Explore every episode of the podcast The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast

In this episode, I sit down with Kelsey, a Canadian mum of three now living in Newcastle, NSW, who walks us through her deeply contrasting birth experiences — from a marathon first labour, to a premature birth affected by pre-eclampsia, and finally, her powerful HBAC.

Kelsey’s story is a reminder that birth doesn’t follow a straight line. Each pregnancy asked something new of her, and each birth required its own kind of strength.

Her first baby arrived after more than 40 hours of labour, beginning at 40+5.
After labouring for 24 hours she was still only 1 cm dilated.
Her baby was posterior, her waters broke naturally, she eventually accepted an epidural, and after 48 hours of labour she had a vaginal birth — but her baby was taken to special care due to a low baseline heart rate and being born “floppy.”

Kelsey’s second pregnancy brought a new challenge: pre-eclampsia.
Her blood pressure spiked, and she was induced at 33 weeks.
Her baby spent two weeks in special care. This was a different experience, one that required patience and resiliance that was different to her first postpartum experience

This experience planted the seed for something different the next time, a birth where she felt supported, informed, and safe.

With her third baby, Kelsey planned a HBAC right at the last minute at 33 weeks. She always wanted to have a VBAC, but realised if she wanted to give this her best shot, her choice would be at home. She was able to connect with a midwife she felt comfortable with and got her husband on board, after watching the Birth Time movie with together.

This time, she felt grounded, prepared, and empowered — and she went on to achieve her dream of a HBAC at home, bringing her baby into the world surrounded by safety, warmth and support.

Kelsey credits much of her confidence and preparation to the incredible birth resources she leaned on, including:

⭐ Her own knowing and intuition

⭐ The Great Birth Rebellion Podcast
⭐ The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast
⭐ Birth Time (the documentary)
⭐ Hypnobirthing tools & education

These helped her understand her options, challenge the narratives she’d been given, and prepare herself emotionally and mentally for a different birth experience.

Enjoy this episode! 

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Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

In this episode, I share a short, practical guide to finding a midwife in Australia to support your HBAC or VBAC homebirth. Starting the search can feel overwhelming, but there are trusted pathways and communities to help you connect with the right support.

Here’s what we cover:

⭐ How to begin your search for a midwife in your local area ⭐ The role of Homebirth Australia as a representative organisation, and how it connects with state groups like Homebirth Queensland, Homebirth NSW, and Homebirth Victoria

⭐ How to use Facebook groups such as Homebirth Australia, Homebirth Queensland, and the VBAC Homebirth Support Group to find midwives, birth workers, and supportive communities

⭐ Why reaching out to a local doula can be an important first step when planning a homebirth

⭐ How the HBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast and support networks can help you feel connected and informed

I also share how I can personally support you through Power Hour sessions, virtual pregnancy support, and both in-person and online guidance to help you prepare for a confident, empowered birth.

Enjoy this episode! 

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Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

In this episode, I sit down with Tiffanie, a mother of two from Mt Isa, who shares her raw and powerful birth stories—two very different journeys that shaped her into the woman and mother she is today.

Tiffanie’s first pregnancy was planned as a freebirth, but at 38+4 weeks she developed preeclampsia so severe she was losing her vision for up to ten minutes just from standing up.

When she presented at the hospital, doctors told her she was on the edge of eclampsia—her liver and kidneys were shutting down—and a caesarean was her safest option. What followed was an incredibly tough start to motherhood, with Tiffanie sent to ICU and separated from her newborn for 30 hours due to a covid patient being in ICU at the same time.

Her second pregnancy, however, was completely different. Choosing a wild pregnancy with just one ultrasound at 21 weeks, Tiffanie leaned into her intuition, knowledge, and body wisdom. Determined not to repeat her first experience, she focused on prevention and balance:

• Following the Brewer’s Diet with an emergency protocol

• Using Celtic salt shots and water to regulate her blood pressure

• Staying strong and active with F45 training throughout pregnancy
  

At 42+3 weeks, Tiffanie went into spontaneous labour and birthed her baby at home in a beautiful freebirth. Her baby was born sunny side up, and with the loving support of her husband and sister-in-law Sarah by her side, Tiffanie welcomed her baby into the world on her own terms.

This episode is a powerful reminder of the strength it takes to reclaim trust in your body after trauma, and the importance of preparation, nutrition, and support when navigating birth after preeclampsia.

Enjoy this podcast episode!

More from Ashley:

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Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

In this episode, I share the remarkable birth journey of Kelsey, a mother of three from Wisconsin, USA, who moved from fear and medical trauma to deep empowerment with a healing home birth after two caesareans (HBA2C).

Baby #1 saw Kelsey induced at 37 weeks for suspected pre-eclampsia. Her regular doctor was away, and with a male provider stepping in, she felt overwhelmed and anxious. Not realising she had the right to say no, she was swept into a domino effect of interventions that led to her first C-section. At her six-week check-up, she was told her pelvis was “too small” and that vaginal birth would never be an option.

Baby #2 was a different experience—Kelsey worked with midwives in a hospital who respected her choices and supported her VBAC plan. She declined most testing and felt truly seen. After four days of prodromal labour and 35 hours in total (with four of those hours pushing), she was emotionally and physically spent and opted for a second caesarean. Despite the outcome, the birth was peaceful and affirming. She watched her son being born, held him immediately in the operating room, and was encouraged by her doctor to try for a VBAC again in the future.

Baby #3 was a surprise, and initially, Kelsey assumed she’d opt for another caesarean. But the years between babies were filled with education and empowerment. She met inspiring women, learned more about birth physiology, and found support from a community who believed in her. She hired a trusted doula and connected with a midwife willing to support her HBA2C at home.

Throughout her pregnancy, Kelsey focused on calming her nervous system and nurturing her body with consistent body work—chiropractic care, regular massages, and acupuncture. She immersed herself in birth education, including Real Food for Pregnancy by Lily Nichols and Dr Berg’s YouTube channel for wellness tips.

When labour began at 39 weeks and 4 days, she laboured instinctively at home. Within 4.5 hours, Kelsey gave birth on her bedroom floor, with her eldest son watching his sister’s head crown. Her daughter was born into peace—wide-eyed and calm. The moment was surreal. She had done it. Kelsey had birthed on her own terms.

Being at home was the game-changer. She finally experienced birth in the way her body was designed for—supported, and sacred.

Enjoy this podcast episode! 

More from Ashley:

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Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

In this solo episode, I’m diving into a topic that rarely gets the airtime it deserves—long labours. As a doula and homebirth mentor, I’ve witnessed first-hand how a mismatch between expectation and reality can quickly spiral into fear and self-doubt. That’s why today I’m sharing what you really need to know to prepare for the marathon, not the sprint.

Whether you're planning a VBAC, homebirth, or your first vaginal birth, this episode will help you get your mind as ready as your body. Because birth isn’t just physical—it’s deeply emotional, spiritual, and mental too.

Inside this episode:

• Why setting realistic expectations for the length of your labour is vital
  

• How personal and cultural stories shape our beliefs around how birth should unfold
  

• Why long labour doesn’t mean something is “wrong”
  

• How to manage your mindset when labour takes longer than expected
  

• The practical tools you need to stay grounded and in your body: breathwork, movement, heat, sound, water and more
  

• How to manage a crisis of confidence and make empowered decisions—even when things feel hard
  

I share stories from my own births, stories from the women I’ve supported, and the mindset tools that will help you stay centred—no matter how long labour lasts. You’ll hear about the importance of rest, staying in your own lane, and the truth that labour can be long, intense and still perfectly normal.

Long doesn’t mean broken. Birth doesn’t follow a clock. You don’t need to perform—you need to surrender.

This episode is essential listening for anyone wanting to prepare holistically for birth, especially those planning a physiological birth outside of the system.

Want to share your story?

If you've experienced a long labour and would love to share your story on the podcast, please get in touch. Every story matters—and your insight might be the very thing another woman needs to hear.

Enjoy this episode.

Ashley x 

More from Ashley:

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Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

In this episode I give you a step-by-step run through of what you need to think about, where to get a birth pool and how to make it run as smoothly as possible.

First Things First: Choose the Right Pool

Not all birth pools are created equal. Ideally, you want one that’s:

• Sturdy enough to lean on without collapsing.

