Preparing for Your VBAC

Prepare for a VBAC with evidence, not guesswork.

A three-hour class covering the physical, emotional and practical side of planning a vaginal birth after cesarean, including how to choose a supportive provider.

$67
  • Self-paced online class
  • 3 hours
  • Video + workbook
A doula supporting a pregnant parent seated on a birth ball at home
  • Anna Rodney, M.Ed.Your instructor
  • 15+ yearssupporting families
  • 3 hours3 hours
  • Video + workbookPractice and revisit as you go

Choose your team, then prepare for the birth.

Preparing for Your VBAC is evidence-based and practical: it covers the decisions that shape a VBAC and the coping tools you'll use in labor.

  • Choosing a supportive provider

    What to ask, and what an answer that supports a VBAC sounds like.

  • Your options, clarified

    Understand the choices available to you and the evidence behind them.

  • Physical preparation

    How to prepare your body for labor after a cesarean.

  • Emotional preparation

    Working through what the last birth left with you.

  • Coping strategies

    Techniques to stay calm and confident as labor progresses.

  • Afterwards

    Postpartum care and what to expect after a VBAC.

What families say

Words from families who have taken BBU classes.

Erica & Patrick B.BBU family classes
“So informative, and we liked that we could pause for the day and resume when we had time.”
Erica & Patrick B.BBU family classes
“We absolutely loved these classes! So informative and we liked that we could pause for the day and resume when we had time. I highly recommend them to all expectant parents.”
Josie M.BBU family classes
“As a first-time parent, I felt overwhelmed by all the information out there, but this course broke everything down into clear, supportive, and easy-to-understand lessons. They made me feel confident and empowered going into labor and early parenthood.”
Christine M.Family classes including newborn care
“These classes were really helpful for my partner and I. We feel so much more confident about going into birth now. I had no idea what to expect before these classes. We also took the class to prepare for breastfeeding and caring for our new little cutie pie. 10 out of 10 recommend. You wouldn't believe how much you don't know about caring for a newborn before you take these classes.”
Theresa M.BBU family classes
“Birth and Baby University is so helpful. I was able to take so many great classes to help me prepare for birth.”
Donald M.BBU family classes
“They are amazing! 10/10 recommend!”
Portrait of Anna Rodney

Your instructor

Learn with Anna Rodney, M.Ed.

Anna is a certified labor and postpartum doula and childbirth educator, and teaches this class with the evidence in front of her rather than an opinion.

  • Master of Education (M.Ed.) with 15+ years supporting families
  • Former special-education teacher
  • Doula trainer and childbirth educator
  • Newborn Care Specialist and Lactation Educator
  • Founder of Chicago Family Doulas and Birth & Baby University
Read Anna's full bio (opens in a new tab)

What you'll learn

Five sections covering provider choice, preparation and labor. Open any section to see what it covers.

What a VBAC involves The medical picture, plainly explained.
  • What makes a VBAC likely to go well
  • What the evidence actually says about the risks on both sides
  • How a VBAC differs from a first labor in practice
Choosing your provider and place The decision that shapes the rest.
  • Questions that reveal whether a provider supports VBAC
  • What hospital policies can mean for your options
  • When it is worth changing provider or setting
Preparing physically Getting your body ready.
  • What you can do in pregnancy to prepare
  • Pelvic and core considerations after a cesarean
  • Signs and symptoms worth raising with your provider
Preparing emotionally Working with the last birth.
  • Making sense of a previous cesarean
  • Managing fear and other people's opinions
  • Building a support plan that holds up in labor
Labor and afterwards What to expect, and what comes next.
  • Coping strategies to use as labor progresses
  • Positions and comfort measures that help
  • Postpartum care and recovery after a VBAC

How it works

  1. Enroll in the class

    Check out securely and access the class through the BBU student portal.

  2. Learn at your own pace

    Three hours of lessons you can watch around your appointments.

  3. Prepare and create plans in your workbook

    Use the provider questions and preparation plan to structure your prenatal visits.

Enroll in Preparing for Your VBAC

This course

Preparing for Your VBAC

$67

Self-paced online class

  • Three hours of self-paced video lessons
  • Downloadable workbook with provider and preparation worksheets
  • Evidence-based guidance on VBAC options
Enroll now for $67
A doula talking with a pregnant parent seated on a birth ball in a living room

Questions, answered.

Who is this class for?

Anyone who has had a cesarean and is considering a vaginal birth after cesarean, and the people supporting them.

Does this class tell me whether I should have a VBAC?

No, and it will not. It gives you the evidence, the questions to ask your provider and the preparation, so the decision is one you make with your care team rather than for you.

Can my partner take it with me?

Yes, and partners are encouraged to. The class is built so you can watch together.

When do I take the class?

Whenever it suits you. The class is online and self-paced, so you can watch on your own schedule and revisit the videos.

What's included?

Video lessons you can watch at your own pace, plus a downloadable workbook to practice and keep.

Who can I contact with a question?

Email info@birthandbabyuniversity.com and the BBU team will help.

Plan the birth you're asking for.

Preparing for Your VBAC is $67, self-paced and about three hours.