The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast

In this episode, I spoke with the amazing Catherine Bell from The Birth Map. 

We talk about how Catherine's birth and postpartum experiences led her to the creation of The Birth Map. 

I asked lots of questions about the birth map and the bias attached to some of the evidence.

We discussed: 

In this episode, I share some of the struggles we all have when it comes to building community for ourselves.

And how why you should start building your community now.

I share some ways you can take steps to build your community and how mindset and perspective play a massive part in you being able to create the community you need and deserve.

Enjoy this episode,

Ashley

More from Ashley:

Free VBAC Training:

In this episode, I get to share with you Christy's phenomenal birth stories.

Christy is a mother of 10 children, who has had 7 Caesarean births and 3 homebirths.

She had fairly positive c-sections births with her first 6 children, and found on the 7th her Dr was obligated to refer Christy to another OBGYN as she was deemed "high risk" due to hospital policy.

She found this quite challenging and was told she had placenta accreta multiple times after ultrasounds. When she birthed her baby by c-section and there was no placenta accreta she felt like she was done with having babies.

Although she wasn't quite done and found herself pregnant with baby number 8. She searched high and low for support this time and found herself eventually connecting with a homebirth midwife, planning a VBAC.

Listen to this episode to hear some of the challenges Christy overcame to birth her babies in a way she felt comfortable and happy to.

Along with some important conversations about what can happen in the birth journey.

Enjoy this episode,

Ashley x

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In this episode, we have returning super start guest Hazel Keedle, and we discuss obstetric violence and birth trauma.

In this episode, we discuss:

1. What is obstetric violence
2. What it means
3. How to identify it and what to do

We also discuss the NSW Birth Inquiry

1. What is it
2. What do you hope to achieve with this inquiry
3. What did women say

Please be mindful that this episode discusses traumatic experiences of women and maybe triggering or disturbing.

Ashley x

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Free VBAC Training:

Hi everyone, and welcome back to the VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast! 

I hope you had a rejuvenating break and are ready to dive into 2024 with me. 

This year promises to be filled with inspiring stories, valuable insights, and expert discussions to support you on your journey towards a triumphant VBAC homebirth.

What's in Store:

In the upcoming months, I have an exciting lineup for you:

Real Mum Stories:

We'll be featuring a variety of real mum stories, including tales of rural HBAC, HBA7C mama, experiencing 3 homebirths,, and many other incredible homebirth after c-section stories.

Guest Episodes:

• We have some fantastic guest episodes lined up, including conversations with:

• Hazel Keedle: Discussing obstetric violence and birth trauma.

• Dr. Stu: An OBGYN turned homebirth advocate, shedding light on breech births, VBAC, and twin homebirths.

• Catherine Bell: Exploring the concept of Birth Mapping.

Feel free to recommend a guest speaker or share your own HBAC birth story by emailing me at hello@ashleywinning.com.

Exciting Offerings:

Free Training Coming Soon:

Don't miss the VBAC Workshop in February 2024, packed with valuable insights and knowledge, VBAC myth busting, and answering all of your VBAC questions. 

VBAC Village Membership Launch:

Hi everyone,

I've decided to give myself a bit of a podcast break for a shortish period. I'm feeling that I will be back around Christmas time!

I share some of my journey, what's happening in my life at the moment and some of the new offerings I am birthing in the world soon (lots of VBAC!!)

In this episode, we meet, Kara, a mother of two.

Kara had both of her children in a same-sex relationship with her partner.

Her first pregnancy was an IVF baby in 2019 with a planned hospital birth. The pregnancy was fairly low-key.

Kara experienced prodrominal labour for a few days and that was quite challenging and exhausting for her.

She had a couple of nights of no sleep and it was quite a painful experience. She went into the hospital and they checked her and said that there was no cervix it was up high and closed so she was sent home.

She eventually went back into the hospital and experienced a painful cascade of interventions and chose to have a c-section.

After that birth, she moved from Alice Springs to the Gold Coast. They had the challenge of having to get their embryos from South Australia shipped to the Gold Coast. Due to her partner being aboriginal, she was able to be part of an MGP programme and plan a birth centre birth with her VBAC baby.

She hired a doula and started prenatal yoga. During that time she connected with a new doula and ended the contract with the first doula and hired one she felt more aligned with.

She didn't plan on a freebirth but was subconsciously manifesting a freebirth. She asked her doula if she would support her and she received a yes - still planning a birth centre birth she found herself having an unplanned freebirth.

To hear all the interesting gold nuggets along the way come and listen to Kara's amazing birth stories.

Enjoy this podcast episode,

Ashley x

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In this episode, I share a little bit of my take on the phrase - it takes a village to raise a baby/ mother.

I believe it takes a village to raise a mother, and unfortunately in this modern day world many of us have lost our village.

So it's extra important for us to be vigilant, and mindful, and take steps each day to create our own circle of support.

I share some ways you can create your circle of support in your homebirth journey with some low-cost, free, and higher-cost supports available.

It's time to think outside the box, get on saving for your dream team, and create your ideal life and experience.

Enjoy this episode,

Ashley x

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In this episode, I share with you some ways you can tune into your intuition.

Often we find it hard to know when we are having intuition, or something that is showing as a fear disguised as intuition.

I'm going to share the difference between fears and intuition, and how you can navigate the difference between the two and tap into your intuition - so when it comes time to birth your baby you are able to listen to within.

Enjoy this podcast episode,

Ashley x

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In this episode, I share some birth positions that may be helpful during your VBAC Homebirth, and I share my ideas on birth positions and the big focus I see happening in the birth world.

What if I told you that you don't need to know all of the birth positions to birth your baby at home?

What if I told you that it could in some ways be counter intuitive to be in your mind trying to remember what position you need to be in during labour.

What if I told you that you don't need someone directing your body on what position to be in during labour?

What if I told you that you have been sold a lie that your body won't work if you don't do optimal baby position, and get into all sorts of interesting and fun positions to birth your baby?

I don't want to ruffle to many feathers as I know so many people are devout believes of spreading the message that you must be coached into positions to birth your baby more easily, or more quickly.

