I had a great conversation the other day with a client of mine who is looking forward to attempting a VBAC. She shared with me the dialog she had with her doctor on whether or not she'd be allowed to try for a VBAC. They spoke at length on what conditions would not be favorable or put mother and baby at risk.
then the doctor started spouting statistics on the dangers and risks of possible uterine rupture (which are real but far less occurring than you'd think) when my client stopped her and gently asked the million dollar question, "How many uterine ruptures during an attempted VBAC have you actually witnessed?" The doctor stopped, hesitated a moment, and replied, "None." The second million dollar question, "How many have occurred at this hospital since you've been practicing here?" Again the reply was "None" The partnering doctor inserted that she had witnessed four in all of her years of practice and how horrible they had been. When questioned further by my client she admitted that those ruptures occurred in a developing third world country and not here in the U.S. My client raised her eyebrows and looked her doctor in the eye and qualified, "Barring any unforeseen complications." The OB/GYN agreed to the VBAC, how could she not?
then the doctor started spouting statistics on the dangers and risks of possible uterine rupture (which are real but far less occurring than you'd think) when my client stopped her and gently asked the million dollar question, "How many uterine ruptures during an attempted VBAC have you actually witnessed?" The doctor stopped, hesitated a moment, and replied, "None." The second million dollar question, "How many have occurred at this hospital since you've been practicing here?" Again the reply was "None" The partnering doctor inserted that she had witnessed four in all of her years of practice and how horrible they had been. When questioned further by my client she admitted that those ruptures occurred in a developing third world country and not here in the U.S. My client raised her eyebrows and looked her doctor in the eye and qualified, "Barring any unforeseen complications." The OB/GYN agreed to the VBAC, how could she not?