Asked Hospital VBAC rate and C-section rate

[TabithaB]

I called one of my local hospitals on a whim today to ask what their c-section and VBAC rate was. Would you believe they wouldn't answer my question until I told them why I wanted to know. I still didn't get an answer out of them. All I got was questions. Who are you? Why exactly do you want to know? Oh well I will have to have a supervisor get back with you.

So much for making an informed decision. I am gonna call the other local hospital on a whim tomorrow to see what kind of response I get out of them. I am planning a HBAC now. This totally confirmed my decision.

[mysticmomma]

:

[HappyMommy2]

HBAC is the way to go! I am so proud of mine! (I started looking at "vbac-friendly" hospitals, but I don't think they exist. At least near me!)

[thehappydeer]

I can believe it and Im right there with you
I recently called my local hospital to find out what their policy was on VBACS, as their status wasn't listed on ICAN's website list. The lady I spoke with was so rude and incredulous, I got the same response that you did. Simple question I thought, but guess it was over the line in her book?

This research process is really showing me that I need to grow a thick skin pretty quick and a wise and witty tongue ( of course i thought of a ton of great things to say to her after I got off the phone

Sometimes I feel frustrated by the amount of skill it takes to maneuver the planning of an HBAC. But if I spend even a moment too long in the "why me" mentality, ( and I have done this ) I can feel myself losing the amazing growth opportunity this second chance at birth is affording me. My hope is that I can meet these challenges with bravery and courage and intelligence, armed with the truth and an open heart! Of course i wish i could just slide right into the perfect situation, but it seems this baby is here to teach me how to be on top of all this and do the prep work myself.

Best Wishes!

[Turquesa]

One possible response to, "Why do you want to know?":

"I am a prospective consumer of your maternity care services and would like to make an informed decision. You seem reluctant to provide this information to me. Is there any reason for your hesitation?"

Good heavens! They should be on the defensive, not you.

[CherryBomb]

To be fair, if you just called the reception desk, they probably have no clue what the hospital's stats are. They've also probably never had someone call and ask (usually that's something you'd ask the doctor), so they were probably just confused. I'd give the benefit of the doubt and not assume something sinister was going on.

[AlexisT]

Check with your state health department. Many keep track and will give you the information (1-2 years old, generally).

It does not mean the stats are bad, by the way. I know someone who got that reaction from their hospital, she got the stats from the DoH, and they were not brilliant but pretty decent.

The hospitals with really obscene CS rates aren't necessarily ashamed of it.

[AlexisT]

Also, often the people who answer phones are defensive because they don't really know what information they can and can't give out. Half of them probably think anonymous statistics violate HIPAA.

[TabithaB]

They called me back

Well the first hospital called me back. The Manager of the Maternity Department called me back and said that the national average was running at 30-35% C-Section rate and they were running at the same rate. She did say that a significant portion of that was elective c-sections.

And I was never offended by any confusion on their part. Just the repeated question about "why" I wanted to know. I can see why they were a little defensive though. There was just an article in the local paper about home births this last week.

http://www.illinoistimes.com/Springf...-delivery.html

She was nice to me and apologized that she couldn't be of more assistance.
I am still curious to see what the other hospital says.

[mamabadger]

Why are they so secretive about this information?

A few years ago, clients of mine were trying to decide on a birthplace. The expectant dad phoned L&D at the nearest hospital. They gave him the same "who are you?' and "why do you want to know?" and passed him from person to person, until finally he was told they do not give out that information.
The L&D staff were apparently so upset by his questions, they looked up his wife's OB and told the doctor all about it. The doctor then phoned the man's workplace. The expectant dad was not there, so the doctor yelled at the receptionist who answered the phone. The OB ranted about hospital stats being none of the dad's business, giving out private medical information to a stranger in the process.
They chose a home birth.