The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast!
EP52| Are you a highly sensitive soul? + Why is it important to know if you are!
In this episode, I am discussing what it means to be a highly sensitive soul + why it matters! In my work I find I tend to work a lot with highly sensitive souls - it makes sense, I'm a highly sensitive person, of course, other HSPs gravitate to working with me. The...
EP51| All about Special Scars
In this episode, I am discussing special scars!! What they are, how they happen, what the risks are and what that means for you if you have a special scar! If you have one you will more than likely know about it. The surgeons would usually recommend or tell you to...
EP50| Daily morning mindset ritual
In this episode, I discuss how a daily morning mindset ritual has supercharged my day and helped me move from feeling overwhelmed & exhausted to feeling energised and ready to take on the day! If you are feeling worn out, overwhelmed, out of rhythm and routine,...
EP49| Katy – Uterine Rupture vaginal birth in hospital, planned homebirth
In this episode, we meet Katy who lives in Devon, England Katy had planned a homebirth through the NHS and she had a breech baby so didn't feel comfortable birthing at home. Katy planned a breech birth in hospital. During pregnancy, Katy had an ECV that failed. She...
EP48| Creating & Visualising your dream homebirth
In this episode, we discuss how you can create and visualise your dream homebirth. This one is a goodie if you are wondering if homebirth is really a good option for you, or you're stuck in your head listening to scary stories of what could go wrong. I want to help...
EP47| 3 books I recommend for your homebirth
In this episode, I share 3 books I recommend for your homebirth, plus one little extra sneaky one I haven't yet read but know will be amazing! I'm going to share my top 3 recommended books, plus why I recommend them. I'd love to hear what your favourite books are and...
EP46| Find the right Doula for your homebirth
In this episode, we take a look at how you can find the right Doula for you to support you in your VBAC Homebirth journey. While Doula's can be an amazing support and member of your homebirth team, it's important to under why you want to have a doula at your...
EP45| Find the right Midwife for your homebirth + Interview questions
In this episode, we take a look at how you can find the right midwife for you to support you in your VBAC Homebirth journey. This question comes up quite a bit in our VBAC Homebirth Support Group and I wanted to give you some thought provoking questions to ask when...
EP44| Ben – Partner’s Story – Three Birth Stories shared by the husband and fathers perspective (Ending in epic, healing Freebirth after 3 surgical births)
In this episode, we meet Ben, a father of 4 with 3 boys and a little girl. Ben joins us after his wife Sarah shared her story on the Podcast of four births and an epic and healing freebirth after three surgical births. You can check out Sarah's story EP40| Sarah -...
EP43| How to get your partner to be more supportive in your VBAC Homebirth Pregnancy
In this episode, I discuss why it's important to have support from your partner, especially in pregnancy, how your partner can't support and shouldn't be your only support through this journey, and some strategies to get more support from your partner. You might be...
EP42| How to protect your pregnancy VBAC Homebirth bubble
In this episode, we take a deeper dive into how you can protect your pregnancy VBAC Homebirth bubble and why it's important to protect it. Here's is a snippet of what I covered in this episode. 1. Be mindful of who you share your VBAC Homebirth plans with. 2. Don’t...
EP41| Signs of Uterine Rupture
In this episode, I discuss some of the signs of uterine rupture. Uterine rupture is something that VBAC mama's worry about a lot. It is super important from a mindset perspective that you learn as much about uterine rupture and understands the risks so that you go...
EP40| Sarah – Epic, healing freebirth after 3 surgical births, long births & small gaps between births
In this episode, we meet Sarah, mother of 4 with 3 boys and a little girl. She joined us to share her amazing story just two weeks into her postpartum (and feeling absolutely amazing!) She lives in Rural, Country Victoria and grew up in a big Dutch family & very...
EP39| 10 Questions you should ask to yourself: A preparation to deciding on whether VBAC freebirth is right for you
In this episode, we explore 10 questions to help you try to work out whether a freebirth is the right option for you and your family. There are so many what-ifs and unknowns when it comes to birth. With societal pressures and cultural norms that surround us. It’s...
