In this episode we hear from Kira, a thoughtful and articulate mum who shares her powerful VBAC journey after a previous caesarean. Kira’s story is a beautiful reminder that an empowering vaginal birth after caesarean is possible, even when it involves induction and an epidural.

She speaks candidly about her first birth which resulted in a caesarean and left her feeling disempowered and unheard. Determined to approach her second birth differently, Kira committed herself to learning, advocating for her preferences and creating a care team, including a doula, who respected her autonomy throughout her experience.

Despite being induced and choosing an epidural for pain relief, Kira achieved the VBAC she had hoped for, on her own terms. She reflects on the key factors that helped her feel supported and in control throughout labour and birth, the education that completely shifted the way she navigated her second birth experience (even advocating for more time rather than being taken for a repeat caesarean, which led to her VBAC!) and shares insights that will be incredibly valuable to other women planning a vaginal birth.

Kira’s story is an inspiring reminder that there’s no one 'right' way to have a vaginal birth after caesarean. What matters most is how you feel and are supported throughout the experience - this left her feeling strong, safe and seen as she birthed her baby powerfully and autonomously, making informed decisions every step of the way.

Please join us on our journey to bringing you all kinds of VBAC stories from across the country from here on in by subscribing and following us on social media, @australianvbacstories on Instagram and Australian VBAC Stories on Facebook.

If you enjoyed this episode, we’d love to rate or review, and tell your friends!

If you are feeling that you might benefit from mental health support after listening to our podcast, please reach out to one of the organisations below:

PANDA ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://panda.org.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Gidget Foundation ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.gidgetfoundation.org.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

COPE Australia ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.cope.org.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you've experienced mistreatment or disrespectful care in your pregnancy, birth or postpartum and are seeking advocacy support, please contact one of the following organisations:

Maternity Choices Australia ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.maternitychoices.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Maternity Consumer Network ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.maternityconsumernetwork.org.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Thank you for tuning in to our podcast.

In this episode, Georgia speaks with Emily, who shares her two contrasting birth stories with honesty, insight, and strength. Emily’s first birth, a planned hospital birth during COVID, took an unexpected turn following a gestational diabetes diagnosis, loss of continuity of care (MGP) in the last weeks of pregnancy, and a challenging, prodromal labour with posterior baby that ended in a caesarean section. She candidly reflects on the emotional aftermath and her path toward healing.

Determined to reclaim her birth experience, Emily shares the work she did—physically, emotionally, and mentally—to prepare for her VBAC. From deep internal bodywork to debriefing/counselling and mindset shifts, she details her transformative journey leading into her second birth: a powerful, supported VBAC that unfolded at home before transferring to hospital in the final hours. Despite facing hurdles once again, Emily emerged feeling elated, grounded, and strong. She shares her encouragement for building mental resilience, taking responsibility for your decisions and your feelings and making relevant powerful on your own journey to VBAC.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone planning a VBAC or seeking inspiration after a difficult birth. Emily’s story is filled with wisdom, vulnerability, and serves as a timely reminder to trust your body, your intuition, and your inner power.

BIO:

My name is Emily Martin. Mother to two little girls Torvi(4) and Luna (3). My husband is Brock. We live in the small outback town ofBroken Hill where I work part time as a cafe cook and manager and Brock is aheavy diesel mechanic and sheep farmer. In years without children Brock and Iwere busy, work addicted business owners. Now with children we much prefer a quiet life and spend much of our time on the family property with plans to make living on the land our life plan.

Emily shared some beautiful resources during the podcast episode including Core and floor restore Womb templeStephanie Elsum acupuncturist -vibrance mind and body port Macquarie Birth sisters port macquarie

Please join us on our journey to bringing you all kinds of VBAC stories from across the country from here on in by subscribing and following us on social media, @australianvbacstories on Instagram and Australian VBAC Stories on Facebook.

If you enjoyed this episode, we’d love to rate or review, and tell your friends!

If you are feeling that you might benefit from mental health support after listening to our podcast, please reach out to one of the organisations below:

PANDA ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://panda.org.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Gidget Foundation ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.gidgetfoundation.org.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

COPE Australia ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.cope.org.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you've experienced mistreatment or disrespectful care in your pregnancy, birth or postpartum and are seeking advocacy support, please contact one of the following organisations:

Maternity Choices Australia ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.maternitychoices.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Maternity Consumer Network ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.maternityconsumernetwork.org.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Thank you for tuning in to our podcast.

In this heartfelt and deeply insightful episode, Laura shares the stories of her four very different births — unfolding under different models of care and each offering her profound lessons in motherhood, birth and self-trust.

Laura’s journey begins in the public hospital system, where despite a positive first birth experience with her son Harry, she reflects on the loss of her mother during this pivotal time and how little guidance she felt she had as a new parent throughout pregnancy and postpartum. Her second birth with Arthur ended in a caesarean that she still questions the necessity of. She reflects on the disconnect from her body during this experience and speaks of Arthur's postpartum period which brought unexpected challenges, including a long battle with oral and breast thrush which she conquered and continued to breastfeed throughout.

It was during her third pregnancy, in the midst of COVID and a chance encounter with a doula, that Laura found a path to empowered, supported birth. With her daughter Yasmine, she experienced a healing homebirth VBAC, surrounded by care providers who respected her body and her choices. Her fourth and final birth — a planned homebirth with her daughter Freya — was another transformative experience, this time with all three of her children present, a birth photographer and a doula, highlighting the beauty of including family and additional supports in the birthing space.

Laura speaks with honesty, wisdom, and reverence for her body’s journey — from navigating grief and fragmented care to discovering the power of continuity, community, and bodily autonomy. She reflects on tandem feeding, her husband's evolving role in the birth space and how these birth experiences shaped her parenting and worldview.

This is an episode rich with insights into informed decision-making, birth choices in Australia, breastfeeding difficulties and the value of trusting yourself through every stage of motherhood.

Please join us on our journey to bringing you all kinds of VBAC stories from across the country from here on in by subscribing and following us on social media, @australianvbacstories on Instagram and Australian VBAC Stories on Facebook.

Laura shares a resource, 'Beyond the sling' by Mayim Bialik, which can be found here.

If you enjoyed this episode, we’d love to rate or review, and tell your friends!

If you are feeling that you might benefit from mental health support after listening to our podcast, please reach out to one of the organisations below:

PANDA ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://panda.org.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Gidget Foundation ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.gidgetfoundation.org.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

COPE Australia ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.cope.org.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you've experienced mistreatment or disrespectful care in your pregnancy, birth or postpartum and are seeking advocacy support, please contact one of the following organisations:

Maternity Choices Australia ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.maternitychoices.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Maternity Consumer Network ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.maternityconsumernetwork.org.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Thank you for tuning in to our podcast.