In 2013, nearly one-third (32.7%) of childbearing women in the US gave birth by cesarean delivery. In subsequent pregnancies, these women will have to choose between a repeat cesarean delivery and a labor after cesarean (LAC), as well as where and with whom to give birth. Although national guidelines encourage offering LAC to most women with one prior low transverse cesarean, vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) rates decreased nationwide, from 28.3 percent in 1996 to 10.6 percent in 2013. 

In 2014, the largest study of US home birth to date reported on the outcomes of 16,924 deliveries using data from the Midwives Alliance of North America Statistics Project (MANA Stats) 2.0 cohort (2004–2009). These data included 1,052 women with a history of cesarean delivery. Of these, 87.0 percent had a successful VBAC, although there was an increased risk of intrapartum fetal death (2.85/1,000 vs 0.66/1,000, p = 0.05) in the LAC group compared with multiparous women without a history of cesarean. 

For this presentation, our research team further analyzed the LAC cohort within MANA Stats (2.0 and 4.0), with three research aims: 1) to describe the demographics of women choosing community VBAC; 2) to characterize the prenatal and intrapartum care provided; and 3) to report birth outcomes for planned community VBACs. In light of findings from this research and those of other international studies on LAC, I will present evidence-informed guidelines for shared decision-making, risk assessment, and the management of care for families planning LAC in the community setting.

Course Evaluations

Shared with permission from our

“I accept LAC clients into my practice and this was a great review of more recent data. I am excited to get to apply this information to my practice and be able to share with clients in the near future.”

Taylor M

Certified Professional Midwife

“[Melissa Cheyney's] holistic view of research integration and how she communicates risk and decision-making is incredibly important in the birthing world at this time.”

Heather J

Certified Nurse Midwife

“One of the best CE courses I've taken. Educational, eye-opening, and inspiring.”

Katelin H

Midwife

Upon completion of this course, the learner will be able to: 

1) Summarize key findings from the most recent studies on labor after cesarean (LAC) in the community setting; 

2) Describe the ways research findings can be used to structure shared decision making conversations in the antenatal period; and 

3) Critically evaluate guidelines for reducing the risk of intrapartum mortality among LAC clients birthing in the community setting. 

4) Compare differences in outcomes following LAC in the community setting from different high-resource nations and maternity care systems

5) Utilize the Four Boxes of Clinical Ethics approach to guide care for pregnant people desiring to LAC in the community setting

Cover photo credit: We thank Jazz Canty for graciously allowing us to use this photo of her Homebirth After Cesarean, along with midwife and photographer Angelina Ruffin, who captured that moment.

HiveCE is an approved provider of continuing education by the California Board of Nursing, and this course is provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number 17686, for 6 contact hours, through November 30th, 2025. (This is widely accepted nationwide as continuing education for nurses and midwives. This course is accepted by NARM as Category 1 CE for CPM renewal.)

Approved for the NARM Midwifery Bridge Certificate, Category 3.

This course was previously approved by ACNM for 6 hours of continuing education. The ACNM approval numbers for this course were 2018/018 from January 29th, 2018 through January 29th, 2020; and 2020/005 through January 29th, 2022.

This course was previously approved by MEAC for 6 hours of continuing education. The MEAC approval number for this course was M1718-18-0915DE, and this approval was effective through September 13th, 2019.

Note: Course completion does not authorize the learner to use skills outside their scope. Please refer to your state guidelines for determining scope of care.

For information regarding our refund policy and other Frequently Asked Questions, please refer to our FAQ. If you have additional questions, please email [email protected].

