Podcasts about vbac facts

  Jen Kamel is the CEO and Founder of VBAC Facts®. Since 2007, her focus has been to provide objective, accurate information about the data available on vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) and repeat cesarean to parents, professionals, policymakers, and … Continue reading →

What's more stressful: a panic attack right before a surgical birth that takes your breath away and leaves you with memory gaps, or your baby's shoulders getting stuck on the pubic bone after the head is out and needing a manual placental extraction? For today's birth story, doula, lactation specialist, and childbirth educator Morgan Moy shares with Adriana how she prepared (or didn't) for her first birth that left her with significant trauma, and how being very intentional in her preparation to have a VBAC made for a healing and redemptive experience, despite having unusual immediate postpartum complications. Sponsor offers - TIME SENSITIVE! NEEDED - Get 20% off at ThisIsNeeded.com with code BIRTHFULHONEYLOVE - Get 20% off at HoneyLove.com/Birthful FAMILYALBUM APP - Check out FamilyAlbum at family-album.comAQUATRU - Get 20% off at AquaTru.com with code BIRTHFULARTIFACT UPRISING - Get up to 20% off at ArtifactUprising.com with code BIRTHFUL through December 31.Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links on its show notes page.  If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on VBAC Facts and our episode on Immediate Postpartum Hemorrhages.You can connect with Morgan on Instagram @thedouladuoroc. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast on Instagram or email us at podcast@Birthful.com. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for Adriana's Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course at BirthfulCourses.com.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* Check out FamilyAlbum: family-album.com* Go to Artifact Uprising and use my code BIRTHFUL for a great deal (even if you've purchased before!): www.artifactuprising.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Ep 98 Description:  “Once you have the facts, once you have confidence in your information, you have confidence in your decision. You don't need to justify that to anyone. It's not your job to educate the world unless you decide it is.” —Jen Kamel VBAC— Vaginal Birth After Cesarean is a common yet controversial choice that many birthing people face. While the evidence has long supported VBAC as a safe option for most, widespread myths and misinformation continue to obscure the facts.  In this episode, leading VBAC advocate Jen Kamel sets out to separate myth from reality once and for all. She delves into the numerous misconceptions that have taken hold over the years: from beliefs that VBAC is only suitable for a select few, to exaggerations of its risks, to the idea that repeat c-sections are always safer.  Debra and Jen also discuss practical tips on finding supportive providers and navigating unsupportive opinions, the importance of fully informed consent, and the power of realizing one's autonomy in their birth decisions despite barriers. For anyone with a personal or professional stake in empowering low-risk vaginal births, this can't-miss discussion is a must-listen to counter the barrage of VBAC myths and understand the option in its proper evidence-based light.   If you are a doula, nurse, midwife, or birth worker who would like to expand your practice with pleasure and Orgasmic Birth - Learn more at https://www.orgasmicbirth.com/orgasmic-birth-practitioner-training/    Debra also has a class on positively preparing for a cesarean or a VBAC vaginal birth after cesarean https://orgasmicbirth.thinkific.com/courses/cesarean-vbac  Connect with Debra! Website: https://www.orgasmicbirth.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orgasmicbirth Twitter: https://twitter.com/OrgasmicBirth  YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/OrgasmicBirth1  Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@orgasmicbirth  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-pascali-bonaro-1093471  Episode Highlights: 02:47 Advocacy for Respectful Care 07:18 VBAC Risks, Candidacy, and Decision-Making 12:21 Finding Supportive Providers 16:59 VBAC Access and Midwifery Legislation 20:46 VBAC Rates and Barriers in the US   25:29 VBAC Tools and Resources  

In this episode, Kimberly and Dr. Elliot Berlin discuss his informed pregnancy focused chiropractic work. He explains noticing a rise in out of hospital births post-pandemic as well as an increase in hospital restrictions and inductions in hospital births. He discusses various causes of breech positions, his chiropractic approaches to breech babies before birth, as well as the long history of cesareans and how VBACs became stigmatized in recent decades. The common thread through this whole conversation is providing education and information for pregnant people to make the best informed decisions for themselves and their birth.   Bio Dr. Elliot Berlin is an award-winning pregnancy-focused chiropractor, childbirth educator, and labor doula. His innovative techniques for prenatal wellness care address tight and painful muscles and tendons utilizing specific massage techniques based on soft tissue releases. He combines this with traditional chiropractic adjustments to restore motion to restricted joints. Dr. Berlin notably works with several hundred breech babies each year, most of whom turn into the ideal pre-birth position once normal function is restored to the mother's low back and pelvis. He is also the host of Informed Pregnancy Podcast, an award winning pregnancy focused chiropractor.   What He Shares: –Differences in births post-pandemic –Chiropractic approaches to breech babies –History of cesareans –Informed VBACs –Mind-Body health for fertility   What You'll Hear: –Pregnancies post-pandemic –Rise in out of hospital births –Increase in restrictions and interventions in hospitals –Guiding clients in making best choices for birth –Training for breech births –Using Webster technique to reposition breech babies –Structural reasons for breech positionings –Functional issues of mother posture –Minimizing ultrasounds –Looking at baby position at 32 weeks –Chiropractic care outside of pregnancy –Approaches to releases and maintenance –History of cesareans –Myths around VBACs –How VBAC information is portrayed  –Uterine ruptures –Insurance policies and cesareans –Induction drugs causing uterine ruptures in 1980s –VBAC Facts website –Using modern technology to improve childbirth –Downsides to how interventions are applied –What led Dr. Berlin to his work –Mind-body practices leading to natural fertility after years of treatments –Informed Pregnancy podcast –Informedpregnancy.tv streaming app   Resources Website: informedpregnancy.com/informedpregnancy.tv IG: @doctorberlin  

Kally McConnell shares her glorious VBAC story, along with all the things she did differently from her first birth, how it all started with a literal bang when her bag of waters broke, and how there was no time for the tub. She also shares with Adriana the insights she gained about the difference between labor contractions, pushing contractions, and Pitocin-generated contractions.Get the most out of this episode by checking out the resources, transcript, and links listed on its show notes page.  If you liked this episode, listen to our interview on VBAC Facts and our episode on Know(ing) What You're Up Against When Giving Birth at a Hospital. You can learn more about Kally and her work at Creative-Care-Services.com. You can connect with Birthful @BirthfulPodcast and email us at podcast@Birthful.com. If you enjoy what you hear, download Birthful's Postpartum Plan FREE when you sign up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign-up for Adriana's Own Your Birth online BIRTH preparation classes and her Thrive with Your Newborn online POSTPARTUM preparation course.Follow us on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.Our Sponsors:* Visit HomeThreads.com/BIRTHFUL today and get a 15% off code for your first order!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birthful/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Jen Kamel is the CEO and Founder of VBAC Facts® whose mission is to increase access to vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) through education, legislation, and amplifying the consumer voice. VBAC Facts® helps perinatal professionals, and cesarean parents, achieve clarity on the VBAC evidence through their educational courses, continuing education training programs, and consulting services. As an internationally recognized consumer advocate, Jen supports perinatal professionals around the world through her online professional membership, travels throughout the United States training perinatal professionals, presents Grand Rounds at hospitals, and works as a legislative consultant throughout the US focusing on midwifery legislation and regulations that threaten VBAC access. Over the years she has testified multiple times in front of the California Medical Board and legislative committees, educating legislators on the importance of VBAC access, and has served as an expert witness and consultant in legal proceedings. VBAC Facts® envisions a time when every pregnant person seeking VBAC has access to unbiased information, respectful providers, and community support so they can plan the birth of their choosing in the setting they desire.   Special Offer: 15% off courses for parents and professionals using coupon code BirthLounge at checkout. Go to vbacfacts.com/courses to enroll.   Follow along with Jen: https://vbacfacts.com

