VBAC Birth Stories

In this episode we chat to Sydney mum of two Rachel who experienced an unmedicated VBAC in a private hospital setting after going through 35 hours of labour. Following her caesarean Rachel went on to experience poor postpartum mental health and reflects how her first birth unfolding the way it did could have contributed to those feelings. Rachel reveals her reasons for wanting to try for a vaginal birth again and one of those reasons is not one that we would immediately think of, but Rachel so eloquently explains how just the very process of going on a VBAC journey can have the potential to teach us important life skills. Thank you Rachel @rachelraez (Instagram) for sharing your story with us and thank you to our patrons for helping to bring this episode to you. ~ AFFILIATES ~ Access discounts with our amazing affiliates: Birth Time film: 20% DISCOUNT CODE: CICADA20 https://www.birthtime.world/a/2147503775/Eb2Kfvxt Partum Panties: 10% DISCOUNT CODE: Vbacbirthstories https://www.partumpanties.com.au The Birth Store: 10% DISCOUNT CODE: VBAC https://thebirthstore.com.au/?ref=VBAC A big thank you to our patrons for helping to bring this episode to you. Please consider supporting the podcast from as little as $2 a month. Your donations go toward the up-keeping costs of running the podcast and really help us to keep going with the pod. https://www.patreon.com/vbacbirthstories ~ Notes ~ Book: Ina May Gaskin 'A Guide to Childbirth' Facebook group: VBAC Australia Support Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/342851302473349 Doula: Amanda @essentialmeservices (Instagram) https://www.essentialme.com.au IBCLC finder website: www.lcanz.org ~ Birth Trauma & Post Natal Depression/Anxiety support ~ If this episode raises any concerns for you please don't hesitate to contact: The Gidget Foundationhttps: //gidgetfoundation.org.au/get-support/

In this episode we speak to Adelaide mum of two Rosalie about her two births. Rosalie underwent IVF and speaks about the unique challenges women in same sex relationships face when dealing with healthcare. Her first birth was an emergency caesarean which followed an induction for having a macrocosmic baby and being post-dates. Rosalie was very well educated about birth and was planning a public hospital funded homebirth before she was 'risked out.' She knew about the cascade of intervention yet she was coerced into a procedure that she did not want. This coercion was the catalyst for her birth trauma and PTSD. In her next pregnancy Rosalie hired a private midwife and a doula to give herself the best chance of having a physiological birth at home...but once labour was underway she knew on an intuitive level that there would be a curveball right at the end. Rosalie shares a wealth of knowledge about birth in this episode which is important listening for anyone who wants to give birth. A must listen for anyone working in maternity too, to understand the ways they can support mothers and prevent birth trauma from occurring to 1 in 3 women, and the 1 in 10 Australian women who are diagnosed with PTSD following their births. Episode Sponsor: Miim Kids Features of the small and lightweight Miim Kids sleep aid & feeding light include: Learn more about Miim Kids through Instagram @miimkids or www.miimkids.com Shop: 15% discount code: VBAC15 https://tinyurl.com/miimkids ~ AFFILIATES ~ Access discounts with our amazing affiliates: Birth Time film: 20% DISCOUNT CODE: CICADA20 https://www.birthtime.world/a/2147503775/Eb2Kfvxt Partum Panties: 10% DISCOUNT CODE: Vbacbirthstories https://www.partumpanties.com.au The Birth Store: 10% DISCOUNT CODE: VBAC https://thebirthstore.com.au/?ref=VBAC A big thank you to our patrons for helping to bring this episode to you. Please consider supporting the podcast from as little as $2 a month. Your donations go toward the up-keeping costs of running the podcast and really help us to keep going with the pod. https://www.patreon.com/vbacbirthstories ~ Notes ~ Birth Preparation Course: Calmbirth www.calmbirth.com.au Book: Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage www.midwifethinking.com Midwife: @embracemidwifery on Instagram Doula: @brookehiltondoula on Instagram Psychologist: Heather Matter https://www.mtloftychiropractic.com.au/staff/heather-mattner/ Optimal positions for pregnancy and birth: www.spinningbabies.com "Dimensions, not weight" Instagram reel by B from Core, Floor & Restore: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CftTT7Vj7XH/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY= VBAC Australia Support Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/342851302473349 Induction of Labour Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/inductionoflabour ~ Birth Trauma & Post Natal Depression/Anxiety support ~ If this episode raises any concerns for you please don't hesitate to contact: The Gidget Foundationhttps: //gidgetfoundation.org.au/get-support/ **VBAC Birth Stories features women's lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns during your pregnancy please always consult your healthcare provider.