  • Instructor(s)

    Instructor Bio:

    Melissa Cheyney PhD CPM LDM is Associate Professor of Clinical Medical Anthropology at Oregon State University (OSU) with additional appointments in Public Health and Women Gender and Sexuality Studies. She is also a Certified Professional Midwife in active practice, and the Chair of the Division of Research for the Midwives Alliance of North America where she directs the MANA Statistics Project. Dr. Cheyney currently directs the International Reproductive Health Laboratory at Oregon State University where she serves as the primary investigator more than 20 maternal and infant health-related research projects in nine countries. She is the author of an ethnography entitled Born at Home (2010, Wadsworth Press) along with dozens of peer-reviewed articles that examine the cultural beliefs and clinical outcomes associated with midwife-led birth at home in the United States. Dr. Cheyney is an award-winning teacher, and in 2014 was given Oregon State University’s prestigious Scholarship Impact Award for her work in the International Reproductive Health Laboratory and with the MANA Statistics Project.

    Melissa Cheyney

    Midwife, Researcher, Professor

Course curriculum

  • 01
    Part 1: Start Here!
    Show details
    • How To Use HiveCE
    • Readings
    • Video 1.1: Introduction
    • Quiz 1.1
    • Video 1.2: General Homebirth Statistics in the United States and Canada
    • Quiz 1.2
  • 02
    Part 2: Study #1 ~ Planned Home VBAC In the United States, 2004-2009
    Show details
    • Video 2.1: Study #1 ~ Design, Methods, Demographics, and General Outcomes
    • Quiz 2.1
    • Video 2.2: Study #1 ~ Uterine Rupture and Mortality Rates in LAC
    • Quiz 2.2
  • 03
    Part 3: Study #2 ~ Perspectives on Risk: How Safe are Community Births for Greater Than Low-Risk Women?
    Show details
    • Video 3.1: Understanding Risk, Study Methods
    • Quiz 3.1
    • Video 3.2: Outcomes and Client Patterning
    • Quiz 3.2
  • 04
    Part 4: Clinical Implications
    Show details
    • Video 4.1: LAC Specific Clinical Implications
    • Quiz 4.1
    • Video 4.2: Q&A With Live Audience
    • Video 4.3: Case Studies for Ethical Consideration
    • Quiz 4.2/4.3
  • 05
    Part 5: Future Research
    Show details
    • Video 5.1: Future Research
    • Quiz 5.1
  • 06
    Link to Post-Test and CE Certificate
    Show details
    • Course Evaluation
    • Post-test

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Take the course, print your CE certificate, retain access for later reference.

Reviews

  • By Victoria Stickelmeyer

    “Missy Cheney is always on point and this was a very digestible course with information that will immediately effect the decision making processes and risk assessment of LAC clients. Thank you”

    “Missy Cheney is always on point and this was a very digestible course with information that will immediately effect the decision making processes and risk assessment of LAC clients. Thank you”

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  • By Carissa Keir

    “This course is amazing!! Such great clinical implications discussed for the future of my practice!”

    “This course is amazing!! Such great clinical implications discussed for the future of my practice!”

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  • By Melinda Hoskins

    “This presentation was well organized. Video added visual interest to the presentation. The interspersed "quizzes" helped to solidify information for viewers. I highly recommend this presentation to colleagues who work in hospitals as a means of...”

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    “This presentation was well organized. Video added visual interest to the presentation. The interspersed "quizzes" helped to solidify information for viewers. I highly recommend this presentation to colleagues who work in hospitals as a means of deflecting / altering some of their objections to homebirth practices in our area. Hoping that they will actually take the time to view this presentation. Thanks to Hive for bringing us this information in such a useable format.”

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  • By Katherine Sauerlender

    “I am a midwife who does not currently do LAC/VBAC in my practice, and this talk provided a helpful, in-depth, and clear overview of current research about LAC/VBAC both in the hospital and in the community setting. The course also gave me some spe...”

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    “I am a midwife who does not currently do LAC/VBAC in my practice, and this talk provided a helpful, in-depth, and clear overview of current research about LAC/VBAC both in the hospital and in the community setting. The course also gave me some specific clinical guidelines to consider if we decide to do LAC/VBAC in our practice going forward.”

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  • By Diane Holmes

    “Excellent. Material organized and easily understood. Take away good research that I can put into my practice. Diane Holmes, Wabash, IN ”

    “Excellent. Material organized and easily understood. Take away good research that I can put into my practice. Diane Holmes, Wabash, IN ”

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