Wednesday, July 21, 2010

ACOG Issues Less Restrictive VBAC Guidelines

A press release today from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists explained that the organization is tweaking it's previously released guidelines for Vaginal Birth After Cesarean, the release states that the organization now includes women with two prior low transverse incision cesareans (such as Dr. Poppy Daniels, the gynecologist who got a lot of attention for her surprise VBAC story), women carrying twins, and women with an unknown type of uterine scar on their list of appropriate VBAC candidates. The press release also clarifies the organization's prior position that VBAC should only be attempted where emergency surgery is immediately available, explaining that while they feel that this is ideal it is not always possible, and that should not prevent women from being given the choice to have a VBAC.

This guideline change likely comes in response to the conclusions of the VBAC Conference held in March 2010 by the National Institute of Health, whose Final Panel Statement called on ACOG to reevaluate their guidelines. There was also an online petition to ACOG with over 1,200 signatures asking for changes in light of the NIH's findings.

I'm calling this one a Victory for VBAC!

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