10-27T08:42:13.865-07:00Why Cesarean Sections Should Not Be Elective Before 39 WeeksIn the year 2009 we are seeing an increasing rise in elective cesarean section births, and a concerning trend that is going along with these deliveries.<br />Late Pre Term Births.<br />The March of Dimes says<br /><blockquote>"<span section="main"><span section="contentTableStructure">With any cesarean, it's important that the surgery be done at 39 completed weeks of pregnancy or later, unless there's a medical reason for delivering earlier. C-sections may contribute to the growing number of babies who are born “late preterm,” between 34 and 36 weeks gestation. While babies born at this time are usually considered healthy, they are more likely to have medical problems than babies born a few weeks later at full term"</span></span></blockquote><span section="main"><span section="contentTableStructure"><br /><br />Problems that can go along with a late, pre term birth can be respiratory distress, problems eating, issues maintaining body temperature, and jaundice. Some can be minor, but others can result in a NICU stay for your baby that can become longer than your recovery in the hospital. Not too many mothers take this into consideration, or even want to leave the hospital without their baby.<br />The problem in many cases is the inaccuracy in due dates. Ovulation can vary in women, cycles can be different, ultrasounds cannot accurately measure a fetus to the date of conception in any woman, which can result in turn, in a pre term birth with elective cesarean section.<br />"I am due on December 8th, but I am going in for my Cesarean on November 24th" but what if your due date was truly December 21st? Or December 18th? That could mean a drastic difference in your baby's development.<br /><br />Also if you are planning on having more than one of two children, a cesarean by request for no medical reason should not be considered. With each pregnancy, the risk of placenta previa, placenta accreta, hysterectomy, blood transfusion, uterine rupture during pregnancy, and adhesion's to other major organs such as the bladder or bowel occur.<br /><br />Think twice, research, and become fully educated before you make the decision for an elective cesarean section. It can mean your health, as well as the health and life long well being of your child.<br /></span></span>Cesarean Epidemichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475971462749244667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689440853569980689.post-35791831356984508882009-10-20T08:56:00.000-07:002009-10-20T08:57:58.968-07:00After a CesareanThank you to <a href="http://ican-online.org">ICAN</a> for making this amazing brochure to help women all across the world. For those who are unable or have not seen the brochure at this point, I took the time to type out most of the information on it.<br /><br /><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>Make an informed choice about the risks of repeat cesareans Vs. VBAC.</b></p><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>Cesarean sections are major abdominal surgery, and like all surgery, carry the risks of complications. These can include dense adhesion's, excessive scar tissue growth that connects the uterus to surrounding tissues and organs. Adhesion's can increase the risk of longer operation times and injury to adjacent organs. The risk of hysterectomy, or the surgical removal of the uterus, also rises. Undergoing repeated cesareans make it more likely a woman will experience placenta accreta, in which the placenta grows into the middle layer of the uterus, possibly causing hemorrhage and requiring a hysterectomy. </b></p><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>A woman who has repeat cesareans can also be more likely to experience thromboebolisms (blood clots that break lose and block vessels), or experience blood loss. And while uterine rupture (a rare but potentially catastrophic event during pregnancy or childbirth in which the uterine wall splits open) remains a concern after one or more cesareans, the risk of uterine rupture is small, and it decreases further with each additional VBAC.</b></p><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>Lets Look at the numbers....</b></p><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>1st Cesarean<br />Risk of Hysterectomy : 0.65% (1 in 154)<br />Risk of Blood Transfusion : 4.05% (1 in 25)<br />Risk of Placenta Accreta : 0.24% (1 in 417)<br /></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>1st VBAC<br />Chance of Successful VBAC : 63.3% (2 in 3)<br />Risk of Uterine Rupture : 0.87% (1 in 115)<br />Risk of Hysterectomy : 0.23% (1 in 435)<br />Risk of Blood Transfusion : 1.89% (1 in 53)<br /></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>2nd Cesarean<br />Risk of Hysterectomy : 0.42% (1 in 238)<br />Risk of Blood Transfusion : 1.53% (1 in 65)<br />Risk of Placenta Accreta : 0.31% (1 in 325)<br />Risk of Major Complications : 4.3% (1 in 23)<br />Risk of Dense Adhesion's : 21.6% (1 in 5)<br /><br />2nd VBAC<br />Chance of Successful VBAC : 87.6% (9 in 10)<br />Risk of Uterine Rupture : 0.45% (1 in 222)<br />Risk of Hysterectomy : 0.17% (1 in 588)<br />Risk of Blood Transfusion : 1.24% (1 in 81)<br /></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>3rd Cesarean<br />Risk of Hysterectomy : 0.9% (1 in 111)<br />Risk of Blood Transfusion : 2.26% (1 in 44)<br />Risk of Placenta Accreta : 0.57% (1 in 165)<br />Risk of Major Complications : 7.5% (1 in 13)<br />Risk of Dense Adhesion's : 32.2% (1 in 3)<br /><br />3rd VBAC<br />Chance of Successful VBAC : 90.9% (9 in 10)<br />Risk of Uterine Rupture : 0.38% (1 in 263)<br />Risk of Hysterectomy : 0.06% (1 in 1667)<br />Risk of Blood Transfusion : 0.99% (1 in 101)<br /><br />4th Cesarean<br />Risk of Hysterectomy : 2.41% (1 in 41)<br />Risk of Blood Transfusion : 3.65% (1 in 27)<br />Risk of Placenta Accreta : 2.13% (1 in 47)<br />Risk of Major Complications : 12.5% (1 in 8)<br />Risk of Dense Adhesion's : 42.2% (2 in 5)<br /></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>Note : "Major complications" include one of more of the following : uterine rupture, hysterectomy, additional surgery due to hemorrhage, injury to the bladder or bowel, thromboembolism, and/or excessive blood loss.<br /></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>Sources : Mercer, B. M., & Gilbert, S. et al. Labor Outcomes with increasing number or prior vaginal births after a cesarean delivery. Obstetrics & Gynocology 2008; 111: 285-291.<br /></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>Silver, R.M, & Landom M. B., et al. Maternal morbidity associated with multiple repeat cesarean deliveres. Obstetrics & Gynocology. 2006; 107: 1226-1232.</b></p><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>Nisenblat, V., Barak, S., & Griness, O.B., et al. Maternal complications associated with multiple cesarean deliveres. Obstetrics & Gynecology 2006; 108: 21-6</b></p><p style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>All VBAC statistics for this are taken from the Mercer & Gilbert study in which includes induced and augmented labors. Additional studies have shown lower uterine rupture rates (especially with spontaneous labors) and higher VBAC success rates.</b></p>Cesarean Epidemichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475971462749244667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689440853569980689.post-77788374021284252592009-10-18T06:11:00.000-07:002009-10-18T06:12:25.190-07:00Call for Action<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ICAN Mother Provides Testimony on Capitol Hill Discriminatory Insurance Practices Investigated by Senate HELP Committee </b></span></p> <p> </p> <p>REDONDO BEACH, CA, October 15, 2009 – <a href="http://ican-online.org/feedback/advocacy-director">Gretchen Humphries</a>, Advocacy Director for the International Cesarean Awareness Network accompanied Peggy Robertson of Centennial, Colorado to a Senate hearing in the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. Ms. Robertson testified about her experiences with discriminatory insurance practices based on her history of cesarean.</p> <p> </p> <p>Ms. Robertson was featured in a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/01/health/01insure.html%20">New York Times article in July 2008</a> after she was declined insurance due to her previous cesarean. She was informed by the insurance company that her application would be accepted if she agreed to be sterilized.</p> <p> </p> <p>As of 2007, 31.8% of childbearing women in the United States had a cesarean delivery and the rate continues to increase each year. These increases are due, in part, to the growing number of women who are denied the opportunity to have a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) through similarly discriminatory VBAC bans. “The prospect of rendering a third of women uninsurable is frightening and unconscionable,” said <a href="http://ican-online.org/feedback/president">Desirre Andrews</a>, President of ICAN. “Many of these women are being pressured or bullied into first-time and repeat cesareans, and to doubly inflict them by leaving them without health insurance is offensive.” Clearly this type of practice potentially affects a very large number of women now and in the future as the cesarean rate continues to climb and the vaginal birth after cesarean rate continues to decline.</p> <p> </p> <p>The practice of denying a woman health insurance because of a prior cesarean also indicts the medical community. Many of the cesareans performed today are unnecessary or the by-product of an over-interventive labor management process that is rooted in defensive medicine practices. “It is absolutely wrong to deny coverage to women either because of past cesareans or the risk of future cesareans, but it is also wrong to prop up a system where physicians can overuse surgery that both harms the health of women and babies, and forces insurance companies to take on excessive costs.” said Gretchen Humphries, ICAN’s Advocacy Director.</p> <p> </p> <p>Cesarean section is associated with double to triple the cost of a normal vaginal birth. Cesarean also imposes the risks of medical complications in the short-term and long-term, which often carry high costs. “Insurance companies, in their actuarial pragmatism, are doing the math and recognizing that moms with a history of cesarean are high-cost beneficiaries and working to weed them out of the pool of people they cover. It’s discriminatory and lawmakers need to address this issue and determine a way to protect mothers, both from the practices of the insurance industry and the non-evidence based care from obstetricians,” said Humphries.