The VBAC Link

Lily Wyn & Paige Lloyd
  • 4.9 (496)
  • Parenting
  • Updated Weekly

Here at The VBAC Link, our mission is to make birth after cesarean better by providing education, support, and a community of like-minded people. Welcome to our circle, we are so glad you are here!

  1. 1d ago

    466 LIVE VBAC Q&A | Paige & Lily + TVL Co-Founders Meagan & Julie

    For the first time EVER, all four of The VBAC Link hosts are together in one episode! Founders and original pod hosts Julie Francom and Meagan Heaton join current hosts Lily Wyn and Paige Lloyd to answer your live VBAC questions. With more than 15 years of combined doula experience and hundreds of births attended, this episode is jam-packed with wisdom, evidence-based birthy tips, and so much love for our listeners who have been with us all of these years.   Topics include: How to decide between a VBAC and repeat cesareanPreventing PROM and chorioamnionitis 39-week induction recommendation early in pregnancyEngaging baby's head before laborHow to trust your intuition Coping with fearTips on practical birth prep Tiny Blessings Doula Services Julie Francom Birth Stories Love Wyns Doula Services  The Birth Narrative Doula Services The Ultimate VBAC Prep Course for Parents Online VBAC Doula Training Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    466 LIVE VBAC Q&A | Paige & Lily + TVL Co-Founders Meagan & Julie

  2. Jul 15

    465 Nurse Practitioner’s Precipitous Birth Center VBAC | Alex

    Today we sit down with Alex, a nurse practitioner and mama of two, who shares her journey from a scheduled breech cesarean to a fast, spontaneous VBAC at a birth center. After two unsuccessful ECV attempts, Alex planned for a cesarean with her first baby. Along the way, she also experienced the heartbreak of miscarriage before welcoming her daughter. Alex opens up about navigating conflicting medical opinions (including being told by an MFM that her baby would die– not okay!!) and how her and her medical doctor husband’s views on out-of-hospital birth evolved over time.  Alex also shares why practicing for labor could only take her so far before surrender became the greatest lesson, the importance of surrounding yourself with more than just a supportive provider, and how having an encouraging birth team made all the difference. Alex especially talks about how her VBAC-certified doula was an invaluable part of that team.  We also discuss some of the evidence behind using ultrasounds to measure scar thickness as a predictor of a VBAC outcome or uterine rupture, and why ACOG does NOT recommend it. The Ultimate VBAC Prep Course for Parents Online VBAC Doula Training Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    465 Nurse Practitioner’s Precipitous Birth Center VBAC | Alex

  3. Jul 8

    464 LONG Pregnancies + LONG Labors | Lily & Paige

    Today’s episode is a deep dive with just Paige and Lily all about LONG pregnancies and LONG labors. Are due dates expiration dates? Is it okay to go past 41 weeks with VBAC? How do you stay sane and steady when you are more than readyyyy for labor to start?  And when it does and things take much, much longer than you hoped, (you’re in good company because Lily knows all about this with her 66-hour VBAC) we’ve got you. How do you overcome a labor stall? How to reset on the morning of another full day of labor? When is it time to reassess?  Lily and Paige share a peek into their doula brains with lots of tips, research, and stories as two gals who love birth and want you to know that you are stronger than you ever thought. 🙌 2013 PubMed Study - Length of Pregnancies 2001 PubMed Article - Estimating the Normal Duration of Human Pregnancies The Honey Jar Honey Sticks Summer Fridays Face Mist 20 Questions to Ask a Doula The Ultimate VBAC Prep Course for Parents Online VBAC Doula Training Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    464 LONG Pregnancies + LONG Labors | Lily & Paige

  4. Jul 1

    463 L&D Nurse's VBAC Story | Casey

    Casey is a L&D nurse who had both of her babies at the same hospital where she works. Her first birth was an unexpected C-section, but thankfully not traumatic.. Casey brings up how working as a nurse can sometimes make birth harder from seeing the tough stuff, but how that can also actually be really helpful when things don’t go to plan too.  Casey knew she wanted a VBAC, but she didn’t expect anger to show up the way it did during her pregnancy. She fielded a lot of insensitive comments at work but was able to tune out the noise and tune in to her spirituality and faith to keep her grounded.  She was supposed to work L&D the night her baby was born! But instead of helping other moms welcome their babies, her nurse friends were there cheering for her. Casey’s surprise gender VBAC was sweet, sacred, and empowering!  We know you'll love Casey's beautiful personality as much as we do. Needed Website: Code TVL for 20% Off The Ultimate VBAC Prep Course for Parents Online VBAC Doula Training Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    463 L&D Nurse's VBAC Story | Casey

  5. Jun 24

    462 Induced VBAC with Dilapan Rods & 10lb Baby | Willa

    Willa joins the pod from San Francisco, CA to share her journey from a 41+5 spontaneous 30-hour labor with OP positioning and a cesarean with her 9lb, 6oz first baby to a VBAC with her 10lb, 3oz second baby. She talks about switching providers, using Dilapan rods for cervical ripening, being induced at 41 weeks, and navigating another OP baby.  Willa shares the lessons she learned about preparing emotionally for birth, the nuances of birth language, trusting that each birth can be different, and surrounding yourself with people who will be your biggest VBAC champions. And stay until the end to hear the most beautiful poem about her VBAC journey! How Dilapan-S Rods Work EBB Birth: Pros and Cons of Foley and Dilapan-S® for Induction The Ultimate VBAC Prep Course for Parents Online VBAC Doula Training Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    462 Induced VBAC with Dilapan Rods & 10lb Baby | Willa