Which in a hospital setting I agree, this is probably one of the best ways to birth.

In a homebirth though, it may be the easiest and safest to birth your baby without disruption, without having to remember the best positions, or maneuvers to get into for birth and stay in your birthing mind.

It may be best for everyone in your space to stand back and allow the process to completely happen, and only if you ask for support for options to be provided.

If this sounds interesting, then this episode may be one that just makes you think twice about what you really need during your birth... and birthworkers - your mind might just explode! (hopefully with joy, and not rage).

Enjoy this podcast episode,

Ashley

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In this episode, I talk about how to start open conversations and communicate your expectations for your birth with your birth team.

Being able to communicate effectively with your birth team is an important skill and requirement for any team to work together.

If you don't feel safe to share your feelings, thoughts or communicate your needs this could lead to distrust, assumptions and you could start to create walls between you and your birth team.

While I don't feel it should be the womans responsibility to initiate this conversation and many people working in this space providing support would have these conversation through your pregnancy - I'm noticing that many do now.

This is such a valuable skill to have during your pregnancy and birth, but one that will also support you through life.

One of the fundemental things that makes us different to animals is our ability to speak with thousands of words - and yet, so many people are afraid to share their feelings, thoughts or expectations, afraid of causing conflict or hurting someone.

This is a skill I have been working on, and one I encourage and invite you to work on to.

Enjoy this podcast episode,

Ashley x

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In this episode, I had the honour of being able to talk to someone who I adore and who works in a space that fascinates me - Dr Rebecca Ray!

More on Dr Rebecca Ray:

Dr Rebecca Ray is a clinical psychologist, author and speaker who helps big-picture-thinking people master their psychology.

Over the course of two decades of consultations, speaking events, books, and audio, she has encouraged thousands of humans making an impact on the world to live a life that's fulfilling, unapologetic, and free.

Beck’s expertise as a professional zig-zagger sets her apart as one of Australia’s most in-demand and authoritative voices in the personal development space.

Her science-backed, hard and heart truth approach is uniquely informed by her pivots from pilot to psychologist, from dating men to marrying a woman, and from being burnt out to bestselling author.

Beck is the author of six books, including Be Happy, The Art of Self-Kindness, The Universe Listens to Brave, Setting Boundaries, Small Habits for a Big Life, and Difficult People (released in May 2023).

She lives in the soul-fed hills of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland with the great loves of her life: her wife Nyssa, son Bennett, two rescue Irish Setters and one gangly Weimaraner.

What we discuss in this episode:

• What are boundaries
• How can boundaries help you in life
• What to do when someone doesn't respect your boundaries
• How to create boundaries
• What is a difficult person (or behaviour)

Connect with Dr Rebecca Ray:

In this episode, I speak with Julz and she shared with me her story of a beautiful, supported rural HBAC.

It took Julz over 12 months to conceive her first baby, and while she was going through that journey she was working in a corporate job.

It was fairly normalised to book in with an OBGYN during pregnancy for care. She didn't put much consideration into birth, as a first time mother, like so many first time mothers she was more interested in the pram and organising baby things.

Julz was at the park with her partner swinging on a swing when her waters broke. She ended up going into hospital that night to start an induction process the next morning, although labour started on it's own.

Labour was pretty intense for Julz, and she didn't have any mindset support like breathwork, positive affirmations, deep breathing or meditation to help her work through this in a positive way.

She was given Fentanyl to help with the pain Intravenously. She was mostly sitting on the bed, trying to work through the pain while being supported with the Fentanyl.

After coached pushing for three hours the OBGYN called it that she needed to go off to surgery, and her first baby was born via surgical birth.

When she was pregnant with her next baby she had planned to have a VBAC and went back to the same hospital as where she had her first baby.

She also had a subchorionic hematoma and some bleeding.

In this episode, I share my experiences with people pleasers after living a life of people pleasing and working with people pleasers.

Time and time again I hear many of the same challenges come up from women who identify as people pleasers.

They usually come across as such caring and loving women (and they are), often thinking about other people first... even to their own detriment.

It's time to reclaim your homebirth journey and take the lead. Do not allow others to push their way into your birth space or allow guilt to take over your choices moving forward.

Come and learn more about people pleasers and how you can set some boundaries moving forward.

Ashley x

Ashley x

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In this episode, I share some ways you can get yourself into the best space to be able to handle the pain of birth. 

Pain is one of the biggest fears women have when it comes to birthing at home (without all the drugs).  I worried how I would go after having an epidural with my second in a hospital. 
When I did have my freebirth at home, the pain was intense and strong for the first few hours - which really caught me by surprise.  
I am so grateful that I had done a lot of prep work to get me to a space of being able to navigate through that, and find a way to calm and peace (and sometimes pleasure throughout the birth experience). 
And you can also set yourself up to be in the space to handle the pain of birth! 
Listen to this podcast episode where I share my tips to help you set yourself up. 

Enjoy this podcast episode.

Ashley x

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In this podcast episode, I share some of my insights and views on this craze of making sure your baby is in the "optimal position" for birth.

It might, or might not surprise you to learn that I don't believe in putting much time and effort into making sure your baby is in the optimal birthing position.

I believe that women are capable birthing goddesses, and that majority of women with birth without coaching, being told to move into positions, or needing to even know what "positions" to be in.

I think planning a homebirth can be a lot easier, and less expensive when you don't have to believe that you need to control all aspects of that birth (and news flash - you and your provider have less control than you may think).

Join me as I rant on about this topic.

Enjoy this episode,

Ashley x

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In this episode, I share some of the key things you will need to know or consider to prepare yourself to freebirth.

1. Educate Yourself Extensively: Podcast, books, courses, being part of a program like mine (6 - Month of Group Mentoring) where you can get guided support My book recommendation and quick guide is: Home Birth On Your Own Terms: A How-To Guide For Birthing Unassisted by Heather Baker.

If you are trying to purchase in Australia send me a DM on Instagram or email me and I will let you know where you can access a copy.