• Deep enough so you can fully submerge your belly (think: shoulders and chest in too, if possible).

• Quick to inflate (preferably with an electric pump).

• Comfortable (some have cushioned floors and sides).

You can either hire a birth pool kit (which often comes with all the bits and bobs you’ll need), or buy one if you think you’ll want it for future births. Just check if your midwife or doula has recommendations, they’ve usually seen it all.

What You’ll Need (Besides the Pool)

Here’s the full kit:

• Electric air pump (don’t waste your breath—literally) 

• Tap hose (long enough to reach the pool from your nearest tap) 

• Tap connector (you might need an adapter depending on your taps) 

• Submersible pump (to empty the pool after the birth—trust me, you’ll want this) 

• Tarp or waterproof sheet (under the pool to protect your floors) 

• New hose (use a fresh, drinking-safe one to fill the pool—bacteria is a no thanks) 

• Thermometer (to check the water temp) 

• Sieve or small net (for scooping out anything floating around—yes, it’s normal) 

Optional but nice to have:

• Extra towels and mats (for getting in and out) 

• Fairy lights or candles (set the vibe) 

• A comfy chair or birth ball nearby (if you want a change of position) 

How to Fill the Pool

Simple steps:

1. Lay down your tarp. 

2. Inflate the pool using the electric pump (this should take 10–15 minutes). 

3. Attach the hose to your tap. (Use the hot and cold taps to get the right mix.) 

4. Start filling! It can take 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on your water pressure, so plan accordingly. 

Keep checking the water temp and top up with warm water if needed.

Emptying the Pool (aka, the Last Thing You’ll Feel Like Doing)

Post-birth, you’ll be blissed out with your baby, and the pool will be the last thing on your mind.  

Hopefully you have an amazing team who will be doing all of this for you (make sure you check with them and ask them what they usually do). 

That’s where the submersible pump comes in. Attach a hose, plug in the pump, and direct the water outside or down a drain.

Pro tip: Delegate this. Seriously. You’ve just given birth. Let someone else deal with the logistics.

Birth Pool Mindset:

Just remember, like all things in birth, the pool is a tool, not a plan. Maybe you’ll love it and want to stay in it the whole time. Maybe you’ll hop in for an hour and then move somewhere else. Maybe you’ll birth your baby into the water, or maybe not.

None of it means you’ve “failed”.Water is there to serve you, not the other way around.

If you would like support during your VBAC Homebirth, reach out to chat about the many ways I can support you to feel calm, confident and connected. 

Ashley x 

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Love the podcast? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ coffee

Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

In this episode, you get just me, Ashley in a solo episode which was a bit fun as I haven’t done a solo episode all year!

We celebrate 5 years of The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast, some of my favourite episodes (and yes I may have a few too many favs!) be sure to check them out if you haven’t listened yet. 

We cover: 

• Top episodes:

• Hazel Keedle EP17

• Dr Sarah Buckley EP30

• Rachel Reed EP12

• Dr K EP165

• Emma 18 days ruptured waters, freebirth EP55

• Katy’s planned homebirth turned hospital birth and uterine rupture EP49

• EP2 Kamal’s accidental unassisted VBAC homebirth

• EP11 Working through fear with Ashley

We also chat about my experiences working with women in births as a birth doula and the magical experiences I’ve been witnessing, how I’m also supporting women with postpartum support at night (locally in Brisbane to Gold Coast) and how you can access my support click here. 

To celebrate 5 years of the podcast you can also access 25% off for the month of June, just contact me here to access that special pricing for this month only (you can book in July or August for the actual session). 

And much more!! 

Enjoy this podcast episode!

Ashley x

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Love the podcast? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ coffee

Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

In this thought-provoking episode, I sit down with the remarkable Dr K, a high-risk obstetrician and online doula who is walking the delicate line between the medical system and autonomous birth.

With rare insight and fierce compassion, Dr K shares what it’s like to be an OBGYN working within a system that too often defaults to control, fear, and policy over people. Her mission? To bring balance back into the conversation and ensure that informed consent isn’t just a checkbox, it’s a sacred part of birth.

✨ Inside this episode:

• What it’s really like being an OBGYN in today’s high-intervention maternity care model

• The uncomfortable truths around coercion, lack of consent, and birth trauma in hospital systems

• Why Dr K believes every woman deserves balanced, evidence-based, and non-judgmental support

• How she supports clients both clinically and emotionally, as both an online doula and OBGYN
• The story behind her social media advocacy and why she started speaking out
• Navigating both worlds: institutional medicine and sovereign, women-centred care
• This is a must-listen for birth workers, pregnant people, and anyone questioning the status quo in maternity care.

In this powerful episode, we sit down with a midwife-turned-mama who planned two homebirths and ended up birthing in hospital under very different circumstanceswith her first baby. This raw and revealing story offers insight into what happens when the tables turn, and the one who usually supports birth journeys must navigate her own.

This is a VBAC story filled with nuance, informed decisions, intuitive pivots, and emotional depth.

✨ Inside this episode:

• The reality of planning a publicly funded homebirth and what shifted her decision

• How her waters breaking at 41 weeks kicked off a long and complex labour

• What it was like transferring into hospital by ambulance

• How she advocated for herself and said no to theatre

• The physical and emotional toll of her first VBAC birth experience—being exhausted, having her consent disregarded, and feeling unsupported

• How she worked with a trauma-informed counsellor to unpack her first birth and using breathwork.

• Preparing for her second VBAC (Hazel's birth): iron infusions, chiropractic care, rest and self-nourishment

• The impact of a supportive birth team: her midwife, and an amazing student doula

• Trauma-informed care

• The importance of birth debriefing

• The impact of truly supportive midwifery
• Pain management strategies: water injections, rest, tools like spikey balls and combs

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Love the podcast? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ coffee

Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

In this week's episode, I sit down with the lovely Ana, a mother of two boys living in Portugal, as she shares her inspiring journey from a medicalised breech birth to a midwife-supported VBAC at home.

Ana’s first birth in late 2019 ended in a caesarean after going to 41+5 with a breech baby and navigating a tough hospital system. Her initial private OBGYN was unsupportive, pushing decisions without much collaboration—until Ana found a new provider who honoured her options and helped her feel seen. Although her first birth ended in surgery, it was the spark that set her on a mission to reclaim birth on her own terms.

With her second baby, Ana took radical responsibility—diving deep into birth education, training as a doula, and choosing a supportive team of midwife and doula well before she even conceived. During her pregnancy, Ana felt like a goddess—nourished, empowered, and surrounded by care that truly respected her.

At 41+5, she went into spontaneous labour and spent 25 powerful hours navigating intensity, pain, and deep inner strength. With her husband by her side and her compassionate birth team surrounding her, Ana vaginally birthed her baby in the safety of her own home—a healing and empowering VBAC journey that she now shares to inspire others.

In this episode, we explore:

✨ Why Ana chose a midwife-attended homebirth after a breech caesarean

✨ The power of birth education and training as a doula

✨ How Ana prepared for her VBAC and stayed grounded during a 25-hour labour

✨ The importance of being surrounded by a supportive birth team

✨ The joy and healing that came through trusting her body and her baby

🎧 Tune in for this beautifully grounded story of self-trust, feminine power, and VBAC victory. Ana reminds us that when we reclaim birth, we also reclaim ourselves.

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Love the podcast? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ coffee

Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

The host and guests of this podcast are not liable for any outcomes resulting from the information shared. By listening, you acknowledge that you take full responsibility for your own health and birth choices.

This week on the podcast, I sit down with Lizzy, a mama of three and a graduate of my Homebirth Mentoring Program, who shares the deeply personal and powerful story of her second VBAC—a surprise pregnancy that became a profound journey of self-trust, healing and sovereign birth.

With just 18 months between her babies, Lizzy found herself unexpectedly pregnant and unsure whether she would continue the pregnancy. But through deep inner work, radical honesty, and full-body alignment, she chose not only to keep the baby—but to freebirth on her own terms.