To kick off this second episode in the VBAC podcast series we are pulling apart the research and evidence for VBAC births and helping you understand exactly what the facts say.  In this episode I chat with Julie and Meagan from @thevbaclink about: What exactly are your chances of having a successful VBAC?Understanding the birthing system and the importance of taking ownership of your birth preferencesWhat is the ideal time between pregnancies?What does the research say about pregnancy intervals for VBAC success? If you'd like to learn more about preparing yourself for labour and birth, then I invite you to join me inside my online membership program The Pregnancy Posse. We have weekly workouts, labour and birth preparation, pelvic floor exercises and so much more! You can find out more and trial the program for 7 days just visit thepregnancyposse.com. I'd love to know what you thought of this episode, jump over to @physiolaura and tell me what you learnt!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're planning a Vaginal Birth After Cesarean, you know that the most common concern that mothers and doctors have about VBAC is the increased risk of uterine rupture. Uterine rupture can be very scary and confusing. The more you talk about it, the more confused you might feel. The trouble with uterine rupture is much of the data is outdated, pulled from poorly designed studies, and does not even clearly define "uterine rupture". So today, I'd like to help you learn more about uterine rupture by discussing three important uterine rupture facts every mom planning a VBAC should understand. Uterine Rupture Fact #1: Uterine Rupture and Uterine Dehiscence are not the same thin The first reason studies on uterine rupture can be misleading is that some studies do not differentiate between uterine rupture and uterine dehiscence. Conflating these two phenomenons inflates the perceived risk of uterine rupture when, infact, many women included in the data did NOT experience uterine rupture. Uterine rupture is defined as a full thickness separation of the uterine wall. Simply put, every layer of the uterine wall separates, tears, opens up and there is a gaping hole in the uterus. This is extremely dangerous and can cause hemorrhaging, fetal hypoxia, and even fetal death.   On the other hand, Uterine Dehiscence is a partial thickness separation of the uterine wall, sometimes referred to as a "uterine window" because surgeons can usually see the baby through the uterus. While there is a lot of controversy about conflating these two ideas, and whether or not uterine dehiscence is likely to turn into a uterine rupture, it is critical to understand that these two conditions are NOT the same, so if you're looking at a study on uterine rupture, it is critical to understand whether the study combines these two conditions or differentiates them. Uterine Rupture Fact #2: Uterine Rupture is least common in SPONTANEOUS labor after cesarean While there are many studies that cite a range of statistics for uterine rupture, when we break the numbers down with more scrutiny and nuance, we see that the incidence of Uterine Rupture for spontaneous labor is around 4 in 1000 (or 0.4%).   For augmented labors (aka labor started naturally but providers use medical intervention to "speed up" labor) the Uterine Rupture rate increases to approximately 9 in 1000, and for induced VBAC labors the Uterine Rupture rate is around 10 in 1000 (1%). Now, these numbers change when we discuss labor induction methods and other variable circumstances. For instance, one study published in January 2022 suggested a 0.4% uterine rupture rate in BOTH the spontaneous labor group AND the Pitocin Induction Group. The take away here is that while induction can be a safe option in necessary situations, you're less likely to experience uterine rupture if you wait for labor to start naturally versus scheduling an induction. Uterine Rupture Fact #3: There is a 2.8% perinatal mortality for victims of uterine rupture While the low likelihood of uterine rupture may be starting to comfort you, you might also be thinking "well what if I am that one percent? Then what?" While I'm not minimizing the trauma and seriousness of uterine rupture at all, the good news is that 97% of full term births that experience uterine rupture will survive. The perinatal mortality (fetal death occurring during labor or within 28 days of birth) rate associated with uterine rupture is 1 in 16 overall (including premature births), and 1 in 32 for term births. Of course there are other complications that can occur such as mother hemorrhaging, requiring a hysterectomy, oxygen deprivation for baby leading to birth injury, etc. At this time I am unaware of solid statistics for these circumstances, but if I come across them I'll eagerly add them to this post. Jen Kamel from VBAC Facts did some awesome math on this statistic, applying it to Landon's 2004 study citing a 0.7% Uterine Rupture Rate, and estimated that the rate of perinatal mortality due to uterine rupture is about 1 in 2380 to 1 in 5100. That's like a 0.0004% likelihood of experiencing perinatal death due to uterine rupture.   How have your thoughts on Uterine Rupture and VBAC Risk changed?   While this low statistic doesn't minimize the reality that this tragedy CAN occur, it might help you put the likelihood into perspective. Do these numbers sound like numbers that we should all be TERRIFIED of, and giving our rights up over? For me personally, that's a risk I'm willing to take, since I know no birth is without the possibility of tragedy. These numbers, however, can help alleviate the fear you might be feeling over uterine rupture so that you can start making your VBAC birth plan decisions from a place of INFORMATION and INTUITION, not fear.   Do me a favor an pop over the the FREE VBAC Support Group on Facebook and let me know how these numbers changed your thought process on Uterine Rupture and VBAC!      

On today's podcast, we're going to talk with Melek Öz about vaginal birth after Cesarean (VBAC), advocacy, and becoming a home birth midwife! Content note: Mention of weight loss and racism. Melek Öz (she/her) is a home birth midwife living with her family in South Austin, Texas. She moved to Austin in 2001 to attend the University of Texas, where she completed both her undergraduate studies and law school before transitioning to birth work. Melek has been active in birth advocacy for more than a decade throughout her childbearing years and now as a home birth midwife. With her first pregnancy, Melek was told by her OB that her pelvis was "too small." She was pressured into an early induction that turned into a preventable Cesarean. Fresh out of surgery, Melek's OB told her, "Now that you've had one Cesarean, all your babies will have to be born by Cesarean." In this podcast episode, Melek goes on to share her subsequent birth stories, in which she had a CBAC (Cesarean Birth after Cesarean) under general anesthesia, as well as a vaginal birth after 2 C-sections (VBA2C). Midwifery care helped her have "a really joyous and an incredible experience, and I'm lucky that I had all 3 experiences that I did, because it helped kind of round out and balance my views on birth." Melek went on to pursue a career as a doula and eventually a home birth midwife! In this episode, we talk about the power of midwifery care, unpacking racism/classism and how it affects midwifery students, and how we can advocate for VBAC access in our communities. She also gives great tips for people who are considering a VBAC or thinking about going into midwifery! Resources: Follow Melek Öz on Instagram (@midwifemelek) and visit her website at http://www.midwifemelek.com/ EBB Podcast #113: The Evidence on VBAC EBB Podcast #209: Providing Unbiased VBAC Access and Support with Jen Kamel of VBAC Facts Visit the VBAC Facts website: https://vbacfacts.com Visit the International Cesarean Awareness Network website https://www.ican-online.org/ EBB Podcast #224: Failure to Progress (info on racist beliefs about pelvic shapes) Tema Mercado teaches workshops on decolonizing apprenticeships at La Matriz Birth (https://www.lamatrizbirth.com/) and @matrizmidwife on Instagram Luz de Atabey (https://www.instagram.com/lampatx/) project in Austin focused on accessible perinatal care and support (QTBIPOC-led) Kmom passed away in 2019, but her blog, "The Well Rounded Mama," is still maintained by her loving family at https://wellroundedmama.blogspot.com/, where you can find many articles about fat phobia and VBAC. EBB Professional Membership (includes scholarship options!) https://evidencebasedbirth.com/membership ' Non-profit fundraising organization Black Home Birth Matters: https://www.blackhomebirthmattersatx.org/

VBAC, or vaginal birth after cesarean, is becoming a more desired option verses simply having a repeat c-section. Unfortunately, many care providers still do NOT support VBAC and will tell women their only option is a repeat cesarean birth. Many women simply do not know they have alternative options, either. In this episode, the founder of VBACFacts.com, Jen Kamel, talks with me about VBAC options and how to navigate getting the VBAC you desire!VBAC and VBA2C are both supported by evidence!VBAC after 3 or more cesareans is not studied enough to state if it is supported by evidence or not; Mom should get to make the final choiceThe American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG) states that informed consent & refusal is vital to healthcare, even during birthHow do you deal with an unsupportive care provider?! We cover that, too!Buy Me a Coffee- DONATION PAGEResources Mentioned:Jen Kamel- VBAC FactsVaginal Birth After 2 Cesareans- Fact SheetVBAC Facts Parent Courses & Free HandoutVBAC Facts Professional MembershipACOG's Committee Opinion on Informed RefusalDoula MatchNOW IT'S YOUR TURN!The NaturalBirth Site Read *natural birth stories*- and submit your ownSign up for the NaturalBirth Education course to best prepare your body & mind for natural birthShare with anyone interested in natural birthShare my podcast with anyone you know who is interested in natural birth!"Like" my Facebook and Instagram pagesSubscribe to my YouTube Channel  

