Doula Support & Birth Education,
covering Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire
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(HBAC and VBAC stands for Home Birth after Caesarean and Vaginal Birth after Caesarean respectively.)
If you have had a previous caesarean, you might feel like your choices are limited, but I'm here to tell you this does not have to be the case! If you want to go for a vaginal birth this time round (even at home) it is not only possible, but a wonderful choice for many families.
As a doula I am incredibly passionate about supporting VBACs, seeing a woman step in to her power and choose to reclaim something that she feels she lost, is an incredibly powerful thing to witness, and always feels like SUCH a privilege to be a part of.
I supported Lizzie and Warren for their home birth after cesarean in 2025, and they kindly gave me permission to share this special photo. Lizzie was supported by the incredible NUH home birth team, and had a comprehensive out of guidance birth plan from one of the consultants. Her birth was swift, intense and an incredible - the HBAC of her dreams, and I felt so honoured to have been there to witness and support her.
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My amazing client Louise (pictured here) achieved her dream HBAC after a marathon few days of labour. I was astounded by her unwavering determination, power and strength, and the loving support she received from her partner. Despite a long labour, and a lot of advocacy needed due to some coercive and poor care from her midwives, she birthed her baby in her bedroom, in the pool, into her partners hands. Have a read of Louises testimonial, as well as some other lovely client words.
On the surface, the support for a VBAC/HBAC is the same as for any other birth. I offer experienced, gentle emotional support, as well as physical support (like biomechanics, massage and hip squeezes if needed) and advocacy with your medical team.
On a deeper level, there is something different about a VBAC. There is a certain strong mindset needed to withstand the potential pressure for a repeat caesarean, and the repeated mention of the risk of scar rupture (which is around 1 in 200 across all VBAC's but lower in instances where labour has begun without induction.) Putting the time in antenatally to prep mentally, as well as extra support for labour is key, and as an experienced VBAC doula, I'm very used to holding space, providing reassurance and sustenance, as well as employing calm but assertive advocacy skills when needed.
There is no totally risk free setting or option for birth. However choosing to have a VBAC at home has many benefits (including that it's less likely to end in a repeat caesarean) and may not be as risky as you have been led to believe. Here are some stats from a Canadian study in 2021:
“Planned HBAC was associated with a significant 39% decrease in the odds of having a cesarean birth (aOR 0.61, 95% CI 0.47‐0.79)
“Severe adverse outcomes were relatively rare in both settings; thus, our study did not have sufficient power to detect the true differences associated with the place of birth.”
“Home births for those eligible for VBACs and attended by registered midwives within an integrated health system were associated with higher vaginal birth rates compared with planned hospital VBACs. Severe adverse outcomes were relatively rare in both settings.”