Today we have the honour and pleasure of chatting to Hazel Keedle once again on the podcast. Hazel is a lecturer at Western Sydney University and midwifery researcher who has primarily focused on women’s experiences of vaginal birth after caesarean and is now a lead researcher in the Birth Experience Study- the largest study on women’s experiences of maternity care in Australia. Since we last spoke Hazel has completed her PhD and is now an author with her newly released book Birth After Caesarean: Your Journey to a Better Birth. We spoke to Hazel way back in Season 1 and you can find this interview by searching for our 7th episode. In this episode we cover: + much more Follow Hazel at these locations: Instagram: @hazelkeedle Facebook: @VBACmatters https://www.facebook.com/VBACmatters Twitter: @HazelKeedle For links to papers, events and more: https://linktr.ee/hazelkeedle Buy the book on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/vbac-book Stay tuned for a GIVEAWAY of Hazel's book Birth After Caesarean for VBAC Birth Stories listeners :) Be sure to be following the pod and Hazel on social media. Instagram: @vbacbirthstories Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vbacbirthstoriesAU Support the podcast on Patreon: ~ PATREON ~ Please consider joining our Patreon if you are enjoying the podcast and would like to help support us by making a donation: https://www.patreon.com/vbacbirthstories ~ AFFILIATES ~ Access discounts with our amazing affiliates: Birth Time film: USE DISCOUNT CODE: CICADA20 https://www.birthtime.world/a/2147503775/Eb2Kfvxt Partum Panties: USE DISCOUNT CODE: Vbacbirthstories https://www.partumpanties.com.au The Birth Store: USE DISCOUNT CODE: VBAC https://thebirthstore.com.au **VBAC Birth Stories features women's lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns during your pregnancy please always consult your healthcare provider. Please connect with us on Facebook or Instagram: @vbacbirthstories

In this episode we chat to Shelley, a mum of two from Adelaide. Shelley reached out to us shortly after having her baby because she wanted to share the unique circumstances surrounding her first birth and VBAC. Shelley lives with Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Genital, it is classified as a type of STI, and because of the stigma this carries Shelley could not find any stories from women who have navigated pregnancy and birth with this condition. It is estimated that three-quarters of Australian adults are infected with HSV1. Shelley talks about how her genital herpes affected the outcome of her first birth, and although a very empowering and positive caesarean she still held the desire to have a VBAC for next time. Unlike her first birth genital herpes didn't play a role in the outcome of her second birth, however being covid positive at the time her body went into labour certainly did. Shelley got covid twice during her VBAC pregnancy. Although her VBAC didn't go the way Shelley envisioned- there was intervention there- she felt in control the entire time due to the preparation she had done during her VBAC pregnancy. Shelley also shares how she had a positive breastfeeding journey with her second baby, which wasn't the case with her first baby. A big thank you to our patrons for helping to bring this episode to you. Please consider supporting the podcast from as little as $2 a month. Your donations go toward the up-keeping costs of running the podcast and really help us to keep going x https://www.patreon.com/vbacbirthstories ~ AFFILIATES ~ Access discounts with our amazing affiliates: Birth Time film: DISCOUNT CODE: CICADA20 https://www.birthtime.world/a/2147503775/Eb2Kfvxt Partum Panties: DISCOUNT CODE: Vbacbirthstories https://www.partumpanties.com.au The Birth Store: DISCOUNT CODE: VBAC https://thebirthstore.com.au/?ref=VBAC ~ Notes ~ Books: The Birth Map by Catherine Bell Birth Skills by Juju Sundin with Sarah Murdoch Pregnancy Loss: Https://www.bearsofhope.org.au Https://rednosegriefandloss.org.au Https://miscarriagessupport.org.au **VBAC Birth Stories features women's lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns during your pregnancy please always consult your healthcare provider. Please connect with us on Facebook or Instagram: @vbacbirthstories

Amielia is a 21 year old Djab Wurrung woman and this week we would like to share her birth stories in celebration of NAIDOC week. Amielia only found out about the details of her indigenous ancestry when she was 12 and who her family were related to. She grew up learning about her cultural practices and a part of the disappointment in her first birth was the disconnect between these practices and the public hospital system. Later she would learn there was a program dedicated to indigenous women that she would seek to be a part of in her next pregnancy. When she first fell pregnant it was unexpected but despite this her partner vowed to support her no matter which path she took. She speaks about the lack of knowledge she had going into the pregnancy and how it felt going through her first pregnancy amid Covid lockdowns in Victoria. At 41 and 5 days, doctors suggested an induction which she agreed to. She had tested positive for Group B Strep. After what was deemed ‘failure to progress’ at 2cm dilation Amielia felt powerless and agreed to an emergency caesarean after her baby’s heart rate started to show signs of distress. After this experience Amielia did not want to be induced again. She hired a student doula and ended up experiencing the vaginal birth she always wanted at almost 43 weeks. Due to her baby passing meconium in her womb she agreed to have her baby tested for infection and tells us how her baby ended up staying in hospital for 5 days and what that experience was like for her. Thank you Amielia for sharing your VBAC journey with us. NAIDOC week: https://www.naidoc.org.au ~ PATREON ~ Please consider joining our Patreon if you are enjoying the podcast and would like to help support us by making a donation: https://www.patreon.com/vbacbirthstories ~ AFFILIATES ~ Access discounts with our amazing affiliates: Birth Time film (20%): USE DISCOUNT CODE: CICADA20 https://www.birthtime.world/a/2147503775/Eb2Kfvxt Partum Panties (10%): USE DISCOUNT CODE: Vbacbirthstories https://www.partumpanties.com.au The Birth Store: TENS Machine hire and more (10%): https://www.thebirthstore.com.au/?ref=VBAC ~ Notes ~ Doula: Courtney https://beyondbirthcollective.com.au Instagram of womb specialist: @rosewomb_x VBAC Australia Support Group (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=vbac%20australia%20support%20group Perinatal Depression & Post Natal Depression/Anxiety support: If you or anyone you know is affected by PND symptoms please don't hesitate to contact the following support networks. The Gidget Foundation https://gidgetfoundation.org.au/get-support/, PANDA https://www.panda.org.au/info-support/pandas-national-perinatal-anxiety-depression-helpline Beyond Blue https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/get-immediate-support Cope https://www.cope.org.au **VBAC Birth Stories features women's lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns during your pregnancy please always consult your healthcare provider. Please connect with us on Facebook or Instagram: @vba