</p> <p> </p> <p>Maternity care is the number one most expensive line-item in the U.S. healthcare bill. From 1996 to 2006, the national cesarean rate rose by 50 percent, setting a new record each year from 2000 onward. The proportion of medically induced labors rose by 135 percent from 1990 to 2005, with strong suggestions that these official induction rates identify only roughly 50 percent of actual inductions. The burden on the health care system is staggering for maternity care as it is today. In 2005, the combined hospital charges for birthing women and newborns totaled $79,277,733,843 and exceeded charges for any other condition. Private insurers paid for 51 percent and Medicaid paid for 42 percent of these stays. “Pregnancy and delivery” was the most expensive condition, followed by “newborn infants” for both payers. Six of the ten most common procedures billed to Medicaid and to private insurers in 2005 were maternity related. Cesarean section was the most common operating room procedure for Medicaid, private payers and all payers combined.</p> <p> </p> <p>As policymakers focus on healthcare reform and finding ways to improve outcomes while lowering costs, ICAN calls on policymakers to address the needs of pregnant women and make low-cost, optimal-outcome birth easier to access.</p> <p> </p> <p>Currently: ·</p> <p> </p> <p class="rteindent1">Few women are given the information they need to navigate the pitfalls of the defensive medicine model of care that is rampant ·</p> <p class="rteindent1"> </p> <p class="rteindent1">Women are routinely coerced or pressured into expensive care that does nothing to improve outcomes, especially through the increasing practice of banning vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) ·</p> <p class="rteindent1"> </p> <p class="rteindent1">Access to low-intervention midwife-attended births are hampered by reimbursement issues, or onerous collaborative agreement requirements for practicing midwives</p> <p class="rteindent1"> </p> <p>“The unique beauty of maternity care is that we can simultaneously improve quality and reduce costs,” said Andrews. “But we need to start by treating women fairly and equitably, and intelligently reserve medical technology and interventions for when they are appropriate.”</p> <p> </p> <p><i><span style="font-size: small;">Mission statement: ICAN is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support for cesarean recovery and promoting vaginal birth after cesarean. There are more than 117 ICAN Chapters across North America, Canada , and various international locations which hold educational and support meetings for people interested in cesarean prevention and recovery.<br /><br /></span></i></p> <p><i><span style="font-size: small;">Citation: C. Sakala & M. Corry. Evidence-Based Maternity Care: What It Is and What It Can Achieve. 2008.</span></i></p><p><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;"></span></i></p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: bold;">If you or someone you know has been denied insurance coverage because of a previous cesarean section, please contact ICAN at Advocacy@ican-online.org</span></span><i><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></i> </p>Cesarean Epidemichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475971462749244667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689440853569980689.post-83098550644726907512009-10-12T06:14:00.000-07:002009-10-12T06:18:06.611-07:00Acupuncture May Help Prevent Cesarean BirthsTaken from Exam Health...<br />http://www.emaxhealth.com/1275/84/34080/acupuncture-may-help-prevent-cesarean-births.html<br /><br /><div class="submitted" itxtvisited="1">Submitted by <a title="View user profile." href="/users/deborah-mitchell">Deborah Mitchell</a> on Oct 11th, 2009</div> <div class="node-content" itxtvisited="1"> <p itxtvisited="1">Women who receive acupuncture during pregnancy are less likely to have a cesarean birth, according to several studies. A review of the research on the use of <strong itxtvisited="1"><a href="http://www.emaxhealth.com/2/89/25777/effect-acupuncture-ivf-remains-unclear.html" rel="nofollow">acupuncture during pregnancy</a></strong> and its impact on the rate of cesarean births, the need for epidurals, the number of inductions, and other factors are being presented at a workshop in Vancouver, Canada, on October 13 and 14.</p> <p itxtvisited="1">In 1965, the rate of cesarean births in the United States was 4.5 percent. Yet in December 2007, the National Center for Health Statistics reported that the cesarean delivery rate in the United States for 2006 was 31.1 percent. This rate exceeds the rate in Canada, which reports that nearly 28 percent of the infants born in that country in 2007 and 2008 were by cesarean.</p> <p itxtvisited="1">According to the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC), 20 percent fewer cesarean births would occur if doctors and hospitals followed guidelines designed to reduce unnecessary surgeries and if women had support during labor. Several studies show that acupuncture performed during pregnancy may help with this effort.</p> <p itxtvisited="1">For example, in a randomized, controlled trial of acupuncture in first-time mothers, researchers evaluated 56 women who were randomly assigned to either a control group (no acupuncture) or three outpatient acupuncture treatments during pregnancy. Compared with the control group, women in the acupuncture group were more likely to labor spontaneously (70% vs 50%) and less likely to have a cesarean birth (39% vs 17%).</p> <p itxtvisited="1">Cesarean births are associated with considerable morbidity in both women and their infants, as well as significant costs to the <a class="iAs" style="border-bottom: 0.07em solid darkgreen; padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal ! important; font-size: 100% ! important; background-image: none; padding-bottom: 1px ! important; color: darkgreen ! important; padding-top: 0px; background-color: transparent ! important; text-decoration: underline ! important;" href="#" target="_blank" itxtdid="7559629">health care</a> system. The most common complications after cesarean birth for women are infection, heavy blood loss, blood clots, nausea, vomiting, and severe headache. Maternal death, though rare, is three times more likely after cesarean births (18 per 100,000) than vaginal deliveries (6 per 100,000). Recovery time after cesarean delivery is 4 to 6 weeks compared with 1 to 2 weeks for vaginal delivery.)</p> <p itxtvisited="1">Risks for infants after cesarean birth include injury during delivery, immature lung function (if the infant is delivered before 39 weeks of gestation, and need for special care in the <strong itxtvisited="1"><a href="http://www.emaxhealth.com/2/84/31644/repeat-cesareans-may-put-babies-risk.html" rel="nofollow">neonatal intensive care unit</a></strong>. There is also some evidence that children born by cesarean section and whose <strong itxtvisited="1"><a href="http://www.emaxhealth.com/1/59/24828.html" rel="nofollow">parents have allergies</a></strong> are about twice as likely to develop allergies.</p> <p itxtvisited="1">According to Debra Betts, an international expert on acupuncture and author of <em itxtvisited="1">Essential Acupuncture for Pregnancy and Childbirth</em>, acupuncture delivered during pregnancy can reduce nausea, high blood pressure, and <strong itxtvisited="1"><a href="http://www.emaxhealth.com/1020/45/31090/acupuncture-does-better-chronic-back-pain-standard-care.html" rel="nofollow">back pain</a></strong>, and can naturally <strong itxtvisited="1"><a href="http://www.emaxhealth.com/2/84/32984/induction-need-not-increase-c-section-risk.html" rel="nofollow">induce labor</a></strong>, thus reducing cesarean births. Betts is presenting the workshop on acupuncture and cesarean births and related information in Vancouver.</p> <p itxtvisited="1">SOURCES:<br />Cunningham FG et al. “Cesarean delivery and peripartum hysterectomy. In Williams, Obstetrics 22nd ed. 2005<br />Harper TC et al. Journal of Maternal Fetal Neonatal Medicine 2006 Aug; 19(8): 465-70<br />Kolas T et al. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2006; 195(6): 1538-43.<br />News-Medical.net October 9, 2009<br />Taffel SM et al. American Journal of Public Health 1987; 77:955-59</p></div>Cesarean Epidemichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475971462749244667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689440853569980689.post-59689889712604814822009-10-08T08:05:00.001-07:002009-10-08T08:06:00.459-07:00Blog RollI am looking to expand the blog roll on our page, as well as the list of educational links, if you have any suggestions or think something would fit, please either comment or e-mail CesareanEpidemic@aol.comCesarean Epidemichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475971462749244667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689440853569980689.post-47885747499886663592009-10-06T06:40:00.001-07:002009-10-06T06:49:21.833-07:00Elective Repeat Cesareans May Put Your Baby At RiskAccording to a new study out by The University of Colorado Hospital, having a repeat cesarean section electively, may but your baby at an increased risk than having a VBAC (Vaginal Birth after Cesarean) would. For the full text of this article, visit <a href="http://www.uch.edu/about/news/2009/repeat-cesareans-babies-at-risk.aspx">this link</a>.<br /><br /><blockquote>The babies of women who have an elective repeat Cesarean delivery are twice as likely to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit than babies of women who have a vaginal birth after Cesarean (VBAC). That’s according to a new study from the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. <p>The study shows babies born to women who have elective repeat Cesarean deliveries also continue to need oxygen in the neonatal intensive care unit.<br /><br /></p></blockquote><br />Which in turn is creating a huge cost for not only the mother who had the elective surgery which often is twice the price of an actual VBAC, but then you are adding the NICU costs to the mix which can be absorbent.<br /><blockquote><p>Kamath and researchers from UC Denver, Colorado School of Public Health and The Children’s Hospital looked at the records of 672 women who gave birth at University of Colorado Hospital. Each of the women had one prior Cesarean delivery. Three-hundred-forty- three decided to have another Cesarean while 329 planned a vaginal birth.