But is homebirth safe if it's your first ...

[Julie Doula]

Hi Eluned,

Homebirth for a VBAC is definitely an option.

Of women in Australia who had a primary c/s, only 28% are given an opportunity to try for a VBAC. 72% have repeat c/s. Of the 28% who try for VBAC, 58% succeed in the hospital system.

Independent midwives have a 90% success rate for VBAC at home.

You can read here for more information about VBAC & VBAC birth stories, and also an independent midwife's recommendations for a successful VBAC.

If you go back to a similar model of care that led to your first c/s for your VBAC, consider that the likelihood of the same 'recipe' yeilding a similar result is quite high. A different location, careprovider and philosophy may yield a different outcome.

Here's a link about the safety of VBAC from the Birthlove website. Birthlove was down for a long time but now it's up and running again - great source of info. Here's their page on 'how to have a successful VBAC'. This is an American site but still much of the info is relevant to us in Australia.

Regarding the fear of the unknown wrt homebirth for your first, did you feel that same fear of the unknown wrt having your first in hospital?

Good luck!