Today we meet Tina a registered nurse and mum of two who lives with her husband in Melbourne. She shares her two very different birth and postpartum experiences with us. After Tina's son was born via an emergency caesarean he experienced what is called TTN (Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn). Babies with TTN have extra fluid in their lungs or the fluid leaves too slowly from their lungs. It is more likely to occur in c-section babies. She shares what it was like for her having a baby in special care and then the NICU ward. Having an unexpected surgical birth played a heavy role in her overall mental wellbeing in those early days. In her VBAC pregnancy Tina opted to have a student midwife follow her on her journey, and we are very thankful that Tina invited her student midwife, Rebecca, to join us in today's interview. You'll get to hear her perspective on VBAC and following women on their journey to birth during the show. ~ PATREON ~ Please consider joining our Patreon if you are enjoying the podcast and would like to help support us by making a donation: https://www.patreon.com/vbacbirthstories ~ AFFILIATES ~ Access discounts with our amazing affiliates: Birth Time film (20%): USE DISCOUNT CODE: CICADA20 https://www.birthtime.world/a/2147503775/Eb2Kfvxt Partum Panties (10%): USE DISCOUNT CODE: Vbacbirthstories https://www.partumpanties.com.au The Birth Store: TENS Machine hire and more (10%): https://www.thebirthstore.com.au/?ref=VBAC ~ Notes ~ Student Midwife: Rebecca. Instagram: @becletts Resources: The Birth Map. Instagram: @birthmapping. Website: https://birthmap.life Core & Floor Restore: Instagram: @corefloorrestore. Website: https://coreandfloor.com.au Evidence Based Birth: Instagram: @ebbirth. Website: https://evidencebasedbirth.com The Naked Doula: Instagram: @thenakeddoula. Website: https://thenakeddoula.me Perinatal Depression & Post Natal Depression/Anxiety support: If you or anyone you know is affected by PND symptoms please don't hesitate to contact the following support networks. The Gidget Foundation https://gidgetfoundation.org.au/get-support PANDA https://www.panda.org.au/info-support/pandas-national-perinatal-anxiety-depression-helpline Beyond Blue https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/get-immediate-support Cope https://www.cope.org.au **VBAC Birth Stories features women's lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns during your pregnancy please always consult your healthcare provider. Please connect with us on Facebook or Instagram: @vbacbirthstories

In this week's episode we speak to western Sydney mum of two, Katelyn. Like so many of us in our first birth Katelyn just wanted to experience a physiological birth in a hospital setting, but ended up agreeing to an induction. Interestingly Katelyn intuitively felt that her induction was not medically necessary and there was a good chance she'd end up having surgery that day, yet she felt she couldn't say no. Katelyn was determined to re-write her story in her second birth, and that she most certainly did even though despite giving her absolute all this birth ended in a caesarean too. On paper the two births might look similar, but in reality, they were polar opposite experiences. Katelyn learned so much on her VBAC journey and generously shares much of this knowledge with us. We know this episode will be an incredible resource to all our listeners including our health care professionals. Thank you Katelyn for reaching out to share your story. Connect with Katelyn on Instagram: @thenbacguide Episode Sponsor: Silverette Australia (Silverette cups are available in 28 countries). https://silveretteaustralia.com Promotion: From 6 May - 27 May 2022 Silverette Australia will be offering a 15% discount off their products for VBAC Birth Stories listeners. Simply head to their website (silveretteaustralia.com) and use the discount code VBAC15 to take advantage of this limited offer. About Silverette cups: Crafted out of 925 sterling silver these medical-grade light-weight shield-like cups fit over your areola and are designed to protect, soothe and heal your nipples as you and your baby adjust to breastfeeding. Silver has anti inflamatory, anti bacterial, anti fungal, and anti microbial properties which help to keep viruses away. To use Silverette cups you simply place them over your nipples and your maternity bra will hold them in place. To maximise its benefit Silverette recommend using them between feeds to help prevent discomfort such as sore or cracked nipples from occurring, while also paying attention to your baby's latch. ~ PATREON ~ Please consider joining our Patreon if you are enjoying the podcast and would like to help support us by making a donation: https://www.patreon.com/vbacbirthstories ~ AFFILIATES ~ Access discounts with our amazing affiliates: Birth Time film (20%): USE DISCOUNT CODE: CICADA20 https://www.birthtime.world/a/2147503775/Eb2Kfvxt Partum Panties (10%): USE DISCOUNT CODE: Vbacbirthstories https://www.partumpanties.com.au The Birth Store: TENS Machine hire and more (10%): https://www.thebirthstore.com.au/?ref=VBAC ~ NOTES ~ Calmbirth https://calmbirth.com.au Midwife: Jo Hunter https://midwifejo.com.au Doula: Aimee Sing https://birthaims.com.au Birth Photographer: Beth https://naturalfocus.com.au/birth-photography/ Birth debrief/birth trauma debrief: Athena at The Birth Counsel https://www.thebirthcounsel.com.au The Midwives Cauldron episode on Gestational Diabetes - Podcast Juju Sundin's Birth Skills - Book Hannah Dahlen's induction study: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/6/e047040 Arr

