Episodes

  • Introduction

    Introduction
    Feb 21 2020
    Meet your hosts and find out what inspired us to create VBAC Birth Stories. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram @vbacbirthstories
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    7 mins
  • 1 | Steph’s unmedicated VBAC following induction and emergency caesarean; Public Hospital, Hypnobirthing

    1 | Steph’s unmedicated VBAC following induction and emergency caesarean; Public Hospital, Hypnobirthing
    Feb 21 2020
    In this episode we hear from our host Steph, whose first birth began as spontaneous labour with her waters breaking on her due date. Twelve hours after her contractions first began she was briefed at the hospital and told induction was recommended as the risk of infection to the baby was too great. After being in active labour for over 8 hours and reaching full dilation on only gas she was told if her baby was not delivered soon she would need to be taken for an emergency caesarean. She was physically exhausted, angry and completely deflated - but this was just the beginning of what would end up being a traumatic first birth experience for both her and her husband including a stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Listen to how in just over two years she went on to have a successful unmedicated VBAC by using a combination of hypnobirthing methodologies to overcome her previous trauma, including a pregnancy loss in between her births. Steph is passionate about advocating for women to feel control of their birth process, no matter what the outcome. **VBAC Birth Stories features women's lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns at all during your pregnancy please always consult your healthcare provider. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram @vbacbirthstories
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    54 mins
  • 2 | Mel’s unmedicated VBAC following elective caesarean for breech; Gestational Diabetes, Doula, Caseload Midwifery, Public Hospital

    2 | Mel’s unmedicated VBAC following elective caesarean for breech; Gestational Diabetes, Doula, Caseload Midwifery, Public Hospital
    Feb 21 2020
    In this episode we hear from our host Mel, whose first birth was an elective caesarean due to breech positioning. Although this was elective Mel had wished for the experience of a natural birth and labour. She went on to have a successful unmedicated VBAC with her second baby two and a half years later. In her second pregnancy Mel was told she had gestational diabetes. Listen to how Mel gave herself the best chance of having a vaginal birth and experiencing a positive VBAC. Mel is passionate about birthing and encouraging women to empower themselves to achieve a positive pregnancy and birth experience. ~ Notes ~ australiandoulacollege.com.au **VBAC Birth Stories features women's lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns at all during your pregnancy please always consult your healthcare provider. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram @vbacbirthstories
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    44 mins
  • 3 | Erin’s homebirth after two emergency caesareans; posterior babies, meconium in waters, Private Midwife, Doula, Public Hospital

    3 | Erin’s homebirth after two emergency caesareans; posterior babies, meconium in waters, Private Midwife, Doula, Public Hospital
    Feb 21 2020
    In this episode we meet Erin, whose fifth pregnancy was a triumphant homebirth following two caesareans and two previous losses, one of these a stillbirth at 20 weeks. Erin's birth with her eldest daughter was a planned public hospital birth, which ended in a traumatic emergency caesarean. For her following pregnancy she hired a private midwife intent on having a homebirth but was transferred to hospital after meconium was found in her waters. Immediately after experiencing her second caesarean she thought she would elect to have a third if she were to have another baby, however, by the time she fell pregnant with her youngest child, she had a change of heart. Listen to how Erin's story unfolds as she finally experiences the physiological birth at home she longed for and how her own VBAC journey inspired her career as an accomplished doula and student midwife. She has a wealth of knowledge in the birth space which she so generously shares with us in her interview. ~ Notes ~ Erin's webpage: https://www.facebook.com/birchtreebirth/ **VBAC Birth Stories features women's lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns at all during your pregnancy please always consult your healthcare provider. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram @vbacbirthstories
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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • 4 | Kate’s 2 drug-free VBACs following emergency caesarean under general anaesthetic; IVF, waterbirth, Private Midwife, Public Hospital, Private OB, C...