In this bonus episode of Ring of Fire Emmy sits down to share all of the details of the current controversy with VBAC Link and how they wronged Midwife Malek and VBAC Facts. Let us know what you think! Midwife Malek: https://www.instagram.com/midwifemelek/ VBAC Facts: https://www.instagram.com/vbacfacts/ Our instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ringoffirepodcast/

In this bonus episode of Ring of Fire Emmy sits down to share all of the details of the current controversy with VBAC Link and how they wronged Midwife Malek and VBAC Facts. Let us know what you think! Midwife Malek: https://www.instagram.com/midwifemelek/ VBAC Facts: https://www.instagram.com/vbacfacts/ Our instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ringoffirepodcast/

On today's podcast, we're going to talk with Jen Kamel of VBAC Facts® about VBAC or vaginal birth after cesarean.  As the founder and CEO of VBAC Facts®, Jen Kamel is an internationally recognized consumer advocate, whose mission is to increase feedback access through education, legislation changes, and amplifying the consumer's voice. Jen travels throughout the United States training perinatal professionals, presents grand rounds at hospitals, and works as a legislative consultant throughout the US, focusing on midwifery legislation and regulations that threaten VBAC, or vaginal birth after cesarean, access. Jen envisions a time when every pregnant person seeking VBAC has access to unbiased information, respectful providers, and a community where they can plan the birth of their choice in the setting they desire. We talk about the statistics on VBAC access, as well as the difference between VBAC rates and VBAC success rates. We also talk about the misinformation about VBAC and the unbiased evidence based research that helps to support a person's right to choose to have a VBAC.  Content Warning: We will mention cesarean, uterine rupture, placental abnormalities, and birth trauma.  RESOURCES:  Learn more about Jen Kamel here. Follow VBAC Facts® on Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) here and ACOG's information on VBAC here.   Lundgren I, van Limbeek E, Vehvilainen-Julkunen K, Nilsson C. Clinicians' views of factors of importance for improving the rate of VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean section): a qualitative study from countries with high VBAC rates. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2015 Aug 28;15:196. doi: 10.1186/s12884-015-0629-6. PMID: 26314295; PMCID: PMC4552403.   For more information and news about Evidence Based Birth®, visit www.ebbirth.com. Find us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/EvidenceBasedBirth/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ebbirth/), and Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.com/ebbirth/). Ready to get involved? Check out our Professional membership (including scholarship options) (https://evidencebasedbirth.com/become-pro-member/). Find an EBB Instructor here (https://evidencebasedbirth.com/find-an-instructor-parents/), and click here (https://evidencebasedbirth.com/childbirth-class/) to learn more about the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class.

Jen Kamel, VBAC Jen Kamel is the CEO and founder of VBAC Facts® whose mission is to increase access to vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). VBAC Facts works to achieve this mission through their educational courses for parents, online membership … Continue reading →

The topic of today’s episode is: VBACs or Vaginal Birth After Cesarean. I had the honor of interviewing Jen Kamel for this episode. Jen is the founder of VBAC Facts.com. In this episode Jen shines a light on the misconceptions about the safety and risks associated with VBACs and we discuss ACOGs current recommendation as well as the data surrounding this topic. I hope this episode educates and encourages any parent who has previously had a Cesarean birth and is considering their options for their next birth. In this episode we discuss:Jen’s background and how she came to start VBACfacts.comWhat is a VBAC?Vaginal Birth After Cesarean: when someone has a Cesarean section birth in a prior pregnancy and then they decide that they want to labor and have a vaginal delivery with their subsequent childLanguage is important! Patients/clinicians should use the phrase: “Planning a VBAC"What risks are associated with Laboring After a Cesarean?The risk of uterine rupture after 1 previous low transverse Cesarean birth without induction or augmentation is 0.4% How do the risks of a VBAC compare to the risks of complications from a Cesarean?Both are associated with rare adverse outcomesThe most talked about risk associate with VBAC is: uterine rupture after 1 previous low transverse Cesarean birth without induction or augmentation is 0.4% A major risk associated with Cesarean is placental abnormalities like Placenta Accreta, this increases with each prior C-sectionDo the risks differ with a first VBAC vs. VBA2C or multiple C-sections, or babies?Risk of uterine rupture decreases after a first VBACVBA2C stands for: Vaginal Birth After 2 CesareansWhat steps can you take in pregnancy and labor to increase chances of having a VBAC?Find out if your provider is supportive of VBACAsk questionsAsk for evidenceResearch your options for second opinions or finding another provider if your provider is not supportive of your choicesMindsetSurround yourself with a bubble of peace and supportive peopleHave a mindset of: I am going to Labor After CesareanArm yourself with the factsYou can talk confidently about your choicesAdvocate for yourselfFamiliarize yourself with the evidence How has COVID affected C-section rates in general, in the US? Jen is hosting a panel to discuss this in the VBACfacts professional membership next month How to get in touch with Jen and VBACfacts.com: WebsiteInstagramFacebookHow to get in touch with me: InstagramFind other episodes at: www.findingyourvillagepod.comEmail me at amanda@findingyourvillagepod.com Monthly Newsletter Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/findingyourvillagepod?fan_landing=true)

To all you moms and moms to be, this is a must listen. I get to speak with Doula, Rebecca Coluntino about birthing with a doula, birthing during Covid and all about your rights during your birth experience. Join us for a chat about what to expect when expecting...the undold version. Why a doula is a game changer and things to watch for postpartum. __ Rebecca Coluntino https://capstonedoulaservices.com CapstoneDoulaServices@gmail.com Master’s degree in OT with minor in psychology from UNE in 2009. Comprehensive Trainings & Memberships with: -DONA international & ProDoula. Extra doula courses taken: -Mental health crisis -Bereavement and pregnancy loss. Other Memberships: -Evidence Based Birth. -VBAC Facts for Professionals. ___ For more binge worthy growth & Grit sessions visit www.youbossexperience.com to get access to ALL THREE 2020 Virtual Summits with 45 Amazing speakers. Learn even more inside HONOR YOUR BODY. If you are serious about improving your health and wellness, always feel welcome to set up a call with me to explore some options of working together or for me to point you in the right direction whether it's with me or one of the amazing professionals I have met along this gritty journey. You can do that at www.christinedesouza.com. Where you can find more information about the programs I personally used before and after pregnancy to get to my best health.

Jen Kamel, VBAC Jen Kamel helps perinatal professionals and cesarean parents achieve clarity on vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) through her online and in-person educational courses, training programs, and consulting services. As the founder of VBAC Facts® and a nationally … Continue reading →

Charli and Sarah talk about the highly important topic of VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean).  The midwives break down the evidence to demonstrate that VBAC might actually come with less risks to some people than a repeat cesarean birth.  Learn about how the midwives take care of people planning a VBAC in their care.    Much of the evidence mentioned comes from the incredible Jen Kamel with VBAC Facts: vbacfacts.com.  Jen has helped thousands of birth professionals and parents around the world become clear about the evidence on VBAC and she's a wonderful resource for anyone considering a VBAC for themselves or for anyone who is wanting to become a VBAC competent care provider.    Additionally, Rebecca Dekker with Evidence Based Birth offers her own episode on The Evidence on VBAC at: evidencebasedbirth.com.   --- https://hearthandhomemidwifery.com