In this episode we meet Kate who is a mum of two living in Darwin. Kate is the daughter of a midwife so she really did have some knowledge on her side going through her first birth, but after labouring for a very long time she was placed on a caesarean pathway and although there were things about that birth she would change- she was able to bond with her daughter and have immediate skin to skin which we often hear makes all the difference to a positive caesarean outcome. In her second birth, you will hear of how she came very close to a repeat caesarean, but gave birth vaginally to her posterior baby in the operating theatre. Both of Kate's babies had tongue ties which contributed to difficulties breastfeeding, particularly her first child. She shares what she did to overcome this and continue her breastfeeding journey. ~ PATREON ~ Please consider joining our Patreon if you would like to show your support for the podcast from just AUD $2.00 a month. Thank you very much to our patreons- we greatly appreciate your support! https://www.patreon.com/vbacbirthstories ~ AFFILIATES ~ Access discounts with our amazing affiliates: Birth Time film: USE DISCOUNT CODE: CICADA20 https://www.birthtime.world/a/2147503775/Eb2Kfvxt Partum Panties: USE DISCOUNT CODE: Vbacbirthstories https://www.partumpanties.com.au The Birth Store: USE DISCOUNT CODE: VBAC https://thebirthstore.com.au **VBAC Birth Stories features women's lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns during your pregnancy please always consult your healthcare provider. Please connect with us on Facebook or Instagram: @vbacbirthstories

In today's episode we hear our first VBAC birth story from Tasmania. Laura is a mum of two who lives in Hobart and had a swift and beautiful VBAC waterbirth at her public hospital. In her first birth she was induced for reaching post-dates and during the pushing phase it was discovered that her baby was breech. Despite the sudden way her emergency caesarean unfolded Laura holds no trauma from this birth and she shares with us why she thinks this is. In her second pregnancy it's refreshing to hear how well supported Laura was in her desire to have a waterbirth. Laura was fortunate to have continuity of care under the MGP in both of her pregnancies. After her restorative birth Laura's son did need to spend some time in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) as there were some concerns with his breathing and Laura tells of how her early postpartum unfolded afterwards. ~ PATREON ~ Please consider joining our Patreon if you would like to show your support for the podcast from just AUD $2.00 a month: https://www.patreon.com/vbacbirthstories ~ AFFILIATES ~ Access discounts with our amazing affiliates: Birth Time film: USE DISCOUNT CODE: CICADA20 https://www.birthtime.world/a/2147503775/Eb2Kfvxt Partum Panties: USE DISCOUNT CODE: Vbacbirthstories https://www.partumpanties.com.au The Birth Store: USE DISCOUNT CODE: VBAC https://thebirthstore.com.au ~ Notes ~ VBAC + Waterbirth: NICE UK Guidelines: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng121/chapter/Recommendations#previous-caesarean-section Queensland Health VBAC Guidelines: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/140836/g-vbac.pdf **VBAC Birth Stories features women's lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns during your pregnancy please always consult your healthcare provider. Please connect with us on Facebook or Instagram: @vbacbirthstories

