Traveling for Your VBAC: Dos & Don’ts

In an ideal world, VBAC moms would have access to providers and birth teams that support their birth choices and give them confidence to pursue the births they desire. Unfortunately, that’s not the case in many places around the world and even here in the US. Many VBAC moms find themselves fighting for the opportunity to TOLAC from the very beginning of pregnancy all the way through labor. 

Because access to VBAC-supportive providers seems to be dwindling, parents are faced with many tough decisions to get the care they deserve. Whether they desire a hospital, birth center or home birth, one critical choice in particular is settling for a provider who may not be supportive or traveling to another city or state to give birth.

We’ve polled our community and done our own research to bring you details about this important yet often neglected topic – Traveling for Your VBAC. Keep reading for important dos and don’ts plus advice from mamas who have done it. 

Is Traveling for My VBAC the Right Decision?

A 2020 study published by the National Institutes of Health examined the barriers US women face when desiring a VBAC birth, and guess what was number one? That’s right – finding a VBAC-supportive provider. The study uncovered that many hospitals have VBAC bans (policies that prohibit them from offering TOLAC as an option to anyone, even those who are low-risk), which causes many women to travel for care.

So, how do you know if traveling for a VBAC is the right choice for you? Well, we believe that finding a supportive provider is an important piece of the VBAC puzzle. The majority of women value the information and expertise a supportive provider offers, and the patient-provider relationship can have a major influence on the mother’s birth experience. We also know that a provider’s preference for type of delivery significantly influences the mother’s choice for delivery. 

Here are some questions to ask yourself when looking for the right provider…

• Is my provider supportive of VBAC? Read up on ways to tell the difference between tolerant and supportive providers.
• Is there another supportive provider in my area? Get our list of VBAC-Supportive Providers here.
• Do I feel comfortable with this provider? Are your questions getting answered, do they give you thoughtful answers, do you feel pressured, do you genuinely like them? 
• Is there a possibility this provider will pull a bait & switch? Here are some signs that your provider might not be as supportive as they originally let on.
• How far would I have to travel to find someone supportive? Look up supportive providers nearby here.

Finding the right provider might take some leg work (potentially more than seems fair), but it’s definitely worth it. Remember, you can visit and interview more than one provider, and it’s never too late to switch providers.

At the same time, there are other factors to consider with regards to traveling other than your provider. Here are some additional things to think about…

• Have I considered all options? Have you looked into birth centers nearby or home birth midwives?
• How far away am I actually comfortable traveling? For some, this may be 30 minutes and others it could be several hours. It depends on what makes sense for your lifestyle.
• Who else will be supporting me – a partner, friend, doula? Does adding other supportive people to your birth team make you feel more confident? Check our Doula Directory for a list of VBAC-certified doulas in your area.
• What is my intuition telling me? As much as we believe in supportive providers, this is number one. Listen to your gut feeling about all of it – the provider, the setting, your capacity and the vision for YOUR birth. 

Planning the Logistics

We received so much helpful feedback from our community members who have traveled to VBAC. Based on the responses we received, women of strength have traveled an average of 2.3 hours to VBAC with a supportive provider – that’s incredible!!! Check out what they have to say about planning a VBAC trip…

When traveling to VBAC, definitely do…

• Start planning early – The logistics, finances and more that go into traveling for VBAC can be intense, so planning early is essential.
• Consider virtual prenatal appointments – Especially if you choose to travel a greater distance, think about scheduling some of your prenatal appointments virtually (or seeing someone closer to home) to help cut down on travel expenses.
• Have a backup plan – In case of an emergency, you change your mind at the last minute or something else comes up, know where you can go close to home and along the way.
• Hire a local doula – This is a must! Build a relationship with a doula from the area you’re traveling to. They will know the hospital system and probably the providers, as well as directions, accommodations, food spots and more that will be helpful during your stay. Find a VBAC-certified doula here.
• Bring a distraction – Don’t just rely on scrolling your phone or sleeping for the drive – plan a distraction. Have a show to watch, book to read, game to play or something else that can divert your attention when possible.
• Take breaks – Stop often to use the bathroom, stretch and get a couple laps in around the parking lot. This one is obviously only if time allows!
• Have an emergency supply kit – You never know how quickly things might escalate. In addition to knowing hospitals along the way, be sure you have some basic supplies in the car – bottled water, plenty of towels, shower curtain liner / trash bags, string (to tie off the cord).
• Find a hotel or rental near the hospital – Suggested by many VBAC mamas! Consider planning ahead to reserve a hotel room or rental house in the city you’re traveling to. This allows you to leave well in advance and have a comfy spot to labor so that you don’t have to worry about getting to the hospital too early (or too late!).

When traveling to VBAC, don’t…

• Travel alone – Not while you’re in labor nor for prenatal appointments. Always have someone with you and preferably driving!
• Follow the 5-1-1 rule – The traditional “time to go to the hospital” contraction timer probably won’t apply to you. Depending on how far you are traveling, most mamas recommend leaving for the hospital when contractions are 10 minutes apart.
• Forget to pack snacks – Bring nourishment for the car ride, during labor and for the ride back home.
• Sit in the front seat – Give yourself more space to stretch out and possibly lay down in the back seat.
• Lose focus – Pack ear buds, put on a playlist and find a breathing pattern that will help you stay in your active labor pattern. An eye mask helps, too!
• Let other people’s opinions bother you – There will be people in your circle who question your decision. Remember this: Your baby, your birth, your intuition, your CHOICE.

For even more inspiration, listen to these episodes of The VBAC Link Podcast to hear directly from moms who have traveled to VBAC:

• Episode 135 – Rebecca’s VBAC + Travel for VBAC
• Episode 280 – Arianna’s VBA2C + Far Travel, PPROM, Short Interval & Gestational Diabetes
• Episode 298 – Jenny’s VBAC after Baby was Breech + Intense Travel

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As alluded to above, no matter what you decide – to travel or not to travel – your intuition will not lead you astray. If you do some digging and reflecting to truly discover what you want and how you feel, trust it. Maybe you fall in love with a provider three hours away and can only see yourself with their support. Go for it! Maybe your provider isn’t your favorite, but knowing the hospital is just down the street makes you feel the safest. Do it! And consider adding a doula + VBAC education into the mix!

Regardless of what you decide, we hope you know that you deserve the experience you’re dreaming of, it’s worth fighting for and YOU’VE GOT THIS.

As always, women of strength, here is an affirmation and reminder…