And Why You’re Not “Too Risky” to Try!

You had a cesarean last time.

Maybe it was planned. Maybe it wasn’t. Maybe it was traumatic. Maybe it was fine but you just know you want something different this time.

And now you’re pregnant again, scrolling the internet at 11pm, trying to figure out if you can have a vaginal birth after cesarean – or if everyone’s going to tell you it’s “too risky” and you should just book another section.

Here’s the truth they don’t always tell you:

VBAC isn’t just possible – for most women, it’s statistically SAFER than a repeat cesarean.

But you wouldn’t know that from the way some healthcare providers talk about it.

Let me guess what you’ve already heard:

“We don’t really recommend VBAC here.”
“You’d be high-risk, you know.”
“What if your scar ruptures?”
“Wouldn’t it just be easier to book another section?”
“We can’t guarantee you won’t end up in theatre again.

Sound familiar?

Here’s what they should be telling you instead:

VBAC success rates in the UK are 72-80% for women attempting it. The risk of uterine rupture is 0.5% (1 in 200). For context, your overall health risk of complications from a repeat cesarean is higher.

But facts alone don’t get you the birth you want.

You need support. You need a team who actually WANTS you to have a VBAC. You need someone in your corner who isn’t secretly hoping you’ll just book the section to make their life easier.

That’s what this guide is about.

Here at Your Private Midwife, I work across Yorkshire, and have supported dozens of VBAC births – at home, in hospital, in birth centres. I’ve seen women reclaim their power after traumatic first births; Watched partners cry happy tears instead of stressed ones.

And I’m here to give you the information you actually need to make this decision for yourself.

What Actually IS a VBAC?

VBAC stands for Vaginal Birth After Cesarean.

It means you had a cesarean for your previous birth, and now you’re planning a vaginal birth this time.

Simple as that.

You might also hear:

TOLAC (Trial of Labour After Cesarean) – the medical term for attempting a vaginal birth (its quite American)
EL-LSCS (Elective Lower Segment Cesarean Section) – the alternative (booking another cesarean)

Here’s what VBAC is NOT:

It’s not “risky” by default.

It’s not irresponsible.

It’s not vanity.

& It’s not ignoring medical advice.

It’s an evidence-based choice that’s right for many women.

The Stats They Don’t Always Share

Let’s talk numbers, because knowledge is power.

VBAC Success Rates:

Overall success rate: approx 80% of women attempting VBAC achieve vaginal birth when well supported by their midwifery and obstetric team.

Your odds are HIGHER if:

You’ve had a previous vaginal birth (85-90% success)
You go into labour spontaneously (75% success)
Your BMI is under 30
Your baby is average size
You’re under 40
Your previous cesarean was for non-recurring reasons (breech, ‘failure to progress’ in first labour)

Your odds are LOWER if:

You’re being induced (60% success vs 75% spontaneous)
You have certain medical conditions
Your previous cesarean was for cephalopelvic disproportion (baby’s head didn’t fit)

But “lower odds” doesn’t mean impossible.

I’ve supported successful VBACs in women told they had “unfavourable” factors. Because bodies aren’t statistics, and every birth is different.

Risk of Uterine Rupture:

The big scary thing everyone talks about: 0.5%

That’s 1 in 200 women.

For context:

Risk of severe complications from repeat cesarean: 2-3%
Risk of placenta problems in future pregnancies after multiple cesareans: significantly higher
Your risk of a car accident on the way to hospital: higher than the uterine rupture

This isn’t to dismiss the risk – it’s real.

But it’s also rare. And it’s often detected early with proper monitoring.

Risks of Repeat Cesarean:

Because VBAC risk isn’t the only risk worth considering:

Repeat cesarean carries risks of:

Infection
Necessary hysterectomy
Hemorrhage
Blood clots
Injury to bladder or bowel
Longer recovery
Future pregnancy complications (placenta accreta, previa)
Maternal mortality (rare but higher than vaginal birth)

The research is clear: for most women, VBAC is statistically safer than repeat cesarean.

(RCOG Green-top Guideline: Birth After Previous Caesarean Birth)

Why VBAC Matters (Beyond the Stats)

Maybe you’re reading this thinking, “Okay, the stats are good, but is it worth it?”

Let me tell you why women choose VBAC:

Physical Recovery

Vaginal birth recovery:

Walking within hours
Driving within days
Lifting your toddler immediately
Less pain medication needed
Lower infection risk

Cesarean recovery:

Major abdominal surgery
6 weeks before you can lift anything heavy (good luck with a toddler)
Pain for weeks
Can’t drive for 4+ weeks
Higher risk of complications

If you have other children, this matters HUGELY.