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></blockquote>Cesarean Epidemichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475971462749244667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689440853569980689.post-42297251768488778202009-10-04T17:16:00.000-07:002009-10-04T17:17:24.297-07:00Beautiful Birth Story... Unassisted Birth after CesareanThings started the exact same way this time as they did with my first son, only difference being it was a couple weeks earlier in pregnancy. My water broke on Tuesday morning. I woke up around 3am and felt a bit damp, but figured it was just sweat since our place is hideously hot. Around 4:30am, my husband came to bed. We talked for a few minutes and I thought I felt something. I thought maybe I was losing my plug, so I went to the washroom and realized that I was getting gushes of fluid. I really hadn't expected things to start this way and had been taking vitamin c for most of the pregnancy to try to avoid it, but was hopeful that labour would start in a few hours.<br /><br />During the day on Tuesday, I would get an occasional contraction, but never more than about 1 an hour, sometimes I wouldn't get one for several hours. Wednesday was more of the same, although I was getting one almost every hour. There were even a few that were closer together than that. I kind of lost it on Wednesday night. Between the leaking and the fear that I was looking at a repeat cesarean because labour would never start (which I know was completely irrational, but I was tired and desperate for it to start). I lost it so bad I seriously considered going to the hospital. My husband very bluntly asked me would I rather leak or be cut open again? That quickly brought me back down.<br /><br />About 10pm on Thursday, I went to take a shower (aka hiding out from my mom phoning to find out what was going on). While I was in there, I also scrubbed the tub a bit, since it had been driving me nuts for days. Near the end of my shower or just after I got out, labour suddenly kicked into high gear. From every twenty minutes or so (we weren't really timing, except for one or two contractions occasionally), contractions moved to 15 minutes, then 7, then 2, in less than a couple of hours.<br /><br />Sometime around 3/4am on Friday, I started getting pain in my back, too. Until this point, all the contractions had been in a band extremely low down in my belly. Once they started hurting in my back too, I just couldn't take anymore and decided to try sitting in the tub and using the sprayer during contractions. Unfortunately, we only had one and it didn't stretch very far, so either my back or my belly got sprayed, and it was very difficult to get my back without standing up, which I didn't want to do. My husband put a pillow in the tub with me and I alternated between sitting up and leaning back. Sometimes one seemed to work, then the next time it would make it hurt worse.<br /><br />I finally got my husband to put the plug in (I couldn't reach and didn't really have room to move) and let the tub fill while I used the sprayer. Once there was enough water, my husband started using a cup to pour it over my back during contractions while I sprayed my belly. The pouring didn't really do anything to lessen the pain, but it did give me something that briefly distracted from it, which was nice.<br /><br />By around 7 or a bit later, I'd been out of the tub for while and the only way I could endure the contractions was to push during them. I don't know if I was fully dilated or not and I didn't feel what I would call an "urge", but the pain was manageable when I was pushing and excruciating when I wasn't. <br /><br />Sometime after this, my husband checked me and said it felt like the baby's head was jammed against my bones. I think the baby must have been stuck for awhile, because on several pushes my husband and I noticed that my stomach was bulging out, which it didn't do when I pushed later, after he was unstuck. I spent several contractions on my hands and knees, no idea how long, but when husband checked again, he said it seemed like the baby was even more stuck and had moved back. I decided to try lying on my back for awhile to see if that made any difference.<br /><br />I don't remember if I did it because I remembered someone mentioning it, because it felt better or because husband had written to the ICAN list and a couple people mentioned it to him, but I started arching my back during the contractions, occasionally alternating with sitting up and leaning forward, which seemed to also make it hurt a bit less.<br /><br />The arching seemed to be working, but I couldn't really do it very well due to the problems with sciatica I'd been having for months (I was going to be going to the chiropractor that week, but never went because of the leaking). I had some pillows and a cushion under my head, so I got rid of the pillows, which helped me arch a bit better and I heard a slight sound kind of like bone on bone.<br /><br />I knew then that the arching was probably making a difference and I wanted to be able to do more of an arch, so I left my cushion where it was and slid so that my head was on the floor (our bed was just a mattress on the floor). I then planted my feet on the bed and used the cushion to help me get a bit more arch. After a few times of this, there was a loud, several second long, sound of bone on bone. I didn't feel anything, but I must have noticed something, because I don't recall doing much, if any, arching after this point.<br /><br />During all this, my husband and son were in and out of the room and shortly after my husband came and lay down on the bed next to me. I seemed to be getting a bit of a break between contractions at this point, though they were still extremely painful. My husband was so wiped, he fell asleep for several contractions. At some point, they must have eased off enough that I was able to sleep briefly, too. I have no idea how long we slept, my husband seems to think he only slept about 20 minutes, but he actually fell asleep twice, once was when I was asleep too, so it was probably longer than that. I woke up and dealt with a few contractions before they got bad enough that my moaning woke my husband up.<br /><br />I continued labouring in the bedroom for awhile. My friend, J, called around 12:30 to see how things were going. We had planned for her to come watch our son if needed and maybe offer some reassurance to husband (since she had had a VBAC herself), but our son was doing really well and my husband had been coping pretty well, too, until it seemed like things were dragging on forever. She managed to reassure my husband some. Around 1pm, my son fell asleep on the couch in the living room, so my husband no longer had to go back and forth between us.<br /><br />By this point, I was just thinking about the next break between contractions, they hurt so much. When I was between them, I just enjoyed the relief and didn't worry about the next one, didn't think about anything. There were several points, and this was one of them, when I really, really wanted my husband to just call the ambulance and let them make the pain stop. I really didn't believe I could take it anymore, but I did. [The first time I felt like that was when I was in the bath and started pushing the first time. I also felt like I couldn't take it anymore around when I was arching my back, especially before I figured out that doing that would help.] Changing positions didn't seem to help at all, but I kept trying anyway. I alternated lying down on my back, my sides, kneeling against a pile of cushions, sitting on the toilet, leaning against the wall and hanging onto my husband.<br /><br />I decided to try the tub again for awhile. I don't know exactly what time that was, probably about 2:30 or 3. I think it helped a bit. I started pushing some again while I was in the tub, but I couldn't really get comfortable in there and had to keep moving around.<br /><br />My husband was completely exhausted and in agony, so when he talked to J again, and she offered to come over, he was very willing to have her. She had to get someone to watch the kids and then she got stuck in traffic, so she didn't make it here until about 5, at which point I was back in the bedroom and I'd been pushing again. Just before she got here, husband checked me again and the top of the baby's head was only about a knuckle in.<br /><br />I can't tell you how relieved I was that I was actually making progress this time. I couldn't feel him moving down at all, but obviously this time the pushing was working and he hadn't gotten stuck again.<br /><br />When J got here, my son woke up and my husband stayed with him for a bit while J came to support me. I was pushing on the toilet when she got here and didn't really want to move, but I also didn't want to have the baby there, so eventually I moved back to the bedroom.<br /><br />I alternated pushing in kneeling, hands and knees and reclining positions. I couldn't get enough leverage in either of the first two positions and it was taking forever. Knowing I was so close, I really wanted to get it over with.<br /><br />When the head was visible and not really sliding back anymore, I switched to a mostly sitting position, with a huge pile of pillows behind me. J told my husband she didn't think it would be very much longer, so my husband and son came into the bedroom, too. We had promised our son that he could watch the baby be born, but he didn't want to be around the rest of the time.<br /><br />J suggested that I plant my feet on the bed against the bed to try to get a bit more leverage. I did this for quite awhile and the baby was very slowly moving down more, but I still felt like I wasn't getting anywhere. J then suggested that I try holding my husband's hands, since I kept grabbing at my arms to try to use my whole self to push. Holding my husband's hands really helped with the pushing, since I really yanked on him and I actually started feeling like I was making progress.<br /><br />I reached down to feel the baby's head and there was quite a bit out. I couldn't understand why it was taking so long to get his head out, but after he was born I realized that what felt like it must have been all of his head above the eyes was actually only about the top half of his head, it had moulded so much.<br /><br />I kept pushing and I started screaming with every push. I'm not entirely sure why, since it didn't hurt that much, it just felt like the right thing to do. Really surprised we didn't have anyone coming to check on things here (apartment). I was determined not to tear, so I regularly paused between pushes to have time to stretch. It was uncomfortable, but I figured it was better than recovering from a tear, especially since I had no one to sew one.<br /><br />It was really weird how I was thinking rationally, but I wasn't able to articulate anything while I was labouring.