In this episode, Ashley speaks with Elke about her inspiring journey through home birth after a Caesarean.

Elke shares her story, from the stress and challenges of her first pregnancy during COVID-19 to the empowerment and success of her second birth at home.

Key Points Discussed:

Elke introduces herself as a mother of two, a teacher on leave, and an emerging doula passionate about VBAC and home births.

Elke shares the challenges of her first pregnancy during the height of COVID-19, including her husband's eye injury and the stress of online teaching. "It was a really hectic time plus all the hormones."

Elke recounts her first birth experience, which resulted in a Caesarean, and how it shattered her initial birth expectations. "My first birth was caesarean and that blew apart everything that I thought I knew."

Elke shares the emotional impact of her Caesarean and the journey to healing, including feelings of failure and the struggle to bond with her baby. "I cried for the next nine months."

Elke details her preparation for her second pregnancy, focusing on having a VBAC and the steps she took to ensure a different experience. "I delved into my research and armed myself with everything I needed to know."

Elke shares the successful home birth story of her daughter, highlighting the support from her midwife and husband. "Having my daughter at home was the most empowering experience."

Elke reflects on the importance of having a supportive network and trusting one's body. "I knew my body could do this, and having the right support made all the difference."

Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave us a review!!

Enjoy this episode,

Ashley x

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here ⁠⁠⁠

In this enlightening episode, Ashley welcomes Dr. Stu, a seasoned obstetrician with 28 years of hospital experience and 13 years in home birth settings.

They discuss the significant differences in VBAC success rates between home and hospital births, the impact of special scars on VBAC, and the importance of understanding the historical context of medical practices.

Dr. Stu shares his unique perspective on the current state of obstetric care, the potential pitfalls of overly regulated birth policies, and the necessity of birth freedom.

Key Points Discussed:

Stay Connected with Dr Stu:

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here 

In this episode, we're diving into a topic that sparks a lot of conversation and varying viewpoints: Help, my husband won't let me have a homebirth/freebirth.

This topic often sparks heated discussions and diverse opinions on social media, and I want to share some insights and practical steps to help you navigate this situation.

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠

Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here ⁠⁠⁠

This podcast episode is for all you mamas out there nearing your due date, firstly, congratulations!

You've made it through the hard yards of pregnancy, and the big day is just around the corner.

Whether your pregnancy has been easy or challenging, it’s time to get excited as you approach this incredible milestone.

However, it's important not to get too focused on inducing labour naturally, especially if you’re still early.

Every pregnancy is unique, and while some may experience early signs of labour, others might not see any signs until the very end.

Ashley x

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠

Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here ⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, I talked about early pushing.

It's a topic I've been eager to discuss for a while because it ties into the broader subject of posterior births. 

Posterior births are often surrounded by unnecessary fear and misconceptions, and I want to shed some light on this natural variation of childbirth.

Early pushing usually occurs in posterior births, a normal variation according to birth educators and experts like Rachel Reed.

However, there's a lot of undue concern about posterior births needing to be "fixed".

Many birth courses and practices focus on ensuring optimal baby positioning, but this can create unnecessary fear and self-doubt in women.

Enjoy this podcast episode,

Ashley x

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠

Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here ⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, we delve into the topic of unplanned free births, also known as unassisted births, and why it's crucial to prepare for them, even if you're planning a birth with a midwife.

This episode aims to empower listeners with knowledge and confidence, ensuring they can handle any birth scenario calmly and effectively. If you have further questions or need more resources, reach out via Instagram for additional support.

Ashley x

I’m thrilled to run a live round of my 8-week home birth group program. We will work intimately in a small group to discuss free birth and home birth, addressing fears and focusing on mindset, how birth works, and how your body works through the process. You'll build more confidence, trust, and belief in yourself, so by the end, you’ll know exactly what your plan is, who your birth team is, and how to feel calm and confident.

This program is currently available at half the price, with an early bird special at $147 AUD. If you’re in the US, that’s roughly $97 USD. If you're interested, check out my Instagram and slide into my DMs to reserve a spot. One lady has already snapped up one of the early bird spots, so don’t miss out.

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠

Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here ⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, we meet Katelyn, a mum of two who planned a VBAC at home that ended in a c-section transfer. 

I’m sharing Katelyn’s side of the story in her own words in the show notes today. 

I had an emergency caesarean following an unwanted and unneeded postdate induction that I was coerced into. 

I felt I had no real other option. I was under the care of a private obstetrician, not because I felt that it was the kind of care that most aligned with me but because I didn't know how to otherwise get continuity of care (oh had I known then what I know now!) 

With my second, I was planning a VBAC from the moment I left the operating theatre and that quickly became a HBAC plan. I hired a private midwife and a doula and had a far, far more relaxed pregnancy and was super looking forward to my birth at home without medical interference. 

I ended up with a long labour that progressed very well to start with and then stalled about 8 hours in. 

I was supported and encouraged to do what I felt was right, and so we kept at it at home for another 12 hours (with a visit to my chiro right at the end) before I decided it was time to head to the hospital for intervention. 

I requested my waters be broken, which they did a little while after I arrived at the hospital. At about the 26-hour mark. 

I was so exhausted that I physically felt I had reached my limit I could feel that she was still high and not properly engaged and I felt if couldn't remain upright I would completely lose my hold on my contractions. 

They had been strong and constant. The first 8 hrs of labour they were 3-4 minutes apart, they'd stretched out to between 5-10 minutes through the rest of the day and once we got to the hospital, and vocalising and moving through them was all I had to keep on top of it. 

At that point, I knew I was heading down repeat caesarean territory and I made an informed decision to have an epidural, knowing that most likely I was heading to theatre but there was a small chance that it could be enough to relax me and allow my baby to descend. 

After another couple of hours with an epidural, we made the call to head to the theatre, which was disappointing but also liberating. 

To know I'd done everything I felt I needed to do, all the things I'd not had an opportunity to try the first time around (including forward leaning inversions through contractions and walchers position and everything!) and I was relatively okay feeling like it was my decision at that point. 

So yeah - not the classic homebirth story, but one I do think is important which is why I'm so open about sharing it because we do know that HBAC women generally have higher transfer rates than most homebirthers but that doesn't mean it will be a negative or traumatic experience even if it ends with another caesarean. 

Going to the hospital was my biggest fear (or so I thought, in hindsight I think I actually had other unvoiced fears hiding under the surface that kept me from progressing in labour) and it turned out to be very okay. 

I'd still plan a HBA2C in a heartbeat for my next baby if I get blessed to have a third! 

More from Ashley:

⁠The VBAC Village⁠

Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here ⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, I spoke with the amazing Catherine Bell from The Birth Map. 

We talk about how Catherine's birth and postpartum experiences led her to the creation of The Birth Map. 

I asked lots of questions about the birth map and the bias attached to some of the evidence.

We discussed: 

Catherine is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to birth, and I am so grateful that she shared her wisdom and experiences with us in this podcast episode. 

Listen to this fabulous episode now!

Here’s more about Catherine:

In becoming a Mother, Catherine was frustrated with the 'need to know' nature of maternity, so trained as a birth doula and breastfeeding counsellor and educator to fill the knowledge gap and support other women.  

Combined with her Master in Science Communication, this led to the development of Birth Cartography and the invention of The Game of Birth.  Her book, The Birth Map, is the subject of her PhD study into communication and decision-making in maternity services.   

Connect with Catherine: 

my IG@birthmapping

Get access to the free Birth Map game and e-book here: https://birthmap.life/member-access/

The VBAC Village

Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here ⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, I share some of the struggles we all have when it comes to building community for ourselves.

And how why you should start building your community now.

I share some ways you can take steps to build your community and how mindset and perspective play a massive part in you being able to create the community you need and deserve.

Enjoy this episode,

Ashley

More from Ashley:

Free VBAC Training:

Don't miss the VBAC Workshop in February 2024, packed with valuable insights and knowledge, VBAC myth-busting, and answering all of your VBAC questions. ⁠⁠Click here to register⁠⁠

Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠

Join our VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here ⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, I get to share with you Christy's phenomenal birth stories.

Christy is a mother of 10 children, who has had 7 Caesarean births and 3 homebirths.

She had fairly positive c-sections births with her first 6 children, and found on the 7th her Dr was obligated to refer Christy to another OBGYN as she was deemed "high risk" due to hospital policy.

She found this quite challenging and was told she had placenta

Although she wasn't quite done and found herself pregnant with baby number 8. She searched high and low for support this time and found herself eventually connecting with a homebirth midwife, planning a VBAC.

Listen to this episode to hear some of the challenges Christy overcame to birth her babies in a way she felt comfortable and happy to.

Along with some important conversations about what can happen in the birth journey.

Enjoy this episode,

Ashley x

More from Ashley:

Free VBAC Training:

Don't miss the VBAC Workshop in February 2024, packed with valuable insights and knowledge, VBAC myth-busting, and answering all of your VBAC questions. ⁠Click here to register⁠

Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠

Join our VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here ⁠⁠