VBAC Supportive Providers in Indiana
Hoping for a VBAC in the future?
My program, VBAC Is Your Birth Right, is open for pre-sale (at a 50% discount) until 10/4/24.
VBAC Options in Most Locations in the United States
When it comes to vaginal birth after (VBAC) you have several birth location options depending on your location and the circumstances surrounding your pregnancy and birth.
The overall birth location options available in most locations are:
Hospital
Hospital-based birth center
Free-standing birth center
Homebirth/HBAC (assisted or unassisted)
As I mentioned, these options may not be available for VBAC where you are located.
Specifically in Indiana, the options for VBAC are:
Hospital
Hospital-based birth center
Homebirth/HBAC (assisted or unassisted)
Unfortunately, in Indiana, it is illegal to have a VBAC in a free-standing birth center. Yet, another example of where law surrounding birth are flawed and not supportive of women’s choices and autonomy in their pregnancy in birth.
To me, it doesn’t make much sense that women are legally able to VBAC at home (called a home birth after cesarean or HBAC) but they can’t do so in a birth center. My original hope for my VBAC in Indianapolis was to do so in a free-standing birth center but I quickly found out that would not be an option for me in Indiana.
Hospital VBAC Supportive Providers in Indianapolis and Surrounding Areas
If you want to have a VBAC in or around Indianapolis, and you are wanting to birth in a hospital but have less interventions, your best bet is going to be with a hospital midwifery practice.
Some options for support after a single c-section are:
The midwives at Community Hospital North
The midwives Riley Maternity Tower.
The midwives at IU Health Bloomington Hospital
Some VBAC friendly OBGYNs in the Indianapolis and surrounding areas are:
Dr. Leslie Foxlow (a laborist at IU Health Bloomington)
Dr. David Szentes at Community Hospital South,
Dr. Travis Richardson at IU Health West
Dr. Mary Pease at IU Health Carmel
Dr. Leigh Meltzer at IU Health North.
Hospital Providers that Will Support VBAC After Multiple C-Sections in Indianapolis and Surrounding Areas
If you are hoping for a VBAC after multiple c-sections (VBA2C, VBA3C, etc.) in or around Indianapolis, you will need to see an OBGNY or a home birth midwife.
Some OBGYNs in the Indianapolis area that have been said to support VBA2C are:
Dr. Anthony Sanders at Community Hospital East
Dr. Amanda Born in Carmel
All of the OBGYNs at IU Health Bloomington
This support may vary depending on your unique circumstances but it doesn’t hurt to reach out and see if they may be supportive. There are likely other OBGYNs that support VBAMC but they are few and far between.
Homebirth Midwives Who Will Support HBAC in Indianapolis and Surrounding Areas
For home birth midwives in the Indianapolis area that support HBAC, your options will depend on how many prior vaginal births, c-sections, or VBACs you have had and the circumstances surrounding your pregnancy and birth.
Some potential Indiana home birth midwife options for HBAC in Indiana are:
Shannon Greika, CPM, at Divine Birth Midwifery
Brandi Graham-Wood, BSM, CPM, C-DEM, at Home4Birth
Marisol Holman, CPM at Sol Midwifery Services
Barbara Purnell, CNM and Samantha Brinkerhoff, CPM at Wabash Valley Midwives.
Cassandra Barker (coming 2024) at Emerald Midwifery.
Doula Support for VBAC or HBAC
Regardless of what location or type of provider you choose to support your VBAC or HBAC, it is also a great idea to have a doula for your birth if you want one.
While doulas can’t guarantee a specific birth outcome, they do provide the following potential benefits:
Decreased chance of the need for an epidural and other pain medication
Decreased chance of needing a c-section
Decrease in the use of Pitocin to induce or augment labor
Shorter labor lengths
An overall more positive birth experience
Support for the mother, partner, and baby
Higher rates of breastfeeding
