Birth Matters Virginia | Awards Event Directions

Washington, DC -- Attempting a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) is a safe and appropriate choice for most women who have had a prior cesarean delivery, including for some women who have had two previous cesareans, according to guidelines released today by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

The cesarean delivery rate in the US increased dramatically over the past four decades, from 5% in 1970 to over 31% in 2007. Before 1970, the standard practice was to perform a repeat cesarean after a prior cesarean birth. During the 1970s, as women achieved successful VBACs, it became viewed as a reasonable option for some women. Over time, the VBAC rate increased from just over 5% in 1985 to 28% by 1996, but then began a steady decline. By 2006, the VBAC rate fell to 8.5%, a decrease that reflects the restrictions that some hospitals and insurers placed on trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC) as well as decisions by patients when presented with the risks and benefits.

To read full statement from The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists click here.

The conclusion of the report states, Each year 1.5 million childbearing women have cesarean deliveries, and this population continues to increase. This report adds stronger evidence that VBAC is a reasonable and safe choice for the majority of women with prior cesarean. Moreover, there is emerging evidence of serious harms relating to multiple cesareans. Relatively unexamined contextual factors such as medical liability, economics, hospital structure, and staffing may need to be addressed to prioritize VBAC services. There is still no evidence to inform patients, clinicians, or policymakers about the outcomes of intended route of delivery because the evidence is based largely on the actual route of delivery. This inception cohort is the equivalent of intention to treat for randomized controlled trials and this gap in information is critical. A list of future research considerations as prioritized by national experts is also highlighted in this report.

This week The Coalition to Improve Maternity Services (CIMS) issued their new evidence-based paper titled, The Cesarean Section Fact Sheet & Mother's Checklist
This paper is a must read for all women preparing to give birth.

The Preliminary Report from the CDC for birth related statistics for 2008 is out The cesarean delivery rate rose for the 12th straight year to 32.3 percent in 2008. Increases were seen among women of all age groups, and most race and ethnic groups.

2009 Summary: We look back at the many projects in which Birth Matters Virginia was involved.

The international birth video contest which included judges Ricki Lake, Abby Epstein and Sarah Buckley, MD culminated with 40 videos being placed on YouTube and close to a million viewers at last count. Our website was viewed by more than 1000; we were covered in upwards of 100 blogs, mentioned on numerous website magazines including Mothering Magazine and even made our way into an article in a major Obstetrical magazine.

We actively participated in the Governor's mandated Infant Mortality Workgroup led by the state Health Commissioner, Dr. Karen Remley. Ours was the voice that continually raised the importance of evidence based practices being implemented, the midwifery model of care being integrated throughout obstetrical care and that the education of the care providers was equally, if not more, important than the education of consumers.

We have welcomed a new chapter, The Pennisula, into our organization bringing our chapters to nine with more in the planning stages.

We implemented a BMV blog, created a Facebook page and welcomed your input and comments.

Our 8th Annual Awards and Fundraiser event, Sunday November 8th, 2009 at the Renaissance Center was a tremendous success! We celebrated our award recipients, Leslie Fehan, CNM and Sara Farris Krivanec, CD; listened to Robbie Davis-Floyd speak about Birth Models That Work; and had great fun participating in the silent auction. On Monday November 9, 2009, BMV co-sponsored a half-day workshop with Bon Secours Richmond Health System. Ms. Davis-Floyd's talk on the Three Paradigms of Health and Birth Care: The Technocratic, Humanistic and Holistic Models was well attended by health care professionals from throughout the Bon Secours system as well as others in the community. In the afternoon, she gave her final talk to the medical students, residents and faculty members of the OB/GYN department at the VCU Health Center.

We would like to acknowledge the sponsors, those who donated to the auction and all of our attendees. The combined support allows Birth Matters Virginia to raise funds so that we may continue to provide education and support in our commitment to evidence-based care practices.

Throughout the year in our individual communities we facilitated birth circles, birth education series, hosted movie nights, guest speakers and were invited to participate in various health/educational events sponsored by other organizations. Our goals of educating consumers and healthcare professionals about their options and choices, about the healthiest and safest practices of mother/baby care, are being met by these events.

