The VBAC Link

We have two beautiful CBAC stories for you on the podcast this week!  Today’s episode is with our friend, Melanie. Her first unexpected Cesarean was in April 2020 at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a very lonely and traumatic experience.  Melanie found healing through a birth trauma therapist who helped her process her story and prepare for her second birth with a strong mindset. Sh...

Chrissie always dreamed that the birth of her babies would be the happiest days of her life. But with her first two births, they were among the worst.  In today’s episode, Chrissie expresses the heartbreak she felt after doing everything to prepare for a VBAC and not get it.  Though she wasn’t sure how her third birth would go, the healing, research, and advocacy she did made all the difference in...

Dr. Darrell Martin is an OB/GYN with four decades of expertise in women’s health and the author of the bestselling memoir “In Good Hands: A Doctor’s Story of Breaking Barriers for Midwifery and Birth Rights.”  In this episode, Dr. Martin and Meagan walk down memory lane talking about differences in birth from when he started practicing to when he retired. He even testified before Congress to fight...

Julia knew something was off during her first pregnancy and birth experience. She knew she didn’t feel right about consenting to a Cesarean, but it wasn’t until she started diving into research that she realized how much her care lacked informed consent. She discovered options that should have been offered to her that never were. Julia’s research led her to choosing the midwifery model of care in...

Brielle Brasil is a mama’s coach, breathwork facilitator, and somatic trauma resolution therapist. She shares her two birth stories as a foreigner living in the Dominican Republic.  Brielle’s first birth was an unexpected, traumatic C-section. After putting in the work to heal, Brielle felt ready to explore birth options that she thought were unattainable. She was creative and intuitive throughout...

We are so excited to be joined today by our friend, Ali Levine. You will instantly feel her bright energy as she shares her awesome VBAC story with us. A celebrity stylist and TV personality, Ali is no stranger to being in the limelight. With her first pregnancy, she had glamorous photoshoots, went to flashy events, and made a dreamy birth plan. When the natural water birth of her dreams quickly t...

Aisha’s episode is full of wisdom and inspiration! With her first two births, Aisha worked so hard to deliver vaginally, but ultimately had two undesired Cesareans. She was told in the operating room that she had uterine dehiscence, was given a special scar, and should never try to deliver vaginally.  But her intuition was telling her a different story. She dove into research. She found a communit...

Sheryl’s first baby was five days late. Her second baby was five days early. From the first contraction to a surprise car birth, Sheryl’s third baby was under an hour!  Not only were the methods of delivery very different with each baby, but Sheryl’s life circumstances were too. Julie and Sheryl chat about preparing yourself not only for the long, marathon labors, but also for the possibility of t...

Abigail’s first pregnancy turned into a life-threatening birth experience with undetected gestational diabetes and a traumatic ICU stay. On top of that, she unexpectedly had to move homes just two weeks postpartum. Abigail quickly developed intense postpartum depression and struggled to make sense of what happened to her.  She was sure she would never have kids again, but after therapy and healing...

What are the typical differences between hospital OB care and home birth midwifery care? Throughout her VBAC prep, Gesa was able to directly compare the two side by side. She was planning a home birth with a midwife but continued to see her OB at the hospital for the insurance benefits.  Some differences she noted:  Her OB used ultrasound to determine baby’s position. Her midwife palpated her bell...

Katie has had a Cesarean (failure to progress), a VBAC, and most recently, an unmedicated breech VBAC! She talks about the power of mom and baby working together during labor. She is 4’10” and attributes so much of her first successful VBAC to movement.  Katie’s most recent baby was frank breech throughout her entire pregnancy. After multiple ECV attempts, she exhausted all options to seek out a v...

Happy New Year, Women of Strength! Meagan and Julie share an exciting announcement about the podcast that you don’t want to miss.  While they chat about topics to look forward to this year, they also jump right in and share stats about cervical checks and duration between pregnancies.  We can’t wait to help you prepare for your VBAC this year! Needed Website How to VBAC: The Ultimate Prep Course f...

We can’t believe we have arrived at the last episode of 2024! This year has brought so many incredible and empowering births. We loved hearing how each of you fought for your birth goals, magnified your voices, and showed your strength.  In today’s episode, Meagan sums up The VBAC Link’s 2024 achievements and shares some of the exciting things she has in store for 2025.  The VBAC Link Supportive P...

