Everything You Need for a Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC)

A VBAC mama’s desire to birth at home is not uncommon. We see your inspiring stories in our social media community and have recorded many of you on our podcast. And we know that more and more of you are curious about, interested in and doing it – birthing your VBAC babies at home! 

And for good reasons. According to a 2021 study, “Planned HBAC was associated with a significant 39% decrease in the odds of having a cesarean birth.” Additionally, other than home feeling familiar and cozy, some women don’t even have the ability to VBAC in a hospital due to state laws, bans or lack of VBAC supportive providers in their area. And even if it is an option, VBAC moms do typically have a few more hoops to jump through in the hospital setting, especially those with more than one prior c-section. Hospital providers typically keep a closer eye on due dates, labor progress and more because in the medical world, VBAC is often seen as more risky (even though VBAC is a safe option for nearly all pregnant mamas, see more here). 

Regardless of what and who is available to support your VBAC, many of us just feel like we will be less subject to skepticism, judgment, pressure, monitoring, examinations and procedures if we choose to birth in the comfort of our own homes.

If you’re interested in or even considering an HBAC, we’ve got you covered!

First, click over to Home Birth After C-Section: Deciding Between HBAC and Hospital Birth to help you really decide if HBAC is the right choice for you.

And second, our How to VBAC: The Ultimate Prep Course for Parents gives you more than six hours of self-paced video content that will help you understand, feel empowered and plan your HBAC.

Now, because we see so many VBAC moms make the decision to birth at home, we wanted to create the ultimate HBAC (home birth after cesarean) checklist for YOU. Planning a home birth is a unique experience that definitely requires some special preparation. So, this is your one-stop shop for preparation ideas, supply lists and insider tips along the way for both labor and postpartum.

Building Your Birth Team

Perhaps the first and most critical step in planning your HBAC is building your ideal birth team. The people who will be supporting you from start to finish should be those who respect your birth wishes, bring you comfort, help you feel confident and can create a sense of calm and safety. 

• Midwife – Not all midwives deliver home births and not all midwives deliver in hospitals. It’s perfectly normal to interview different midwives and midwifery agencies to find the best fit for your preferences, personality and budget. Here are some tips for finding the right provider for your ideal birth, including HBAC.

• Doula – Your doula is an extra layer of emotional and physical support, someone who believes in the power of your intuition and reminds you of your strength. Here are some great questions to ask when interviewing doulas, and you can even find a VBAC-certified doula in your area here.

• Partner / Family / Friends – It’s important to outline exactly who you want present during your labor, birth and postpartum period so that you’re not distracted by making those decisions during labor. Remember, this is one of the most sacred experiences of your life – you get to decide who is allowed into it.

• Children – If you have other children, think about where they will be during labor. Do you prefer they stay with family or friends? Would you like someone to care for them in-house? Is it important to you that they are part of the birthing experience? Making a plan ahead of time will give you comfort when labor starts.

• Pets – It might sound funny, but consider what your pets will be doing during your labor. Some people find them distracting while others see them as a source of comfort. Again, just thinking about this and having a plan ahead of time is helpful. 

And although things don’t always go exactly as planned, writing out these and other preferences can be therapeutic for you and informative for your birth team. Here’s a great resource for writing a home birth plan and planning for the unexpected.

Practicing Mindfulness

Having a home birth is definitely a vibe. It’s certainly unique for every family and there’s no one way to do it, but… it’s a certain vibe, no less. It could be said that having a home birth requires a bit different mindset than a hospital birth because at home, you’re 100% in the driver’s seat, as free as possible from pressure and distraction. If having an HBAC is in the works for you, here are a few tips for mindfulness…

• Connect to your intuition – Remember that your desire for an HBAC and all the preparation you’ve done is really powerful. There is a reason (or many reasons) you chose this path, and have confidence in that. 