We look forward to a new year, a new decade where each one of us is helping to make a difference in a baby's, a woman's, a family's life. We extend gratitude to each of you for being agents of change. The world is truly a better place for your efforts and conscious decision to participate. May this new year bring good health and peace.

Virginia Health Information, an organization that provides consumers with access to information concerning healthcare, have released their new report, Obstetric Care Guide.This report includes a list of hospitals in the state with statistics on many topics such as cesarean sections vs vaginal deliveries and episiotomy rates. You can also see practitioners personal rates on these procedures by going to the sidebar of the page and tap into Compare Physicians
Please go to the following link to access information for your area's hospital(s).

National Video Contest Winners Have Been Announced!!!
Congrats and thanks to all who entered. We are excited to announce the winners of Birth Matters Virginia's nationwide video contest! Click here to find out who won!!

Judges for the video contest include:

Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein, acclaimed producers of The Business of Being Born.
Sarah Buckley, M.D., international birth expert and author of Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering.

As a step toward our goal of educating women about their choices and options during the childbearing years, Birth Matters Virginia solicited short videos about evidence-based maternity and delivery care. With our nation ranking 41st in maternal mortality and our cesarean rate surpassing 30%, it is more important than ever for women to be educated about their options.

Birth Matters Virginia is Collecting Birth Stories
Whether you had a hospital, home, or birth center birth, we would like to hear about it! Birth stories are powerful. Through our shared experiences we help other women and build stronger communities of birth.

A Blog for Birth Matters Virginia!
Stay current on the latest birth related events and issues. You can also submit your birth story through the blog! Check it out at:

Birth Matters Virginia, in partnership with the Virginia Chapter of the American College of Nurse Midwives, proudly offered special benefit screenings of Ricki Lake’s The Business of Being Born over three weeks in January. We reached approximately 430 people in seven communities, including Harrisonburg, Culpeper, Manassas, Reston, Springfield, Winchester and Sterling. "The Business of Being Born" also reached more than 675 people in two additional communities--Richmond and Tidewater. Our combined efforts reached over 1100 people in two months! (We reached another 200 at showings outside of those 2 months!) Thank you to all of the volunteers for their hard work and for all of the members of the birthing community who attended the panel discussions; your efforts made these screenings a great success!

National Vital Statistics Report (March 18, 2009):
Births: Preliminary Data for 2007

The cesarean section has risen to a new all-time high of 31.8% according to this just released report. Preterm and low birthweight rates have thankfully fallen. The report is long, but is full of interesting and relevant statistics about birth and birth outcomes.

Time Magazine (Feb 19, 2009): The Trouble With Repeat Cesareans
"For many pregnant women in America, it is easier today to walk into a hospital and request major abdominal surgery than it is to give birth as nature intended."

"Much ado has been made recently of women who choose to have cesareans, but little attention has been paid to the vast number of moms who are forced to have them."

"Not so long ago, doctors were actually encouraging women to have VBACs, which cost less than cesareans and allow mothers to heal more quickly."

BBC News (Dec.2, 2008): Caesarean Increases Asthma Risk
"Babies born by Caesarean section are more prone to developing asthma, say Dutch researchers. In a study of almost 3,000 children, birth by Caesarean was associated with an 80% increased risk of asthma by age eight compared with vaginal birth."

In 2007, 839 infants died in Virginia, with premature births accounting for more than half the total. Earlier today, the March of Dimes released its first national “Premature Birth Report Card,” giving the United States a “D” grade for its preterm birth rate of 12.7 percent.

Click here for the whole story

Join Birth Matters Virginia in supporting The Transparency in Maternity Care Project by completing The Birth Survey.

This is an ongoing database of women's experiences with their maternity care, birth place and birth professionals. Their goal is to give women a mechanism that can be used to share information about maternity care practices in their community while at the same time providing practitioners and institutions feedback for quality of care improvement efforts.
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Birth Matters Virginia speaks out on behalf of homebirth consumers

Women’s Options for Childbirth Being Challenged Again. With all of the excitement over finally joining the other states where having licensed homebirth midwives (CPMs) at your birth is an option, it’s easy to think that the fight is over. But, sadly, it’s not.

Click here for more of the story