We are so thrilled to bring you this episode with the wonderful Cara who shares her three very different birth experiences with us.

During her first birth, Cara had done independent birth education and felt able to say no to some things that didn't feel right to her, but found herself in a difficult situation with prelabour rupture of membranes and a slow early labour that eventually led her to being induced/augmented and put on the cascade towards an emergency caesarean.

A very difficult postpartum period followed, where her son was diagnosed 'failure to thrive' and she needed to be readmitted to hospital and have him receive formula and treatment to get him back to healthy weight. Despite this, she managed to go on to breastfeed her first son well into toddlerhood.

She knew she wanted a VBAC immediately after that first birth, and began down the rabbit hole of education. This time, she laboured spontaneously but after arriving at hospital, was allocated a midwife whose poor treatment and disrespectful care really coloured her VBAC experience, which ultimately saw the use of a vacuum to support the birth of her second son, and also eventuated in a third degree tear and a delayed postpartum haemorrhage, the symptoms for which were dismissed impatiently by the midwife until the next shift rotation came through.

By her third birth, Cara had learned so much more and this time employed a doula to support her and her husband. This birth was a redemptive and healing experience, beautifully supported by midwives in the same hospital with incredible respectful care that made the world of difference. She pushed her baby out on her own terms, and speaks to how significant this was after her prior two births.

We know you will adore the wealth of knowledge and experience that Cara shares with a gorgeous and light hearted approach to her stories, and many amusing anecdotes along the way.

Cara wishes to thank her wonderful doula, Aimee Sing of Birth Aims.

Cara's birth class: Kaia Birth

Cara's women's health physio: HerHealth

Please join us on our journey to bringing you all kinds of VBAC stories from across the country from here on in by subscribing and following us on social media, @australianvbacstories on Instagram and Australian VBAC Stories on Facebook.

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If you are feeling that you might benefit from mental health support after listening to our podcast, please reach out to one of the organisations below:

PANDA https://panda.org.au/

Gidget Foundation https://www.gidgetfoundation.org.au/

COPE Australia https://www.cope.org.au/

If you've experienced mistreatment or disrespectful care in your pregnancy, birth or postpartum and are seeking advocacy support, please contact one of the following organisations:

Maternity Choices Australia https://www.maternitychoices.org/

Maternity Consumer Network https://www.maternityconsumernetwork.org.au/

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