Story of the HBAC butter baby

What is a Butter Baby? A butter baby is a baby that comes out as smooth as butter; easy, creamy and well, yummy.

What is an HBAC? An HBAC is a home birth after a previous cesarian delivery.

There is some idea that if someone has a c-section they are not a good candidate for a vaginal delivery. This is a wrong idea. There are many factors that go into assessing a woman if she is a good candidate for a VBAC, vaginal birth after cesarian. Many people know that hospital based providers will say they offer a “trial of labor” for women who want a VBAC. Unfortunately this is a partial truth and most times the woman is convinced she needs a scheduled c-section by the time the end of her pregnancy is reached. This reality brings some women to seek home birth care.

I attended a birth this week of one such woman. Let’s call her Sally. Sally had two children born in the hospital. Her first baby was vaginal and the second was a c-section. She decided she wanted an HBAC for her third.

Sally knew she would need to prepare very well for her home birth after cesarean and she did just that. She got the best midwife she could find. She saw a chiropractor regularly throughout her pregnancy. She got physical therapy as well. She took the herbs and homeopathic appropriate for a pregnant mother. She ate well. She got her family all to support her. She had a couple of her girl friends, who had given birth at home, come and help her while she was in labor. She went for walks. She did counseling to resolve the issues in her life that were not well tended. She journaled and did all she could to clear the way for an easy birth.

And finally she waited. She waited 41 weeks and two days to be exact. Babies come well when they come on their own. The day came. She labored for a few hours in the comfort of her home and then… Well, the baby came out just like that. As soon as it was time to push, it was time to catch the baby.

Mom felt comfortable on her hands and knees and she delivered in that position. The baby came out like butter; smooth and easy.

Mother and baby are nesting at home and doing extraordinarily well. Yes, home birth can be easy. With the proper preparation and care an HBAC can be smooth and easy.