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Joy Szabo, 32, is about to give birth, but the only hospital in her area is insisting she undergo a C-section, even though she had informed her doctor that she would prefer not to have surgery.
Szabo already has three children, two of whom she delivered vaginally. Her second child was delivered by emergency C-section due to a placental abruption. Administrators at Page Hospital in Arizona ruled in June to prohibit vaginal births after Caesareans due to limited resources.
Szabo isn't buying it. She has met with Haryasz twice and says, "They don't want to allow VBACs because she said they aren't equipped for emergency C-sections, but if they can't do emergency C-sections, they shouldn't be having labor and delivery at all."
So far, neither side has budged. While the hospital told Szabo it would get a court order to perform a C-section if necessary, Szabo is skeptical that a judge would order a pregnant woman to undergo surgery that many consider unnecessary (see the aptly named Unnecesarean for more on that topic). She says it is her right to choose how to deliver.
According to the International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN), almost one-third of births in the United States are by Caesarean section, even though the recommended rate is between 5 and 10 percent. ICAN is partnering with a lawyer from Legal Voice to fight VBAC bans in several states in the Northwest.
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Wednesday 07 October
By l sheffield
I think she needs to understand what can actually go wrong after having a C section and then trying a VBAC delivery. I only wanted to deliver vaginally but ended up having an emergency C section after being in labor for 36 hrs with my first child. My second was a difficult birth, but a VBAC. My third child was not as difficult and I was allowed to have a VBAC but my uterus ruptured (split not "erupted") sometime before, during or after delivery and I basically bled out all day before it was detected. THey didnt find this out until I was rushed into emergency surgery and then spent the next week in and out of a coma. I wish I had been more compliant about having a Csection, and I am very thankful that things turned out okay, but it was a miracle that I came through it. I was told many times that it was a true miracle. I took 19 units of blood through the ordeal and was in the hospital for 2 weeks. It took me about a year to get myself back to full running speed, and I have raised 3 wonderful kids now. Think about the potential future when being stubborn I advise!
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Wednesday 07 October
By Pamela
I've had 3 kids - c-section, VBAC, c-section, in that order. The VBAC was FAR more traumatic and nearly 12 yrs later, I still wish that I had insisted on a c-section for that birth too. I'm not a proponent of VBACs. However, I think that each woman should have the choice of how they want to give birth. This hospital's excuse that they can't do emergency c-sections is not believable. An emergency can come up during any childbirth, and the need to do a c-section could happen at any time. It seems to me that if this hospital really can't do emergency c-sections, then they shouldn't have a labor and delivery department at all.
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Wednesday 07 October
By Claudia
Holy cow, if that really is her in the picture above, she will WANT a c-section, because it looks like she is carrying a 10-pound baby..........!!
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Wednesday 07 October
By Jeanna
Hey! I gave birth to a ten pounder!!! No C-sections for me!
Thursday 08 October
By Cindi Bridges
I think the writer of the story needs to proof read.
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Wednesday 07 October
By peggy sue
I was a VBAC pioneer back in 1983. I was probably one of the first 100 patients in the country allowed a trial of labor after having had a C-section (yes, emergency C section with a "classical" vertical scar). My first was due to "cephalo-pelvic" (spelling) disproportion and fetal distress. I was in labor for 22 hours with a 9.6 pound baby.
So, in my VBAC attempt, I was in labor for 30 hours with a 9.8 pound baby. He wouldn't "fit" either, so, no emergency - just another C-section. My labor was monitored closely and correctly. I felt better after having had him than I did the first time around. I was told at the time that 50% of all VBAC attempts were successful. I had to travel an hour to deliver at one of only two hospitals in Illinois that would allow a trial of labor after a C-section.
Even though I fell into the 50% that did not succeed, I was glad I tried it. My baby was born when HE was ready - not according to some doctor's "tee time" on the golf course. Had he been a scheduled C-section, he would have been born up to 3 weeks early = not healthy for him as "his" time to be born was 10 days after my due date.
She should find another hospital and doctor like I did. This is a safe practice when monitored correctly. Drawbacks: you get so wrapped up in succeeding, that you forget there's another 50% who won't make it. This can cause feelings of failure - especially with all these VBAC advocates that make you feel like YOU did something wrong. Another drawback is literally having the "opt out" option. Labor is no picnic. Knowing you have a "ticket out" (c-section) in the middle of it all can be quite enticing.
Bottom line: healthy baby / healthy mom. At this point, this woman already proved she could deliver vaginally. At this point , she is a consumer, and should shop around.
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Wednesday 07 October
By Shae
She needs to not be so selfish, she needs to put her baby's health first. Not to mention if anything were to happen to her during the vaginal birth she will have 4 babies without a mother. Get a grip lady, you've had it done before, and it could save the life of you and your child! How selfish can you be?