2. Mindset, mindset, Mindset

Mindset is one of the biggest ways to talk yourself out of birth at home, or a freebirth, with fears popping up, old birth stories that need answering popping up from time to time causing doubt or worry, or not being prepared in a positive way to handle the pain of labour.

You want to have a strong foundation and work through all of those challenges before you go into birth with your homebirth/ freebirth baby. Starting with a strong foundation gives you the best chance at success for a homebirth.

In this episode, I chat with Dania Foster, mum of two and freebirth mama.

Dania is a Clinical Naturopath and Energetics Therapist and supports mothers with a wide range of support during pregnancy and motherhood.

In this episode I asked Dania:
🌟 As a Naturopath how can you support the homebirth process?
🌟 You managed your own care throughout your last pregnancy and freebirth what was your focus?
🌟 What are your favourite herbs throughout the final stages of pregnancy?
If you would like to work with Dania head to her Instagram page and head to the bio to book in a session. Or send her a DM to chat more.
Thanks for sharing your wisdom Dania.
Ashley x

Connect with Dania:

In this podcast episode, I chat with Lizzie Carroll, Doula, VBAC Mentor, birth activist, feminist, and mum of 3.

Lizzie shares her two birth stories that ended in c-section, along with her non event freebirth where she birthed at home peacefully her third child.

We discussed Anti - D and why Lizzie chose to refuse to use Anti- D during her pregnancy.

She also shared three practical & tangible tips to help support you through your VBAC Homebirth Journey.

Enjoy this podcast episode

Ashley x

Resources from this podcast:

Welcome back to Part 2 of this extraordinary podcast episode, where you'll be captivated by the remarkable experience of an unassisted birth in nature. This awe-inspiring story takes you on a profound journey through a breathtaking landscape and a birth that defies convention.

Picture yourself amidst the splendor of nature, basking in the warm sunlight, and serenaded by the melodies of chirping birds and a gentle flowing creek. The stage was set for a momentous event - the arrival of a precious little life, where Kaylee could feel her baby's reassuring movements, filling her with profound peace.

Join us as Kaylee recounts each heartfelt moment, from the decision to give birth outside to the revelation of the baby's gender that left everyone in awe. This powerful narrative is a testament to the innate strength and resilience of a woman's body during childbirth, guided by the wisdom of nature.

Witness the love and unwavering support from friends who stood by Kaylee’s side throughout this magical journey. Their presence during the birth and thoughtful postpartum care added an extra layer of beauty and significance to this exceptional experience.

This episode addresses common questions and concerns surrounding unassisted births in nature. It delves into the natural birthing process, the profound connection forged with the newborn, and the surprisingly sterile and nurturing environment found in the heart of Mother Nature.

If you're seeking inspiration, profound emotions, and an uplifting experience, we invite you to immerse yourself in this captivating episode. Unveil the true power of birth, celebrate the bond between mother and child, and discover the wondrous miracles that unfold when nature takes its course. So go ahead and press that play button - you won't want to miss this magical journey! 🌿👶🎧

I hope you enjoy this episode,

Ashley x

In this podcast episode, I chat with Kaylee, a mother of 4 currently in Missouri, USA.

Welcome to an extraordinary episode that will leave you in awe of the incredible journey of birth and the strength of the human spirit.

In this captivating episode, we delve into the transformative experience of free birth, where a couple's unwavering faith in their bodies and deep trust in the process leads to an awe-inspiring outcome.

Join us as we unravel the story of Kaylee, a fearless mother who, with her husband by her side, embarked on an unconventional path to bring their baby into the world. From the early days of pregnancy to the breathtaking six-day labour, Kaylee shares her remarkable insights, empowering us all to embrace the innate power within us.

You'll be captivated by Kaylee's unwavering conviction as she recounts her preparations, including immersing herself in birth podcasts and videos, nourishing her body with the right nutrition, and cultivating an environment of love and support for her daughters to be part of the birth process.

As Kaylee's labour unfolds, she takes us on an emotional rollercoaster, where moments of doubt and physical challenges are met with unwavering faith and unyielding determination. Her journey is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the miraculous beauty of birth.

In this episode, you'll discover the power of intuitive birthing, as Kaylee listens to her body and trusts in the divine guidance that leads her every step of the way. You'll be moved by the profound connection she shares with her husband, who becomes her rock and source of unwavering support throughout the entire labour.

Kaylee's story will challenge your preconceived notions of birth and inspire you to embrace your own inner strength, no matter the circumstances. Her unwavering faith and unyielding determination are a testament to the incredible potential that lies within each of us.

If you're seeking inspiration, empowerment, and a renewed perspective on the miracle of birth, this episode is an absolute must-listen.

Join us on this awe-inspiring journey as we unlock the power within and embrace the transformative experience of birth.

Click play now to embark on this extraordinary episode that will forever change the way you perceive the miracle of life.

Enjoy this episiode,

Ashley

In this episode, we delve into the profound impact fear can have on the choices we make, particularly when it comes to the transformative journey of childbirth.

Join me as we embark on an exhilarating exploration of breaking free from the shackles of fear and embracing a growth mindset that empowers women to make informed decisions about their birth experiences.

If you're ready to embark on a remarkable journey of self-discovery, empowerment, and liberation, then this episode is a must-listen. Tune in now and join us as we unravel the captivating stories of women who chose to defy fear, embrace growth, and reclaim their birth choices, one courageous step at a time. Ashley x

More from Ashley

In this episode, I celebrate making it to 100 episodes!!

Reflecting on the journey, I share some of the lessons I've learned, challenges, highlights and what's to come for the podcast in the future (hint - I need your help!)

Highlight audience contributions: I share some of the feedback I've received from listeners over the years

My Fav Podcast Episodes: I discuss some of my fav podcast episodes over the years and why they were my favs.

The most listened to podcast episodes: Some of your fav and most listened to podcast episodes

The Analytics: Exact listens, numbers and stats for the podcast

Express my grattitude: Without you this podcast wouldn't be as a successful as it is. Without women sharing their personal VBAC Stories and Guest Experts sharing their wisdom, research and time - I appreciate you all - Thank you.