<br /><br />I finally felt his head come out and knew that one or two more pushes and I'd be done. The cord was around his neck loosely, but I just couldn't handle having anyone's hands there long enough to unloop it, so I just pushed the rest of him out into my husband's hands and J unlooped the cord. Then I got to hold my new little boy! He let out a little whimper and pinked up right away. We didn't suction him at all since he obviously was breathing fine on his own.<br /><br />I found out later that he had come out facing my right hip and he hadn't rotated at all after his head was out, he just came straight out the next time I pushed.<br /><br />My husband got a towel to cover him and I sat there and held my new son for quite awhile, at least an hour. J left right away, since she had only planned to come over for a little bit to give my husband a break and she had to get back to her kids.<br /><br />Eventually my tailbone started really hurting from the way I was sitting, so I got my husband to come tie the cord. He tied it off with a couple of shoelaces that had been boiled and then cut it with a pair of scissors that had also been boiled.<br /><br />The placenta still hadn't come out, so I got my husband to tie the cord again closer to my body and cut it short so I didn't have to have it dragging around until the placenta decided to come out. My husband took our new little boy and I went to have a shower. I was a bit woozy, though, so I sat down in the tub and used the sprayer to wash myself.<br /><br />Eventually we had some nuked chilli for a very late supper, around about 9:30. After that, I went to get ready for bed. I went to the washroom and the placenta came out, about 4 hours after the birth. It really stung coming out because it was huge. We were all too exhausted to deal with it, so we put it in the fridge overnight, and then froze it. Eventually, we'll be getting a tree and planting it at my mom's place.<br />We weren't expecting the baby quite so soon, I have no idea why, when I'd been leaking for days, but we had no diapers. We just kept the baby wrapped up in a towel until the next day, when my husband went and bought some diapers. We didn't dress him or bathe him until Monday morning, when I gave him a quick sponge bath to get rid of the little bit of blood that was still on him. Except for a tiny bit in the creases, all the vernix got rubbed into his skin, like it's supposed to be.<br /><br />We weighed him by putting him in a sling and hanging it on a fish scale the day after he was born and he was 8lbs 8oz. His head was 35cm and he was about 19 1/2 inches long. Really hard to measure, though, since he was so curled up and not at all happy about me trying to straighten him a bit. :) It turned out that the fish scale was off by quite some way, since when I took him to the health nurse at 10 days old, he was only 6lb 12oz.Cesarean Epidemichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475971462749244667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689440853569980689.post-83009808716953466642009-10-02T07:51:00.001-07:002009-10-02T07:53:50.199-07:00The Forced Cesarean Epidemic<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.lakepowellchronicle.com/Pictures/2009/09-2009/szabo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 225px;" src="http://www.lakepowellchronicle.com/Pictures/2009/09-2009/szabo.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /> All around the country we are starting to hear stories just like the one of Joy Szabo, threatened by a court order for a cesarean section if she was to show up at her local hospital Page Hospital of Lake Powell, AZ. in labor attempting to have a VBAC.<br />Now, lets get into the history of Joy's pregnancies. She had a healthy vaginal birth with her first child, and then with her second child she had an emergency cesarean section for a placental eruption, which was followed by a healthy and safe VBAC with her third child. For those not familiar with the term VBAC it means Vaginal Birth after a Cesarean Section.<br />So what is the problem with Page Hospital?<br />Recently in June, the hospital decided they would no longer allow VBAC, because of staffing problems they are having. Stating that they would not be able to urgently deliver a baby if there is a problem with a VBAC. But then comes the question about other moms who may need an emergency cesarean section who have not had a previous cesarean section. How are they able to deliver those babies under an emergent situation, but not a mother who is having a VBAC?<br />Sorry but if you can't handle one emergency, you can't handle any and shouldn't be delivering babies at all.<br />It is a cheap cop out.<br /><br />Unfortunately we are seeing this trend across the country. Women being denied VBAC for the same reasons stated above, or because Doctors simply do not do them.<br /><br />You can contact the hospital by e-mailing the President and CEO Peter Fine at peter.fine@bannerhealth.com<br /><br />Or go and leave some comments on their facebook fan page<br />http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/BannerHealth?ref=ts<br /><br />For more information on VBAC bans across the country visit http://ican-online.org/vbac-ban-infoCesarean Epidemichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475971462749244667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689440853569980689.post-65838106007201309542009-09-27T10:00:00.000-07:002009-09-27T10:10:30.518-07:00Where does your state rate?<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><span style="font-family:Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><b>The CDC released the 2007 birth statistics on March 18th to the public finally.<br />These are the most recently released birth statistics in the US.</b></span></span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><span style="font-family:Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><b>These are the percentage of cesarean births.<br />See where your state rates!Alabama - 33.8%<br />Alaska - 22.6%<br />Arizona - 26.2%<br />Arkansas - 34.8%<br />California - 32.1%<br />Colorado - 25.8%<br />Connecticut - 34.6%<br />Delaware - 32.1%<br />District of Columbia - 32.6%<br />Florida - 37.2%<br />Georgia - 32.0%<br />Hawaii - 26.4%<br />Idaho - 24.0%<br />Illinois - 30.3%<br />Indiana - 29.4%<br />Iowa - 29.4%<br />Kansas - 29.8%<br />Kentucky - 34.6%<br />Louisiana - 35.9%<br />Maine - 30.0%<br />Maryland - 33.1%<br />Massachusetts - 33.5%<br />Michigan - 30.4%<br />Minnesota - 26.2%<br />Mississippi - 36.2%<br />Missouri - 30.3%<br />Montana - 29.4%<br />Nebraska - 30.9%<br />Nevada - 33.1%<br />New Hampshire - 30.8%<br />New Jersey - 38.3%<br />New Mexico - 23.3%<br />New York - 33.7%<br />North Carolina - 30.7%<br />North Dakota - 28.4%<br />Ohio - 29.8%<br />Oklahoma - 33.6%<br />Oregon - 28.2%<br />Pennsylvania - 30.1%<br />Rhode Island - 32.2%<br />South Carolina - 33.4%<br />South Dakota - 26.6%<br />Tennessee - 33.3%<br />Texas - 33.7%<br />Utah - 22.2%<br />Vermont - 26.8%<br />Virginia - 33.5%<br />Washington - 29.0%<br />West Virginia - 35.2%<br />Wisconsin - 25.0%<br />Wyoming - 26.9%</b></span></span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><span style="font-family:Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><b>http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr57/nvsr57_12.pdf<br />All taken from the above CDC website.</b></span></span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><span style="font-family:Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><b>The WHO says no industrialized nation, like The US should have a cesarean rate of over 10-15%.</b></span></span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><span style="font-family:Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><b>If you want to help in lowering these rates, visit www.ican-online.org </b></span></span></p>Cesarean Epidemichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475971462749244667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689440853569980689.post-73162465381394723542009-09-25T06:41:00.000-07:002009-09-25T07:11:41.483-07:00There is no debateI continually am hearing the term "<span style="font-style: italic;">homebirth debate</span>" but the term makes no sense what so ever. There is no such thing as a debate over home birth. It is a choice, you either choose it because it is right for you, or you do not choose it because it is not the right choice for you. Simple as that really.<br />There may be a debate over the safety of childbirth choices, but that is a whole different ballgame in itself.<br /><br />It almost reminds me of the whole abortion debate. Its nonsense. Either the choice of abortion is right for you or it is not. Other people cannot make that decision for you, including lawmakers. The same should go for birth choices. The restrictions that are being placed on pregnant women are reminiscent of suffrage. If we take a step backwards and start to restrict the places, and ways that women are allowed to birth their babies, then what is next? Women can only see OB/GYN's for pre natal care and delivery? Freestanding birth centers will up and close? All male infants will be automatically circumcised? Women will not longer be able to make informed choices about their care?<br />Well I mean, we all know that "<span style="font-style: italic;">informed consent</span>" in our country which is supposed to be <span style="font-weight: bold;">LAW</span> is nothing more than a joke, and anyone who has had a baby in a hospital recently can attest to this. Even the best of Doctors and Nurses are not always giving full information on the procedures or interventions.