VBAC Birth Stories

In this episode we meet Jess who is a mother of four living in regional Victoria.Jess has a unique VBAC story to tell us.Her first birth was a vaginal birth in a private hospital setting- the fairly positive birth experience was somewhat overshadowed when doctors discovered her newborn daughter had a rare connective tissue disorder. Despite the challenges presented by her eldest’s diagnosis, Jess embraced motherhood and was thrilled to discover she was pregnant with twins. When one twin was found to be breech Jess agreed to a planned caesarean for her second birth.In between each of her three births Jess experienced three miscarriages and she shares the very personal grief of these with us. Her fourth child and third birth was a VBAC journey she undertook through her local public hospital in the MGP with a dedicated midwife to support her through pregnancy and birth during Covid in 2020. She shares what she wanted to experience in this vaginal birth that was different to her first, and what tools she used to prepare herself physically and mentally to achieve this.Jess shows us a refreshing blend of positivity as well as resilience as she describes what it's like to raise a child with additional needs and navigate the usual and not so usual trials of parenting.
~ Notes ~
VBAC Course: VBAC Master Class
https://www.empoweredtobirth.com.au/vbac-masterclassInstagram: @empoweredtobirth
Book: Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering by Sarah J Buckley, MDhttps://sarahbuckley.com/gentle-birth-gentle-mothering/
Pregnancy Loss:https://www.bearsofhope.org.auhttps://rednosegriefandloss.org.auhttps://miscarriagesupport.org.au
**VBAC Birth Stories features women's lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns during your pregnancy please always consult your healthcare provider.
Please connect with us on Facebook or Instagram: @vbacbirthstories

Three women reflect on their COVID-19 VBAC birth experiences in Australian hospitals. Michal is a Melbourne based midwife and mother of three who shares her experience in Episode 16. Jessica is a mother of two based in Torquay whose birth is shared in Episode 19. Erin is a Perth mother of two who recently shared her story in episode 36 after she found herself labouring during a transition phase post 3 day lockdown in WA. We hope you can learn from their advice and that it helps you not to feel discouraged on your VBAC journey in these times.

Today we hear from Erin who lives in Perth with her husband and two children. Erin is a Type 1 Diabetic and we hear how this affected her first pregnancy and what different approaches she took in her VBAC pregnancy to give herself the best chance of experiencing spontaneous labour for the first time, as she was induced at 37 weeks in her first birth as per hospital policy for Type 1 Diabetic women.
Erin tested positive to Group B streptococcus (GBS) towards the end of her VBAC pregnancy which also coincided with a snap-lockdown in Perth of 3 days. In maternity this took the form of support people being disallowed from entering the birth unit in public hospital settings until the mother was deemed to be in active labour. On the day Erin’s labour began with her waters breaking, restrictions had been lifted following the lockdown and residents of Perth were able to go to football matches as well as the pub during this post-lockdown transition period, but not maternity- her husband missed out on supporting her during the crucial early stages of labour and was also asked to leave 15 minutes after her daughter was born, via a repeat emergency caesarean.
Despite how covid affected her labour a resilient Erin came away from her birth with overall positive feelings about the experience, which she attributes to the kind of preparation she had done in her second pregnancy.
We encourage government and hospital policy makers to listen and learn from Erin’s experience. We need to get the balance right because as anyone who listens to our podcast would know- support in birth matters, and no woman should ever have to labour alone.
~ Notes ~
Facebook Type 1 Diabetic support group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1527899494122956
**VBAC Birth Stories features women's lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns during your pregnancy please always consult your healthcare provider.
Please connect with us on Facebook or Instagram: @vbacbirthstories

Today we hear from Wollongong (NSW) mum of two Mara who had a VBAC with a short birth interval of only 15 months. Mara’s first birth was a deeply traumatic emergency caesarean where she reached full dilation with a posterior baby. She was determined to have a VBAC when the time came, which to Mara’s surprise happened a lot sooner than she had anticipated and this posed some challenges for her as her hospital were very discouraging of a VBAC due to her birth interval being less than 18 months apart.
You’ll hear how Mara bravely confronts her trauma and uses her agency plus a variety of different tools to make her second birth a far more positive experience.
Trigger warning and disclaimer: In this episode Mara talks about how she felt that presenting to hospital for reduced fetal movements contributed to the traumatic birth that she had. We would just like to remind our listeners that if you do experience reduced movements at all in your pregnancy please don’t hesitate to reach out to your care provider. And care providers listening, we hope you can please take on board Mara’s experience to understand the effect hospital policies and procedures can have on birthing women’s experiences and decisions for subsequent pregnancies.
~ Notes ~
Book: How to Heal a Bad Birth by Melissa Bruijn & Debby Gouldhttps://www.howtohealabadbirth.com
Doula: Amelia Colemanhttps://www.illawarrabirthclasses.com.au
VBAC Australia Support Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/342851302473349
Birth Trauma & Post Natal Depression/Anxiety support:
The Gidget Foundationhttps://gidgetfoundation.org.au/get-support/
PANDAhttps://www.panda.org.au/info-support/pandas-national-perinatal-anxiety-depression-helpline
Beyond Bluehttps://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/get-immediate-support
Copehttps://www.cope.org.au
**VBAC Birth Stories features women's lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns during your pregnancy please always consult your healthcare provider.
Please connect with us on Facebook or Instagram: @vbacbirthstories

