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VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean): An Intro
In this country, 9 in 10 women with a history of cesarean will go on to have a repeat cesarean delivery in any future pregnancy. Only 1 in 10 will have a vaginal birth after cesarean, known colloquially as “VBAC”. When this statistic is reported, it is often without the necessary context; people may understandably…
Read MoreTips for turning a breech baby: you have options!
Evidence indicates that around 4% of babies (about 1 in 20) are in the breech position at term. “Breech” refers to a baby that is head-up, rather than head-down. Prior to 30 weeks gestation, it is normal for the baby to periodically be in a breech position. In fact, pregnant people sometimes report being able…
Read MoreDoulas and homebirth: yes, they go together!
Folks planning out-of-hospital births commonly believe that they don’t need a doula. This is a reasonable assumption; after all, cesareans and other interventions occur at very low rates in the homebirth population. Further, the risks doulas combat in the hospital (overuse of interventions, lack of privacy and autonomy, interruptions and harsh or hurried care from…
Read MoreWhy those planning for an epidural still need a doula
Doulas are most commonly associated with those planning unmedicated deliveries, sometimes referred to as “natural births” (a term I don’t really love, but that’s another story). This has led to a curious belief that doulas and epidurals are an “either/or” proposition: if you want one, you don’t plan on getting the other. Or, if you’re…
Read MoreHow I Got Started & Where I’m Going
My journey in the birth world began in 2012 when a friend working in obstetrics asked my opinion on unnecessary and non-consented care she routinely observed in her job. As an attorney whose law school thesis focused on conflicts between provider preference and women’s bodily autonomy, the legal and ethical issues immediately resonated with me.…
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