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Can You Really VBAC It?

Pursuing a Vaginal Birth After Cesarean

By Shel Franco

When VBAC is the goal, using a doctor or a midwife does not matter nearly as much as the caregiver's genuine support for a vaginal birth.

In addition to a supportive caregiver, several factors will increase the odds for a successful vaginal birth after Cesarean.

"Be totally committed to your desire for a VBAC," Minear says. "Read as much as you can on the subject."

Some recommended books are "Silent Knife," "The VBAC Companion" and "Birth After Cesarean: The Medical Facts."

"Be informed," Hartt says. "Take childbirth education." The best classes are those that specifically address VBAC and promote birth as a natural process.

Consider hiring a doula, an experienced, knowledgeable woman who believes in your ability to give birth," Farthing says. The more support and positive influence a woman has, the greater her belief in herself and in her body's ability to birth.

VBAC is possible. I know, because three years after my Cesarean section, a vaginal birth produced my second child. To say it was worth the effort is an understatement. I will always be grateful for the way he looked, how he felt in my arms, and the woman I became the moment I pushed him into this world.

Want to see more?

• Should Women Having Large Babies Expect to Deliver by Cesarean?
• Why Hire a Doula?
• Could I have a VBAC?
• What are the risks of a VBAC?

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