Emotional Healing

For many women, their first birth left scars that aren’t physical.

Maybe you felt:

Out of control
Unheard
Traumatised
Robbed of the birth you wanted
Like your body “failed”

VBAC can be deeply healing.

Not because vaginal birth is “better” (it’s not – every birth is valid), but because CHOOSING your path and being supported through it changes everything.

Future Pregnancies

Every cesarean increases risks for future pregnancies:

Placenta problems
Scar tissue complications
“Only 3 cesareans maximum” conversations

VBAC resets this.

If you’re planning more children, achieving a VBAC can significantly reduce risks in future pregnancies.

Trusting Your Body Again

This one’s harder to quantify, but it’s real.

After a cesarean (especially an unplanned one), many women struggle to trust their bodies.

VBAC – when it works – can rebuild that trust in the most powerful way.

One of my VBAC clients said: “I spent two years thinking my body was broken. And then I birthed my second baby in my living room and realised I was never broken at all.”

The Barriers You’ll Face (And How to Navigate Them)

Let’s be honest about what you’re up against.

Barrier #1: “We Don’t Really Do VBACs”

Translation: We don’t want the liability, the extra monitoring, or the paperwork.

What to do:

Ask for their VBAC success rate (they should know it)
Ask what support looks like (continuous monitoring? 1:1 care?)
Ask if there’s a different hospital in the area with better VBAC results
Consider hiring a private midwife who specialises in VBAC (Hello!!)

Remember: “We don’t recommend it” is not the same as “It’s unsafe.”

Barrier #2: Pressure to Induce

Many hospitals want to induce VBAC labours “just to be safe” (usually around 39-40 weeks).

The problem: Induction significantly lowers VBAC success rates (60% vs 75% spontaneous).

What the evidence says:

Waiting for spontaneous labour (up to 41-42 weeks with monitoring) is safe
Induction with prostaglandins carries higher scar rupture risk
Induction with oxytocin (Syntocinon) is safer but still reduces success

Your right: To decline induction and wait for spontaneous labour (with appropriate monitoring)

Barrier #3: Continuous Monitoring Requirements

Most hospitals require continuous fetal monitoring during VBAC labour.

Why: To detect signs of uterine rupture early

The problem: Continuous monitoring = being stuck in bed = harder labour = lower success rate

The compromise:

Wireless monitoring (allows movement)
Intermittent monitoring if you’re low-risk
Home birth with private midwife (if you’re comfortable with the risks)

Barrier #4: “But What If…”

Fear is the biggest barrier – both yours and your care providers’.

Common fears:

What if my scar ruptures?
What if I need another cesarean anyway?
What if something goes wrong?
What if I’m making the wrong choice?

Here’s the thing: These are all valid fears.

But “what if” cuts both ways.

What if your VBAC is healing and empowering? What if your recovery is 10x easier? What if you avoid the risks of repeat cesarean? What if you trust yourself and it goes beautifully?

You’re allowed to be scared AND still choose VBAC.

VBAC at Home vs. Hospital: The Honest Comparison

Hospital VBAC

Pros: ✅ Immediate access to cesarean if needed ✅ Continuous monitoring available ✅ Pain relief options (epidural, etc.) ✅ Feels “safer” for many women

Cons: ❌ May face pressure, timelines, interventions ❌ Likely to see strangers during labour ❌ Continuous monitoring may restrict movement ❌ Hospital environment can slow labour ❌ Higher intervention rate

Best for: Women who want immediate surgical backup, women with medical complications, women who feel safer in hospital

Home Birth VBAC

Pros: ✅ Your space, your rules ✅ No strangers (your known midwife) ✅ No arbitrary timelines or interventions ✅ Freedom to move, eat, birth how you want ✅ Research shows similar safety for low-risk VBAC

Cons: ❌ 20-40 minute transfer time if cesarean needed ❌ Requires trust in your body and your midwife ❌ Not suitable for all women (depends on risk factors) ❌ NHS won’t usually support this (need private midwife)

Best for: Low-risk women who feel safest at home, women who had previous traumatic hospital birth, women with good access to hospital (within 30 mins)

The research: The Birthplace Study found home birth safe for low-risk women. While it didn’t specifically study VBAC, many private midwives safely support home VBAC for carefully selected women.

My approach: I support home VBAC for women who:

Had uncomplicated pregnancy
Are low medical risk
Had previous section for non-recurring reason (breech, etc.)
Live within 30 minutes of hospital
Understand and accept the risks
Have had thorough informed choice conversations

Every decision is individualised.