This week we sat down with Jaihden who is a Sydney based mum of two girls who experienced perinatal depression and anxiety as well as postpartum depression. She bravely shares how she navigated these periods and how the experience inspired her to give back to women going through the same challenges. Jaihden sheds light and humour on some dark moments. She speaks about her challenges and blessings and how her husband and support team of health professionals kept her feeling safe through this time. For Jaihden her primary caesarean didn’t affect her frame of mind or make her any less of a mother, she just wanted to have the experience of a vaginal delivery. Jaihden’s VBAC is really secondary to a story of immense personal growth, bravery and the making of a mother. It’s a lesson on how we can support mothers who do struggle whether it be physical or mental, and the importance of creating a village that bolsters new mothers with the right support. Jaihden has teamed up with the Gidget Foundation and Genevieve Muir from Connected Parenting to help other mums in need of support during early parenting and you can find out more by heading to the website madeformums.com.au Episode sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Made for Mums, uniquely crafted practical hampers to support and nurture women during postpartum. Whether it is a first, second, or third baby Made for Mums gift hampers are tailored to suit a mother's needs. Founded by this week's podcast guest Jaihden after the birth of her second child, the hampers are designed to make mums feel supported, nourished and appreciated. But it's not only about hampers; Made for Mums also aims to build community and support for new mothers, a cause close to founder Jaihden's heart after her own experience of perinatal depresssion and anxiety and postpartum depression. Each hamper sold comes with exclusive online access to Genevieve Muir's Connected Parenting Course - a course that explains why parenting can be so hard, and also teaches new parents how to find the lightness and humour in it all. As well as this, with every hamper gifted $5 will be donated by Made for Mums to Gidget Foundation Australia, a support service for new families struggling with parenthood. Be sure to visit the website madeformums.com.au to browse their beautifully crafted hampers, as well as connect with Made for Mums on Instagram (@madeformumsaus) to join their nurturing and growing community. ~ PATREON ~ Please consider joining our Patreon if you would like to show your support for the podcast from just AUD $2.00 a month: https://www.patreon.com/vbacbirthstories ~ AFFILIATES ~ Access discounts with our amazing affiliates: Birth Time film: USE DISCOUNT CODE: CICADA20 https://www.birthtime.world/a/2147503775/Eb2Kfvxt Partum Panties: USE DISCOUNT CODE: Vbacbirthstories https://www.partumpanties.com.au The Birth Store: USE DISCOUNT CODE: VBAC https://thebirthstore.com.au ~ Notes ~ Post Natal Depression/Anxiety support: If you or anyone you know is affected by PND symptoms particularly at this time of COVID-19 please don't hesitate to contact the following support networks. The Gidget Foundation https://gidgetfoundation.org.au/get-support/, PANDA https://www.panda.org.au/info-support/pandas-national-perinatal-anxiety-depression-helpline Beyond Blue https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-s

Welcome to Season 3 of VBAC Birth Stories! In today's episode we chat to Melbourne mum of two and registered nurse, Michelle. Michelle went into spontaneous labour with her first child but was recommended to have an emergency caesarean close to the finish line of her labour, but Michelle wouldn’t say it was a true "emergency" in the sense of the word. Michelle returned to hospital in her second pregnancy but did not feel supported in her quest to have a VBAC - this coupled with a bit of perinatal anxiety and covid hospital restrictions Michelle took control of her second birth in the final trimester, and ultimately hired a private midwife to birth her baby boy at home. She speaks of the challenges with her recovery after having a VBAC too which is very insightful, and we thank Michelle for her honesty. We hope you enjoy listening to Michelle’s story, we know there’s a lot to take away from her journey whether you are on a VBAC journey yourself or a maternity care provider listening in. Please feel free to connect with Michelle on Instagram @michelleparis.mitchell ~ PATREON ~ Please consider joining our Patreon if you would like to show your support for the podcast from just AUD $2.00 a month: https://www.patreon.com/vbacbirthstories ~ AFFILIATES ~ Access discounts with our amazing affiliates: Birth Time film: USE DISCOUNT CODE: CICADA20 https://www.birthtime.world/a/2147503775/Eb2Kfvxt Partum Panties: USE DISCOUNT CODE: Vbacbirthstories https://www.partumpanties.com.au The Birth Store: USE DISCOUNT CODE: VBAC https://thebirthstore.com.au ~ Notes ~ Doula & Osteopath: Bonnie Maplestone https://www.bonniemaplestone.com.au Birth Photographer: kateleephotography.com.au VBAC Australia Support Group (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=vbac%20australia%20support%20group Post Natal Depression/Anxiety support: If you or anyone you know is affected by PND symptoms particularly at this time of COVID-19 please don't hesitate to contact the following support networks. The Gidget Foundation https://gidgetfoundation.org.au/get-support/, PANDA https://www.panda.org.au/info-support/pandas-national-perinatal-anxiety-depression-helpline Beyond Blue https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/get-immediate-support Cope https://www.cope.org.au **VBAC Birth Stories features women's lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns during your pregnancy please always consult your healthcare provider. Please connect with us on Facebook or Instagram: @vbacbirthstories

