Earlier today, a link was posted on my Facebook: Midwife center delivers first baby - CharlotteObserver.com

The commentary on this is becoming a firestorm due to this remark that was recently made by the midwife involved,

"If it comes down to VBAC vs. licensing, I am going with licensing."

It's hard to even wonder if the remark was taken out of context because the context is the US medical system. Choosing your profession over the women who need more, not fewer, providers to have faith in their ability to birth is one thing, but limiting birth center births to non-VBAC births is simply shooting yourself in the foot long-term. Has she looked around at who her clientele is or will be?

Right now, cesareans are 1/3 of all births per year. Choosing not to do VBACs is a choice to further limit your practice and since they are growing exponentially, it's also making sure that long-term, you will be run out of practice. Birth centers are already scrambling for turf, this can't help.

There's another angle that's disturbed me as the day got longer as well.

There is no medically indicated reason to limit the average VBAC from birth centers and by falling into that mythology, this midwife is helping to further perpetuate the idea that VBAC is dangerous and not simply vaginal birth.  She isn't even using a risk criteria, simply dismissing an entire class of women due to prior surgery. The relatively low risk rise that happens after the first cesarean almost disappears after one successful VBAC so in effect, by saying that it's not the birth center's war, too, she is refusing to help the most vulnerable of all who could so easily be repaired back to a healthier overall status by faith, belief and exactly what birth centers should be offering: low-risk, low-intervention, and involved care.