<br /><br />Long story short, the system is a mess, that there is no debate over. The modern day maternity care system, which should be called the Obstetric care system is failing and that is proven in the numbers of maternal and infant deaths and injuries during births, as well as with the rising cesarean rate. There needs to be a huge change.Cesarean Epidemichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475971462749244667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689440853569980689.post-56381946401523346892009-09-22T09:13:00.000-07:002009-09-22T09:18:39.327-07:00Violating Woman's Rights<p> Recently many internet bloggers have been going back and forth about the “Home Birth Debate”. I saw Jennifer Block post a great piece about home birth, which was immediately challenged by Dr. Amy Tuteur via her internet blog. Whether or not Jennifer Block agreed to a “debate” over the subject is completely irrelevant in what I have to say. </p> <p>Whether or not home birth is safe, as safe as hospital births, or more dangerous than hospital births doesn't matter when it comes down to it. What does matter is that a woman should be able to legally choose where she wants to give birth, and with whom to managing her care, and deliver her baby. </p> <p>What we should be debating about, or even merely discussing is what we can do as women, mothers, providers, and advocates to reduce the maternal and infant mortality rates in The United States, as well as make all birthing options available. The way that births are being over managed, and birthing options being restricted, such as Vaginal Birth after Cesarean better known as VBAC. Across the country women are being essentially forced to have repeat cesarean sections, with no medical reason, because the local hospital, or local OB/GYN's do not attend VBAC's or provide any kind of VBAC options. Leaving women with very few options regarding subsequent pregnancies if they do not wish to undergo surgical birth a second time. </p> <p>Some of these options include home births with Midwives, but some women cannot even have that options because home birth midwives, and home birth in general in their state, or area has been now become punishable by law. But I digress, VBAC access is a whole other tragic story in itself. </p> <p>The real issue at hand is why we sit and argue over difference in opinion when it comes to other peoples birth choices, while American women are being denied the right to make their own medical decisions. </p> <p>This is not a Natural Birth Advocate vs. The Medical Community. This is a simple womans rights issue. Women have fought for the past 100 years for all the amazing freedoms that we have today, and for doors to be closing left and right for choices women would like to make regarding their own medical care is downright frightening. </p> <p>Why are so many options being taken off the table for pregnant women? Mainly for fear of litigation on the part of Obstetricians which have this little group standing behind them called The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Their name is very misleading. They are not a college, nor are they an institution of higher learning. They are basically a really big “union” for OB/GYN's. They issue statements, publications, and “guidelines” better known as their opinions. Many are unfounded medically or scientifically (which has been proven over and over again). They say that certain medical events, such as birth, which we all know isn't rocket science, should be handled in one specific way. But women know that every pregnancy, woman, and birth are different. You cannot compare the experiences of two women, or even two pregnancies in the same woman, but they continue to treat all pregnant and birthing women the same. They are being put on a conveyor belt of hospital interventions, which you have to fight tooth and nail to avoid. I don't know about you, but when I was in labor with either of my children, the last thing I wanted to be doing was battling with Nurses or even the OB/GYN I picked for my first birth. I was the portrait of a good patient my first time around. That landed me with a non medical induction and cesarean section for the oh so typical “failure to progress”. </p> <p>Now I am a nobody. I do not have M.D. after my name, I do not have C.N.M. After my name. In fact, I do not have anything after my name. I am nothing more than a mother, of two children, both born by cesarean section. My first cesarean completely avoidable. My second, not so much, after 26 hours of labor attempting a VBAC. Now I find myself at a petrifying crossroad. I am literally scared to even think about having another child because I know in my area, there will be no OB/GYN or Midwife that will take me on for a vaginal birth after two cesarean sections, even though many women have successfully accomplished birthing a baby after one, two, or five cesarean sections. They simply do not want the liability, or work, and I simply do not want the repeat cesarean section. </p> <p> Why are more people not speaking out about this huge womans rights violation? </p> <p> Because it does not effect or impact them on a personal level? </p> <p> Because they do not know about it? </p> <p>Someone, anyone, everyone, needs to step up to the plate and help women have the right to have any birth she chooses. It is a human rights violation to dismiss her wishes. </p>Cesarean Epidemichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475971462749244667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689440853569980689.post-75676643819466950072009-09-08T15:10:00.000-07:002009-09-08T15:31:21.341-07:00Chocolate or Vanilla?I saw the debate between cesarean section, or vaginal birth put into a pretty cut and dry term today. Chocolate or Vanilla?<br />And it made me think...<br />In society today, many people do view birth this way. Many do not sit down and really look at the risks that come with the choice they make for an elective cesarean section.<br />Now when we use the term elective, we mean, non medically necessary. No medical reason for this choice. This includes elective repeat cesareans for NO medical reason, and having a previous cesarean section does not constitute as a <span style="font-style: italic;">medical </span>reason for a cesarean section.<br /><br />A couple <span style="font-style: italic;">medical </span>reasons for having a cesarean section are....<br /><ul><li><span section="main"><span section="contentTableStructure">There are problems with the placenta. This is the organ that nourishes your baby in the womb. Placenta problems can cause dangerous bleeding during vaginal birth. </span></span></li><li><span section="main"><span section="contentTableStructure">Pregnancy with multiple babies.</span></span></li><li><span section="main"><span section="contentTableStructure">Placenta Accreta<br /></span></span></li><li><span section="main"><span section="contentTableStructure">The baby's umbilical cord slips into the vagina, where it could be squeezed or flattened during vaginal delivery. This is called umbilical cord prolapse. </span></span></li><li><span section="main"><span section="contentTableStructure">Fetal Distress</span></span></li><li><span section="main"><span section="contentTableStructure">Birth defects.</span></span></li></ul>Now, granted, there are medically necessary cesarean sections that take place, but many women do not know or understand the serious risk of an elective cesarean without a medical reason.<br /><br />Some of the risks of a cesarean section include....<br /><ul><li>Infection. The uterus or nearby pelvic organs such as the bladder or kidneys can become infected.</li><li>Increased blood loss. Blood loss on the average is about twice as much with cesarean birth as with vaginal birth. However, blood transfusions are rarely needed during a cesarean. </li><li>Decreased bowel function. The bowel sometimes slows down for several days after surgery, resulting in distention, bloating and discomfort. </li><li>Respiratory complications. General anesthesia can sometimes lead to pneumonia. </li><li>Longer hospital stay and recovery time. Three to five days in the hospital is the common length of stay, whereas it is less than one to three days for a vaginal birth. </li><li>Reactions to anesthesia. The mother's health could be endangered by unexpected responses (such as blood pressure that drops quickly) to anesthesia or other medications during the surgery. </li><li>Risk of additional surgeries. For example, hysterectomy, bladder repair, etc.</li><li>Premature birth. If the due date was not accurately calculated, the baby could be delivered too early. </li><li>Breathing problems. Babies born by cesarean are more likely to develop breathing problems such as transient tachypnea (abnormally fast breathing during the first few days after birth). </li><li>Low Apgar scores. Babies born by cesarean sometimes have low Apgar scores. The low score can be an effect of the anesthesia and cesarean birth, or the baby may have been in distress to begin with. Or perhaps the baby was not stimulated as he or she would have been by vaginal birth. </li><li>Fetal injury. Although rare, the surgeon can accidentally nick the baby while making the uterine incision. </li></ul>As a mother who has had a cesarean section before, there is nothing fun about it. I cannot wrap my head around why any woman would make the informed choice to have major abdominal surgery instead of actually doing what their body was built to do. Birth babies.<br /><br />The fact that our society thinks so lightly of this surgery, that it can compare the choice to choosing a flavor of ice cream screams the real problem with not only the maternity care system in this country, but the irresponsibility and ignorance of the patients, as well as the scary irresponsibility on the part of Obstetricians for allowing this serious procedure to be elective.<br /><br />Place the blame on TV also.<br />Everytime you turn on a soap opera or nighttime medical drama, they are always making birthing women look like they are on the verge of death, and like they are going to blow up right there on the spot. What kind of message does that send to the uneducated next generation of mothers? BIRTH IS SCARY!<br />Turn on Special Delivery, or Maternity Ward, or that crappy show Deliver Me... and you see pregnancy and birth being treated as extremely dangerous and high risk events.<br />Why? Because those are the cases that get the ratings.<br /><br />Chose what you will for birth.<br />But anyone has to question a mother for her choice to choose a risky and dangerous medical procedure to deliver her child instead of letting nature take its course.Cesarean Epidemichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475971462749244667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689440853569980689.post-62087612130553539112009-08-28T14:31:00.001-07:002009-08-28T14:31:58.784-07:00Give a helping hand!Hi everyone!<br />This week's project is simple.<br />Take your phone cam or your digital camera and video a mom holding a piece of paper saying "VBAC" or "Hospital VBAC" or "Mom of Twins" or some other sign that says what they did for their birth and saying the words "I did it"!<br />I'm going to compile these into a BOLD tribute for BirthAction and play it all Labor Day weekend.<br />Make it quick and send it to director@birthaction.org or shanon.phoenix@gmail.com<br />Send in as many as you like! but send them one at a time! :)Cesarean Epidemichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475971462749244667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689440853569980689.post-47185201323878260502009-08-18T17:02:00.000-07:002009-08-18T17:03:57.343-07:00How Fetal Personhood laws will effect ALL pregnant women.No matter what your stance on abortion is, fetal personhood laws are and will hurt all pregnant women if they are passed nationally.<br />Women being handcuffed while in labor and forced to give birth by a cesarean against her will.