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How to write a VBAC support letter

Successful efforts to repeal VBAC bans in other cities have shown that direct pressure from informed consumers (that’s us!) does have the power to create change.
Let us know if you write a letter!

Who to write to:

You can address your letter to your own obstetrician and ask them, as your health care provider, to help promote and support this cause within the hospital and local medical community.

You can also write to your local hospital and request that they support VBAC access. Here are names and addresses that you can write to:

Ronald C. Werft, President & CEO
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital
P.O. Box 689
Santa Barbara, CA
 93102-0689

Gary Wilde, CEO
Community Memorial Hospital
147 N. Brent Street
Ventura, CA 93003

Michael Murray, CEO
St. John’s Regional Medical Center
1600 North Rose Ave
Oxnard, CA 93030

Talking points:

  • State the issue (i.e. the banning of VBACs)
  • Say what you want them to do - i.e. to reverse the ban or support access to VBAC in our community
  • Say why this issue is important to you:
    • Patient autonomy and informed consent and refusal of surgery
    • Personal experiences with cesarean delivery and/or VBAC
    • How you feel about having the option of VBAC closed to you, despite being a good candidate
    • How important vaginal birth is as a choice that should not be denied, and the advantages of vaginal birth over cesarean surgery
    • Patient safety - VBACs being as safe, or safer than, elective repeat cesareans (there are statistics and reports you could mention on the BAC website, but you don’t have to get technical or detailed)
  • If writing to a hospital, you could mention their mission statement (Cottage Hospital’s, for example is
    "To provide superior health care through a commitment to our communities and to our core values of excellence, integrity, and compassion") and ask how the VBAC ban is in line with that mission.
  • Say that you are a patient within their hospital system, and that you would like to know how they plan to address this issue - request a written response.
  • Summarize by urging them to allow access to VBAC, restating its importance to you and the autonomy and wellbeing of local families 

Following up:

You can really amplify the effect of your letter by following up by phone (or in person!).

  • Ask if they have received your letter. If they haven’t replied yet, ask when you can expect a reply.
  • If they’ve passed your letter on to another member of staff, ask who and follow up with them.
  • If you speak with a decision-maker, ask what they are going to do to address your concerns.

Please let B.A.C. know you wrote a letter and to whom, so we can track this campaign!

  

Writing to the media:

This requires a slightly different approach, but is an excellent way to get the word out and create community dialog on this issue. Some hints:

  • Stick to one issue, keep it simple and very short
  • Refer to a recent story or letter published in that paper or national news if possible
  • Make it personal, but also try and include recent research on VBACs (see our website for ideas)
  • Be clear about what you want, and who you are directing your request to
  • Include your name, address and phone number