by VBAC Facts®
Join VBAC Facts® Founder and CEO Jen Kamel as she shares everything vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) including the shocking medical evidence, breathtaking birth stories, inspiring advocacy victories, and sobering legal cases. Jen and her guests will both celebrate the triumphs as well as highlight the many opportunities for improvement in our health care system. Come learn what is possible so we can work together to create a world where everyone has access to respectful, evidence based health care. ————— Since 2007, the focus of VBAC Facts® has been to provide objective, accurate information about VBAC and repeat cesarean to parents, professionals, policymakers, and the court so decisions can be informed, ethical, and just. VBAC Facts® does not provide any medical advice and the information provided should not be so construed or used. Nothing provided by VBAC Facts® is intended to replace the services of a physician or midwife or to be a substitute for medical advice of a physician or midwife.
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11/13/2024
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May 2, 2025
<p>Join Jen Kamel as she sits down with physician scientist and VBAC calculator researcher Dr. Nicholas Rubashkin, MD, PhD, an Associate Professor at UC San Francisco, to discuss the historical and cultural implications of the VBAC calculator, a tool used to predict vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) odds. </p><p>The conversation uncovers how the calculator has propagated racist assumptions that Black and Hispanic bodies are less capable of vaginal birth, the consequences of those assumptions on maternal care, and the problematic "60% threshold." </p><p>They explore how to shift the conversation from risk-based to goal-oriented, how problems remain even after race and ethnicity were removed from the tool, recent research out of Sweden, and the fundamental ethical issues at the root of the calculator. </p><p>The episode also addresses the concept of "controlling risk in advance," ethical implications of using surgery as a default solution, why some midwives don't use the calculator, and provides insights into future research and practices aimed at increasing equitable access to VBAC. </p><p>02:11 His Training and Background</p><p>09:25 How He Decided to Study the VBAC Calculator</p><p>11:25 Is VBAC a Political Issue?</p><p>13:38 New Limitations on Research Grants</p><p>16:48 The Many VBAC Calculators</p><p>20:37 How to Define Uterine Rupture</p><p>21:45 Race as a Risk Factor</p><p>23:28 The Power of Lived Experience in Research</p><p>25:55 It's Not Race, It's Racism</p><p>27:56 How Race & Racism Were Built Into the Calculator</p><p>29:28 Race & Ethnicity Removed from the VBAC Calculator</p><p>32:13 A New Form of Scientific Racism</p><p>33:03 Removing Race, Problems Remain</p><p>35:34 Response to VBAC Calculator Critique</p><p>38:34 Reader Q: Validate Prior FTP Cesarean</p><p>42:27 Swedish Study: 10cm FTP Diagnosis & Future VBAC Odds</p><p>43:36 Script for Using the Calculator</p><p>44:44 Reader Q: Psychosocial Elements of FTP</p><p>47:07 Science Beyond VBAC Calculator Comes From Oncology!</p><p>47:59 Calculator Contributes to Informed Consent?</p><p>51:04 Where to Start: VBAC Calculator & Informed Consent </p><p>54:01 Controlling Risk in Advance</p><p>01:01:02 The Fundamental Ethical Issue</p><p>01:03:16 The 60% Threshold</p><p>01:08:02 The "Necessity" of The 40/41-Week Scheduled Cesarean </p><p>01:10:28 Goal Oriented Conversations</p><p>Have a comment or question for the podcast? Want to suggest a guest we should interview or a topic we should discuss? Go to <a href="https://vbacfacts.com/podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://vbacfacts.com/podcast</a> to give us your feedback!</p><ul><li><a href="https://vbacfacts.com/scholarship/">Contribute to the VBAC Facts® BIPOC Scholarship Fund | VBAC Facts®</a></li><li><a href="https://mfmunetwork.bsc.gwu.edu/web/mfmunetwork/vaginal-birth-after-cesarean-calculator">Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Calculator (MFMU)</a></li><li><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e6-decoding-the-vbac-calculator-science-bias-and/id1779599613?i=1000683440410">Episode 6 Decoding the VBAC Calculator: Science, Bias, and Decision Making | The VBAC Facts® Podcast - Apple Podcasts</a></li><li><a href="https://vbacfacts.com/vbac-calculator-underestimate-inaccurate/">Study finds that VBAC calculators underpredict VBAC odds. They are also racially biased. | VBAC Facts®</a></li><li><a href="https://vbacfacts.com/checklist">Sign up for your copy of the VBAC Planning Checklist! | VBAC Facts®</a></li><li><a href="https://vbacfacts.com/consulting">Consulting for Parents, Professionals, Legal & Policy Teams │ VBAC Facts® </a></li><li><a href="https://vbacfacts.com/speaking">Professional Speaking with Jen Kamel │ VBAC Facts®</a></li><li><a href="https://vbacfacts.com/handout">Sign up for your copy of the Top Three VBAC Myths! | VBAC Facts®</a></li><li><a href="https://vbacfacts.com/report">Sign up for your copy of the Uterine Rupture Report! | VBAC Facts®</a></li><li><a...