In this episode, we talk about:

🌟 Navigating a surprise pregnancy with honesty and intuition 🌟 The emotional and spiritual work that unfolded before choosing freebirth

🌟 Why Lizzy said no to midwifery care—even for a VBAC

🌟 Her fast and fierce 4-hour active labour supported only by her husband

🌟 What happened when meconium was discovered after birth 🌟 Why "If it’s not a hell yes, it’s a hell no" became her guiding mantra

Lizzy’s story is one of clarity, courage, and reclaiming power after birth trauma. She didn’t just birth her baby—she birthed herself anew, choosing sovereignty over fear and intuition over external validation.

This episode is for every woman who has felt unsure, overwhelmed, or out of alignment—and who is ready to rewrite her story.

🎧 Listen now and feel into the wisdom of your own inner knowing.

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Love the podcast? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ coffee

Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

The host and guests of this podcast are not liable for any outcomes resulting from the information shared. By listening, you acknowledge that you take full responsibility for your own health and birth choices.

This week I’m joined by Claire Holloway, homebirth mother, yoga educator, and fierce advocate for reclaiming autonomy in pregnancy, birth and matrescence. Claire shares her own HBAC story and how her experience with both an emergency C-section and a homebirth transformed her relationship with her body—and with yoga.

We dive deep into the true essence of yoga for birth, stripping away the fluff of 'prenatal stretch classes' and exploring how ancient philosophy offers a powerful framework for navigating birth on your terms.

In this episode, we explore:

⭐ How yoga for homebirth is radically different from mainstream birth prep

⭐ The yogic principles that can guide your pregnancy and birth journey

⭐ Why breathwork is about awareness, not perfection

⭐ Pain management strategies rooted in presence, not performance

⭐ Why physical postures are the least important part of prenatal yoga

Whether you're pregnant, planning a homebirth, or supporting women through birth, this conversation is an invitation to go deeper—beyond the mat, beyond technique, and into the heart of what it means to birth in full awareness and autonomy.

🎧 Tune in now for a grounded, wise and soulful chat that will shift how you see yoga and birth forever.

🎧 Enjoy this episode!

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Love the podcast? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ coffee

Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

The host and guests of this podcast are not liable for any outcomes resulting from the information shared. By listening, you acknowledge that you take full responsibility for your own health and birth choices.

You’ve just birthed a whole human—so why are we so quick to rush mothers out the door, slap on a nappy, and tell them to “get on with it”? In today’s honest, soul-stirring chat, I’m joined by TEDx speaker and postpartum advocate Sonal Patal to unpack the reality of the fourth trimester—a crucial stage of motherhood that most people still aren’t talking about.

We explore what the fourth trimester really means—not just in terms of hormones and healing, but in the radical rest, nourishment, and village every new mother deserves.

From why you shouldn’t feel guilty about spending money on yourself, to how our current systems are failing women, this episode is a must-listen for any mother, birthworker, or ally who knows there has to be a better way.

In this episode, we cover:

⭐ What the fourth trimester actually is—and why it’s not just fluff ⭐ The emotional, physical, and societal pressures new mums face ⭐ Why investing in support (not stuff) is a revolutionary act ⭐ The value of rest—and how to unapologetically claim it ⭐ Sonal’s mission to create a preventative care movement, not more bandaid solutions

This episode is your permission slip to slow down, opt out of the productivity trap, and tune into what your body, your baby, and your spirit really need.

Rest isn’t lazy. Support isn’t a luxury. This is the new postpartum revolution—are you ready to be part of it?

🎧 Enjoy this episode!

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

The host and guests of this podcast are not liable for any outcomes resulting from the information shared. By listening, you acknowledge that you take full responsibility for your own health and birth choices.

In this emotional and deeply insightful episode, we hear from a powerful mama Aly McClain who shares the highs and lows of her four unique birth experiences.

Each one teaching her something new about surrender, trust, and the strength of her body and spirit.

From a pain-empowered second birth, to navigating an unexpected NICU transfer, to welcoming her birthday baby after 42 weeks, this episode covers the full spectrum of birthing experiences, including a moment of potential shoulder dystocia and the power of intuition in labour.

In This Episode, You'll Hear:

🔹 A powerful story of choosing to feel pain during birth to affirm her strength

🔹 How she handled an unexpected NICU transfer due to her newborn’s low heart rate and blood sugar

🔹 The emotional challenges of postpartum in the NICU during COVID

🔹 Why knowing your NICU rights matters for home birth parents

🔹 A peaceful fourth pregnancy followed by a birth that required surrender and trust

🔹 A potential shoulder dystocia and wrapped cord handled intuitively and calmly at home

🔹 The importance of staying grounded in your “why” during birth

🔹 Insights on how inner work and belief systems influence birth outcomes

✨ Preparation is key for any home birth—including the possibility of transfer

✨ Trusting your intuition and tuning into your body can shift birth outcomes

✨ Your postpartum experience matters—and how you birth can impact your bond and recovery

✨ Your “why” is your anchor—know it, connect with it, and let it guide youEnjoy this episode!

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Love the podcast? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ coffee

Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

The host and guests of this podcast are not liable for any outcomes resulting from the information shared. By listening, you acknowledge that you take full responsibility for your own health and birth choices.

In this deeply thought-provoking episode, I sit down with the incredible Billie Harrigan—birth worker, educator, and fierce advocate for women’s autonomy in childbirth.

With over 40 years of experience supporting birthing families, Billie has seen firsthand how the medical cartel has reshaped birth, often prioritising control over care.

We dive into the history of birth, the technocratic model, and the ripple effects of medicalised maternity care.

Billie shares her powerful insights into what women need to know to reclaim their birthing power, especially those planning a VBAC homebirth.

This conversation will challenge the status quo, ignite your inner fire, and give you the confidence to take charge of your birth experience.

Enjoy this episode!

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Love the podcast? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ coffee

Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

The host and guests of this podcast are not liable for any outcomes resulting from the information shared. By listening, you acknowledge that you take full responsibility for your own health and birth choices.

In this episode of VBAC Home Birth Stories, we’re diving into a topic that deserves real talk and respect—plus size pregnancy and birth. If you’ve ever been made to feel like your body is a medical condition rather than a life-giving force, this episode is for you.

I share my personal experiences navigating the maternity system as a plus-size woman, from early pregnancy bias to the constant fear-mongering around birth choices. We also explore how plus-size women can reclaim their power, whether choosing a home birth or hospital birth, and what size-friendly care should actually look like.

If you’ve ever been told you can’t have a VBAC, must be induced, or will develop gestational diabetes simply because of your size—this episode will challenge everything you’ve been led to believe.

What We Cover in This Episode:

🔹 The Biases Plus Size Women Face in Pregnancy & Birth

• How plus-size women are treated in the hospital system (and what needs to change).

• The constant weight-based assumptions about fertility, pregnancy, and birth outcomes.

• Why BMI is an outdated and unreliable indicator of health.

• Myth #1: It’s harder to get pregnant if you’re in a bigger body.
  

• Myth #2: Plus-size women must be induced because of the risk of a “big baby.”
  

• Myth #3: You can’t have a home birth if you’re plus-size.

• Why hospitals use the “big baby” scare tactic to push unnecessary inductions and C-sections.
  

• Respectful, individualised care based on actual health markers—not weight.
  

• A provider who listens to your concerns instead of making assumptions.
  

• Informed consent over coercion—you deserve to make your own choices.
  

• How to find a provider who truly supports plus-size pregnancy (including home birth options!).
  

• Why some doctors assume plus-size women have GD before even testing.
  

• How some women are forced into unnecessary interventions based on weight alone.
  

• The importance of tracking actual health markers rather than relying on BMI.
  

• How to tell if your midwife, doula, or OB is truly size-inclusive.
  

• The red flags that a provider is not supportive of plus-size birth.
  

• Why plus-size women sometimes feel more comfortable with lived-experience providers.
  

• Why your body is NOT broken—regardless of what the system tells you.
  

• How judgment and bias impact care and what you can do about it.
  

• The power of plus-size birth advocates & community support.

🎧 Listen now for an empowering conversation that will shift your perspective on plus-size birth and give you the tools to advocate for yourself with confidence!

📖 Book: Plus Size Pregnancy by Dr. Sara Wickham 📱 Instagram: @ashleylwinning 👩‍👩‍👧 Community: Follow plus-size birth accounts & find size-friendly providers

💌 Share Your Story! If you’ve had an experience (good or bad) as a plus-size pregnant woman, I’d love to hear from you. Send me a message on Instagram or via email!

