Liz's first birth was an induction that ended in a cesarean. When she said, “I can feel that,” referring to pressure, her doctor put her under general anesthesia without consent.

With her second, Liz planned for a VBAC. The midwife broke her water without consent. She labored to 9.5 centimeters and stalled with a cervical lip. She was overwhelmed by so many hands touching her as they tried to manually resolve it. 

Liz was defeated and accepted another non-emergent cesarean, this time with the complicated layer of her father-in-law performing it. But before she knew what was happening, she was under general anesthesia again without consent.

Twice, she did not hear her baby’s first cry and still has no idea how long it was before she held them.

Liz sunk deep into postpartum depression and survival mode. It was years before someone told her what happened wasn’t okay. She began the long road of healing with pelvic floor therapy, talk therapy, and rebuilding her strength. She found God meeting her in the tiniest, most intimate details of her journey.

For her third birth, she chose to invest. She traveled for her care. She chose loving, hands-off support with midwife Paige Boran at A Woman’s Place and her doula, Danielle Kent. 

And this birth was every bit as different as she needed it to be. Spontaneous, waterbirth, en caul.

Liz reached down and pulled her baby up out of the water. She heard the first cry. She held her baby first.

While this birth didn’t erase what happened before, something in her soul was restored that day. Her autonomy was reclaimed. It was the fought-for and faith-filled waterbirth of her dreams.

We get chills and tears every time we talk about Liz’s story, and we know you will absolutely love her like we do!

A Woman's Place

Danielle Kent Birth & Photography

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The VBAC Link Supportive Provider List

The Ultimate VBAC Prep Course for Parents

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