On the topic of VBAC bans, 19 hospitals in PA reported having “De Facto” bans (D), while 5 reported having “official” bans (B) in the survey done by ICAN in early 2009. Oddly, 2 of the hospitals reported to have a VBAC ban have VBAC rates over 10%–12.2% at Bloomsburg Hospital in Cambria County, and 14% at St Joseph Medical Center a bit closer to me in Reading, Berks County. I have to wonder if in each of these cases, the person who was answering the ICAN caller was simply unaware of what the policy was? Continue Reading…
Posted 8 months, 2 weeks ago at 7:30 pm. Add a comment
The work that is done by the International Cesarean Awareness Network, or “ICAN” is important and worthwhile. My hat is off to all the women who are part of this organization. I actually had the opportunity just this morning to be a guest at the Lehigh Valley ICAN group meeting, and am immensly pleased that someone has finally stepped forward to form a group in this area. Continue Reading…
Posted 10 months, 4 weeks ago at 2:30 pm. 4 comments
Right now the most recent data that is availble for cesarean rates in PA is from 2007. You can find it at the PA Department of Health website.
In this day and age…when Walmart can figure out that a store in Topeka sold out 5 minutes ago of size 6X brown Hannah Montana t-shirts and load more onto a truck going to that store tomorrow morning… Continue Reading…
Posted 11 months, 1 week ago at 11:44 pm. 1 comment
The Lake Powell Chronicle, a newspaper in Arizona, carried an article recently highlighting the plight of a woman who has had 3 previous births–the first a vaginal birth, the second a cesarean, and the 3rd a VBAC. Now, expecting her 4th child, she is being told that she must consent to a repeat cesarean because her local hospital (Page) has determined that it can not handle any possible emergencies that a VBAC might bring. Continue Reading…
Posted 11 months, 1 week ago at 12:20 am. 2 comments
A friend recently asked me to pass along some information to help a friend of hers decide whether or not to pursue VBAC. This was my answer to her: Continue Reading…
Posted 1 year ago at 10:50 am. 9 comments
Circumstraint Board
Circumcision in the land of the free, home of the brave…its a touchy topic!
Here in America most men are circumcised–in contrast to the rest of the world where at least 80% of men are not circumcised. While groups opposed to circumcision say that circumcision rates have declined to the point that it is now 50/50 with babies born in America today, I certainly don’t see that in my area. I know very few parents other than my clients who leave their sons intact.
Recently I came across a rather unique argument in favor of circumcision. I asked an expectant couple why they were planning to circumcise, and they gave some of the usual answers: so he’ll look like dad, and for hygiene.
I chuckled and quickly answered Continue Reading…
Posted 1 year, 2 months ago at 1:59 am. 5 comments
Lehigh Valley Hospital has responded to the letter to the editor that was published in The Morning Call last week. You can read it here.
I’d like to respond to a couple of the statements made in the letter. Continue Reading…
Posted 1 year, 3 months ago at 11:27 am. Add a comment
Before the Rally
I’d like to thank all of the folks who gave of their precious Saturday morning to come out to the rally today! If the Lehigh Valley Hospital security car showing up around noon was any indication, we did draw a bit of attention. 
Continue Reading…
Posted 1 year, 3 months ago at 2:57 pm. Add a comment
Recently 3 major news organizations have had articles about birth related issues: The LA Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Time magazine. All of these articles have merit, but also have some short comings, which I’d like to address.
LA Times
The LA Times article, Childbirth: Can the US Improve?, I thought was over all very good. I liked that it featured a mom who not only had to look around to find a Dr. willing to support her VBAC, but that she successfully birthed a reasonably large baby (8 lbs 11 oz) vaginally. I thought it dealt with the risks of cesarean and interventions very well, such as the increased risk of “ICU” admissions (that should be “NICU) for babies with planned births–that is, planned inductions or planned cesareans. They pointed out that when some hospitals institute rules banning “planned” deliveries prior to 39 weeks that are not medically indicated, NICU admissions dropped by 46%. Amazing. Here are some of my favorite quotes:
“We’re going in the wrong direction,” said Dr. Roger A. Rosenblatt, a University of Washington professor of family medicine who has written about what he calls Continue Reading…
Posted 1 year, 3 months ago at 11:38 pm. Add a comment
I just learned today that The Midwives and Associates are no longer going to be allowed to attend VBAC’s at Lehigh Valley Hospital.
There has not been a negative outcome with VBAC’s that they have attended…it’s just a decision that was made by “folks higher up.” I have to wonder if this decision is just related to The Midwives, or if all VBAC’s are being forbidden at this hospital?
Either way, why am I not surprised?
I believe there may be one midwife attending VBAC out of St. Luke’s Bethlehem, but her offices are located in Stroudsburg, so many women find her to be geographically inaccessible. She’s also not an option for women who have “Valley Preferred” insurance, which ONLY allows women to birth out of Lehigh Valley Hospital.
There are a few OB’s who attend VBAC at area hospitals, but for the woman who desires the midwifery model of care, it appears that the only option for her now is homebirth.
UPDATE on Friday, May 7: I learned yesterday that saddly the midwives have lost ALL birthing priviledges at Lehigh Valley Hospital. As women, we can not sit back and allow this to happen without a fight. Please contact The Morning Call with your thoughts about this situation. I will keep you updated on what you can do. Thank you!
Posted 1 year, 4 months ago at 11:16 pm. Add a comment
