In March there will be a National Conference regarding VBAC in America and I am sure this will take on and address the amount of VBAC Bans that are taking place nationally, even in our own state. As much as I would love to attend, and had plans to go, unfortunately motherhood happens and childcare is unavailable for my boys during this 3 day mid week conference. Had this been a weekend event, I would not have had an issue.
But it is so important that VBACtivists make their way to this. I think it is way more important than most are realizing. This will hopefully help to change the tides and attitudes towards VBAC in our birthing community today. With the amount of illegal VBAC bans taking place nation wide, and the lack of access to women, this is truly becoming a crisis in maternity care.
It is no secret to educated women that VBAC is statistically safer than repeat cesarean sections and carry lower risks than a second major surgery, but with one third of all babies being born through major surgery, we are seeing a trend changing to the majority repeating that surgery for all subsequent births. Right now 90% of all women have elective repeat c-sections, the vast majority for no medical reason.
So what exactly is NIH & this VBAC Conference?
March 8th-10th, in Bethesda, Maryland
the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the Office of Medical Applications of Research of the National Institutes of Health will convene a Consensus Development Conference on Vaginal Birth After Cesarean.
They will touch on some very key issues such as :
- What are the rates and patterns of utilization of trial of labor after prior cesarean, vaginal birth after cesarean, and repeat cesarean delivery in the United States?
- Among women who attempt a trial of labor after prior cesarean, what is the vaginal delivery rate and the factors that influence it?
- What are the critical gaps in the evidence for decision-making, and what are the priority investigations needed to address these gaps?
- What are the short- and long-term benefits and harms to the mother of attempting trial of labor after prior cesarean versus elective repeat cesarean delivery, and what factors influence benefits and harms?
- What are the short- and long-term benefits and harms to the baby of maternal attempt at trial of labor after prior cesarean versus elective repeat cesarean delivery, and what factors influence benefits and harms?
- What are the nonmedical factors that influence the patterns and utilization of trial of labor after prior cesarean?
What happens at an NIH consensus conference?
- At the conference, invited experts will present information pertinent to these questions, and a systematic literature review prepared under contract with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) will be summarized.
- Conference attendees will have ample time to ask questions and provide statements during open discussion periods.
- After weighing the scientific evidence, an unbiased, independent panel will prepare and present a consensus statement addressing the key conference questions.
If you are unable to make it, they will also be offering an internet version, where you can watch live during the conference itself.
I will be doing this will chaotic kids in tow.
For information on registering, you can visit the conference website.
It is FREE!
I hope a lot of the awesome VBACtivists will be attending, I know so far that these awesome women will be there, so maybe just go for a chance to win such awesome advocates?
The Feminist Breeder
Jen from VBACFacts
Desirre Andrews, ICAN President
Kristin from Birthing Beautiful Ideas
I will be looking forward to all your reporting and tweeting!
