“I think your pelvis is too small. I could give you another hour, or we could just go do a c-section now”

-Midwife to Hannah during her first birth

After a C-section with her first, Hannah went on to have a successful VBAC, even though she faced a few challenges including getting COVID at 37 weeks pregnant, and being in the beginning stages of preeclampsia.

Hannah shares her story with warmth and an incredible amount of encouragement for the woman on her VBAC journey! You don't want to miss this one!

Covered in the show: 

• Medical anxiety
• Modified bed rest before C-section due to Hypertension
• Preeclampsia
• Testing positive for covid at 37 weeks pregnant
• Induced VBAC
• Managing an induction for a successful VBAC

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Today we have Dr. Hazel Keedle--VBAC researcher, author, and VBAC mom-- on the show.

Hazel had a VBAC with only 13 months since her C-section, and the experience lead her to become a Midwifery researcher and complete a PhD on women's experiences of planning a VBAC in Australia.

You are not going to want to miss all of her practical advice on how to advocate for and get your VBAC!

This episode covers:

• Hazel's VBAC journey
• Short interpregnancy interval
• Discussion of risks of having a VBAC shortly after having a C-section
• Working through fears in your VBAC journey
• VBAC rate in Australia vs USA
• Choose your golden birth team
• Birth plans

Connect with Hazel on instagram here!

Grab Hazel's book on Amazon here!

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On this week's episode, we have Raquel who had a FAST breech HBA3C, assisted by Dr. Stu of the Birthing Instincts podcast! Raquel was planning her fourth birth and knew she did not want another c-section. She found an OB who would support her, but he told her she would have to lie in order to birth at the hospital. FInally, she found a homebirth OB to attend her, and had an amazing, empowering HBA3C. Raquel shares her advice for other VBA3C mamas, and how her team addressed her fear of uterine rupture in the middle of labor. A must listen!

This episode covers:

• Breech birth
• Heart shaped uterus
• Fear of rupture during labor
• How to address fear of rupture  
• What it was like working with Dr. Stu
• Advice for VBA3C mamas

Connect with Raquel here! 

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THE PODCAST IS BAAACK!! On this episode, Bethany shares why she took a step away from the podcast, and what you can expect in the coming months! Bethany also shares an update on her fourth pregnancy, answers listener questions, and shares her hopes for her 3VBAC.

My other birth stories: 

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After a less-than ideal first vaginal birth Alysa wanted a different experience for next time. But she was diagnosed with placenta previa and had a C-section with her second. For her third baby, Alysa finally got the unmedicated birth of her dreams!

-Induced vaginal birth 

-Normalizing struggling bonding with baby at first

-History of placenta previa

-Fetal ejection reflex

-Intermittent futile monitoring  

-unmedicated VBAC in a birth center

“I have friends who say I could never do what you did. And I’m like: no that’s not true. I’m not special or extra strong. I would never say I have a high pain tolerance or anything like that. It’s deciding that you want that and doing things that help you prepare. I truly believe that pain fear cycle and so if you can get your head around that, it changes everything. That’s not to say that everyone should want a birth like this. But if it’s something that you do want? Then  go for it, and go for it all the way.“

-Alysa, PA and VBAC mom

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With Veronica's first two C-sections, she pushed for hours and ended up with C-sections. Then she had a repeat C-section with her third baby. When she got pregnant with baby number four she decided to go for a VBAC. She shares her faith journey, and how she prayed for clarity in deciding what to do.

Even after she decided to VBAC, her provider scheduled her for a repeat C-section, which she found out about only days before. She got sick with COVID, and canceled her C-section. A few days later she went into spontaneous labor! The hospital wouldn't let her husband in to the hospital because she was positive for COVID. Listen to the show to hear the end of this exciting VBA3C story!  

-Bladder injury after C-section 

-Faith

-Cancelling a scheduled C-section

-Hearing about other vaginal births and feeling like it’s “not fair”

-Husband not allowed in hospital during labor because of COVID

-Using punching the wall as a coping mechanism during labor 

Veronica's mantra: “It’s impossible said pride, it’s risky said experience, it’s pointless said reason, give it a try said the heart”

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Is it possible to have a VBAC 14 months after your C-section? YES! Is it possible to have a breech VBAC 14 months after your C-section? YES  YES! Today, Catie joins us on the show to tell us how she did it, and how you can too!

Topics covered in this episode:

• Cascade of interventions
• 14 months between csection and vbac
• Growth scans
• Scar checks
• Breech birth 

“The birth (her breech VBAC) was so smooth. The smoothest of all three of them. This is odd, but it was actually the least painful, and my quickest labor. I said after my last 2VBAC maybe I’ll have the next one breech, because it hurt a little less.” -Catie  

Connect with Catie here!

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Is it possible to have a VBA3C in the hospital?? YES! Nicholette is on the show today sharing her VBA3C hospital birth story as well as her 2VBA3C birth at home. This is a must listen!

Topics covered in this show:

• Traumatic postpartum
• VBA3C in the hospital 
• Hospital VBAC vs HBAC
• NICU baby

“I hope I can empower whoever wants to have a VBAC to do that, and take their birth into their own hands.” -Nicholette, VBA3C mama

Connect with Nicholette here!

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Crystalee, the creator of the Mama Ladder, is on the show today sharing her four birth stories! Crystalee said: “It took me four tries to get that natural, unmedicated birth I wanted from the start.” She compares epidural VBACs to med-free VBACs. She has a lot of insight!

Topics covered in the show today:

• Frank breech C-section
• 18 Months between C-section and VBAC
• Third degree tear
• Doesn’t feel contractions until in active labor
• Pregnancy during the pandemic
• What she learned from her C-section

Links mentioned:

• Mama Natural Birth Course
• The Mama Ladder

Connect with Crystalee on Instagram here!

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Wow, do I have a couple amazing stories for you! Nichole is on the show today sharing her three C-section stories, as well as her induced VBA2C, spontaneous VBA2C born accidentally at home, and then her VBA3C born in the hospital! Nichole believes if she can VBAC then any mama can, because she has a complicated medical history. A must listen!

Topics Covered in this Episode:

• NICU baby
• Placenta Previa
• Induced VBA2C
• Spontaneous 2VBA2C born accidentally at home
• The VBAC King in Las Vegas
• S Protein Deficiency
• Preeclampsia
• Brewer diet
• Nuchal hand
• VBA3C in the hospital

Connect with Nichole on Instagram here. 

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