EP55 - Francesca's 2HBA2Cs (IUI, private OB, emergency caesarean, private midwife, hospital birth, homebirth, HBA2C, VBAC after multiple caesareans, surrender, surprise baby, pregnancy after 40)

In this episode of Australian VBAC Stories, Francesca shares the story of all four of her births, from an unexpected caesarean, through a planned VBAC that ended in another caesarean, to two homebirth VBACs that brought very different lessons about trust, intuition and surrender.Francesca’s first birth left her grappling with questions around consent, coercion and the emotional aftermath of intervention. Her second birth was a planned VBAC, with extensive preparation and the support of a private midwife, but ultimately ended in another caesarean after a long labour and concerns about her baby’s heart rate.By her third pregnancy, Francesca was looking beyond simply preparing for a particular birth outcome. She was working through her fears, finding her voice and learning to take ownership of her decisions. That journey led her to a homebirth VBAC, an experience she describes as powerful, euphoric and completely transformative.Then came a surprise fourth pregnancy, and another homebirth VBAC. This time, Francesca’s focus was less on control and more on surrender: trusting the process, accepting that she couldn’t control every part of the journey, and allowing herself to meet her baby when the time was right.A clinical psychologist before she had children, Francesca has since shifted her work to the perinatal space, and reflects on how her births shaped her work and broadened her understanding of what really matters in birth. We talk about continuity of care, finding a care provider you can genuinely trust, psychological safety, trauma responses, the pressure to “do everything right”, and the deeper emotional work that can sit alongside birth preparation.And importantly, Francesca talks about holding space for both things: working through the fears and experiences that might be getting in the way, while still allowing yourself to dream about the birth you want.A conversation about finding your voice, trusting yourself, and discovering that preparing for birth can be about so much more than the outcome.To connect with Francesca, reach out via Core and Floor Restore with whom she subcontracts, at @coreandfloorrestore or www.coreandfloor.com.auPlease 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. If you enjoyed this episode, we’d love to rate or review, and tell your friends!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/Thank you for tuning in to our podcast.

In our latest episode, we welcome Kyra, mum to Savannah and Vera, who shares her journey from an unexpected caesarean birth to a special scar HBAC.Kyra went into her first birth expecting a straightforward vaginal birth. After going into spontaneous labour at 40+4, however, a posterior and asynclitic baby, intense back labour and a long labour that eventually involved a cascade of intervention led to an unplanned caesarean. The experience had a profound impact on Kyra. Immediately after surgery, she was also told that an extension to her uterine incision meant she would need caesareans for any future babies.When Kyra became pregnant again, she knew she wanted to understand her options. She immersed herself in VBAC research, learning about special scars, birth physiology and informed decision-making, and initially began preparing for a hospital VBAC. But as her pregnancy progressed, Kyra began questioning what she needed to feel safe and supported in birth - ultimately making a significant change to her birth plans.In this episode, Kyra shares the twists and turns of preparing for a VBAC with a special scar, including gestational diabetes, a breech baby at 34 weeks, navigating differing opinions about her choices, finding the right support team, and preparing both physically and mentally for birth. We also talk about birth trauma, self-advocacy, informed consent, continuity of care and why Kyra believes knowledge and the people surrounding her made such a difference the second time around.Kyra’s story is also a thoughtful reminder that doing all the “right” preparation cannot guarantee a particular birth outcome - and that informed, supported birth can look different for every woman.Whether you’re navigating a special scar, preparing for a VBAC or simply trying to feel more informed and confident in your birth choices, we hope you enjoy Kyra’s story.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. If you enjoyed this episode, we’d love to rate or review, and tell your friends!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/⁠Thank you for tuning in to our podcast.

In this episode of Australian VBAC Stories, Emma shares the stories of her three very different births: from a surprise first pregnancy at 23, through a difficult first birth and postpartum experience, a positive elective repeat caesarean section for her second birth, to finally the vaginal birth after two caesareans that completely changed how she saw herself and what was possible.When Emma became pregnant with her third baby, she initially assumed another caesarean was simply what happened next. But after considering a maternal assisted caesarean and finding the obstetrician who offered it was not available for her birth, she began to wonder: what other options were there? One early appointment with an obstetrician left her feeling dismissed and deeply discouraged, but Emma kept looking, eventually finding a supportive care provider and throwing herself into preparing for every possible outcome.Her third birth became the birth she had hoped for, but getting there wasn't about believing everything would go perfectly. Emma talks honestly about the fear, the preparation, the hundreds of birth stories she listened to, the role of her husband and doula, and learning to trust herself and her body. She also shares the realities of her postpartum experience, including breastfeeding struggles and having a very unsettled baby, even after an ideal birth. This is a story about how much can change when you have the right support, access to good information, and the opportunity to make your own decisions, and about discovering that you're capable of far more than you once thought.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. If you enjoyed this episode, we’d love to rate or review, and tell your friends!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/Thank you for tuning in to our podcast.

