The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast

In today's episode we meet Katherine and she shares her five birth stories. Katherine's first cesarean was scheduled due to breech presentation, but when the cesarean was actually performed it was discovered that baby was no longer breech. During Katherine's next two pregnancies she planned for a VBAC and VBA2C, but ended up scheduling her second cesarean because of the hospital and her third cesarean due to no longer feeling comfortable pursuing a VBA2C. Katherine's next birth was a VBA3C in the hospital, followed by a UBA3C. Join us as Katherine shares her birth stories, her varying experiences in healing emotionally after each of her births and 3 miscarriages, and the huge difference it can make to feel heard and respected during labor and birth, regardless of the birth outcome. We also discuss listening to your intuition as a mother, the difficulty in not knowing if you've made the “right” choices, struggling with postpartum depression and anxiety, talking to older generations of women about their birth experiences, the inability to advocate your way out of abuse, everyone having the right to share their own lived experiences, how each pregnancy and birth experience can lead you to make different decisions, getting out of extreme mindsets and into more of a journey-based mindset, and the importance of every woman being able to make decisions that align with her and her desires in pregnancy and birth. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Alicia, who is a mother of two. Alicia was raised not to fear birth and always knew that she wanted to have a home birth, but when her baby flipped breech right before her estimated due date, Alicia's home birth plans turned into a cesarean. She went on to plan another home birth with her second baby and had a redemptive HBAC. Join us as Alicia shares her birth stories, the emotional toll that planning a home birth and then having a cesarean can have, why she chose to labor for as long as possible with her first baby even though she knew she was going to have a cesarean, the stigmas and shame that often accompany cesarean sections, and how essential oils played a vital role in her pregnancy and birth. We also discuss battling self-doubt, intrusive thoughts and fear during pregnancy, the importance of who you invite into your birth space and how those present can make you feel pressure to perform or meet certain expectations, getting into the right headspace for birth, how important the language used to present information to pregnant women and mothers is, and the impact that compassionate and respectful care can have during the transition to motherhood. You can find Alicia on Instagram, here. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Coffee, who is a CRNA and mother to five children. Coffee's first birth was a cesarean after being drug through the cascade of interventions, followed by a scheduled repeat cesarean. When she was pregnant with her third child, the OB she was seeing was unable to support a VBA2C but gave her a recommendation for a local home birth midwife. Coffee then went on to have three HBA2Cs with her next three children. Join us as Coffee shares her birth stories and how her beliefs about birth have evolved throughout her journey. We also discuss the lack of humanity and compassionate care that often comes with routine hospital procedures such as cesareans, how transactional a scheduled repeat cesarean can feel, how much more involved our husbands can be when having a home birth, the lack of bonding that can occur when you don't experience labor (and the mom guilt that comes with that lack of bonding), feeling confident in the choices you make, exploring the question, “but what if my baby dies?”, and how the good OBs seem to be the ones that end up leaving the field because of how much their hands are tied. Check out Coffee's blog by visiting www.howtobourne.blogspot.com, where she shares her birth stories in detail, along with other pregnancy and mothering related things. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Brittany, who is a homeschooling mom of eight. Brittany's first two births were cesareans, followed by an unmedicated hospital VBA2C with a 10lb 2oz baby. With her fourth pregnancy, Brittany had another cesarean at 32 weeks with a special scar, followed by an HBA3C with an unlicensed midwife and three UBA3Cs, one of which was with a 11lb 4oz baby. Join us as Brittany shares her birth stories, her varying postpartum experiences, how she navigated planning for a VBAC with a special scar, and what ultimately led her to give birth to her last three babies at home with just her family present. We also discuss bait-and-switch tactics and the lack of informed consent and respect in hospitals, how disruptions in labor and birth can happen at home, the intelligent design of both mother and baby in pregnancy and birth, the importance of support and community, the fear of being reported for making choices that go against the norm, and the importance of rest and recovery postpartum. If you're looking for more information about special scars, check out the Special Scars Special Hope website, Instagram and Facebook page. To be added to their private Facebook group, follow the instructions on their website. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Morgan, who is a traditional midwife and mother of five. Morgan's first birth was a cesarean after she experienced the typical cascade of interventions in the hospital, and her second birth was a hospital VBAC that left her feeling like there was still something missing. Morgan then went on to have 3 unassisted births, each of which were vastly different. Join us as Morgan shares her birth stories, how her varying birth experiences led her to stand up for herself and now provide the type of care and support she offers to women as a traditional midwife, and one of the impactful experiences she had while supporting a mother pursuing an HBA3C who gave birth 8 days after her water broke. We also discuss how emergency situations often occur because of unnecessary interventions, how interferences during and immediately after labor and birth disrupt a mother and baby's natural flow of hormones, how laws, restrictions and licensure for midwifery vary from state to state and have actually harmed women and taken away their choices, how the system specifically targets certain populations of women, being confident in your birth plans even if it means no one else is on board, and how healing yourself can help others to heal.  Connect with Morgan on Facebook here, or on Instagram here. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Ashton, who shares her four birth stories. Ashton's first baby was born via cesarean at 37 weeks due to her doctor estimating that he would be a big baby. Her next two births were hospital VBACs, followed by an HBAC with her fourth baby who was over 10 pounds. Join us as Ashton shares her birth stories, how she involved her children, specifically her son, in her home birth, and how traveling down the rabbit hole of researching physiological birth can lead to lifestyle changes as a whole. We also discuss how different the perception of VBAC can be between providers or in different areas of the country, the lack of discussion of risks surrounding interventions, inductions and cesareans, the importance of honest and straight forward conversations with your care team, being in control of your choices during pregnancy and birth, how difficult it can be for husbands to witness their wives in pain during labor, and the importance of sharing the home birth stories that aren't totally serene and peaceful. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Reba, who shares her four birth stories, as well as her experiences with stillbirth and an ectopic pregnancy which resulted in losing an ovary and a fallopian tube.  Join us as Reba shares her birth stories, the trauma she has endured, how it has shaped her into who she is and has influenced the decisions she makes for herself and her children, including her choice to birth unassisted after a cesarean twice. We also discuss if there is a true necessity for an induction if it is being scheduled around someone else's schedule, how failed inductions are presented as a problem with a woman's body instead of a problem within the medical system, how your mind and body protect you during and after birth, the problems associated with active management of the birth of the placenta, the intentionality and responsibility behind the choice to freebirth, how hospital policy is often built around provider liability and what is going to protect them from a potential lawsuit, obstetrical abuse and rape, common perceptions of those who choose home birth and unassisted birth, and how prenatal care differs between mainstream OB care, midwifery care, and doing all of your own care. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Lily, who is a mother of three. Her first birth ended in a cesarean after her water broke and the hospital wanted to speed up the labor process, which resulted in interventions that caused her son distress. Lily's second birth was a hospital VBAC, followed by an HBAC for her third. Join us as Lily shares her birth stories, how she made the switch to plan a home birth in the middle of her third pregnancy, and the things that she has learned about how her body likes to give birth. We also discuss safe co-sleeping, the importance of having support postpartum, what the Fetal Ejection Reflex (FER) feels like, the importance of actually waiting for the urge to push, the fact that just because you're dilated to 10cm doesn't necessarily mean that it's time to start pushing, how family-centered midwifery care can be, involving your older children in the labor, birth and postpartum time, how unrealistic it is to expect women to meet a deadline to go into labor, and the importance of education and knowing your options.  Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Melanie, who is a mother of two. Melanie experienced the cascade of interventions after an induction for being “overdue” with her first pregnancy, and after her birth trauma and a difficult postpartum time, beginning with her son spending some time in the NICU, she immediately knew that she wanted something different the next time. For her next pregnancy, Melanie went on to plan an HBAC and gave birth to her baby at home. Join us as Melanie shares her birth stories, how connecting with and talking to other women who have gone through similar experiences has helped heal her birth trauma, and the emotions she has experienced when looking back at her first birth after having her HBAC. We also discuss the importance of every woman having options and choices in regards to where and with whom she gives birth, the differences between OB and midwifery care, how prodromal labor can actually be beneficial in preparing your body for labor and birth, the difference between contractions produced via Pitocin vs. natural contractions, the importance of having a supportive provider and birth team, how hospitals are set up to make the doctor look like the authority in birth and give the illusion that women cannot say “no” to anything, and how belittling and diminishing the saying “at least you have a healthy baby” is after experiencing birth trauma. ***As a disclaimer, Melanie does discuss some of the birth trauma that she experienced with her HBAC. It is very important to bring awareness to and provide support for the fact that birth trauma can occur with any type of birth, however, if this is upsetting to you it may be best to skip over. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Courtney, who has had a wide variety of birthing experiences. Courtney had a cesarean with her first baby after going through the cascade of interventions that started with an induction for a suspected “big baby,” and then had a hospital VBAC, a birth center VBAC and an HBAC.  Join us as Courtney shares her birth stories, as well as her experience with having a miscarriage and her family's journey in fostering and adopting. We also discuss feeling dehumanized and like you're part of an assembly line when giving birth at the hospital, how cesareans can affect family planning, having a people-pleasing personality and experiencing pushback when making choices that go against the mainstream narrative, how having high expectations can affect the labor and birth process, entering labor and birth with an open mind, how different each and every pregnancy can be, the differences between having a VBAC at the hospital, at a birth center and at home, and the growth that you go through as a mother when you stop caring what other people think and feel confident in the decisions that you make for yourself and your children. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Rachael, who is a mother of two. Rachael had a scheduled cesarean at 36 weeks during her first pregnancy due to placenta previa. This left her with a difficult postpartum period due to baby being early. Before the scheduled cesarean even took place, Rachael knew that she would be pursuing a VBAC during her next pregnancy. When she got pregnant she planned an HBAC and gave birth to her next baby at home.  