Enjoy this podcast episode!

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Love the podcast? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ coffee

Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

The host and guests of this podcast are not liable for any outcomes resulting from the information shared. By listening, you acknowledge that you take full responsibility for your own health and birth choices.

In this episode, we dive into the incredible story of Emilie, a yoga instructor from Bribie Island, Queensland, who embraced her intuition and unapologetically stood in her power to navigate her birthing journey.

Emilie’s story is one of resilience, trust in her body, and the beauty of natural birth after a Caesarean and surprise breech birth. (HBAC).

Her journey includes a surprise breech birth, navigating care with private midwives, and staying centered in her inner strength. Emilie shares how yoga, mindfulness, and her connection to her inner wisdom played pivotal roles in this transformative experience.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Trusting Her Intuition and Inner Power: Emilie’s ability to listen to her body and instincts led her to make empowering decisions throughout her pregnancy and birth, even when faced with unexpected situations.
   

2. Surprise Breech Birth: The unexpected twist of birthing a breech baby naturally and how Emilie worked through this experience with determination, trust, and the support of her care team and husband.
   

3. Supportive Partner Role: Emilie’s husband was an active and supportive presence in her birthing journey. He may join us as a guest to provide insights from his perspective as a birth partner in a future episode so stay tuned.
   

Yoga and Mindfulness in Pregnancy and Birth: How her experience as a yoga instructor helped Emilie stay grounded, focused, and connected to her body during birth.

Enjoy this podcast episode!

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Love the podcast? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ coffee

Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

The host and guests of this podcast are not liable for any outcomes resulting from the information shared. By listening, you acknowledge that you take full responsibility for your own health and birth choices.

In this episode, we welcome back Sarah, who shares her incredible journey of birthing her fourth baby at home—her second home birth after two caesareans, including a special scar birth.

If you missed her previous episode (EP67 | Sarah – Mindset Overhaul, Small Babies, 3 Planned Homebirths, HBA2C + Special Scar), you can listen to her earlier birth stories on the podcast.

Sarah’s pregnancy was smooth until around 35 weeks, when she started experiencing high blood pressure. This led to more hospital appointments, increased monitoring, and pressure from medical professionals who advised against a home birth. She was even diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, adding another layer of challenge to her birth plan.

Despite the pressure, Sarah stayed strong in her decision. She surrounded herself with a supportive doula, a dedicated midwife, and her loving husband, who all believed in her ability to birth at home. Although she expected to give birth at 38 weeks, as she had in the past, her pregnancy continued beyond that, heightening the tension.

Finally, she went into labour and gave birth safely at home, experiencing an empowering and deeply positive birth. In her own words: “I did it!”—a true testament to her strength, resilience, and trust in her body.

If you love hearing real and raw home birth stories, this episode is for you!

🎧 Listen now and be inspired by Sarah’s unwavering determination and powerful birth experience.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

📖 Book: Portal: The Art of Choosing Orgasmic, Pain-Free, Blissful Birth by Yolande Norris-Clark👩‍⚕️

Experts in Birth

• Dr Rachel Reed – Midwifery, birth physiology, and women's autonomy

• Dr Sarah Buckley – Hormonal physiology of birth and natural birth advocacy🌟 Support & Mentoring:

• Ashley Winning VIP Mentoring – Guidance and support for home birth and pregnancy confidence

Enjoy this episode!

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Love the podcast? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a⁠⁠⁠⁠ coffee

Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

The host and guests of this podcast are not liable for any outcomes resulting from the information shared. By listening, you acknowledge that you take full responsibility for your own health and birth choices.

In this episode, we hear from Victoria, a determined and inspiring mum who birthed on her own terms after a Caesarean. Living in Broome rural Western Australia, Victoria planned for a healing and autonomous birth, engaging deeply in birth education, self-care, and intuitive preparation.

Her journey started with a planned Homebirth and the support of a birthkeeper who was set to fly in from Perth. The birthkeeper was meant to stay with Victoria in the week leading up to her due date—offering support, massage, and even filling her postpartum freezer with nourishing meals.

But when the time came, fate had other plans. The birthkeeper was attending another labour and couldn’t make it. Victoria suddenly had to pivot, embracing the reality of a freebirth—trusting herself completely.

At around 40 weeks, labour began. Victoria moved instinctively through her contractions, spending time walking her large property, connecting with nature on the beach, and holding onto the balustrade of her balcony. She rested on bean bags outside and eventually moved inside, finding relief on the toilet.

Throughout labour, her mind presented challenges—waves of self-doubt and fleeting thoughts of transferring to the hospital. But with deep awareness, she continually redirected her mindset, embracing the power of birth and her body’s innate wisdom.

In the end, Victoria’s birth unfolded beautifully. She emerged from the experience feeling strong, empowered, and deeply grateful for the way it all transpired.

In This Episode, Victoria Shares:

• How she navigated her VBAC journey after a long, hospital birth ending in a c-section. 

• The challenges of planning a rural homebirth with limited birth support.

• How she prepared mentally and physically—including birth books, podcasts, and breathwork.

• The unexpected turn of events when her birthkeeper couldn’t attend.

• The inner mindset battle of self-doubt vs. trust during labour.

• The power of birthing in tune with her body, instincts, and environment.

🎧 Tune in now for a raw, inspiring, and deeply moving birth story.

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Love the podcast? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a⁠⁠⁠ coffee

Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

The host and guests of this podcast are not liable for any outcomes resulting from the information shared. By listening, you acknowledge that you take full responsibility for your own health and birth choices.

In this episode, we hear from Lise, an inspiring Canadian mum who achieved an unassisted VBA2C homebirth while managing Type 1 diabetes.

Lise’s journey is one of resilience, self-trust, and unwavering determination as she navigated a system that often felt disempowering to take control of her birthing experience.

After two previous Caesarean births, both prompted by concerns over reduced movements late in her pregnancies, Lise faced immense challenges.

Both of her boys were taken to special care shortly after birth—an experience she refers to as “medical kidnapping,” where implied consent allowed care to be provided without proper consultation. These experiences fuelled her desire for a different, more autonomous birth journey.

During her third pregnancy, Lise dedicated herself to researching, listening to birth stories, and reading empowering birth books, including Rachel Reed’s Rites of Passage.

Feeling healthy and confident, she managed her diabetes at home with continuous blood sugar monitoring and a proactive approach to her care.

However, the journey wasn’t without its obstacles. Staying with her in-laws late in pregnancy, Lise was told at 40 weeks that she was no longer welcome to birth in their home due to fears of potential litigation. Undeterred, Lise quickly found alternative accommodation at an Airbnb, where she birthed her baby with a trusted birth companion by her side.

Lise’s story is a testament to the strength of trusting your body, doing your research, and taking control of your birth experience, even in complex circumstances.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

• Lise’s experiences with two prior Caesareans and the challenges of navigating medicalised care.

• Perspectives of type 1 diabetes and detangling diabetes from birth. 

• The emotional impact of “medical kidnapping” and implied consent in her earlier births.

• How she took charge of her health and planned for an unassisted VBA2C at home.

• The hurdles she faced at 40 weeks and how she overcame them to birth her way.

🎧 Tune in now for Lise's story.

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

The host and guests of this podcast are not liable for any outcomes resulting from the information shared. By listening, you acknowledge that you take full responsibility for your own health and birth choices.

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Jane Hardwicke Collings, a grandmother, former homebirth midwife, and internationally renowned teacher of women's mysteries.

Jane’s work spans decades, focusing on the sacred dimensions of menstruation, childbirth, and menopause, helping women reconnect with their bodies and reclaim their power.

Having trained as a midwife in the hospital system, Jane had a profound awakening to the institutionalised abuse within maternity care.

This led her on a lifelong mission to educate and empower women, founding The School of Shamanic Womancraft, an international women’s mystery school.

Jane shares her personal experiences with birth, including her own VBAC journey, and the importance of surrender, trust, and deep inner work in preparing for birth and beyond.

• Jane’s journey from hospital midwife to homebirth advocate.

• The importance of rites of passage and how they shape a woman’s journey.

• Understanding and healing birth trauma through a shamanic lens.

• How modern maternity care fails women and what we can do to change it.