<br /><br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-3X4_p3yAC8&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-3X4_p3yAC8&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Cesarean Epidemichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475971462749244667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689440853569980689.post-50003641557693682762009-08-11T08:20:00.000-07:002009-08-11T08:25:06.783-07:00Journey of a VBACI met my now husband over the internet when I was 21. I lived in Colorado and he lived IN Georgia. After going to Georgia to meet face to face, it wasn't long before I moved. Several months after moving to Greorgia, I was pregnant with my oldest daughter. I liked the idea of a midwife, so when choosing a HCP I chose one that was predominately midwife-based, but which also had doctors on-call. I had never considered the logistics of having a baby. My brother-in-laws wife had used this office when she was pregnant with their daughter, and I had gotten glowing reviews, so for me it just made sense to go with them than to shop around. <br /><br />During my first visit, I was found to not be as far along as my LMP had dated me, but the baby looked good and my due date was bumped back two weeks. <br /><br />The visits were ok, although I never saw a midwife more than twice, and so had no relationship with any of them. I also took the labor and delivery class offered through the hospital where I was to deliver; I remember clearly that out of the class of 30 couples, there were only two that had plans for natural childbirth and we were one of them. <br /><br />I went into labor at about 5am three days before my daughter's due date. The hospital was an hour drive away, so by about 8 am we headed in that direction. My mother-in-law went with us. I got to the hospital with very bearable contractions, and was admitted into labor and delivery. The nurse came in and asked me if I wanted an epidural. I told her no, and I was informed that I "would be getting an epidural." They checked me. I was three cm dialated. The midwife in charge of my care acted like I was bothering her by being there. She was also one of the midwives I had never even met at the practice.<br /><br />An hour later they came back and I was still at 3cm. They would not let me get up and walk around, but instead began talking about pitocin. I refused pitocin, so the midwife came in and basically told me that I was being hard-headed and potentially causing trouble for the baby by refusing. I refused three more times, before relenting. About every 15 minutes someone new would come in and try to coerce me into the pit. <br /><br />They got the pic going and when that didn't speed things up as fast as they wanted, they broke my water. The combination did the trick, and pretty soon the contractions were coming hard and fast. I refused pain medication twice more, before relenting. I told them I would take something, but not an epidural. It was almost an hour before they nurse came in to push something through my IV. Not five minutes later, another nurse came in and gave me a pain pill. Some time later, they did manage to talk me into an epidural. I am very sensitive to pain medication and the combination of the injection and pill left me nauseous, dizzy and very sleepy. So much so in fact, that after throwing up, I slept while they put the epidural in. I have had spinals with my other births and I can tell you that I do not know, to this day, how anyone sleeps through getting a needle in their spine.<br /><br />After the epidural, I do not remember much. I mostly dozed, drifting in and out of consciouness with a sense of unreality. I do remember the midwife screaming at me to wake up and push, and threatening to turn the epidural off if I did not. I feel asleep every time someone quit talking to me, and had to be not only awakened to push, but also awakened in the middle of pushing. I found out later, they were talking about doing a c-section, but my husband and mother-in-law refused, knowing how I felt about it.<br /><br />I also remember at one point, being shown my daughter's crowning head with a mirror. It all became real to me at that point, and I remember pushing with all my might, as I was shouted at, trying to get my daughter born. Her cord was short, which caused some difficulty, or so I was told. It was also wrapped around her neck twice. I had so much perineal swelling from the forced pushing that I was kept in the hospital for an extra day. And due to the pain medication, both myself and my daughter spent most of our first days asleep.<br /><br />I will always remember the sight of her head, and I just wish I had known then (maybe its better I didnt), that it would be the last of my children I would get to watch be born. It would not, however, be the last birth I was unconscious, or mostly unconscious for, sadly enough.<br /><br />When my daughter was a few months old, we moved to Texas, where my family had migrated from Colorado. My husband, daughter and I stayed with my parents for several months. During that time, I found myself pregnant again, although I had been taking birth control pills. I was devestated. I felt as though somehow I had betrayed my daughter by getting pregnant so quickly. However, as time went by, of course I fell in love with the baby I carried. When we found out, during a routine ultrasound that the baby was a boy, we were ecstatic. The doctor we used was one of two available in the small town we lived in, and once more, I just accepted care based on someone else's recommendation.<br /><br />I assumed that since my daughter had arrived before her due date, my son would beat his Dec. 7th deadline. However, come the 7th, I was more hugely pregnant than ever before, so when I walked into the doctor's office for my check-up and he offered to induce, I jumped at the chance. At this point, I had still skipped all the chapters in my prenatal books that dealt with c-section, complications etc. After all, those things were for other people, not me. <br /><br />At midnight, I dutifully arrived at the hospital, palmed my sleeping pill and spent the night listening to the soothing sounds of my baby's heartbeat. The next morning, despite some resevervations and with the promise that the pitocin would be at the lowest lvl possible and would be stopped once labor started, I was given a suppository to dialate my cervix, which was still stubbornly closed and pitocin. Nothing happened; two pit increases later and I was still not in labor.<br /><br />A few hours later, the doctor came by and said that due to the fact I was not going into labor, he would send me home. The baby was still high enough they could not break my water. They turned off the pit, gave me some lunch and were preparing to discharge me when I started having contractions. The contractions were not terribly strong, but they were regular and so deciding that I was in labor, they began making preparations for me to stay.<br /><br />The contractions lasted until the next morning, but I never dialated or effaced and the baby never engaged, which leads me to think that I wasn't truly in labor (along with another point I will get to eventually). But at the time, all I could think was that the doctor was right and something was wrong. Once more, they were going to discharge me and let me come back in 48 hours to try induction again. That's when my mother piped up and asked them to do an US to check on the baby's size. A nurse herself, I am sure she was trying to be helpful, but this sent us down an irreversable path.<br /><br />The doctor obligingly did the US and promptly decided that the baby was at least 10lbs and that the reason I was not going into labor is that he was too large. I was then given an ultimatum, have a c-section or else come back in a few days and have a c-section with the risk that the baby would die before then. Where he came up with this, I do not know to this day. So, feeling trapped and like I was doing the right thing, I agreed to the section.<br /><br />My husband did not want to be with me during the section, so my mother accompanied me. They gave me the spinal, and the foley catheter, both of which to me are almost humiliating beyond endurance, as well as being painful. It took 7 sticks before the epidural went where it was supposed to go. The result was that once more I dozed off and on during the birth of my child. I woke up once, not even realizing they had started and looked up to see blood in a tube past my head. I never heard my son's first cries, I never saw his body emerge from mine.<br /><br />In fact, I did not see him until several hours after the surgery. They finally brought him to me, but to be honest, I was hurting so much it was hard to hold him and hard to nurse him. I did both. The nurses left him in my room, which is what I had wanted, but everytime they came in they put him in his bassinet and moved it across the room. I could not get him out of it by myself for the first day, and I had a hard time getting anyone to help me. My husband had to go to work, and my parents were not that interested in hanging out in the hospital with me. The first couple of days were rough on my and the baby.<br /><br />Finally, I was let to go home. Wheeled out of the hospital, every bump jarred my tender abdomen and I felt like a tired old woman. When I got out, my husband had forgotten to fill my pain medication, so I had to go out and do that, as well as picking up some last minute items he had forgotten. (If you are thinking my husband is a creep, I must tell you, he and I were not having an easy time of it in those days, and things have since moved to the other end of the spectrum.) My mother stopped by the day after I got home to watch the baby and my daughter, so I could take a shower. As soon as I got out, she left. That was the extent of help I had at this point.<br /><br />I felt like I had something to prove, that having two babies so close together did not mean that I would not be able to keep my house spotless and my kids the same way. As a result, I never took the time to sit and snuggle my son the way I did with my daughter. This is one thing I will regret to my death, and a thing I cannot go back and change. <br /><br />On Dec 25th, 2004 I woke up with my son about 5am and nursed him. He fell back asleep with us, in our bed. About 7 am the cats knocked a basket off in the bathroom. My husband got up to clean up the mess and I got up to get everyone ready to go to my parents' house for Christmas. When I went to get him up, he was dead. I know I screamed and I know my husband and my brother (who had stayed the night with us) came running, and I know I would not let them take him. I had no idea what to do, so I called my mom. After a short conversation with her, I called EMS. <br /><br />I have to say, every single person who was with EMS at the time, showed up at my house. Many of them gave up Christmas morning with their own families, to try to save mine. It was too late. When they got there, the baby was still warm, and they were hopeful they could bring him back, but they never got heart tones back. They took him to the hospital, leaving me and my husband to get their on our own. <br /><br />The hours in the waiting room were some of the longest and hardest I have ever known. They worked on my son for several hours, past the time of any ohope of getting him back. We insisted we get to see him before the funeral home came, and I will never forget his tiny, naked body with all the tubes and needles in it. And the sharp stab when I realized that he still had the diaper rash we had been fighting since he came home from the hospital. What a bad mother I had to be. Not only had my son died, but he had died with diaper rash.