EP38| What is Freebirth?
In this episode, we dive deep into the word Freebirth. Have you ever wondered what a freebirth is? Maybe you know a little bit or a lot - but want to find out even more. I share my own experiences and views of the word Freebirth and how it can be used. Essentially...
EP37| 5 Ways to avoid vaginal tearing in your VBAC Homebirth
In this episode, I share my tips on how you can avoid vaginal tearing in your VBAC Homebirth I go into detail about my personal experiences and what I have found through my training and research around birth. Going into my HBA2C I was pretty worried about tearing. I...
EP36| Katherine – A Catholic healing high-risk HBAC after traumatic emergency caesarean
In this episode, we meet Katherine, mother of two girls and living in the United Kingdom. Baby Angela joins us for part of the episode, so we get to hear her cooing and playing in the background. During her first birth and after over 24 hours in active labour,...
EP35| 5 Ways you can get birth knowledge & support in your VBAC Homebirth Journey
Are you loving the VBAC homebirth stories but wishing you had a bit more birth knowledge & support behind you in your journey? If you said yes, this episode is for you! I discuss 5 ways you can get birth knowledge & support in your VBAC Homebirth Journey. 1)....
EP34| Jamie – FBA2C, third time’s a charm!
In this episode, we meet Jamie, mother of three little ones! Jamie recorded this interview just 6 weeks postpartum. Jamie had an easy-going first pregnancy. Was offered a stretch and sweep and after talking to a friend who said it wasn't painful decided just to...
EP33| Tahlia – Mother-led Pregnancy & Intuitive Freebirth
In this episode, we meet Tahlia, mother of two little ones who are less than 18 months apart. Tahlia fell pregnant just 6 1/2 months postpartum with her second baby after a surgical birth. She lives in South Coast NSW Australia. Tahlia identifies herself as part of...
EP32| Spirit Babies – the babies of the universe waiting to be born
Have you ever heard of the term "Spirit babies"? When I first heard the term I thought it was a bit woo woo - and hippy-dippy - turns out the more I learned about spirit babies, the more I knew I had a spirit baby! This episode is for anyone who is planning on a...
EP31| What supplies do you need for your VBAC Freebirth?
In this episode, I share some of the supplies I used in my freebirth - as well as talk about why they came in handy! Here is the list I typed up for notes for this episode to save you writing everything down. I got into more detail and share how to use some of the...
EP30| Guest Interview – Dr Sarah Buckley
In this episode, we meet Dr Sarah Buckley! Dr Sarah Buckley is trained as a GP with qualifications in GP obstetrics. She has been writing and lecturing to childbirth professionals and parents since 1997 and is the author of the internationally best-selling book Gentle...
EP29| Ellie – 5.75kg HBAC Rural location
In this episode, we meet Ellie who lives 2.5 hours Northwest of Dubbo, NSW on a corporate farm. As we were recording this episode Ellie has the tractors sewing the next crop on the farm which didn't help with the temperamental internet connection on the farm. But we...
EP28| Lisa – Inverted T Special Scar HBAC
In this episode, we meet Lisa who lives in America and had her second baby in the Covid Pandemic. Lisa planned for a vaginal birth with her first baby, and during labour ended up birthing her baby by a surgical birth. During the surgery, the surgeons needed to cut...
EP27| Hayley – 4.2kg Vaginal Footling Breech (planned homebirth with change of plans to hospital birth)
In this episode, we meet Hayley - mother of two and absolute birthing legend who vaginally birthed her 4.2-kilo baby, footling breech!! Whoop Whoop! Hayley expected to have a vaginal birth with her first baby and planned to birth in a birth center. She found herself...
EP26| Overcoming Money Mindset Blocks + Understanding why we should invest in ourselves in Motherhood
In this episode, I share some of the money mindset blocks that I often see with mothers. Often neglecting to value themselves due to money mindset blocks, as well as self-care blocks that are ripe in the western motherhood culture. There is a huge energy shift when we...
