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Natural Birth After Cesarean: Understanding VBAC with a Midwife

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If you've had a cesarean birth and are now considering a vaginal birth, you’re not alone—and you have options. One of the most empowering is a VBAC, or Vaginal Birth After Cesarean. At Attuned Midwifery Service, we support families exploring natural birth after a cesarean with compassionate, evidence-based care. Let’s break down what a VBAC really involves, how midwifery care supports it, and what to consider as you decide what’s right for you.


What Is a VBAC?

VBAC stands for Vaginal Birth After Cesarean. It’s exactly what it sounds like: giving birth vaginally after previously delivering via C-section.

Some people are told, “Once a C-section, always a C-section”—but that’s outdated advice. Many people are safe candidates for VBAC, and midwives are trained to support that process when it’s appropriate.


Is VBAC Safe?

Yes—for most people, VBAC is a safe and reasonable option, and often safer than a repeat cesarean.

Research shows that:

  • 60–80% of people who attempt a VBAC are successful

  • VBACs have fewer risks of infection, blood loss, and recovery complications compared to repeat surgery

  • Uterine rupture is rare (about 0.5–1%), and midwives are trained to monitor closely for warning signs

A well-supported VBAC can be a powerful, healing experience.


Who Is a Good Candidate for VBAC?

VBAC might be right for you if:

  • Your previous cesarean was done with a low transverse incision

  • You’ve had only one prior cesarean (some providers support VBA2C with careful assessment)

  • You have no history of uterine rupture or classical incision

  • You’re carrying a single baby, head-down, at term

  • You want a natural, unmedicated birth and trust your body’s ability to birth

During your care, we’ll go over your surgical records, overall health, and birth goals to determine if VBAC is a safe choice.


How Midwives Support VBAC

Midwifery care is rooted in:

  • Informed consent

  • Respectful, individualized care

  • Trust in the birthing process

If you choose a VBAC, we:

  • Review your cesarean history and assess eligibility

  • Monitor you closely during labor for signs of progress or concern

  • Support natural comfort measures to promote steady labor

  • Discuss hospital transfer plans if additional support is needed

We stay attuned to both safety and emotional support throughout your VBAC journey.


Can I Have a VBAC at Home?

This depends on your health history, local regulations, and your midwife’s scope of practice. At Attuned Midwifery, we offer individualized VBAC assessments and may support home VBACs when:

  • You're low-risk

  • You meet eligibility criteria

  • You’re within safe distance to a collaborating hospital

We also help prepare a detailed transfer plan, so you know you’re supported no matter where your birth journey leads.


Emotional Healing After a Cesarean

Planning a VBAC isn’t just physical—it’s emotional.

Many people:

  • Need to process disappointment or trauma from their previous birth

  • Want to reclaim a sense of power and agency

  • Feel overwhelmed by conflicting medical advice

We provide space to talk, ask questions, and heal. VBAC is about more than the mode of birth—it’s about writing a new story on your terms.


Final Thoughts

You deserve choices, not fear-based messaging. VBAC can be a safe, empowering path toward natural birth with the right care and support. At Attuned Midwifery Service, we walk with you every step—through your questions, your healing, and your birth. Whether you're exploring VBAC at home or simply want to know your options, we're here with clinical insight, emotional support, and zero judgment.

 
 
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