In this episode of The Birth Village Podcast, Morgan sits down with mom of three, Kayla Cannon, to walk through her powerful journey to a VBAC after two C-sections (VBA2C). Kayla shares how preeclampsia, an undiagnosed kidney disease, and high-risk pregnancies shaped her first two births, and why she became so determined to experience a vaginal birth the third time around. This conversation is raw, honest, and full of the little details that so many women will recognize from their own stories. You’ll hear how Kayla went from feeling uneducated and swept along by the “cascade of interventions” in her earlier births to feeling informed, supported, and truly heard as she prepared for a VBA2C. She talks about the emotional whiplash of changing providers mid-pregnancy, advocating for a gentler induction, navigating a complicated relationship with her care team, and leaning hard on her doula and chiropractor for both physical relief and emotional courage. Kayla doesn’t shy away from the hard parts—especially her difficult tear and long postpartum healing—but she also shares the deep joy of finally pushing her baby out herself and how that experience changed how she sees her own strength. We dive into: Kayla’s first birth at 37 weeks with preeclampsia, an induction that escalated to an emergency C-section, and the fear and trauma of her first ever surgery. Her second pregnancy and repeat C-section: why she felt pressured into an early epidural and surgery, how anxiety and a lack of education played into her decisions, and what made that recovery surprisingly smoother. What shifted in her third pregnancy: lifting weights, taking her health seriously, listening to VBAC stories, and becoming passionate about having a VBA2C—even in the context of kidney disease and high-risk care. Risking out of home birth care at 25 weeks, transferring to a local OB practice, and the emotional rollercoaster of clashing with providers while still needing their help to safely induce. How she found her doula Eli and chiropractor Dr. Walter Staley through The Birth Village, and why those two supports felt absolutely essential to her confidence, coping, and baby’s positioning. The details of her slow, low-dose Pitocin induction, laboring in the tub, finally asking for an epidural, and the relief and shock of hearing she was complete at 10 centimeters. Pushing on her back, catching her own baby, and the intense contrast between the beauty of her VBAC birth and the reality of a significant internal tear and long, painful postpartum healing. The honest truth about recovery: comparing C-section vs. VBAC healing in her body, what she wishes she might have tried differently, and how long it really took to feel like herself again. Kayla’s heartfelt advice for VBAC hopefuls: educate yourself, confront the fear of uterine rupture with facts, advocate fiercely for your preferences, and surround yourself with a team who believes in you. Why she says hiring a doula was “worth every penny,” how chiropractic care supported both pain relief and baby’s position, and why she would still recommend VBAC—if it’s what you truly want. Kayla’s story is a reminder that birth is both beautiful and brutally honest—and that having the right support, information, and community can change everything. It’s also a testament to how much it means when another woman says, “I did this, and you can too.” CHECK OUT THE VILLAGE: https://thebirthvillage.org/ Follow us on Instagram: @thebirthvillagepodcast @thebirthvillage_ @embro_wellness Join the new Facebook group to connect with other women, ask questions, and get real recommendations from the community, as well as from trusted providers in The Village network. FACEBOOK GROUP Special thanks to Jives for our music and Hailey Gafa Art for our beautiful album cover.
