Question about hospitals refusing VBACs

annabelle.27

... can they actually do that? We've all heard about hospitals that won't do it, but will they really not do it? I mean, if you show up in labour and refuse to consent to a c-section, can they throw you out on the street? Wouldn't they be obligated to provide care whether you got a c-section or not?

Dobie_Mama

Not really.  The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act requires hospitals to admit women in labor and basically follow their wishes.  ICAN has some good info on this issue.

erinkate_86

Our local hospital doesn't do it. I've never heard of anyone talking them into a VBAC. Its just the way it is around here and for some reason no one questions it. I guess if you wanted to fight it you could, but I'm guessing none of the doctors would want to go against the hospital policy.

jamie5315

I don't know if they can or not. Maybe they justify it by saying they have to do what is in the best interest for your safety and health? Not that I think there is anything wrong with VBAC! My cousin is studying to be a doula and the hospital near her won't allow them because their rate of c-sections had gone down so much that they were losing a lot of money. How sad is that?

Tash13

jamie5315:

I don't know if they can or not. Maybe they justify it by saying they have to do what is in the best interest for your safety and health? Not that I think there is anything wrong with VBAC! My cousin is studying to be a doula and the hospital near her won't allow them because their rate of c-sections had gone down so much that they were losing a lot of money. How sad is that?

 Wow.  It's so sad what their true priorities are.  My hospital was very open to the natural birth experience (even had jet tubs, birthing balls and was willing to work with your birth plan in anyway possible) and they ended up closing their maternity ward a few week after my DS was born because they weren't making enough money.  They sent all the pregnant women to one women's hospital, which was of course overly full, and everybody was forced to share rooms.  Most of the birthing rooms didn't have tubs and their epidural and csection rate was higher than any other hospital within 50 miles.  So sad.  I think the next one is going to be in a birthing center or at home.. I just don't want to deal with the politics.

TXSweetheart

I'm curious about this too.  My cousin wanted to have a VBAC, but the hospital where she was delivering was very small and not well equipped for emergency surgeries so none of the doctors in the area would perform them...but to my knowledge, that was the doctors' policy, not the hospital's, or maybe it was both.  I'm sure if a woman walked in far enough along in labor the hospital would admit her.  Right??  I always assumed the doctors' were just trying discouraging elective VBAC's....but they can't actually NOT help you if you have one...can they?? 

pinksweetpea2

NO, they cannot. ?Even if they thought you were hurting your child by having a VBAC, they would have to get a court order to perform a c-section on you.

The whole thing is absurd. ?Statistically the risks associated with repeat c-sections are a lot higher than most VBACs.

I suggest you read Obstetric Myth vs. Researched Reality by Henci Goer. ?It will blow your mind and also make you very angry at our current maternity system.?

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