Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or medical professional. Do your own research and make informed decisions. Just because you use the resources does not guarantee a succesful VBAC, I simply used the word, because these are what help me to achieve my VBAC goal.
Support Team
1. Doula
A doula is incredibly helpful for any birth, but for a VBAC especially. A doula can help in these ways:
- she could help you decide when to go in to the hospital- but she cannot tell you to go or not to go
- give suggestions on how to keep labor going, or in my case get things going again
- get you or your husband food and drinks
- remind you of different positions
- play defense against any hospital staff who may not be supportive
- keep you calm
- have a calm, clear mind and will be able to offer suggestions for pain relief, ways your labor partner can help
2. Supportive spouse, significant other or labor partner
Besides a doula, having a supportive spouse, significant other or labor partner is the most important thing. This could also be more than one person and include your spouse, mother, sister, best friend, etc. You want to make sure that everyone attending your birth is completely supportive and will stand behind any decision that you make. These people that you surround yourself with can play a different role than your doula for example my husband helped me from place to place, kept me calm during emotionally stressful times and was my “bar” while I was pushing. I needed his help physically while I needed my doula for her knowledge of the birthing process, someone who had given birth and as a friend who was supportive and encouraging. I couldn’t have done it without either of them.
3. Doctor or Midwife
Interview prospective care providers until you find one who will help you achieve the birth you desire. If you cannot find a supportive care provider a VBAC is still possible, it will be tough, but you can do it! Research VBAC laws and your hospital’s policies. Know your rights and be prepared to fight. Know that you can refuse anything, whether it is a repeat cesarean section, a hep-lock or IV, dilation checks or anything else you do not agree with. If you don’t find a care provider who is supportive make sure that you have a supportive team behind you, it is essential. Another option would be a homebirth. Planning a positive home VBAC/HBAC
If you do find a supportive doctor or midwife go over every possible scenario with them so that you are both on the same page. You both need to know what concessions you are willing to make and what you will fight against .
4. Nurse
If you get a nurse who is giving you grief about your choices, request a new one, after all it is your birth not hers.
Birth Plan
A birth plan is highly recommended. If possible you and your partner should write it together, or at least have them read it and sign it with you. Go over your birth plan with your doctor/midwife and your doula. Have your doctor place a copy in your chart, give a copy to your nurses when you get to the hospital and go over it (that is, if you have time), keep a copy in your room with you and be ready to pull it out if needed. If you have any points that you feel are non-negotiable have your care provider sign. Here are some VBAC birth plan examples:
Using a birth plan effectively
How to make your birth plan matter
Books
I have not read all of these, but they come highly recommended.
The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer
The Birthing Partner by Penny Simkin
Ina Mae’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina Mae Gaskin
Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering by Sarah Buckley
Silent Knife by Lois J Estner and Nancy Cohen – this one is an older book, but there is lots of really good information in it. VBAC stories, birth plan examples, ways to heal and many other topics are covered.
Birth Matters by Ina Mae Gaskin – I love Ina Mae’s books!! This is her newest one and doesn’t cover VBAC specifically but it is still a great read.
Websites, Blogs and Facebook groups
VBAC Facts This site has so much awesome information! There are classes you can take and conferences to go to.
Spinning Babies This website has info on how to get baby into the best position, exercises that can help labor and belly mapping.
Birth Without Fear This is my absolute FAVORITE birth website! Lots of encouraging birth stories, pictures, articles, etc. Supportive of women’s choices and birth however it happens. There is also a FB page for this blog.
International Cesarean Awareness Network ICAN also has several FB groups, a main group and then groups that are in your area. For some reason the link isn’t working, but you can just search for it in the FB search bar.
Childbirth Connection helping women and health professionals make informed maternity
care decisions.
Giving Birth With Confidence A Women’s Guide to VBAC.
The Bump-VBAC board This board offers a lot of encouragement and support for mother’s seeking information on VBAC.
Birth Stories
Home birth after cesarean. Beautiful story of a water birth at home.
Birth Without Fear Yes, I am mentioning BWF again. Stories of healing, accepting our previous birth choices and circumstances, learning to let go and move on and of course VBAC encouragement.
VBAC Bumpies This blog was started by one of the moderators of The Bump’s VBAC board. There are lots of great articles and stories.
