I’ve seen this quote before, but it never quite made me as angry as it did this morning when I was reading it in the context of THIS TIME MAGAZINE ARTICLE. This California mom has to drive 100 miles to have the chance for a VBAC. Give me a break!
I understand liability, I truly do, and I understand that to continue offering care for the majority of patients, one must sometimes eliminate care for the minority. But hey. This is ridiculous. As a VBAC mom myself, I would have to drive at least 100 miles and then only have “permission” for a “trial of labor” within a very small window of opportunity. “Only if” my incision was of type A, “Only if “ my bag of waters hadn’t been broken more than 12 hours, “Only if” the baby was in a perfect position (by obstetrical definitions), “Only if” the labor didn’t last more than X number of hours, “Only” if it progresses well, “Only” if I would have continuous fetal monitoring, “Only if………”
By the time all of the restrictions had been placed on me I’d have a better chance of delivering my baby vaginally in a snow storm in the middle of April. Yeah, it happens, but rarely. Birth was not meant to be a 3-ring circus with planned events and bright lights.
This mom, in the Time article, said her biggest fear was the drive and that she might not make it to the hospital.
If only… she gets that lucky. It might be her best chance at a natural birth.
Thanks for the link to this interesting TIME magazine article. I’m going for my vbac in the next 3 weeks or so, and this just reminds me how lucky I am to be in north TX where there is still good midwifery care available and that are willing to accept vbac patients.
ICAM! I was lucky enough to have midwives, with an OB/GYN back up, in the hospital supportive of my VBAC attempt. I hurt inside for the women who do not have the same options open to them. It is truly a sad day in America when women cannot have the birth they want because they can’t find anyone to attend their birth.