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).

1280 Signatures

  • Christy F
  • Rajae N
  • Season B
    • Comments
    • why should a woman have to fight to give her body a chance to do what the Lord has made it to do?!
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • mom
  • susan blaum d
    • zip code
    • 19901
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • healcare provider
  • Jillian H
    • Comments
    • needs to be done
    • zip code
    • 24018
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • VBAC friend
  • Kim W
  • Cristina A
    • Comments
    • Please stop forcing women into unnecessary surgery
    • zip code
    • 77095
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • Potential vbac mom - June 2010
  • Meagan S
    • Comments
    • I'm hoping to have a VBAC, but I have to drive 7 hours round trip to see a doctor who will help me with that goal
    • zip code
    • 72712
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • VBAC mom
  • Monica S
    • Comments
    • Would urge recommendations to include women with two or more c-sections as it has been shown that rupture rate with one prior and two is insignificant
    • zip code
    • 19939
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • Mother of 2 (both by c-section, one simply because of lack of choice)
  • Brittany C
    • zip code
    • 98942
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • aspiring childbirth educator
  • Leigh M
  • Stacey H
    • Comments
    • All women should have the right to birth they way they want. Doctors should be a *part* of the decision, not THE decision maker. Also, if a hospital can't provide a surgeon & anesthesiologist for a VBAC birth, how in the world are they providing a safe place for ANY birth???
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • Attempted HBAC, ended up with another C
  • Lana Z
    • zip code
    • 92603
  • Felina M
    • zip code
    • 33040
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • VBAC mom
  • Kadie G
    • Comments
    • My OB/GYM said it's safe for me to have VBAC. SO why the hell does the hospital have the right to tell me I can't . IT IS A RAPE OF MY RIGHTS!!
    • zip code
    • 81230
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • MOST LIKELY A CBAC MOM, AGAINST MY & MY DOCTOR'S WISHES.
  • Julia
    • zip code
    • 84084
  • Denise M
    • Comments
    • Please help us have a safer choice!
    • zip code
    • 37174
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • VBAC mom
  • Emily W
  • Brittany
  • Laura T
    • zip code
    • 19970
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • CBAC, next time VBAC!!
  • Ariel A
    • Comments
    • I also recommend that ACOG officially acknowlege "fear of hospitals" and "fear of surgery" in the same way that there is an official acknowlegement of "fear of labor". Alternatives (such as elective cesarean section) are provided for mothers who have a fear of labor, but no accommodations are made when there is a serious fear of hospitals or fear of surgery.
    • zip code
    • 99506
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • VBAC mom
  • Michelle D
    • zip code
    • 80015
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • VBAC hopeful
  • Ashley V
    • Comments
    • I had an emergency c-sect. and i would love to try it naturally 2nd time around
  • Sarah H
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • Friend of VBAC mom
  • Melissa C
    • zip code
    • 17055
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • concerned citizen / mom
  • Madison E
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • concerned citizen
  • kelly c
    • zip code
    • 64856
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • mother
  • Taryn L
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • concerned citizen
  • Kallie W
    • Comments
    • It's wrong to force women to undergo major surgery.
    • zip code
    • 68522
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • concerned citizen
  • Jennifer B
    • Comments
    • VBAC bans force women into choices they would not otherwise want.
    • zip code
    • 56082
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • professional labor assistant
  • Christa W
    • zip code
    • 62401
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • CBAC mom, hopeful VBA2C mom
  • Wendy S
    • zip code
    • 40342
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • Had emergency c-section with 1st...hoping to have a vbac next time around!
  • Rosemarie G
    • Comments
    • Women should be able to vbac if it is there chioce and there body. They should be able to make this choice without being put down or told thar a c/s is better.
    • zip code
    • 10473
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • Vbac hopeful mommmy
  • Sunya
    • zip code
    • 92592
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • a mother
  • Lisa S
    • zip code
    • 53222
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • VBAC mom
  • Jessica G
    • zip code
    • 70706
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • would like a VBAC
  • TABITHA S
    • zip code
    • 84084
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • sister of hopeful VBAC
  • Heather L
    • zip code
    • 17356
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • VBAC mom
  • Melinda K
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • VBAC hopeful - due May 2010
  • Jamie Lee B
  • Kathryn C
    • Comments
    • I had a vbac 2 hrs away b/c my local hospitals (where my husband is an attending surgeon) have bans!! Other women not so lucky.
    • zip code
    • 07860
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • VBAC MOM
  • Jennifer S
    • zip code
    • 98296
  • Shawna K
    • zip code
    • 90045
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • future VBAC mom
  • Jasmine V
    • zip code
    • 99840
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • planned HBAC 6/10
  • Tabitha A
    • zip code
    • 94803
  • Jill
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • Concerned Citizen
  • Nicole D
    • zip code
    • 70056
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • CNM, Advocate
  • Patrice B
    • Comments
    • I am a childbirth educator, birth doula and mother of 3 boys.
    • zip code
    • 95842
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • Childbirth Educator, Birth Doula, Birth Advocate
  • Toni B
    • Comments
    • women have a right to VBAC
    • zip code
    • 92627
    • relationship to VBAC (ex: VBAC mom, CBAC mom, healthcare provider, concerned citizen ect.)
    • concerned citizen
  • Rebecca S
    • Comments
    • VBAC is a human rights issue!