VBAC Birth Stories

VBAC Birth Stories

A podcast featuring Australians sharing their journey of vaginal birth after caesarean. Through sharing and learning from each other's lived experiences the podcast is designed to empower and educate those whose VBAC journey may have just begun, help all expecting mums achieve a more natural birth if that is their intention, and better inform birth professionals about one's journey to a VBAC.

Episodes

58 | Rachel's unmedicated VBAC in hospital after 35 hours of labour following an emergency caesarean; Private Hospitals, Doula

December 13, 2022 • 72 mins

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 t...

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57 | Rosalie's Homebirth Transfer VBAC following an Emergency Maternal Assisted Caesarean after Induction; Posterior Babies, Deep Transverse Arrest, PTSD, IVF, Same Sex Couple, Face Presentation.

October 27, 2022 • 109 mins

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...

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56 | Birth After Caesarean - In conversation with Dr Hazel Keedle - PhD, Author, Midwife, Academic, and VBAC mum.

September 21, 2022 • 56 mins

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 i...

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55 | Shelley's VBAC with COVID19 following a planned caesarean due to HSV1 Genital; Genital herpes, covid, breastfeeding, private hospital and public hospital

August 30, 2022 • 75 mins

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 cond...

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54 | Amielia's VBAC at 42 weeks and 6 days following an emergency caesarean after induction at 41 weeks and 5 days; Indigenous Australian, 'FTP' at 2cm, Group B Strep, VBAC with shorter birth-interval, Meconium stained waters, Special care nursery, Doula

July 8, 2022 • 97 mins
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 p...
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53 | Tina's drug-free VBAC following an emergency caesarean at 2cm dilation; Public Hospital, Meconium in waters, TTN, NICU, Episiotomy, Student Midwife

June 10, 2022 • 71 mins
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-s...
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52 | Katelyn's homebirth transfer caesarean following a caesarean after induction; Private Hospital, Private Midwife, Posterior Labour, Obstructed Labours, Late-term gestations, Vaginismus

May 6, 2022 • 111 mins
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.
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51 | Kate's VBAC with an epidural in theatre following an emergency caesarean; Posterior Labours, Augmented Labours, Infant Tongue Ties, Episiotomy, Forceps, Public Hospital

March 24, 2022 • 68 mins
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 th...
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50 | Laura's swift waterbirth VBAC following an emergency caesarean involving induction (post-dates) and a surprise breech baby; MGP (Midwifery Group Practice), Public Hospital, NICU

March 11, 2022 • 46 mins
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 wit...
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49 | Jaihden's positive VBAC with Induction (AROM) and epidural following an emergency caesarean under general anaesthetic, perinatal depression and anxiety, and postnatal depression; Gestational Diabetes, Private Obstetrician

February 25, 2022 • 74 mins
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 suppor...
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48 | Michelle's switch from hospital to homebirth VBAC following an Emergency Caesarean; Public Hospitals, Private Midwife, Cervical Lip, Postpartum Haemorrhage, Perinatal Anxiety

February 11, 2022 • 77 mins
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 he...
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47 | Kirsten's homebirth with a 4.5kg posterior baby following an emergency caesarean and vaginal first birth; Higher BMI, 4th degree tear, Birth Trauma, Induction, Epidural, Twins, Breastfeeding, Private OB, Public Hospital, Private Midwife

December 16, 2021 • 59 mins
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 w...
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46 | Sammy's posterior labour VBAC following an emergency caesarean with a posterior baby; Birth Trauma, PNA, MGP, Private Midwife, Doula, Tandem breastfeeding, Public Hospital

November 16, 2021 • 85 mins
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 ...
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45 | Rosie's 2 VBACs following pregnancy loss and an emergency caesarean; Medical termination, Chorioamnionitis, Premature birth, Epidural, Gestational Diabetes, Precipitous Birth, Calmbirth, Private OBGYN

October 29, 2021 • 70 mins
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 g...
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44 | Amy's twin VBAC following infant loss after emergency caesarean at 36 weeks due to placental abruption; Breastfeeding challenges, PICU, Gestational Diabetes, Posterior and Breech baby, Public Hospital

October 14, 2021 • 95 mins
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 Mid...
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43 | Kasey's drug-free VBAC following an emergency caesarean due to a Bandl Ring; Induction, Posterior and Obstructed Labour, Epidural, Breastfeeding struggles, Allergies, Episiotomy, Public Hospital

September 24, 2021 • 79 mins
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 ab...
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42 | Nadima's drug-free VBAC with a 4kg baby following an emergency caesarean after induction; 51 hour labour, MGP, Public Hospitals, Hypnobirthing

September 3, 2021 • 41 mins
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 ...
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41 | Zara's experience of uterine rupture and emergency caesarean following a planned caesarean for breech; ECV, Birth Trauma, PND, Low iron levels, Prodromal Labour, Augmented Labour, Posterior baby, MGP

August 20, 2021 • 93 mins
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...
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    40 | Birth in the Time of Covid and Maternity Care in Australia: Hannah Dahlen

    August 15, 2021 • 39 mins
    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 sta...
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    39 | Mel's surprise breech 2VBAC homebirth following a prior caesarean for breech; Congenital Heart Defect (VSD), PROM, Neonatal Resuscitation

    July 30, 2021 • 75 mins
    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 homeb...
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