    4 | Kate’s 2 drug-free VBACs following emergency caesarean under general anaesthetic; IVF, waterbirth, Private Midwife, Public Hospital, Private OB, C...
    Mar 4 2020
    In this episode we meet Kate who had an emergency caesarean under general anaesthetic with her eldest daughter Elsie, and has since gone on to have two VBACs; one with Florence and another with George. The journey to conceive Florence wasn’t an easy one, it took 6 years and with the aid of IVF. During her pregnancy with Florence she was very undecided as to whether to pursue a VBAC or have a repeat caesarean. It was only at 36 weeks pregnant through a chance meeting and session with a chiropractor that she became aware of independent midwives and decided to meet with one. Listen to how at 36 weeks the pendulum began to swing towards VBAC for Kate and how Florence’s birth unfolds, and how she went on to have a water birth with her miracle baby George only 17 months after. **VBAC Birth Stories features women's lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns at all during your pregnancy please always consult your healthcare provider. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @vbacbirthstories
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    47 mins
  • 5 | Andrea’s waterbirth VBAC following an elective caesarean due to Gastroschisis; Public Hospital, NICU, Hyperemesis Gravidarum, Calmbirth

    5 | Andrea’s waterbirth VBAC following an elective caesarean due to Gastroschisis; Public Hospital, NICU, Hyperemesis Gravidarum, Calmbirth
    Mar 18 2020
    In this episode we speak with Andrea who had a planned caesarean with her eldest child due to a condition called Gastroschisis, where her baby's intestines were growing externally while in utero. Successful lifesaving surgery was performed on her newborn immediately following her caesarean. The neonatal intensive care unit became like a second home following the birth as their hospital stay got extended to three and a half months due to her baby developing a golden staphylococcus infection. Six years later Andrea returned to a public hospital setting armed with knowledge and research determined to have an unmedicated water birth. Andrea suffered from Hyperemesis Gravidarum in both of her pregnancies. Listen to how Andrea prepared for the birth she sought to achieve despite facing some resistance from the hospital, which had a policy of no water births for VBAC. ~ Notes ~ NICE - National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (UK)1.19 Previous caesarean section recommendations: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng121/chapter/Recommendations#previous-caesarean-section **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. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram @vbacbirthstories
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    46 mins
  • 6 | Katelyn’s drug-free VBAC with a special shaped uterus following induction and emergency caesarean; Uterus Didelphys, Private Hospital, NICU, Hypno...

    6 | Katelyn’s drug-free VBAC with a special shaped uterus following induction and emergency caesarean; Uterus Didelphys, Private Hospital, NICU, Hypno...
    Apr 1 2020
    In this episode we speak with Katelyn. Katelyn has Uterus Didelphys, which is unique as her uterus has two separate regions where the foetus can grow, meaning two uteri or two wombs with two cervices. Her first baby grew on one side and her second baby grew on the other. During her first pregnancy her private obstetrician advised her to keep her hopes for a natural birth low, despite this Katelyn laboured to 8cm following an induction before being led to an emergency caesarean. In her second pregnancy Katelyn prematurely went into labour at 33 weeks, experiencing a swift drug free natural birth. Listen to this episode to hear Katelyn’s raw and honest storytelling of her two different births. She also shares with us her learnings from her experiences in the neonatal intensive care unit in the public hospital, next door to the private one she was booked into. **VBAC Birth Stories features women’s lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns at all during your pregnancy please always consult your healthcare provider. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram @vbacbirthstories
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    54 mins
  • 7 | VBAC Matters - A conversation with VBAC researcher Hazel Keedle

    7 | VBAC Matters - A conversation with VBAC researcher Hazel Keedle
    Apr 10 2020
    In this bonus episode we speak with Hazel Keedle who is a lecturer at Western Sydney University, PhD Candidate, and midwifery researcher who focuses on women’s experiences of vaginal birth after caesarean. Hazel’s passion for VBAC stemmed from her own personal experience of having a VBAC only 14 months after her caesarean section. She has worked in all midwifery models of care including Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) and as a privately practicing midwife, and now as an academic she spends most of her time producing VBAC research. She undertook a Masters Honours thesis on why women have a VBAC at home, sparking her journey to her PhD looking at women’s experiences of planning a VBAC in Australia. She shares insightful findings from her research with us in this interview, which makes for important listening not only for those who are considering VBAC but health care providers too. Topics discussed:
    • How to increase your chances of having a VBAC and feelings of positivity about your birth experience regardless of the outcome
    • Control in birth during current Covid-19 pandemic
    • Ways to heal birth trauma
    • Language and attitudes in birth and their effects
    • Is there such thing as a good candidate for VBAC?
    • Understanding risks associated with VBAC and repeat caesarean
    • What Australia can learn from countries with higher VBAC rates
    ~ Notes ~ Hazel’s VBAC researcher Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/VBACmatters/ Book reference:Birthing Outside the System - The Canary in the Coal Mine Publications Hazel has worked on:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Keedle%20H%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=26337330 **VBAC Birth Stories is a podcast where we share women’s lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns at all during your pregnancy please always consult your healthcare provider. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram @vbacbirthstories
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    1 hr and 9 mins