So you've had a caesarean birth.

What does that mean for future births?

How do you decide whether to go for a vbac or another caesarean?

What are your options?

Will you be supported to have a vbac?

What about if you've had more than one caesarean birth?

What if you have twins, a breech baby, go overdue?

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If you've had a previous caesarean birth you probably have lots of questions like these, and others. Take the stress away, build your knowledge and confidence, and make choices based on what is right for you, your baby, and your situation. 

On this page you will find some answers, free downloads, VBAC birth stories, and online classes.

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I think people who have had previous caesarean births are really underserved. Unbiased information is not readily available. Instead of being given options, your choices are made for you. Instead of nuance and discussion, there are closed doors. Or there is nothing, no explanations, no opportunity to talk things through. There is no talk of dealing with fears, or understanding what happened last time, and how likely is it to happen again. 

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You may have ideas of what you want to do differently this time. You may find that your confidence in your body, in the birth process, has been rocked. You know what you want this time, or what you don't. But you find yourself between a rock and a hard place: planned caesarean or birth on an obstetric unit, attached to wires, with a cannula. 

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The sound of uterine rupture is scary, and it is an emergency. But it doesn't happen suddenly. It is less likely to happen than you've been told.

 

The standard VBAC policy at most hospitals is not evidence based, and doesn't follow national guidelines.

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With national caesarean rates reaching 40%, and higher in places, you are not alone!​

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• Maybe you're not pregnant yet, but want to know if you can have a better experience this time, and how to prepare for it.

• Maybe you had a elective caesarean and now want to prepare for vaginal birth.

• Perhaps you want to prepare for what to expect, or maybe you want to make different choices from what's offered, such as no continual monitoring, water birth or home birth.

• Maybe you are weighing up whether to go for a vbac or another caesarean.

 

That's where I can come in. I'm Cathy, Chilled Mama, and as an antenatal teacher and doula I have supported hundreds and hundreds of people who've had a previous caesarean and wanted to explore their options. Most of my doula clients had previous caesareans, and 99% had VBACs, and all of those at home, many in a birth pool (or next to it).​

 

​I have put my experience and learning from all my previous clients and my own training and understanding to create resources for you, and I offer group and 1-1 coaching sessions. These sessions can be for debriefing past births, helping you to understand you options and make decisions about the next birth, support and tools for hospital appointments, plus birth skills for you and your partner. 

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You deserve access to the information, to have it presented in a straightforward way, time to think it all through, with an emphasis on making the right, or best in the circumstances, decisions for you and your situation; to feel confident and in control. After all, this is 2025, you are an independent woman/birthing person, and you have autonomy, choice, and are able to make decisions for you and your baby, your family.