• The power of surrender in birth and how it transformed Jane’s own experiences.

• Practical tools for women to connect with their intuition during pregnancy and birth.

Jane’s wisdom is raw, deep, and life-changing—this is a must-listen for anyone wanting to reclaim the power of physiological birth and dismantle the patriarchal narratives surrounding women’s bodies.

🎧 Tune in now for a deeply inspiring and transformative conversation!

About Jane Hardwicke Collings
🌿 Follow Jane on Social Media

• Instagram:@janehardwickecollings

Facebook:Jane Hardwicke Collings

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

The host and guests of this podcast are not liable for any outcomes resulting from the information shared. By listening, you acknowledge that you take full responsibility for your own health and birth choices.

In this continuation of our discussion, Ashley and Jade dive deep into the history of midwifery and its transformation over the years.

They explore the ripple effects of medicalisation, the current roles of birth workers, and the challenges created by the fear-driven narratives surrounding free birth.

With a focus on fostering collaboration and understanding, this episode shines a light on what’s needed to create a more inclusive and supportive birthing environment.

What they discuss in This Episode:
🌟 The rich history of midwifery and how it shifted into institutionalised care.
🌟 The blurred lines between doulas, birth keepers, and midwives—and why they matter.
🌟 How unlearning and deschooling play a role for birth workers transitioning out of the system.
🌟 The importance of reclaiming birthing autonomy while fostering community collaboration.
🌟 What’s missing in the conversation about supporting women who choose free birth.

Key Quotes from the Episode:
💬 “Imagine a world where midwives, doulas, and birth keepers work together without fear or judgment. That’s the kind of world we need.” – Ashley

💬 “Women aren’t going to stop free birthing. Let’s create systems that provide support without punishment or shame.” – Jade

Resources Mentioned:

• Books on the history of midwifery and birth (e.g., “Reclaiming Birth” by Dr. Rachel Reed).
• Local and online communities for birth workers and free birthing families.
• Episodes of The Great Birth Rebellion podcast (referenced in the discussion).

Join the Conversation:
How do you envision the future of midwifery and birth support? Do you think collaboration between different birth professionals is possible? Let us know your thoughts!

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In this eye-opening episode, Ashley is joined by Jade, a doula and mother of three, to explore the recent media scrutiny surrounding free birth.

They dive into the sensationalised narratives dominating headlines, including a controversial ABC article that painted unregulated birth workers as dangerous.

Together, they challenge these perceptions and offer a deeper understanding of why women choose freebirth.

What we discuss in this Episode:
🌟 Why women choose free birth—and how those choices are often misunderstood.
🌟 The impact of fear-based media narratives on the birthing community.
🌟 The vital role of transparency when hiring birth workers.
🌟 The challenges faced by birth workers supporting free births.
🌟 Why collaboration and compassion are essential in the birth world.

Key Quotes from the Episode:
💬 “We perpetuate this idea that birth is dangerous because negative stories dominate the narrative.” – Ashley
💬 “Women aren’t going to stop free birthing. The solution isn’t to demonize it, but to create frameworks that offer support without fear of judgment or legal repercussions.” – Jade

Resources Mentioned:

• Link to the ABC article discussed in the episode. ABC article titled “In the Sovereign Birthing World, Unqualified Birth Keepers Are Charging Thousands and Putting Lives at Risk

• The Birth Rebellion Podcast: Episode 128 - Birth keepers an investigation with journalist Charlotte King ABC

Join the Conversation:
What’s your take on the media’s portrayal of free birth? Have you experienced judgment for your birthing choices?

Share your thoughts and connect with us on social media.

Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode. Your support helps us continue these important conversations!

Love and light,

Ashley x

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Hey lovely,

In today’s episode, I’m diving into one of my favourite tools for preparing for a VBAC: Mastering Your Circle of Control. This concept has been a game-changer for me and the women I support—it’s all about shifting your focus to what you can control and letting go of what’s outside your hands.

Before you press play, make sure you grab your free Circle of Control workbook from my website here. It’s the perfect companion to this episode, and you’ll want it handy to get the most out of what we’re covering today.

We’ll explore the three circles—Control, Influence, and Concern—and how you can use them to reduce stress, feel more empowered, and approach your VBAC journey with clarity and confidence. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed or just need a little extra guidance, this episode is here to support you.

And don’t forget, if you haven’t downloaded your workbook yet, it’s not too late! Head over to my website now to grab it and start making those shifts today.

Let’s dive in!

Love and light,
Ashley x

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Love the podcast? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a coffee here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this powerful episode, I share my speech from the Homebirth Australia Conference, where I shine a light on the struggles of VBAC homebirth women—the forgotten women in our maternity care system.

These are the women who, despite their best efforts, find themselves unsupported, neglected, and often forced to navigate their birth journeys alone.

I discuss how the system fails these women, the barriers they face in finding midwifery support, and the emotional toll of being pushed to freebirth or settle for care that doesn't align with their needs. You’ll hear about the courage and resilience of these women as they fight for their right to a safe, empowering homebirth, and the changes we need to make to ensure they are no longer left behind.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• The challenges VBAC homebirth women face in accessing midwifery support.
• The emotional and physical impact of being failed by the maternity care system.
• Real-life examples of how women are navigating these barriers and advocating for their rights.
• Practical steps birth workers, midwives, and communities can take to support VBAC homebirth women better.

This episode isn’t just about VBAC homebirth—it’s about highlighting the systemic issues that leave women unsupported in their birth choices. By addressing these challenges, we can work towards creating a future where every woman feels seen, heard, and empowered in her birthing journey.

Enjoy this episode.

Ashley x

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In this heartwarming and insightful episode, I sit down with renowned childbirth educator and doula Rhea Dempsey to explore the world of VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) homebirths.

With nearly 50 years of experience, Rhea shares her wisdom on embracing the power of physiological birth, managing the “crisis of confidence” during labour, and reframing pain as a sign of strength.

Rhea also reflects on the evolving homebirth landscape in Australia, the importance of building a strong support team, and why understanding past birthing experiences is crucial for planning a VBAC homebirth.

Whether you're preparing for your next birth or supporting someone in their journey, this episode is filled with practical advice and empowering insights.

Key Topics Covered:

• Rhea’s nearly 50-year journey supporting homebirths
• The evolution of homebirths in Australia and the role of midwives
• Understanding the “crisis of confidence” during labour and how to navigate it
• Reframing labour pain as functional and empowering
• Tips for building a strong support circle for VBAC homebirths
• Why reflecting on your previous birth experience is critical for VBAC preparation

Resources Mentioned:

• Rhea Dempsey’s Books:
• Learn more about Rhea’s workshops and resources: Rhea Dempsey’s Website

Takeaway Message:
Birth is a transformative journey. With preparation, the right mindset, and a supportive team, women can reclaim confidence and embrace the potency of their bodies.

I hope you enjoy this episode.

Ashley x

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode, I talk about my experience at the 36th Homebirth Conference.

I discuss some of the speaker topics and give a bit of an overview of the speeches, and some of my take-aways.

I was also a speaker at the homebirth conference and shared more on my experience as a speaker for the first time at the homebirth conference.

If you are curious about attending the next one, I encourage you to check it out and start planning now!

Enjoy this episode.

Ashley x

Love the podcast? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a coffee here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this powerful episode, I chat with Carissa, a mother of three, about her journey through the medical system and towards an empowered freebirth after two C-sections.

Carissa shares her story of resilience and self-advocacy as she faced multiple challenges, including a history of PCOS, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and a series of surgeries.

She recounts her experiences of navigating unsupportive systems, including the frustration of her first C-section being booked around her OBGYN’s holiday, and the impact of having to choose freebirth due to a lack of supportive homebirth midwives.

Carissa’s story illustrates the importance of trusting one’s body and reclaiming the birth experience.

Key Takeaways:

1. Trust Your Body’s Wisdom: Carissa’s journey shows the power of trusting her body’s natural ability to birth.

2. Advocate for Your Choices: Throughout her pregnancies, Carissa learned the importance of questioning decisions and making informed choices, even when medical professionals insisted otherwise.

3. Surrounding Yourself with the Right Support: The lack of supportive homebirth midwives led Carissa to freebirth, supported by her husband and friend.