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Wednesday 07 October
By Lil
What I see is a woman overweight, which is an added risk, who had placental abruption once, which is dangerous as hell, want to dominate a system. I can understand her predicament and tell her this. She should think of locating to a higher ranked hospital, park in a hotel and have someone at a teaching hospital make the decision. At some point it is not her call, period. They either have to get that baby out or kill it or it suffers brain damage and she could bleed to death. There are all sorts of consequences. But to try and force a small hospital to bend to her rules is absurd. The cost factor is astronomical in these times for c-section. It isn't so much that they can't set up for emergency c-section, that can b done in minutes. It is getting people there to perform one that is the problem and seconds might be all that it takes between dead baby and not. I worked in small hospitals, and university hospitals. Ultimately she doesn't have a say in either if the child is at risk. Vaginal birth after c-section carries with it its own added risk and even in larger hospitals, not everyone will side with her choices either. It is kind of late now, but she could see if anyone would take her on last minute at a larger hospital. No it is not equal to rape. It is what is considered safe practice through years of training and lawsuits. Just my opinion. I wish her luck though and hope that she has a safe and healthy child with whatever birthing method is chosen for her.
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Wednesday 07 October
By marie (mfy)
Very good post Lil
Wednesday 07 October
By Carrie
No, the birthing method at this point is NOT CHOSEN FOR HER. What in the world...that comment makes me sick...
Wednesday 07 October
By J. R.
I believe that they are talking about a placenta abruption (probably spelled incorrectly) where the placenta separates from the uterus and the baby no longer has an oxygen supply so must be delivered immediately.
I doubt that any hospital these days is unable to perform an emergency c-section because there are too many circumstances where they are warrented.
There are many factors to decide whether or not a VBAC is a safe option, including time between pregnancies, direction of the incision on the uterus (not on the skin) and position of the baby. Going against the standard of care puts the doctor in a vunerable position. In my area, it is harder and harder to find an OB because of the malpractice insurance rates.
By the way, I support her decision. She has had one child by VBAC. I have had 3 children also. Two the good old fasioned way and the youngest by C-section because she was a transverse breech. The last was by far the hardest and the recovery was much longer than with the first two. I don't think that anyone should be forced to go through that unless there are no other options.
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Wednesday 07 October
By conjurwyf
So why don't all of you who are bitching about healthcare expenses weigh in on this one. This woman wants to RISK a VERY expensive procedure, an emergency C-section, AND the life/health of her child so she can have the 'satisfaction' of a vaginal birth! As long as I can remember, once you have a C-section, then you ALways have to have a C-Section after that. Why should she be allowed to run up costs to this hospital and essentially her insurance company (if she's got one; and if not, the REST of us will be paying for it) for no good reason. If it's gonna be about money, yours & mine, let's talk about MONEY!
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Wednesday 07 October
By Shannon
I totally support her in her path. I too was told I would have to have a c-section. I refused. If she arrives at the hospital in active labor she can envoke her rights under EMTALA. That says she must be treated and she has the right to refuse any treatment she does not want including c-section. They can attempt to transfer her if she is not 7 cm though. After 7 cm "birth is iminent" and they can not ship her.
If her prior c-section has a transverse incision in the uterus than her risk of uterine rupture is very small.
BTW there is no such thing as placenta eruption, it is placenta abruption where the placenta pulls away from the uterus before the baby has been delivered and it is life threatening to mom and baby.
I wish her the best of luck!
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Wednesday 07 October
By MissBrookeBamBam
This is stupid. She is not a doctor and if she didn't want to follow the hospital's rules, then why did she go? She could have given birth at home. Assuming no one had a gun to her head and MADE her go to the hospital in the first place. And comparing a medically necessary procedure (for her AND her baby) to rape is disgusting and offensive.
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Wednesday 07 October
By dch0369
I think she is dumb, she is risking not only her life but the life of her unborn child. Especially because she has a histpry of placenta eruption. She should listen to the experts or go to another town to deliver.
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Wednesday 07 October
By fs
hi i'm a neonatal nurse i can tell you of MANY emerg. and both baby and mother.s at risk WHY would you chance that we have lost babies to a failed vbac it happens especially risky with each pregnancy the uterus is being again stressed labor caused much pressure on these muscles
the muscles can rupture and loss of blood occurs both mom and baby
may die i've seen it.... listen to your doc
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Wednesday 07 October
By Johnstaw
I know plenty of women who have had vaginal birth after c-section, there was an old rule that once you had one c-section all your births had to be c-section but now they encourage vaginal births if it is safe. Again, anything can happen during labor a woman who has not had a prior c-section can need one and if they can't handle emergency c-sections how are they operating? Are they forcing all woman to have c-sections?
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Wednesday 07 October
By MH
People as stupid as her should not be allowed to have children at all! She is putting herself and her unborn child at SERIOUS risk. Is she really willing to leave her other children without a mother? I had an emergency C for a PC and gladly had a repeat C with my next child. I had no problems from either surgery.
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Wednesday 07 October
By JimR
I believe the writer is trying to refer to "placental abruption'. Let me take this opportunity to apply for a job as copy editor.
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Wednesday 07 October
By Liz
I think she's an idiot. People are dying all over the world due to poor medical treatment, and she's calling 'proper medical procedure' rape? It's to protect the doctors and your unborn child piss pants! People just love a reason to complain, and here's another one.
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