Test to Predict Necessity of Cesarean?

According to this BBC article, there are now European companies using a test to determine if a prolonged labor will result in cesarean section. They base the outcome on the presence of lactic acid in the body. The higher the acid, the more likely it is that the uterus will become fatigued and not be able to birth.

Could this test be a good thing that would allow mothers to go one with longer labors if their acid levels remain low or another tool to further burden women with more unnecessary cesarean sections? Looking at the article it seems like it would swing more towards the latter. The doctors interviewed did not seem to grasp what could be the cause behind the increases in prolonged labors: artificial inductions, no positional change, lack of motility, etc. Perhaps they should look into fixing the standard hospital birth experience before coming up with more technology to interfere with a natural life process.

My Body Rocks Cesarean and VBAC Workshop

Karen Brody, playwright and activist who created "Birth", is holding a workshop in the DC Metro area for women who would like to tell their cesarean and/or VBAC story. This workshop combines storytelling, movement therapy and yoga nidra.

For more information please visit her website. She also offers a pregnancy circle. I had an opportunity to talk to Karen recently about this workshop and it sounds like a wonderful opportunity for all mothers who had cesarean births and VBACs.

http://www.mybodyrocksproject.com/index.html

VBAC Success Predictor Tool: Helpful or Junk

There is a tool on this website for the purpose of prediciting your potential percentage of success for VBAC. While many would consider such a tool suspect, it can be useful as just another reminder that VBAC is possible a lot more than the standard 4%-10% that we find in most areas.

But with such factors as "BMI" and race as the only determining factors, one can wonder if perhaps they are missing the point. For many women who prepare for VBAC there are several things (emotional and mental support, supportive practitioner and increased healthy lifestyle to name a few) that help them acheive success. And for others still the same set of criteria do not ensure success.

It is hard to imagine that you could plug in a set of numbers and yes/no answers and come up with a set way to determine who will be successful. But it is just another tool, even if it isn't the most useful.

ACOG Articles Highlighting a Potential Change in Perspective

In this recent post on Our Bodies Our Blog, two recent articles regarding the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and their take on the recent forums and studies on VBAC and the rising cesarean rate.

The first is an article from Obstetrics and Gynecology. It highlights the fact that the current VBAC policy of ACOG limits, if not outright denies, the option of vaginal birth after cesarean for most women. It also touches on the subject of informed consent.

The second article is a synopsis from an address given to the ACOG annual meeting. The physician giving the commentary discusses the need to tone down and reassess the current use of induction and cesarean surgery. His tone is encouraging to those who hope to see current trends in maternal care reversed and women given the opportunity to have a say in their own care.

Women Deliver Conference 2010

Often as we work towards lowering the cesarean rate and improving maternal care in DC, we forget that there is another side to the coin. There are places in the world with poor outcomes where a higher cesarean rate would be a blessing. To shed some light on the plight of women and girls throughout the world Women Deliver is holding a conference in the DC area in June 2010.

From their website:

Women Deliver 2010, a global conference, will be held in Washington DC on June 7-9, 2010. The theme of the conference is: "Delivering solutions for girls and women," and we plan to focus on political, economic, social/cultural, and technological solutions. This global meeting will expand on Women Deliver's hallmark of inclusivity, reaching out to new partners and new communities. With all these partners in one room, we will further prove that maternal and reproductive health is a global priority. Women Deliver 2010 will move the dialogue to the global arena with two strong messages:

•The MDGs will not be achieved without investing in women.
•There is just enough time, if the world commits funding now, to achieve MDG5 — additional US$10 billion annually by 2010 and US$20 billion by 2015.

For more information or to register to attend the conference, please visit their website.

VBAC Petition: Please sign!

VBAC Access Petition

Please sign this petition to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). The authors of the petition and those who sign it are asking that ACOG look at the recent position statement from the National Institute of Health on vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). ACOG has stated a rather strict (and some say hardly feasible) set of guidelines for choosing a candidate for trial of labor (TOL). According to the NIH statement, they should rethink their position on VBAC access and include the mothers themselves in the decision making process.

ICAN of DC is Looking for Birth Pictures/Stories

In April, we would like to hold a multimedia presentation called "Positive Birth: Images to Inspire". But for this even to be a success, we need your birth pictures and stories. We are looking for your pictures and the accompanying stories of your empowering home/birth center/hospital birth, we would really appreciate it. Please know that this will be part of a presentation that will be shown to the public. Thank you for your support of ICAN of DC.


(If you would like to donate please email me.)