Tampa Bay Hospital VBAC Rates 2019
Planning to have a VBAC? (VBAC = vaginal birth after cesarean.)
Do you know the VBAC rate for your hospital?
I know we say this a lot, but it bears repeating: the hospital that you choose to deliver your baby at has a huge impact on the outcome of your birth experience. In fact, it is the BIGGEST RISK FACTOR related to having a c-section. This is also true for women who are hoping to have a VBAC.
Check out our recent article Tampa Bay Hospital C-Section Rates 2019 to learn more about hospital c-section rates and why this is important.
I am a VBAC mom myself. During my pregnancy, I spoke with various providers and asked for their support. I found plenty who were openly unsupportive of my goals and who scared me with their stories. These experiences deterred me for a little bit, but I did not give up.
Actually, delivering my son vaginally became a mission for me and I threw myself into hours of research and education. I believed strongly that my body was healed and that I was physically capable of having a VBAC. Determined to overcome the odds, I eventually found a supportive care provider who stood by me through my successful VBAC.
This experience and my work with other mothers as a doula taught me what it takes to accomplish a VBAC in our current and local maternal health care system.
You have a lot of power in your hands. Of course, there are many factors that will affect the outcome of your birth experience including your personal health and risk factors. But, you can greatly reduce your risk of a repeat c-section through your choice of hospital. This is one thing that you can truly control!
So, choose wisely. Pick a hospital that has a proven record of supporting women who want to have a VBAC.
Below are the 2019 VBAC rates for the hospitals in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties reported by Florida.HealthFinder.gov.
Tampa Bay VBAC Rates for 2019
Tampa General Hospital 26.8%
Bayfront Baby Place St Pete 9.2%
South Florida Baptist Hospital 7.2%
Mease Countryside 6.8%
Morton Plant Hospital 6.0%
Medical Center of Trinity 5.1%
St Joseph’s Hospital 4.4%
Florida Hospital Tampa 3.7%
Brandon Regional Hospital 1.2%
St. Pete General Hospital not reported
Florida Hospital Wes. Chapel not reported
St. Joseph’s Hospital North not reported
St. Joseph’s Hospital South not reported
Florida Hospital Zephyrhills not reported
You might also be interested in reading: The #1 Ingredient for VBAC Success.
Christie Rinder is the founder of Buddha Belly Doulas, Tampa Bay's original and largest doula agency. Supporting families since 2009, she's passionate about ensuring every family has the support they need during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. She believes in helping women recognize their own inner wisdom, strength and power.
Having served as President of the Tampa Bay Birth Network for six years and 17 years serving families as a birth doula, she has a reputation for leadership, dedication and compassion. A childbirth educator, certified lactation counselor as well as a certified doula, she makes a point of ensuring mothers and their partners understand all their birthing options and what to expect on their journey. > learn more about Christie
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