Birth Is a Journey of Self-Discovery: Each birth experience brought Carissa closer to understanding her strength, and her story exemplifies how birth can be a path to self-discovery and healing. Enjoy this episode.

Ashley x

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More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, I take you through a journey that intertwines the practical and the visionary: my latest creations on Etsy and some thought-provoking reflections on the future of birth as we navigate an increasingly artificial world.

Episode Highlights:

1. Etsy Creations and Birth Advocacy

• An update on the latest designs in my Etsy store, from baby shower essentials to birth affirmations and tools for doulas and mothers.
• How these creations connect with my mission of supporting natural, empowering birth experiences.
• The intention behind each item, designed not just as digital products but as pieces that encourage connection, intention, and mindfulness for the journey of motherhood.

2. The Future of Birth in a Highly Artificial World

This episode is an invitation to reflect not only on the future of birth but on how we can all contribute to creating a more supportive environment for women’s choices.

Whether through our personal stories, creative endeavors, or advocacy work, we all play a part in shaping the birth experiences of tomorrow.

Ashley x

Love the podcast? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a coffee here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, I share my recent experience as my husband's advocate in a hospital setting.

He had a kidney stone that was very painful, and we had 3 different hospital trips from NSW to Queensland. We saw a range of different personalities, protocols and systems...and I had to step up as an advocate for him during this journey.

I'm sharing my experiences in this episode of being my husband's advocate. This is the closest it will get for me feeling like a birthing woman's partner (trust me it felt like he was in labour). He sure has a renewed respect for the birthing woman! ;)

I share ways your partner can advocate for you during birth (or yourself), some of the challenges you may need to overcome, being the clog in the system and learning to speak up for yourself.

I hope you enjoy this podcast episode,

Ashley x

Love the podcast? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a coffee here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode I speak with Brooke, who shares her journey of two contrasting birth experiences – a hospital birth followed by a supported home birth after caesarean (HBAC).

Brooke, from Perth, opens up about her first pregnancy, which was unexpected and happened just before COVID hit.

She recounts her long and challenging labour, which ended in a caesarean at the hospital. Despite thorough preparation, including hypnobirthing, Brooke faced numerous interventions that left her feeling unsupported and traumatised by the experience.

In her second pregnancy, determined to have a different birth, Brooke sought continuity of care through a private midwife after finding out local midwifery programs had stopped accepting VBACs. With the support of her midwives, Brooke navigated her way through her HBAC with a calm and relaxed mindset, allowing her body to do the work.

Brooke talks about the importance of trusting your body and the process, especially after her first birth experience was filled with disruptions and unnecessary interventions. She emphasises the value of having continuity of care, particularly with someone who understands your wishes and concerns.

This episode offers insight into the reality that birth can take time and that each experience is unique. Brooke’s journey highlights how home birth provided her with the space, support, and trust she needed to bring her baby into the world on her own terms.

Key Takeaways:

• Brooke's first birth was a long labour that ended in a caesarean, leaving her feeling defeated and traumatised.
• For her second birth, Brooke chose to have a home birth with a private midwife, focusing on healing and letting go of expectations.
• Trusting the process and her body, she successfully gave birth at home, which she describes as a peaceful and empowering experience.
• Continuity of care with a midwife who understands you is crucial for feeling supported throughout your birth journey.

Thank you for tuning in!

If you’re planning a VBAC or considering a home birth, this episode is a must-listen for insights on how to trust the process and advocate for the birth you desire.

Don't forget to subscribe, and if you enjoyed today’s episode, leave a review. See you next time!

Enjoy this episode,

Ashley

Love the podcast? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a coffee here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Are you planning a VBAC homebirth and wondering how to prepare for it?

In this episode, I walk you through essential steps to get ready emotionally, mentally, and physically for your VBAC.

From processing past birth trauma and building a solid support system to practical advice on creating a calm homebirth environment, I cover it all.

You’ll also hear tips on nutrition, pain management techniques, and how to get your partner involved for a truly empowering birth experience.

Whether you’re facing fears from a previous C-section or just want to feel more confident going into your VBAC, this episode is packed with actionable steps to help you prepare.

Tune in and take control of your VBAC homebirth journey today!

Key Topics:

• Emotional preparation: processing trauma, building support, and using affirmations
• Mental preparation: VBAC education, flexible birth plans, and visualisation techniques
• Physical preparation: nutrition, rest, and pain management techniques for homebirth
• Creating the ideal birth space and gathering the necessary supplies
• Partner’s role and preparing older children (if applicable)

Don’t miss this empowering episode full of practical advice!

Listen now and get ready to take on your VBAC homebirth with confidence.

Enjoy this episode,

Ashley

Love the podcast? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a coffee here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, we’re diving into a crucial topic that all new mums face—postpartum recovery after a vaginal birth.

Whether you’ve just had your HBAC baby or are preparing for your upcoming VBAC homebirth, this episode will give you insights and practical tips on what to expect during recovery, along with a list of must-have items to help make the healing process smoother.

In This Episode, We’ll Cover:

• Perineal Care: Tips on caring for your perineum post-birth, including the importance of a peri bottle, witch hazel pads, cooling pads, and soothing sitz baths.

• Pelvic Floor Recovery: Seeing a physio when required.

• Pain Management: Simple yet effective ways to manage soreness and cramping, from over-the-counter pain relievers to using a donut cushion.

• Breastfeeding Essentials: Key items for breastfeeding, such as nipple cream, nursing bras, and breast pads to keep you comfortable and prepared.

• Emotional Healing: We talk about the importance of emotional support and birth debriefing.

• Keeping an individual approach: Keeping in mind that everyone is different and has different circumstances, please keep your unique story in mind.

Enjoy this episode,

Ashley

Love the podcast? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a coffee here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, I am sharing some information about some of the challenges that are happening for privately practising midwives here in Australia.

It's important as VBAC Homebirth mamas that we use our voice for good and stand behind ourselves, and how we want to birth.

If we can't do it for ourselves, why should anyone else do it for us!

Even if you are freebirthing by choice, it's important that every woman has a choice to birth on her terms with a midwife if she chooses.

Please consider sending a letter online, it took me less than 5 minutes - Here is the link to do so:

Click here

Share on your stories and tag me in your post, I will continue to share this so many more can see and get onto it!

Ask your friends and family to do the same (if they are homebirth pro).

Enjoy this episode,

Ashley

Love the podcast? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a coffee here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Hi, everyone! It’s Ashley here, and I’m thrilled to bring you another episode of the VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast.

This week, I had the pleasure of chatting with another Ashley, who shares her incredible breech homebirth story. Her journey is both inspiring and empowering, and I can't wait for you to hear all about it.

Before we dive in, just a quick reminder about my Homebirth Group Mentoring Programme. This is the last live round I'll be running this year, so now’s your chance to take advantage of early bird pricing.

Whether you're currently pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant soon, this programme is perfect for you. It will help you feel empowered and confident in your homebirth journey, offering you my guidance and support, as well as the chance to connect with other mums planning a VBAC or homebirth.

Over the 8-week course, you'll have access to weekly modules, and during our mentoring and connection calls, you can ask all your questions. It's a cost-effective way to receive high-quality support, much more affordable than one-on-one coaching, yet still offering that personal, individualised attention. If you're interested in joining, send me a message on Instagram or email me directly.

Now, back to today’s episode! Ashley recently gave birth just seven weeks ago, and she’s graciously agreed to share her story with us. Her strength and resilience are truly inspiring, and I know her story will resonate with many of you.

We talk about her journey through three births, with her latest baby, arriving in a breech position. Ashley’s experience navigating the healthcare system, deciding on a homebirth, and preparing for a breech delivery at home is insightful and eye-opening.

From the emotional rollercoaster of discovering her baby’s breech position late in pregnancy to the empowering decision to proceed with a homebirth, Ashley's story is a testament to trusting one's body and instincts.

During our conversation, Ashley opens up about how she managed her birth environment, the support she received from her husband, her doula, and her birth keeper, and the unexpected challenges that arose, including a retained placenta. Despite these challenges, Ashley's story is one of triumph and empowerment.

Tune in to hear Ashley’s heartfelt story, learn about the preparation that went into her homebirth, and the incredible support network she had by her side.