On this episode of the en(gender)ed podcast, our guest is Jen Kamel, CEO & Founder of VBAC Facts, a platform that helps perinatal professionals and cesarean parents achieve clarity on vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) through her educational courses, online membership, continuing education trainings, and consulting services.  We speak with Jen today about what the COVID-19 pandemic means for expectant mothers in terms of pregnancy and labor choices and outcomes. During our conversation, Jen and I referenced the following resources and topics: The COVID-19 guidance offered by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) The services and resources available at The International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN) A checklist of what expectant mothers should consider in preparing for VBAC during COVID --- Thanks for tuning in to the en(gender)ed podcast! Be sure to check out our en(gender)ed site and follow our blog on Medium. Join our feminist community of survivors, advocates and allies! Consider donating because your support is what makes this work sustainable. Please also connect with us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

Today we are talking with Jill from Delaware who had a VBAC with TWINS! Her Cesarean was a traumatic birth center transfer. Her first VBAC she was in labor for four days and then her second VBAC was with twins. When she was 38 weeks pregnant with her twins her doctor insisted she get induced at 38 weeks. She signed an AMA refusing the induction and went on to have a healthy, unmedicated hospital birth with the twins at 39 weeks and 4 days. To find out more about twins and VBAC on our VBAC blog at thevbaclink.com/blog ( https://www.thevbaclink.com/blog ) Please note, in order to get stories from all over the country, and even other countries, we record using phone lines. Audio quality may vary between speakers. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

As a fierce advocate for accessible information about VBACs, Jen has built a platform that “neutralizes the misinformation and confusion about VBAC so respectful, evidence-based care is the foundation from which families grow.” In today’s episode, Taylor and Jen talk about Jen’s 2 births and the path they started her on towards the work she does now. Jen Kamel is a nationally recognized Consumer Advocate who founded VBAC Facts in November 2007 after learning how many women were coerced into repeat cesareans violating medical ethics and their human rights. Her mission is to increase access to VBAC so that every pregnant person knows in their bones that they have complete control over what happens to their body. She created the VBAC Facts Professional Membership where she supports perinatal professionals around the world who want to confidently guide their clients through the evidence so they can make truly informed decisions. She also offers online educational courses for parents. She is a national speaker and legislative consultant focusing on midwifery legislation and regulations. She has testified multiple times in front of the California Medical Board and legislative committees on the importance of VBAC access and serves as an expert witness in legal proceedings.  Her free resources and signature courses are at vbacfacts.com.  Key Takeaway: It’s important to make decisions about birth based on solid information. For so many people birthing after cesarean, finding that information is hard. That’s where Jen and VBAC Facts come in. Being an empowered decision-maker during your birth experience can mean the difference between being traumatized after birth and being triumphant and confident, regardless of exactly how your baby is born. Highlights: Jen’s own experiences giving birth Why the phrase “VBAC is an option for next time” changed Jen’s life Empowerment post-VBAC How different cultures handle postpartum How being honest about the trauma of birth can lead to eventual healing New parents need empathy, love, and support Where and with whom to share your birth story A healthy baby isn’t all that matters The Rise and fall of VBAC in America What people can do to improve their chances of having a VBAC and the element of luck when it comes to birth Hospital guidelines & policies on VBAC Your Birth Your Worth Podcast Website: https://www.yourbirthyourworthpodcast.com/ Taylor Davis Website: http://yourvbacdoula.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylordavisdoula/ Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourvbacjourney/ Jen Kamel Website: https://vbacfacts.com/ Blog: https://vbacfacts.com/blog/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vbacfacts/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vbacfacts/      

In today’s episode, Taylor talks about her favorite topic – VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). Tune in to learn what you can expect during your VBAC journey. In this in-depth conversation, she shares the facts, history, and challenges of VBAC and talks about why it’s hard for some people to access care for a VBAC. She dives into tips and idea to help people on their VBAC journey. Her mission as a doula and VBAC mentor is to help parents find the VBAC support they need and help them prepare for empowered births that leave them feeling respected, supported, and confident. Key Takeaway:  Support from care providers, friends and family, and a doula is incredibly helpful as you pursue a VBAC. You deserve support and you have the right to make the choice that feels best for you and your family. Highlights: The history of VBAC and VBAC myths How to research providers and birth locations if considering a VBAC Challenges of the VBAC journey The gift of finding a supportive provider Why worth plays a role in deciding your options Best online resources for VBAC Taylor’s Facebook group What you can do to improve your chances of having a VBAC The benefits of professional VBAC support Your Birth, Your Worth Podcast Website: https://www.yourbirthyourworthpodcast.com/ Resources mentioned in the episode ICAN (International Cesarean Awareness Network): http://www.ican-online.org/ VBAC Facts: https://vbacfacts.com/ Taylor Davis Website: http://yourvbacdoula.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylordavisdoula/ Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourvbacjourney/ Darcy Sauers Website: https://www.thirdtrimesterthrive.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedouladarcy/    

