Bait 'n Switch

As many of you know, I'm a staunch supporter of VBAC (vaginal birth after Cesarean). I get really mad when a woman who wants to VBAC tells me all these nonsense things her doctor said. Daily, women are told they can't birth a baby vaginally because their hips are too small, their pelvises inadequate, their babies too big; their bodies are broken. I myself was told these very same things, and went on to birth TWO more babies, both larger than the c-section baby, vaginally. HA! The only place, it seems, there is refuge from all the garbage, is my ICAN list. Elaine, a lovely listmember, posted a "comic strip" idea, called Bait and Switch. Here it is.

So I envision this comic strip: an interaction between

a VBAC mom and her OB. Anyone good at drawing?

Here would be the conversation:

------------

Bait:

NEWLY PREGNANT MOM: "Hi! I'm newly pregnant and want a

VBAC. Do you support VBACS?"

DOC: "Yes we do, we loooove VBACS. come on board!"



Switch:

DOC AT 25 WEEKS: "Just want to tell you about some of

the restrictions we have for VBACs: we require you

don't go a day over 38 weeks, we require continuous

EFM, an epidural in place in case your uterus

explodes, you can't have eaten for 2 days prior to

going into labor, and the moon can't be full. "



DOC AT 30 WEEKS: "Oooo this baby is getting big! We

don't allow our moms to VBAC babies over 5 lbs. Moms

who VBAC with babies over 5 lbs have a 96% risk of

their uterus exploding all over the place. Besides,

your pelvis is really small and you aren't capable of

birthing a baby over 3.6 lbs anyway."



DOC AT 34 WEEKS: "I just checked your cervix and it

isn't dilated at all, which means that there is

something wrong with your body and you are never going

to go into labor. I can tell your baby is going to be

at least 7 lbs and you probably aren't going to

deliver before 38 weeks. Lets schedule your repeat CS.

After all, you don't want to die do you? You don't

want your baby to get brain damage or die do you? New

studies have come out that show that the rate of

uterine rupture in  VBACs is actually 56%. Just

remember, in the end all that matters is a healthy

baby"



DOC AT 36 WEEKS: "I can't believe you haven't

scheduled your repeat CS yet. Hmmm. Welllll.... lets

just do an ultrasound to check on baby's weight. Won't

that be fun? Uh oh... While we did the ultrasound we

found out that your amniotic fluid is low, you have

bursitis in your elbow and your placenta is made of

ham. Your baby will die if you attempt VBAC. I'm sorry

but you have run out of options. We will need to

schedule a CS. Which is too bad because I really

support VBACs. Oh well, all that matters is a healthy

baby."