Birth Belongs to Women not the Hospital

I went to a birth and breastfeeding conference on Friday. It was the best experience ever. I connected and talked to people I would normally not have any dealings with and I got so many great ideas to try to help the mothers at my job and in the community. There were several speakers that presented but one had my attention and not just because she was from my Alma Mater ;)

So I attended Virginia Commonwealth University(VCU) for my undergrad. While there the medical college's hospital did not have a great reputation. If you wanted to have a baby do not go to VCU Medical Center but if you got shot 9x then go there!!!! If you get a certain type of cancer that was the place for you but if you have a cold stay away. It is one of the best trauma hospitals  and one of five level one trauma centers in the entire state of Virginia so its rightfully so that if you stroll in there with your leg hanging on by a thread you will walk out recovered and leg firmly attached (exaggeration I am not sure if that particular scenario ever happened lol) How wonderful!

So the presenter is a midwife at VCU Medical Center and she was presenting on all of the new and wonderful things that are happening at the hospital. They facilitated a change about 3-4 years ago and she wanted to share the results. They are actually following the guidelines set forth by ACOG for birth practices and they are working on becoming Baby Friendly (if they have not already). Because of their sudden change they now have 85% VBAC success rate, 87% unmediated births (in midwifery) and less then 10% c-section rate from midwifery.

There's no more being strapped to the bed and having monitors on you continually-- mothers are allowed to move around and walk around. They ENCOURAGE different birthing positions and not just the traditional one on your back that makes birth easier for the doctor NOT the mother. They ENCOURAGE birth plans! Moms can eat and drink during labor with IV as long as she doesn't have the epidural (epidural can cause vomiting), the birth tub is an option AND the shower! They practice the hands off approach as long as there is progression (slow or fast), they utilize forceps and versions and they do not mind a breach delivery.  There are no discussion of inductions until AFTER the mother has hit 42 weeks and they educate their clients on what their birth RIGHTS are not the hospital's RECOMMENDATION. They even do VBACs up to two sections. They practice RESPECTFUL maternal care.

They practice delayed cord clamping for vaginal and for as long as they can with sections

I realize this presentation was given by a Midwife but the doctors are practicing this too. They took tips from the midwives on how birth is SUPPOSE to be. And if the birth comes to a c-section they practice "gentle c sections" or they utilize the "tunnel" so mom can still have a positive outcome even if its not the original outcome she hoped for.


1/3 of mothers in the US are having babies via c-section and of that 35.8% are African American mothers. Has evolution failed us or has our medical practices failed us? Woman are not broken they can birth their babies and if left alone they can do this. Contrary to popular belief there is more to it then a "baby being born alive" and "healthy mom and baby". Birth sticks with a mother for the REST OF HER LIFE as long as her brain has the capability to remember it. Her children are constant reminders of the outcome from the birth and birthdays are constant reminders of that day. From experience, if the mother had a traumatic birth she is no longer "healthy". Her mental health is not well.

I am not opposed to women if they want to have elective c-section or use the epidural but I am opposed to mother's not getting to choose the birth they want. I do not like it when mothers are bullied and doctors do not explain. I am not a fan of doctors just not caring and posting signs in the lobby stating "if you want a natural birth go to a different provider" (i've seen this one!!!) or doctors dropping patients because they are asking questions about their maternity care practices (like are we suppose to follow blindly like sheep?). Doctors have their place and they need to step in if its life or death not time and money.

So to all my pregnant mamas or if you know a pregnant mama I think it is worth it to check out what they have going on at VCU Medical Center. They take most all insurances and they welcome transfers from other doctors who do not have faith in their mamas. Please check out their Facebook they have awesome pictures of all the births they have done MCV Midwifery Facebook

The midwife that gave the awesome presentation was Amber Price and she can be found catching babies at VCU Medical Center http://VCUmom.com (804) 828-9270

Click worthy Links:
7 Universal Rights of Childbearing Women
Awesome Video on Respectful Maternity Care
VCU Medical Center Skin to Skin Video
Gentle or Family Centered C-Sections
Video of Gentle C-Section
Delivering own baby during Csection (tunnel)
Birth Data from 2012 (CDC)
How VCU Health Systems Rank (you can use this website to see how your area hospital ranks VA only)

If you are a new mom and wanting information OR a previous section mommy wanting VBAC support :
ICAN- International Ceasarean Awareness Network
Birth Matters Virginia
Post Partum Support VA
Black Women Do VBAC (facebook)
ACOG
and of course my website :)