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You are here: Home / Become a doula / How Doulas Help with VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean)

How Doulas Help with VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean)

March 16, 2025

doulas help with vbacVaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) is something many parents hope for. Current evidence supports VBAC as a safe option for the majority of parents who previously had a c-section. Doulas help with VBAC in many ways.

Fear of complications, medical policies, and emotional uncertainty can make the journey to a VBAC daunting. This is where a doula becomes an important resource. Doulas provide emotional, physical, and educational support. Doula support empowers birthing people to make informed choices, increase their chances of a successful VBAC.

Doula support also increases the likelihood of experiencing a more positive birth overall, regardless of VBAC or c-section birth.

Doulas Help With VBAC Through Emotional Support and Confidence Building

For many parents, the desire for a VBAC comes with emotional baggage from a previous birth experience. Whether they had an unplanned C-section or felt unheard in their previous birth, these emotions can impact their mindset for a VBAC. Doulas offer a compassionate presence, helping parents process their past birth, address fears, and build confidence in their body’s ability to birth vaginally.

Providing Evidence-Based Information

Misinformation and fear-based narratives surrounding VBAC can deter many parents from trying a VBAC. Doulas help by providing evidence-based information about VBAC success rates, risks, and benefits.

They also educate clients about hospital policies, interventions, and alternatives, ensuring parents can make informed decisions that align with their birth goals. Doulas ensure parents are aware of all their options, including how to choose a provider more likely to help with a VBAC.

Doulas Help With VBAC Through Teaching Advocacy and Communication Support

Navigating the medical system can be intimidating, especially when seeking a VBAC in a hospital setting. Doulas help parents learn how to advocate for their choices by encouraging effictive communication with providers.

Doulas help with VBAC by assisting in developing birth plans, discussing preferences, and ensuring that parents understand their rights and options throughout labor.

Physical Comfort and Labor Support

Since VBAC labors can sometimes be longer or more intense due to scar tissue and medical monitoring, doulas provide essential physical support. They offer comfort measures such as massage, counter-pressure, movement suggestions, and positioning techniques to facilitate optimal fetal positioning and ease labor progression.

Doulas also provide continuous encouragement, helping parents stay relaxed and focused. We should not cause fear in parents by emphasizing that VBAC labors might be longer, but we can help prepare them for realistic expectations. One midwife I worked with once said, “It’s not c-section or a stroll in Paris, however you birth is work.”

Your continuous support can help parents push through the difficult parts of labor.

Reducing the Need for Unnecessary Interventions

One of the keys to a VBAC is avoiding unnecessary medical interventions that could increase the likelihood of another C-section. Doulas help by promoting natural pain management techniques, suggesting labor positions that encourage efficient progress, and ensuring that parents feel supported. More support in making decisions about interventions such as induction or continuous monitoring can also help.

There are times when medical intervention is truly needed or desired to maintain a positive birth experience. However, the role of a doula is to help parents avoid unnecessary or unwanted pressure for optional interventions.

Doulas Provide Partner Support and Involvement

VBAC births can be emotionally intense for partners as well. They may have concerns about safety or feel unsure about how to support the birthing person.

A doula helps partners stay engaged by providing guidance, reassurance, and practical ways to assist. This ensures that both the birthing person and their partner feel supported and empowered throughout the experience.

Doulas do not replace partner support. Doulas aid in helping a family work together and feel supported throughout the birth experience.

Postpartum Processing and Emotional Well-Being

Regardless of the birth outcome, doulas continue to provide support in the postpartum period. They help parents process their birth experience, celebrate their journey, and navigate any lingering emotions.

Whether the birth results in a BAC or another C-section, doulas help families feel heard, validated, and supported.

VBAC is a deeply personal choice that requires informed decision-making and a strong support system. Doulas play an important role in empowering parents with knowledge, confidence, and hands-on support. These things increase the likelihood of a positive VBAC experience.

By choosing a doula, parents set themselves up for a birth experience where they feel respected, supported, and in control of their choices.

