Home birth after cesarean section (HBAC) has been proven medically safe for most pregnancies. Women living in the Nanaimo area of Vancouver Island do not have the option of HBAC because the local hospital has decided not to support midwives attending HBACs. Nearby communities including Victoria and Vancouver allow for HBAC with a midwife, and Nanaimo region should allow the same!

We propose that:
1. Women who have had previous cesarean sections would be allowed to choose home birth with a midwife. The midwife will provide details on risk and informed consent based on the woman’s health and current pregnancy as defined by the BC College of Midwives.

2. Midwives would be allowed to continue as primary caregivers for women who choose to labour in the hospital. Current regulations at NRGH require midwives to transfer care of all vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) women to an OB upon admittance.

Let our Ministry of Health and the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital know that women deserve the right to CHOOSE where they have their babies!

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