09/05/2026
A home VBAC isn’t just a hospital VBAC…without the hospital.
If you’re considering one, these are 5 things I’d want you to understand before choosing your birth team:
1️⃣ “VBAC-friendly” isn’t enough.
Ask how many home VBACs your provider has actually attended. Hospital VBAC experience and home VBAC experience aren’t necessarily the same.
2️⃣ Have a detailed transfer plan.
Know where you’re going, when you’d transfer, how you’d get there, and how your preferences will still be respected if plans change. A transfer plan should include more than just an address.
3️⃣ Ask about monitoring, not just whether they “monitor baby.”
Find out what fetal monitoring they use, when it happens, and what changes would require a change in your birth plan.
4️⃣ Ask how they assess your labor progress.
A long labor doesn’t automatically mean something is wrong. Ask your provider what signs they look for to determine whether labor is progressing normally and when they would become concerned.
5️⃣ Ask the uncomfortable emergency questions.
What emergency equipment and medications do they carry? How do they handle heavy bleeding? What happens if you or baby need urgent care?
And here’s the thing: there isn’t one “right” place to have a VBAC.
Home, birth center, or hospital can all be great options, it’s about finding the setting and birth team that align with your individual circumstances, preferences, and level of support.
Just make sure you know what questions to ask before you choose.
