In this episode, I reflect on one of the greatest privileges of hosting this podcast—listening to hundreds of women share their birth stories.

Over the years I've heard stories of VBACs, HBACs, homebirths, hospital births, freebirths, long labours, fast labours, breech births, VBA2Cs, births that went to plan, and births that didn't. While every story is unique, there are some powerful themes that come up again and again.

In this episode I explore:

• Why birth rarely follows the textbook
• What I've learned about women's intuition
• How your birth environment can influence your experience
• Why continuity of care matters so much
• The lasting impact of the words spoken during birth
• The importance of having the right support around you
• Why birth is just as emotional as it is physical
• What makes a birth feel positive, regardless of how your baby is born
• How birth has the potential to be deeply healing
• Why I believe women are far more capable than they've been led to believe

This episode is a reflection on the wisdom I've witnessed through hundreds of birth stories and a reminder that your experience matters.

I'd love to know—what is the biggest lesson your own birth taught you?

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FREE VBAC Starter Kit

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Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

In this episode, I sit down with Mel to hear her incredible journey from a 23-week premature birth and classical caesarean to achieving a vaginal birth after two caesareans (VBA2C).

After experiencing a classical caesarean with her first baby and a planned repeat caesarean with her second, many would have assumed a vaginal birth was no longer an option.

But Mel's story reminds us that birth journeys are rarely straightforward.

Together we discuss the challenges, decisions and support that shaped her path as she prepared for a VBA2C and planned homebirth, before ultimately transferring to hospital shortly before welcoming her baby vaginally.

An example of what can happen when women are using informed decision-making, advocacy and trusting yourself while navigating complex birth choices.

In This Episode We Discuss:

• Classical caesarean birth
• Premature birth at 23 weeks
• Repeat caesarean birth
• VBA2C (Vaginal Birth After Two Caesareans)
• Planning a homebirth after caesarean
• Hospital transfer during labour
• Informed decision-making
• Advocacy and birth choices
• Trusting yourself after previous birth trauma

Mel's story is a powerful reminder that every woman's path is unique and that understanding your options can open doors you may never have thought possible.

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Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

Barbara shares her powerful journey from a breech caesarean to a surprise breech homebirth.

In this episode, we explore breech birth, advocacy, informed choice and trusting yourself when birth takes unexpected turns.

After her first baby was discovered to be breech during labour, Barbara faced changing plans, hospital policies and important decisions that ultimately led to a breech caesarean birth.

But her second birth unfolded very differently.

Preparing for homebirth with a private midwife and birth team, Barbara experienced an unexpected and empowering surprise breech homebirth.

This conversation explores:

✨ Breech birth and hospital policies
✨ Advocacy and asking important questions
✨ Breech caesarean birth
✨ Ultrasound estimates and informed decision-making
✨ Vaginal seeding and postpartum planning
✨ Homebirth preparation
✨ Surprise breech birth at home
✨ Trusting yourself and exploring your options

Barbara’s story is a powerful reminder that birth doesn’t always follow a straight line—and that informed choices, good support and trusting yourself matter.

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Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

In this deeply personal episode, I share my recent experience with pregnancy loss after a chemical miscarriage.

After nine months of trying to conceive and two chemical pregnancies, I open up about the grief, the intuition that something wasn’t right, and the emotional journey of loss—especially while navigating this at 39, turning 40.

This episode is for any woman walking through fertility struggles or pregnancy loss. You are not alone.

Support Resources

If you’re currently experiencing loss or grief, please reach out for support. You don’t have to do this alone.

⭐ Red Nose Australia – Support for pregnancy and infant loss
https://rednose.org.au

⭐ PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia)
https://www.panda.org.au

⭐ SANDS Australia (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Support)
https://www.sands.org.au

⭐ COPE (Centre of Perinatal Excellence)
https://www.cope.org.au

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Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

In this episode, I dive into a question so many women carry when planning a VBAC: what if my VBAC fails?

We unpack the fear behind “VBAC failure” and gently reframe what that really means. I share my own experiences, the emotional weight many women carry after birth trauma, and why your outcome does not define your worth or success.

We talk about:

• Why “VBAC failure” isn’t actually a failure
• The role of mindset, support, and environment in birth
• Why homebirth isn’t a guarantee—but can change the experience

• Letting go of guilt, blame, and unrealistic expectations

This episode is here to remind you: if you show up, prepare, and make the best decisions you can in the moment—you have not failed.

You get to define what success looks like in your birth.

Enjoy this episode!

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Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

In these two part episodes, I sit down with Margarite, a mum of five living in rural Queensland, who shares the first part of her powerful birth journey.

Her story includes multiple miscarriages, a caesarean, a VBAC, and a second caesarean for breech twins, flipping the script at 39 weeks and deciding to birth at home at the last minute — all while navigating the challenges of rural maternity care, long-distance transfers, and feeling disconnected within the system.

At 39+2, everything began to shift as she discovered new perspectives and started questioning what was possible for her next birth — a freebirth after two caesareans.

This episode lays the foundation for her journey… and in Part Two, we dive into how she went on to reclaim her birth in a deeply powerful way.