I hope you enjoy this episode,

Ashley

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In this episode, I talk about Vaginal Exams. You may know them as VE's.

Vaginal examinations, or VE's, are a common practice in childbirth that involve checking the cervix for dilation and effacement.

However, there is growing evidence that suggests these examinations are not helpful in birth and may even be harmful. Here are some key reasons why vaginal examinations are not helpful in birth:

1. Inaccuracy: Vaginal examinations are notoriously inaccurate and subjective. Different practitioners may have different interpretations of the same examination, leading to inconsistencies in care. Additionally, a woman's cervix may be dilated or effaced in one moment but then return to a previous state, making the information gained from a VE unreliable.

2. Risk of infection: The use of gloves during vaginal examinations does not eliminate the risk of infection, and the introduction of bacteria can be harmful to the mother and baby. Research has shown that the risk of infection increases with the frequency of VE's.

3. Pain and discomfort: Vaginal examinations can be painful and uncomfortable, and can cause anxiety and stress in women during labour. This can lead to a release of stress hormones that can slow down labor and make it more difficult.

4. Distracts from intuition: The focus on dilation and effacement can distract practitioners from other important signs and signals that indicate progress in labor, such as the position of the baby, the frequency and strength of contractions, and the mother's intuition.

5. Potential for unnecessary interventions: VE's can lead to unnecessary interventions, such as artificial rupture of membranes or induction of labour, based on the assumption that the labor is not progressing as it should. However, these interventions can increase the risk of complications and interventions, such as c-section.

In this episode, I discuss the signs of a posterior birth & why it is just a variation of normal birth.

Do you know this secret about posterior birth?

It's a variation of normal - yetttttttt so many women have unnecessary disruption to their births.

YES - even in a homebirth you can get railroaded to transfer early because your birth isn't following the good old-fashioned "textbook" birth map!

Some things that are normal and can happen in posterior births:

1. Longer breaks in between contractions (following it's own pattern)

2. Pushing earlier in the birth every few contractions (this is not the classic "pushing stage" it's pushing your baby down and around into position to be born vaginally

3. Back pain and possible leg numbing (from babes head pushing on your nerves)

4. You can be fully dilated and still no baby for HOURS!!! (because the baby needs to come down low and turn around).

So you see the old "textbook" birth story isn't the only type of birth and we need to start normalising posterior births!

Have you had a posterior birth? Are you worried about one?

Enjoy this episode,

Ashley x

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In this episode, we meet Briana Mum of three, two boys and one little girl and lives in Virginia, USA.

Briana planned for a homebirth with first baby, had a great experience. Had pre-term labour at 31 weeks and baby came around 37 weeks. The birth was straight forward around 9 hours and baby was born at home.

Second baby everything was going to plan up until 20 weeks and during that time she was looking at houses and she was hit in a car accident. She ended up suffering from a placental abruption and she was rushed to hospital.

She found out her baby's heart rate had decreased dramatically. She was put under GA and rushed into surgery in a bid to save her baby's life.

Unfortunately, her baby didn't make it. A devastating loss.

She had a classical C-section and was told that any other babies need to be born via C-Section.

With baby three Briana looked around with supportive midwives for a homebirth and couldn't find anyone. She was told by many that it was "too risky" and encouraged to birth in hospital.

She was unsure during her pregnancy if she would vaginally birth or have a repeat C-section and at 31 weeks she decided to have a VBAC in the hospital and was seeing midwives for antenatal care.

She started to learn about physiological birth and then felt like hospital birth wasn't the right path. She started to research it further after seeing some Instagram videos and posts and completely changed her mind about her birth environment.

She did not inform the midwife of the change of birth plans and continued with the antenatal support and appointments.

Briana went into labour around 40 + 5 and she planned to labour alone as much as possible with a friend who planned to come & support her around 7 pm. Within 30 minutes of her friend arriving her waters broke and her body started pushing and her baby was out.

Briana said it was the toughest labour and intense from the start, but one of the best birth experiences she has had so far.

Enjoy this episode,

Ashley x

Resources from this episode:

In this episode, I talk about the true value of support for your homebirth.

Homebirth has so many benefits and I bet that's why you have chosen to birth your baby at home, on your terms, your way.

Yet when it comes to finding the right support and being able to get the best support, that part can come as the tricky part.

Homebirth is taboo in our society and so many of us are left feeling like we are underground and need to be hush-hush. or we put ourselves in situations that could cause us a lot of grief down the line.

It shouldn't be this hard to get the right support!

Enjoy this episode,

Ashley x

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In this episode, I discuss ways you can celebrate and feel calm at the end of your pregnancy.

At this point in your pregnancy, I know you are probably feeling really tired. You’ve got aches and pains and you’re just longing to have that beautiful bundle in your arms! The last few days or weeks of waiting can be the hardest! I know it was for me! I had to fill my days with something. I would have gone crazy otherwise!

Knowing this, I like to encourage new mamas to take the last few weeks or days of their pregnancy to get organized for baby, to pamper themselves, and to really savour their pregnancy. Doing this makes time fly by faster and you’ll create special memories in the process!

Some of the points I mention are:

1. Be organised and prepared for your homebirth & arrival of your baby
2. Get pampered
3. Switch of from social media
4. Get your mindset right
5. Focus on being happy and relaxed (and how to do that)
6. Make a date for your Guess Date

I hope you enjoy this episode,

Ashley x

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In this episode, we're going to dive into a topic that's close to my heart: finding your calm.

As someone who's naturally inclined to overthink and worry, I've had to learn how to cultivate a sense of calm in my life. And trust me, it's a skill worth having.

In this podcast, I'm going to share with you some of the techniques that have worked for me, as well as some practical tips for incorporating them into your daily routine.

I hope you enjoy this episode,

Ashley x

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In this episode, I talk about natural induction methods.

I share a bunch of natural induction methods that are shared among the natural birth community and are often discussed and tried.

Here are some of the methods I discuss:

• Acupressure
• Evening primrose oil
• Walking
• Spicy foods
• Nipple stimulation
• Castor oil
• Red raspberry leaf tea
• Walking up curbs

While I share these methods with you I want you to deeply explore whether you need to try these methods or if it is a mindset challenge that you need to work through.