Pain Relief Alternatives
Pain during labor can be caused by fear and tension. Fear of what is unknown and tensing muscles while waiting for the next contraction. Many hospitals will automatically suggest a epidural and most even have you sign a epidural consent form before labor. It is well documented that if a women in labor starts using medical interventions it can start a chain reaction that leads to a cesarean. I’m not saying if you get an epidural you will have a c-section, I know many women who use epidural’s and love them and there are always circumstances where it is very helpful so that you can have your birth, but here are some alternatives that you may not know about.
- Arnica Gel
- Massage
- Walking and changing positions-Sometimes labor pain can be caused by malposition of baby, or even mother’s position. Simply walking and changing positions can help baby to move and give mother relief.
- Water – Warm water is a great options for pain relief, a shower or a soak in the tub can help to relax and calm mom which will allow muscles to relax and pain to fade.
- Sterile Water Injections
- Essential Oils- These can be massaged into the skin, or used in a room diffuser in the room. Using scents like chamomile and lavender will help everyone in the room to relax and ease any tension there may be. Energizing scents like citrus and peppermint oils can give mom a burst of energy at any time. To read more about essential oils in labor check out this blog.
- TENS Unit- this sends electrical pulses to block the pain sensations. It takes about 15 minutes to work, some mommas like it and some don’t, but at least give it 15 minutes before you make a decision either way.
- Nitrous Oxide- laughing gas is becoming more common in the United States. It can be a great help for mommas who don’t like the risks of Epidurals and Stadol. It is used regularly in the UK and in Canada.
I hope you find these resources helpful and that you can achieve the VBAC that you are hoping for.
Related articles
- Questions For Your Doula (preservingbirth.wordpress.com)
- Picking your provider (hospitalvbacjourney.wordpress.com)
- Preparing for a Second VBAC
Do you have any resources that you would add to this list? Any favorite books that I should check out? Leave a comment below and I will try to get back with you as soon as possible.
This is a great resource! I’m sure this will come in handy for a lot of women! Thanks for putting this together!
Thanks Jill! I had fun putting it together. 🙂
I pinned this to my “parenting” board on Pinterest before I even read it! (Then I read it and it was wonderful!) This information is so important for parents to have, thank you for posting this.
Thanks Bonnie!! There are so many other great things out there,but I figured this will at least give people a starting point. 🙂
What a great list! I will be pinning this for sure! A doula is a great resource and WELL worth the money!
You’ve done such great work on this! Bookmarking it for later 🙂
Thank you for this Rebekah! I thought about a Doula at one point, but I never really researched it. Now that you have provided this excellent information, I now see that a Doula is more like a birthing coach and she couldn’t deliver the baby. I wish I had one when I was in the hospital. The staff wasn’t very supportive of my drug free, natural birth and when I had trouble breastfeeding they made me feel like I should just give up. I hated that feeling! I already felt overwhelmed and here they come making me feel like I am doing the wrong thing. My husband didn’t really pay attention (poor baby worked night shift and I went into labor right when he got off) If I did have a Doula, he could have rested a little more while she could help me threw everything. I really appreciate this info. I’ll keep this in mind for our last little bundle (when that time comes)
A doula can help in so many ways!!! At first my husband wasn’t to excited about the idea but afterwards he told me he was very glad she was there, he had no idea what to do and our doula was able to give him ideas that might help me.
Another great resource for women in this phase of life. I remember being so close to my midwives, my youngest is 18 so I tend to forget the details but I always felt supported which was a great thing. I also remember changing from a doctor to a midwife because the doctor was much more interested in my husbands golf game then me…NOT!
What great resources. I wish I had known even half of this when I had my daughter 33 years ago.. Well, they probably didn’t even have many of these options. We went into the labor room, had a baby and got plopped in a room with a bunch of other women, not a lot of thought went into the experience for mom’s and new babies back then. I’m going to share this with some of my co workers in ob/gyn, they may find this helpful info to share with expecting moms.
Thanks for sharing this with others Kim!! There has been a big movement in the last 20-30 years to help women realize that they have choices when it comes to birth. I’m not against doctors or the medical field in any way, but I do think pregnancy and birth has come to be viewed as an medical issue,something that needs interventions and doctors when really women were created to give birth. There are times interventions are needed and they do save lives, but women today have become afraid of birth and the pain associated with it and some interventions,I believe, get in the way of the beauty and joy that comes with birth, others have major medical risks associated with them that many women don’t even know about.
