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VBAC Prep Suggestions

VBAC prep
Deciding on a Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) can be a hard decision. Not knowing how your body will handle a vaginal birth and the fears that may come with that can be stressful. To help you get ready for a VBAC, we have some advice to help prepare you mentally and physically so that you can have a positive and healthy experience.

-          Mental Preparation
o   Committing to a VBAC is a start. You should be confident in your decision and don’t let your own self-doubts and fears change your decision. Make sure your partner/spouse is also on board. If they aren’t sure of the decision, an informational meeting can be made with a knowledgeable midwife can help with your partner’s concerns. Joining support groups and hearing successful stories (Like ICAN Twin Cities!) can help boost confidence and positive energy during pregnancy.
o   Find a VBAC-friendly practitioner. Finding a doctor that aligns with what you want to do and your plans for birthing will allow the process to less stressful. Also, don’t be afraid to ask about their VBAC success rates. See the chart to decide if they are supportive or tolerant. You want to aim for supportive over tolerant with your birthing team. Be willing to switch to a supportive provider or if yours starts suggesting more tolerance towards a VBAC, feel free to switch!

o   Having an experienced doula whom has attended several successful VBACs can be very helpful in providing a positive environment and experience.
o   VBAC Prep courses taught by local doulas can be a great support system too! Check out birthED’s course schedules for upcoming events.
o   Reading to prepare is also helpful. A few suggested books are: The Silent Knife, Heal Your Birth Story, and Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. I also enjoyed watching birthing YouTube videos with my son while preparing for my own VBAC.
-          Physical Preparation
o   Eating healthy and staying active can help prevent things like gestational diabetes and preeclampsia that will increase your chances at having an intervention which can lead to a C-section. (Look at Brewer’s Diet)
o   Seeing a chiropractor, specifically one that is Webster certified has shown to benefit many pregnant women. Chiropractors can help with low back pain and aligning the pelvis for optimal birthing position. When our pelvis and soft tissues are balanced, our nerves can function at their best, which means our organs get the most communication. The uterus is an organ! Therefore, it receives and sends information as best it can and optimize your body for birth even more.

o   Activity doesn’t have to be strenuous. Simple things such as walking daily can be great for your overall health and aid in the birthing process as well. Also, avoid sitting for long periods of time. Sitting can weaken birth muscles and decrease birth space. Try getting up for a quick walk or stretch every 20-30 minutes to get those muscles moving. See us in the office for more recommendations!
o   When you are sitting, make sure you have a neutral pelvis and a natural curve in your low back. Aim to sit on those “sit” bones and not your tailbone. Sitting on your tailbone can weaken pelvic muscle, cause low back pain and decrease birth space.
o Check out Spinning Babies for body balancing recommendations.
o   Strengthening muscles and preparing them for a vaginal birth is also important. Squats is a good and simple exercise that can be done anywhere and anytime (like between sessions of sitting!!) Squats can help with contractions during any part of pregnancy as well as strengthening the pelvic floor muscles. Abdominal exercises can also help with pushing in labor and prevent diastasis recti. Pelvic tilt exercises will help strengthen abdominals, relieve back pain and prepare the pelvis for delivery.
o   Getting craniosacral therapy, a massage and/or bodywork done can also help get your body balanced, relaxed, and soft tissues and muscles ready for birth. See what the difference between massage and bodywork is here.
-          Resources
o   ICAN - http://www.ican-online.org/
§  International Cesarean Awareness Network is a great resource for C-section mothers who need support or that have questions about having a VBAC, upcoming cesarean, trying to avoid cesarean, or planning for repeat cesarean births.
Local Twin Cities Chapter: Facebook Page & Website
o   One Strong Mama (For $10 off, use code dc44)
o   Healing Your Birth Story Workshop

o   Local Resources Blog Post of local providers, doulas, and other birth workers who are VBAC supportive

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND BIRTH! Be an advocate and know you are doing the right thing! You CAN do this! 



Always feel free to ask us questions, discuss concerns, or request recommendations. We're here to help and support you with your decisions. 

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