In today’s episode we meet Kirsten who is a doula and mum of four and living in Western Australia. Her first birth in her local rural hospital taught her about consent and trauma in the birth ward and she speaks about the fact that having a natural birth didn’t ensure she was protected against these realities. The second time around she found herself pregnant with twins and while steered towards a caesarean, she was able to birth her first twin vaginally but taken into theatre when twin B wasn’t descending. In her third pregnancy Kristen completely changed her model of care opting for a homebirth with her private midwife’s guidance to have her VBAC. We hear about the differences between all of her births and the decisions Kirsten made along the way- the biggest takeaway is the fact that vaginal birth doesn’t mean there is an absence of physical or mental trauma for women and likewise for caesarean births, wherever you are at in your VBAC journey we hope that you find Kristen’s story helpful and enjoy her unique birth stories. Connect with Kirsten @the_kirsten_lyle on Instagram or here on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kirstenlyledoula/ **VBAC Birth Stories features women's lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns during your pregnancy please always consult your healthcare provider. Please connect with us on Facebook or Instagram: @vbacbirthstories

Today we meet Sammy who is a mum of two living in Brisbane Queensland who is a trained doula and high school music teacher. She tells us of her first birth which ended in an emergency caesarean. Sammy, like 1 in 3 Australian women experienced significant birth trauma as a result of what happened and this birth went on to change the course of her life- inspiring her to help other women by providing emotional and physical birth support to those in need. We hear of her journey towards her VBAC, what tools she accessed to assist her towards her second birth and what she did differently to ensure a more positive experience. Sammy teaches us that sometimes the most important tool is within us- our ability to listen to our own intuition and to believe in our bodies ability to birth. We thank you Sammy for sharing your very personal birth stories with us. We hope you all enjoy and learn a lot from this episode. Connect with Sammy on Instagram @sammygriffinbirthsupport ~ Notes ~ Sammy’s website: https://sammygriffinbirthsupport.com Doula & birth photographer: https://www.olivejuicelifestylephotography.com Resources: Jane Hardwick Collings https://janehardwickecollings.com/pregnancy-ecourse/ Ten moons (book) The Birth Map https://www.bellabirth.org/the-birth-map.html Rhea Dempsey- Birth With Confidence (book) Pam England - Birthing from Within (book) Post Natal Depression/Anxiety and birth trauma support: If you or anyone you know is affected by PND symptoms particularly at this time of COVID-19 please don't hesitate to contact the following support networks. The Gidget Foundation https://gidgetfoundation.org.au/get-support/ PANDA https://www.panda.org.au/info-support/pandas-national-perinatal-anxiety-depression-helpline Beyond Blue https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/get-immediate-support Cope https://www.cope.org.au **VBAC Birth Stories features women's lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns during your pregnancy please always consult your healthcare provider. Please connect with us on Facebook or Instagram: @vbacbirthstories

In today’s episode we speak to midwife and Calmbirth educator from regional Victoria, Rosie. Rosie has had four very different birth experiences. This episode has a trigger warning as we do discuss pregnancy loss. Rosie’s first birth was a medical termination at 23 weeks following a rare diagnosis her daughter was given at her 20 week scan. Rosie tells of the often unspoken guilt and complex grief that comes with this form of loss. The gravity of her experience caused her to reflect on the ways in which the system in general can treat birth and how important it is to acknowledge the emotional aspects of it, whichever form birth may take. When Rosie fell pregnant again she chose to be looked after by a private obstetrician in a public hospital setting due to the absence of continuity of midwifery led care in her area. Her son was born at 35 weeks in a birth that ended in a Category 1 emergency caesarean at 34 weeks, It was discovered she had developed Chorioamnionitis, an infection of the lining of the membranes. Her son needed to go to special care and Rosie was separated from him for some time. After this birth Rosie went on to have two VBACs; the first involved an assisted delivery with forceps and her second was a precipitous labour which was documented as being just 26 minutes all up, including the birth of the placenta. We thank Rosie for sharing her very personal and unique birth experiences and for her honest reflections on all of them. We know her insights from her personal and professional experience will bring comfort and knowledge to our listeners. Rosie's Calmbirth Education website: https://www.babiesballarat.com.au Instagram: @babies_ballarat_calmbirth ~ Notes ~ Post Natal Depression/Anxiety support: If you or anyone you know is affected by PND symptoms particularly at this time of COVID-19 please don't hesitate to contact the following support networks. The Gidget Foundation https://gidgetfoundation.org.au/get-support/, PANDA https://www.panda.org.au/info-support/pandas-national-perinatal-anxiety-depression-helpline Beyond Blue https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/get-immediate-support Cope https://www.cope.org.au Pregnancy Loss: https://www.bearsofhope.org.au https://rednosegriefandloss.org.au https://miscarriagesupport.org.au **VBAC Birth Stories features women's lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns during your pregnancy please always consult your healthcare provider. Please connect with us on Facebook or Instagram: @vbacbirthstories