EP25| Ashley – Five months postpartum, breastfeeding, pelvic prolapse, working with trauma, HSP & modern cloth nappies
EP25| Ashley - Five months postpartum, breastfeeding, pelvic prolapse, working with trauma, HSP & modern cloth nappies In this episode, I share the past five months of being a mother of three, and the up's and downs of that journey! I believe in story sharing and...
EP24| Rachel – 5.2 kilo homebirth baby, midwife mother, history of PND & big babies
EP24| Rachel - 5.2 kilo homebirth baby, midwife mother, history of PND & big babies In this episode, we meet Rachel new midwife and mother of two based in New South Wales. Rachel shares her birth stories only 6 weeks postpartum of her second baby. Rachel found...
EP23| Vanessa – Accidental Homebirth born en caul
EP23| Vanessa - Accidental Homebirth born en caul In this episode, we meet Vanessa, a school teacher, mother of two based in Brisbane. Vanessa decided to trust in private health care and selected a private OBGYN who had been recommended to her. She loved having...
EP22| Breana – Powerful Homebirth with Amish midwife after classical caesarean section due to pre term birth with preeclampsia
EP22| Breana - Powerful Homebirth with Amish midwife after classical caesarean section due to pre term birth with preeclampsia In this episode, we meet Breana who had a classical caesarean section with her first baby. Breana had planned on having a vaginal birth with...
EP21| Ashley – Part 4 – A peaceful & calm postpartum
EP21| Ashley - Part 4 - A peaceful & calm postpartum - Plan yours today! In this episode, I share how I had a peaceful & calm postpartum. I planned, organised and had a peaceful & calm postpartum full of support & love while healing from pregnancy and...
EP20| Ashley – Part 3 – PPH, retained placenta & hospital healing
EP20| Ashley - Part 3 - PPH, retained placenta & hospital healing In this episode, I share details on my retained placenta & hospital healing This is the third and final part to my vaginal freebirth story! After receiving poor care during my second pregnancy...
EP19| Ashley – Part 2 – Plus Size, Freebirth after two C-Sections + Special scar
EP19| Ashley - Part 2 - Plus Size, Freebirth after two C-Sections + Special scar In this episode, I share my Freebirth after two C-Sections. The fill journey - the third conception, pregnancy & birth story/ journey. This is a pregnancy and birth I had been...
EP18| Ashley – Part 1 Two unnecessary C-Section births due to plus size discrimination & the systems failures
EP18| Ashley - Part 1 Two unnecessary C-Section births due to plus size discrimination & the systems failures In this episode, I become very raw & vulnerable & share my first two cesarean section births. And I don't hold anything back! I share all the...
EP17| Hazel Keedle – Midwife & VBAC Matters Researcher & VBAC Story
EP17| Hazel Keedle - Midwife & VBAC Matters Researcher & VBAC Story In this episode, we meet Hazel Keedle. Hazel Keedle is a midwifery researcher and lecturer at Western Sydney University and a PhD candidate. Hazel has worked in midwifery group practices, an...
EP16| Mothers’ Blessings (Blessing Ways) with Ashley
EP16| Mothers' Blessings (Blessing Ways) with Ashley In this episode, I share my recent enriching and loving experience with my first Mothers' Blessing that was held and hosted by my dear friend Sheree from Falcon Spirit Healing. Sheree wrote a beautiful post on...
EP15| Louise – Birth Centre turned C-Section, Posterior Baby & Positive Homebirth
EP15| Louise - Birth Centre turned C-Section, Posterior Baby & Positive Homebirth In this episode, we meet Louise who was educated for the birth of her first baby and really excited to birth through a Birth Centre. When Louise was pregnant she was accepted to...
EP14| Alyssa – HBAC Cascade of interventions & 6 hour peaceful waterbirth
EP14| Alyssa - HBAC Cascade of interventions & 6 hour peaceful waterbirth In this episode, we meet Alyssa Mum of two boys who is a huge VBAC advocate and supporter. Alyssa had the classic cascade of interventions with her first birth after a healthy pregnancy...