I discuss the potential risks of these interventions and provide some ways that you can work on your mindset and take some steps to prepare yourself for a longer gestation.

As tempting as it may be to try to naturally induce labour for a homebirth, there are several reasons why you should avoid doing so.

Here are some of the top reasons why you should not try to naturally induce labour:

1. Increased risk of complications

2. Premature labour

3. Ineffective

4. Uncomfortable or painful

5. Lack of evidence

6. Distraction from the natural process

7. False sense of control

8. MINDSET MINDSET MINDSET

I hope you enjoy this episode,

Ashley x

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In this week's episode, I had the pleasure of talking with Claire about her successful HBAC.

Claire had the uphill battle of trying to find a healthcare provider to support her in a homebirth after caesarean with Type 1 diabetes.

It's incredibly challenging for women planning a homebirth to find a supportive midwife (although the midwives are growing in numbers each day yay!) let alone finding someone to support you if you have Type 1 diabetes.

Claire's sugars were under control during her pregnancies and she birthed bigger babies 9.13 and 10.15

Claire had planned a homebirth with her first baby and after a fairly healthy pregnancy around closer to 40 weeks she found she was becoming borderline pre-eclampsia towards week 40.

She tried some "natural" induction methods which led to a 4 -day long on and-off labour. She got to 10cms and pushed and had a very high BP and transferred to hospital. That birth ended in her baby being born via C-Section.

Second pregnancy Claire found herself pregnant at just 10 month postpartum.

She hired the same midwife and had a super healthy pregnancy.

This birth she went into labour spontaneously and she shares her birth story and experienced navigating shoulder dystocia at home!

Listen to this episode now to get all the birthy goodness.

Ashley x

RESOURCES FROM THIS PODCAST:

In this episode, I discuss the benefit of a homebirth - especially VBAC homebirth.

While it's important to weigh the risks and benefits of any birth option, there are many benefits to having a VBAC homebirth. Here are some of the most compelling benefits in bullet points:

1. Higher chance of a physiological birth
2. Higher chance of having a VBAC
3. Increased control over the birth process & team present
4. Improved outcomes for mother
5. Lower rates of interventions
6. Potentially reduced risk of infection
7. Increased comfort and relaxation
8. More personalised care & potentially respectful care
9. Increased bonding with baby
10. Reduced stress and anxiety

I explain these bullet points in more detail in this episode.

I hope you enjoy this episode,

Ashley x

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In this episode, I discuss how you can prepare your children for homebirth.

Homebirth can be a beautiful and transformative experience, but it can also be a confusing and potentially scary event for children who may not understand what is happening. 

Here are some tips for preparing your children to attend a homebirth:

1. Prepare your children: Children should be prepared for the upcoming birth. This includes talking to them about the process and what to expect. Birth videos, books, and stories can be helpful in preparing your children for the event. Hello Baby, Welcome Home, and Mummy's having a homebirth are great books for children to read and understand what's going on.

   
   

2. Conversations about roles, pain, and birth: Children should be aware of their roles during the birth process, including what they can do to help and how they can provide support. It is also important to have conversations about pain and birth and to explain what to expect during labour.

   
   

3. Be prepared for whatever: It is important to be prepared for the possibility of a quick labour, labouring during the night, or even not wanting children there on the day. Creating a plan is a good idea, but keep it fluid - so you can go down different paths and not be too attached for a certain outcome.

   
   

4. Have a backup plan: It is important to have a backup plan in case the children become overwhelmed during birth or if something unexpected occurs. This can include having a trusted friend or family member come over to help with the children, or having a designated area for them to go to if they need a break.

   
   

5. Get them involved: Children can be involved in the birth process, such as helping to bake a birthday cake for the new baby or being an attendant for the mum. Additionally, activities can be planned for the children to keep them occupied during birth. They could help with keeping you hydrated, patting your forehead or rubbing your arms to feel included. This will be age dependent on how involved you would like them to be.

In conclusion, preparing your children for a homebirth is an important part of ensuring a positive and supportive environment during the birth process.

By discussing the process, roles, and expectations with your children, they can be better prepared for the experience and can feel more involved in the birth of their new sibling.

Children should also be aware of the unpredictability of birth and the importance of having a backup plan in case they need support or need to take a break.

I hope you enjoy this episode,

Ashley x

More from Ashley

In this episode, I share my experience of going from one baby to two (and three). 

I remember when I was pregnant with our second baby and I wondered if I could love another child as much as I loved our first.  Or could I give our second one as much time as our first. 

Mother guilt at times consumed me and I worried about how to balance my time and love between two little ones. 

I also thought my firstborn would be losing out on time from me as well. 

I'm going to answer some of the common questions and thoughts that mums going from one to two children may be thinking. 

Here are some of the questions I go through in this episode:

• Will I love my next baby as much as my first
• Am I being selfish?  Will I have enough time?
• With the next baby along comes more confidence, multitasking skills kick in and you start to care less about things that felt so important with just one.
• Limit your expectations of who this new baby will be.  Often the babies are completely different experiences

Consider your support circle : 

• Postpartum doula
• Hire a cleaner
• Get your family, friends, and partner on board

Organise freezer meals:

• Start double batching meals (making two serves one for now and one for another time)
• Ask family/ friends to help cook meals, or send fresh ones when the baby is born
• Hire a food service to deliver fresh meals

Is it hard?  

This depends on many factors which I discuss:

• Support
• Age gaps
• Your temperament
• Your children's temperament
• Your birth (whether it was postive/ was traumatic or if you suffered physical birth injuries. 

Enjoy this episode, 

Ashley x 

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In this episode, we meet amazing Lizzie.  Mother of two boys who lives in Carolina, USA. 

Lizzie shares her first pregnancy & birth story which happened during 2020 when Covid hit. 

She had many missed appointments due to the pandemic and the ones she had were short and impersonal.  

She ended up being diagnosed with hypertension and was told she would be induced. 