This week Amy and her mum Janene a midwife join us to share her extraordinary three birth stories. Her first a vaginal birth, her second a caesarean birth, and her third a VBAC with twins. This episode has a trigger warning as baby loss is discussed. Amy’s first pregnancy was thankfully straightforward with a positive induction experience followed by a vaginal birth under Midwifery Group Practice at her local hospital. Having her mum’s guidance she was well informed ahead of time, however she was faced with breastfeeding struggles following her first birth and the positive birth experience was marred by the passing of her father from Motor neurone disease, a battle he had fought for many years. For her second pregnancy Amy was planning to have a homebirth through her hospital's birth center homebirth program and looked forward to this experience. However at 36 weeks her pregnancy took an unexpected turn. Amy experienced a concealed placental abruption and she was taken for an emergency caesarean. Her son Arlo was born premature but healthy and she was discharged from hospital, but at five days of age they returned to hospital as his health began to deteriorate. It was found he had contracted a common cold virus. Arlo was airlifted to Westmead Hospital in Sydney from Newcastle and in the coming weeks Amy and her husband would stay by his side while he was fighting for his life. Amy tells of the unspeakable grief of losing Arlo and the 29 days of his life which was cut short far too soon. Amy tells of navigating this difficult period and of the family, her church community, and the hospital staff who helped her. When Amy and her husband Sam felt ready to welcome another baby Amy prayed for twins and incredibly her prayers were answered. Amy's rainbow babies were born via VBAC, and she and Janene tell of twin A emerging direct posterior and twin B being born breech and en caul. Thank you so much Amy and Janene for reaching out to us to share your difficult yet remarkable and heartfelt journey. We know your story will be a source of comfort and inspiration to our listeners. ~ Notes ~ Birthing Multiples Naturally: https://www.facebook.com/groups/418436544869922/?ref=share Birth Photographer: https://katekennedybirthphotography.com Books: Birth Skills by Juju Sundin with Sarah Murdoch http://www.jujusundin.com Your Baby Your Birth by Hollie De Cruz Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support: https://www.bearsofhope.org.au https://rednosegriefandloss.org.au https://www.sands.org.au https://miscarriagesupport.org.au https://www.gidgetfoundation.org.au **VBAC Birth Stories features women's lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns during your pregnancy please always consult your healthcare provider. Please connect with us on Facebook or Instagram: @vbacbirthstories

Today we hear from Kasey who lives in Melbourne with her husband and two daughters. In her first birth she experienced the rare complication of a bandl ring and was taken for an emergency caesarean despite reaching full dilation. We speak about what it's like to be a young mother in your twenties when your peers are all doing different things and how this can affect friendships. We also speak about her challenges with her oldest baby's allergies and breastfeeding and what a difference the right support and education can make. In her second pregnancy Kasey was determined to go into labour spontaneously and avoid an induction completely, as her experience with it in her first birth was not a positive one. Kasey talks about the pressure she faced to book in a second caesarean even though she was perfectly suitable for a VBAC. Knowing that she was being met with resistance Kasey talks about what she did differently to ensure she had the best chance of avoiding another caesarean. ~ Notes ~ Bandl's Ring: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Bandl%27s+ring M. Reyad & M. Quinn (2008) Pre-term uterine constriction rings and their consequences, Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 28:4, 447-448, DOI: 10.1080/01443610802138106 **VBAC Birth Stories features women's lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns during your pregnancy please always consult your healthcare provider. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram @vbacbirthstories

Today we meet Nadima who lives in Melbourne with her husband and two children. Nadima, like many of us, never imagined she would have a caesarean so when she was wheeled into theatre for an emergency caesarean this naturally came as a shock to her. She was booked in for an induction at 37 weeks due to earlier concerns with her baby’s heart rate, but she actually never got to experience labour. Although Nadima doesn’t describe her first birth as traumatic she knew immediately that she did not want to go through another caesarean if she could prevent it in any way. You’ll hear how she prepared herself mentally and physically for her second birth which was a 51 hour long labour, and how her VBAC unfolded with her nearly 4.2kg baby. ~ Notes ~ VBAC Australia Support Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/342851302473349 **VBAC Birth Stories features women's lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns during your pregnancy please always consult your healthcare provider. Please connect with us on Facebook or Instagram: @vbacbirthstories