Join us as Rachael shares her birth stories, how alone and anxious she felt after her cesarean, and the importance of going into labor with an open mind to accept birth however it may unfold. We also discuss the perspective shift of being excited for labor instead of fearing pain and discomfort, the importance of breath work and how it can impact labor, the fear and doubt that can creep in during transition, the “birth high” after having a home birth, having your older children around during labor, and keeping your birth plans private and not discussing them with those who may not be supportive. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Jaimie, who is a mother of four, as well as a doula and lactation consultant. Jaimie had a cesarean after her first baby flipped breech between 38 and 39 weeks. After being led to believe that she would have a “gentle cesarean” but none of her preferences actually being honored, she knew she wanted something different the next time. Jaimie then went on to have a hospital VBAC with a 9lb baby and 2 HBACs, both of which were with 10lb babies. Join us as Jaimie shares her birth stories, her journey through learning about pregnancy and birth, how she started advocating for herself and the impact it had during her VBAC birth in the hospital, and how she supports other moms today in her role as a doula. We also discuss the “protest-despair” response in babies who are immediately separated from their mothers after birth, how hospitals often seem to focus on paperwork and policies rather than the human beings they are working with, variations of normal in labor, our body's innate wisdom and the ability of our body and baby to work together during labor and birth, our intuition as mothers and how it can lead us to support our babies in ways we may not understand in the moment, the image we create in our minds of how birth “should be” vs. how it actually is, the importance of processing through our births regardless of the outcome, the mental and emotional battles that often come with pregnancy, and the impact that true surrender in pregnancy, birth and motherhood can have. Connect with Jaimie on Instagram, here. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Jen, who is a mother of two. Jen had a cesarean with her first child after a long labor and very little support in the hospital. Feeling dehumanized and traumatized by her experience, she began to look into other options and hired a home birth midwife as soon as she realized that she was pregnant with her second child. Jen then went on to give birth to her 10lb pound baby at home. Join us as Jen shares her birth stories, the feeling she experienced during and after her cesarean of being the one giving birth but not mattering to anyone in the room, and the difficulty in navigating mainstream prenatal care when you don't know the right questions to ask or that there are other options. We also discuss how quickly people are to say that VBAC and home birth are risky and the importance of remembering that repeat cesareans also come with risks, how home birth and birth centers only vary in regards to location, the difference in prenatal care from a midwife vs. an OB, the importance of taking the time to heal from previous birth trauma, how having your other children present at your birth will impact them and their perception of birth, the importance of taking time to rest in the postpartum period and process through your birth experience regardless of if it was traumatizing or not, and how motherhood can look different than you envisioned, especially if you start making choices that go against the mainstream.  Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Megan. Despite Megan's desire for a natural birth, her journey to motherhood began with an ectopic pregnancy and the discovery of autoimmune issues which left her feeling shaken and like maybe home birth wasn't for her after all. When she got pregnant again, Megan sought out care from the OB who had performed the surgery for her ectopic pregnancy and ended up having a cesarean due to breech presentation. Immediately after her cesarean, Megan knew that she definitely wanted to have her next baby naturally at home and started meeting with midwives before she was even pregnant again. Megan then went on to give birth to her next baby in the comfort of her own home. Join us as Megan shares her birth stories, the importance of discussing the realities of it sometimes taking several months to get pregnant once you begin trying, and the importance of paying attention to early red flags from your provider. We also discuss the sensations and feelings that come with having a cesarean and healing afterwards, the cascade of interventions and potential consequences of forcing labor to start before your body is ready, the stress of having strangers present during a hospital birth, the differences in the overall relationship and environment associated with a home birth and midwife compared to an OB in the hospital, finding the right balance between consuming positive VBAC/HBAC stories but still being aware of the risks and possibilities associated with birth, the importance of setting boundaries with people in your life regarding your birth plans, not allowing unsupportive people into your birth space, the stigma around home birth and the lack of education around home birth and birth in general, and that your birth support doesn't have to come from a certified doula. HBAC vs. hospital VBAC study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33583048/ Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Kara, who is a mother of two. At the end of Kara's first pregnancy, she was told to go in for an induction while her blood pressure was normal rather than waiting for it to get high again, despite only having had one high blood pressure reading several weeks beforehand. What her provider had said would be a “gentle induction” quickly cascaded into a cesarean. When Kara became pregnant again, her hospital VBAC plans turned into HBAC plans when covid hospital restrictions became widespread. When Kara's water broke she didn't experience any contractions for almost 2 full days, but being fully supported by her birth team, she went on to give birth to her baby in the comfort of her own home. Join us as Kara shares her birth stories, how her experience as an athlete and powerlifter carried her through labor, the differences in the care that she received during her pregnancies, how she learned to say “no” during pregnancy, and how healing her HBAC was not only for her, but also for her husband after he got to catch and be the first person to touch his daughter. We also discuss the lack of informed consent when interventions are presented as something that needs to be done, discrepancies in due dates and how they can have a negative impact when scheduling inductions and cesareans, the importance of connecting with your birth team and interviewing multiple midwives and doulas when possible, and the way that postpartum depression has become normalized and dismissed in our society. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Callie, who is a mother of four and a holistic doula, lactation specialist, placenta encapsulator and un-schooler. Callie had a cesarean with her first baby after being put on a clock at the hospital. She was then scared into a scheduled repeat cesarean with her second after a third trimester ultrasound showed that her baby was “too big.” During her third pregnancy, Callie planned for a hospital VBAC, but then experienced a bait-and-switch from her provider and fired them when she was around 8 months pregnant. She planned to just labor at home due to not being able to find another provider, but ended up with a third cesarean after experiencing intense fear and going into the hospital for pain management during labor. For her last pregnancy, Callie planned an unassisted home birth from the start, addressed her fears and gave birth to her UBA3C baby in the comfort of her home. Join us as Callie shares her birth stories, her journey as a doula and how she supports women now, how she decided to take responsibility for her choices in birth, and the process she has gone through of forgiving herself for previous choices that had been made out of fear. We also discuss the process of facing our fears in pregnancy and birth, how fears and the inability to feel safe can stall labor, the feelings of self-doubt when there are so many outside influences that sabotage a mother's intuition and make a profit when the natural way doesn't work out, all of the gadgets and devices that are marketed to mothers as things they need to have during pregnancy and in motherhood, the potential ramifications of inductions and scheduled cesareans when due dates are inaccurate, making choices based on intuition and self-empowerment, not compromising what you want during pregnancy, birth and postpartum, and how birth is just as much of a normal, biological process as having a bowel movement. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Kori, who is a mother of two and currently lives on the island of Maui. Kori is a wealth of knowledge and has her own platform, podcast and online course where she teaches women how to restore their metabolism, vitality and food freedom of their youth. Kori's first pregnancy ended in a cesarean due to her son being transverse when her water broke. She had been receiving prenatal care at a birth center in Florida, and had a poor experience when they needed to transfer to the hospital for a cesarean. Kori immediately knew that she would be pursuing an out-of-hospital VBAC for her next pregnancy, and she and her family made the move to Maui in between her pregnancies, where she then planned an HBAC with a midwife. After not progressing past 4cm for the first 32 hours of labor, Kori persevered and fully dilated the remaining 6cm within 40 minutes, immediately felt the urge to push and gave birth to her 9lb 7oz daughter two contractions later at 42 weeks exactly. Join us as Kori shares her birth stories, how defeated she felt during her HBAC labor and how she reflects on and perceives the experience now, the importance of sharing difficult labor and birth stories, and the feelings surrounding an unplanned cesarean, not experiencing yourself give birth to your baby and seeing your baby for the first time when they are on the other side of the room. We also discuss honoring your intuition as a mother and allowing ourselves to trust our instincts despite the constant unsolicited advice mothers receive, the taboo conversations around bedsharing and co-sleeping, differing opinions on what “safety” is in birth and how it impacts our choices, taking responsibility for our bodies and health, how trauma can expose itself during birth, that our babies can also undergo birth trauma, our body's wise, built in protective mechanisms, the importance of communal female relationships before, during and after birth, the current trend of “pain free births” whether at home or in the hospital with an epidural, and the huge rise we are seeing in the surgical method of addressing oral restrictions.  Find Kori on Instagram, here. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Kelli, who is a mother of two. Kelli's first birth ended in a cesarean after it was discovered that her baby was breech when she arrived at the hospital in labor. When she became pregnant with her second baby, Kelli discovered that this baby was also breech, but she knew that she didn't want to have another cesarean. At 39 weeks, just 3 days shy of going into labor, Kelli solidified the support of a home birth midwife and gave birth to her breech baby in the comfort of her own home. Join us as Kelli shares her birth stories and takes us through her journey of finding support to give birth to her breech VBAC baby at home after the intense manipulation, bullying, coercion and unprofessional behavior from the hospital, how she finally found validation in feeling traumatized by her c-section with the women she was connecting with in online forums, and how she desperately wanted someone to actually take the time to listen to her and trust her knowledge of her own body. We also discuss the mourning and grief experienced when our birth plans don't line up with what we had pictured, the loss of not getting to watch our babies come out of our own bodies when we have a cesarean, how our memories of traumatic events can be impacted and it often feels as if we are remembering events through the photos/videos that were taken, how common it is to just take a doctor at their word and the emphasis we put on a doctor's opinion, how the unpredictability of natural birth vs. a scheduled cesarean is perceived in the hospital, how doctors can use scare tactics to coerce women into what is easiest for their schedules, a baby's perspective of a scheduled cesarean, how finding a community of supportive women can impact our healing, and how impactful it is for a baby's first sensory experiences to be in the safety and comfort of their own home. