The VBAC Companion: The Expectant Mother's Guide to Vaginal Birth After Cesarean [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

by Diana Korte (Author) "YOU HAVE had a cesarean-maybe even more than one..." (more)
Key Phrases: cesarean depression, posterior labor, homebirth midwives, United States, Resource Directory, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
According to medical journalist Diana Korte, vaginal births after cesarean, or VBACs (pronounced vee-backs), are occurring at a rate six times greater in the 1990s than they were in the previous decade, and with more support from those in the medical profession. This is good news for the many pregnant women who want a vaginal delivery after previously delivering babies by cesarean section. Also good news is The VBAC Companion, a clearly written and thorough guide to lead women step-by-step through the process of planning for a VBAC.

Korte, author of Every Woman's Body, gives firm reasons for VBACs--they are safer for both mother and baby--and backs them up with medical facts. Strong chapters on overcoming fear, planning your VBAC, finding VBAC-friendly doctors and hospitals, and experiencing a VBAC make this book invaluable. The appendices provide fascinating statistics about infant mortality rates and cesarean and VBAC rates around the world, as well as extensive listings of resources.

From Library Journal
Korte, a writer and lecturer on women's health issues for over 25 years, has written this book "to show those of you who do want a VBAC [vaginal birth afer cesarean] how to get one." This volume is based on the author's published research, letters received from over 100 women who sent her their VBAC stories, and her experiences from writing about pregnancy and birth. The appendixes (not available with the review copy) include a directory of resources and organizations and the author's VBAC questionnaire. The book is written in a very readable style, with much of it in the form of a statement or question followed by answers based the author's research and responses to her questionnaire; excerpts from the letters are included as well. The considerable information Korte presents about VBAC should answer many of the questions a pregnant woman might have. This complements two older titles?Nancy Cohen's Silent Knife: Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) & Cesarean Prevention (1984) and Diana Korte and Roberta Scaer's A Good Birth, a Safe Birth: Choosing and Having the Childbirth Experience You Want (Harvard Common, 1991. 3d rev. ed.). Recommended for consumer health collections.?Mary J. Jarvis, Methodist Hosp. Medical Lib., Lubbock, Tex.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Harvard Common Press; 1 edition (October 25, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558321292
• ISBN-13: 978-1558321298
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #122,849 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great book, but in need of an update!, May 8, 2006

By	miki, mom of almost 2 (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews

This *was* a great book if you're looking for support and resources to have a VBAC. Unfortunately, with a copyright of 1997, this book is now out of date. In the last decade, new studies have been done and new recommendations have been made by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. As a result, attempted VBAC rates have plummeted and VBAC friendly hospitals and doctors are harder to find--which is no longer in sync with the book's rosy predictions that VBAC will become more popular. Another problem with the book is that many of the sucess stories sing the praises of pitocin and cervical gel to induce and augment labor. We now know through published clinical studies that these interventions greatly increase the risk of uterine rupture.

Addressing some of the earlier negative reviews, this book is not designed to help a woman decide between a VBAC and a repeat cesarean. It's a resource for the woman who's already decided on a VBAC so she can achieve her goals. Secondly, I'm sorry if some of the reviewers don't like what the book says about pain medication in labor or midwives vs. doctors, but it's all true. The average c-section rate at many hospitals is around 30%, while the average transfer rate from midwife-staffed birth centers (because they can't do cesareans) is around 10%. Epidurals restrict a woman's movement and slow labor, both of which can lead to "failure to progress". Can you have a VBAC with an epidural and an OB? Yes, but you can *statistically* increase your chances for sucess by following the book's advice.

If this book is revised/updated this year, I'm sure it will be a five-star book!

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars After reading this book I'm confident I can have a VBAC, July 13, 1998

By	Kristine Loosley ([e-mail]) (Cupertino, CA) - See all my reviews

Just holding this book in my hands and looking at it made me cry. I had a c-section almost 8 years ago, and am expecting a daughter in early October. It is hard to explain, sometimes, why the event of my c-section was so emotionally (not to mention physically) tough. But just having this book brought it all back, and all I could say as I held it was "I want to do this, I want to do this."

It's been 8 years since my son's birth. This book captured perfectly all the emotions I went through at the time: the isolated feeling in the operating room that didn't feel like a birth as much as, well, a surgery; waiting a long time to see my boy; the large blood loss and subsequent weakness; the difficulty of recovery; the inexplicable (I thought at the time) depression that was so much more than "baby blues."

Diana Korte really gets it all down -- for the first time reading something on this subject I really felt like the author really "gets it.&qu! ! ot; Best of all, she is a wonderful advocate for VBAC. She presents statistics so clearly but without rancor, makes logic out of twisted medical "recommendations," gives solid advice on how to get what we want -- a VBAC. She addressed some "secret" fears I've had for a long time -- like that my body "can't" do this or that I'm secretly inadequate because I didn't deliver my son "normally."

So many times when writing about this subject authors take the perspective that doctors are evil and hospitals are bad. I completely comprehend how authors get to that point -- the emotions surrounding the subject of cesarean are some of the most powerful I've ever felt and I'm sure unnecessary medical intervention is to blame for at least some of the out-of-control c-section rate in the United States. But Korte's approach -- educational, factual, calm -- is really more helpful for a woman like me who doesn't feel comfortable with the idea of a ! ! home birth but doesn't want a c-section again.

This book ! gives wonderful advice on how to increase chances for VBAC. Without being anti-doctor or hospital Korte advocates home birth for some people who want some things. She also describes the benefits of a hospital/doctor assisted birth and strongly advocates the use of a labor coach in any setting.

I'm going to suggest that my doctor give a copy of this book to all his patients who have had C-sections before or upon whom he performs c-sections in the future. I've already ordered a copy of it to give to him. It is a comforting book as well as being authoritative and educational. How I wish I'd had this book 8 years ago when I was recovering from my surgery and the painful emotions surrounding it. I am feeling more healed now that I understand more, and am confidently looking forward to my October labor and delivery.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than other reviewers say it is!, March 17, 2004

By	"yvomama" (Granger, IN United States) - See all my reviews

I didn't purchase this book due to some of the negative comments it received. Instead, I borrowed it from the library. After reading it, I feel that it is a VERY informative book giving both sides of the story, which is incredibly important in making informed decisions about such a controversial topic. I think it is supportive and helps you see that even if you don't achieve a VBAC in the end, you are not a failure. The personal VBAC stories were particularaly empowering, and her explanation of statistics used in literature were also very supportive. Buy this book, I am going to, just to get me through the rest of this 2nd pregnancy!