Today we meet Zara from central Queensland and talk to her about her two births. Zara's VBAC journey began with Darcy who was a planned caesarean due to his breech positioning. The caesarean itself wasn't traumatic, but it was what happened afterwards that left Zara feeling like she could not go through childbirth again. She experienced post natal depression following this birth. Zara's heart eventually opened to the possibility of having another baby and when the time came she felt a deep desire to have a VBAC, doing everything in her power to give herself the best opportunity including securing continuity of care through her local hospital’s midwifery group practice (MGP). The end of Zara’s pregnancy presented some challenges which Zara admirably rose to, but once labour was underway Zara experienced what we all are aware of going into labour after caesarean, but feel hopeful won't happen to us- a uterine rupture. A uterine rupture can occur in any labour but it is more common in women who have a scar on their uterus from a previous caesarean. While Zara’s story doesn’t end with a vaginal delivery she speaks about how she is finding peace with this and the fact that she would do it all over again despite her experience. Her advice to believe in yourself, to educate ourselves about uterine rupture and to understand the risks is inspiring. We hope that her story is a valuable and informative resource for you all on your VBAC journey and a useful tool in understanding what can transpire during uterine rupture in labour. ~ Notes ~ You may connect with Zara on Instagram @zaramartin__ Studies quoted and associated links can be found in the following article by Dr Rachel Reed: https://midwifethinking.com/2016/06/15/vbac-making-a-mountain-out-of-a-molehill/ Post Natal Depression/Anxiety and Birth Trauma support: If you or anyone you know is affected by PND symptoms particularly at this time of COVID-19 please don't hesitate to contact the following support networks. The Gidget Foundation https://gidgetfoundation.org.au/get-support/ PANDA https://www.panda.org.au/info-support/pandas-national-perinatal-anxiety-depression-helpline Beyond Blue https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/get-immediate-support Cope https://www.cope.org.au **VBAC Birth Stories features women's lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns during your pregnancy please always consult your healthcare provider. Please connect with us on Facebook or Instagram: @vbacbirthstories

VBAC Birth Stories in discussion with Professor of Midwifery Hannah Dahlen on how Covid-19 restrictions are affecting birthing women in Australia and what women can do to make the most of their birth experience and postpartum in these trying times. We speak about the impact of birth restrictions on migrant women and their families, domestic violence screening and how antenatal care has been affected. We also talk about the state of maternity care in Australia and how we can influence policy change to improve this- where to from here and what is the hope for maternity care in Australia? Biography (Source: Western Sydney University): Hannah Dahlen is Professor of Midwifery, Assocate Dean Research and HDR and Mdiwifery Discipline Lead in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Western Sydney University. Hannah is a leading midwifery researcher in Australia, with an international reputation as an outstanding midwifery scholar. This is demonstrated through publication of over 200 papers and book chapters, despite only being an active researcher for the past 10 years and maintaining clinical practice. Hannah has given papers at over 100 conferences and seminars since in the past 5 years with half of these being invited national and international keynote addresses. Hannah has developed strong international research partnerships for research projects that are having significant impacts in the field of maternity care and midwifery globally. She has been a co-investigator on the European Union Grant Cooperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research (COST) Action Project led from the University of Central Lancashire. In 2011 Hannah along with Professor Downe (UCLAN) and Professor Holly Kennedy Powel (Yale University) formed an international research group called EPIIC (Epigenetic impact of Childbirth). Hannah has international collaborations with researchers at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN-UK), VU Medical Centre Amsterdam, Lund University (Sweden) and Yale (USA). Hannah’s research interests fall under two major themes: 1. Keeping birth normal, which includes research into birth positions, perineal comfort and trauma during second stage, birth experiences of first time mothers at home and in hospital, use of NSW and National perinatal data to look at maternal and perinatal outcomes in different models of care and place of birth and vaginal birth after caesarean. 2. Health service/policy development, which includes publications on homebirth, birth centres and freebirth, human rights and birth trauma, the development of a midwifery initiated oral health service for pregnant women, service engagement and outcomes for infants and their young mothers, analysis of media depictions of midwives obstetricians and birth, the use of doulas in the health service and outcomes for low risk women giving birth in private and public hospitals. ~ Notes ~ The Birth Experience Study: https://surveywesternsydney.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_d7lb1dyOczveOxw Hannah Dahlen Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/hannahgracedahlen Birth in the time of Covid Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/birthinthetimeofcovid/ The Birth Experience Study Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/BirthExperienceStudy/ Maternity Choices Australia: https://www.maternitychoices.org Maternity Consumer Network: https://www.maternityconsumernetwork.org.au Post Natal Depression/Anxiety support: If you or anyone you know is affected by PND symptoms particularly at this time of COVID-19 please don't hesitate to contact th

Today Mel shares her second VBAC birth story with her third baby Emilia. Her birth was a surprise breech homebirth, which was somewhat poetic given her primary caesarean was due to her first baby being breech. Her second birth in a public hospital under caseload midwifery care was a successful unmedicated VBAC (You can listen to this story in episode 2). We talk about Mel’s decision to homebirth, the implications of covid on her pregnancy, the complications she faced in Emilia’s pregnancy when she was found to have a Ventricular Septal Defect at 20 weeks and how her third birth unfolded at home. ~ Notes ~ Books: Welcome Home by Alisha Bourke Birth With Confidence by Rhea Dhempsey Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering by Sarah Buckley Acupuncturist: Keely from Lawson Acupuncture Clinic https://www.lawsonacupunctureclinic.com Midwife Thinking: midwifethinking.com Spinning Babies: spinningbabies.com Homebirth NSW: https://www.homebirthnsw.org.au Breech Birth Australia & New Zealand Support Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/233980109958642 Birth Photographer: Mel Fisher https://www.mjfphotographymacarthur.com/ **VBAC Birth Stories features women's lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns during your pregnancy please always consult your healthcare provider. Please connect with us on Facebook or Instagram: @vbacbirthstories