In today's episode, we help Jen create a weekly webinar strategy to grow her membership! FULL TRANSCRIPT Jocelyn Sams: Hey y'all, on today's podcast we helped Jen take her membership website to the next level. Shane Sams: What's going on everybody? Welcome back to the Flipped Lifestyle Podcast. It is great to be back with you again today as we have another member of our Flip Your Life community on the show to celebrate success and to help them take their business to the next level. We're really, really excited to have Jen Camel on the show today. Jen, welcome. Jen Camel: Hey, thank you so much for having me. Jocelyn Sams: We are very excited to talk to you today. You have a very interesting business that I can't wait to dive into a little bit. Jocelyn Sams: Before we go there, tell our audience a little bit about you, your family, and what you're doing online. Jen Camel: I live in Southern California with my husband and my two kids. My background was in commercial real estate doing GIS analysis for companies. Then we decided to start a family, and I got pregnant, and I had planned a completely normal delivery. Never even occurred to me that I would have a c-section, but I was one of those 20% of first-time mothers who had a c-section with her first child. Going through that experience made it very clear to me how difficult it is for parents to find good information on VBAC. Jen Camel: As I dive even deeper- Shane Sams: What is- Jen Camel: ... I saw- Shane Sams: What, what does VBAC mean? Jen Camel: Oh, good segue there. VBAC is vaginal birth after cesarean. So I had just collected a bunch of information for myself and after my VBAC realized how many other parents were seeking this same level of information. So VBAC Facts was born. As the website grew and I collected more of an audience I saw how many birth professionals really had a hard time staying on top of the evidence themselves and really wanted a more in depth understanding of what the research actually said so they can effectively guide their clients. Jen Camel: VBAC Facts was really born again when I started my membership site about four months ago. Shane Sams: Let me ask you this ... Okay, this is a big leap here. You went from commercial real estate to vaginal birth education, right? And it was basically because of this personal experience that you had. You had a c-section with your first child, but when you had other children you wanted to have it the natural way, correct- Jen Camel: Exactly. Shane Sams: ... is that what I'm [crosstalk 00:02:40]. Okay. Jen Camel: Exactly, yeah. Jocelyn Sams: You primarily target birth professionals then? Jen Camel: I do. A lot of parents come to the site as well and there's a ton of information online for parents, but I found that birth professionals are really the ones who were interested in diving deeper and were interested in the higher level of analysis that I offer. Shane Sams: Parents are like my wife's had to have a c-section so now you're like looking for information but it's not like you really want to buy something to really dive and get into it. But for the birth professional are we talking midwives, and doulas, and nurses, and people like that? Jen Camel: Exactly. Shane Sams: They want to go farther, right? Jen Camel: Exactly. I do have online classes for parents available for those who do want to dive deeper. But I just found that birth professionals were really the ones who were interested in that level of information. Shane Sams: Jocelyn, when we had our first child, had to have a c-section. It was scheduled. Was it because he was late or because- Jocelyn Sams: No, it was because of his size. I don't know. It's kind of a long story, but my doctor said, "I'm not going to use any instruments because he's just too big." So we just made a decision to do that. My other child, she was breach. Shane Sams: Yeah, so we had to do that. I remember though, you talk about parents like this, I remember I was like, "Oh my gosh, you got to have a c-section. What does that even mean?" I'm a football coach and when a football coach has a game he watches game film to prepare for it. I remember before Isaac was born I was sitting there on YouTube and I was watching c-sections, mildly horrified, but kind of just intrigued by it. I was like, "Jocelyn, come over here and check this out." She was like- Jocelyn Sams: I'm like, "Absolutely not." Shane Sams: She was like absolutely [crosstalk 00:04:26]. It's funny, because you said the birth professionals would be interested in this. I remember after I watched a couple videos it was just kind of like, "I'm over it." That's the surface knowledge that I need to help me go forward. But I could also see it was very scary because you don't know what it is until you have to go through it, right? Jen Camel: Yeah exactly. With parents in particular it's trying to help them eliminate those unknowns so they can go in and they have an understanding of the lay of the land, and what this means for their future pregnancies, and what their future options are so that way they don't feel so trapped in it. Sometimes parents are told once a c-section always a c-section and that's just not the case. Shane Sams: You basically did a ton of research on this. Are you a nurse, are you trained? Jen Camel: I'm not a nurse. Shane Sams: Okay, perfect. Jocelyn Sams: I love that. Shane Sams: I love that, that's awesome. Jen Camel: I'm a consumer advocate. Shane Sams: That's awesome. Jocelyn Sams: I love it. Shane Sams: That's a great way to say that for anyone out there listing who thinks you've got to have some kind of crazy professional degree. It's a consumer advocate, that's an awesome term. Shane Sams: You built this information for yourself. Started blogging, sharing this on your website and it grew into an audience of birth professionals who were leaning kind of on your research and your efforts to curate all the latest facts into a nice, neat package where they could go consume it, correct? Jen Camel: Absolutely. My first step was actually, I went immediately to speaking around the country. I grew the website when my son was about three years old, my second child. I started traveling around the country and presenting a six hour program that I had developed. Then I digitized that program online. Then I had other offerings, other courses, I had handouts. Then I about four months ago decided to just package all of that, except for the parent course, within the membership site. Then I have additional offerings for members. Jocelyn Sams: Okay, I love that idea. I think that it's really cool membership. Jocelyn Sams: We love to start all of our calls by celebrating a win and you recently shared a success story with us our community. Tell everybody about your recent win, what did you share with us in the community? Shane Sams: You just told us about your membership, you launched your membership, how did that go? Jen Camel: Well I was super thrilled to have 17 people join on my launch. Jocelyn Sams: That's awesome. Jen Camel: Yeah, yeah, it was pretty exciting. Then in the last few months it's grown to 33 people. Shane Sams: Wow. Jocelyn Sams: Sweet. Shane Sams: That's incredible. How much revenue did that generate, adding a membership to everything? Jen Camel: Total, it's been $7000 over the last 3 or 4 months. Jocelyn Sams: That's fantastic. Shane Sams: Isn't that amazing that you were a commercial real estate professional who had a life experience and you accumulated enough knowledge to be not only an expert, but expert enough to teach professionals about this topic. Now you've created this thing online that can generate $1000s. Is that not absolutely mind blowing that's even possible in this day and age? Jen Camel: It really is and it's super exciting because it just goes to show that if you are super motivated and if you ... I'm just a naturally curious person and that's how this whole thing developed is I was just like, "Well I want to know all this stuff inside and out for myself." Then as I developed products and I had doctors look at it, and I had nurses look at it, and they would verify, "Yeah, you're on course." Then as I would learn how to analyze medical research, which is a massive learning curve, so much opens up for you if you're able to just be willing to learn and also have the time to do it, which is always the consistent struggle. Shane Sams: It's like the people that you're teaching, what's amazing is we think about experts and we put people on this pedestal. But a nurse or a birth professional is kind of a generalist. They're dealing with multiple topics and they don't have the time to dig deep into this one thing, vaginal birth after caesarian section. You have dedicated yourself because of a life experience to doing that. You're serving them. You're helping them give better care to their patients just because you're giving them the right amount of information. That's amazing. Jen Camel: Absolutely. Everyone's busy and when you're working full-time, and you have a family, and you have friends, and you might actually want to have a hobby or exercise, or do something for yourself, there's just not time in the day to stay on top of the mounds of medical research that are published every month. Then you couple that with the political realities of VBAC. We think medical care is like okay, you have XYZ symptom, you're going to be given the risk and benefits of your options, and then you're going to make a decision. The truth is, maternity care is nothing like that. Maternity care there's a whole lot of other factors that impact how those risks and benefits are relayed to patients. For providers and birth professionals to have a solid grasp on the research, it empowers them to be able to have confident conversations with their clients about the latest research so their clients can make truly informed decisions. Shane Sams: That's amazing. Let me ask you this, are you still doing real estate or do you only deal with your blog, and your speaking, and your membership? Jen Camel: This is all I've been doing for the last 10 years is VBAC Facts. Shane Sams: So you basically built this speaking career type business and you put yourself out there with these trainings and now you're trying to transition that into this more membership model, more home-driven kind of business. Why are you making this shift? If you had this speaking, you were kind of renowned as an expert, and your blog took off, what's the point of changing it to digital delivery, membership site, connecting professionals around your trainings? Why are you doing that? Jen Camel: Well when I first started speaking I was traveling quite a bit and it just was really hard to travel so much. Then also, you don't have the time to create, I didn't have the time to create other offerings because I was so busy traveling. Jen Camel: I still travel and I still speak. In fact, this past weekend I was in Florida, but transitioning to the membership site enables me to offer more to my audience. What that looks like is offering a monthly literature review for my audience, as well as flushing out my patient handout series and offering other continuing education trainings online. It just enables me to reach more people and provide a higher quality of information with me not spending so much time traveling. Shane Sams: That's awesome. I'm sure some people would look and say, "Oh you're a speaker, what a cool thing. You get to do that." Jen Camel: Oh it is, it's super cool. Shane Sams: And it is. Jen Camel: It's awesome, it's- Shane Sams: But then they don't realize you have bigger mission, which is to help more people with this thing that you've become passionate about. Jen Camel: My mission is to increase access to VBAC. So every parent who's pregnant after a caesarian knows that they will be able to have a respectful birth. Jen Camel: The truth is, there are 100s of 1000s of parents in the United States right now who are pregnant after a caesarian and they're filled with anxiety and fear because they are told that you either have to have a repeat caesarian or they have to have an out-of-hospital birth, an unassisted birth, or travel 100s of miles to another facility that supports VBAC. Not only does that put parents in a dangerous situation, but it also denies their right to make their own medical decisions about their body. Shane Sams: Wow. What a powerful mission. That's just awesome. This is why I love online business because it just gives you so much power to do that. Shane Sams: Jocelyn and I have a mission to help 100,000 families learn how to start an online business. I love what you said there, just to know it's possible. You don't have to do what the world told you to do your whole life. You don't have to do what society says is a good job. You don't have to go to law school if you don't want to just because your mom and dad wants you to. You don't have to go climb the corporate ladder. I just love how you said that, your mission is to empower people with this knowledge that you didn't have when you entered into this situation and you're using online business to do that. It's amazing. Jen Camel: Yeah well it's the constant stories that I get from parents that drive me and the reports that I get from birth professionals on the political