• Connect to & trust your body – While spontaneous labor is ideal for all VBAC mamas, having patience to let labor start on its own is critical for our HBAC moms. A belief in the timing of your baby and your body will give you confidence in your ability to labor whenever it begins. Choosing a few affirmations that you can really sink into can be super helpful. Post them around your house, especially in places you envision you’ll be laboring in. Lastly, find a breathing technique that works for you, and practice it as soon as early labor begins.

What the Midwife Brings

Something important to note (and that you may find comforting) is that most midwives bring the same medical supplies that are usually available at birthing centers. These items generally include…

• Oxygen for the baby, if needed
• IV’s for mom if she becomes dehydrated or needs additional nutrients
• Sterile gloves, gauze pads, a cotton hat for the baby, drop cloths, waterproof covers for the bed, a thermometer, a pan for sitz baths after birth
• Fetoscopes or ultrasonic stethoscopes
• Medications to slow or stop a hemorrhage
• Special herbal preparations, homeopathic remedies, massage supplies/techniques and perhaps even acupuncture needles
• Items for suturing tears

Sourced from The American Pregnancy Association

Your midwife should certainly be clear about what they plan to bring and what the expectations are for you to have and / or purchase, but remember to ask as many questions during your prenatal visits as you feel necessary to ensure you’re comfortable with the supply list. 

General Supplies

• Medical supply box – This would be a box including basic medical supplies like alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, gauze, etc. If your midwife doesn’t already bring this with them, they will most likely tell you what needs to be in it and / or where to order it from.

• Tub & accessories – You’ve probably seen the dreamy reels of home birth mamas peacefully birthing their babes in the tub (we’ve seen some amazing HBAC stories like this in our community!!!). Know this – a fancy tub is not required for a home birth, but so many mamas find water helpful for pain management and just a relaxing spot to labor in. Some midwifery groups offer tub rentals or maybe you just want to use your regular bathtub at home so you don’t have to buy one, but here are some other things to consider getting if you think you’ll want to hang in the tub for your HBAC…
  • Basic inflatable swimming pool, Elite Water Birth Pool or Birth Pool in a Box
  • Tub liner
  • Tub overflow cover – so that you can fill the tub really, really full
  • Fish net – just to catch anything that might end up floating around 
  • Water-activated tea lights – for the most dreamy ambiance 

• Shower curtains – The cheap shower curtains or shower curtain liners can be spread out in areas that you’re laboring in to protect the floor and then just wrapped up and tossed out.

• Towels, wash clothes – you probably have plenty at home, but you might want to get some extra inexpensive ones in case they get stained

• Bed sheets – You’ll want to have some extra sheets, including plastic sheets or a waterproof pad, to protect your bed. See our ProTip below!

• Fans – Depending on the time of year, climate of your home and how you’re feeling during labor, you may want extra air flow and / or a personal fan. Here’s my fav that I keep in my doula bag. 

• Space heater – Again, this may just be dependent on the season or how your house feels, but if you have a winter birth it may be a good idea to keep on hand.

• Mirror – so you can see how things are progressing

• Flashlight – It’s just good to have a flashlight around the house, but this way you can keep the lights dim or dark and still allow your birth team to see what’s going on.

• General kitchen supplies – Things like paper towel, plastic wrap, laundry stain remover, large garbage bags and a few bowls (to keep ice, catch vomit and store the placenta) are pretty important to have ready.

For You – Labor Comfort Measures

• Comb
• Tens unit
• Speaker
• Diffuser / oils
• Birth ball
• Peanut ball
• Flameless candles / twinkle lights
• Ice
• Water bottle w/ straw – Make sure to have a few different bottles with various drinks in them (ice water, electrolyte drink mix, protein shake, etc.).
• Snacks – You’ll want to have a few different snack food items, things you can easily grab with one hand like cubes of meat & cheese with crackers, fruit, protein balls, honey sticks and popsicles.