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, Women of Strength!  We have another beautiful VBAC birth story for you today from our friend, Georyana. Georyana shares how she went from having an unplanned Cesarean with her first birth to a planned HBAC but unexpected breech delivery! During her first postpartum period, Georyana experienced postpartum preeclampsia, depression, and anxiety. She and Meagan dive...

Aubrey shares her three birth stories that tell of resilience, healing, trust, and miracles. She has had a vaginal birth, a crash Cesarean, and a VBAC– all of which presented cholestasis.  Aubrey’s first birth was a long but routine induction. Her second birth was a traumatic whirlwind including a complete placental abruption, general anesthesia, and her baby miraculously surviving 15 minutes with...

Marlene joins us from California sharing her journey to a VBAC after three C-sections. She was a teenager with her first, and her doctor suggested scheduling an elective C-section for convenience. Marlene didn’t even know what a C-section was. She became more educated with each birth experience. Still, when it came time to advocate for her physiological VBA3C birth, there were no hospitals, doctor...

In this episode, Meagan and Julie tackle hot topics like the VBAC calculator, epidurals, and uterine rupture. What does the evidence actually say? And why do providers give such drastically different statistics from one practice to the next?  When you know the facts, you are equipped to take charge of your VBAC journey! VBAC Calculator ACOG: Deciding Between a VBAC and a Repeat Cesarean VBAC Calcu...

Listen to today’s episode to hear Meagan talk all about bicornuate, unicornuate, arcuate, and septate uteruses, uterine didelphys, and more. Though there can be complications, research is limited, and vaginal birth is often possible. Chat with your provider about your birthing desires, and don’t be afraid to get multiple opinions! A Case of Vaginal Birth after Cesarean Delivery in a Patient with U...

Flannery joins us today from Connecticut sharing her story of an unexpected C-section at 35 weeks due to oligohydramnios, breech presentation, and concerns with her baby’s kidney functions. She was also transferred to an unfamiliar hospital for its surgical capabilities. Though she was terrified, her anesthesiologist was calm and reassuring.  The toughest memory of Flannery’s birth was not being a...

“Whatever happens, I just want it to be peaceful, and I want to be present.” Kerri is a labor and delivery nurse born and raised in Kentucky. The only thing on her first birth plan was not to have a C-section, yet it became her reality. We know many of you can relate. She had a medically necessary induction at 36 weeks due to preeclampsia. Kerri describes her experience with getting magnesium, aka...

One of our team members, Paige, joins us today to share our first maternal assisted Cesarean story on the podcast! Our favorite Julie joins too sharing her perspective as Paige’s birth photographer.  Paige tried three times to have the vaginal birth of her dreams. Each time ended in emergency Cesareans due to nonreassuring fetal heart tones. Each time, she missed the golden hour that she so desper...

“In that moment, I knew that was the last time I would see her. I didn’t know what I was going to do, but I knew I could not go back to her.” How do you feel when you meet with your provider? Are you excited for your appointments? How does your body react? Are you tense or calm and relaxed?  Jessica’s first birth began with an induction that she consented to but didn’t really want. Her waters were...

Alma’s first birth was an emergency Cesarean after an induction at 40 weeks due to gestational diabetes. Due to COVID-19 policies, Alma’s husband was not allowed into the OR. She did not expect the induction process to end the way that it did, and felt robbed of the positive birth experience she hoped to have.  Alma made sure to educate herself on all of her options for her second birth. She was v...

“ Hospital Policy means the principles, rules, and guidelines adopted by the Hospital, which may be amended, changed, or superseded from time to time.” Julie and Meagan break down hospital policies today, especially common ones you’ll hear when it comes to VBAC. They chat all about VBAC agreement forms and policies surrounding continuous fetal monitoring, induction, and epidurals.  Women of Streng...

“Getting that VBAC meant everything to me. It helped so much with the trauma of it all.” At 36 weeks along with her first, Ashley started to have intense carpal tunnel pain. At 38 weeks, it was unbearable. Her provider said that delivery would be the only way to find relief and recommended a 39-week induction.  Ashley had a difficult labor and pushing experience. Her provider recommended a C-secti...