VBAC birth

💛 What I Learned From 5 Women About Their VBAC Journeys

Real stories, deep wisdom, and why it matters so much

VBAC — Vaginal Birth After Caesarean isn’t just a birth preference. For many women, it’s a chance to reclaim trust in their body, to feel seen and heard in a system that may not have supported them the first time around. It can be healing, powerful, and even life-changing.

Recently, I had the honour of interviewing five incredible women about their VBAC journeys. Each one had a different story, but what tied them together was a sense of fierce determination to birth on their own terms and to do so with more choice, more support, and more connection than they’d felt before.

Here’s what I learned both professionally and personally and why it matters for anyone planning a VBAC or supporting someone through it.

🌿 Confidence Takes Time — But It’s Everything

One thing that came through clearly was just how much time and effort these women put into feeling confident before their births. For many, this didn’t come naturally especially after previous traumatic or disempowering birth experiences. But they built it slowly, through research, community, and hearing from other women who had done it before them.

They read VBAC stories, listened to podcasts, and joined online support groups. They used tools like BRAIN to ask questions and make informed decisions. And they reminded themselves that it was okay to ask more, push back, and trust their intuition.

🌸 The Right Support Makes All the Difference

Every woman I spoke to said that having the right care provider was crucial. Some accessed supportive midwives through MGP programs, while others sought out private midwives or VBAC-friendly GPs and OBs. Unfortunately, many felt they wouldn’t have been supported had they stayed with their original hospital or public system especially when risk factors like gestational diabetes or a suspected big baby were introduced.

What made the difference was finding someone who didn’t just allow VBAC, but truly supported it. Someone who listened without fear-mongering and offered balanced, evidence-based information. In these cases, women felt empowered, not managed.

🫶 A Safe Birth Isn’t Always About the Outcome, It’s About the Experience

Not all of the women I spoke to achieved their VBAC, but even when a caesarean birth happened again, the experience felt different. They were part of the conversations. They were treated with respect. They had a voice.

That in itself was healing.

“I’m sad I didn’t get a VBAC, but I felt part of the decision. That matters.” — one mother shared.

Being included in the process, being treated as a person and not a protocol, made the difference between trauma and peace.

🤍 These Stories Broke My Heart and Healed It Too

As I listened to what had led to these women’s first caesareans, I felt such deep sadness. So many of them had gone through fear, confusion, and a complete loss of control. Some were rushed into surgery without explanation. Others were told their bodies weren’t capable. It’s heartbreaking.

But hearing their VBAC stories, seeing how they came back stronger, wiser, and determined to be heard was healing. Not just for them, but for me. Watching them rewrite their story, step into their power, and birth in the way they had hoped for was truly moving. It reminded me that birth can be redemptive. It can heal what was once broken. And that matters.

💬 Would They Recommend a Doula? Absolutely.

Some of the women had doulas or student midwives, and they described how much calmer, more informed, and more supported they felt because of it. For those who didn’t have a doula, many said that looking back, they would definitely consider hiring one next time, especially after learning how valuable that continuous, experienced support could be.

A few said budget was the only barrier, but still saw the value in having someone in their corner who could guide, advocate, and just be there.

🚧 There Are Still Barriers, But They Can Be Navigated

Despite all the preparation, women still faced hospital policies that pushed back. Some were told they couldn’t go past 41+3. Others were denied the use of water in labour. Several described how pressure to induce started well before their due date.

But what stood out was how they responded. They said no. They asked for alternatives. They made informed decisions that felt right for them, not just what was expected.

🌈 What This Means for My Doula Work

These conversations left a mark on me. They reminded me that VBAC is about so much more than how a baby is born. It’s about how a woman feels in her body, in her voice, in her experience.

As a doula, I know my job isn’t to promise outcomes. It’s to offer steady, non-judgemental support; to walk beside my clients with compassion and knowledge; and to hold space for their choices, their stories, and their healing, whatever that looks like.

These women’s stories will stay with me, and I hope they inspire other women planning a VBAC to believe in themselves a little more. Because you are capable. You are allowed to ask for more. And you are never alone in this.

With love and belief in your birth, Abbi | 3 Echoes Doula | Perth, WA