Episode 40: VBACs: Interview with Jen Kamel
The topic of today’s episode is: VBACs or Vaginal Birth After Cesarean. I am so honored to have interviewed Jen Kamel for this episode. Jen is an internationally recognized consumer advocate and Founder of VBAC Facts.com. Jen helps perinatal professionals, and cesarean parents, achieve clarity on vaginal birth after cesarean. In this episode Jen shines a light on the misconceptions about the safety and risks associated with VBACs and we discuss ACOGs current recommendation as well as the data surrounding this topic.
I hope this episode educates and encourages any parent who has previously had a Cesarean birth and is considering their options for their next birth.
In this episode we discuss:
Jen’s background and how she came to start VBACfacts.com
What is a VBAC?
Vaginal Birth After Cesarean: when someone has a Cesarean section birth in a prior pregnancy and then they decide that they want to labor and have a vaginal delivery with their subsequent child
Language is important! Patients and clinicians should use the phrase: “Planning a VBAC”
What risks are associated with Laboring After a Cesarean?
The risk of uterine rupture after 1 previous low transverse Cesarean birth without induction or augmentation is 0.4%
How do the risks of a VBAC compare to the risks of complications from a Cesarean?
Both are associated with rare adverse outcomes
The most talked about risk associate with VBAC is: uterine rupture after 1 previous low transverse Cesarean birth without induction or augmentation is 0.4%
A major risk associated with Cesarean is placental abnormalities like Placenta Accreta, this increases with each prior C-section
Do the risks differ with a first VBAC vs. VBA2C or multiple C-sections, or babies?
Risk of uterine rupture decreases after a first VBAC
VBA2C stands for: Vaginal Birth After 2 Cesareans
What steps can you take in pregnancy and labor to increase chances of having a VBAC?
Find out if your provider is supportive of VBAC
Ask questions
Ask for evidence
Research your options for second opinions or finding another provider if your provider is not supportive of your choices
Mindset
Surround yourself with a bubble of peace
Surround yourself with supportive people
Have a mindset of: I am going to Labor After Cesarean
Arm yourself with the facts
You can talk confidently about your choices
Advocate for yourself
Familiarize yourself with the evidence
How has COVID affected C-section rates in general, in the US?
Jen is hosting a panel to discuss this in the VBACfacts professional membership next month
How to get in touch with Jen and VBACfacts.com:
Website: https://vbacfacts.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vbacfacts/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vbacfacts
How to get in touch with me:
Follow me on Instagram
Find other episodes at: www.findingyourvillagepod.com
Email me at amanda@findingyourvillagepod.com