Presented by Christy Cannon, CNM, WHNP-BC · The Midwife & More
If you have had a cesarean and hope for a different birth this time, you have more options than you may have been told. This guide explains vaginal birth after cesarean with honest, evidence-based information, and a warm, hospital-based midwife who supports it.
Answer six quick questions about your history for a general, evidence-informed readout of whether a vaginal birth after cesarean may be an option, plus what to discuss at a consult. No email required.
Take the 2-minute quiz →Current U.S. figures from the CDC National Center for Health Statistics, refreshed automatically each visit.
Source: CDC NCHS Vital Statistics Rapid Release. Figures update automatically.
Start here to understand what a VBAC is, who qualifies, the real numbers on success and safety, and how it compares with a repeat cesarean.
A warm, medically grounded guide to VBAC in Ventura County: what it is, who it's for, success rates, safety, and midwife-led care with a hospital safety net.
Read the guide →Wondering if you qualify for a VBAC? Learn who is a good candidate for a trial of labor (TOLAC), what improves your odds, and the true contraindications.
Read the guide →A warm, evidence-based look at VBAC success rates (~60-80%), how prediction calculators work, and why a single number should never define your birth.
Read the guide →An honest, evidence-based look at uterine rupture during VBAC: the real (low) rate, what raises risk, and how a hospital birth keeps you safe.
Read the guide →A balanced, evidence-based look at VBAC vs. planned repeat cesarean to help Ventura County families make an informed, values-based birth choice.
Read the guide →Practical, encouraging guidance on special situations, finding a supportive provider, preparing your birth team, and what labor is actually like.
VBAC after two cesareans, big baby, gestational diabetes, twins, and more. Honest, nuanced counseling from a Ventura County nurse-midwife.
Read the guide →How Ventura County families can tell VBAC-supportive providers from VBAC-tolerant ones, plus questions to ask and hospital policies to check.
Read the guide →A practical VBAC preparation playbook: writing a birth plan providers honor, doulas, childbirth classes, movement, nutrition, and trusting your body.
Read the guide →A step-by-step Ventura County guide to a hospital TOLAC: monitoring, movement, comfort options, pain relief, and honoring your birth plan.
Read the guide →A gentle guide to processing birth disappointment, releasing the 'my body failed' story, and reclaiming your voice on the path to a VBAC.
Read the guide →Honest, evidence-based conversations about vaginal birth after cesarean.
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All episodes →Quick, visual answers to the questions families ask most. Swipe or use the arrows, then tap to watch.
“I built my practice around a simple question: if I were the patient, what would I want in a provider?”
Christy is a double board-certified nurse midwife and women’s health nurse practitioner with a master’s from Georgetown University. After more than two decades caring for newborns and families as a NICU nurse, she became the first Certified Nurse Midwife to offer holistic birth services at Los Robles Hospital in Thousand Oaks. Her concierge model means continuity of care, texting and phone access, home visits, and a birth plan that is genuinely honored, with an on-call OB, Dr. Thomas Cachur, for a true safety net.
Book a Free Birth Consult Read moreMy previous OB said my pelvis might be too small to push out a baby. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. With a midwife who believed in me, I had the unmedicated VBAC I hoped for.
— A Ventura County mother, shared with permission of the practice
Is a VBAC safe?
For most women with one prior low-transverse cesarean, a trial of labor is safe and succeeds about 60 to 80 percent of the time. Uterine rupture is uncommon, in the range of 0.5 to 0.9 percent, which is why a VBAC is planned in a hospital with a ready team.
Who is a good candidate for a VBAC?
Women with one, and often two, prior low-transverse cesareans, without a prior classical incision or uterine rupture, are typically candidates. A prior vaginal birth improves the odds further. Candidacy is individual and confirmed with a provider who reviews your operative report.
What is the difference between VBAC and TOLAC?
TOLAC stands for trial of labor after cesarean, which is the attempt to labor and give birth vaginally after a prior C-section. A VBAC, or vaginal birth after cesarean, is the successful outcome. Every VBAC begins as a TOLAC.
What is the success rate of a VBAC?
Roughly 60 to 80 percent of women who attempt a trial of labor go on to have a vaginal birth. The odds are higher for those who have had a prior vaginal birth or a previous VBAC, and lower with factors like a recurring reason for the first cesarean.
Can you have a VBAC after two C-sections?
Yes, it can be reasonable. ACOG considers a trial of labor an option for many women with two prior low-transverse cesareans, though the numbers differ slightly and the decision should be individualized with a provider who reviews your history.
What is the risk of uterine rupture during a VBAC?
With one prior low-transverse incision, uterine rupture is uncommon, generally in the range of 0.5 to 0.9 percent. The risk is higher with a classical (vertical) incision, which is why that scar type is usually not a candidate for a trial of labor.
Does a C-section for 'failure to progress' mean I can't have a VBAC?
No. A prior cesarean labeled failure to progress does not disqualify you, and many women in exactly this situation go on to a successful VBAC. Your candidacy depends on your incision type and overall history, not that label alone.
How long should you wait between a C-section and a VBAC?
An interpregnancy interval of at least 18 months by your due date is generally associated with a lower risk of complications. A shorter interval does not automatically rule out a VBAC, but it is worth discussing with your provider.
Christy Cannon, CNM, WHNP-BC is the first Certified Nurse Midwife to offer holistic birth services at Los Robles Hospital, Thousand Oaks, blending personal, one-on-one midwifery care with the safety net of a hospital and an on-call OB. If you are hoping for a VBAC, the first step is a conversation.
Serving Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Newbury Park, Agoura Hills, Oak Park, Simi Valley, Woodland Hills, Calabasas, Moorpark, Malibu, Hidden Hills and the surrounding Ventura County and West LA communities.
Christy is the reason I believe every mom needs midwife care! She assisted in my home birth with my second born. Her calm presence was so vital to me in those intense moments. Christy is nurturing and confident in everything she does. She was the warm & fuzzy that I needed post birth. She truly took care of me even in the weeks following checking in and making sure all my needs were met. If you are seeking out the midwife approach, I highly recommend trusting Christy with your pregnancy, birth and postpartum care. What a blessing for our community that she can now offer her services in the hospital too!
Christy Cannon is an absolute Angel on earth. I came to Christy at around 12 weeks pregnant with my second baby, after very disappointing appointments with my previous OBGYN, who was discouraging of me wanting to attempt a VBAC after my first pregnancy resulted in a C-section due to "failure to progress". He even said my pelvis just might be too small to push out a baby. Spoiler alert: it wasn't! Christy is not only the warmest, kindest presence, she is extremely knowledgeable, experienced, and most importantly: an evidence-based practitioner who confirmed that I was a perfect candidate for VBAC and was thrilled to help me achieve it. My birthing experience was absolutely incredible, and unlike an OB, Christy was actually present and helped guide me through my active labor alongside our amazing doula. She helped and nurtured me through a very difficult pushing phase to successfully achieve my unmedicated VBAC! She is such a gem in the Ventura County birthing community, and it is invaluable to have her as a provider through Los Robles. We love you, Christy!
I had an amazing birth experience with Christy as my midwife. My husband and I were intent on having a homebirth from the beginning of our pregnancy but wanted a safety net for delivery. We were so lucky to find Christy who offered delivery at home but also has privileges at Los Robles. During my pregnancy, Christy was only a phone call and text away. She was so incredibly supportive and her approach was both thorough and personalized. Labor and delivery ended up being absolutely magical. I am beyond grateful to have had Christy as my midwife and truly had my dream birth with her support. Christy's postpartum care was unmatched. I would highly recommend Christy for any expecting mother, but especially first time mothers.