Enjoy this episode,

Ashley

Love the podcast? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a coffee here⁠⁠⁠⁠

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of the VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast, I have the pleasure of speaking with Amanda and Eleanor, the talented co-creators of the Born at Home film.

Together, we dive into the inspiration, challenges, and impact of their groundbreaking film, which highlights the power and beauty of homebirth—especially for women planning a VBAC.

We discuss the journey behind the film, the lessons learned, and their hopes for the future of birth storytelling.

Here’s what we covered during our conversation:

1. What sparked the idea for Born at Home, and what was your vision for the film from the start?
2. What were some of the biggest hurdles you faced while making the film?
3. Can you share a story from the film that really touched your heart or surprised you?
4. How did you ensure the film showcases the diverse experiences of homebirth, especially for those planning a VBAC?
5. What role do you see partners playing in the homebirth journey, and how did you bring that out in the film?
6. Did you learn anything new about homebirth during the making of the film that you didn’t expect?
7. How has the homebirth community responded to the film so far? What kind of feedback have you received?
8. Future Projects: Are there any future projects related to birth that you’re excited about?
9. What do you hope the ongoing impact of Born at Home will be?
10. Personal Experiences: If you're comfortable sharing, how have your own birth experiences influenced your work on this film and your views on homebirth and VBAC?

Tune in for an inspiring and insightful conversation about homebirth, HBAC, and the powerful stories that shaped the Born at Home film.

Enjoy this episode,

Ashley

Love the podcast? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a coffee here⁠⁠⁠

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join me this episode to celebrate Four Years In!!

I share some of your favourite episodes from the past year:

EP:102: Kaylee Wildpregnancy FBAC

EP104: Lizzie Carrol FBA2C

EP106: How to Prepare for a Freebirth with Ashley

EP120: Christy 7 C-Sections and 3 HBA7C's

EP122: Birth Mapping with Catherine Bell

EP123: Katelyn HBAC turned C-Section transfer

EP128: Dr Stu Homebirth talk

Thanks to all the amazing guests we've had on the podcast and for sharing your wisdom and stories.

We celebrate almost 60,000 Downloads!!! WHOOHOOOO I can't believe we have had so many downloads in this micro niched podcast. Please keep sharing this podcast and planting seeds!

I also shared some of my amazing offerings to support you in your HBAC journey:

The VBAC Village only $7/m join here

Homebirth Group Mentoring (Email or DM me to join the waitlist for the next live round starting Oct 2024)

Enjoy this episode,

Ashley

Love the podcast? ⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a coffee here⁠⁠

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, we sit down with Jessica, a mother of five, navigating the joys and challenges of a blended family. Jessica shares her experiences with natural births, caesarean sections, and homebirth, providing an intimate look at her journey through motherhood. Join me as I delve into her story, including the unexpected surprises and the invaluable support systems that made it all possible.

Topics Covered:

• Jessica’s journey through natural births and caesarean sections

• The dynamics of a blended family

• The importance of a supportive community during childbirth

• Personal growth through energy healing and mindfulness practices

• Tips for preparing for a home birth

More about our guest: Jessica, mother of five, advocate for natural health and homebirth.

Enjoy this episode,

Ashley

Love the podcast? ⁠⁠⁠Buy me a coffee here⁠

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠⁠⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here⁠⁠

In this episode we meet amazing Jess from Canada, mum of three boys who wanted a homebirth with her first baby, although hubby wasn't on board so she planned a hospital birth.

Planning a natural birth and feeling super prepared and organised, Jess got midwives on her team and was prepared to birth her first baby.

Her first birth ended with a c-section, and she went on to plan a VBAC for her next birth this time planning a homebirth.

Jess shares her experiences of working through birth trauma, the importance of seeking birth debrief support and backing herself for the birth she wanted and knew was right for her.

She experienced three very different births and I'm sure you will enjoy listening to all of these different experiences and can connect with one here.

Enjoy this episode,

Ashley x

Love the podcast? ⁠Buy me a coffee here⁠

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our⁠ VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here

In this episode, I get a bit ranty and share some things that have been weighing heavily on my mind lately as I ponder how we can collectively raise the VBAC birth rates world wide.

This episode is a bit of a rant inspired by Rachel Reed's amazing book, Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage: Weaving Ancient Wisdom with Modern Knowledge. This work is emotional, deeply human, and profoundly important.

Supporting women in their childbirth journeys is inherently emotional. It's a human experience that started for me with my own personal story. When I had my first baby in 2014, I felt a profound lack of information and support.

Enjoy this episode,

Ashley x

Love the podcast? ⁠⁠Buy me a coffee here⁠

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here

In this episode, I welcome Ella, a remarkable mother of four, who shares her diverse birth stories. From a planned caesarean section to an unexpected free birth after a caesarean, Ella's experiences are as unique as they are inspiring.

Tune in as she recounts her journey through hypertension, induction, a special needs teaching career, and embracing the chaos of motherhood.

Highlights of this episode:

• Ella’s first unexpected pregnancy and the challenges of hypertension
• Transitioning from hospital to home birth: what changed
• Overcoming birth trauma and finding empowerment in an unplanned free birth
• How Ella’s mindset and body transformation impacted her fourth pregnancy
• Practical advice for moms-to-be on trusting your instincts and body

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review.

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here

In this episode, I welcome Emily, a mother of two from Queensland, who shares her compelling journey through her first traumatic C-section to an empowering home birth. Emily discusses the challenges of managing gestational diabetes, navigating the medical system, and finding strength in her birth choices.

"The biggest mistake was believing that these medical professionals had my best interest at heart." - Emily

Episode Highlights:

• Emily's initial pregnancy experience and the impact of Covid-19.
• Managing gestational diabetes and the struggles with medical professionals.
• The emotional and physical challenges of her first labour and emergency C-section.
• The decision to pursue a home birth for her second child and the support she found.
• The stark contrast between her hospital and home birth experiences.
• Advice for expecting mothers on understanding their birth rights and preparing for childbirth.

Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave us a review!!

Enjoy this episode,

Ashley x

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com\

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here

In this heartfelt episode, Ashley welcomes Chentelle, a mother of two, to share her inspiring journey of free birth after a Caesarean section.

Chentelle opens up about her experiences with her first pregnancy, detailing the fear and pressure she faced from medical professionals, which ultimately led to an unwanted C-section.

Despite being told she would never have a vaginal birth, Chentelle persevered, educating herself and her husband about home birth and free birth options.

Key Points:

Ashley introduces the episode and welcomes Chentelle, who briefly introduces herself and her family, sharing their lifestyle of full-time travel in a caravan.

Chentelle then describes her first pregnancy experience, including the frequent medical appointments and the pressure to induce labour.

She shares the traumatic experience of being forced into a C-section despite feeling her body was ready to deliver naturally and reflects on the emotional aftermath of the C-section and the lack of response to her complaint letter to the hospital.

The conversation shifts to Chentelle’s journey exploring home birth and free birth options.

Inspired by meeting another family who had experienced free birth, Chentelle and her husband began educating themselves on these alternatives.

Embracing a wild pregnancy, Chentelle avoided all medical interventions and focused on holistic health.

As she recounts her second birth, Chentelle describes going into labour at 39 weeks, which temporarily stopped when her husband fell ill, and then resuming at 41 weeks and 4 days. She shares the peaceful home birth experience, supported by her husband and doula Rosie, and the joy of welcoming her daughter, Panna, into the world.

Post-birth complications are discussed as Chentelle details experiencing heavy bleeding and passing out on the way to the shower.

She was taken to the hospital, where a small piece of the placenta membrane was discovered and removed. After a blood transfusion and an iron infusion, Chentelle fully recovered.

Reflecting on the significance of having an empowered birth experience after her traumatic first birth, Chentelle emphasizes the importance of education and trusting one’s body.

The episode concludes with Ashley thanking Chentelle for sharing her powerful story.

Quotes: "Your body only grows a baby as big as it can birth." "I felt like a queen this time around."

Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave us a review!!

Enjoy this episode,

Ashley x

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠

Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here ⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, Ashley speaks with Elke about her inspiring journey through home birth after a Caesarean.

Elke shares her story, from the stress and challenges of her first pregnancy during COVID-19 to the empowerment and success of her second birth at home.