Aliza Juliette Bancoff
Author: Aliza Juliette Bancoff

Aliza Juliette Bancoff is a well-known doula and doula trainer who has been providing doula services to families for over a decade. She is the founder of Main Line Doulas, a doula group providing doula support in the great Philadelphia area for the last decade, the International Doula Institute, which provides online doula training and lactation training and certification programs and  the International Breastfeeding Institute which provides lactation training and certification.   She is the co-founder of United Birth, a company devoted to increasing access to doulas across the country to make the perinatal time safer both physically and emotionally. “Every birthing person deserves access to quality doula support. And we are working to make that a reality across the country. The work we are doing to get doulas to every birthing person will decrease the black infant and maternal mortality rate significantly by 2030.” Says Bancoff. Aliza is known for her compassionate and empowering approach to doula work, and she has been featured in numerous media outlets, including United Nations Maternal Health Report,  Parent Magazine, CafeMom, theBump and many more. Aliza's journey into doula work began when she gave birth to her first child and felt a strong calling...

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Tracy tells us,
“This course was informative and educational. I enjoyed learning how to become a doula.”

Patricia shared, 
“This course was great. I loved how easy it is to use, as someone who is not very technologically inclined. The coursework was challenging and I learned so much. My instructor was always very easy to reach and very responsive to any issues I had. I loved being able to work at my own pace and skip around a bit. Videos are hard for me as I am very self-conscious so it was nice to be able to postpone them for a bit until I could really practice and feel my best. ”

Judith shared, 
“The instructors and course materials/videos were all so wonderful and informative. I truly feel very well equipped with all the knowledge and tools I now have to start as a full spectrum doula with multiple certifications under my belt. Thank you, IDI, from the bottom of my heart. My true passion is blossoming before my very eyes!”

Miranda tells us, 
“I started my training at IDI almost a year ago. The courses have given me exactly what I needed to become a confident doula! After looking at several different doula training programs I decided on IDI because I have two young children and could work at my own pace online. I also really liked that the curriculum was contributed to by different backgrounds and trainings, not only from one perspective. This program has offered more to me than I ever could have thought! Not only have I learned how to support Moms and families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum but I’ve been given tools in growing my reach and communication… just to name a few. There’s also huge support from other doulas in the program. I recommend this program to future doulas!”

Mary says, 
“Started my journey (with admitted fear) only a month ago and felt immediately at ease! This program is very fluid. Work at your own pace. Easy to reach help and support the whole way through. Everything you need to know to hit the ground running with confidence once certified.”

Brenda tells us, 
“My name is Brenda and I have been studying with IDI for a while now, looking forward to the Postpartum course also. I have found the studies, books, and information to feel well rounded in information and comprehensive. I love all the books they have chosen for my studies. Also, the opportunity to be hands-on with the additional class, interviews, videos, and Moms-to-be. This is a part of the program that brings all the reading, studying…everything to light! The teachers are kind, understanding and obviously VERY experienced and can guide and support me throughout this wonderful journey of certification to be a “Doula” I’m so happy I chose IDI to be my training! Thank you!!!! I look forward to the future!♡”

Joyce says, 
“I love being a student with IDI!”

Laura tells us,
” Easy to do at my own pace, good supplemental readings. ”

Hannah tells us,
” Hey this is Hannah! I’m SOO excited to have finished my courses & have become a CERTIFIED DOULA! I almost can’t believe I have that title, with my name!!! This has been a lifelong dream. I’m very grateful to have been able to do it online, as I am a stay-at-home mom to 7 amazing children. It was very convenient for me to work on, as I had quiet time, during my little’s naps. Having been through labor, birth & breastfeeding stages of my life, helped tremendously. However, it was a very practical course & easy to understand the instructions. I highly recommend IDI to anyone who is interested in becoming a doula!! Thank you, IDI!!! ”

Tatyana says,
“I enjoyed everything about this course. Very informative and detailed.”

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