In this episode of Australian VBAC Stories, Aimee sits down with Emma, a mum of seven living on a farm two hours from Perth, to unpack her remarkable birth journeys across all seven of her children.Emma walks us through her first three vaginal births followed by her three caesareans and then her vaginal birth after 3 caesareans (VBA3C). Emma shares her experiences of birthing within the system as an older mother ('advanced maternal age'), navigating different interventions and living 2 hours from the closest birthing hospital. She talks about her first caesarean for a transverse baby and the feelings she had around this, her second caesarean which began with an induction and her third caesarean when she thought she didn't have a choice. She shares the emotional toll of feeling like her births were taken from her, the fear projected onto her by care providers, and the isolation of being separated from her family during hospital stays.But Emma's story takes a powerful turn with baby number seven. After discovering that a VBAC after three caesareans was possible, she immersed herself in positive birth stories, scripture, and the support of a virtual doula and a private midwife. Despite a dismissive doctor who laughed at her plans, Emma went on to birth her daughter, her second girl, naturally on her due date, in just over an hour at the hospital.Emma's story is one of faith over fear, trusting your intuition, and the ripple effect that an empowering birth can have on every area of your life. Whether you're planning your first VBAC or your fourth, this episode is a reminder that your voice matters in your birth space.

In today's episode, we welcome Rose, whose journey through birth and motherhood has taken her from an unexpected caesarean and traumatic separation from her first baby to a deeply empowering homebirth after caesarean.This conversation actually began as an interview for The Motherwhelm podcast, where Rose and Bronwyn sat down to talk about her broader experience of motherhood. But as our conversation unfolded and I heard her birth stories, I knew there was so much here that the Australian VBAC Stories community would connect with and gain insight from too. With Rose's permission, we're sharing this part of her story with you here.Rose's first pregnancy took an unexpected turn when her waters broke at 35 weeks with her baby persistently breech. After labouring overnight and an unsuccessful attempt to turn her baby, Rose ultimately made the decision to have a caesarean. While she felt at peace with the caesarean itself, what happened around her birth - particularly feeling unheard during her care and being separated from her baby for around four hours after birth - had a profound impact on her.In the months that followed, Rose struggled with birth trauma, postpartum depression and a devastating sense of disconnection from her baby. With support from Gidget House and a psychologist specialising in attachment and bonding, she began rebuilding trust in herself, her intuition and her identity as a mother.Rose later experienced a missed miscarriage followed by weeks of haemorrhaging and repeated hospital presentations, an experience that left another layer of trauma to work through before becoming pregnant again.Rose knew from the beginning that she wanted to pursue a VBAC for her next birth. She chose a private homebirth midwife and doula and spent her pregnancy preparing both physically and emotionally, working on positioning, connection with her baby, meditation, visualisation and, importantly, preparing her partner to support and advocate for her.For Rose, the difference between her two births extended far beyond achieving a VBAC. After feeling that her confidence and intuition had been stripped away during her first experience, her HBAC gave her a profound sense of trust in herself as both a birthing woman and a mother. Whether you're preparing for a VBAC or HBAC, processing a difficult birth or pregnancy loss, or thinking about how to build a birth team that makes you feel safe and supported, Rose's story is a powerful reminder that birth preparation isn't simply about achieving a particular outcome - it's also about building trust, support and confidence in yourself.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. If you enjoyed this episode, we’d love to rate or review, and tell your friends!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/⁠Thank you for tuning in to our podcast.

In today's episode, we welcome Ange who, as a homebirth midwife, had dreamed of birthing at home since she was a 21-year-old midwifery student. Ten years later, that dream was finally within reach, until she experienced unexpected transfer and emergency caesarean for fetal distress.In this deeply moving episode, Ange shares how her first birth challenged not only her expectations but also her identity as a midwife. Although she knew her caesarean was necessary, the grief, triggers and disconnect from her body that followed led her on a profound healing journey.Working in home birth and private practice during her second pregnancy, Ange was surrounded by physiological birth while doing the personal work needed to prepare for her own. Through birth debriefing, psychology, somatic therapies and deep self-reflection, she found peace with her first birth and built trust in herself, without placing the weight of healing solely on her next birth.Ange takes us through her remarkable HBAC, a long and unpredictable labour that tested her patience, resilience and instincts. Supported by a trusted birth team and grounded in the work she'd done before labour began, she welcomed her son at home in an experience that was empowering not because it was easy, but because she felt deeply supported every step of the way.Together, we explore how birth experiences shape us, the importance of processing difficult births, and why birthplace, continuity of care and a supportive birth team matter so much.Whether you're planning a VBAC, recovering from a difficult birth, or simply passionate about evidence-based, woman-centred maternity care, Ange's story is a beautiful reminder that while we can't always control how birth unfolds, we can be profoundly changed by how we're cared for through it.You can find Ange at @hermidwife on Instagram. Ange also wishes to thank the following practitioners and professionals who helped her on her journey:Acuneedling @heldbyjessIntuitive massage Kayla from @thebalanceprojectauCraniosacral therapy @kirstie.smith.midwifePrivate midwives @soulmidwifesydney @kirstie.smith.midwife Birth photographers @annatodd_photography @intemporelle_x 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. If you enjoyed this episode, we’d love to rate or review, and tell your friends!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/Thank you for tuning in to our podcast.