“Prepare your body and mind to achieve your VBAC and then let go of your attachment to the outcome.”
If anyone knows how to fight the good fight its Sydney based mother of two and human rights lawyer, Lara.
As a VBAC hopeful Lara was fastidious in her birth preparation but in the end the events which unfolded took her and her care providers by surprise. Despite the rare occurrence of velamentous cord insertion and shoulder dystocia Lara achieved her VBAC and a positive birth outcome against all odds.
Thankfully in both of her births she was treated with dignity, respect and the exceptional standard of care we have come to recognise from care providers who are on the pulse of birthing women’s needs. As we hear from so many of you the difference this can make cannot be underestimated.
Her first baby was breech and after two unsuccessful ECV’s Lara had a trial of labor followed by a gentle caesarean. Despite the positive surgery Lara could not help but feel disappointment following her first birth and she discusses the complexity of this for caesarean mothers.Determined by nature, Lara researched and prepared extensively before both of her births, but it seems the one thing that both experiences taught her is that you can’t control every aspect of what unravels but you can shape your own view of the circumstances and there’s some true wisdom that I’m sure we can all take from Lara’s two birth stories.
Throughout her story you’ll hear how Lara mixes this determined grit with a calm and articulate approach to her public hospital birthing experiences, both under case load midwifery care.
Motherhood has taught us all that no matter what you prepare for our babies will have a different plan and at times this is unpredictable. Lara calls on us to bear witness to the beauty in surrendering to the most ordinary of moments with our babies.

In this episode we meet Emma, a mum of two boys who lives in Wollongong south of Sydney. Emma is a nurse and aspiring midwife and is also a prenatal yoga teacher and has her own yoga studio.
Emma’s first birth in the private system ended in an emergency caesarean after she was induced at 39 weeks. It was discovered later that cervical scar tissue from a previous LLETZ procedure may have played a role in not allowing her labour to progress.
Emma was determined in her second birth to maintain a positive mindset and she accessed a variety of resources in order to assist her in achieving a VBAC. Among these she enrolled in a Calmbirth course and she also chose a different model of care under the midwifery group practice in her public hospital.
Emma ended up being induced for her VBAC with a foley’s balloon catheter and it’s interesting to hear how this assisted in her second labour due to the positive effect it had on her cervical scar tissue, and also how Emma felt about being induced again given her last induction resulted in an emergency caesarean.
We do hope you gain a lot of knowledge and understanding listening to Emma’s unique VBAC story.
Episode sponsor:
This episode of VBAC Birth Stories is brought to you by Calmbirth. Calmbirth education courses provide the tools for couples to prepare emotionally, mentally and physically for birth whichever course it may take. Calmbirth encourages the presence of a partner or birth support person during all of its classes regardless of age, culture, socio economic or sexual orientation. The benefits of the course to couples are invaluable and goes beyond the birth process, teaching life skills and techniques which can be used in parenting and beyond. The Calmbirth program provides the tools and evidence based knowledge required to support the birthing partner at an emotional and physical level. This certainly comes across in this episode, where the support person becomes just as empowered as the birthing woman; holding true to one of Calmbirth’s mottos “There’s no birth like a Calmbirth”. If you’d like to learn more about their program and find an educator local to you head to their website Calmbirth.com.au
You can connect with Emma on Instagram by searching for her Prenatal Yoga initiative @ghettomummas
https://www.ghettomovement.com/ghetto-mummas
~ Notes ~
Calmbirth Educator:
https://calmbirth.com.au/getting-to-know-calmbirth-educator-lyndal-scerri/
Acupuncturist:
https://acufit360health.com
Naturopath:
https://rebalancenaturopathy.com.au
**VBAC Birth Stories features women's lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns during your pregnancy please always consult your care provider.
Please connect with us on Facebook or Instagram: @vbacbirthstories

In today's episode we chat to Queensland mum of three and co-creator of the clothing brand Sunday Wild, Crystal, about her VBAC journey which began with an elective caesarean with her twin daughters. Crystal tells her story with a refreshing humour and warmth and speaks to the fact that not all elective caesareans are really wanted. During our chat Crystal touchingly realises with hindsight what could have been possible, but was sadly taken away from her after her caesarean.
Crystal's story is really about personal growth and the self advocacy that can come with evidence based research and trust in a mother's intuition. Crystal kept her finger on the pulse during her VBAC pregnancy when her daughter was sitting in breech position early on and prepared herself for every possible outcome.
Crystal highlights the importance of the 'golden hour' after birth and how it can affect breastfeeding relationships, and how our hospital protocols can sometimes undermine this. An important listen for not only VBAC mothers but first time mums too and care providers - it is important to understand the profound impact a woman's birth experience can have on her transition from maiden to mother.
You can connect with Crystal on instagram: @crystallouu
Clothing label: @sundaywildlabelhttps://sundaywildlabel.com/
~ Notes ~
VBAC Australia Support Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/342851302473349
Breech Birth Australia & New Zealand support group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/breech
Spinning Babies:spinningbabies.com
Blissful Herbs (labour tea):https://www.blissfulherbs.com.au
Made to Milk (colostrum expressing kit):https://www.madetomilk.com.au/
**VBAC Birth Stories features women's lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns during your pregnancy please always consult your healthcare provider.
Please connect with us on Facebook or Instagram: @vbacbirthstories

