Two interesting birth-related articles

My facebook friends filter the news for me in such a useful way, I really wonder how I knew anything before facebook. Well, I suppose I just learned it all from NPR, but...my facebook friends represent my niche interests a little better than the general radio does. Though NPR gets close, to be fair.

At any rate, my feed today bubbled up two really interesting birth-related articles.

The first is a long-desired but un-hoped-for revision to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology on VBAC deliveries. This is Big News™ in the Birthing World.

In short, they are saying that women should have the ability to have VBACs without having to move to Canada (not that we wouldn't all love to deliver babies in Canada, but it does present a travel challenge for most.) They acknowledge that their previous position caused some women to be unable to have access to VBAC because their physicians or hospitals would not permit them. There's some great language in the end of the statement about how no woman should be forced to undergo a repeat c-section.

I repeat - this is Big News in the birthing community, fantastic big news. I-CAN, the International Cesarean Awareness Network has posted a great response, including the highlighting of ways the ACOG didn't go quite far enough. Mothers considering VBAC should read both the updated statement and I-CAN's response and use this information when discussing their birth options with their health care providers.

The other birth-related article I read was about umbilical cord wrap during delivery, which is often stated as a reason for c-section (that or the fetal heart-rate concerns, which often stem from wrapped cords.)

I found this article fascinating because I had two traditional deliveries, with two babies with their cords wrapped around their necks. One even had a knot in the cord, as I recall (I might have photos...will have to check. Perhaps the sister who was at that delivery and is known to read this blog from time to time will recall...) I recall my grandmother stating that either my father or his brother was born with a cord-wrap (the other of the two was breech, which you know back then they didn't do c-sections for either. She was a saint, that woman. Ouch!)

Comments

[Teglene]

A topic close to my heart! I had to drive 2 hours to get a VBAC in 2001 (well, actually my husband drove as I was in active labor at the time). Good thing we didn't have to go all the way to Canada as I almost delivered in the car as it was.

[melissa]

i had a vbac..1998. my daughter.
i'm in michigan. but, i'm close to canada. maybe that's why? ;)

[Karen T. Smith]

Oh Melissa, that's hilarious! Thanks for posting! I'm working on another post about birth stories...stay tuned!