This is mainly an FYI and it indirectly affects breastfeeding.  Just found out that ACOG released a statement (still trying to find it on internet- if anyone finds it let me know) over the summer stating hospitals should meet certain criteria in order to perform VBACs (vaginal births after cesareans) such as have an anesthesiologist on staff (not on call) and an OBGYN on staff (not on call).  What does this mean?  Well, small hospitals are not going to be able to perform VBACs, therefore the woman wishing to have a VBAC living in  a rural area (such as me)  will have to go to the big city to have her baby.  How many are going to do this as opposed to having a repeat scheduled c-section? Few.....  Also, I've heard that JHACO (sp?) (the hospital licensing agency) has picked up on this.....and for those of you living in California  and involved with a certain hospital system (starts with a S_ _ _ _ _ )-they have jumped on the bandwagon too- the two hospitals in our county will no longer be performing VBACs. Both are small and do not meet the criteria mentioned above. There goes our C-Section rate......up! 

Jackie Kampp, RN, PHN, CLC
In "rural" Placer County 

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