Arizona Association of Midwives

This class prepares midwifery students to understand, counsel, and support clients planning a Trial of Labor after Cesarean (TOLAC) with the goal of achieving a VBAC in an out-of-hospital/home birth context. Students will review key eligibility criteria, risk factors, and contraindications for TOLAC, and learn how to use evidence-based decision-making to support informed consent and shared planning.

Emphasis is placed on recognizing and responding to intrapartum risks, with focused training on monitoring considerations, criteria for escalation/transfer, and the roles and communication pathways within a home birth setting. The course also covers documentation expectations, emergency readiness planning, and patient-centered communication skills for anticipating outcomes and managing uncertainty.