Throughout the induction process, Lizzie found it a long and drawn-out experience and after the waters were broken at 6cms she ended up going in for a C-Section. 

She had complete mistrust in the medical community after that experience. 

10 months later she found herself accidentally pregnant again and knew she wanted to have a VBAC. 

She hired a homebirth midwife but felt red flags throughout the pregnancy, but felt like they were her only option for a home birth. 

While they were better than the OBGYN before, she felt they would transfer her again so hired a doula at the last minute for extra support. 

Lizzie knew she needed to go into labour by 42 weeks or she would lose the support of the midwives, so she did as many "natural" things to induce her baby around 41 weeks, including a stretch and sweep and went into labour just before 42 weeks. 

She was in labour and found comfort in standing upright and continued to labour like this for 12 hours.  A second midwife showed up around this time and she feels there was an energy shift.  The baby's heart rate wasn't reading well so she was told to lie down on my back on the bed so they could get a better read.  

She found this quite uncomfortable and the midwives called an ambulance to transfer her to hospital. 

She was strapped in the back of the ambulance in the final stages of labour.  Her main midwife told her doula to stay and help empty the birth pool that Lizzie never used and they both never made it to the hospital in time. 

She ended up birthing her baby vaginally within an hour or so of arriving at the hospital. 

There is so much more to this story than I can share here I hope you enjoy this episode! 

Ashley 

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In this episode, I talk about creating a safe circle of support for your VBAC Homebirth. 

I start this episode by sharing my experience with creating friendships and some of the challenges that I've had over the years making friends. 

I share some tips for finding friendships with the people who light you up and make you want to be a better version of yourself. 

Sometimes we stay stuck in old friendships that no longer serve us, and just leave a cloud of negative or old energy.  

When we grow as people we need to find those who are right for us now.   Many people can struggle to find those friendships. 

I want you to understand where you are now with your circle of support and how you can cultivate & grow new circles of support. 

And as always I share with you my own experiences and stories. 

3 Ways to create your circle of support

1. First you have to believe you are worthy of having the support you crave.  Of being around people that treat you the way that you feel you deserve to be treated

2. Put yourself out there to connect with people.  You have to go out in public to mingle and meet people, or if you meet people online you need to take the next step to go out in person.  

So many people myself included feel anxious about going out and meeting people in person - but I believe deep and real connections need to have a physical presence - even just to feel that person's energy and hug them.  Or look into their eyes.

3. Be generous and vulnerable

I notice that people get super busy in life, especially mothers.  And everyone is different.  Some people are anxious, some people are introverted so they may not like to talk or get out as much as your average extrovert.

Enjoy this episode now!

Ashley x

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In this podcast episode, I discuss how you can connect with your intuition more deeply. 

I thought it would be good to talk about connecting to your intuition. And I think this is a really good topic because it's something that is I find one of the most important things at our disposal, that we as people can use and utilise. 

And so some of us might naturally have very strong intuition. And some may find that we may be strong in our intuition, but we don't listen to it. 

Sometimes it's a little bit harder for us to listen to that voice or even recognize that voice at all. So I kind of want to share my experience and where I've been coming from, and how I've been reconnecting with my intuition lately.

You will hear some of my journey up-leveling my intuition and I will give you practical examples of how you can start connecting with your intuition today!

Ashley x

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In this episode, I talk about letting go of control and learning to surrender. 

I found through my own journey while pregnant that I had to fully embrace this idea of surrendering and letting go of what could happen.

It took me a while to understand what surrendering actually meant, but eventually through conversation, practice, and trying to embody this ethos I finally found some peace in amongst the noise. 

And it was deeply peaceful & sweet to be in that space of surrender. 

It was also deeply vulnerable to offer myself to the universe and just believe that all will unfold the way it needs to and embracing that deep trust. 

For someone who identifies as a Type A personality that likes control it was quite the journey - but well worth practicing through my freebirth VBAC pregnancy and birthing experience. 

Join me as I share my experiences and stories on this topic. 

Ashley x 

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In this episode, I am answering a question that a listener sent in recently. 

Thanks so much for sending in your question. It's an important topic that I wanted to speak to as I have been in this position before - and it can feel quite powerless being in a position of vulnerability and not feeling safe to trust people.

I'd like to know how you can find trust again in your instincts. I had a lot of failed support that I paid for last year. Every single person let me down. I'm pregnant now and I don't trust anyone.

My past is affecting my ability to find the support that I crave during this pregnancy.

1. Look at the past times and try and understand why those people let you down.

Quite often it feels personal because it is personal. It's happening to us and people let us down - but often it isn't about us at all.  People are often focused on their own chaos and lives.

I discuss the different groups of support people and what can be stopping them from showing up in a way  you need & deserve:

• The System - Doctors, Midwives & medical staff 
• Doulas & birthworkers
• Homebirth Midwives 
• Family & friends 

How we can call in the right support:

1. Set brave intentions and send out the calling - the energy into the world that you want
2. Make sure the person you choose is someone you align with and feels right - listen to your intuition and don't silence that voice when it speaks to you
3. Set reasonable expectations for people
4. Call in your support circle - a lot of the time you need a circle of support - not one person can support you - you need a safe circle of support
5. See if you can see testimonials or speak to others who have worked with that person - find out what you liked about working with that person.
6. Hire someone like me to work on being your support person who doesn't have a registration or other fear factor working with you - who can help you set up the right team and help you navigate those tricky conversations and boundaries etc

Enjoy this episode! 

Ashley x 

In this episode, we meet Meagan from The VBAC Link. 

Meg and I talked about VBAC statistics along with part of her over VBA2C birth story. 

We discuss the statistic rates for the below topics:

• Uterine Rupture rates for VBAC
• Uterine Rupture rates for VBAMC
• Close gaps between births - uterine rupture rates
• Percentages of people who are candidates
• The VBAC Calculator

And sooo much more. 

Meg and I just had so much fun talking and we had so much to talk about. 

