birth activist

The recent resolution by the American Medical Association opposing Home Birth is all over the message boards today. Resolutions were introduced by the AMA to support ACOG's position against home birth and to "develop model legislation in support of the concept that the safest setting for labor, delivery, and the immediate post-partum period is in the hospital, or a birthing center within a hospital complex, that meets standards jointly outlined by the AAP and ACOG, or in a freestanding birthing center that meets the standards of the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, The Joint Commission, or the American Association of Birth Centers."

Sign the Petition Today! Please help send a message to the AMA and ACOG, and to our state and federal legislators, to tell them that we object to these resolutions and we view legislation that would restrict a woman's right to choose a home birth as a being contrary to scientific evidence and a violation of women's basic human rights.

If you are looking for an inspiring little birth activism project for your area, I have an idea for you. Join hands with other women in your area and form a "VBAC Coalition." According to ICAN, over 3,000 hospitals across the United States have instituted facility-wide bans on Vaginal Birth After Cesarean. In our town, women are being told that they must have a repeat cesarean regardless of their present health status and regardless of the reason for their previous cesarean. We know that these bans are not only un-supportable by good evidence, but they are also a basic violation of a woman's Patient Rights and Human Rights.

If you would like to take on the hospitals, here's a place to start. Check back on birthactivist.com for further steps and updates as we go through this process.

Step 1: Form a coalition. Gather together with a small group of women representing your local birth network, ICAN chapter, La Leche League Chapter, as well as individual women who have been affected by the VBAC Ban (or who just care deeply, even if they've never had a C-Section)

Our coalition consists of a chapter leader of BirthNetwork, a mom who has had one previous cesarean, a mom who demanded for herself a successful VBAC despite the ban, a mom who had an "HBAC" or Home Birth After Cesarean because of the ban, and a Certified Nurse-Midwife who is our resident "safety and statistics expert." We met together today to discuss our plan of action to pressure our local hospitals to reverse the ban.

Stay tuned for step 2! "

A recent article in the New York Times highlighted a new problem that women are facing after a cesarean. Some women who apply for individual insurance policies are being charged higher premiums and some are being denied coverage if they have had a previous cesarean section. It looks like insurance companies are now counting the financial risks of repeat cesarean on their bottom line and they aren't willing to take the risk. However, more and more hospitals are banning the option of a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) altogether, citing vague recommendations by ACOG and pressure from their own malpractice insurance providers, revealing they aren't willing to take the risk either.

My deep congratulations to the women and families of Missouri! I was raised in Missouri and I feel a close connection to the struggle of midwives in that state, where it is a felony to practice midwifery. My youngest sister was delivered at home almost 23 years ago by one of the most competent, talented midwives in the state, despite the illegal status of midwives. However, after many years of fighting, a midwives licensure bill just passed the Missouri Senate in its final hours. Unfortunately, there was not sufficient time for the bill to make it to the House, so they still have a fight ahead. But finally, there is hope. Do you ever wonder if we birth activists are making a difference? Be assured, we are. Read on for the media release in its entirety. . .

Final Numbers are available for VBAC Bans across the country! Local birth activists polled hospitals that have Labor and Delivery Units. You can access this information on the ICAN Website by selecting the Advocacy Link. Then search ICAN’s Hospital VBAC Policy Database by state or zip code to find out if your local hospital bans VBACs or not.

Barbara Stratton, a national VBAC activist who reversed several bans, has opened up a national yahoo group for people actively working on reversing bans across the nation. VBACtivist@yahoogroups.com. This is a great place for people to share ideas and strategy with people all over the country. She only wants people to join who are actively working on reversing bans. If you are interested in making a difference in your area, please join the group.