I spoke with a woman today about VBAC (though I am unavailable to serve her, I could hear that she just needed to at least be offered a kind ear and some resources). She is being told by her OB that it's her choice but VBAC is dangerous and there are NO risks to cesareans, so she should schedule a cesarean for 39 weeks (early in her pregnancy, they told her they support VBAC). Either these doctors are ill-informed or unethical - both troubling. I gave her the names of other doulas, but also other care providers and told her that while hiring a doula would help, the best move to make would be to explore other care providers and listen with her gut - if it tells her to stay with her current provider, so be it - at least it's by choice and thus she won't scare herself out of going into labor via distrust. And since it sounded from what she described like her first baby was probably posterior (and that she's an excellent candidate for VBAC based on all she reported about scar, time frame etc), I suggested she consider seeing a chiropractor for optimal positioning, as well as take a look at Spinning Babies. The care provider she is currently with is willing to induce VBACS - hmm, maybe he's the problem, depending on methods of induction? So I suggested acupuncture for post-dates.
All of this is to say that there is a pattern of misinformation commonly being handed to birthing women and it's upsetting.
Here are some places to get accurate information about cesareans and VBAC:
Childbirth Connection
ICAN (International Cesarean Awareness Network)
VBAC.com
(photo is from Childbirth Connection's booklet, titled in the picture)
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