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Stephanie, who is a mother of three and a physical therapist. Stephanie had a cesarean with her first baby due to a sudden and severe onset of preeclampsia, which was followed by a 3 week NICU stay for her baby and an emotionally difficult postpartum recovery. With her next pregnancy, Stephanie hired the same midwifery group, but ended up being transferred to the on-call OB during labor when none of the midwives showed up for her. Despite having a VBAC, this was followed by another difficult postpartum recovery, both physically and emotionally. For her third pregnancy, Stephanie hired a home birth midwife and gave birth to her almost 10lb baby in her bedroom. Join us as Stephanie shares her birth stories, how OBGYNs and modern medical care have their place when there is a true emergency, and how labor and postpartum recovery can differ in a medicated vs. unmedicated state. We also discuss how our bodies will protect our babies if we feel unsafe during labor, how our perceived level of pain during labor can be impacted by our surroundings, the impact that a doula or supportive birth partner can have, and the feedback loop that our bodies are designed with in regards to all of the hormones associated with labor, birth and postpartum recovery. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Dr. Sarah, who is a chiropractor and birth educator, and she shares her three birth stories. After her first pregnancy ended in a missed miscarriage, Dr. Sarah stayed with the same OBGYN group for her next pregnancy after undergoing IUI to become pregnant. Despite a voice in her head saying to just stay home, Dr. Sarah went into the hospital and had a cesarean for no reason other than falling into a cascade of interventions and her birth not following the hospital's timeline. Immediately knowing that she needed to do things differently next time, Dr. Sarah hired a homebirth midwife when she became pregnant with her next baby, but later decided to to have an unassisted birth (UBAC) at home instead. For her last pregnancy, Dr. Sarah hired a different set of midwives and had a 2HBAC. Join us as Dr. Sarah shares her birth stories, how her birth experiences have inspired her to connect with other women and become an advocate against obstetric violence and abuse, how obstetric violence and abuse can still occur even if your care team is “nice,” the importance of taking responsibility for your choices, knowing why you're making the choices that you are, not blindly following what anyone says, and that doctors are just a consultant and the woman should be the final authority regarding their care during pregnancy and birth. We also discuss the Prenatal Care Workbook that Dr. Sarah is currently working on, how statistics on topics such as uterine rupture can be skewed, the role of the husband/partner during labor and birth, and the importance of preparing for postpartum and having postpartum support. Find Dr. Sarah on Instagram, here. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Dana and she shares her three birth stories. During her first pregnancy, Dana was given a membrane sweep without her consent at 41 weeks and her water broke later in the evening. After immediately going into the hospital, Dana's labor was augmented with pitocin, she got an epidural, and when she spiked a fever the OB on call suggested a cesarean. With her next pregnancy, Dana stayed with the same OB/midwife practice and had an unmedicated labor where she fully dilated and after trying many different pushing positions for 3 hours, had another cesarean. Dana then had a miscarriage and conceived again a couple of weeks afterwards. This time, Dana sought the care of a homebirth midwife when the hospital's policies changed and her original OB left, and she gave birth to her 10lb 8oz baby girl in the comfort of her own home. Join us as Dana shares her birth stories, how having cesareans and the recovery associated with them has affected how she does day-to-day tasks to this day, and how the lack of support in women's postpartum care made her want to become a doula. We also discuss how validation from others can help us cope with our own trauma and feel confident in our choices, the importance of asking for what you need postpartum and not feeling guilty about needing help, how our intuition can really tell us if something is wrong, and how important it is to try not to look back and wish things had gone differently because then we wouldn't have the knowledge we now do and be where we currently are. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we continue our conversation with Susan as she shares the last five of her nine birth stories. Susan had her babies between the years of 1973-1989 and is now 71 years old. Her last five births all took place at home, with three of them being unassisted, and one of the babies weighing in at just under 13 pounds. Join us as Susan shares her last five birth stories. We also discuss how routine prenatal testing had increased by the time of Susan's last pregnancy, how giving birth at home can increase your chances of having a VBAC, the value of support and being surrounded by other nursing mothers when nursing our own babies, the differences in women who grew up viewing birth as a normal, natural things when it becomes their time to give birth, and how Susan's experiences and knowledge from her childbearing years helped her support her children during birth (including catching one of her own grandbabies at home!). Today's episode is Part Two of a two part series, so if you haven't listened to last week's episode, check that out to hear Susan's first four birth stories. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Susan who shares the first four of her nine birth stories. Susan had her babies between the years of 1973-1989 and is now 71 years old. Her first birth ended in a cesarean after her water broke, labor didn't immediately start, and the hospital's induction timeline ran out. After that birth, Susan was told that she could never have a baby vaginally, but she went on to have two hospital VBACs, one of which was to a 11 pound baby, and an HBAC with a 10 pound baby. Join us as Susan shares her first four birth stories, how hospital policies and procedures have changed over the years, the interventions that she endured during her hospital births, and how she eventually decided to just give birth to her babies in the same place that they were conceived. Today's episode is Part One of a two part series, so tune in next week to hear Susan's next five HBAC stories. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Alicia, who is a former RN, and she shares her five birth stories. During her first pregnancy, Alicia shares that she just went through the motions, saw an OB and had a 32 hour Pitocin induction that included many interventions. When she held her daughter after birth, she felt disconnected and immediately knew that this is not how birth was supposed to be. Almost 7 years later, Alicia had an unmedicated hospital birth with a midwife, but this time she immediately knew that any future children would be born at home. Alicia's third birth was a home birth with midwives, and it was then that she started feeling the urge to share her newfound passion for all things birth-related with other women. Alicia then went on to plan another home birth for her fourth birth, but when she and her midwife realized that the baby was transverse during labor, Alicia transferred to the hospital and had a c-section. For Alicia's last birth, she knew that home birth was the only option for her and she gave birth to her 10lb 14oz HBAC baby while standing in her shower. Join us as Alicia shares her birth stories, how each one of them gave her a different perspective on birth that continues to grow, and the general lack of truthful and honest information in the birthing world. We also discuss the importance of working through and addressing your fears surrounding birth, standing your ground and being the authority in your care, how a mom's body and alignment can affect baby's positioning during pregnancy, labor and birth, how hospital timelines, parameters and hierarchies can influence your birthing space, and the importance of rest in the postpartum period for both physical recovery and bonding with your baby. Find Alicia on Instagram, here. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Brittany. After Brittany's first pregnancy ended in a missed miscarriage and she experienced poor care from the hospital, she knew that she wanted something different during her future pregnancies. Brittany chose to receive care from midwives at a birth center during her next pregnancy, but they dropped her from their care when she went past 42 weeks. Brittany was then left without a care provider and eventually had a cesarean at 43 weeks after some intense coercion and manipulation on the part of the hospital. Brittany went on to plan an HBAC with her next baby, transferred to the hospital during labor and advocated for herself to have another cesarean due to the events occurring during labor. Brittany's third birth was a planned hospital VBA2C that was full of more manipulation, coercion and truly unethical behavior on the part of the hospital, and ended in another cesarean. For her last birth, Brittany knew that she could not endure more trauma from the hospital, so she went on to plan an HBA3C and had her baby in the comfort of her living room. Join us as Brittany shares her birth stories, how she managed her feelings of abandonment after her first birth, and the importance of advocating for yourself and being in control of the decisions surrounding your labor and birth. We also discuss navigating birth trauma, manipulation and coercion, the importance of maintaining a strong relationship with your spouse after having a baby, and how even with what seems like all of the odds stacked against you, you can birth your baby in the way that you desire. In today's episode, Brittany mentions a website that she created called Smart Birth (www.smartbirth.org). It is dedicated to helping women understand safety and risk in childbirth and how to keep it in a proper perspective.  Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we continue our conversation with Amanda, who is a mother of four and an advocate for pregnant and birthing women. After having an HBAC for her second birth, Amanda knew that was exactly what she wanted again for her third and fourth births. After all of her experiences, Amanda knew that she had to share everything she had learned, which led her to create her own Facebook group and begin coaching women. Join us as Amanda shares her second and third HBAC stories, which both ended up being unintentionally unassisted. We also discuss how Amanda's labors were impacted by her belief in her body's abilities, how her children were impacted by being present for each of her home births, the territorial nature of hospital staff when women have a doula or extra birth support and how that negatively impacts the woman in labor, problems with early inductions and due date calculations, the way that information is presented to instill fear in women during pregnancy, how hospital staff are trained to speak to their patients, and how important it is to go into appointments with the intention of taking your power back. Today's episode is Part Two of a two part series, so if you haven't listened to last week's episode, check that out to hear Amanda's cesarean and first HBAC stories. If you want to get in contact with Amanda, she can be found in her group on Facebook (click here) and at www.findingamanda.com. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Amanda, who is a mother of four and an advocate for pregnant and birthing women. Amanda wanted a natural birth with her first child, but was pressured into an unnecessary cesarean by her provider. Knowing that she didn't want to experience that type of coercion and manipulation again, Amanda advocated for herself and switched providers multiple times leading up to her next birth, which was an HBAC.  Join us as Amanda shares her birth stories, how she dealt with the constant negativity and harassment to have a cesarean with her first child, how the system failed her, and how she sought out to learn everything that she could about pregnancy and birth. We also discuss how deeply our past traumas can impact us, the many problems within the modern medical system and how so much of it is set up for provider convenience, and that giving birth in a hospital setting is a new trend, whereas home birth is the way that women have been giving birth to their babies for all of eternity. Today's episode is Part One of a two part series, so tune in next week to hear Amanda's other two HBAC stories. If you want to get in contact with Amanda, she can be found in her group on Facebook (click here) and at www.findingamanda.com. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Christina, who is a mother of two. Christina planned a home birth during her first pregnancy, but when labor lasted 6 days, she made the decision to transfer to the hospital. After requesting an epidural in hopes of getting some much needed rest, Christina went on to labor for 12 more hours and then had a cesarean. Christina knew that she did not want to have another cesarean or hospital birth, and once again made the decision to have a home birth when she became pregnant with her second child. Join us as Christina shares her birth stories, how she processed through the trauma from her first birth when her second pregnancy and labor appeared like it may follow suit, and how different each pregnancy, labor and birth can be, regardless of similar circumstances. We also discuss how your posture during pregnancy can affect baby's position, tongue and lip ties, how "doing all the things" to prepare for birth can leave you feeling mentally exhausted, and a few different ways that you can support your body both before and after birth. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Adva, who is a mother of two. Adva had a cesarean with her first child after he turned breech during labor, and the birth center that she had planned to give birth at transferred her care to the hospital. During Adva's second pregnancy, she sought out care from the same midwifery group but was told that she could not have a VBAC at the birth center. Adva then planned to give birth at a hospital in case there was an emergency that occurred during labor, but decided to switch her care to a home birth midwife at 37 weeks and had a 3.5 hour labor from start to finish! Join us as Adva shares her birth stories, the importance of your mindset during birth, and how to take control of your birth and not looking to others to “save” you. We also discuss pelvic floor physical therapy, chiropractic care, and how much education is lacking in the general population when it comes to home birth, especially home birth after a cesarean. Today's episode also contains a special announcement! Choosing HBAC: The Ultimate Home Birth After Cesarean Prep Course will be open for enrollment in early 2022. This course will be a compilation of all the information, statistics, answers to all of the frequently asked questions, and everything that I have learned throughout the years, in my own research and experiences, and in the hours upon hours upon hours of talking with other women who are planning for or have already had their HBACs. It will provide information and choices for those who want a home birth after having had a cesarean, and it will be the first of its kind. It will contain 10 modules that you can move through at your own pace, downloadable PDFs, exercises for you and your partner to work through, and references to other helpful materials, and more! For more information, or to be added to the waitlist, send us a message on Instagram or Facebook, or e-mail us at hbacpodcast@gmail.com. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Katie, who is a mother of two. Katie had a cesarean with her first child after her waters ruptured prematurely, and she shares how during that labor she lost track of trusting her body. Katie immediately knew that she wanted something different for her next pregnancy and birth, and she sought out a home birth midwife. With her second pregnancy, Katie's waters once again ruptured prematurely, and she knew that there was a lesson to be learned. Katie goes on to share her HBAC story that includes a breech baby, a prolapsed bladder, and a broken tailbone. Join us as Katie shares her birth stories, how she processed through and faced her fears during both of her births, how not having the healing HBAC that everyone talks about has shaped her perspective, and how she has used her birth experiences to push herself and to help other women. We also discuss how the culture we live in programs us to fear labor and birth, the various "rabbit holes" you uncover when you begin to question the common narrative surrounding pregnancy, birth, and motherhood, and how important it is to change that narrative and the way we talk about pregnancy, labor, birth and motherhood. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Samantha, who is a mother of four. Samantha's first two children were born via cesarean, despite her plans for a home water birth with each. When Samantha became pregnant with her third child, she was not finding support to have a vaginal birth from her previous home birth midwives or hospital staff, so she decided to pursue an unassisted birth at home. After a healing birth with her third, it was no question to birth unassisted at home again with her fourth child.  Join us as Samantha shares her birth stories, her journey to becoming a doula after the birth of her second child, and how everything she learned as a doula impacted her decisions during her third and fourth pregnancies. We also discuss how the skills to deliver a breech baby have been lost over time, what prenatal care looks like when you take it into your own hands, how birth can transform your perspective and outlook on life, and the differences in the postpartum period after a traumatic birth vs. a healing and redemptive birth. Looking for a birth doula in Ontario? Connect with Samantha on her website here, or on her Facebook page here. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Jennifer, who is a mother of three. Jennifer's first pregnancy was with twins, and despite her efforts to find support to give birth to them vaginally, she was left with no option but to schedule a cesarean. Jennifer immediately knew that she would not be giving birth to her next child in a hospital, and sought out the care of a midwife to have a home birth.  Join us as Jennifer shares her birth stories and how the normalization of the natural process of twin birth that she grew up knowing has impacted her, her pregnancies and her perception of labor and birth. We also discuss the importance of how language can affect our thoughts around pregnancy and birth, voicing your preferences and choices during birth despite the often heard statement of, "they wouldn't let me ...", the care of a midwife vs. an OB, how family-centered midwifery care can be, and how those present with you during labor and birth can affect your experience.  Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Danielle, who shares her birth stories. Danielle's first three births were cesareans, followed by a vaginal stillbirth in the hospital. Despite the heartache that stillbirth brought, it gave Danielle a renewed sense of confidence in her ability to have a vaginal birth, and she went on to plan an HBA3C with her next baby. Join us as Danielle shares her birth stories and the emotions that came with each of them. Danielle also talks about how she and her family dealt with and processed the loss of her son, how she came to have confidence in her body after her traumatic births, the lack of information shared regarding risks associated with multiple cesareans, the importance of educating yourself and having a supportive circle, and taking back control and assessing risks in order to make our own personal choices. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Linda, who is a mother of four. Linda had a cesarean with her first daughter due to breech presentation that was discovered by her OB during the pushing phase of labor, despite Linda's insistence that her baby had been breech for most of her pregnancy. Linda then went on to have home births with her next three children. Join us as Linda shares her birth stories, her struggle with postpartum anxiety and emotionally connecting with her daughter after her cesarean, the process of physically healing after a cesarean and vaginal births, and how to handle and process through fears leading up to labor and birth. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Jillian, who is a Pediatric Behavioral Therapist in Baltimore, Maryland. Jillian had a cesarean with her son due to breech presentation, and then went on to have a home birth with her daughter. Join us as Jillian shares her birth stories and her experiences in advocating for herself and taking back control over her pregnancy, labor and birth choices. We also discuss the emotions that come with planning for a natural birth and feeling let down by an unplanned cesarean, varying opinions and levels of support between providers, and how important it is to feel supported and safe in your birth space. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Jenny, who is a mother of eight. Jenny's birth stories consist of three vaginal, medicated hospital births, an emergency cesarean due to cord prolapse, a medicated hospital VBAC, a cesarean due to breech presentation, and two breech HBACs. Join us as Jenny shares her birth stories and her many different experiences both in birth and as a mother. Jenny also shares about her struggles with postpartum depression and her role as a "medical mom." ***TRIGGER WARNING: Two of Jenny's birth stories include hypoxic events at birth and the complications that followed. It is very important to bring awareness to and provide support for this topic, however, if this is upsetting to you it may be best to skip over Jenny's third and eighth birth stories. The Facebook group that Jenny mentions during this episode can be found here. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Sophie. After having a cesarean with her first son, Sophie explores her options, talks to various providers and does some of her own research, which helps her decide to have an HBAC with her second son. Join us as Sophie shares her birth stories and talks about the power and confidence that research and information can bring when making choices for birth, and the physical and emotional differences in postpartum recovery after two different types of births. We also discuss some of the similarities and differences in health care and the birth culture between England and the United States.  Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Julie who is a mother of four and co-owner of The VBAC Link. After an unexpected cesarean with her first child, Julie became a doula, found her niche in supporting VBAC moms, co-founded The VBAC Link, and went on to have HBACs with her next three babies. Join us as Julie shares her birth stories and tells us about all of the wonderful things that The VBAC Link has to offer. We also discuss the importance of interviewing multiple doulas and providers to find the right one for you, the difficulty that comes with a surprise pregnancy while experiencing postpartum depression, and working with the hand you're dealt during labor and birth. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Chelsea who is a mother of three. After a cesarean with her daughter, a difficult first year of motherhood, and unsupportive providers who doubted her ability to give birth vaginally, Chelsea decides to have home births with her next two children (one of which was a precipitous labor under 2 hours with a 10 1/2 pound baby!). Join us as Chelsea shares her birth stories and we discuss the negativity that often surrounds home birth, finding balance in the postpartum period, and being confident in the decisions that you make for yourself and your family. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Deanna. Deanna wanted a natural birth with her son, but upon discovery that he was breech at almost 41 weeks, she had a cesarean. Almost immediately, Deanna knew she wanted to have an HBAC with her next baby. Join us as Deanna shares her birth stories and we discuss the importance of communication with your birth team, varying opinions between providers, setting boundaries, being selective with who you share your HBAC plans with, and the differences in mother-baby attachment after different types of birth. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

In today's episode we meet Corinna. After the birth of her son at the age of 21, Corinna was told that she would automatically need a cesarean for any future babies. In the 14 years until her daughter is born, and again before the birth of her second son, Corinna works through her fears surrounding birth and overcoming her insecurities about the capability of her body. Join us as Corinna shares her three birth stories -- a medicated hospital birth, a cesarean, and an HBAC -- and as we discuss the importance of support during pregnancy, the relationship you have with your provider, informed decision making (or lack thereof), and feeling like you have a choice in the type of care you receive. ***TRIGGER WARNING: During our discussion, there is mention of Corinna's sister giving birth to a stillborn baby girl. It is very important to bring awareness to and provide support for this topic, however, if this is upsetting to you it may be best to skip over our conversation between 7 minutes and 8 minutes 30 seconds. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals. 

In today's episode we meet Mary Claire who is a former NICU nurse, and now a stay-at-home mom to her three children. Join us as she shares her three birth stories: a cesarean due to breech presentation, a medicated VBAC in the hospital, and an HBAC. Throughout the episode we discuss the reasons behind Mary Claire's choice to have a home birth, the differences in pain perception and the intensity of labor at the hospital vs. at home, and how varying levels of support and interventions during the birth process and postpartum period can impact recovery. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals. 

In today's episode we meet Natasha who is a physical therapist in Colorado. Join us as she shares her emotional cesarean birth story with her daughter, and her home birth story with her son. Throughout the episode we will also discuss pelvic floor therapy, addressing issues before they become chronic, and touch on the idea that just because something may be common during pregnancy doesn't mean that it is normal. We also discuss the differences in recovery and postpartum after having a cesarean vs. a home birth. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.

Hello, and thank you for listening to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast! In today's episode, you will meet your host, Rachel Garrett, as she shares her journey to motherhood, her cesarean birth story with her son, and what has inspired her to create this podcast. Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information. Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.