VBAC – Vaginal Birth After Caesarean
Hello fellow VBACer, I had my VBAC in March 2021, what an incredible birth it was! You can read my VBAC birth story here.
I did face some hurdles planning a VBAC, but I did my research and felt empowered to make decisions that were right for me and my baby. I strongly recommend taking a look at the below resources so you know your choices.
Things to consider when planning your VBAC:
Some care providers might say “you aren’t allowed” certain options because you are branded as “high risk” due to your previous caesarean.
Hospital policies – are they based on the most up-to-date evidence? Hospital policies are not the law and you can chose to do things your own way, like; home birth (HBAC), water birth, accept/decline inductions, accept/decline CTG monitoring, accept/decline a cannula, basically you are the BOSS of YOUR BIRTH!
Care Provider Recommendations – are they based on evidence or are they personal opinion? Personal opinion is coercion!
Stay strong! you might experience scare-mongering and the dead baby card.
You can record your appointments! it’s a great way to listen back to the information that is provided and it might prevent coercion.
Books:
Birth after Caesarean – VBAC (AIMs Book)
Vaginal Birth After Caesarean Book: The VBAC Handbook
Birth After Caesarean: Your Journey to a Better Birth – by Hazel Keedle
Websites:
Sara Wickham – VBAC guidelines
Sarah Wickham – Home birth after caesarean (HBAC)
NICE Guidelines 121 Intrapartum care for women with existing medical conditions or obstetric complications and their babies
NICE Guidelines 192 Caesarean Birth
RCOG Green Top Guideline for birth after a previous caesarean
AIMS Breaking down the barriers to VBAC
VBAC: making a mountain out of a molehill
Birth Small Talk – What about CTG monitoring for VBAC?
Facebook Groups:
UK VBAC Support Group (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean)
My Courses:
VBAC & Full Hypnobirthing Course
Blog Posts:
VBAC – Can I have Intermittent Monitoring?
Birth After a Previous Caesarean Birth – What Birth is Right for Me?
VBAC Birth Videos:
