Like the literal hurricane she labored through, Nicole’s story is one of overcoming life’s storms, giving grace, and finding joy. 

Nicole’s first birth was a C-section to best protect her daughter who had a low heart rate due to multiple congenital heart defects. But unfortunately after three precious years, her daughter passed. 

Nicole worked hard to find healing from so much layered emotional and medical trauma. When she was ready to have another baby, she knew she wanted a VBAC. Nicole researched heavily, formed a trusting partnership with her provider, and was very intentional about every decision along the way.

Her second birth experience was a true testament to the powerful lessons birth teaches in all of its intimate ways. Nicole’s second sweet daughter made her way into the world via VBAC at 12:21 am just minutes after her first daughter’s birthday— a powerful symbol that Nicole knew signified a new day and a beautiful new chapter.

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Lauren joins us today from New Jersey sharing her wild ride (literally!) to a VBAC! 

Lauren’s first birth was a spontaneous labor ending in a crash Cesarean under general anesthesia at 39 weeks due to fetal distress. Though she was complete and tried pushing, baby was still high and showing that he needed to be born right away.

She prepared diligently for a VBAC by listening to multiple VBAC Link Podcast episodes a day and included her faith every step of the way. 

Her second birth was a precipitous VBAC at 36 weeks after falling days earlier— ending in an unmedicated VBAC in an ambulance! It was not what she expected, yet everything she wanted. 

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”This VBAC has changed who I am as a woman.” 

Proactive preparation matters in birth!!

While we don’t want to obsess about it in an unhealthy way, prep work can make a huge difference in your birth experience. 

Chelsea is an amazing example of how that prep pays off. 

After a very long, exhausting 40+hr labor and Cesarean birth, Chelsea knew she needed a different experience the next time around. 

Chelsea took charge of what she could during her second pregnancy. She did deep internal work, vigorously prepped her mind and body, educated herself, and invested in an empowering birth team. 

Her intuition led Chelsea to birth at home, and it was a completely different experience from her first in so many powerful ways!

Chelsea’s Podcast: Growing Up Raising Us

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Andrea joins us in the podcast today from Kansas City! She is a mom of two and a pediatric oncology nurse. Andrea shares how her experience as a nurse impacted both of her very different births. 

After her traumatic Cesarean, Andrea knew how critically important it would be to find healing inside and out before giving birth again. 

Andrea sought EMDR therapy from a therapist who specialized in birth trauma. She describes her experience with EMDR, including specifics about the process itself and the exhaustion that came with it. She says that even though healing is HARD work, it made all of the difference during her second birth.

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Trish Ware is the Labor Nurse Mama! As a high-risk labor and delivery nurse for 16 years and mom of 7, she has helped deliver thousands of babies and seen it all. 

Trish founded The Birth Experience to help empower women through birth education. Her true passion lies in teaching families how to make informed choices. 

You will NOT want to miss this bold episode. Trish and Meagan do not hold back as they share the things they have seen in the birth space, what they wish birthing women/partners knew, and how to avoid common pitfalls to achieve the most empowering birth experience and outcome possible.

Labor Nurse Mama Website

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We are celebrating a HUGE milestone over here: 

400 episodes of The VBAC Link Podcast! 

Beginning as a phonecall in Target from Julie Francom to Meagan Heaton in 2018, The VBAC Link Podcast now has over 1.3 million episode downloads, guests from all over the world, a management and production team, parent and doula education courses, a thriving social media platform, and a legacy of stories from YOU that have allowed VBAC to be accessible more than ever before. 

Your stories have provided the inspiration and education to show women just how many options there are when giving birth after a Cesarean. Whether it is VBAC, HBAC, CBAC, VBAMC, RCS, MAC, or anything in between, it has been a privilege to connect with you and learn from you. 

We love you, Women of Strength!

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Katelyn is a mother of three beautiful daughters with three entirely different birth stories. Her first birth was a Cesarean after three forceps attempts, her second was a scheduled repeat Cesarean, and her third was a long, tough labor ending in a successful VBA2C! 

Katelyn talks about making sacrifices to switch providers, spirituality, prodromal labor, nuchal hands, and how to navigate a home birth transfer to the hospital. Though many parts of her VBA2C didn’t go as she planned, Katelyn was able to listen to her intuition, pivot, and make wise decisions to have a beautifully healing experience. 

The VBAC Link Blog: VBA2C Facts and Statistics

Uterine Rupture Article

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How to VBAC: The Ultimate Prep Course for Parents

Full Transcript under Episode Details

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“The wound can become a gift.”

After a traumatic and long birth that ended in a C-section, Ramieka did extensive research on providers in the central California area to find the most supportive option, and was willing to travel for that support. She utilized pelvic floor therapy, chiropractic, and a VBAC Link Certified doula to achieve a redemptive, unmedicated VBAC.

Julie and Rameika talk about what doulas can contribute to the birth space. When Rameika had a stall in her labor, her doula knew just what to do. After a series of abdominal lifts, it was time to push, and her beautiful baby girl was born. 

The VBAC Link Blog: Evidence on Doulas

TVL Blog: Mental Preparation for VBAC

TVL Blog: Questions to Ask Your Provider

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How to VBAC: The Ultimate Prep Course for Parents

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Dr. Jen Fraboni, PT, DPT, is an internationally-renowned physical therapist who specializes in helping people overcome chronic pain and maximize physical performance. As the founder of the new platform and app, “Jen.Health,” she brings a unique, whole body approach to strength, mobility and pain-free living. Dr. Jen is the co-host with her husband, who is also a Doctor of Physical Therapy, to a popular podcast called "The Optimal Body Podcast.” They live in Southern California with their two beautiful boys. 

She shares her own VBAC story with a failure to progress diagnosis with her 7-pound first baby, and an unmedicated VBAC with her 9-pound second baby! Though she had some postpartum complications, Dr. Jen says that her VBAC was absolutely worth it and so empowering. 

Dr. Jen also teaches us all about the pelvic floor and how pelvic floor PT can help a smoother and more effective pushing phase!

Dr. Jen's Website

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Darby Swan is a faith-based birth doula and the owner of Boundless Grace Birth Services in Central Kentucky. With a passion for supporting expectant families, she provides evidence-based information and nurturing care throughout the pregnancy and birth journey. As the host of the podcast "Birth By Design," Darby shares valuable insights and experiences, inspiring parents to embrace their unique birth stories. 

She is also an author, writing a postpartum book that emphasizes physical recovery from a faith-based perspective. In addition to her work, Darby enjoys homesteading with her husband and raising their two children.

In today’s episode, Meagan and Darby discuss the lack of birthing support in Kentucky, specifically when it comes to VBAC. They talk about the power of words in the birth space and the impact of saying things like ‘“try”, “failure to progress”, “allow”, and elect”. 

Words matter!

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