Never thought you would have an abortion? That's exactly what Wisconsin mom and maternal health advocate Megan Kling believed until she became pregnant with her third much wanted and planned child.

Megan courageously shares her deeply personal story of terminating two pregnancies for medical reasons. She discusses the profound impact of abortion restrictions, the challenges of navigating medical insurance, and the importance of advocating for safer maternal healthcare. Megan's story highlights the complexities behind abortion legislation, its real-life effects on everyday moms, the inadequacy of exceptions for the life of the mother, and how, if you can become pregnant, abortion laws impact you. She also addresses the concept of "babies born alive from botched abortions," how she coped with losing two much wanted children, and why she had to leave her state to access evidence based health care. Along the way, she shares how she traveled to a larger hospital to VBAC her second child with unsupportive providers as well as her subsequent plans to VBAC a second time at her local rural, community hospital, and how the June 2024 presidential debate propelled her participation in a political ad. Tune in to hear her powerful narrative that sheds light on why empathetic and evidence-based healthcare is crucial for all women.

00:00 Welcome to Episode 18!

03:29 Seeking Guests: Level 1 Hospitals That Offer VBAC

04:21 Meet Megan!

05:44 Why Share Her Story

07:07 If You Can Become Pregnant, Abortion Restrictions Can Impact You

11:18 First Pregnancy and Cesarean

13:14 No Mention of VBAC or Increased Risks After Cesarean

14:11 Pregnant Again, But Rural Hospital Says, "No VBACs"

17:32 VBAC Calculator Says 38%

18:54 Free VBAC Resources

19:48 "...I Guess We'll Let You Labor Anyway"

23:00 Third Pregnancy, Returns to Rural Hospital for Second VBAC

23:41 What Happens If I Decline a Cesarean?

25:47 Patients Are Not Obligated To Follow Hospital Policy

26:43 There Is Something Very Wrong

29:35 The Diagnosis

31:59 What Are The Abortion Laws In Wisconsin?

35:39 "Born Alive From Botched Abortions"

37:11 Pregnancy Is Too Complex To Legislate

38:02 How She Coped With Her Son's Passing

39:06 Ready To Try Again

40:04 Pregnant With Plans to VBAC at Community Hospital

43:06 And It Happens Again

44:09 Can't Access The Medications She Needs Due to Fear Surrounding Abortion Laws

47:09 "If I Had Not Experienced This, I Would've Never Known To Ask This Question"

48:14 Her Fourth Child's Birth

48:58 Umbilical Cord Abnormality

51:30 Why Did She Need To Leave The State?

52:32 How Abortion Bans Impact Health Care For All

55:33 Want to Learn More About VBAC?

56:53 Insurance May Not Cover Abortion Care (Even When Medically Indicated)

59:54 The Healthcare Gap Planned Parenthood Fills

01:01:29 Can You Get Pregnant? Abortion Laws Can Impact You.

01:03:09 What Has All This Media Exposure Been Like?

01:04:43 Agreeing To Be In A Political Ad

01:06:15 Speaking Even When Your Voice Shakes

01:09:15 Listen To The Voice Screaming Inside You

01:12:37 How She Has Grown

01:14:25 Advice For Women Pregnant With A Non-Viable Pregnancy

01:15:18 What She Wishes She Knew At The Beginning

01:16:45 The Ripple Effect Of Her Pregnancies

01:17:50 How She Engages With Healthcare Now

01:18:44 Jen's Experience With Misinformation & Pelvic Prolapse

01:20:40 Abortion Bans Do Not Care About The Life Of The Mother

01:23:32 Unintended Consequences & Abortion Bans

01:24:33 Make Your Voice Heard

01:25:12 Women's Health Is Inherently Political

01:26:31 Our Summer Hiatus, See You In The Fall

Have a comment or question for the podcast? Want to suggest a guest we should interview or a topic we should discuss? Go to https://vbacfacts.com/podcast to give us your feedback!

• Bioethicist Fr. Ryan McCarthy discusses brain death, abortion, and the Adriana Smith Case on All Things Women's Health - Apple Podcasts
• Pelvic floor physiotherapist Dr. Sinéad Dufour
• The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker (click this link to purchase from a Black owned bookstore)
• The Truth About VBAC™ for Families | VBAC Facts® Course for Parents
• E6: Decoding the VBAC Calculator: Science, Bias, and Decision Making │ The VBAC Facts® Podcast - Apple Podcasts
• Study finds that VBAC calculators underpredict VBAC odds. They are also racially biased. | VBAC Facts®
• Sign up for your copy of the VBAC Planning Checklist! | VBAC Facts®
• Consulting for Parents, Professionals, Legal & Policy Teams │ VBAC Facts®
• Professional Speaking with Jen Kamel │ VBAC Facts®
• Sign up for your copy of the Uterine Rupture Report! | VBAC Facts®
• VBAC Facts® Professional Membership | VBAC Facts® Continuing Education
• 3 Surprising Things National Guidelines Say About VBAC - VBAC Facts® Downloadable Handout

Music produced by (Analogue)/(prod. Analogue).

Instagram: @prod.analogue