EP13| Sasha – HBA2C Big Babies & Long labours
EP13| Sasha - HBA2C Big Babies & Long labours In this episode, we meet Sasha who is a mother to three boys and lives in rural NSW. When Sasha found out she was pregnant she was living in the UK with long term partner and they decided to move back to Australia to...
EP12| Dr Rachel Reed – Instinctive & Physiological Birth
EP12| Dr Rachel Reed - Instinctive & Physiological Birth In this episode, we meet Dr Rachel Reed. Dr Rachel Reed is a Senior Lecturer and Discipline Lead in Midwifery at the University of the Sunshine Coast. She has practised midwifery in a range of models and...
EP11| Working through fear with Ashley
EP11| Working through fear with Ashley In this episode Ashley - Doula and Mother shares how you can work through fear to help you rock your VBAC Homebirth. I share some of the fears I have had in my previous pregnancies and births and the fear I have been working...
EP10| Maddie – A 20 hour active labour shower freebirth with immense healing from PTSD
EP10| Maddie - A 20 hour active labour shower freebirth with immense healing from PTSD In this episode, we meet Maddie who had a c-section with her first baby due to babies position being breech. Maddie felt as a younger mother she was not given the respect...
EP9| Emma – A two day water hind leak and FER HBAC Waterbirth
EP9| Emma - A two day water hind leak and FER HBAC Waterbirth In this episode, we meet Emma who's oldest son was born in the UK via emergency c-section at 42+1 after a failed induction. As a plus-size Mumma Emma decided to hire a private midwife for her second...
EP8| Emerald – A Planned Freebirth HBAC
EP8| Emerald - A Planned Freebirth HBAC In this episode, we meet Emerald, a mother of two who birthed her first baby in the USA by an unplanned c-section. She was planning on having a birth at a private birth centre with midwives and skipped the 20-week scan...
EP7| Melanie the Midwife – Why women choose freebirth for their VBAC
EP7| Melanie the Midwife - Why women choose freebirth for their VBAC In this episode, we meet Melanie Jackson - AKA Melanie the Midwife. Melanie has been a private midwife for 11 years and has worked as a homebirth midwife for her entire midwifery career...
EP6| Silka – A healing and calm HBA2C with placenta accreta
Silka - A healing & calm HBA2C with placenta accreta In this episode, we meet Silka, a mother of three who desperately wanted to experience a vaginal birth when she was pregnant with her first baby. After booking in with the birth centre and feeling ready...
EP5| 4 Steps to a Positive Mindset for your VBAC Homebirth with Ashley
EP5| 4 Steps to a Positive Mindset for your VBAC Homebirth with Ashley In this episode Ashley - Doula and Mother shares how you can enjoy a more positive mindset to help you rock your empowered & confident VBAC Homebirth. Step one - Feeding your body &...
EP4| April – A healing, water birth with a hands-off midwife
April - A healing, water birth with a hands-off midwife In this episode, we meet April, a mother of two. April shares her story of wanting to feel informed and supported during a private hospital birth with an Obgn to find herself feeling unsupported in many...
EP3| Aimee – 2 HBAC with supportive midwife
Aimee - 2 HBAC with a supportive midwife In this episode, we meet Aimee as she shares her story of being educated and planning a vaginal homebirth with her a trusted midwife with the first baby. After some bleeding around 36 weeks, Aimee meets with an OBGYN to...
EP2| Kamal – Unplanned, unassisted homebirth (VBAC)
Kamal - Unplanned, unassisted homebirth (VBAC) In this episode, we meet Kamal, a mother of two boys living on the Gold Coast. Kamal shares her story of wanting to have a vaginal hospital birth and finding out late in her pregnancy that baby was breech. There...
EP1| Welcome to the Podcast! Why this Podcast?
Welcome to this VBAC Homebirth Podcast! Hello & Welcome to this brand new podcast and the first episode to The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast. I invite you to join me today where I share a little bit about me - Ashley, mother of two and Doula as I share the...