Australian VBAC Stories

Australian VBAC Stories
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Documentary
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to Australian VBAC stories. This podcast is for you, the women and parents of Australia to share your journey to vaginal birth after caesarean, and to listen to those who have forged the path before. Whether you’ve had a VBAC or planned one, supported someone through one or simply want to learn more - we hope this will be a resource that inspires, informs, and celebrates all unique experiences. This podcast is produced on Dharug and Gundungurra Country by Aimee Sing, Bronwyn Senn, Georgia Slee, and Katelyn Commerford.

  1. 1d ago

    EP51 - Rose's HBAC (breech baby, PPROM at 35 weeks, caesarean, NICU separation, birth trauma, postpartum depression, pregnancy loss, doula, homebirth, HBAC, partner support)

    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.

  2. Aug 2

    EP50 - Ange's HBAC (planned homebirth, meconium, hospital transfer, fetal distress, emergency caesarean, homebirth midwife, HBAC, homebirth after caesarean, long labour, cervical lip, family centred)

    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 @heldbyjess Intuitive massage Kayla from @thebalanceprojectau Craniosacral therapy @kirstie.smith.midwife Private 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.

  3. Jul 19

    EP49 - Emma's VBAC (PPROM, breech, uterine didelphys, emergency caesarean, student midwife, postnatal anxiety, special care, birth trauma, hospital vbac, fragmented care, fast labour)

    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.

  4. Jul 5

    EP48 - Maddi's VBAC (hospital vaginal birth, hypnobirthing, placenta previa caesarean, private midwife, planned homebirth, breech VBAC, HBAC before midwife arrival)

    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!

  5. Jun 21

    EP47 - Rena's VBAC (induction, coercion, emergency caesarean, birth trauma, postpartum sepsis, PPD, induction VBAC, private midwife, postdates)

    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.

  6. Jun 7

    EP46 - Mikaela's VBACs (medically complex, autoimmune disorders, HELPP, premature,

    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.

  7. May 24

    EP45 - Fiona's FBAC (fragmented care, MFM, OBGYN, 'high risk' pregnancy, omphalocele baby, breech, elective caesarean, NICU, trauma, doula support, wild pregnancy, freebirth, FBAC, long labour)

    In this episode, Fiona shares the story of her first birth, a pregnancy that quickly shifted from low-risk to highly medicalised following the discovery of her son’s omphalocele. What began as a planned physiological birth became a scheduled caesarean at 39 weeks, followed by a NICU stay, complications following mistakes from medical staff, delayed surgery, and a challenging introduction to motherhood. Fiona speaks candidly about navigating intensive surveillance, advocating within a tertiary hospital system, and the impact of early separation from her baby. She reflects on postpartum anxiety, the work it took to establish breastfeeding after a complex start, and the gradual rebuilding of trust in her own instincts as a mother. As she began considering another baby, Fiona found herself questioning not only specific interventions, but the structure of maternity care itself. In her second pregnancy, she chose a very different path. She declined routine scans and clinical antenatal care, enjoying a wild pregnancy, ultimately stepping well outside conventional systems of care. This is a story about autonomy and reclaiming power, the story of a woman making deeply considered decisions for herself and her family. Fiona’s journey speaks to the central theme that runs through all of our conversations here: that informed choice is critical. We invite you to listen with curiosity as Fiona shares what led her to make the decisions she did, and how those experiences shaped her understanding of birth, risk, and trust in her own body. Fiona would love to express immense gratitude for her doula, Sam @samanthagunndoula during her first pregnancy and postpartum and the incredible support she received from Kellee @earthaunty during her wild pregnancy and free birth. 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.

  8. May 11

    EP44 - Taylor's VBAC (breech, private ob, elective caesarean, covid times, recurrent losses, ectopic pregnancy, MGP, PROM, induction, distress, ventouse birth, cord avulsion, retained placenta, PPH)

    In this week’s episode, Taylor shares her journey from a breech caesarean to a VBAC that, on paper, had almost everything people fear: induction, fetal distress, instrumental birth, retained placenta, postpartum haemorrhage... And yet, her story is not one of fear or trauma. Taylor speaks about what it felt like to be informed, make decisions in real time, and hold her ground when it mattered. But also when to shift when it felt necessary. There’s a thread running through this conversation that so many women need to hear: It wasn’t the absence of intervention that made this birth feel positive. It was the presence of choice. We also talk about: – navigating pregnancy after loss and the weight that brings – the deep dive so many women go on when planning a VBAC – advocating for yourself in a system that doesn’t always expect it – how “risk” isn’t one-size-fits-all – and why knowing your options changes everything This is one of those brilliant stories that challenges the idea that a “good birth” has to look a certain way. Because sometimes, everything can go “wrong”, and still be empowering. When women's choices are respected and decisions are made by them and not for them, it can still be incredible. Taylor shares: "I have experienced two very different births that I look at positively, despite some complications. I planned for my VBAC for many years and although I was equipped with as much knowledge as possible, my baby had other ideas. A great reminder that we can only control so much when it comes to birth. I love all things pregnancy and birth and enjoy sharing birth stories with other women. I hope to empower other women with my story so that ‘intervention’ doesn’t always needs to be looked upon as negative or related to trauma. The power of informed consent cannot be understated. " 🎧 Listen now via the link in bio or wherever you get your podcasts 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.

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About

Welcome to Australian VBAC stories. This podcast is for you, the women and parents of Australia to share your journey to vaginal birth after caesarean, and to listen to those who have forged the path before. Whether you’ve had a VBAC or planned one, supported someone through one or simply want to learn more - we hope this will be a resource that inspires, informs, and celebrates all unique experiences. This podcast is produced on Dharug and Gundungurra Country by Aimee Sing, Bronwyn Senn, Georgia Slee, and Katelyn Commerford.

Information

  • Creator
    Australian VBAC Stories
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Australian VBAC Stories
  • Show Website
    Australian VBAC Stories

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