In today's episode we meet Kate, a mum of two who lives with her husband near Newcastle north of Sydney. Kate's had the unique journey of experiencing three kinds of maternity care models across her two pregnancies. Her VBAC journey began with an emergency caesarean performed in Sydney while she was under the midwifery group practice continuity of care model, also known as MGP. Kate walked away from this birth without any overriding feelings of trauma, but for a long time thought there was something wrong with her body, in particular her pelvis.
Before falling pregnant with her second child she became well educated on birth and wanted to get into the MGP again, however this wasn't possible at her new local hospital in Newcastle. She ended up subscribing to the standard fragmented public hospital care, which is currently the most accessible model of care available to Australian birthing women. Kate faced numerous challenges during her VBAC pregnancy, from Covid restrictions to being told she had gestational diabetes. The additional stress of this and more took its toll on her and she sought out a private midwife at 35 weeks to facilitate a homebirth, affording her the opportunity to birth in the way she really wanted.
Listen to hear how Kate's VBAC journey unfolds and find out about all the incredible resources she tapped into during her VBAC pregnancy, preparing her to potentially birth at 43 weeks. Kate also honestly shares the challenges she experienced in the postpartum period even after experiencing a euphoric homebirth, and what she would do differently next time.
~ Notes ~
Doula: Jules CoffeyInstagram: @julescoffey
Pelvic Floor: Bernadette Lack from Core Floor & Restorehttps://coreandfloor.com.auInstagram: @corefloorrestore
Books:Birth with Confidence by Rhea DempseyYour Baby Your Birth by Hollie de CruzWhy Induction Matters by Dr. Rachel Reed (Midwife Thinking blog)
Chiropractor:Loretta Mullins at Healing Wave Chiro in Warner's Bay
Acupuncturist:Jolene Azzopardi at Sosho House
Nutritionist:Eloise Hyne
**VBAC Birth Stories features women's lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns during your pregnancy please always consult your healthcare provider.
Please connect with us on Facebook or Instagram: @vbacbirthstories

In this bonus episode of VBAC Birth Stories we speak to Karen McClay, better known as the Director of Calmbirth, but a lesser known fact about the registered midwife, nurse and mother of three is that she herself undertook her own VBAC journey. We had the privilege of hearing that personal story in this interview.
Karen shares the emotions surrounding her initial caesarean and the complexity of this experience, and how women on a VBAC journey are often forced to look back and examine their first birth experience in a different way to others.
Karen also talks about how the Calmbirth education program came to be, its unique offerings, and what’s next in terms of hospital integration both in Australia and New Zealand.
We thank Karen for sharing her very personal experiences and her wealth of knowledge in the birth world.
This episode is sponsored by Calmbirth. Calmbirth ensures couples are able to educate themselves through knowledge, birth preparation and maintaining a calm mindset. It is all of these things that we know can make all the difference in preparation for your birthing journey. The benefits of the course to couples goes beyond the birth process, teaching life skills and techniques to be used in parenting and beyond.
~ Notes ~
Website: Calmbirth.com.auInstagram: @calmbirthFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/calmbirthPodcast: The Calmbirth Conversation Podcast
**VBAC Birth Stories features women's lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns during your pregnancy please always consult your healthcare provider.
Please connect with us on Facebook or Instagram: @vbacbirthstories

Today we meet Renee, a mum of two from Sydney who works as a clinical dietician. She is also the co-founder of Nurture the Seed, an encompassing guide to all things nutrition to help those going through preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum through evidence-based research and nourishing recipes (see notes below for more information).
In Renee’s first birth she had a rare adverse reaction to the prostaglandin induction gel, leading to an immediate emergency caesarean with a baby who was not engaged in her pelvis. Two months into her second pregnancy COVID-19 reached our shores, and throughout it all Renee maintained a positive attitude despite some the changes this meant to her care.
Renee gives some excellent advice for women in pregnancy regardless of whether they are on a VBAC journey or not. Her positivity and practical view on birth meant that despite her repeat caesarean, her journey was still a successful one.
Along with the support of her primary midwives from her hospital’s midwifery group practice (MGP) Renee was able to walk away from both of her births with a positive and fulfilled outlook, thus reaching the end of her VBAC journey feeling empowered from the experience.
~ Notes ~
Please connect with Renee on Instagram or Facebook: @nurturetheseedWebsite: https://www.nurturetheseed.com.au
**VBAC Birth Stories features women's lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns during your pregnancy please always consult your healthcare provider.
Please connect with VBAC Birth Stories on Facebook or Instagram: @vbacbirthstories