VBACCommunity.com is an online community dedicated to supporting vaginal births after cesarean section(VBAC). A VBAC isn't for everyone, but every woman has the right to consider it. This site aims to help women open an informed dialogue with their healthcare providers.

Site News

RSS feeds with the latest VBAC news and VBAC developments: check out the "Call for Pregnant Women Facing VBAC Bans" in North Western States

Extensive addition of VBAC birth stories. We've been scouring the web for inspiring and informational birth stories and compiling them into one easy to access page!

State listing improvement. We've added more offices and practices to the state-by-state list of vbac supportive doctors. See if your state is listed, submit and recommend your OB/GYN or Midwife for others to use.

VBAC Community merchandise on CafePress. Support the VBACCommunity by purchasing a cute infant onesie, maternity t-shirt or durable tote-bag from our online store at CafePress. All proceeds support the future of this website.

Re-designing the site. We implemented subtle design changes to improve the site navigation.

Any stories, advice or comments you might have can be emailed directly to us at kcontentoangell@hotmail.com

We are constantly improving the VBAC Community website, please let us know of any ideas or improvements we could make to better serve the VBAC Community. kcontentoangell@hotmail.com

We've added a WordPress blog!

Check it out at: www.vbaccommunity.wordpress.com

We've added a CafePress store!

Check it out at: www.cafepress.com/vbacommunity

VBAC NEWS!
The US dept of Health and Human Services is holding an Independent Consensus Panel to Release Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) Findings on Wednesday, March 10, 2010

view the live and archived webcasts at: http://videocast.nih.gov

VBAC after 3 prior cesareans

New research to be published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology has found that women with three or more prior caesareans who attempt vaginal birth have similar rates of success and risk for maternal morbidity as those with one prior caesarean, and similar overall morbidity (adding vaginal births and emergency caesareans together) as those delivered by elective repeat caesarean.

The findings indicate that women with three or more prior caesarean deliveries did not experience a difference in morbidity based on whether they attempted VBAC or elected for a repeat caesarean. The 89 women with three or more prior caesareans who attempted VBAC were as likely to be successful as women with one or two prior caesareans, 79.8% compared to 75.5% and 74.6% respectively. In addition, none of them experienced significant maternal morbidity such as uterine rupture, uterine artery laceration, and bladder or bowel injury. Read the article here...

New Research From the Midwifery Today Newsletter

According to a study published in the June issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology, babies born via vaginal birth after a prior cesarean section (VBAC) have lower rates of respiratory morbidity and intensive care admissions compared with babies born by repeat cesarean section.

Researchers found that babies born via repeat c-section had higher rates of intensive care admission and higher rates of oxygen supplementation for delivery room resuscitation than those babies born by VBAC. Read the rest of the article at Midwifery Today.

Congratulations Jaci!!!!
After 75 hours of labor, Jaci delivered a posterior, asynclitic 9lb 4ounce boy, with the help of a vacuum. Congratulations on your successful VBAC! Read all about her recent VBAC, and her the c-section of her first child (failed induction) on her blog.

Jerusalem doctor describes c-section risks
Dr. Glazerman, a doctor located in Jerusalem, describes the risks involved in elective c-sections and repeat elective c-sections:

Damaging other organs during the operations, greater risk of hemorrhaging and infection, maternal death rate is 2.5 to 3.5 time higher than natural birth, dangers associated with anesthesia, chance that internal organs eventually adhere to one another due to membrane damage, 20% increase in extra-uterine pregnancies after a c-section, increase chance of miscarriage after a c-section, increase problems with placenta in future pregnancies after a c-section, risk of uterine rupture in future pregnancies, babies born by c-section are more likely to have respiratory problems, and problems bonding with baby after a c-section.

read the original article

Hospital Bans Don't Add Up
VBAC Community would like to extend the very best wishes for Joy Szabo, mother of 3 with a fourth on the way. All of Joy’s children, so far were delivered at Page Hospital in Arizona, but hospital policy has recently changed to prohibited VBACs.

Joy had her first child naturally, her second was an emergency c-section because of a placental eruption and her third was a VBAC. Now Page Hospital is forcing her to have an elective C-section. The hospital claims it does not have the staff to handle an emergency C-section, but any labor has the possibility of necessitating an emergency cesarean.
Read more

New Study finds VBAC safer for baby than repeat c-section:
Neonatal Outcomes May Be Better With Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Delivery

VBAC Articles:

Vaginal Birth After Cesarean: The basics.

This article includes definitions of common terms you'll hear as you explore your VBAC options...

Posterior vs. Anterior Birthing Positions

I’ve enjoyed the experience of fully dilating and pushing both posterior and anterior positioned babies. My first child, Kai, was in the posterior position, meaning his spine was lined up with my spine. In this position, the back of his head pushes against my spine during labor. My second child, Madison, was in the anterior position, so her spine was lined up with my belly and her face pushed against my spine during contractions. Having labored both posterior and anterior, I’m in a good position to describe and compare them. read more...

Celebrate your VBAC! Buy these adorable infant bodysuits now! at www.CafePress.com/vbaccommunity

Celebrate your Trial of Labor! with a clever maternity top! Buy one now! at www.CafePress.com/vbaccommunity

Celebrate your VBAC! Buy a durable tote bag today! at www.CafePress.com/vbaccommunity

all proceeds from merchandise sales support the vbaccommunity website.

Recently added Birth Stories

VBAC Facts - from ICAN of Colorado

VBAC websites:

www.VBACfacts.com

You might not live in Arkansas, but this site is loaded with great information about VBAC's:
www.bringbackvbac.org

VBAC.com a resource of studies and publications

International Cesarean Awareness Network: ICAN

Midwifery Today: The heart & science of birth

Birth Network

VBAC Support Groups

On Cafemom:

VBAC Moms

No Nonsense VBAC

On Facebook:

ICAN international cesarean awarness network

VBAC support group - Vaginal Birth After C-section

I Support Midwives and Homebirth

Find a group that meets near you on www.meetup.com search for VBAC