The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast Ashley Winning

In this enlightening episode, Ashley welcomes Dr. Stu, a seasoned obstetrician with 28 years of hospital experience and 13 years in home birth settings.

They discuss the significant differences in VBAC success rates between home and hospital births, the impact of special scars on VBAC, and the importance of understanding the historical context of medical practices.

Dr. Stu shares his unique perspective on the current state of obstetric care, the potential pitfalls of overly regulated birth policies, and the necessity of birth freedom.

Key Points Discussed:


VBAC Success Rates:


Home VBAC success rates are over 90%.
Hospital VBAC success rates are around 56-64%.
The difference is attributed to the model of care and the environment.


Special Scars and VBAC:


True classical C-sections have a 2-4% risk of rupture.
Other incisions like low vertical or T-incisions don’t show significant risk differences.
Risk counseling can sometimes be biased.


Historical Context in Medical Practices:


It’s important not to judge past actions by today's standards.
Learning from history is crucial to avoid repeating mistakes.
Current high C-section rates in some countries indicate a troubling trend.


Importance of Birth Freedom:


Electing officials who support birth freedom is crucial.
Women should plan ahead, find supportive teams, and prioritize positive birth experiences.
The need to challenge and rethink overly restrictive birth policies.


Dr. Stu’s Experiences and Views:


Transition from hospital to home birth settings.
Advocacy for natural and informed birth choices.
Critical views on the regulation of birth practices and the influence of big pharma on medical research.




Stay Connected with Dr Stu:


Podcast: Birthing Instincts (Available on Spotify, Apple, and other apps)
Instagram: @birthinginstincts
Website: Birthing Instincts
Consulting Services and Published Papers: Available on the website



More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here 

In this episode, we're diving into a topic that sparks a lot of conversation and varying viewpoints: Help, my husband won't let me have a homebirth/freebirth.

This topic often sparks heated discussions and diverse opinions on social media, and I want to share some insights and practical steps to help you navigate this situation.


Make sure you check out this episode to get some steps to navigate this important decision.




More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠

Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here ⁠⁠⁠

This podcast episode is for all you mamas out there nearing your due date, firstly, congratulations!

You've made it through the hard yards of pregnancy, and the big day is just around the corner.

Whether your pregnancy has been easy or challenging, it’s time to get excited as you approach this incredible milestone.

As you enter the final stages of pregnancy, it’s natural to become anxious and start looking for signs that labour is near.

However, it's important not to get too focused on inducing labour naturally, especially if you’re still early.

Every pregnancy is unique, and while some may experience early signs of labour, others might not see any signs until the very end.

Enjoy this podcast episode,



Ashley x


More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠

Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here ⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, I talked about early pushing.

It's a topic I've been eager to discuss for a while because it ties into the broader subject of posterior births. 

Posterior births are often surrounded by unnecessary fear and misconceptions, and I want to shed some light on this natural variation of childbirth.

Early pushing usually occurs in posterior births, a normal variation according to birth educators and experts like Rachel Reed.

However, there's a lot of undue concern about posterior births needing to be "fixed".

Many birth courses and practices focus on ensuring optimal baby positioning, but this can create unnecessary fear and self-doubt in women.


Enjoy this podcast episode,



Ashley x




More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠

Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here ⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, we delve into the topic of unplanned free births, also known as unassisted births, and why it's crucial to prepare for them, even if you're planning a birth with a midwife.


This episode aims to empower listeners with knowledge and confidence, ensuring they can handle any birth scenario calmly and effectively. If you have further questions or need more resources, reach out via Instagram for additional support.


Enjoy this podcast episode!



Ashley x



I’m thrilled to run a live round of my 8-week home birth group program. We will work intimately in a small group to discuss free birth and home birth, addressing fears and focusing on mindset, how birth works, and how your body works through the process. You'll build more confidence, trust, and belief in yourself, so by the end, you’ll know exactly what your plan is, who your birth team is, and how to feel calm and confident.

This program is currently available at half the price, with an early bird special at $147 AUD. If you’re in the US, that’s roughly $97 USD. If you're interested, check out my Instagram and slide into my DMs to reserve a spot. One lady has already snapped up one of the early bird spots, so don’t miss out.




More from Ashley:

⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠

Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here ⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, we meet Katelyn, a mum of two who planned a VBAC at home that ended in a c-section transfer. 



I’m sharing Katelyn’s side of the story in her own words in the show notes today. 



I had an emergency caesarean following an unwanted and unneeded postdate induction that I was coerced into. 



I felt I had no real other option. I was under the care of a private obstetrician, not because I felt that it was the kind of care that most aligned with me but because I didn't know how to otherwise get continuity of care (oh had I known then what I know now!) 



With my second, I was planning a VBAC from the moment I left the operating theatre and that quickly became a HBAC plan. I hired a private midwife and a doula and had a far, far more relaxed pregnancy and was super looking forward to my birth at home without medical interference. 



I ended up with a long labour that progressed very well to start with and then stalled about 8 hours in. 



I was supported and encouraged to do what I felt was right, and so we kept at it at home for another 12 hours (with a visit to my chiro right at the end) before I decided it was time to head to the hospital for intervention. 



I requested my waters be broken, which they did a little while after I arrived at the hospital. At about the 26-hour mark. 



I was so exhausted that I physically felt I had reached my limit I could feel that she was still high and not properly engaged and I felt if couldn't remain upright I would completely lose my hold on my contractions. 



They had been strong and constant. The first 8 hrs of labour they were 3-4 minutes apart, they'd stretched out to between 5-10 minutes through the rest of the day and once we got to the hospital, and vocalising and moving through them was all I had to keep on top of it. 



At that point, I knew I was heading down repeat caesarean territory and I made an informed decision to have an epidural, knowing that most likely I was heading to theatre but there was a small chance that it could be enough to relax me and allow my baby to descend. 



After another couple of hours with an epidural, we made the call to head to the theatre, which was disappointing but also liberating. 



To know I'd done everything I felt I needed to do, all the things I'd not had an opportunity to try the first time around (including forward leaning inversions through contractions and walchers position and everything!) and I was relatively okay feeling like it was my decision at that point. 



So yeah - not the classic homebirth story, but one I do think is important which is why I'm so open about sharing it because we do know that HBAC women generally have higher transfer rates than most homebirthers but that doesn't mean it will be a negative or traumatic experience even if it ends with another caesarean. 



Going to the hospital was my biggest fear (or so I thought, in hindsight I think I actually had other unvoiced fears hiding under the surface that kept me from progressing in labour) and it turned out to be very okay. 



I'd still plan a HBA2C in a heartbeat for my next baby if I get blessed to have a third! 







More from Ashley:

⁠The VBAC Village⁠

Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here ⁠⁠⁠