The VBAC Link

Latest Episodes:

111 Brooke's VBAC + Switching Providers Feb 12, 2020

Show notes

Brooke thought she was all set up in her VBAC attempt with her second baby- a supportive provider, excellent progress reports through the weeks, trusty midwife at her side, husband cheering her on every step of the way.

Then, her provider went Brutus on her and stabbed her in the back (figuratively, not literally), leaving her with few options with only a handful of weeks before her due date.

Then things got worse. Her initial consultation with her new provider went less than promisingly when that provider's first statement was "If you want to have a VBAC, don't come to this hospital."

The only potentially good thing to come from that meeting was a recommendation of another hospital that would likely give her a shot at a VBAC.

Did that work out for her and her baby? Listen and find out.

Find out more about how to find a supportive provider at https://www.thevbaclink.com/post/vbac-provider

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110 Kara's VBA2C + Mental and Physical Prep Feb 05, 2020

Show notes

Kara’s first baby was a C-section, with additional physical trauma and an extended hospital stay. Her second baby was an attempted VBAC, but this one, too, was a C-section; although this time, it was much less stressful for Kara, and she had an overall better experience.

With her third baby, Kara was more determined than ever to deliver vaginally. It helped immensely that her provider was 100% one her side and supportive from the get-go.

However, as she approached the finish line, signs were pointing to another C-section. Even with Pitocin, she wasn’t progressing and or dilated at all, and wasn’t really contracting; However, her provider had a couple of clever techniques up her sleeve.

Would those techniques finally provide the means for Kara to achieve her VBAC? Listen and find out.

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109 Things You Never Knew you Needed to Know About Birth with Julie & Meagan Feb 05, 2020

Show notes

In this special episode, we talk about some of the things that parents (first-timers, second-timers, tenth-timers, etc.) will need to know and also bring to light some unexpected things that many parents simply have no idea might come into play in their birth journey. Sometimes these things happen without the parents the wiser!

Look at it like this: some parents in the past have learned these lessons the hard way or have had these things jump out at them unexpectedly, and we want to share these lessons with you. We want you to be as informed and as prepared as possible.

Find out even more in our How to VBAC Prep Course to Parents at thevbaclink.com/courses.

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108 Tracy's VBAC + Finding Your Support Jan 29, 2020

Show notes

Towards the end of her first pregnancy, Tracy’s baby was measuring very small. That specifically wasn’t the thing that led to the C-section, but that C-section was very unpleasant for Tracy. A difficult recovery and postpartum depression compounded her struggles in the weeks after the birth.

With her second pregnancy, she ran into similar circumstances as her first, which initially put a damper on her spirits. But this time, she was resolute and more informed than before and knew when to put her foot down.

Find out all about VBAC at thevbaclink.com/blog.

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107 Tatiana's VBA2C + Safely Avoiding Cesareans Jan 22, 2020

Show notes

In her first pregnancy, Tatiana was very young. Her provider used some scare tactics, but Tatiana didn’t think to not trust them 100%, and the baby was delivered via C-section. Tatiana wasn’t happy about it.

Second pregnancy: Tatiana was much more prepared and educated this time. She wasn’t happy with any of the providers in her area, so she planned on a home birth VBAC (HBAC). Most of the pregnancy went smoothly and according to plan, but that last, most important part is where things got a little bit complicated. Tatiana had to go with plan B and ended up at the hospital. Although still trying for a VBAC at that point, this one, too, ended in a C-section.

Third time’s a charm? Even though the nearest VBAC-supportive provider was two hours away, Tatiana made that drive for every appointment. Prodromal labor was the new twist with this pregnancy, and towards the end, crazy complications arose and the VBA2C plan was on thin ice, only getting thinner every day. How did it turn out? Press play and find out (hint: the word 'euphoric' is used more than once).

Check out our blog, The Four Main Reasons for Cesarean, and How to Avoid Them for more info.

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106 Rachel's VBAC + Unexpected Unassisted Home Birth Jan 15, 2020

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Rachel’s C-section with her first left her feeling defeated and overwhelmed. Therapy helped her through the months following the birth, but when she got pregnant a second time, she feared the same thing would happen. She studied hard about her options and decided to TOLAC (trial of labor after Cesarean).

You know what they say about best-laid plans? Well, Rachel did achieve her VBAC, but to say things didn’t go exactly as planned would be an understatement. Tune in to see how her exciting journey unfolds.

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105 Briana's CBAC + Uterine Rupture Jan 08, 2020

Show notes

Warning: this episode includes discussions about severe postpartum depression as well as uterine rupture.

Brianna's first pregnancy ended in an unremarkable Cesarean. Unremarkable at least as far as the hospital was concerned, but to Brianna, it was emotionally devastating. Even in the weeks following her child's birth as she physically recovered, that emotional devastation and the shock of how fast everything happened in the OR and how little control she felt she had over anything stayed with her.

When her second pregnancy quickly followed her first, she obsessively researched everything having to do with VBAC, all the while knowing that a second C-section was a possibility.

She tried and tried and tried and tried, but this pregnancy also ended with a C-section. But because Brianna was much more mentally prepared for it, and because her provider and the staff were much more accommodating to her wishes this time around, it was generally a more pleasant experience for her. Although it came with a heavy toll which was much more physical than mental this time.

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104 Documenting Your Birth with Rowan Steiner and Danielle Wilstead Jan 06, 2020

Show notes

We are back from a nice holiday break and are happy to start off our regularly scheduled episodes with this one.

In this episode, we speak with our friends, birth photographers and videographers Rowan Steiner and Danielle Wilstead and talk about some of the issues and expectations when documenting births.

How did you get started? What exactly do you do? What should parents expect? Do you ever run into any troubles in regards to photography bans by hospitals or providers? What are your most memorable moments?

You can find Rowan at saltcitybirth.com/

You can find Danielle at wildoakbirth.com/

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103 Happy New Year, Women of Strength! Jan 01, 2020

Show notes

We're back!!! Happy New Year! We are checking in with a fun, short episode to let you know all about what 2020 has in store for us, and YOU. Find out more about all the things we are chatting about at thevbaclink.com and register for our events across the country at thevbaclink.com/events.

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102 Amy's VBA2C + Assisted Delivery Nov 20, 2019

Show notes

Amy has such a nice voice and a calm, pleasant phone demeanor that you can hardly imagine her as a shrieking, raging woman as she labored for hours with her VBAC attempt, when her contractions were literally coming one on top of the other.

Her first two children were born via C-section. She didn’t have the worst experience ever with either of those, but still the desire was in her heart and mind that when she found herself pregnant a third time, she would do everything she could to achieve her VBAC.

Her doctor even broke out the forceps during the delivery to help her. Hear the whole story from Amy in this episode and then find out more about assisted vaginal delivery on our blog at https://www.thevbaclink.com/post/assisted-vaginal-delivery.

After this episode we are taking a podcast holiday break in order to spend more time with our families, this will be our last episode, for the year We wish you the very best of holidays and an incredible New Year. Please join us when we come back the first Monday in January!

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