April 18, 2025
<p>In the latest episode of The VBAC Facts® Podcast, Dr. Chris Stroud OB/GYN of Fort Wayne, Indiana considers his 30 year career and shares why offering VBAC is so important to him, including his reasoning for supporting community midwives who attend home and birth center VBAC. We discuss the concept of "acceptable complications," which may provide some insight as to why many OBs in the United States recommend repeat cesareans for everyone regardless of their medical history, their current clinical scenario, or VBAC candidacy. He also shares his vulnerable and authentic reflections on being sued after a uterine rupture related fetal demise and why he continues to attend VBACs. Key topics covered include his practice's secret sauce, how working with community midwives has made him a better obstetrician, what he calls the four pillars of VBAC success, and a special message for physicians who don't attend VBAC and hospital administrators who maintain VBAC bans. </p><p>00:00 Upcoming VBAC Facts® Events</p><p>01:35 Join Our Email List to Learn More About VBAC</p><p>02:16 How To Book Jen to Speak at Your Next Event</p><p>03:01 What We Will Talk About Today</p><p>08:24 When VBACs Were Required</p><p>13:21 His VBAC Philosophy</p><p>14:39 Why His Believes Offering VBAC is Important</p><p>16:28 How He Counsels Patients on VBAC vs Repeat Cesarean</p><p>19:19 The Concept of "Acceptable Complications"</p><p>24:06 Avoiding VBAC Bait & Switch</p><p>26:46 Does He Worry About VBAC Safety?</p><p>28:27 When He Induces Planned VBACs</p><p>30:06 What "Immediately Available" Means to Him</p><p>31:16 Why Aren't All Hospitals Attending VBAC?</p><p>33:53 On Not Giving Up</p><p>35:48 Voting with Your Feet</p><p>36:55 Administrative, Hospital, & Legal Challenges</p><p>40:23 Don't Leave Those with Primary Cesareans in the Dust</p><p>42:32 Questions for Non-VBAC Providers</p><p>45:42 It's the Lawsuit</p><p>47:37 His Practice's Secret Sauce</p><p>50:47 On Collaborating with Community Midwives</p><p>52:54 What He Has Learned From Community Midwives</p><p>56:00 Longest Second Stage</p><p>57:34 On Being Sued After a Uterine Rupture</p><p>59:50 Processing Trauma After a Uterine Rupture & Fetal Demise</p><p>01:03:43 On Advocating for His Patients</p><p>01:05:47 Advice: Reversing VBAC Bans</p><p>01:07:26 Four Pillars of VBAC Success</p><p>01:10:16 Parents: Most Important Thing for Them to Consider</p><p>01:11:11 A Message for Physicians Who Don't Attend VBAC</p><p>01:12:26 Message to Hospital Administrators with VBAC Bans</p><p>Have a comment or question for the podcast? Want to suggest a guest we should interview or a topic we should discuss? Go to <a href="https://vbacfacts.com/podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://vbacfacts.com/podcast</a> to give us your feedback!</p><p>Music produced by (Analogue)/(prod. Analogue). </p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/prod.analogue" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@prod.analogue</a></p><p>Email Dr. Chris Stroud: [email protected]</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.ican-online.org/">Home - International Cesarean Awareness Network</a> - Learn more about ICAN's April 21, 2025 Q&A with Jen Kamel</li><li><a href="https://warmmidwives.com">WARM | Washington Alliance for Responsible Midwifery | Birth is the most fundamental human rights issue. Safe and successful childbirth options are the strong foundation upon which every healthy society grows.</a> - Register for the April 24 - 26, 2025 WARM Conference in Wenatchee, Washington and attend Jen's 3 hour training, "The VBAC Imperative: How to Improve VBAC Access and Outcomes While Decreasing Litigation Risk"</li><li><a href="https://www.myfmcc.com">Learn more about VBAC telemedicine with Dr Chris Stroud: Fertility & Midwifery Care Center - Fertility & Midwifery Birth Center</a></li><li><a href="https://vbacfacts.com/checklist">Sign up for your copy of the VBAC Planning Checklist! | VBAC Facts®</a></li><li><a...
