In Australia we have a high caesarean section rate (37%) and a very low VBAC rate (12%). Dr Hazel Keedle is a VBAC researcher and VBAC mama herself and she joins me to chat about why it is so challenging for women to have a VBAC, the truth about risk of uterine rupture and vaginal tearing, what to do to increase your chances of a VBAC, advocating for yourself and what to do if you have been scared out of one when you want one. Dr Keedle also shares details about her recent study on obstetric violence where they found 1 in 10 women experience obstetric violence. She highlights the importance of acknowledging obstetric violence on political and national levels as well as normalising violence in maternity practice where women have been abused, assaulted, coerced, threatened and bullied into procedures they never wanted and/or were never necessary.

Please consider what you are consuming as this episode does contain sensitive content.    

Find Dr Hazel Keedle @hazelkeedle or on facebook @vbacmatters 

Buy her book: https://stores.praeclaruspress.com/birth-after-caesarean-your-journey-to-a-better-birth-by-hazel-keedle/

Attend a workshop: https://linktr.ee/hazelkeedle

Read the Obstetric Violence Research Paper: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10778012221140138

If you would like to watch the Birth Time documentary: https://www.birthtime.world/watch-now

If you are experiencing emotional distress relating to your birth please reach out to:

PANDA  https://panda.org.au/

Human Rights in Childbirth https://www.humanrightsinchildbirth.org/

Gidget Foundation   https://gidgetfoundation.org.au/