On the path to a better birth: December 2009

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

VBAC Success for Joy Szabo

I posted a few months ago about Joy Szabo's story. She was the woman from Page who was planning a VBAC with her third child, and then found out that she would be forced to have a repeat c-section due to the new guidelines of her hospital. After relocating to Phoenix and finding a supportive health care provider, hospital and doula, she was able to have her VBAC.

You can read the CNN article about her VBAC experience here.

You can also read an ICAN article where they interviewed Joy here.

I think that Joy is an amazing example to other moms out there who would like their bodies and birth choices respected. She didn't give up, even when it meant moving hours away from her home and family, and accruing expenses she had not planned for. Joy had to sacrifice a lot, but she did it anyway, because she felt it was the right thing for her and her family.

I feel that it's unfortunate that she had to sacrifice so much just to have the natural birth that she should have been able to have in Page. Hopefully all the attention and media that has surrounded her story will help others to realize that there are a lot of changes that need to be made when it comes to hospital guidelines.

In my opinion, no woman should be denied the choice to birth the way she feels is best for her and her child. Mothers need options and support based on evidence based medicine, not bans and restrictions that are largely influenced by insurance policies and finances.

About Me

I'm a mother of three living in AZ who had a cesarean section with my first pregnancy due to one of my twins being breech. While grateful for the medical technology used to deliver my twins, I am determined to prevent myself from experiencing any uneccesary c-sections and interventions in the future. My ultimate goal is to achieve a vbac with the rest of my pregnancies and to do so in an environment where my wishes and my body are respected. This blog is about my journey to achieving the *best* birthing experience I can, by learning from my mistakes, becoming educated, and moving forward. I hope to help other mothers and women out there who are trying to do the same.

Thank you for reading:)

Why should I care about Cesarean Rates?

Many women feel content and happy with their birth experiences in the hospital. I understand that not everyone feels the need to change in this area of their life. Currently, 1 in 3 pregnant women are delivering their child by cesarean section, at a rate of about 30%. The CDC has reported that this percentage is twice what it should be, and it has become apparent that there are a lot of unnecessary cesareans being perfomed. Cesarean Rates effect EVERY woman who will ever become pregnant and deliver in a hospital in the U.S. They have the potential to effect your health and the health of your baby, and thus effect your family as a whole. Cesarean Rates in the US are not going to lower on their own. It's going to take women becoming more educated in their birth choices and rights, and ultimately assuming a more active role in their births to make a difference.