168 Breana's VBAC with a Special Scar + Preventing Preeclampsia

Breana’s first birth was not only an emergency Cesarean at 24 weeks due to severe preeclampsia, but she was also given a classical incision and told that under no circumstances would her body be able to tolerate labor in the future. The news broke Breana’s heart as she longed deeply for a natural, unmedicated birth. 

Breana researched extensively and found a community of women who also had special scars. When birthing unassisted seemed like her only option, Breana found Amish midwives who were willing to attend her birth. Her VBAC was triumphant, restorative, and wonderful in every way.

When our bodies are properly fueled and nourished, our birth outcomes are better and our babies are healthier. Breana is a perfect example.

We’ve always been told that preeclampsia has no known cause, but what if there WAS something we could do to prevent it? 

Additional links

Special Scars, Special Hope

Silent Knife: Cesarean Prevention and Vaginal Birth after Cesarean (VBAC)

My Homebirth after Preterm Classical Cesarean - Issue 47, Natural Mother Magazine

The Brewer Pregnancy Diet

Blue Ribbon Baby Pages

The VBAC Link Blog: 

Birth After Premature Cesarean

C-Section Incision Types: Learn More About Special Scars

Full transcript

Note: All transcripts are edited to correct grammar and to eliminate false starts and filler words. 

Julie: Welcome, welcome. It is Women of Strength Wednesday and you are listening to The VBAC Link podcast. This is Julie and Meagan is here with me today. We have a really neat story for you today. It’s been a while since we have had somebody on our podcast with a special scar, which is a scar that is different than the low, vertical incision or the bikini cut scar that most parents have when they get a Cesarean.

Meagan: More horizontal, you mean?

Julie: Yeah. Did I say vertical?

Meagan: Yeah.

Julie. Oh, well.

Meagan: That’s okay.

Julie: Different than the low, horizontal incision that most parents get when they have a C-section. There are lots of different types of special scars. This type that we are talking about today is a classical incision which means it’s over the top of the uterus and it goes vertical down the belly, or down the uterus rather. Sometimes it’s vertical on the belly and sometimes it’s not It just depends. But I’m really excited because Breana, our guest today, is from Pennsylvania. I’m actually just going to read her bio and what she wrote.

Before I go into that and introduce her, I want to have Meagan share a Review of the week with us.

Review of the Week

Meagan: Okay. This is from Gaby and she is on Apple Podcasts and her subject is “Hopeful for a VBAC.” She says, “I feel so lucky to have the time and space each evening (after my littlest has gone to bed) to listen to the meaningful and beautiful birth stories on The VBAC Link. I am hopeful for a VBAC in early September after having a traumatic birth story with my first child. Whatever this new story holds, I will be able to handle it better because I educated myself with this podcast. Thank you for sharing these stories with us all.”

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