E13 Why This OB/GYN Passionately Supports VBAC Access (And You Should Too) with Dr. Chris Stroud

Heard no one supports VBAC? Simply not true. Join Dr. Chris Stroud OB/GYN of Fort Wayne, Indiana has he considers his 30 year career and shares why offering VBAC is so important to him, including his reasoning for supporting community midwives who attend home and birth center VBAC. We discuss the concept of "acceptable complications," which may provide some insight as to why many OBs in the United States recommend repeat cesareans for everyone regardless of their medical history, their current clinical scenario, or VBAC candidacy. He also shares his vulnerable and authentic reflections on being sued after a uterine rupture related fetal demise and why he continues to attend VBACs. Key topics covered include his practice's secret sauce, how working with community midwives has made him a better obstetrician, what he calls the four pillars of VBAC success, and a special message for physicians who don't attend VBAC and hospital administrators who maintain VBAC bans. 00:00 Upcoming VBAC Facts® Events01:35 Join Our Email List to Learn More About VBAC02:16 How To Book Jen to Speak at Your Next Event03:01 What We Will Talk About Today08:24 When VBACs Were Required13:21 His VBAC Philosophy14:39 Why His Believes Offering VBAC is Important16:28 How He Counsels Patients on VBAC vs Repeat Cesarean19:19 The Concept of "Acceptable Complications"24:06 Avoiding VBAC Bait & Switch26:46 Does He Worry About VBAC Safety?28:27 When He Induces Planned VBACs30:06 What "Immediately Available" Means to Him31:16 Why Aren't All Hospitals Attending VBAC?33:53 On Not Giving Up35:48 Voting with Your Feet36:55 Administrative, Hospital, & Legal Challenges40:23 Don't Leave Those with Primary Cesareans in the Dust42:32 Questions for Non-VBAC Providers45:42 It's the Lawsuit47:37 His Practice's Secret Sauce50:47 On Collaborating with Community Midwives52:54 What He Has Learned From Community Midwives56:00 Longest Second Stage57:34 On Being Sued After a Uterine Rupture59:50 Processing Trauma After a Uterine Rupture & Fetal Demise01:03:43 On Advocating for His Patients01:05:47 Advice: Reversing VBAC Bans01:07:26 Four Pillars of VBAC Success01:10:16 Parents: Most Important Thing for Them to Consider01:11:11 A Message for Physicians Who Don't Attend VBAC01:12:26 Message to Hospital Administrators with VBAC BansHave a comment or question for the podcast? Want to suggest a guest we should interview or a topic we should discuss? Go to https://vbacfacts.com/podcast to give us your feedback!Music produced by (Analogue)/(prod. Analogue). Instagram: @prod.analogueEmail Dr. Chris Stroud: [email protected] Checklist: The 5 Simple Steps to Planning a VBAC | VBAC Facts®Downloadable Report: Top 5 Uterine Rupture Myths Debunked Once and For All | VBAC Facts®The Truth About VBAC™ for Families | VBAC Facts® Course for ParentsHome - International Cesarean Awareness Network - Learn more about ICAN's April 21, 2025 Q&A with Jen KamelWARM | Washington Alliance for Responsible Midwifery | Birth is the most fundamental human rights issue. Safe and successful childbirth options are the strong foundation upon which every healthy society grows. - Register for the April 24 - 26, 2025 WARM Conference in Wenatchee, Washington and attend Jen's 3 hour training,