Bring Back VBAC. Stop the Ban

1:14 pm PDT, Apr 27, Elise Throgmorton, Arkansas
After having a perfectly easy natural vaginal birth with my first child I was asked to induce my second. Not seeing any harm, I was induced. Little did I know that the medicine would lower my blood pressure. When I got to 10 cm dilated my doctor told me I would have to have a c-section because my BP was too low. Afterwards she told me there was no medical reason for my c-section. The process itself was 10000 times worse than natural birth and my recovery took a full 6 weeks instead of days. It is cruel that the medical industry thinks its interventions are somehow better than natural birth. Give women back their natural birth!

We live in Benton County

7:11 pm PDT, Apr 22, Linsey Grover, Arkansas
I have had 2 successful VBACs and now pregnant with #4. I am told I will likely have a c-section. I can't believe they want me to go backwards and have a c-section after 2 successful VBACS! Now I have to be stressed out about this for my entire pregnancy.

Benton

7:55 pm PDT, Apr 20, Jennifer Mitchusson, Arkansas
Benton

3:14 pm PDT, Apr 20, Jennifer Blythe, Washington
Once a Cesarean, Always a Cesarean IS WRONG!!!!! Cesarean Sections are MAJOR ABDOMINAL SURGERY not just a minor procedure... the risks associated with Repeat cesareans are greater than the risks to healthy low risk women.

1:56 pm PDT, Apr 20, Becky Funk, Oregon
I gave birth to my first child via c-section. I feel that it was forced on me by a lazy doctor who just wanted the baby born and got sick of me taking too long (two hours of pushing). I became very depressed because I felt like my body didn't work and I did not have the birth that I wanted. I went on to deliver another baby via VBAC almost 2 years later to a child that was almost ten pounds. Women can do it! We just have to convince the doctors and hospitals that we can.

8:42 pm PDT, Apr 18, Jamie Lee, California

7:26 am PDT, Apr 15, Lisa Conant, Illinois
Forcing mothers to miss out on the very important experience of vaginal birth not only robs the mother's rights, but also deprives the baby of the most important start to life. So many necessary things happen for a baby during a vaginal delivery. How much more sterile and unemotional are you going to make birthing before you realize how detrimental it is to people's emotional and even physical health?

6:33 am PDT, Apr 15, Mariah White, Arkansas
I work as a birth doula in NW Arkansas and have been with women that have had a safe and empowering VBAC expierence. These women are traveling all the way to Berryville,AR for their right to attempt a VBAC at St.John's, currently the only hospital available,but still 1 hour 15 min from Fayetteville, AR. This should be available to women in Washinton, Benton counties and everywhere.

6:04 am PDT, Apr 15, Chris Akey, Arkansas
Washington County

7:14 pm PDT, Apr 14, Aleasia Weathers, Arkansas
Benton County

11:11 am PDT, Apr 14, Dawn Farver, Arkansas
A woman should have a choice when it comes to her body and her baby. As consumers of hospital and doctor services, women should have a right to the care they want and access to that care in their local hospital. A woman's decisions should not be made based on a choice made by their doctors that has nothing to do with them or their personal history. The VBAC option should be available to all women and discussed as the viable and safe option - better for mom and baby - that it is.

Washington

7:36 am PDT, Apr 14, Rochelle Boyce, Arkansas
I am planning on becoming a nurse midwife in the next few years and strongly disagree that once a cesarean always a cesarean.

Benton County

3:48 am PDT, Apr 10, Staci Rankin, Arkansas
It's hard to believe this country is considered to be civilized when the process of being born isn't thought of as sacred but as a liability. Hmmmmmm.....what kind of civilized are people talking about?

Washington

8:56 pm PDT, Apr 9, Name not displayed, Arkansas
After 3 days in labor, no progress and signs of trouble ahead for delivery, I had a Cesarean for my first child. I got pregnant 3 months later and had a second Cesarean for that child. I was comfortable with those decisions but feel that we should be given the choice to make an informed decision regarding how our children will be delivered. I would love to have more children but know the risks of multiple c-sections as well. Not having the option to have a VBAC provides me little hope to bring more wonderful children into this loving home. These bans are forcing many mothers to consider at-home births which provide opportunities for even greater risks to both the mother and the baby.

