Black women have higher cesarean rates and lower VBAC rates than Caucasian and Hispanic women, despite higher rates of TOLAC and evidence that Black women are significantly less likely to experience uterine rupture. While not totally reliable predictors of VBAC success, VBAC success rate prediction calculators dramatically reduce the predicted percentage chance of VBAC for Black women. We don't have an answer as to why our VBAC rates are lower (although there are several theories, including institutional racism, socioeconomic disparities restricting access to care, and <mother blaming> poorer general health, amongst others), but we do know that Black women CAN and DO VBAC! Black women VBAC at home and in hospitals, with obstetricians and with midwives. We VBAC big babies, small babies and babies inbetween.
The purpose of this website is to share our stories in a forum that is readily and easily accessible, so that we may learn from each other and be empowered to explore our options for natural birth after one or more prior cesareans.
For general VBAC information, check out VBACFacts or KMom here and here (this second link is dated, but still a great resource). Also see ACOG's latest VBAC Practice Bulletin (August 2010).
The purpose of this website is to share our stories in a forum that is readily and easily accessible, so that we may learn from each other and be empowered to explore our options for natural birth after one or more prior cesareans.
For general VBAC information, check out VBACFacts or KMom here and here (this second link is dated, but still a great resource). Also see ACOG's latest VBAC Practice Bulletin (August 2010).