nature of medical care in their hospitals that just continually reinforces how important it is to get this information out there. Jocelyn Sams: I love how you just started it and just didn't really care that you weren't a medical professional because that's a problem that we hear a lot of people say in our community. "I'd love to start my own business but I don't really know anything or I'm not an expert in anything." Well become an expert. That's exactly what Jen did, so I love that. Shane Sams: Were you afraid when you first started? The first time you ever spoke or anything did you have any fear? We usually ask people about their fears and obstacles and you've come ... You're pretty advanced in your business right now, which we're going to talk about here in a few minutes, but did that worry you a little bit where you were "I'm teaching medical people about medical stuff?" How did you get past that? Jen Camel: Of course you are always concerned that you want to make sure you're saying the right thing. You want to make sure you're expressing it the right way and so I had my little test groups of people who would review my materials and when I would present I would have providers, especially when you have obstetrician come up to you afterwards, like this past weekend, and tell me that was the best presentation on VBAC he's ever seen, and he was also a math major before he went into to medical school and he loved how I explained these complicated statistical concepts in a way that anyone can understand. So that's validating. Jen Camel: As I spoke more and I got more and more feedback from doctors, and nurses, and midwives, I knew I was on the right track. Shane Sams: The moral of the story there is hey look, if you're scared that you're not an expert enough go do it enough until you're an expert. Eventually, you're going to do it so much that you just know it inside and out and that was has basically happened with you and your business. It's amazing. Shane Sams: Let me ask you something else here before we get to your question today. A lot of people in the forums this is one of the most common questions that we get in the Flip Your Life community, on the podcast, in any coaching that we do is what about liability, what if I get sued? What if someone does this? What about my disclaimers? What about my terms and conditions? It's funny because the people writing this are usually teaching people how to play an instrument or maybe I had a football coach one time and he was worried about getting sued because he was selling drills. But here you are literally giving people information in kind of a life or death situation. How did you overcome that fear of I'm not going to get totally legally ran over or how did you figure out what to put in your terms, and conditions, and disclaimers? What do you do about that in your business because it is medically related and I'm sure that there's other people out there listening to this that that could help them? Jen Camel: Well there are multiple levels to that answer. The first one is be very clear that I am not a medical professional. I am a consumer advocate and I have that in my bio. I have that all over the place that I am not a medical professional. It's also in my terms of service that it's very clear that I'm not giving medical advice. Even if someone is a doctor, or a nurse, or a midwife in my community forums they're not qualified to give anyone medical advice because they don't know your entire background. I actually went through my terms of service with an attorney and have them go over that with me, so it's just crystal clear that who I am and what I'm doing is I'm sharing information and it is the obligation of the people who are collecting that information or absorbing that information from me to review it, particularly if you're a parent, to review it with your birth professional or your medical provider, and review in their individual situation. What is right for one person isn't right for another and only their medical provider can tell them what are the risks and benefits in their individual situation. Jen Camel: What I'm sharing is more of a higher level information. Then how it applies to someone individually is a conversation they have with their medical provider. I'm very clear about that throughout all of my trainings and my materials is you have to talk about this with your provider because you, as someone who is not a medical professional, may not be able to apply this information effectively to yourself. Shane Sams: Yeah, that's another thing that we have too is like in our terms and conditions ... Another big question that we get, because a lot of our community members succeed and so every month we get people that write us and they're like, "Is it time to quit my job?" We're like, "We give you a lot of information." We point people in the right direction. We do a lot of things for people, that's the one place that we never go is it's time to quit your job because I don't know what's in your bank account. I don't know all of the information in your situation. All I know are these snippets where we can help you take your next step. That's usually where we're at, but you've got to make those big decisions and that's true in every business. For anybody out there worried about the legal stuff, don't let that be a road block, you can figure that part out just like we all have. Jen Camel: Well and talk to an attorney, that's the big thing. Talk to an attorney and understand what your level of exposure is and then decide what you're comfortable with. Jocelyn Sams: All right, you've had some great insights so far. I think this is going to help people a lot who are trying to start out and they have these mindset struggles. Let's move on to your question about what could we help you with to help you get to the next level. What is your question today? Jen Camel: Well I've heard a lot about growing your business with weekly webinars. My question is, how do you structure the marketing? Am I emailing my list every week regarding the webinar with a heads up email and a last minute email? Am I creating Facebook ads? How many emails am I sending after they register and follow up? Jocelyn Sams: That's a great question from Jen today. We'll get to that answer in just a moment. Jocelyn Sams: But first, did you know that you can get the answers that you need to start, build, and grow your online business too? All you have to do is join us inside of Flip Your Life community where you can get all of your training, coaching, and support you need so that you can learn how to start and grow your own online business. The best part is you can get started today for free. All you have to do is go to flippedlifestyle.com/free and you can start your one month free trial right away. You can join 100s of other family-focused entrepreneurs from all over the world inside of Flip Your Life community. You can learn how we started our own online business, replaced our income, quit our jobs, and we work from home every day. You can get started right now at no cost. Go to flippedlifestyle.com/free and start your free month today. Shane Sams: All right, this is a question that we've really not covered a lot on the show, so I'm really glad that you asked that because it can be confusing to hear, "Do a webinar all the time," and you're like, "But who's going to come to the webinar?" How do I get people to the webinar? How often do I promote the webinar? What do I do with the webinar? Shane Sams: It's important to not focus on the actual webinar and to focus on what the webinar is. The webinar is actually [inaudible 00:19:54]. It is a sales tool and you are going to sell on the webinar, but the main thing that you're trying to do is to find people that will buy your product and get them on your email list, right? Jen Camel: Ah, okay. Shane Sams: When you're doing webinars as a strategy, and that can be monthly, that can be weekly, whatever it is, it can be evergreen, it can be live, it doesn't matter. The number one thing you got to focus on is the ad campaign that gets people to register for the webinar because that's an opt-in. You are going to have ads going all the time. If you're going to do this like ... How often do you plan on doing it? Jen Camel: Well I mean I was thinking maybe starting off with monthly and maybe going to weekly. I'm not sure. I'm just concerned about slamming my current email list and so- Shane Sams: Yeah, don't worry about that because the goal is to flood new people in and invite people who are on the list to the webinars, okay? Jen Camel: Okay. Shane Sams: What happens is usually you start a ... Let's say we're going to do one once a month for right now. No, let's do this, let's play once a week to get over that fear of slamming your email list, all right? Jen Camel: Okay. Shane Sams: Let's say you're going to do a webinar every week, even if you don't. It can be the same webinar first of all. You don't have to do a different topic, you don't have to do a different thing every week because remember, if you've got 10,000 people on an email list and 100 show up to your webinar there's still 9,900 people that did not see that webinar, so what does it matter if you promote it every single week? It doesn't matter until they all watch it, so don't worry about that because you're never going to have your whole list show up for the webinar and get bored with it. Shane Sams: What we've found is when we do the same webinar twice we have a lot of repeat people come and see it again because they like going to the Q&A because the Q&A and is always different, they want to see the same topic over and over again. Shane Sams: Basically, if you're going to do a webinar let's say you're going to do it on Sunday night, on Thursday you start ads. You run ads, you try to get them to a page where they register for the webinar, they pick the time, they get the reminders and all that. Then you're going to send followup emails at 48 hours, 24 hours, and an hour before the webinar. What happens is let's say I see your ad on Thursday, I register. "Hey thanks for singing up, we'll send you reminders to let you know there's going to be a webinar." The reminders are, "Hey, we're going to have a webinar tomorrow," that comes out 48 hours before. "Hey, we're going to have a webinar tonight," that comes out the morning of. "Hey, we start in one hour." That's your basic reminders. Now some people do one like, "We're starting," as well. Now, you don't have to send all of those to your entire list every time. That's for the people that registered during that week or whatever. Anybody else on your email list, just send a message out the morning of, "Hey, I'm having a webinar tonight," and then, "Hey, we're starting." Then you can pull in people that are already on your list that way. That's pretty much the flow that we use when we have webinars, so don't over-complicate it. Jocelyn Sams: I like this idea of maybe doing ads too to people who have been on your page, maybe that aren't on your email list, but they're interested in your website. So you could also invite them via an ad. Shane Sams: You can also upload your email list and just say, "Hey, I'm having a webinar," and let them re-register. Right? See what I'm saying? Then you don't have to email people a 1000 times, you get them in another way. They know you. They're on your email list and it's like, "Hey, this is Jen from VBAC and I'm having a webinar this Sunday that you've never been to. You need to be there." Just let them re-register and tag them in some way. Shane Sams: What do you use for your email provider? Jen Camel: ConvertKit. Shane Sams: Oh yeah, perfect. ConvertKit can tag them. Jen Camel: Exactly [crosstalk 00:23:38]. Shane Sams: That's how you reach people without having to email them 100 times every week. You're not going to send the reminders for the webinar to your entire email list every single list, but you can in a P.S. mention it [crosstalk 00:23:53]. Say, "Hey, I'm having a webinar, have you registered for it before?" Jen Camel: Yes, yes. Shane Sams: Find other strategic ways to let them know because that is actually a mistake that a lot of people make with webinars. They'll only remind people that signed up that week. No, why would you have a list if you weren't going to remind them every time you were doing something cool? I send an email out every time I go on Facebook or YouTube Live. I'm like, "Hey guys, I'm going live in 15 minutes," just because I want them to be there. There's other ways that you can get to them that way. Shane Sams: Focus on leads Jen because most of the people ... let's say you get 1000 emails and let's say 100 show up, for easy number. [crosstalk 00:24:32] in that case, you're probably only going to sell 5 to 10. But the point is, you have 90 other interested people who you can market to through your email list, through your other things to get them to buy, through your specials, through your sales, through whatever. It's those other emails that are the real value in doing the webinars because you have leads. Jen Camel: Yeah exactly, exactly. Then what your follow up email sequence after the webinar? What do you recommend? Shane Sams: Usually we just send out a simple one email, "Hey, here's the