April 4, 2025
<p>It's a podcast mix-up! Join VBAC Facts® Founder Jen Kamel as she is interviewed on All Things Women's Health with Dr. Chris Stroud. She will share why birth experiences matter, the impact of her births on her life, what it was like to experience a contraction for the first time, why it is so important for people to have access to VBAC after one cesarean, and her favorite VBAC myth. They also discuss recovery from a cesarean versus a vaginal birth, the concept of "acceptable risk," how shifts in physician employment can impact VBAC access, as well as what makes a cesarean hysterectomy different than a hysterectomy in the absence of pregnancy. Plus, Jen responds to some reader comments on episode 11 where we discussed a community's 10 year fight against a VBAC ban. This episode provides valuable insights for parents, healthcare professionals, and anyone interested in women's health and birthing options.</p><ul><li>01:26 Reader Comments: Episode 11</li><li>11:07 Dr. Chris Stroud introduces Jen</li><li>13:38 Jen's Story</li><li>17:17 Baby is Transverse, What Now?</li><li>24:12 The Time Before Social Media</li><li>25:15 VBAC vs. Cesarean Postpartum</li><li>26:50 Abdominal Hysterectomy vs. C-Section</li><li>28:37 Why Jen Founded VBAC Facts®</li><li>31:40 "Acceptable Risk"</li><li>36:56 Getting into Medical Research</li><li>43:43 Misquoting Research</li><li>47:03 One Prior Cesarean is Not High Risk</li><li>47:46 Why Does Birth Experience Matter?</li><li>53:08 Transformation Through Birth</li><li>54:36 Where is VBAC Headed?</li><li>56:40 Shift of Physician Employment</li><li>01:02:48 What is a C-Section Hysterectomy?</li><li>01:05:34 Pregnant After One Cesarean? This is Your Best Shot</li><li>01:10:16 Favorite VBAC Myth</li><li>01:12:22 Advice for Parents, Nurses, and Providers</li></ul><br/><p>Have a comment or question for the podcast? Want to suggest a guest we should interview or a topic we should discuss? Go to <a href="https://vbacfacts.com/podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://vbacfacts.com/podcast</a> to give us your feedback!</p><p>Music produced by (Analogue)/(prod. Analogue). </p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/prod.analogue" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@prod.analogue</a></p><ul><li><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e7-40-vbac-myths-busted-plus-hospital-vba2c-after-uterine/id1779599613?i=1000685281989">E7 40+ VBAC Myths Busted! Plus Hospital VBA2C After Uterine Defect - The VBAC Facts® Podcast - Apple Podcasts</a></li><li><a href="https://vbacfacts.com/how-read-medical-research/">"Three times the risk?:" What the large Canadian VBAC study really says | VBAC Facts®</a></li><li><a href="https://vbacfacts.com/13-myths">13 persistent myths about vaginal birth after cesarean | VBAC Facts®</a></li><li><a href="https://vbacfacts.com/checklist">Sign up for your copy of the VBAC Planning Checklist! | VBAC Facts®</a></li><li><a href="https://vbacfacts.com/consulting">Consulting for Parents, Professionals, Legal & Policy Teams │ VBAC Facts® </a></li><li><a href="https://vbacfacts.com/speaking">Professional Speaking with Jen Kamel │ VBAC Facts®</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ican-online.org/">International Cesarean Awareness Network</a></li><li><a href="https://vbacfacts.com/handout">Sign up for your copy of the Top Three VBAC Myths! | VBAC Facts®</a></li><li><a href="https://vbacfacts.com/report">Sign up for your copy of the Uterine Rupture Report! | VBAC Facts®</a></li><li><a href="https://vbacfacts.com/tav">The Truth About Vaginal Birth After Cesarean™ for Families | VBAC Facts® Educational Course for Parents</a></li><li><a href="https://vbacfacts.com/membership">VBAC Facts® Professional Membership | VBAC Facts® Continuing Education</a></li><li><a href="https://vbacfacts.com/vba2c">Vaginal birth after two cesareans (VBA2C): An overview of the evidence - VBAC Facts® Article</a></li><li><a href="https://vbacfacts.com/vba3c">Vaginal birth after three or...
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