Lake Powell-Area Woman Forced to have a C-Section Fights Back

From the Lake Powell Chronicle:

Joy Szabo, 32, said she is upset with Page Hospital’s general ruling in June prohibiting vaginal births after cesareans (VBAC). The mother of three children, she has given birth to all of her children at Page Hospital, the only hospital in the immediate area. A placenta eruption caused her to have an emergency cesarean delivering her second child, but the hospital allowed her third child to be delivered naturally two years ago.
Now pregnant with her fourth child, she is being forced to have a cesarean due to lack of hospital staffing.

The International Cesarean Awareness Network reports that over 31% of US births are now by cesarean section, although a 5% to 10% rate is best for mothers and babies. The extra cost is well over $2.5 billion per year.
Szabo has argued for her point-of-view–that the method of delivery is a birthing woman’s right to choose–at a board of directors meeting and has met twice with Chief Executive Officer Sandy Haryasz, who claims that the choice is strictly economic (not enough physicians). So far, there’s no progress.
Szabo’s husband, Jeff, put it in big picture perspective: “My wife’s plight is indicative of the health-care system in the U.S. They make money off of people’s suffering. Consequently, medical care is dictated by cost and insurance companies and not by what’s best for the patient.” I system, I would add, that often hinders women from birthing babies in a way that feels right, dignified, personal to them. Not to mention honoring reproductive justice as a fundamental human right, in general.
Thanks to rissa523 for the heads up.

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