Finding the right care provider to support you in your goals can be a task fraught with difficulty in the current birthing climate. Some women find that even when their care provider seems to say all the right things at the beginning of the pregnancy, their tune starts to change as the weeks progress. Here are some common red flags to watch out for that may signal your care provider is not totally on board with your desire to have a VBAC.

• TOLAC vs VBAC
  Birthing women should not feel like they are on trial. If your care provider is unable to talk in positive language about your upcoming birth, this could be an unconscious clue that they do not truly believe that your goal will come to fruition. Referring to a Trial of Labor After Cesarean (TOLAC) rather than thinking positively about a VBAC may reveal his or her inner fears. Also using phrases like "We can talk about that later on." or "We’ll see..." when asked a direct question about the VBAC, could indicate a general discomfort with your birth plans that may sabotage them later on.
  
  
• Let’s schedule a cesarean, just in case.
  Scheduling a cesarean is beneficial for the hospital since they are a business and operate best when they are able to control some of the variables headed their way. However, it may not be beneficial for you or your baby. Scheduling a cesarean while planning a VBAC can be a powerful statement of belief on the part of your care provider, and it can also turn into a date hanging over your head and causing you to doubt your body’s ability to go into labor. Many women who feel great and are prepared to wait for labor to start naturally have found their confidence gradually erode as that date comes closer and closer.
  
  
• I only do a cesarean when necessary.
  On the face of it, this doesn’t seem like it would be a red flag, but it is a follow-up question that is essential here. Ask your doctor if they can tell you about some necessary cesareans they've recently done. If they use the terms big baby and failure to progress to describe several or most, this could be a clue to a practice style that is interventive and time-restrictive.

Building a relationship of trust with the person who will assist you as you deliver your baby can take more time than the few minutes allotted for prenatal visits. Avoid the sudden shock of the bait and switch style care provider by seeking out VBAC support groups or natural childbirth educators in your community. Ask what their experience has been with your provider, or if they can recommend other providers in the area that are truly going to support you in your birthing goals.