16/06/2022
You are of perfectly sound mind to want to aim for a vaginal birth after 2 or more c-sections! The risks are very low. I have achieved vaginal birth after two c-sections and so have several clients. Don't be coerced into repeat c-section when your gut instinct is to aim for vaginal birth!
Yes, private midwives do and can support women who are planning a vaginal birth after one, two or more Caesarean sections.
Some of these women choose to give birth at home or at a supportive hospital depending on their personal and clinical needs and the skill and scope of their midwife.
What is for sure, is that the intention to plan a VBAC after multiple caesareans is something supported by not just 1 research paper, but multiple! And they all indicate that it’s just as safe to plan a VBAC after multiple caesareans as it is to plan an elective repeat caesarean.
In fact, the success rate for VBAC after 2 previous caesareans is 71.1% and 98.63% of the time women will not experience uterine rupture as a result.
Unfortunately, most women will be advised to have a repeat caesarean and ‘this decision is partly based on a large overestimation of immediate maternal and neonatal serious outcomes’ and that ‘well documented serious long term outcomes of multiple caesareans are insufficiently considered’ (Doret et al,2010)
Basically what we know is that choosing VBAC or elective cesarean are as safe as each other and if you are told anything different it’s because of restrictive hospital policies or the fear of your clinician. The evidence supports the option of VBAC after multiple caesareans 🙌🏼
Note: not every woman who has had a Caesarean section is a candidate to attempt a VBAC… but that’s a discussion for you to determine with your chosen care provider.
