Do VBACs happen in Florida?

beautifulbirth · 05-25-2007, 02:09 AM

Hey all you Floridian doulas....

A friend of a friend lives in Florida and claims that in Florida it is illegal to have a VBAC?! I am not sure where she is located, but just wondering what it is like down there...thanks. I am sending her to ICAN for assistance.

joandchris18 · 05-25-2007, 08:22 AM

I have never heard of that. I don't think it is Illegal anywhere in the US just to have a VBAC. Thats sounds a little crazy, and she probably just got it lost in translation or something. I am originally from florida and had my son there, and have never heard of that and know that VBAcs do happen there.

herbalmama · 05-25-2007, 09:03 AM

I am not in FL, but I have had people in both CA and TX tell me it is illegal in their state to have a VBAC. Both got their info from a L&D nurse. I *think* they mean to say it is against hospital policy? or against their OB's policy? Since I imagine it would be pretty difficult to pass a law requiring a women to have surgery

Wendy79 · 05-25-2007, 10:07 AM

Well, they're definitely happening in California... I'm guessing what the L&D nurse said was either "we're not allowed to do that here", meaning the hospital... or the L&D nurse herself was misinformed, which is very sad but possible.

teachinmamaof4 · 05-25-2007, 10:50 AM

I agree that it's probably a lovely myth/rumor going around.

I did a little talk a few weeks ago on VBACs and one of the ladies said, "...a friend told me that VBACs were illegal here...". And they are not. So a lot of people don't know the truth and are told "illegal" when they are not.

Jenny Lynne · 05-25-2007, 11:39 AM

I second Heather - a lot of people here tend to think VBACs are illegal, but they're not. Most physicians won't perform them, but there are some great options for those who desire a VBAC.

ScootchsMom · 05-25-2007, 01:04 PM

From what I understand, VBAC its self is not illegal anywhere, but there are laws in some states that make it illegal to attend a VBAC at home. Sounds like it is more hospital policy to not "do" VBACs, and people are less likely to question it if they are told "We can't do VBAC, its illegal".

naturalcuriosity · 05-25-2007, 01:52 PM

I am in Florida and I can say that VBACs definitely happen. I am in Jacksonville and know of a couple providers that are supportive of them. It also depends on hospital policy. There are several hospitals here that will not allow or limit VBACs (or try to find an excuse for a woman not to try to have a VBAC). So, definitely NOT illegal here. Just very difficult, but not impossible if you have a determined Mom.

Ohio Doula · 05-25-2007, 02:33 PM

VBAC's are not "allowed" at our hospital, but if mom says no or shows up with a baby crowning no one can force surgery on her

Jilian · 05-25-2007, 02:36 PM

I'm also in FL and I attended a VBAC in December

VBACs are really hard to come by here in FL, not because they are illegal - because there aren't many OBs who will OK a VBAC. But we do have a HB MW in my area (SW FL) who has a backing OB who is ok with VBAC. Our local hospital "banned" VBACS about a year ago, but my client still got one when we transferred to that hospital

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DoulaKaren · 05-25-2007, 02:53 PM

I've seen them on House of Babies, that show on Discovery Health, which takes place in Florida, so from that I'd say they do, or at least did at the taping of that show!

DoulaYvonne · 05-25-2007, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MomOfImAndZee

I've seen them on House of Babies, that show on Discovery Health, which takes place in Florida, so from that I'd say they do, or at least did at the taping of that show!

Love that show! As far as know that facility, located in Miami, is a freestanding birth center so they most likely make up their on rules and regulations.

ctowndoula · 05-26-2007, 11:33 PM

Yup, I have a dear friend in FL now who is planning her VBAC. She is getting the "baby is big...must have repeat c-section" arguement. But she is too smart for it. Have come across some interesting stats for the incidence of shoulder dystocia and size of baby.

She simply says no thank you. They continue to ask her if she has scheduled her birth yet...:duh!

motherstouchdoula · 05-27-2007, 10:04 AM

I have heard the same thing about Cal, and it would be OB/Hospital policy not to do VBACS. I have heard that Enole in Chico Banned VBACS. Staci have you heard this too???

beautifulbirth · 05-30-2007, 02:14 AM

Thanks for confirming my suspicions

Yea, I agree that mom probably heard this rumor from friends or nurses. I am sure our HCP propogate those tales too as it is equally as hard to have a VBAC around here unless you have Tera

The VBAC-Florida mommy is located in Vero Beach, is that around any of you guys? I think she is 5 mos. along.