The VBAC Link

With her first baby, Brittany knew she needed a home birth. She took no shortcuts to ensure that her dream would come true. From hiring the most supportive midwife and doula to routine chiropractic care to practicing HypnoBirthing to blowing up the birth tub and hanging birth affirmations, the level of preparation (especially as a first-time mom!) was truly impressive.  Yet in a matter of hours, B...

Happy New Year! We are starting 2021 strong with today’s powerful VBAC story. Hallie is a two-time VBAC mom and birth photographer from New Zealand. This 5’0” tall woman of strength fought through a long, hard labor to deliver a 9 pound, asynclitic, and perfectly beautiful baby girl. Hallie talks about how using water as a coping technique was pivotal to her success.  Later in this episode, we tal...

It’s an ongoing and classic debate-- home birth versus hospital birth. Trying to decide where to have your VBAC is one of the toughest decisions to make. There are LOTS of opinions out there to navigate. Julie and Meagan sit down with you today to share some pros and cons (and some myth busters!) of each based on their personal experiences as doulas, as well as the most current evidence-based rese...

Brigette, who is also one of Julie’s very own clients, shares her inspiring VBAC story of how she went from being only 1 centimeter dilated upon arrival to the hospital to 10 centimeters dilated, pushing, and a beautiful baby boy in only five hours.    In Julie’s words, Brigette’s “VBAC rocked my world. It’s one of those things where in your mind you know certain things work, line up, then the mag...

With her first birth, Alison pushed for five hours. She was nauseous, dehydrated, and exhausted. Her doctors were adamant that she would not be able to birth her baby vaginally. Alison trusted their medical advice and went for a Cesarean.    An analyst by trade, Alison couldn’t stop analyzing every detail of that birth. She wished she had known more. She wished she had asked more questions.    Whe...

Meet Bec from Sydney, Australia!    Though her first birth was very much dictated to her by hospital policies and unsupportive providers, Bec fought and researched relentlessly to make sure she was involved in every.single.decision. during her next birth. When hospital VBAC policies and outside opinions tried to prevail, Bec stayed steady and determined.    She built a birth dream team, and at the...

Calling all listeners! Whether you’re preparing for a VBAC, have already had your VBAC, had a planned or unplanned CBAC, or are a birth worker, this episode is for YOU.   Mari Vega is a powerful force in the birth world. Through her VBAC experience, Mari found her voice. Not only did she find it, but she realized that it is loud, it is confident, and it is beautiful. Mari is now on a mission to he...

Can crying really help solve prodromal labor? Is it possible that an emotional release can suddenly turn manageable contractions into full-blown pushing? YES!    Listen to our friend, Liz, share her incredible surprise HBAC story that will reinforce your confidence in the power of a woman’s ability to birth. Liz was prepared to birth at the hospital without her husband due to COVID restrictions, b...

“A lot of people have the idea that if you’re in therapy or if you’re using extra help, then it’s a weakness and it’s not. It’s a strength. It really is. It’s okay to need support and to need help.”   Gretchen is a licensed professional counselor, a marathon runner, and a mom of two boys from Marietta, Georgia. She also has battled severe anxiety throughout her life. As Gretchen shares her unique...

With her first baby, Aubria had gestational diabetes that wasn’t diagnosed until she was 37 weeks. She ended up having a Cesarean and birthing an 11 pound, 11 ounce perfectly healthy baby girl. Aubria was determined to have a different birth outcome the second time around. She was proactive with her diet, switched providers at 38 weeks, and stayed as patient as possible even when she was approachi...

Jill from Alberta, Canada. She is a homeschooling mother to 3 children, a birth doula, and a recently certified birth support coach through the Birth Coach Method. She is excited to use her newly learned coaching tools to help her clients achieve their desired birth experience even if they cannot have a doula attend their birth. Jill works with pregnant women in their last trimester to coach them...

We have both been so busy with moving, remodeling kitchens, parenting, soccer, gymnastics, being a good wife, (trying to do) self-care, record podcasts, keep up with business, and EVERYTHING that we haven't even been able to catch up with each other. So, we decided to have a fun episode about life and what's been going on with us and the different births we have attended. You will be sure...