Benton County

5:56 pm PDT, Apr 4, Marla Davis, Texas
Though I do not live in Arkansas, every doctor and hospital in the United States that bans VBAC, either officially or by de facto, adds to the VBAC-hostile environment that currently exists throughout the country. It is unconscionable that so many women in a country as advanced in so many ways as the US has to put up such a fight just to use her vagina to birth her baby, especially when studies and science support that VBAC is a safe option for healthy mothers carrying healthy babies. The motivation behind the "ban" has little to do with patient safety and much more to do with convenience and liability. Giving life is the greatest miracle we witness in this life. The women shouldering the burden of that miracle deserve and should be able to expect the utmost respect and support in the very act of perpetuating the human race - even if she's done so in the past through abdominal surgery. Protecting their choice to attempt VBAC is the least we can do by way of that respect and support.

5:29 am PDT, Apr 2, Gina Key C.Ht., Arkansas
Bring Back VBAC, Iam successfully teaching Natural Childbirth with Hypnosis for Mother's also who hava had VBAC, they were glad they learned the techniques to have a natural labor and delivery, it helped them to relax, eliminate fear, contol pain, give them control and prepare for a Beautiful experience for Mom and Baby.

Washington County

10:57 pm PDT, Mar 29, France Wilson, California
Recently, 4 couples have taken a HypnoBirthing Childbirth Program from my instruction and they were successfully had a VBAC for the birth of their VBAC baby.

San Diego County in California

10:01 am PDT, Mar 29, Jennifer Gee, Arkansas
I am 3 months pregnant and wanting to try for a VBAC. Doctors and hospitals should treat patients as individuals and look at which route is safest for that individual. It does not make sense for a patient not to have a choice in their care. There is risk with either route you take, c-section or VBAC. By looking at the patient as an individual you reduce that risk.

Benton County

7:35 pm PDT, Mar 24, Amber Konkler, Arkansas
I successfully had a VBAC in NWA in July 2008... but not without resistance from the hospitals... I was denied an epidural because I was trying to delivery vaginally this time!

Benton County

4:49 pm PDT, Mar 18, Rev. Tom Brown, Arkansas
This kind of gutter medicine degrades the standard of medical care for all of us.

Washington

6:26 am PDT, Mar 13, Name not displayed, Missouri

2:56 pm PST, Feb 13, Lesley Higginbotham, Arkansas
I think every woman should have the choice on how her child is delivered!! I think too many times Doctors just want to "get you in and get you out" (c-section) because it is more convenient to them!! I delivered both of my children vaginally and it was such an awesome experience. I was exhausted enough as it was, and I couldn't imagine having to recover from surgery also. Women definently deserve the option!!!!

White County

11:29 am PST, Feb 8, Kathleen Jones, Arizona
This issue affects me greatly to the point that i am considered notto be able to give birth naturally. I had two c-sections that an ob/gyn deemed unneccesary but still refuses to let me try for a VBAC. I was given a 70% chance of a succesful vaginal delivery, most people think that the 30% means death, uterine rupture but it dosent. The 30% means that i will end up with a repeat c-section. My chances of delivering the way i want is greater than the chances of me not.

I currently live in Avondale Arizona but will be moving to Fort Campbell Kentucky at the end of this month.

4:36 pm PST, Feb 4, Glena Burkes, Arkansas
It is an injustice to young women who do not know better. Women are letting Doctors do unnecessary c-sections on them when they could possibly have delivered their second child vaginally. Not every birth is the same. It is the womens body and if, within reason, it would be possible for that woman to give birth vaginally they should have that opportunity.

Pope

6:52 pm PST, Feb 3, Kayla Bowden, Arkansas
Washington

9:21 am PST, Jan 31, Atina King, Arkansas
This issue makes me not want to have another child. I would love to have another child, but I do not want another Cesarean! After my first, I was not able to get out of bed for over 36 hours, and there were NO COMPLICATIONS. We decided on a C-Section after my baby showed definite signs of not tolerating labor. I just don't understand why the hospital would not let me at least try again. I have to pay 20% of my hospital bill, and a vaginal birth would be much cheaper. Also, I will be having to run around after a two or three year old, and take care of a new baby, and I really feel that a vaginal birth is the safest option for both me and my family. If I do have to have another C-Section due to complications, that is fine, but I am really upset that the hospital is setting me up for what I consider "unneccesary" surgery. This outrages me because I love my Dr. (Michael Clouarte) and I loved Willow Creek, but I am considering going to Siloam Springs or Fort Smith so that I can attempt a VBAC.

