The consent paper I was given in the hospital for my VBA2C said that the "success rate" of VBAC attempts is something like 74%. When you consider that the overall c-section rate is 29%, it's rather obvious that a VBAC is about as successful as a "normal" vaginal birth.

I have no doubt that the VBAC-lash (as Mothering calls it) is centered mainly around liability issues. We've had some lovely lawyers who have made millions off of "birth injury" cases, suing doctors who didn't perform c-sections. The risk of uterine rupture is truly not greatly increased after a c-section. There is still a risk of rupture even if you've never had a baby before--which actually sounds like exactly what happened with you, Raelynn.

Another clear sign that it is a liability issue: VBACs are still the norm in military hospitals, which don't have the same liability issues that civilian hospitals do. I know one Air Force wife right now who had a civilian for her third pregnancy because of the continuity of care issue, but it planning to switch back to the military system when she gets pregnant again, because she can get a VBAC at Wilford Hall a heck of a lot easier than at any of the civilian hospitals in San Antonio.

There's only one group of docs here who even consider VBACs, and then they have very strict policies. The OB has to be in-house the entire time, but so does the anesthesiologist, and a pediatrician also has to be there.

The biggest problem with VBACs here is that there is no cap on malpractice suits, so our docs are paying a pretty penny for malpractice insurance. That's why most groups here have stopped allowing VBACs.

Our hospital has in house anesthesia at all times (it is a large regional hospital), but the OB and the pediatrician both have to be there too.

My husband worked is a smaller hosptial before he moved his practice here and they had to call in all those people plus the entire surgical team, who all had to sit around to see if the lady was going to need an emergency c-section or hysterecomy due to rupture.

Liability is a huge problem, and insurance is out of control. The biggest problem with VBACs is that they work well most of the time, but if there is a complication it is a huge one which could result in the death of the mother and baby (and scary as this is I know of a couple of times in the past 6 years in this small town that has happened.)

My husband, who has never even had a claim made against him much less been sued (and neither has his partner) pays almost 60,000 a year just for him (when you add his partner, it is almost 120,000). To break even, they must do 60 deliveries (average reimbursement to take care of a woman from first ob visit to delivery is 2000) before they make one penny, and each delivery has the possibility of great liability.

No wonder so many doctors don't do VBAC or OB any more . . .