What You Actually Need for VBAC Success

Forget the hospital policies for a second. Here’s what actually helps women achieve VBAC:

1. A Care Provider Who WANTS You to Have a VBAC

Not someone who “allows” it.
Not someone who mentions section as a backup plan in every appointment.
Someone who believes in your body and your ability to birth.

This might be:

An NHS midwife in a VBAC-friendly hospital
A private midwife who specialises in VBAC
A consultant who actually supports physiological birth

If your care team seems reluctant, find someone else.

2. Education & Preparation

Knowledge = confidence = better outcomes.

Learn about:

What went wrong last time (was it truly your body, or circumstances?)
How this pregnancy is different
Optimal fetal positioning (baby’s position matters HUGELY)
Comfort measures and coping techniques
When to go to hospital (don’t go too early!)
Your rights (you can decline anything)

Consider:

Hypnobirthing or similar course
VBAC-specific preparation
Birth psychology work (if first birth was traumatic)
Pelvic floor/chiropractic care

3. Your Partner On Board

Your partner’s confidence matters almost as much as yours.

They need to:

Understand why VBAC matters to you
Know how to support you (not panic at first twinge)
Be able to advocate for you
Trust your body too

If they’re scared, that’s normal.

Get them reading the evidence. Have them talk to other VBAC partners. Consider hiring a doula who can support you both.

4. The Right Environment

For hospital VBAC:

Birth centre or midwife-led unit (if allowed)
Dim lighting, music, your things
As little intervention as possible
Freedom to move and eat
Partner/doula who protects your space

For home VBAC:

Pool set up
Comfort measures ready
Birth partner prepped
Private midwife you trust completely
Emergency plan discussed and ready

5. Going Into Labour Spontaneously

This is HUGE for VBAC success.

Spontaneous labour: 75% VBAC success
Induced labour: 60% VBAC success

How to encourage spontaneous labour:

Wait (don’t rush to induce at 39 weeks)
Optimal fetal positioning work
Stay active, walking, moving
Sex (if you feel like it!)
Relaxation (stress delays labour)
Acupuncture, reflexology (some evidence)

If you’re offered induction, ask:

Why? What’s the medical indication?
What happens if I wait?
What are my monitoring options if I decline?
Can I wait for spontaneous labour?

Sometimes induction is medically necessary. But “policy” isn’t a medical reason.

6. Trusting Your Instincts

Your body isn’t broken just because you had a cesarean.

Most cesareans happen because of:

Baby’s position
First-time labour patterns
Intervention cascade
Lack of support
Hospital timelines
Sometimes just bad luck

Very rarely is it your body’s inherent inability to birth.

This time CAN be different.

VBAC Support in Yorkshire: Your Options

NHS VBAC Support

VBAC-supportive hospitals in Yorkshire: Some hospitals have better VBAC rates and support than others.

Ask about:

Their VBAC success rate
Consultant midwife for VBAC
Birth centre VBAC access
Wireless monitoring availability
What “continuous support” actually means

Your rights:

You can choose your place of birth
You can decline interventions
You can request specific care providers
You can change hospitals if needed

Private Midwife VBAC Support

What you get:

Continuity of care throughout pregnancy
Same midwife at your birth (no strangers!)
Home VBAC option (if you’re suitable)
Unlimited appointment time
24/7 phone support
Birth planning that’s actually honoured
Hospital VBAC support with your midwife

Cost: £9,000-£12,000 depending on package

Is it worth it? For many women planning VBAC after traumatic first birth – absolutely.

The continuity, trust, and advocacy can make the difference between successful VBAC and repeat cesarean.

Doula Support

What a doula adds:

Continuous emotional support
Physical comfort measures
Partner support and guidance
Advocacy (especially in hospital)
Evidence-based information
Postpartum processing

VBAC-specific doulas understand the emotional complexity of VBAC and can provide tailored support.

Cost: £2500

Red Flags: When VBAC Might Not Be Right

I support VBAC. But I also believe in informed choice.

VBAC might not be the safest choice if you have:

❌ Classical (vertical) cesarean scar
❌ Previous uterine rupture
❌ Multiple previous cesareans (3+)
❌ Certain medical conditions (discuss with consultant)
❌ Placenta previa

And that’s okay.

Choosing a planned cesarean after weighing up YOUR specific circumstances is just as valid as choosing VBAC.

What matters is that it’s YOUR choice, made with full information.

Your VBAC Decision Framework

Still unsure? Work through these questions:

About Your Previous Birth:

Why did you have a cesarean last time?
Was it truly medically necessary or circumstantial?
How do you feel about that birth now?
What would you do differently this time?