Key Points Discussed:

• Elke's background

Elke introduces herself as a mother of two, a teacher on leave, and an emerging doula passionate about VBAC and home births.

• First pregnancy during COVID-19

Elke shares the challenges of her first pregnancy during the height of COVID-19, including her husband's eye injury and the stress of online teaching. "It was a really hectic time plus all the hormones."

• First Birth Experience and Caesarean

Elke recounts her first birth experience, which resulted in a Caesarean, and how it shattered her initial birth expectations. "My first birth was caesarean and that blew apart everything that I thought I knew."

• Processing the Emotional Aftermath

Elke shares the emotional impact of her Caesarean and the journey to healing, including feelings of failure and the struggle to bond with her baby. "I cried for the next nine months."

• Preparation for Second Pregnancy and VBAC

Elke details her preparation for her second pregnancy, focusing on having a VBAC and the steps she took to ensure a different experience. "I delved into my research and armed myself with everything I needed to know."

• Successful Home Birth

Elke shares the successful home birth story of her daughter, highlighting the support from her midwife and husband. "Having my daughter at home was the most empowering experience."

• Reflections on Support and Empowerment

Elke reflects on the importance of having a supportive network and trusting one's body. "I knew my body could do this, and having the right support made all the difference."

Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave us a review!!

Enjoy this episode,

Ashley x

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here ⁠⁠⁠

In this enlightening episode, Ashley welcomes Dr. Stu, a seasoned obstetrician with 28 years of hospital experience and 13 years in home birth settings.

They discuss the significant differences in VBAC success rates between home and hospital births, the impact of special scars on VBAC, and the importance of understanding the historical context of medical practices.

Dr. Stu shares his unique perspective on the current state of obstetric care, the potential pitfalls of overly regulated birth policies, and the necessity of birth freedom.

Key Points Discussed:

• VBAC Success Rates:

  • Home VBAC success rates are over 90%.
  • Hospital VBAC success rates are around 56-64%.
  • The difference is attributed to the model of care and the environment.

• Special Scars and VBAC:

  • True classical C-sections have a 2-4% risk of rupture.
  • Other incisions like low vertical or T-incisions don’t show significant risk differences.
  • Risk counseling can sometimes be biased.

• Historical Context in Medical Practices:

  • It’s important not to judge past actions by today's standards.
  • Learning from history is crucial to avoid repeating mistakes.
  • Current high C-section rates in some countries indicate a troubling trend.

• Importance of Birth Freedom:

  • Electing officials who support birth freedom is crucial.
  • Women should plan ahead, find supportive teams, and prioritize positive birth experiences.
  • The need to challenge and rethink overly restrictive birth policies.

• Dr. Stu’s Experiences and Views:

  • Transition from hospital to home birth settings.
  • Advocacy for natural and informed birth choices.
  • Critical views on the regulation of birth practices and the influence of big pharma on medical research.

Stay Connected with Dr Stu:

• Podcast: Birthing Instincts (Available on Spotify, Apple, and other apps)
• Instagram: @birthinginstincts
• Website: Birthing Instincts
• Consulting Services and Published Papers: Available on the website

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here 

In this episode, we're diving into a topic that sparks a lot of conversation and varying viewpoints: Help, my husband won't let me have a homebirth/freebirth.

This topic often sparks heated discussions and diverse opinions on social media, and I want to share some insights and practical steps to help you navigate this situation.

Make sure you check out this episode to get some steps to navigate this important decision.

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠

Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here ⁠⁠⁠

This podcast episode is for all you mamas out there nearing your due date, firstly, congratulations!

You've made it through the hard yards of pregnancy, and the big day is just around the corner.

Whether your pregnancy has been easy or challenging, it’s time to get excited as you approach this incredible milestone. As you enter the final stages of pregnancy, it’s natural to become anxious and start looking for signs that labour is near.

However, it's important not to get too focused on inducing labour naturally, especially if you’re still early.

Every pregnancy is unique, and while some may experience early signs of labour, others might not see any signs until the very end. Enjoy this podcast episode,

Ashley x

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠

Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here ⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, I talked about early pushing.

It's a topic I've been eager to discuss for a while because it ties into the broader subject of posterior births. 

Posterior births are often surrounded by unnecessary fear and misconceptions, and I want to shed some light on this natural variation of childbirth.

Early pushing usually occurs in posterior births, a normal variation according to birth educators and experts like Rachel Reed.

However, there's a lot of undue concern about posterior births needing to be "fixed".

Many birth courses and practices focus on ensuring optimal baby positioning, but this can create unnecessary fear and self-doubt in women.

Enjoy this podcast episode,

Ashley x

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠⁠

Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here ⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, we delve into the topic of unplanned free births, also known as unassisted births, and why it's crucial to prepare for them, even if you're planning a birth with a midwife.

This episode aims to empower listeners with knowledge and confidence, ensuring they can handle any birth scenario calmly and effectively. If you have further questions or need more resources, reach out via Instagram for additional support.

Enjoy this podcast episode!

Ashley x

I’m thrilled to run a live round of my 8-week home birth group program. We will work intimately in a small group to discuss free birth and home birth, addressing fears and focusing on mindset, how birth works, and how your body works through the process. You'll build more confidence, trust, and belief in yourself, so by the end, you’ll know exactly what your plan is, who your birth team is, and how to feel calm and confident.

This program is currently available at half the price, with an early bird special at $147 AUD. If you’re in the US, that’s roughly $97 USD. If you're interested, check out my Instagram and slide into my DMs to reserve a spot. One lady has already snapped up one of the early bird spots, so don’t miss out.

More from Ashley:

⁠⁠The VBAC Village⁠⁠

Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here ⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, we meet Katelyn, a mum of two who planned a VBAC at home that ended in a c-section transfer. 

I’m sharing Katelyn’s side of the story in her own words in the show notes today. 

I had an emergency caesarean following an unwanted and unneeded postdate induction that I was coerced into. 

I felt I had no real other option. I was under the care of a private obstetrician, not because I felt that it was the kind of care that most aligned with me but because I didn't know how to otherwise get continuity of care (oh had I known then what I know now!) 

With my second, I was planning a VBAC from the moment I left the operating theatre and that quickly became a HBAC plan. I hired a private midwife and a doula and had a far, far more relaxed pregnancy and was super looking forward to my birth at home without medical interference. 

I ended up with a long labour that progressed very well to start with and then stalled about 8 hours in. 

I was supported and encouraged to do what I felt was right, and so we kept at it at home for another 12 hours (with a visit to my chiro right at the end) before I decided it was time to head to the hospital for intervention. 

I requested my waters be broken, which they did a little while after I arrived at the hospital. At about the 26-hour mark. 

I was so exhausted that I physically felt I had reached my limit I could feel that she was still high and not properly engaged and I felt if couldn't remain upright I would completely lose my hold on my contractions. 

They had been strong and constant. The first 8 hrs of labour they were 3-4 minutes apart, they'd stretched out to between 5-10 minutes through the rest of the day and once we got to the hospital, and vocalising and moving through them was all I had to keep on top of it. 

At that point, I knew I was heading down repeat caesarean territory and I made an informed decision to have an epidural, knowing that most likely I was heading to theatre but there was a small chance that it could be enough to relax me and allow my baby to descend. 

After another couple of hours with an epidural, we made the call to head to the theatre, which was disappointing but also liberating. 

To know I'd done everything I felt I needed to do, all the things I'd not had an opportunity to try the first time around (including forward leaning inversions through contractions and walchers position and everything!) and I was relatively okay feeling like it was my decision at that point. 

So yeah - not the classic homebirth story, but one I do think is important which is why I'm so open about sharing it because we do know that HBAC women generally have higher transfer rates than most homebirthers but that doesn't mean it will be a negative or traumatic experience even if it ends with another caesarean. 

Going to the hospital was my biggest fear (or so I thought, in hindsight I think I actually had other unvoiced fears hiding under the surface that kept me from progressing in labour) and it turned out to be very okay. 

I'd still plan a HBA2C in a heartbeat for my next baby if I get blessed to have a third! 

More from Ashley:

⁠The VBAC Village⁠

Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ashleylwinning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ashleywinning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our VBAC Homebirth Support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Group here ⁠⁠⁠