Empowered Birth Doula Services

04/06/2021

People seem more inclined to believe factual scientific data until it pertains to childbirth.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10159372416958921&id=44134673920

You read that right.

Per the American College of OB/GYN's 2019 VBAC guidelines, the risk of maternal death during a planned vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) is 0.0019%.

Expressed another way, that is a risk of 1 in 52,600.

Did you have any idea the risk was that low?

Whereas the risk of maternal death with an elective repeat cesarean after one cesarean is 0.0096% or 1 in 10,000.

Again, both really small numbers but the risk of maternal death is five times higher in a repeat cesarean.

This is why when pregnant people are threatened with "you could die if you plan a VBAC," it falls flat.

But it is often really successful in coercing someone into a repeat cesarean... as well as eroding patient autonomy and any trust when the birthing person learns the facts.

As a L&D nurse told us, "There is no real informed consent anymore."

This is just yet another example.

ETA: Some people asked in the comments about the risk of fetal death. We discuss that here: https://vbacfacts.com/2012/04/03/confusing-fact-only-6-of-uterine-ruptures-are-catastrophic/

Others have asked about vaginal birth after classical cesarean: https://vbacfacts.com/2021/08/10/vbac-after-classical-t-j-incision/

… or after two cesareans: https://vbacfacts.com/vba2c

… or after three or more cesareans: https://vbacfacts.com/vba3c

Also, you can download our free resources including:

- a report debunking the top 5 uterine rupture myths: https://vbacfacts.com/report

- a handout busting the top 3 VBAC myths using national guidelines: https://vbacfacts.com/acogmyths

- and a VBAC planning checklist: https://vbacfacts.com/checklist

12/19/2020

Beautiful.

08/08/2019

Breastmilk is truly amazing!!! Happy World Breastfeeding Week ❤️ show us your breastfeeding littles!!!

04/23/2019

Good info, if you have been hearing about the ARRIVE trial.

Rebecca Dekker PhD, RN, APRN The ARRIVE Trial This article was written on November 5, 2018, All Rights Reserved. Please read our Disclaimer and Terms of Use. Download our free one-page handout Why did researchers conduct the ARRIVE trial? The researchers carried out the ARRIVE study (A Randomized Tr...

04/20/2019

04/12/2019

You might have seen the news recently that the Duchess of Sussex (the lady I hold personally responsible for the fact that no one has been able to spell my name correctly for the past 2 years 😜), has been described as a 'birth brat', which I can only assume is the journalistic birth equivalent to bridezilla.. 'God! What was she asking for?' you might be wondering.. 'Lobster after the birth and a jewel encrusted birth pool?'

Nope. According to the press the Duchess wanted to be able to choose her own healthcare providers, her own place of birth and not be subjected to a photo shoot by the worlds media immediately after giving birth. Oh! Like.. basic human rights then?

The fact that requests like this, or even more specific choices (which we obviously don't know Meghan's preferences on), like whether or not to have a vaginal examination, whether or not to have continuous monitoring in labour, whether to accept a sweep at 40 weeks.. are seen as 'unusual', or 'being difficult' says a hell of a lot more about our society, women's rights and the narrative around birth than it does about The Duchess of Sussex!

We don't go to the hair dressers and get told- 'well you're turning 40 now so it's time to get a crop style, I can see Grey's in there so we must dye it, you have a big forehead so i'm just going to cut you a quick fringe'.. and if we DID get treated like this we'd leave the hair dressers, and tell all our friends not to go to that salon!

Why is birth any different? Why is the default expectation that the minute we fall pregnant our bodies become the property of other people. Whether that friends, family or even total strangers expressing their opinions about what we do or eat during pregnancy or our plans for birth.. or during labour itself when it's expected for women to walk into a hospital and say 'ok, get the baby out, do whatever it takes'.

On all our courses at Positively Birthing we focus a lot on what your choices are and how to take control of them. You're not being difficult, or a brat, for having your own thoughts and opinions about what you want for your birth.. from the hundreds of women I've worked with and hundreds more birth stories I've heard, THIS is the single most important part of getting a positive birth experience. Not hypnobirthing, not being in a pool, not where you give birth- but deciding things for YOURSELF and being supported in these decisions.

If you want so many many more tips and ideas on 'how to be a birth brat' from the other Megan that knows a thing or two about it 🙋our group and private courses can be booked in Surrey and London on the website now! www.positivelybirthing.com

02/21/2019

A new video uses nursery rhyme characters and a catchy song to teach parents how to perform infant CPR.

02/05/2019

Meghan Markle is breaking royal tradition by reportedly hiring a birth partner, known as a doula, to help her get ready to have her first child with Prince Harry this spring.