Enjoy this episode! 

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

In these two part episodes, I sit down with Margarite, a mum of five living in rural Queensland, who shares the first part of her powerful birth journey.

Her story includes multiple miscarriages, a caesarean, a VBAC, and a second caesarean for breech twins, flipping the script at 39 weeks and deciding to birth at home at the last minute — all while navigating the challenges of rural maternity care, long-distance transfers, and feeling disconnected within the system.

At 39+2, everything began to shift as she discovered new perspectives and started questioning what was possible for her next birth — a freebirth after two caesareans.

This episode lays the foundation for her journey… and in Part Two, we dive into how she went on to reclaim her birth in a deeply powerful way.

Enjoy this episode! 

More from Ashley:

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Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

In this episode, I sit down with Kelsey, a Canadian mum of three now living in Newcastle, NSW, who walks us through her deeply contrasting birth experiences — from a marathon first labour, to a premature birth affected by pre-eclampsia, and finally, her powerful HBAC.

Kelsey’s story is a reminder that birth doesn’t follow a straight line. Each pregnancy asked something new of her, and each birth required its own kind of strength.

Her first baby arrived after more than 40 hours of labour, beginning at 40+5.
After labouring for 24 hours she was still only 1 cm dilated.
Her baby was posterior, her waters broke naturally, she eventually accepted an epidural, and after 48 hours of labour she had a vaginal birth — but her baby was taken to special care due to a low baseline heart rate and being born “floppy.”

Kelsey’s second pregnancy brought a new challenge: pre-eclampsia.
Her blood pressure spiked, and she was induced at 33 weeks.
Her baby spent two weeks in special care. This was a different experience, one that required patience and resiliance that was different to her first postpartum experience

This experience planted the seed for something different the next time, a birth where she felt supported, informed, and safe.

With her third baby, Kelsey planned a HBAC right at the last minute at 33 weeks. She always wanted to have a VBAC, but realised if she wanted to give this her best shot, her choice would be at home. She was able to connect with a midwife she felt comfortable with and got her husband on board, after watching the Birth Time movie with together.

This time, she felt grounded, prepared, and empowered — and she went on to achieve her dream of a HBAC at home, bringing her baby into the world surrounded by safety, warmth and support.

Kelsey credits much of her confidence and preparation to the incredible birth resources she leaned on, including:

⭐ Her own knowing and intuition

⭐ The Great Birth Rebellion Podcast
⭐ The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast
⭐ Birth Time (the documentary)
⭐ Hypnobirthing tools & education

These helped her understand her options, challenge the narratives she’d been given, and prepare herself emotionally and mentally for a different birth experience.

Enjoy this episode! 

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Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

In this episode, I share a short, practical guide to finding a midwife in Australia to support your HBAC or VBAC homebirth. Starting the search can feel overwhelming, but there are trusted pathways and communities to help you connect with the right support.

Here’s what we cover:

⭐ How to begin your search for a midwife in your local area ⭐ The role of Homebirth Australia as a representative organisation, and how it connects with state groups like Homebirth Queensland, Homebirth NSW, and Homebirth Victoria

⭐ How to use Facebook groups such as Homebirth Australia, Homebirth Queensland, and the VBAC Homebirth Support Group to find midwives, birth workers, and supportive communities

⭐ Why reaching out to a local doula can be an important first step when planning a homebirth

⭐ How the HBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast and support networks can help you feel connected and informed

I also share how I can personally support you through Power Hour sessions, virtual pregnancy support, and both in-person and online guidance to help you prepare for a confident, empowered birth.

Enjoy this episode! 

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Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

In this episode, I sit down with Tiffanie, a mother of two from Mt Isa, who shares her raw and powerful birth stories—two very different journeys that shaped her into the woman and mother she is today.

Tiffanie’s first pregnancy was planned as a freebirth, but at 38+4 weeks she developed preeclampsia so severe she was losing her vision for up to ten minutes just from standing up.

When she presented at the hospital, doctors told her she was on the edge of eclampsia—her liver and kidneys were shutting down—and a caesarean was her safest option. What followed was an incredibly tough start to motherhood, with Tiffanie sent to ICU and separated from her newborn for 30 hours due to a covid patient being in ICU at the same time.

Her second pregnancy, however, was completely different. Choosing a wild pregnancy with just one ultrasound at 21 weeks, Tiffanie leaned into her intuition, knowledge, and body wisdom. Determined not to repeat her first experience, she focused on prevention and balance:

• Following the Brewer’s Diet with an emergency protocol

• Using Celtic salt shots and water to regulate her blood pressure

• Staying strong and active with F45 training throughout pregnancy
  

At 42+3 weeks, Tiffanie went into spontaneous labour and birthed her baby at home in a beautiful freebirth. Her baby was born sunny side up, and with the loving support of her husband and sister-in-law Sarah by her side, Tiffanie welcomed her baby into the world on her own terms.

This episode is a powerful reminder of the strength it takes to reclaim trust in your body after trauma, and the importance of preparation, nutrition, and support when navigating birth after preeclampsia.

Enjoy this podcast episode!

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Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.