You can find the resources for the episode that we discussed here:

Length between pregnancies: 

https://www.thevbaclink.com/length-between-pregnancies-c-section-to-vbac/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20410775/

Uterine Rupture Rates:

https://www.thevbaclink.com/uterine-rupture/

Rupture in pregnancy:

https://reference.medscape.com/article/275854-overview

VBAC after C-Section:

https://www.ahrq.gov/downloads/pub/evidence/pdf/vbacup/vbacup.pdf

VBAC Supportive Directory - Worldwide:

Please note, this is a list of providers who have been recommended to us by members

of our online communities. Each provider operates independently of The VBAC Link. It

is the responsibility of the parents to properly screen their provider and make sure they

are a good fit for their individual birth needs.

You can find this PDF in the VBAC Link Facebook Community in the featured section- 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/VbacLinkGroup/?ref=share&mibextid=unz460

Meagan co-founded the VBAC Link in 2018. 

You can connect with Megan below:

@thevbaclink

More from Ashley

In this episode we meet Laura mum to three little ones. on the surf coast in Victoria.

Laura experienced two miscarriages before she conceived her first baby, which left her quite devastated.

Laura shares that she went into her first pregnancy and birth with an OBGYN in her team that supported her during one of the miscarriages. This made her comfortable to move forward when she fell pregnant with her first baby.

She explains when it came to birth planning, she wasn't intentional, she was flowy and go with the flow.  Although she wanted to have a vaginal birth but felt like a passive player in her birth journey.

Later towards the pregnancy Laura was told she had a "big baby" on board and there was conversation around induction as she didn't want the baby to get "too big" and not come out of her pelvis.

She went through the induction process and found that it wasn’t as straight forward as she had hoped.

She found herself agreeing to a C-section that was quite emotional for her.

She felt like she had a positive birth experience. Her baby was born 4.1 kilos.

She was very motivated for a VBAC the second time and she felt she was on track for a VBAC.

She got to 40 weeks and there was chat happening about "baby needs to be born soon

There was conversation of a repeat C-Section after a certain timeframe 40+ 9 and that was the plan if Laura went over that timeframe.

The night before the C-Section Laura started feeling period cramps and couldn't stand still, she lost her mucus plug and called the hospital to let them know that things were happening.

She spoke to her OBGYN who said it was good. This went on for 24 hours and she went into hospital and was positive something was happening. Her cervix was closed, tight, shut, zero CMS.

She felt disappointed and felt like her body was broken and failing her. She was offered a C-section and decided that must be the best option.

Her baby was born 40+9 and 4 kilos.

She decided she would have a maternal assisted caesarean birth with her next baby. She felt like worrying about the VBAC was a lot, so her positive spin was an easier maternal caesarean delivered baby.

Laura had moved to a different location and didn't want to travel 1.5 hours to her OBGYN with this next pregnancy and looked for a new OBGYN and found one male DR who was willing to try the maternal assisted delivery, after sharing his concerns with her.

After a couple of appointments Laura felt like this wasn't the right path for her and she started to think about a different way to birth her baby.

She found a supportive midwife to support her in a homebirth.

The midwife was only willing to support Laura if she was able to birth closer to hospital. Laura was originally okay with this, but around 35 weeks felt that it no longer felt like the right option. She parted ways with her midwife and decided to freebirth with her doula.

Listen along to hear Laura’s long three day freebirth story!!

You can connect with Laura below:

Welcome to the first episode of 2023!!

It is good to be back and bringing more episodes & birth goodness into the new year. 

In this episode, I discuss your VBAC homebirth journey's most taboo and scariest question.

Will my baby die if I rupture?

Let's discuss the answer to this question and examine how it affects our perspective on VBAC homebirth.

Welcome to the last episode of 2022!!

In this episode, I'm going to recap on the year for the podcast and share some amazing content for you to get onto over the Summer holidays until the podcast is back Jan/ Feb 2023. 

Here's what you can expect for 2023 - 

More amazing VBAC Homebirth Stories, expert interviews sharing their wisdom & episodes on helping you feel more prepared and confident to have a VBAC homebirth on your terms. 

What's coming next year? Exciting things!!

MY NEW AMAZING PROGRAM COMING AFTER APRIL 2023

In this episode, I share my insights, thoughts, and experiences with statistics. 

Statistics can be empowering and help you feel confident, but it's not the only thing that matters in your VBAC homebirth. 

It's important to know how statistics can actually be holding your mindset back or making you feel like your goals are dangerous or unattainable. 

As a society, we put a lot of power into numbers and "evidence".  I hope that after listening to this episode you have some new ways of viewing statistics and how to frame them in your mind in a way that is powerful for you. 

Enjoy this episode!

Ashley x

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In this episode, we meet Dayan mother of two originally from California and lives in Perth, Australia now. 

Here's a run down of Dayan's story: 

GD in first pregnancy, was healthy otherwise, growth scans and induction talk.  Diet controlled allowed to go into spontaneous labour.

Cascade of interventions: breaking waters, syntocinon, labour for 29 hours and c-section.

Dayan felt traumatised after birth and spent 3 years healing, learning about future choices, and trying to calm her nervous system.

Adrenal fatigue from the situation caused her blood sugar levels to rise and she worked with a healer to resolve the diabetes type 2 diagnosis. 

She meditated, went to bed early, moved her body, and regulated herself.

When she was pregnant with her second baby she knew she wanted to do things differently.  She moved back to Perth and contacted 15 midwives.

Only one would support her to homebirth.  She got a doula and was on her way.

She decided to monitor her sugar levels with a continuous glucose monitoring.

She was determined to set herself up for a more positive birth experience.

She noticed that her readings were tracking higher at times she was stressed or worried and found having a baby during the Covid Pandemic to be highly stressful.

She didn't want to birth in a hospital due to her past experience and the restrictions that were in place during the pandemic.

As her blood sugar levels got higher her midwife suggested she be referred into the hospital for diabetes support.  Once Dayan started going to hospital appointments she noticed her levels skyrocketed.  She had to advocate for the things she wanted and felt like every conversation was an anxiety-inducing challenge.

She was being supported with her birth trauma by a psychotherapist who helped her set up a physiological care plan through the hospital which listened to some of her birth plan wishes and triggers she may have.