Washington

5:56 pm PST, Jan 30, Heather Derksen, Canada
I am now positive that my c-section was due to doctor negligence. This should not force me to be cut open unnecessarily again. VBACs should be encouraged (as should vaginal birth in the first place).

Canada

3:33 pm PST, Jan 27, Paula Dunn, Arkansas
I am pregnant and have had a c-sect.

Faulkner

11:08 am PST, Jan 27, Amber Cook, Texas
I want a vbac myself adn believe that every woman should have the choice herself as to the way her child is delivered

Fort Bend county

8:34 am PST, Dec 30, Jennifer Gardner, Florida

6:46 pm PST, Dec 17, Tammy Blanco, Arkansas
I think a woman should have some choice in the matter. If medically she cannot have a vbac then so be it. The decision should not be taken from her before she even has the option to consider which route she would like to take for later pregnancies.

Washington County

7:53 am PST, Dec 15, Young Clara, Arkansas
I had a c-section wiith my first baby, and I want to have the choice to do a vbac for my next one!

9:46 am PST, Dec 6, Stephen Jr. Brannan, Arkansas
washington

9:43 am PST, Dec 6, Jodean Brannan, Arkansas
I am pregnant with my first child right now, and hopefully will not have to have a c-section. If I do, I would like the opportunity to work with my doctor during subsequent pregnancies to determine what is best in MY situation- and not be completely denied the option for no specific reason at all.

Washington

11:10 am PST, Dec 2, Chelsea Doudy, Arkansas
This affects me because I delievered my first child by c-section that I feel was forced upon me and with any future children I want the option of having a VBAC.

Benton County

3:54 pm PST, Nov 29, Heather Britton, Illinois

9:29 am PST, Nov 25, Hillary Sperry, Arkansas
My sister has had several C-sections. After her first being medically necessary, she had her 2nd naturally, and had her 3rd and 4th by c-section because of various reasons. She was grateful to have the opportunity to choose even though they were not all possible naturally, the hospital was aware and cared for her well and she was able to choose what was best for her. So yes I am for the v-bac being allowed.

Benton

6:41 pm PST, Nov 24, Name not displayed, West Virginia
I know several women who have had successful VBACs, my own mother being one of them. Now my sister is having to face the ordeal of not being able to give birth naturally b/c she has had a c-section before. I think the VBACs should be allowed to be performed.

3:59 pm PST, Nov 24, Erin Enger, Arkansas
Benton

12:48 pm PST, Nov 24, Erica Kirby, Arkansas
Benton

12:26 pm PST, Nov 24, Laura Owen, Arkansas
Bringing back VBAC is extremely important to me. I had my first child a little over 2 years ago, via a c-section. My doctor then (in Idaho) told me that I wouldn't have any issues having a VBAC for my second child, and that it was only risky if I had had 2+ C-Sections. I was told that in the state of Idaho, they don't encourage mothers to have more than 5 children through c-section. As I recently moved to Arkansas, and I am now expecting baby #2, I learned that VBACs were banned in this state, and that doctors actually encourage women who have had 3 c-sections to stop having children. This is a very important deal to me. Obviously c-sections cause more scar tissue than vaginal births and therefore can cause other serious problems down the road. If it's pretty safe to have a VBAC, than why not give women who are not having any serious complications during labor and delivery the opportunity to choose VBAC over a c-section since it is THEIR body after all. If my health and my baby's health allows, I WANT a VBAC for my 2nd child.

Benton County.

12:58 pm PST, Nov 17, Melissa Totty, Arkansas
Washington County

5:16 pm PST, Nov 13, Patrice London, New Jersey
My favorite cousin had an "emergency" cesarean surgery with her first child. Whether it was a true emergency or not, we don't know. We do know however, that she was bullied into the second cesarean surgery with her second daughter- simply because of the first surgery. She is not pregnant again and does not want to have another cesarean. She wants to be able to experience labor and try for a vaginal birth.

I live in Plainfield, NJ