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Step 1
Choose your care provider carefully. Ask questions--what is the provider's rate of VBAC deliveries? Research shows that at least 80 percent of women can successfully VBAC. This means that for every 10 women who've had a previous cesarean that a care provider attends, a minimum of 8 should have a vaginal delivery. Find out his or her labor restrictions--continuous fetal monitoring does not improve outcomes and increases the cesarean rate; intermittent monitoring is effective. Mobility in labor also improves your chances of success. Have a midwife is shown to result in safer, less interventive outcomes than having an obstetrician.
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Step 2
Choose your hospital carefully. Over 300 hospitals nationwide have made a policy of banning VBAC, even though it is illegal for them to do so. Find out what the policy is at your care provider's hospital and be prepared to change hospitals or challenge the policy.
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Step 3
Consider birthing at home or in a birth center. Studies show that home birth with a competent midwife is as safe as hospital birth. A birth center offers a good compromise, as they are usually located very close to a hospital.
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Step 4
Take a childbirth education course that specifically addresses VBAC. Most hospital classes are geared toward encouraging you to be a compliant patient. It is worth the extra cost to take a private class designed for your needs.
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Step 5
Assemble a supportive birth team. Hire a doula--research has repeatedly shown that having a doula reduces both the use of pharmaceutical pain relief and cesarean section. Having a doula also causes the parents to feel more satisfied in how the birth goes. Discuss your birth desires in detail with your husband or partner, and give them facts on the risks and benefits of each choice. Having a supportive birth team can make all the difference in your VBAC success.
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Step 6
Avoid drugs. Epidurals can cause complications in both mother and baby, and being flat on your back can cause the baby to become malpositioned, making delivery more difficult. Narcotic pain medication interrupts the mother's internal chemical process, which can slow labor.