<br /><br />CPS of course did an investigation, since he had died in our home. They were furious he had been in our bed. For several weeks we were not allowed to be alone with my daughter, and so spent the time of the funeral and the weeks after, with my husband's family from Georgia camped on my living room floor and my brother there to "chaperone" us. <br /><br />We knew we wanted to have another baby as soon as possible, but I was still bleeding from recently giving birth. Also, no one told me how bad the breast engorgement would be. I had a hideous scar from a surgery I had not wanted, giant, leaking breasts and a postpartum body, with no baby to show for it.<br /><br />Several months later, I did get pregnant again. However, when I was 7 weeks or so along, I had a miscarriage. I was so angry and so devestated. I felt like my body was in revolt against me. It had let me down in childbirth, and now it had failed to do the thing it had done so effortlessly before, and provide a hospitable environment for a baby to grow. At this point, the desire for another baby became almost all consuming. No one ever told me how quiet a house with a 2 year old in it can be, when it should also have the sounds of a growing infant.<br /><br />Three months later, I was pregnant again, with my second daughter. I was terrified that something would go wrong. In my course of trying to deal with my son's death and getting pregnant again, I had encounted many women with many problems. I had seen and heard so many horror stories, it became a wonder to me that any baby is ever born healthy and alive. <br /><br />The doctor who had delivered my son had moved his practice to another town, and I dutifully followed, thinking that he would be a good choice since he had delivered my son, and had also been the doctor on call that had worked so hard to try to save him in the ER. My first appointment and the doctor wasn't even there. They were still trying to set up the equipment, and the nurse who did my history, refused to write that I was pregnant, since there was no US machine and therefore no way for them to be sure that the pregnancy was viable. They never even did a pregnancy test..<br /><br />I spent every trip to the bathroom searching for signs of impending miscarriage. I went for my next appointment; still no US machine, although they offered to let me pay out of pocket to go to the hospital. Then they tried to get heart tones, and could not find them with the doppler.. Finally, at the next appointment, it was shown that my pregnancy was viable.<br /><br />I spent time anxiously awaiting the kicks that would signal life. At my 20 week appointment, the US showed that we were expecting another girl. The response from friends and family was enormous- they were relieved it would not be another boy. Again, I was left feeling like my body had somehow created a defective child. We were still, at this point, waiting for the autopsy report. CPS had told us they had no proof we had killed the baby, until the autopsy report came in. I was also told by our case worker that she had a nephew and she couldn't imagine how hard it would be if he died, so she knew exactly how I felt.<br /><br />Shadowing my pregnancy was the thought that maybe my son had some birth defect we hadn't caught, and worry that I still had not at 22 weeks felt my baby move. Two things happened, shortly after one another, at that point. The autopsy report came back inconclusive. They had no idea why my son died, and other than telling me it was unlikely to occur again, we had no answers. CPS was forced to close their investigation, although I was told that regardless of what the autopsy showed, they believed he had died from overlay, and their report would show that. I did go to the head of CPS and file a complaint and get the records changed. <br /><br />The second thing is that I had my 24 week appointment. The doctor did the exam and then casually said that "Oh by the way, your blood work came back wierd from the screening, so it's no big deal, but you need to see a high risk OB/neonatologist and have at least a high resolution ultrasound and possibly an amnio, because something may be wrong with the baby." I was shocked, and of course, a nervous wreck. It took two days for the doctor's office to call me with an appointment and it was a week before they could fit us in.<br /><br />We sat through genetic counseling and were told that the test for down's syndrome had come back with indicators she may have downs. We declined an amnio, and went in for the US. What we found was a healthy baby that was 10 days younger than her due date suggested. They could not guarantee that she did not have downs, since we declined the amnio, but said she looked good. We also found that I was not feeling much movement because her placenta was anterior.<br /><br />I knew for sure when my LMP was, but the ultrasound did show her dates being off. However, because they were not 14 full days off, the doctor refused to change them. <br /><br />The next several months were anxiety-laced. I seldom felt consitant movement, and could not shake the feeling that this baby would be born dead. I had asked my doctor about a VBAC. He told me that the hospital would not allow it, and would fight me every step of the way. However, if that is what I really wanted, to wait until I was in labor and then come in when it was too late to do a c-section. I was not sleeping well, constantly waking up to make sure the baby was still alive. When, at 38 weeks, he offered me a repeat c-section, I took it. I wanted the baby out where I could see her. I did not think to take into consideration the 10 day time descrepancy, and the doctor never brought it up.<br /><br />My daughter was born via c-section, almost 4 weeks early. She had trouble breathing, and was in the nursery for 6 hours before I saw her. She also has a deep sacral dimple which they x-rayed before I ever saw her. They would not tell me anything until the x-ray results were back in. The spinal they tried to put in, only took on 1/2 of my body. I was told they were giving me oxygen to help the medication circulate. Instead, they gave me general anesthesia. My husband was "allowed" to watch them do surgery from the foot of the bed. They told him there was no reason to sit by my head since I was out. <br /><br />When my daughter was 6 days old, she developed a nasty congestion. I took her to the doctor repeatedly. I was told that I was just understandably paranoid, and that she was fine, just had some newborn stuffiness. Finally, I insisted they test her, and she came back positive for RSV. The doctor told me she was on her way out of it, and not to worry. That night, as I sat up holding my daughter, she started coughing and could not stop. She coughed continuously for several hours, occassionally turning bluish in color. I finally took her to the ER and she was sent to the Children's Hospital over an hour away. Again, I was not allowed to ride in the ambulance with my baby, but was taken to the hospital by my sister. <br /><br />My husband stayed home to be with my oldest. He came the next day to stay with us, leaving my oldest with my parents. They put my baby on oxygen, and I spent the next nine days sleeping in a chair, away from my first daughter and scared to death. We waited through pertussis tests and quarantine, x-rays and blood work and finally, she was sent home when she was 16 days old, the same age my son was when he died.<br /><br />I began reading, and became certain the c-section was responsible for my daughter's health problems. I was determined to avoid another one. When I became pregnant with my third daughter, I found a midwife who would let me have a homebirth after 2 c-sections. The money was tight to pay for her, but I was ecstatic. Then, after my first appointment, she called me to tell me that Texas had passed a law prohibiting her from attending my birth. I was wrecked again. I also found out later that was a blatant lie. Had I known, I could have gone to another midwife, but I had no reason to think anyone would tell me differently than she had. <br /><br />My previous doctor was back in town and I saw him for a couple of visits, then began looking for someone who would help me have a VBA2C. I found a doctor in New Mexico, who was not excited about it, and insisted I get an epidural "just in case" but who would do it none the less.<br /><br />My daughter's due date came, and I had a doctor's appointment. I was showing no signs of going into labor. The baby was still high and floating. My doctor said normally she would let me go one more week, but she had been called out of the country on a family emergency, and the doctor who was taking over for her would not allow me to have a VBAC. I was told he would section me regardless. The choice was presented to me as- 1. have a section with a doctor I trusted before she left town 2.. have a section when she got back in 1 week or 3. have a section when I went into labor with a doctor I did not know. After an hour of crying and talking to my husband I went with option 1.<br /><br />The c-section was by far my best, although the baby was once more kept in the nursery for 5 hours for observation and breathing troubles. I was given a spinal, and once more my husband had to wake me up every couple of minutes. I did get to see her after she was born for a few seconds, but I do not remember it very clearly. And once more, when she was less than 2 weeks old, she was hospitalized for RSV. <br /><br />My home is smoke-free and free of other risk factors for RSV. The only common denominator was the C-sections.