VBAC Support

Not sure if anyone has heard this story- a woman is going to drive 350 miles to have her baby because the hospital near her home refuses to attempt a VBAC:

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

What do you guys think?  How far would you go for a VBAC?  Has anyone else encountered similar problems?

The hospital nearest my home has the best VBAC "success" rate in the state at 65%. I didn't feel that was good enough and chose to have a homebirth instead. If I was adament about being in a hospital, though, I'd drive 350 miles in a heartbeat to avoid an unnecessary c-section.

I hope that hospital catched some serious heat for their refusal to do VBACs. That woman has already proven on at least 2 occasions, once being after a c-section, that she is capable of a vaginal delivery. Turning her, and who knows how many other women, away is a travesty.

At least, I'm glad the article's statistics were accurate and they didn't make the woman out to be nuts. And - on a side note - ANY hospital that can't do an emergency c-section shouldn't be allowed to deliver babies AT ALL. Isn't that the POINT of being in the hospital???

 

Make a pregnancy ticker

If I understand the ICAN information on VBAC bans, it seems extremely unlikely that the hospital could actually get a court order to force her into a c/s. But I'm no lawyer, so who knows.

That said, I would like to hear more news about legal challenges to these ridiculous bans. It seems like people just don't want to deal with the cost and hassle, which I understand. But I think if my only choice were a 350 mile drive or a c/s (if a home birth was not under consideration) I would seriously consider a legal challenge.

I've also wondered what people think about just showing up in labor and refusing c/s. I have not heard any stories about people doing that. It certainly wouldn't be ideal, given that they would likely face a pretty hostile birth environment. But perhaps if they did have a sympathetic doctor it could work.

Elaine