She felt like it was possible for her to have a positive hospital birth and she felt settled in what was happening.

Eventually, she was told they couldn't support her at her local hospital and referred her onto another hospital. Dayan felt unsettled and out of control.  Just when she thought she was finally getting some traction and feeling okay with a hospital birth.

Dayan went on to have her homebirth in the end, an accidental unassisted birth because her midwife was attending another mama at the time.  She had her doula with her and they called an Ambulance which arrived just before the baby arrived (Dayan didn't even realise they were there).

And she birthed her baby boy on her terms, intuitively. 4.4 kilo of squishy love. 

3 words to describe how you feel after your birth:

Empowered, strong, estactic

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In this episode I share a few stories on the power of how we use our mindset to shape our lives and our behaviours.  I share some of my own personal stories, along with a story of someone I find inspiring and brave.

It's amazing to see how powerful these changes can be when you become aware of what is possible and how to make these changes.

Did you know the words we choose can impact how we feel in our day to day running of our life - and that picking words that can add doubt, fear or uncertainty can in a way set you up to fail for your homebirth, or your goals?

Here's an example of my breastfeeding journey:  I was proud and excited I was planning to breastfeed.  I knew many people around me before who hadn't and chose to bottle feed (I thought it was a choice most of the time) and I didn't see why I wouldn't breastfeed.

When I announced I was breastfeeding people would often say "if you can" or it's okay if you can't, alot of women have low breast milk etc.  So I adjusted my language to be more reflective of how I would be received - by people who were trying to keep me "safe" and small.

Same as VBAC - trial of labour, and trying for a VBAC etc.  Rather than I am having a vaginal birth, I am having a homebirth - look at how powerful that feels.

You are not leaning into the possibility of not achieving that outcome.  You know there is always a possibility (albeit small) that you won't achieve the goal but how amazing does it feel when we step into that power and don't allow anyone to dim your light.

You can correct people if it's appropriate or just correct your mind and mindset.

Ways you can use language in a powerful way (not a disempowering way):

I am having a VBAC Homebirth

I can handle the pain of labour

I am able to vaginally birth my baby

I am breastfeeding

I am a good mother

I will be the best version of myself

I am always improving to be the best version of myself

Remember not to change your language to suit other people, their opinions or expectations.  Be mindful of who your audience is and surround yourself with positive and supportive people.

MORE FROM ASHLEY:

I have started a health kick and have been watching some interesting shows and documentaries lately.  One of the shows I was watching was all about the power of the mind and how powerful the placebo effect can be. 

I'd heard about this before and have been aware of this for a while so I wanted to think about this and how it relates to us in pregnancy and homebirth. 

So I'm sharing more information on what is the placebo effect, why it's so powerful and why you should be mindful about how you use your mind in preparation for your VBAC Homebirth. 

I hope you enjoy this episode!

Ashley!

P.S - These are the last days where you can snap a 20% discount working with me.  If you have been thinking about working with me now is the time to chat and see if this is something you want for your pregnancy homebirth journey.  Email me or send me a DM on Insta to chat more. 

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It's my birthing day and I will be happy if I want to!! 

Our VBAC homebirth baby is turning two - what a milestone for us to celebrate!

I share some of the challenges I went through to have my hbac and some of the amazing things I have gained by going through that journey. 

In many ways I feel fully free.  Free to be my true self as much as I can each and every day. 

The more I step closer towards my goals and visions the closer I am aligned to myself and my hearts calling.  From years and years of suppression and being small in fear of being too much for people - too selfish - to confident - too much of a woman. 

Join me in today of celebration of this experience that touched my life, my family's life and the lives of hundreds of women - we are in this together!! 

Enjoy this episode, 

Ashley x  

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This week I'm coming up to my two-year freebirth after two surgical birth anniversary and I am celebrating in a big way!!

I thought I would take a bit of a trip down memory lane and share some of the tools that I've used and that I used with my clients to really tap into that self-confidence and harness self-belief that is needed to feel ready to homebirth a baby out of your vagina! 

And don't we all want to feel a bit more confident in ourselves and our choices?

You might want to grab a pen and paper because I ask you to have a think about a few things and write them down.  Trust me you don't want to miss this step!! (It's an important one). 

Share with me what you have learned on my Instagram with me and let me know if you have any questions - I'd love to hear from you!

Ashley x 

Enjoy this episode!

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Join us for Part two of Sarah's hom story! 

In Sarah's words, this is a bit of her story - Part 2 of Sarah's Story

I knew I didn't want to have this baby in hospital. The idea was just something I couldn't get my head around. So we planned a homebirth after two  caesarean's at my sister's house as we live 2.5 hours away from a decent hospital.

This pregnancy tested me in a lot of ways. I had "irritable uterus" from 36 weeks and days of stop start labour leading up to his birth, most likely due to his presentation and some stressors with my teenage children.

By the time I reached transition I'd been awake 24 hours and was not recognising transition as it was, so it was really a massive challenge being absolutely spent. I'd announced I was exhausted, I couldn't go on any longer. 

My contractions had been all over the place and I just didn't think I was anywhere near having him. My midwife suggested I get into bed and just try to rest as much as possible, it felt last resort. I immediately started shaking all over, it was awful. 

I thought, this is adrenaline, but I didn't know it was also a sign of transition. Within 2 contractions in bed my waters released with massive force. I couldn't move back to the birthing room where our pool was set up, I was just  physically unable to move  and within 30 minutes of primal roaring loud enough to probably wake the whole neighbourhood, my body had taken over. I had no control, there was no breathing this baby out! With every ounce of me, he was here. It was mind blowing how fast everything changed. 

I literally felt like I was a cow in the paddock birthing a calf, it felt all kinds of weird .

It wasn't peaceful, for me it wasn't calm, but we did it.

I had no tearing. No blood loss at all. We are both in amazing shape.

And best of all, my postpartum has been worth every cent.  So in love

Resources mentioned in the podcast:

Rhea Dempsey's crisis of confidence. 

@rheadempseybirth (on Insta) 

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