Cesarean Birthing Support

Not sure if anyone has seen this news story:  A woman is planning to drive to a hospital 350 miles away because her local hospital is insisting on a repeat c-section and she wants a VBAC.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/15/hospitals.ban.vbacs/index.html

What do you think?  Who's right- the doctors or the parents?

" After their discussion with their doctor, the Szabos made an appointment to speak with Page Hospital's CEO, Sandy Haryasz. When the couple told her about their desire for a vaginal birth, they say Haryasz would not budge, even telling them she would get a court order if necessary to ensure Joy delivered via C-section.

"I was a bit flabbergasted, because that seemed rather extreme," Joy says. "I'd already had a VBAC at Page and it went fine. And if something happened, I know they can do an emergency C-section, because they did one for Michael."

Well, I think that pretty much sums it up. If other Drs/hospitals are willing to do a VBAC and it's not like a c-section is considered to be a life-saving treatment for mom or baby, then the dr is wrong and parents are right. They want to do a c-section just because they no longer do VBACs. So to have a court order to force her into a c-section is absolutely wrong. You can't force someone to have an abortion or force them to NOT have an abortion so why can you force someone to have a surgical delivery...for no good reason other then that hospital doesn't do VBACs? Absolutely criminal, in my opinion.

Terribly sad that she has to go so far away, though.

Sarah

Wow - I think threatening a mom with a court order is WAY extreme for this situation. I wish more hospitals offered the VBAC option, and this situation is really sad.

I am certain the hospital could have handled things better. I'm glad they were upfront with her about the fact that they will not cooperate with her birthing plans so she can make an alternative arrangement, however inconvenient.

If a doctor doesn't feel like they can handle a VBAC delivery, I'd much rather know that ahead of time. If I were the doctor and felt that I was putting a woman and her baby in danger, I'd want the right to refuse to perform the birth. And if the hospital truly does not feel like they are staffed adequately to provide a VBAC, then I think it is better that they don't. They need to work on getting staffed appropriately or they're going to lose a lot of patients. Sadly, women like the one in this story don't have other nearby hospitals that she can choose.

Hmmm... not sure how I missed this post until now!

To me, I'm not sure if the question is "Who's right..."

I mean, some hospitals just don't have the facilities and staff ot handle emergencies during VBACs... others choose not to do them because of their liability.

In any case, I'm a bit VBAC proponent - and I think it's great that this Mom feels so strongly about having another vaginal birth that she's willing to do the drive. I do think it's sad that she wasn't given a choice and that there are so many women who are denied a choice to VBAC because of where they live...