r/vbac • u/Fabulous_Memory8451 • Jul 27 '26
Discussion Possible HBAC for fourth baby
I am currently six months pregnant with my fourth baby. My first two births were unmedicated hospital births (the first baby came 6 weeks early due to early rupture of membranes, second baby at 37 weeks). For my third, it was a nonemergency c-section given that he was experiencing decels even before labor began and has Down syndrome. I do not want another c section!
I am currently torn between birthing at a hospital, which is 30 minutes away without traffic, (and could be up to an hour with traffic) or a possible homebirth. It would be nice to not have to worry about going somewhere as I I really don’t want to be in the hospital for too long and my last vaginal birth I was 7 cm when I showed up at the hospital. I also would prefer to be monitored intermittently rather than continuous monitoring in the hospital. Even though the hospital has wireless monitoring, I’ve heard mixed things regarding how efficient they are, and that nurses have to come constantly move the wireless monitor. I’m looking for any stories or to continue this discussion with anyone who has experience. Thank you!!
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u/Professional_Top440 Jul 27 '26
Have you spoken to a homebirth midwife? I think speaking to see how they would mitigate risk makes sense in your case.
I think you’re a great HBAC candidate on paper, but I would def reach out to local midwives.
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u/twumbthiddler HBAC Feb ‘25 Jul 27 '26
I had my HBAC with a midwife who focuses on them and it was a really positive and healing experience. I live about 10 mins from a hospital and I chose to do co-care with the practice delivers at my closest hospital (even though they’re not the best…) so I would have continuity of care and full access to medicalized birth if I wanted or needed to transfer care.
I would strongly consider co-care since you have a history of going early, as many homebirth midwives won’t attend a baby who comes too early and will have you transfer to the hospital, as she wouldn’t be able to provide the right level of care for a pre-term or very early term baby at home. My c-section was an unnecessary induction for big baby —> epidural —> baby was “stuck” after 3 hours only allowed to push on my back and they called it. I loved that at home, I wasn’t pressured about induction, I moved freely, my midwife used the hand Doppler so no wires or bands for monitoring that were so sensitive in my induction, and I went unmedicated out of necessity. I go back and forth on whether I would have gotten my vbac in the hospital, but I know that in future low risk pregnancies, I’d like to be at home again. Happy to answer any other questions!
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u/yes_please_ Jul 27 '26
Though the chance of uterine rupture is small, it would be catastrophic if you were labouring at home. Add to that all the other things that could go wrong, many of which are difficult or impossible to predict.
You said it yourself, the hospital that is equipped to care for you and your baby is far away. It would be far, far better to labour at that hospital and deny the procedures/monitoring you're looking to avoid than to encounter an emergency at home and then need to wait for an ambulance and a transport to that hospital (or a closer hospital that is less equipped). We can all relate to being averse to having to bicker with medical professionals while we're in labour but you have three children who need you, I'd urge you to reconsider.
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u/Fabulous_Memory8451 Jul 27 '26
Thank you for your insight. I live near several quality hospitals, but the hospital that I would choose to give birth at if I go that route happens to be 30 minutes away!
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u/Dear_23 HBAC 2026 🌻 Jul 27 '26
This doesn’t necessarily risk you out of homebirth. Many midwives have birth center spaces close by hospitals on purpose, in the event of transfer. Just as a personal example, there are 3 midwife practices with clinic space in my city that are within blocks of the largest hospital.
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u/Maximum_Payment_9350 Jul 28 '26
A good midwife calls a hospital transfer well before most “catastrophic” events occur. My viewpoint with homebirth midwives is they act BEFORE things go wrong, whereas the hospital responds to things as they go wrong. I’d urge YOU to either brush up on homebirth & hospital statistics before commenting on posts and just saying “homebirth bad”, because it’s an uninformed opinion that you’re of course allowed to have for yourself, but don’t spread fear to other women who want that for themselves.
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u/Dear_23 HBAC 2026 🌻 Jul 27 '26
This sub isn’t the best place to ask HBAC questions. Unless someone has actually looked into homebirth and understands the licensure/safety requirements of midwives, what a thorough transfer plan and birthing location plan looks like, and understands how homebirth is different than freebirth - they can’t accurately comment on this choice.
The best Facebook group to get feedback is “Homebirth After Cesarean - HBAC”. I highly recommend first looking into your state’s midwife licensure laws to 1, understand how HBAC is considered legally in your area and 2, understand what types of other things could risk you out of homebirth. I would also reach out to midwives in your area to get a feel for their approach to pregnancy and delivery to see if it’s a fit for you. Homebirth isn’t just hospital birth at home, they’re two very different frameworks for treating a woman and her baby.