Increase Womens Access to VBAC!

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  • Send To:
    American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
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The purpose of this petition is to let ACOG know that women desire greater access to VBAC, or vaginal birth after Cesarean. The recent NIH VBAC consensus conference has stated "Given the available evidence, TOL is a reasonable option for many pregnant women with a prior low transverse uterine incision....When both TOL and ERCD are medically equivalent options, a shared decision making process should be adopted and, whenever possible, the womans preference should be honored.....We are concerned about the barriers that women face in accessing clinicians and facilities that are able and willing to offer TOL. Given the level of evidence for the requirement for immediately available surgical and anesthesia personnel in current guidelines, we recommend that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Society of Anesthesiologists reassess this requirement relative to other obstetrical complications of comparable risk, risk stratification, and in light of limited physician and nursing resources." We, the undersigned feel that VBAC is unreasonably and unfairly restricted because of the current ACOG recommendation that a surgeon and anesthesiologist be 'immediately available' during a TOLAC (trail of labor after Cesarean). Far too many women are undergoing unwanted and probably unnecessary Cesarean surgery because of this. We would like to note that the likelihood of the baby dieing during a TOLAC is the same as the likelihood of the baby dieing during a nulliparous (first time moms) labor, however ACOG doesn't recommend a surgeon and anesthesiologist be 'immediately available' for first time moms going through labor. We find this discriminatory, inconsistent and unfair. We plead for ACOG to change the recommendations so that ALL low risk VBAC mothers across America can have the chance to give birth to their babies in a normal, safe, healthy way (VBAC).

1279 Signatures

  • Kathleen Spitzner
    • Comments
    • My body, my baby, my birth, MY DECISION!
    • zip code
    • 95531
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • VBAC mom
  • Kathi Ritchey
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • C/S Mom TTC, do not want another c/s!!
  • Kristin Vollmer
    • zip code
    • 78216
  • Heather Felker
    • zip code
    • 19963
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • multiple c-section mom
  • chani rothman
  • Lissa Oros
    • Comments
    • В
    • zip code
    • 95127
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • C/S mom
  • Felicia Miller
    • zip code
    • 21060
  • Amy Young
  • Cynthia D. Smith
    • Comments
    • I chose to drive to a hospital more then an hour away (to John Hopkins) in order to have my daughter by VBAC. Your policy requiring 'immediate' surgical care be available is why my local hospital (Easton, MD) no longer allows VBAC.
    • zip code
    • 21601
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • Mom, sister, friend, someday Grandmother
  • Aroura Moore
  • Pamela Gordon
    • zip code
    • 06716
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • VBA2C mom
  • Kathleen Kolodzinski
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • VBACing mom
  • Nicole Quinn
    • zip code
    • 90620
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • VBAC hopeful
  • Kathryne Bredbeck
    • Comments
    • В
    • zip code
    • 77096
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • just had 1st c/s for 3rd baby, HCP
  • Larissa Ashdown
    • Comments
    • В
    • zip code
    • В
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • c/s mom, VBAC hopeful one day
  • C. Elizabeth Johnson
    • Comments
    • Women should not be forced to have unnecessary c-sections.
    • zip code
    • 94065
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • VBAC candidate
  • Katherine Knostman
    • zip code
    • 43214
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • planning a VBAC
  • Danielle A. Elwood
    • Comments
    • As a Mother who has had two cesareans, I know how important VBAC access is.
    • zip code
    • 06484
  • Ellen C.Bertke
    • Comments
    • Nurse Manager
    • zip code
    • 44116
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • VBAC mom X2
  • Laura May
  • Amber
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • current VBAC hopeful
  • Ruth
    • zip code
    • 77084
  • Lori Smith
    • Comments
    • Women are being butchered so that doctors and hospitals make more money, and so that the woman has ALL the risk; it is wrong. I know of several women who have opted for unassisted home births in order to have a VBAC as they were so disgusted with their doctors. Women WILL prevail, one way or another. It is important that women have safe birth options that are not dictated by the bottom lines of doctors and hospitals.
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • Mother of 8, grandma to 12 (so far), and advocate for women!
  • Kelsey Macias
    • Comments
    • I agree completely.
    • zip code
    • 76903
  • Blair Glass
    • zip code
    • 30032
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • mom of 2--1 baby by c/s and one by VBAC
  • Lisa Burrowes
  • Jenna Ward
  • Rebekah Breech Erck
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • VBA2C Hopeful!
  • Andrea Matthias
    • Comments
    • I had a VBAC without complication, but I was forced to receive an unwanted epidural because of the ACOG requirements.
    • zip code
    • 91214
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • VBAC mom
  • Dorothy Huffmanparent
    • zip code
    • 73160
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • VBA2C mom
  • Alison Cherpitel
    • zip code
    • 10533
  • Blair Allen
    • zip code
    • 30132
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • VBAC mom
  • Christina Bolf
  • Amie Quinn
    • zip code
    • 20194
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • hopeful future VBAC mom
  • Sarah English
  • Kelly Phillipson
    • Comments
    • В
    • zip code
    • 12477
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • concerned citizen
  • Jennifer DeLaCruz
  • Becky Baruth
  • Traci Burnes
    • Comments
    • Very glad my dr gave me the option of a TOLAC. Wish all women had the same options.
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • TOLAC/CBAC mom
  • Katie Midgarden
    • zip code
    • 58203
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • CBAC mom
  • Christina Choy
  • Sally Bruce
    • Comments
    • I totally agree!!!
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • A proud mum to Lily
  • Jocelyn Boese
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • concerned citizen
  • Melinda Knatterud
    • zip code
    • 55104
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • concerned citizen
  • Narcisa Sava
  • Gina Richardson
  • Kate Reamer
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • VBAC hopeful
  • Travis Spitzner
    • Comments
    • My wife had to drive nearly 2 hours to be able to give birth to our son when we have a perfectly capable hospital only 5 minutes from our house. Change the guidlines, ACOG!
    • zip code
    • 95531
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • VBAC dad
  • Barbara J Long
    • zip code
    • 04015
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • VBAC hopeful
  • Mindy Kelly
    • zip code
    • 30458
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • VBAC Mom