  6. Jun 17

    461 VBA2C After HELLP Syndrome + Scar Extension | Yazmine

    After an emergency cesarean at 29 weeks due to HELLP syndrome with an ICU stay for herself and a 2-month NICU stay for her baby, Yazmine was told she would never have a vaginal birth. She was also given mixed information about the type of uterine scar that she had. But with lots of diet changes and medication, Yazmine didn’t have preeclampsia or HELLP the second time around. She chose a repeat cesarean following her doctor’s strong recommendation.  During her third pregnancy, Yazmine educated herself on VBA2C, found a supportive provider through another TVL mama on the podcast, and continued with the same lifestyle changes as before. She had PROM at 38+6, labored for 40 hours with a Foley bulb, Pitocin, and got an epidural before having her beautiful VBA2C at 39+1. Yazmine had no tearing and the amazing recovery she was hoping for!  Needed Website: Code TVL for 20% Off The Ultimate VBAC Prep Course for Parents Online VBAC Doula Training Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    461 VBA2C After HELLP Syndrome + Scar Extension | Yazmine

  7. Jun 10

    460 Type 1 Diabetes VBAC + Shoulder Dystocia | Alexis

    Alexis is a Type 1 diabetic mom of three boys from Nevada. Her first birth was a 37-week induction due to her diabetes that ended in a vaginal delivery. For her second birth, Alexis was told she needed a cesarean because her baby was expected to be "massive," but after birth, he was perfectly average-sized. In the OR, her providers admitted their prediction was wrong, and Alexis was devastated. Alexis was determined more than ever to educate herself and advocate hard for her next birth. During her third pregnancy, Alexis navigated polyhydramnios, multiple provider changes, and concerns about possible fetal heart abnormalities that ultimately turned out to be no issue after birth. But even with these challenges, still advocated and achieved her unmedicated VBAC. Her labor ended with a shoulder dystocia with her baby having a broken arm, but with a smooth recovery. Alexis shares how TVL, research, informed decision-making, educating her support team, and using the B.R.A.I.N. acronym helped her throughout her pregnancy and birth journey. Note from Alexis: “There was never a real explanation as to why they suspected he had ARSA, the increased velocity, or the small hole in utero. And as a tip for anyone in labor, honey is considered a clear liquid, and the cheap honey bears at Walmart are great during labor! I took swigs off of it during labor for energy and to keep my blood sugar up. The midwife came to check on me at one point mid-swig and said that was the first time she had seen that in her 25 years. I couldn’t find honey sticks locally for a reasonable price, but I could find local honey bears.” Keywords: VBAC, Type 1 diabetes, juvenile diabetes, induction, 37-week induction, scheduled cesarean, suspected macrosomia, big baby, polyhydramnios, unmedicated VBAC, shoulder dystocia, broken humerus, birth injury, fetal heart concerns, ARSA, informed consent, B.R.A.I.N., VBAC prep Natural Birth for Type 1 Diabetics Facebook Group T1D Pregnancy Course  Needed Website: Code TVL for 20% Off The Ultimate VBAC Prep Course for Parents Online VBAC Doula Training Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    460 Type 1 Diabetes VBAC + Shoulder Dystocia | Alexis

  8. Jun 3

    Episode 459 Allison's (PT, DPT) Induced VBAC + Epidural + Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

    Allison Parker is a pelvic floor physical therapist and mom of two from South Carolina, joining us today to share her journey to an induced VBAC after a cesarean for breech presentation. She talks about navigating a failed ECV, postpartum hemorrhage, postpartum preeclampsia, and her tough second pregnancy which ultimately led to an induction at 37 weeks due to preeclampsia. Allison tells us what helped her feel prepared, including finding a supportive provider, hiring a doula, hearing other women’s stories on The VBAC Link (!), and learning to pivot when things had to change. As both a VBAC mom and pelvic floor PT, Allison also shares practical advice for preparing for birth and recovering postpartum. We discuss perineal massage, C-section scar massage, open glottis pushing vs. when to use closed glottis pushing, pelvic floor recovery, healing after a 3rd degree tear, and why the mental and emotional preparation are just as important as the physical.  Keywords: VBAC, induced VBAC, breech, ECV, preeclampsia, postpartum preeclampsia, postpartum hemorrhage, pelvic floor physical therapy, 3rd degree tear, pelvic floor recovery, vaginal recovery, C-section recovery, scar massage, perineal massage, epidural VBAC, supportive provider, doula Rome Physical Therapy Needed Website: Code TVL for 20% Off The Ultimate VBAC Prep Course for Parents Online VBAC Doula Training Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Episode 459 Allison's (PT, DPT) Induced VBAC + Epidural + Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
See All (472)

4.9
out of 5
496 Ratings

About

Here at The VBAC Link, our mission is to make birth after cesarean better by providing education, support, and a community of like-minded people. Welcome to our circle, we are so glad you are here!

Information

  • Creator
    Lily Wyn & Paige Lloyd
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    472
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2021 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The VBAC Link

You Might Also Like