Fantastic, Rebekah. My sister whom I talked about has delivered her baby boy by C section, this is the second one having c section for her, but she is much better than the previous one.
Oh Adelein, I am so glad your sister is recovering well!! I’m sure you are just loving the little neice/nephew to peices. 🙂 Congrats, Auntie!!
Wow- such great resources you shared here Rebekah! To be honest? i have no clue what VBAC stands for! I couldn’t find it anywhere, but I love how much is out there about it and so many wonderful sites to help with childbirth. There really are so many more options these days, and that is just so important for a mom to be able to choose and find the help she needs with her decision.
Thank you Chris! I need to go through and update just a couple of these resources that I have learned more about since writing this. But that needs time. 🙂
A VBAC is a vaginal birth after a cesarean section. Many women are not given the option of attempting a VBAC now even though ACOG clearly states it is a choice most woman should be able to choose and succeed at. I hope this post helps to educate women on their choices. I want women to be able to feel the healing that can come with a successful VBAC. 🙂
Awesome post! If I’m ever pregnant again I’ll be right here on this post checking out every resource 🙂
I’m a total Birth Without Fear groupie BTW! Haha!
After having a c-section, I think (at least for me) a vaginal delivery is especially nerve wracking. What a great resource for parents interested in a VBAC. I’m going to pin this for future reference! Thank you!
It can be so scary going into it. Even at different points during my VBAC labor I was nervous. It was so worth it though. I found my VBAC to be very healing for me.
I hope you have your own success story in the future, Alana!
What a great list! I got to have a VBAC a year ago July. I was very fortunate to have a supportive midwife, OB, and hospital staff-and of course my husband.
Awesome! I would love to hear/read your story, is it on your blog?
Yes! It’s called “VBAC or Repeat Cesarean” 😀
Thanks! I’ll be over soon to check it out. 🙂
Wow, what a helpful list of books and resources! Sharing! 🙂
Thanks, Valerie! I hope it can help someone! 🙂 I’m a big supporter of women’s rights in the area of birth. I don’t think it is fair how doctors and insurance companies run what can be one of a woman’s pivotal life moments.
This is fantastic! I have thankfully never needed a C-Section, but if I did… I would fight for a VBAC in subsequent pregnancies! Definitely sharing this with some friends 😉
Thanks for sharing this with your friends, Sarah! Women need more encouragement that their bodies can do what they were made to do, birth babies. Obviously there are cases where women need c-sections and their lives are saved by them, but women need to be informed and given information. Once a cesarean section is not always a cesarean section.
I love this!! As a doula, AND as a mom who has had c-sections I can’t tell you how important it is for those who are seeking to avoid another surgery to have true support and preparation. You can do it!
I have supported women who have had 2, 3 and even 4 previous c-sections. It can be done! Your body was made for birth, ladies!
Great info! I was fortunate to never require a C-section, but have had friends who did, and had successful VBACs later. There are so many great resources listed. I’ll be sharing this!
Thanks for sharing, Crystal!
I just had my VBAC almost three months ago and I swear by red raspberry tea, larabars, tons of walking, and the peanut ball. I started my red raspberry tea at 30 weeks with my larabars which I really think contributed to how fast my labor went. I started to walk almost everyday at 37 weeks even if it meant back and forward on my sidewalk in our backyard. And the amazing peanut ball helped me jump from 1.5cm to 4cm in a two hour period. My midwife was such an amazing encouragement and a gift from God. I also enjoyed the other VBAC stories and support on my babycenter birth board. Thanks for these amazing resources.
Hi Kristina, Congrats on the new little one, and your successful VBAC!! Lara Bars are such a yummy way to get in the goodness of dates. I’ve been eating a lot of them this pregnancy as well, because I heard that they are also supposed to help strengthen the amniotic sack {though I do need to do more research on this} and I would really like to make it past 35 weeks this time. As a birth doula, I have seen peanut balls do AMAZING things!! So glad that it worked well for you. I just joined a few babycenter birth boards, maybe I’ll see you there!!