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Your Guide to VBAC in Australia – Be Prepared and Confident
For many Australian women, the decision to pursue a Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC) is both deeply personal and transformative. With the right support, accurate information, and a trusting birth environment, VBAC can be a healing experience after a previous caesarean. This guide brings together current Australian research, real-life stories, recommended resources, and practical tools to support your VBAC journey.
According to Dr. Hazel Keedle’s research, approximately 11% of women in Australia who have had a previous caesarean go on to have a vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC). This statistic is highlighted in her 2020 study, which examined women’s experiences of planning a VBAC within different models of maternity care in Australia. The study emphasises that while VBAC is a safe and satisfying birth option for many, the rates in Australia remain low compared to other countries.
Dr. Keedle’s research also points out that the model of care significantly influences VBAC rates. Women receiving continuity of care with a midwife were more likely to feel in control of their decision-making and reported more positive experiences compared to those receiving standard fragmented maternity care.
These findings underscore the importance of supportive care models in increasing VBAC rates and improving women’s birthing experiences in Australia.
Barriers to VBAC often include:
https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-020-03075-8
Research from Sydney-based private hospitals highlights that VBAC is generally safe, but low success rates indicate a systemic need for better models of care. Midwifery-led continuity of care models, which are associated with higher rates of VBAC success, are still not accessible to many Australian women.
True informed consent is more than a signature on a form. It means:
In VBAC planning, informed consent should include individualised discussions about the risks and benefits of VBAC versus repeat caesarean, alternative care pathways, and the impact of hospital policies on labour progress. It should never feel like a predetermined outcome.
Your Rights as a Pregnant Woman in Australia | Back to Basics Birthing
Real stories matter.
They give voice to women who have navigated the VBAC path and remind others what’s possible, and here are just a few from the many I have supported:
Kayleigh’s Surreal VBAC “It was an amazing, surreal experience. I remember seeing my baby’s head and saying, “Oh my God!’… I can’t believe I did it!”
Belinda’s Empowering Decision After feeling dismissed during labour, Belinda made the bold decision to switch providers’ mid-labour. With support from her partner and doula, she achieved a drug-free VBAC and describes it as “liberating and empowering.”
https://vickihobbs.com/fired-private-obstetrician-active-labour-liberating-empowering-thing-done
A Healing VBAC for Michelle who overcame fear and trauma from a previous birth by embracing education, hypnobirthing, and self-belief to experience a calm, drug-free VBAC.
https://vickihobbs.com/for-this-birth-i-was-determined-to-have-a-vbac
“A Storm Was Brewing But I Got My Vaginal Breech Birth After Caesarean!” This is a powerful and inspiring story detailing Sara’s journey to achieve a vaginal breech birth after a previous caesarean. This narrative highlights the importance of informed decision-making, self-advocacy, and the support of a dedicated birth team.
https://vickihobbs.com/a-storm-was-brewing-but-i-got-my-vaginal-breech-birth-after-caesarean/
You can read more VBAC stories at www.backtobasicsbirthing.com.au
Back to Basics Birthing with Vicki Hobbs
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/back-to-basics-birthing-with-vicki-hobbs/id1449753995
Australian VBAC Stories
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/australian-vbac-stories/id1710980590
VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast (Ashley Winning)
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-vbac-homebirth-stories-podcast/id1518871066
Australian Birth Stories (numerous VBAC episodes)
https://australianbirthstories.com/podcasts/vbac/
Explore Vicki’s in-depth resources to support your VBAC preparation:
Ten Tips to Plan a Healing VBAC
The Birth Space – 10 Tips for a Successful VBAC
Helpful insights and encouragement for women aiming for a vaginal birth.
https://www.thebirthspace.com.au/birthstories/10-tips-for-a-successful-vbac
VBAC Australia Support Group (Facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/342851302473349
WA VBAC Support Group (Facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1613763775564213
VBAC Support Group QLD (Facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/786106989823990
VBAC Support Northern Territory (Facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1070160745026186
BellyBelly – VBAC Tips & Advice
Offers VBAC preparation strategies, expert articles, and birth stories.
https://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth/vbac-tips-advice
Lamaze Australia – Planning a VBAC (by Hazel Keedle)
Practical blog post on planning VBAC within the Australian maternity system.
https://www.lamazeaustralia.com.au/essentially-lamaze-blog/2020/9/2/planning-a-vbac-in-australia
Kirsten Small – Birth Small Talk – CTG During a VBAC
https://education.birthsmalltalk.com/VBAC
VBAC Facts for Parents
https://vbacfacts.com/parents/
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby
Clear, evidence-based VBAC information backed by Australian health services.
https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/vaginal-birth-after-caesarean-vbac
RANZCOG Pamphlet for parents
https://ranzcog.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/Vaginal-Birth-After-Caesarean.pdf
Birth After Caesarean – Your Journey to a Better Birth by Dr Hazel Keedle
In this book Hazel Keedle explores the research around repeat caesarean and vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC). Hazel introduces and explains the importance of the four factors to having a better birth.
Birth with Confidence by Rhea Dempsey
A must-read on the emotional and psychological challenges of childbirth and why physiological birth matters.
The Birth Map by Catherine Bell
A practical guide to mapping your birth preferences and navigating care systems confidently.
Why Induction Matters by Rachel Reed
This is a powerful guide for women planning a VBAC, offering clear, evidence-based insights into how induction can impact birth outcomes and the importance of making informed, individualised choices.”
How to Heal a Bad Birth: Making Sense, Making Peace and Moving On by Melissa Bruijn and Debby Gould
While not exclusively focused on VBAC, this book is critical for processing prior caesarean experiences, especially if they were traumatic. It offers tools to help women understand what happened and how to process and heal, which is invaluable when planning for a VBAC.
Informed is Best by Amy Brown
Essential reading on understanding risk, consent, and the importance of unbiased, evidence-based care.
VBAC is not only a clinical decision, but also an emotional, informed, and deeply personal journey. Australian women deserve respectful, individualised care and the confidence that their voice matters in the birth space. With access to trusted resources, supportive providers, and the power of education, you can plan a VBAC that feels aligned, informed, and empowering on your own terms.
If you have any other suggestions for blogs, podcasts and websites for Australian women, please let me know and I can add it to this list.
For support, education, and evidence-based birth preparation, visit
https://vickihobbs.com/vbac-educator/
If you have any questions or would just like more information please don't hesitate to get in touch by clicking the button below and filling out the contact form.
Contact Vicki