replay if you didn't come." Then I just let them go into my general auto responder and my general list [crosstalk 00:25:12]. Jocelyn Sams: Depending on how many people are there, how many people sign up we've even started doing some things that don't really scale like sending them personal videos. Like I might send a video and say, "Hey Jen, noticed you registered for my webinar but you weren't able to come. I was just wondering if you had any questions. Let me know." Shane Sams: If you have 100 people at a webinar and 10 of them buy you have 90 people left. What if you sent 90 people a 1 minute video. It would take two hours to do that and you're saying the same thing every time, you're just like, "Hey, Jocelyn." "Hey Shane." "Hey, Jen." But you're actually taking the time to personally do that on video and they see you, that two hours may produce 5 more sales and if you're selling a $1000 product that's $5000. Those little things like that to follow up always usually pay off. Jen Camel: Okay, that's a great idea. Shane Sams: How did you envision this? Where were you stumped on this question? Where did it have you paralyzed or where were you overwhelmed with it compared to what we just said? Jen Camel: For me really I was worried about slamming my list. I was wondering how often should I be emailing my list about these webinars. Then I was also just thinking through the technical back end of setting all of this up in ConvertKit, like if I set up a sequence for people who registered on week one, if the register again on week two ConvertKit isn't going to send them that sequence again. Shane Sams: Right, I see what- Jen Camel: You see what I'm saying? It's just a little bit of those technical details of trying to figure out, well I guess those people would just receive the email that goes out to my entire list that second week rather than ... See, I'd still have to figure out that sort of technical part. Shane Sams: Yeah. Look, there's always going to be a hiccup where some people don't get the email or some people get an email they shouldn't, that's impossible. What you have to do is create something that actually makes sense in your brain. Here's what makes sense, I'm going to get a new person to register. I'm going to remind them the day before and I'm going to remind them the day of. That makes sense. Now, if they opt-in three times for the same webinar and all the sequences get screwed up that's probably going to happen sometimes. Then, in the second tier you say, I'm going to tell my whole list every week that there's going to be a webinar. That's okay, they're not going to get mad, they're not going to unsubscribe if you present it correctly. "Hey guys, here's that webinar." You can also exclude people that have been. Jen Camel: Yes, exactly, yeah I would do that. Shane Sams: You can exclude people that have been if that's really a worry, but I would just remind everybody because they may want to come back, they may want to do it again and you want to keep it simple. How simple is a broadcast on Sunday morning or on Friday night, or whenever you do the webinar? The easier you can make it in your brain the easier it will be when you build it in your tool. Jen Camel: What are your feelings about presenting it live versus having them access a prerecorded webinar? Jocelyn Sams: I think it really depends on your goal, you can do it either way. If it's something that you can do regularly you can do it live. Live ones will get a better conversion typically, but, you can't do them as often because your schedule doesn't allow it. The cool thing about an automated webinar is that you can do it as often as you want, but the conversion might not be quite as high as it would with a live one. Shane Sams: Also too there's a hybrid way. We have a really good friend who does the live webinar, but basically the whole webinar is recorded. He shows up, welcomes everybody, hits play, and then he shows up for the Q&A and answers it live. That removes some fears about a good presentation or a good sales pitch because you can do it really good one, but you're actually there too to help with the sale and the conversations, right? Shane Sams: Listen, there's no reason you can't do both. This is something that a lot of people don't realize. What if you did one live one and then the other two weeks of the month you did evergreen ones, you just played a replay of one you did before? Just be really open and honest, and transparent, this is not live. Put it in big red letters above it, this is a prerecording, but you're here. You can run both so you can get the best of both worlds. This is not really an either/or. It's basically what you want to do. Shane Sams: For me and Jocelyn we really don't love doing live webinars because one of our most important things to us is flexibility with our schedule, that's a value. I would rather get lower conversion rates and just play stuff evergreen, or we've even kind of fallen back to just promoting content like sending people to our YouTube videos, sending people to an old podcast because we just value our time differently. We like live webinars. We try to do one every month or two, but it's not a priority for us. But, if it is a priority for you and you like doing it live ... My guess is you're a speaker so you're going to be really good at this, that you probably would do really, really well for a while doing some live ones and then take the best ones and turn them into evergreen on the backend. Jen Camel: I love presenting. The issue is always time. That's always the issue. Shane Sams: When would you schedule them? When would you- Jen Camel: Well I'm thinking of maybe having it at a different time every week. The thing with the schedules of birth professionals is that often they are very unpredictable because people go into labor and they might have something scheduled and they can't attend. I think also offering people maybe a followup email offering them a link for those who couldn't attend live, a link to the recording. Jen Camel: In the webinar are you offering a special for them to sign up and it's only valid if they sign up then or are you honoring that after the webinar is over? Shane Sams: It would be honored in the replay period. Let's say here's a replay or we're going to honor this for 24 hours, or you could just not even rely on scarcity. Jocelyn and I don't really open and close things. What we do is we have special kinds of offers that we offer on our webinars so we don't have to do the in 24 hours you'll miss out and we may never do this again. Shane Sams: For example, one of the things that we usually sell on our webinars is a quarterly price for our membership. We have a free trial, that free trial turns into a monthly, and then we have an annual if you want to save like 50%. Those just always exist, but the only time we ever really offer a quarterly price is on our webinars, so it's easy for us to say, "Hey, this thing is usually X dollars a month, but here's the quarterly price. It will save you this percentage. This is only available on this webinar." Even if you see the webinar in replay it's still only available on that webinar. That's how we've done that in the past because we hate the launch model. We love scarcity and timing because it does work. But we try to get our scarcity based around more like sales, like Black Friday or there's a reason for it, not we're on a magic webinar and you happen to tune in at the right time, and it may or may not be live, and here's the timer. Shane Sams: It's just easier to offer something that's only available there instead of only available for a limited time, especially in your niche because way to know your avatar, because I never would have even though, "Oh man, what if somebody shows up to the webinar and they got to run out and deliver a baby?" Right, like [crosstalk 00:32:36] concern for your people so if you're like, "You've got 30 minutes," and you're like, "But she's only dilated to 9." Jen Camel: Yeah, exactly [crosstalk 00:32:44] and so that's part of the challenge with the whole scarcity thing is because if someone's at a birth for 36 hours and they miss that window- Shane Sams: God bless that women and family- Jen Camel: Exactly, I know, I know. Offering something during the webinar that is not typically available. I'd have to think about what that is. Jocelyn Sams: It could be like bonuses. There's different options of things you can do. Shane Sams: Do you have your- Jocelyn Sams: You don't have to just discount. Shane Sams: Do you have your speeches filmed or whatever? Jen Camel: Well I don't. Shane Sams: Let me just tell you where I'm going here. If next time you speak have someone record you or record yourself, and get three or four of those, and just put them together in a little package that's not in your membership, and just say, "Hey, anyone who joins on this webinar will get unlimited access forever to these three talks I did." That way you've got a little bonus thing that you kind of keep out of your membership, and there's a reason to keep it out of your membership is you want people to go see you live. Those are out and to reward people for showing up at your webinar you let them have this thing just like if they would have showed up at your life event. That's a little something you can keep back. That's a good tactic for bonuses is to keep something out of your membership that you can use only on webinars and anyone that signs up then gets that and you can't get it anywhere else. That's evergreen, that's just three videos on a page with a link. So they get an email with a link to those and they've got it at the end of the webinar. There's lots of ways to create scarcity besides putting a timer on it. Jen Camel: Yeah exactly, exactly. I'm trying to think of what bonus I would offer in the meantime before I get those three talks recorded. Shane Sams: Well you have your talks prepared. You could just set up shop one day and record them. Jocelyn Sams: Just do a screen capture video. Shane Sams: Are you speaking again anytime soon? Jen Camel: Not until December. Shane Sams: Okay, well just do three little things that aren't in the membership for now. Jocelyn Sams: Just don't make it so hard. Shane Sams: Yeah. Jen Camel: Okay. Jocelyn Sams: Do a screen capture video of one of your talks that you did. Shane Sams: Yeah, that's all you got to do. Jen Camel: Okay, awesome. Shane Sams: Does that dispel a little bit of your fears about the webinar process and how it's not as complicated as you think? Jen Camel: Yes. Jocelyn Sams: All right, great questions today Jen. I can't wait to see what you do taking action on these. Jocelyn Sams: With that in mind, let us know what you plan to take action on in the next 24 hours or so based on what we talked about today. Jen Camel: Well I am going to schedule my first webinar and start setting up all that back end. As you know, it's so time consuming to get all of the tags set up and all of your sequences set up. Just to get all of that foundation down, so that way when I want to schedule my weekly webinar it's all ready to go. Shane Sams: Awesome. Hey, you invest your time now and you never have to do it again, right? Jen Camel: Exactly. Shane Sams: Hey listen, you've done so much, we just want to first of all say congratulations on building a viable online business that is making money and you've really flipped your life. You are in total control of your life, you get in total control of your business. We are super proud of you and we cannot wait to see what happens next when you start doing these webinars. Shane Sams: Thanks again for coming on the show, and being so transparent, and just letting everybody listen in today so that they can build their business as well. Jen Camel: It's been my pleasure and I'll see you guys in Nashville. Shane Sams: That's right. Jocelyn Sams: Yay. Shane Sams: All right guys, that was another great call with one of our Flip Your Life community members. Remember, you can join right now for free and become a member of the Flip Your Life community and flippedlifestyle.com/free. We would love to have you in our forums. We would love to see the successes that you're having in your online business. Who knows, maybe someday you'll be a guest on the Flipped Lifestyle Podcast. Shane Sams: Before we close up we like to close all of our shows with a verse from the Bible. Today's bible verse is Proverbs 12:11. The Bible says, "A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies has no sense." So just like we talked about on today's show guys, get out there and do the work. Invest the time, invest the effort, invest the money in your business so that you can have success. Don't chase all these gurus, don't chase all the fantasies, don't chase the get rich quick schemes out there. Do the work and it will pay off. Until next time, get out there and take action, do whatever it takes to flip your life. Jocelyn Sams: Bye. Links and resources mentioned on today's show: Jen's website Flip Your Life community 30-day trial Enjoy the podcast; we hope it inspires you to explore what's possible for your family! Get your FREE 30-DAY Membership in the Flip Your Life Community NOW! – https://flippedlifestyle.com/free You can connect with S&J on social media too!