<br /><br />My 4th daughter, I did not want another C-section. I planned a UBAC. The following is the birth story that I posted to my web group,<br /><br />As you all know, I had planned a UBA3C, and it is to my sincere disappointment in myself and grief for the birth I had planned that I did not get it. In the past, I have had fairly traumatic birth experiences, including one vaginal birth that was super-intervened into and three unnecessary c-sections. This birth left them all in the dust as far as bad birth experiences went. <br /><br />On monday, after weeks of contractions, and days of strong contractions, my contractions settled into a pattern of a contraction that took much of my focus about every 7 minutes. I laid down and tried to sleep, but was awakened off and on throughout the night. Still not really believing that I was actually in labor, at 5am, I was unable to go back to sleep, as the contractions were coming about 3 minutes apart and took all my focus. At this point, I had still not had any bloody show, lost my mucus plug or broken my water. The baby was still moving well. I labored alone for 2 hours or so in the tub. About 7 my husband came into the bathroom and helped me focus on breathing. By this point, my contractions were less than 2 minutes apart. <br /><br />No position change helped much, and the contractions continued to get closer together and stronger. At this point, let me say that had someone been here besides my husband who was great, the outcome may have been different, but the only labor I had ever experienced was pit-augmented and arom augmented. Everything I had read over and over in the last few weeks basically said I couldnt be too far into labor without the show even though my contractions were so strong and close together. However, I half expected to give birth with every contraction that is how strong they were. (Please forgive me this email, I am crying as I write it, and trying to explain things to myself as much as anyone). I know that I had not slept in 4 days due to contractions and I was falling asleep in the small rest between contractions, only to be awakened as they began to peak. The contractions I stayed awake between were the easiest because I could prepare myself, but as the morning wore on, I found myself falling asleep more and more frequently.<br /><br />By 11:30 am I had been having contractions that were less than 1 minute apart for several hours. My husband was not prepared for them, and to be honest, neither was I. I went from no real labor pattern to hard-core labor in no time, with very little preparation. Again, had someone been here it might have made all the difference, but the two people who were supposed to come both ended up having family situations that prevented them from making the drive. <br /><br />Still having no signs of eminent birth, other than the contractions, I was getting worried. I had had three days of contractions that were not too bad, three days of contractions that were stronger and was desperately afraid that I would continue in the labor pattern i was in for longer than the baby and I could take. There is no way to say it that makes it better: I did what I had sworn I would NEVER do, and went to the hospital... <br /><br />When I got there, they sent my husband to admitting and took my to labor and delivery. They began doing the prep for me to give birth and when they checked my cervix i was at 6cm. About this time, it all came unraveled. They called the doctor who had done my early prenatal care, and he informed them that I would have to have another c-section because he would not deliver me vaginally. I fought and argued with them and was told that they would be doing a c-section and that it would be a race to get me on the operating table before I was ready to push. My husband was still not there, and my contractions were getting if anything stronger. During them, I was pushed to sign consent forms, given an IV, had my blood drawn and was constantly being bitched at because I should have known a vbac was not a safe option for me (their words) and how could I have waited to come in until the baby was three weeks past due, i was so irresponsible (their words again). <br /><br />I fought and cried and begged and was wheeled off to surgery without my husband. I found out later, that when the doctor was called and told I was in the hospital in labor, he was screaming obscenities and throwing charts, mad that I "had put everyone in that position". They checked me before I went to the OR and i was 8-9 cm.<br /><br />They tried to get the spinal in 8 times, through the contractions, the whole time complaining that I was not holding still, even though the contractions were about 40 seconds apart. Finally, with me pleading for them to do something, anything, they made me lay down, gave me the foley, lectured me about how unsafe general anesthesia was for the baby, and put me under. As I lay there, waiting for them to turn on the gas, I just wanted to be dead.<br /><br />Let me add here, that the OB "checked" me before putting me under and told them it was fine I was only 5 cm and the baby's head was high. How is this even possible except as a way to cover his own ass?<br /><br />I woke up in recovery, already hurting from the operation, since I had no pain medication outside of general anesthesia. I was told that I would need to let them know as soon as I began to hurt to stay on top of the pain, and that they would let my nurse know and she would get me something when I got to my room. They wheeled me into my room, and transferred me to my bed. My husband and girls were there, and although it had been over an hour since the baby was delivered, they would not tell him how much she weighed or how big she was, and he had not gotten to see her. <br /><br />After 30 minutes I called the nurse's station. I was told they would bring me medication. 30 minutes later I called again, same response. I was really hurting by this point. The CNAs came in to change the pad underneath me. They asked if I could feel my legs, as I lay there with tears running down from my face from being shifted for the chux change. I told them I had been waiting for pain medication, and they called the nurse's station. An hour later, the nurse brought me something for my IV. She pushed it through, laughed off it taking so long, she was very busy and left.<br /><br />Almost immediatly my arm began to burn. I have had enough IVs to know that it happens, but the burning became more intense, and when I looked at my arm it was swollen hugely above and below the tape and my entire arm felt like it was on fire. I called the nurse's station and they came down to check it. Come to find out, when she pushed the medication through she blew my vein and pumped all the fluid into my arm instead of a vein. She said "I guess I should have checked the IV huh?"<br /><br />They put the IV in the other arm and said not to worry the swelling would go down in a couple of days it really wasnt that bad. My husband went to the nursery two more times and I called the nurse's station countless times to find out why I had still not seen my baby. They still refused to give us any information on her. 4 hours later, I finally got to see my daughter for the first time. <br /><br />I was told that they were very unhappy that she was past-due (her skin was peeling and her nails long) and that they had trouble getting her body temperature regulated because she was so late. I was not aware this was even in the realm of reality (so please correct me if I am wrong) and that due to the fact that she had merconium staining they had bathed her several times. My giant past due baby was 7lbs 6oz and 21 inches long. She is tall and very slender. I cannot imagine what she would have looked like had I gone in at 38 weeks (as this doctor prefers) and let her be taken 5 weeks before she was ready. I suspect she would have had a long stay in the NICU. Anyway, after enduring yet another lecture about the dangers I had put her through, they finally left us with the baby.<br /><br />I will wrap this up quickly, as I know it is long, and not what I am sure many of you want to be reading. Over the next two days: Due to the veins in my left arm being blown and the IV in my right they had a hard time taking blood every two hours, which is what they insisted on. I have needle tracks in my hand, my wrist and up and down my left arm, not to mention the swelling from the initial IV and bruising from the blood draw while I was in labor (once from each arm). I was never offered pain medication, and instead had to call for it and wait, sometimes as long as 3 hours. The nurse told me there were several times she never found out I had called for pain medication until I called down and had her come fix my IV. <br /><br />Although my foley catheter and IV were supposed to be out after 24 hours, it was almost 32 before the catheter was out and 37 before the IV were out. When I complained I was told that it was basically my own fault, and that they were busy and would get to it when they could.<br /><br />The last night I was there, I was given a pain pill that 7 hours later still had my dizzy and so drugged out I could barely keep my eyes open and no one would tell me what it was, just that it was something for pain.<br /><br />I have almost no feeling in most of my belly externally. I have been crying almost non-stop since the delivery (HA you cant even call it that). My husband does not understand, and to be honest I feel numb and hollowed out. Having had three sections I never really understood how people could endure them and look at their baby and feel nothing, but for me it was almost 2 days before I could even take joy in her. The rest of the time, I was going through the motions in hopes it would come. I dont know what to do at this point.<br /><br />Having dropped my prenatal care and doing my own and planning for this UBAC had seriously empowered me so much and I feel like a complete failure... I feel like I gave in too easily, although part of me knows that isnt true, and I feel betrayed. Yet part of me feels like maybe I got what I deserved. I don't even know if this makes sense, but I wanted to be able to tell someone who might understand, and I thought if anyone would it would be you guys. I can tell you that I will never set foot in another doctors office or hospital if I am still able move on my own. <br /><br />Michele Henson<br />http://creative-mommy.blogspot.com/<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga1Sdpve2AXL12I_aRxrdXJqZP_tAv6KjTepxTN2nSjD3f9dqIVnA-Lsc_-J46HDN44yCbR38UyK11vsLPurdIRrbRDuvz32q5zQfbbWW5m46FDhrI3ViccohmjrJsXOVfa85XkmmoGbaO/s200/40+weeks.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga1Sdpve2AXL12I_aRxrdXJqZP_tAv6KjTepxTN2nSjD3f9dqIVnA-Lsc_-J46HDN44yCbR38UyK11vsLPurdIRrbRDuvz32q5zQfbbWW5m46FDhrI3ViccohmjrJsXOVfa85XkmmoGbaO/s200/40+weeks.bmp" alt="" border="0" /></a>Cesarean Epidemichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02475971462749244667noreply@blogger.com5