VBAC: Vaginal Birth After Caesarean

Feel informed, prepared and supported to make the decisions that are right for you and your baby

If you are planning a vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC), my support begins long before you go into labour.

During your antenatal care, we will spend time preparing you for your VBAC so that you understand what may happen during labour, what signs tell us that things are progressing well, what may cause the hospital team concern, and what your options may be if your birth takes a different path.

I want you to go into hospital feeling informed, prepared and confident in your decision-making.

Because for me, knowledge is power. The more knowledge I can give you during pregnancy, the more powerful you become when making decisions about your birth and your care.

Preparing for your VBAC during pregnancy

A huge part of my VBAC support happens before labour even begins.

We'll talk about your previous caesarean birth, why it happened and how you feel about that experience.

We'll also talk about the birth you're hoping for this time.

You will have plenty of opportunities to ask questions, explore your choices and understand the different possibilities that may arise during a VBAC.

My aim isn't to frighten you with everything that could happen. It's to make sure you aren't hearing important information for the first time when you're already in labour.

We prepare when you're calm, comfortable and have time to think.

Understanding when your VBAC is progressing well

Preparing for a VBAC isn't only about discussing risks.

I also want you to understand the positive and reassuring signs we look for during labour.

We'll talk about how labour may progress, how you and your baby will be monitored, and the things that can reassure us that you and your baby are coping well.

Understanding what is going well can make such a difference.

Rather than simply hearing, “Everything looks fine,” I want you to have an understanding of why everyone is reassured.

Understanding what may concern the hospital team

We'll also discuss the things that may make your hospital midwife or obstetric team more cautious during a VBAC.

These could include changes in your observations, unusual or concerning pain, bleeding, difficulty passing urine, concerns about the progress of your labour or changes in your baby's heart rate.

One sign doesn't necessarily tell us the whole story. Your individual circumstances and the overall clinical picture matter.

But by discussing these possibilities during pregnancy, you'll understand why the hospital team may want additional monitoring, assessment or a change in the plan if something concerns them.

You can then be involved in those conversations rather than feeling that decisions are simply happening around you.

Preparing for every eventuality

Of course, we hope that your labour progresses well and that you have the vaginal birth you're hoping for.

But part of good antenatal preparation is also talking about what could happen if things change.

We can discuss what additional monitoring might look like, what may happen if labour slows, interventions that could be offered and the circumstances in which another caesarean birth may be discussed.

Talking about another caesarean does not mean we're expecting your VBAC to be unsuccessful.

It means you're prepared.

If your birth does take a different path, the terminology, conversations and options aren't completely new to you. We've already talked about them when you've had the time and space to understand them.

I can be there with you in hospital

When you go into hospital to have your baby, my support doesn't stop at the hospital doors.

I can be there alongside you, providing continuity and support throughout your labour and birth.

The hospital midwives, obstetricians and other clinicians remain responsible for the hospital care they provide. My role is to support you.

I know the conversations we've had during pregnancy. I know your preferences, your concerns and what matters to you.

If something is suggested and you're unsure what it means, I can help you understand the conversation and think about the questions you may want to ask.

I can also support you in communicating your wishes and preferences to the hospital team so that you remain involved in decisions about your care.

If your VBAC takes a different path

Birth can be unpredictable.

Sometimes a birth that begins exactly as hoped takes an unexpected turn.

If that happens, I don't want you suddenly hearing unfamiliar words and trying to understand completely new possibilities while you're tired, emotional or in established labour.

We've prepared for this.

You understand why certain things may concern the team. You know some of the questions you can ask. You understand that plans sometimes need to change to protect the wellbeing of you and your baby.

That doesn't mean an unexpected change can't be emotional.

It means you aren't facing it without preparation or support.

And I'll be there alongside you.

What about HBAC, Home birth after caesarean?

Some women who are considering a VBAC also want to explore whether giving birth at home following a previous caesarean could be an option for them.

This is known as HBAC — home birth after caesarean.

HBAC requires particularly careful individualised planning, including detailed antenatal discussions about additional considerations, monitoring during labour and when I would recommend transfer into hospital.

If home birth after caesarean is something you're considering, you can read more about my HBAC support and how I prepare for a home birth after caesarean.

Knowledge is power

I genuinely believe knowledge is power.

My aim isn't to make decisions for you.

It's to give you information, preparation and continuity so that you feel able to participate confidently in decisions about your own birth and care.

We prepare for the birth you're hoping for while also talking honestly about the possibility that birth may take another path.

That way, you aren't walking into hospital frightened of what might happen.

You're walking in informed, prepared and supported.

My holistic approach to your VBAC is about how you feel during labour. Feeling safe, heard, cared for and supported can help create an environment that supports your natural oxytocin and physiology of birth.

I want you to have the birth you're hoping for

I want you to have the birth of your dreams as much as you do.

My role is to support you towards that birth while always keeping the safety and wellbeing of you and your baby at the heart of the care and support I provide.

Whether your VBAC unfolds exactly as you hoped or your birth takes an unexpected direction, you won't suddenly lose the continuity and support we've built during your pregnancy.

Get in touch

If you're considering a VBAC after a previous caesarean and would like personalised antenatal preparation and support in hospital, get in touch.

We can talk about your previous birth, the birth you're hoping for this time and how I can help you feel informed, prepared and supported throughout your pregnancy, labour and birth.