This week midwife Jenna Bruce is back on the show to share evidence based information on VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). VBAC is still a birth option that has a lot of misinformation floating around. Our goal is for mothers to know their options!

It is possible to have a plus size VBAC if you’re a good candidate and connect with a care provider who will back your decision. Yet, finding a size-friendly and VBAC supportive provider can be extremely challenging. Jen Kamel, the founder of VBAC Facts, joins the Plus Mommy Podcast to talk about VBAC options. Jen shares not only the benefits but also the risks of considering a VBAC. We break down some common misconceptions and talk specifically about the unique struggles of having a plus size VBAC. 

In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with the founder of VBAC Facts, Jen Kamel.  Jen and I go deep into myths and misconceptions about VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) and ways to advocate for the birth you want. This episode is will bring fire and confidence to any person unsure of the facts of VBAC and may help in selecting a care provider who can support the choice of VBAC. In this episode:  Jen’s pathway and passion for supporting VBAC. What is a VBAC? Reasons someone might be discouraged from having a VBAC. Medically justified reasons someone may be discouraged from having a VBAC Myths and misconceptions surrounding VBACs. Current VBAC rates. What would make someone a good “candidate” for a VBAC. The impact of the rising cesarean rate on women’s health. Risks of repeat cesareans. Red flags a pregnant person should keep in mind when interviewing care providers for a VBAC. Questions a pregnant person ask during the care provider search. How to best advocate for one’s self to have a VBAC when speaking with a care provider. Jen’s latest projects, speaking events, training and membership site! https://vbacfacts.com/membership FREE GIFT for the Yoga | Birth | Baby listeners!  vbacfacts.com/report For more information on VBAC Facts, please visit www.vbacfacts.com About Jen: Jen Kamel helps birth professionals, and cesarean parents, achieve clarity on vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) through her educational courses, training programs, and consulting services. As a nationally recognized consumer advocate and Founder of VBAC Facts, her mission is to increase VBAC access through education, legislation, and amplifying the consumer voice. She presents Grand Rounds at hospitals educating staff on the latest VBAC evidence. As a California Board of Registered Nursing Continuing Education Provider, she speaks at national conferences throughout the country. As a legislative consultant, she works with organizations focusing on midwifery legislation and regulations that threaten VBAC access. She testifies in front of the California Medical Board and legislative committees, meets with legislators in regards to individual pieces of legislation, and serves as an expert witness in legal proceedings. She envisions a time when every pregnant person seeking VBAC has access to unbiased information, respectful providers, and community support, so they can plan the birth of their choosing in the setting they desire.”   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest: Jen Kamel helps birth professionals, and cesarean parents, achieve clarity on VBAC through her educational training and consulting firm: VBACfacts.com. In this episode, we will cover: the common misconceptions women have about the risk of VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) and those that birth providers have. what the current medical research says about the risk of VBAC and the risk of subsequent C-sections how to create a birth team around you that is truly supportive of your VBAC  Resources mentioned in the conversation: Jen Kamel's website: www.VBACfacts.com to get the Top 5 Uterine Rupture Myths pdf to get the 5 Secrets to Planning a VBAC pdf About Jen Kamel: Jen Kamel helps birth professionals, and cesarean parents, achieve clarity on VBAC through her educational, training, and consulting firm VBAC Facts. As a VBAC strategist and nationally recognized consumer advocate, her mission is to increase VBAC access through educational programs, legislative action, and amplifying the consumer voice. She has presented Grand Rounds at hospitals educating obstetricians, maternal fetal medicine specialists, midwives, residents, and midwifery students on the latest VBAC evidence. She has traveled the country as a California Board of Registered Nursing Continuing Education Provider presenting her signature program "The Truth About VBAC" to hundreds of professionals and highly motivated parents. She speaks at national conferences and has worked as a legislative consultant focusing on midwifery legislation and regulations that impact VBAC access. She has testified multiple times in front of the California Medical Board and legislative committees on the importance of VBAC access and has served as an expert witness in a legal proceeding. She envisions a time when every pregnant person seeking VBAC has access to unbiased information, respectful providers, and community support so they can plan the birth of their choosing in the setting they desire.  

There’s a lot of misinformation when it comes to having a vaginal birth after a cesarean, with many people being told they are not allowed to VBAC. Often the risks of having a VBAC are exaggerated, while the risks of repeat cesareans are downplayed or not even brought up. That’s an unbalanced conversation that does not allow you to make a true informed choice. What are the facts? Jen Kamel has answers. Check it out.   Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the “show-notes” page at: birthful.com/podcastvbacfacts   If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to leave your rating or review. It really helps!   And if you want to connect with Adriana, reach out at: facebook.com/birthful twitter.com/birthful instagram.com/adrianika   Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY) Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY)

Dr. Stu & Brian welcome Jennifer Kamel, founder & Director of VBAC Facts.com

Dr. Stu & Brian welcome Jennifer Kamel, founder & Director of VBAC Facts.com