About This Pregnancy:

Are there any medical complications?
How do you feel physically?
What does your intuition say?
What matters most to you this time?

About Your Support:

Do you have a VBAC-supportive care provider?
Does your partner support your choice?
Do you feel confident or terrified?
What would help you feel more supported?

About Your Environment:

Where do you feel safest birthing?
What matters more: immediate surgical backup or autonomy?
Can you access VBAC-friendly care in your area?
Are you willing to invest in private support if needed?

There’s no “right” answer – only YOUR answer.

Real VBAC Stories from Yorkshire

These are real experiences from families I’ve supported:

Sarah’s Story (Home VBAC, Leeds)

“My first birth was traumatic – emergency section after 30 hours of labour. I was told I’d ‘never birth vaginally.’ I found Bailey at 16 weeks pregnant, terrified but determined. We worked on positioning, mindset, preparation. At 40+2, I went into labour. Bailey arrived at my house at 3am. My daughter was born in my living room at 7:23am. I sobbed – not from pain but from joy. I wasn’t broken. My body worked perfectly. It just needed the right support.”

Emma’s Story (Hospital VBAC, York)

“I wanted VBAC but was too scared to birth at home. Bailey supported me through hospital birth – she was with me the whole time, advocating, supporting, keeping me calm. When the consultant suggested section at 6cm, Bailey helped me ask the right questions. We declined. Three hours later, I pushed my son out. Hospital birth, but on MY terms.”

Charlotte’s Story (Planned Cesarean, Harrogate)

“I planned VBAC with Bailey. We did all the prep. But at 38 weeks, baby was breech and wouldn’t turn. We had long conversations about ECV, breech birth, cesarean. I chose cesarean – but THIS time it felt empowering. Because it was MY choice, made with full information and Bailey’s support. That mattered more than the mode of birth.”

Not every VBAC story ends with vaginal birth. But every story can end with empowerment.

How to Get VBAC-Friendly Care in Yorkshire

Step 1: Research Your Options

NHS hospitals:

Check VBAC rates
Read reviews from VBAC mums
Ask your community midwife about local options

Private midwives:

Look for VBAC experience
Book discovery calls with 2-3 options
Ask about their VBAC philosophy and success rate

Step 2: Book a Discovery Call

Questions to ask:

What’s your VBAC success rate?
Have you supported home VBAC before?
What happens if I need to transfer or have a cesarean?
How do you support VBAC preparation?
Will you advocate for me in hospital?
What’s your approach to monitoring/intervention?

Red flags:

“We allow VBAC but…” (you want someone who WANTS you to VBAC)
“Most VBACs end in section anyway”
Reluctance to discuss home VBAC (even if you don’t choose it)
Pushy about induction timelines
Doesn’t ask about YOUR priorities

Step 3: Make Your Decision

Trust your gut.

The right care provider will:

Listen more than talk
Answer all your questions without rushing
Respect your choices
Make you feel confident, not scared
Want you to succeed

Step 4: Prepare Properly

3-6 months before birth:

Optimal fetal positioning work
Pelvic floor/chiropractic care
VBAC prep course or reading
Partner prep
Birth plan creation
Comfort measures practice

Final month:

Stay active
Rest and relax
Trust your body
Ignore the “helpful” comments
Focus on what YOU want

The Bottom Line on VBAC in Yorkshire

VBAC is possible. VBAC is safe for most women. And VBAC can be deeply empowering.

But it requires:

The right information
The right support
The right preparation
Trust in yourself

You’re not “too risky.”
Your body isn’t broken.
You deserve better than strangers at your birth.

Whether you choose home VBAC, hospital VBAC, or ultimately decide on planned cesarean – what matters is that you feel supported, informed, and empowered.

That’s what I’m here for.

Ready to Talk About YOUR VBAC Options?

I’m Bailey, an independent midwife supporting VBAC across Yorkshire.

I offer:

Hospital VBAC support (I’m with you throughout)
Home VBAC support (for carefully selected low-risk women)
VBAC preparation and education
Continuity of care throughout pregnancy
24/7 support when you need it
Partner preparation
Evidence-based, choice-led care

I serve families across:

Book a free 30-minute discovery call and let’s talk about YOUR birth.

No pressure. No judgment. Just honest conversation about whether VBAC is right for you – and how I can support you.

Book Your Free VBAC Consultation

Text: 07895637512
Email: bailey@yourprivatemidwife.co.uk

Related Posts:

Bailey Warner
Your Private Midwife
Independent Midwifery Services in Yorkshire & Beyond

VBAC IN YORKSHIRE: YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO VAGINAL BIRTH AFTER CESAREAN