BirthPolicy Proposed NOW Resolution: Opposing Bans on Vaginal Births After Cesarean

BirthPolicy Proposed NOW Resolution: Opposing Bans on Vaginal Births After Cesarean: "NASHVILLE - 7/2/05: The following resolution is being considered by the National Organization for Women during the 2005 National NOW Conference in Nashville, TN from July 1-3.
As presented:


OPPOSING BANS ON VAGINAL BIRTHS AFTER CESAREAN

WHEREAS, the National Organization for Women (NOW) has a long history of supporting women's rights to make reproductive choices; and

WHEREAS, Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) has repeatedly been shown to be a safe and reasonable choice for women; and

WHEREAS, studies published by the New England Journal of Medicine and research by the Maternity Center Association show that 588 women must undergo unnecessary cesareans to prevent one compromised perinatal outcome and 7100 women must undergo elective repeat cesareans to prevent one infant death; and

WHEREAS, VBAC labors proceed without the need for emergency surgical intervention 99.6% of the time; and

WHEREAS, elective repeat cesarean poses serious risks to mothers and infants, including two to four times greater chance of maternal death; increased risk of emergency hysterectomy; injury to blood vessels and other organs, chronic pain due to internal scar tissue; increased chance of re-hospitalization; complications involving the placenta in subsequent pregnancies; increased risk of prematurity and low birth weight; a 1-9% chance the baby will be cut during surgery; increased risk of respiratory distress syndrome; and increased risk of childhood asthma; and

WHEREAS, hospitals in every state have banned VBAC; and

WHEREAS, women seeking care in hospitals that ban VBAC have been forcibly anesthetized and sectioned when they tried to withhold consent to surgery; and

WHEREAS, the right to refuse unwanted and unnecessary medical treatment is a fundamental right; and

WHEREAS, the right to bodily integrity is a fundamental right;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOVED THAT, NOW opposes institutional and healthcare policies that deny women's access to VBAC; and

BE IT RESOLVED THAT, NOW's policy statements, brochures, and fact sheets concerning reproductive freedom include references to the need to protect women's access to VBAC; and

BE IT RESOLVED THAT, NOW will work with national maternity care reform organizations to call for Congressional hearings on VBAC bans and other threats to women's choices in childbirth; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT, NOW will work with state and national maternity care reform organizations to advocate for judicial challenges and public policy protecting women's access to informed choice in childbirth and their right to choose VBAC.

Submitted by: Katherine Prown
Issue Hearing: Health and Reproductive Rights
Chair: