How safe is home VBAC?
The simple answer is – we just don’t know. There have been many studies demonstrating that VBAC leads to better outcomes generally, for mother and baby, than planned repeat caesarean. However, these studies have so far all been conducted in hospitals where continuous electronic fetal monitoring is available, and where an emergency caesarean could be performed if necessary. On the other hand, these hospitals may also have used interventions which can increase the risk of rupture, such as inducing or augmenting labour, expecting women to labour on their backs or semi-recumbent (in order to make continuous monitoring easier), and performing ventouse deliveries. There have also been many studies demonstrating that planned home birth for low or moderate-risk mothers is as safe, or safer, than planned hospital birth. However, these studies did not usually look at mothers with past caesareans. However much we support women who want home VBACs, even the most radical childbirth activist must ac