In this episode, we hear from Emma, whose first birth began unexpectedly when her waters broke at just 35 weeks. Living with a rare uterine anomaly (uterus didelphys), a breech baby, and gestational diabetes, she found herself navigating a rapidly unfolding labour alongside a healthcare team that left her feeling unheard at one of the most vulnerable moments of her life.Despite repeatedly asking questions and trying to understand her options, Emma's concerns were dismissed as her labour intensified. What followed was an emergency caesarean under general anaesthetic after her baby's foot prolapsed, and the beginning of a difficult postpartum journey with a premature baby in special care.When Emma became pregnant again, she knew she couldn't simply move forward without first processing what had happened. Supported by the student midwife who had stood beside her during her first birth (then a fully qualified midwife) she slowly rebuilt her confidence, worked through the anxiety of another pregnancy, and prepared for a hospital VBAC.Emma shares the impact of feeling dismissed during labour, the importance of compassionate continuity of care, living with a double uterus, navigating pregnancy after birth trauma, and the journey towards trusting herself again.This is a powerful conversation about advocacy, healing, and discovering that a difficult first birth doesn't have to define every birth that follows.We hope you enjoy it!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. If you enjoyed this episode, we’d love to rate or review, and tell your friends!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/Thank you for tuning in to our podcast.

In this episode we hear from Maddi who shares her incredible journey through three very different births and the lessons she learned along the way.After a positive first birth in hospital where Maddi used hypnobirthing and had a vaginal birth, she planned a homebirth with a privately practising midwife for her second. Her pregnancy took an unexpected turn when Maddi was diagnosed with placenta previa leading to a caesarean birth, though Maddi shares her experiences of waiting for her son to choose his own birth day. For her third birth she again planned a homebirth with a privately practising midwife, spent time educating herself and rebuilding confidence in her body's ability to birth.What followed was an unforgettable VBAC journey filled with intuition, trust, advocacy, and a few unexpected twists. Maddi reflects on navigating the stigma surrounding VBAC, the importance of evidence-based support, and how continuity of care helped her make informed decisions throughout pregnancy and birth.This conversation is a powerful reminder that every birth story is unique, that informed choice matters, and that trusting yourself can be one of the most valuable tools in pregnancy, birth, and motherhood.We hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

In this episode of Australian VBAC Stories, we are joined by Rena, a mother of two from East Gippsland, Victoria.After a traumatic induction, emergency caesarean birth, severe postpartum infection, and postnatal depression with her first daughter, Rena knew she wanted a different experience for her next birth.In this episode, she shares her journey towards a planned VBAC, including years of research, choosing continuity of care with a private midwife, navigating hospital policies, and learning how to advocate for herself when faced with resistance during labour.Rena's story is one of resilience, determination, and discovering the power of her own voice. Her VBAC wasn't just a different birth experience, it was a transformative experience that left her feeling stronger, more confident, and deeply trusting of herself.Rena lives in East Gippsland with her husband Kyle and their daughters, Vana and Freya, where they are building an off-grid home and creating a simple, grounded life together.A special thank you from Rena to her midwife Megan from The Village Way Gippsland, whose calm presence, knowledge, and trust in birth helped her feel truly seen, heard, and supported throughout her journey. And to her husband Kyle, whose unwavering support and belief in her never faltered.Rena hopes that by sharing her story, other women planning a VBAC feel empowered to trust themselves, ask questions, and advocate for the birth experience they deserve.

In this episode, we hear from Mikaela - a wife, mother to three girls, Christian birth doula and childbirth educator in QLD - as shares the story of her three very different births: from a traumatic emergency caesarean at 32 weeks after developing HELLP syndrome, preeclampsia and cholestasis, through to two hard-won VBACs in the years that followed.She speaks candidly about birth trauma, PTSD, NICU and special care experiences, navigating high-risk pregnancies with multiple autoimmune conditions, and the long process of rebuilding trust in herself and her body after her first birth. Along the way, we explore the realities of advocating for yourself within the system, the impact of hospitalisation and separation from your baby, and how knowledge, support and understanding physiological birth changed the way Michaela approached her later pregnancies and births.This conversation also touches on obstetric violence, induction after caesarean, premature rupture of membranes, special care policies, breastfeeding through medical complexity, and the emotional weight of mothering while navigating serious health challenges. Despite everything her body endured, Michaela’s story is ultimately one of persistence, deep self-advocacy, and finding her own way through birth and motherhood on her terms.We hope you enjoy this story as much as we did hearing it!You can find Mikaela at @birth_by_design 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. If you enjoyed this episode, we’d love to rate or review, and tell your friends!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/Thank you for tuning in to our podcast.