New Hampshire Seacoast NOW National Organization for Women

JOIN SEACOAST NOW VBAC PROJECT!

VBAC PROJECT UPDATE:

      Foster's Daily Democrat has printed what seems so far to be the best, most comprehensive article on VBACs and their availability in New Hampshire hospitals. The bottom line is that lots of other hospitals are allowing it, so hospitals that don't offer VBACs look rather foolish for not offering them in the right situation. You can find that article at:

February 13, 2005
Natural birthing procedure seen as too risky for doctors
By VICTORIA GUAY (Foster's Daily Democrat Staff Writer)

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ABOUT THE SEACOAST NOW VBAC PROJECT:

      In September, 2004, Seacoast NOW learned through a member that the Seacoast area hospitals (Portsmouth Regional Hospital, Exeter Hospital, York Medical Center, Frisbie Memorial in Rochester and Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover) have a policy prohibiting vaginal birth after cesarean sections (commonly referred to as VBACs). We consulted with area physicians and determined that the policy infringed upon a woman's right to choose her birthing method. Just as we were discussing the issue, the New York Times had a front page article exposing this issue. You can find that article at:

November 29, 2004
Trying to Avoid 2nd Caesarean, Many Find Choice Isn't Theirs
By DENISE GRADY (NYT)

The New York Times article inspired us to contact The Portsmouth Herald to pitch the story to them. After the New England Journal of Medicine issued a report about a study on VBACs on December 16, 2004, the Portsmouth Herald researched the article and it was printed on the front page on December 29, 2004:

Mother fights for choice of birthing method
By Rachel Forrest
Portsmouth Herald

On January 7, 2005 the Portsmouth Herald printed an editorial supporting women's right to choose their birthing method. Earlier in the week, the Portsmouth Herald printed a letter by Seacoast NOW President Suzy Colt.

Friday, January 7, 2005
Rule change needed to allow women their birthing choices
by Howard Altshiller, Executive Editor

Tuesday, January 4, 2005
Women should have birthing-method pick
by Suzy Colt, Seacoast NOW President

Further Information:

Seacoast NOW is actively working on this issue. It was Seacoast NOW who brought this situation to the attention of the press, and it is Seacoast NOW that will continue to press for women's right to choose their birthing method.

TAKE ACTION! JOIN THE VBAC PROJECT AND HELP BRING ABOUT CHANGE IN THE SEACOAST.

Seacoast NOW is working with health care professionals to determine what direction to take. We are not the only region who has dealt with this situation. In an effort not to reinvent the wheel, we will be researching how other regions have dealt with the issue and, to the extent possible, model our efforts on other regions' successes. Please check back to see if a Petition is going to be drafted or contact Seacoast NOW to join the VBAC Project and become an agent for change!

For more information, please write Seacoast NOW President at info@seacoastnow.org.