Jennifer says: "In 2015, after 41 hours of labor, I ended up having a C-section. I was sad that my birth plan hadn't ended the way I wanted it to but so happy to meet my baby boy finally! Fast forward 3.5 years, a miscarriage and secondary infertility- I was yet pregnant again! I found the most VBAC friendly doctor in town, went to a webster certified chiropractor every other week, hired a...

This episode is a must-listen! Ten of our VBAC doulas give their best tips and tricks for an empowered pregnancy and birth. There are so many sweet nuggets of information given by these wonderful people that you will be sure to re-listen again and again to soak it all in. To find a doula on this podcast or, in your own state or country, go to thevbaclink.com/findadoula . Guest Doulas: Kimberly Cul...

Hermaris' first birth was straightforward and boring until the very end when they found out her baby was breech. She was unable to turn her baby and ended with a Cesarean. With Hermaris' second pregnancy, she was forced to switch providers at 30 weeks due to her insurance. After laboring at home for a long time, Hermaris and her husband headed to the hospital. She arrived at a 6 and quickl...

Laura's first baby was failure to descend and ended in a Cesarean. 3 years later Laura and her husband were able to conceive with IUI. During her pregnancy, her baby was diagnosed with intrauterine growth restriction (smaller baby than it should be). Through many discussions and changed plans, they took the diagnosis away and changed her due date forward because they knew the day she conceived...

Kate tells us all about her birth experiences in England and how they differ from birth in the US. She was induced at 38+1 with her first baby, which led to an emergency Cesarean. Kate was so happy that her baby was healthy and safe, but she felt her body "failed" her. She found a supportive provider to guide her through her second pregnancy. Kate went into labor at 41+2 and labored at hom...

In this episode, Julie and Meagan talk about their most popular blogs. They go into detail on where they get the information and resources to write their blogs. They also talk about their most popular blogs in more depth. They also talk about their most popular blogs in more depth. Including birth intervals when seeking a VBAC, the CPD diagnosis, big babies, birth trauma and baby positioning.    U...

In this episode, Molly shares her Cesarean and her two VBAC stories. Her Cesarean was a birth center transfer due to no progression after 5 hours of pushing. Molly's second birth was a VBAC at a birth center where she had a 4th degree tear and was transferred to the hospital to be repaired. Her third birth is what Molly calls her "dream birth" with no tearing! How to VBAC: The Ultimate...

In this episode, Amber shares her VBAC story! She talks about her Cesarean birth for failure to progress and tells how redemptive her VBAC birth was. Especially when she progressed farther than her first birth. Also in this episode, Amber, Julie, and Meagan talk about their emotional and mental postpartum experiences.  We would like to thank this episodes sponsor,  Betterhelp Counseling whose miss...

Julie and Meagan answer all your questions! From herbal supplements, switching providers, turning your OP baby, dilation, uterine scar, cervical lip, and more! Advanced VBAC Doula Certification Program The VBAC Link Blog Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Tiffany shares all about her struggles with infertility, including an ectopic pregnancy where she lost one of her tubes. She goes on to share about her breech Cesarean and her VBAC, both in military hospitals. Tiffany was able to labor at home for awhile, and arrived at the hospital at a 5. She goes into great detail about her labor, and what she was feeling both physically and emotionally every s...

Amy shares about her Home VBAC  with her amazing group of midwives. She talks about how changing providers from an OB to a midwife wasn't as big of a change as she expected, it was just about finding someone she felt would listen to her and that she felt comfortable with. Later in this episode, Julie and Meagan talk about the physiological side of pushing and the best positions to birth in.  W...

Jocelyn had a Cesarean due to her baby being breech, and was so grateful she had her doula with her. She shares all about the differences of her birth experiences from her Cesarean in Germany, and her VBAC in the U.S. Jocelyn was able to find a VBAC supportive provider in the rural area she lives in, and didn't have to travel an hour and a half to the city for her VBAC! We want to thank this e...

Rebecca had a Cesarean due to meconium in her baby's lungs and was unable to meet him for 9 hours after birth. She then had to search outside of her home area to find providers who took VBAC clients. After being in labor for hours, she checked in to the hospital and shortly checked out for minimal progress and was told "I hope you go into labor soon!" After a couple more hours of labor...