For You – Postpartum

• Crockpot meal (recipe ideas and ProTip below)
• Sitz bath salt
• Peri bottle
• Nursing bras
• Pads
• Mesh underwear
• Pain relief (Ibuprofen / Acetaminophen) – because your body just went through a LOT, and you may have some aches & pains
• Afterease – a commonly used herbal supplement that helps ease the after birth contractions (which are totally normal, by the way!)
• Heating pad – also to help relieve some of the discomfort of those after birth contractions

For Baby

• Thermometer
• Receiving blankets / towels
• Swaddle blankets
• Diapers + wipes
• Bassinet

For Birth Team

• Snacks – Your birth team is obviously going to love their time with you, but they’ll also really appreciate having some delish fuel while they’re at it. Things like granola bars, meat & cheese, nuts, dark chocolate and protein bars are favorites. 

• Meal for a long birth or after – Having a full meal your birth team can share is really helpful for longer births or just something to refuel them after the baby is born! Some ideas are this Turkey & Egg Breakfast Casserole or this High Protein Slow Cooker Chili.

Hospital Transfer Bag

There are various reasons why an HBAC mom may decide to transfer to the hospital. Obviously, emergency situations are possible, but also, a decision to transfer may be for pain management, stalls in labor or baby’s positioning. 

Things to pack in your bag might include… 

• Photo ID and an insurance card
• Phone, tablet and other chargers (extra long cords or portable chargers are even better since outlets are few & far between in hospital rooms)
• Birth plan, 2-3 copies (click here for tips on writing your HBAC birth plan, including planning for the unexpected)
• Duffel bag – You’ll want a nice size bag to keep all of your essentials.
• Slippers, slip-on shoes or shower shoes (some VBAC mamas who are particular about their towels may want to bring their own towel, too)
• Lip balm or Lip mask (it never hurts to have more than one since they tend to get lost)
• Hair ties / Headbands
• Robe / Comfy pajamas – Your hospital stay is a time for rest and recovery. Be sure to pack things that are easy to get on and off, easy to nurse in and comfortable to sleep in.
• Nursing bras – I have a few favorite nursing bras, but bring something to the hospital that’s soft and comfy, like these sleep bras.
• Nursing pillow – You may or may not decide to use one, but these can be super helpful in figuring out your favorite nursing position, especially right away. This has been my all-time favorite.
• Toiletries bag – Hairbrush, toothbrush & toothpaste, deodorant, facial cleanser, makeup, contact cases & glasses, etc.
• Any medications or supplements you or your partner take
• Comfy clothes & shoes to go home in (joggers and a cute nursing top or a comfy dress)
• And a few baby essentials like
  • Diaper bag
  • Swaddle blankets
  • Outfits in a couple different sizes (premie, newborn, 0-3mo)
  • Diapers + wipes
  • Announcement accessories (letterboard, welcome sign)
  • Carseat (we like this carseat / stroller combo)

These items are most likely enough for a last-minute change of plans, but you can find an even more comprehensive list of hospital bag items for mama, partner and baby on our recent blog, Hospital Bags Checklist: What to Pack When Preparing for Your VBAC.

You should also know that any reason you choose to transfer is a good one. This is your experience, and no matter what you choose, you’re right.

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Dearest women of strength, whew, that was a LOT to go over, thanks for sticking with me! At The VBAC Link, we think it’s so important that you feel informed, prepared and supported in whatever birth you desire, and so it’s equally important to us that we help you get there (even if that means blogs and emails packed full of info, lists and links). 

We always reference our community for questions, comments and insights when writing our blogs, but this article was especially inspired by our home birth friends and community members. We are so grateful for you. You’re amazing, you belong here, and we are grateful to be by your side no matter what kind of birth you’re planning.

For even more HBAC goodness, you can catch some absolutely amazing HBAC stories on our podcast by clicking over to the Podcast page (we are also on Spotify and Apple Podcasts) and searching “home birth.” There are so many to choose from, so here are a few favorites…

• Episode 32 – Erin’s VBAC + Home Birth Safety
• Episode 202 – Katie Davis’ HBAC + Is home birth right for you?
• Episode 264 – Ali Levine’s HBAC + The Practice of Breathwork

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As always, we will leave you with this affirmation and reminder…