VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast
by Ashley Winning
✨ Unfiltered, unapologetic, and deeply inspiring VBAC homebirth stories.If you're a mama seeking VBAC homebirth inspiration, you’re in the right place! Hosted by Ashley Winning, a Homebirth Educator, Doula, and HBA2C mama, this podcast shares raw, real birth stories from women who reclaimed their power and birthed on their terms.Listen for powerful stories, expert insights, and encouragement to help you trust your body, navigate challenges, and births on your terms, your way.🎧 Subscribe now⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.
Episodes
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EP179 | What I've Learned From Listening to Hundreds of Birth Stories
In this episode, I reflect on one of the greatest privileges of hosting this podcast—listening to hundreds of women share their birth stories. Over the years I've heard stories of VBACs, HBACs, homebirths, hospital births, freebirths, long labours, fast labours, breech births, VBA2Cs, births that...
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EP178 | Mel-VBA2C After Classical Caesarean Homebirth Transfer Story
In this episode, I sit down with Mel to hear her incredible journey from a 23-week premature birth and classical caesarean to achieving a vaginal birth after two caesareans (VBA2C). After experiencing a classical caesarean with her first baby and a planned repeat caesarean with her second, many...
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EP177 | Barbara – Surprise Breech Homebirth After Breech Caesarean
Barbara shares her powerful journey from a breech caesarean to a surprise breech homebirth. In this episode, we explore breech birth, advocacy, informed choice and trusting yourself when birth takes unexpected turns. After her first baby was discovered to be breech during labour, Barbara faced...
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EP176 | My Pregnancy Loss Journey – Grief, Intuition & Holding Hope
In this deeply personal episode, I share my recent experience with pregnancy loss after a chemical miscarriage. After nine months of trying to conceive and two chemical pregnancies, I open up about the grief, the intuition that something wasn’t right, and the emotional journey of loss—especially...
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EP175 | What If My VBAC Fails?
In this episode, I dive into a question so many women carry when planning a VBAC: what if my VBAC fails? We unpack the fear behind “VBAC failure” and gently reframe what that really means. I share my own experiences, the emotional weight many women carry after birth trauma, and why your outcome...
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EP174 | Margarite – Rural Freebirth after Two Caesareans, Miscarriages, Twins - Part 2
In these two part episodes, I sit down with Margarite, a mum of five living in rural Queensland, who shares the first part of her powerful birth journey. Her story includes multiple miscarriages, a caesarean, a VBAC, and a second caesarean for breech twins, flipping the script at 39 weeks and...
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EP173 | Margarite – Rural Freebirth after Two Caesareans, Miscarriages, Twins - choosing homebirth at 39 weeks
In these two part episodes, I sit down with Margarite, a mum of five living in rural Queensland, who shares the first part of her powerful birth journey. Her story includes multiple miscarriages, a caesarean, a VBAC, and a second caesarean for breech twins, flipping the script at 39 weeks and...
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EP172 | Kelsey’s HBAC After Pre-eclampsia, a 40+ Hour Labour - Vaginal birth, C-Section, HBAC
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...
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EP171 | Finding a Midwife in Australia for your HBAC
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…
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EP170 | Tiffanie’s Story from Preeclampsia to Freebirth (HBAC)
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...
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EP169 | Healing Home Birth After Two C-Sections Kelsey’s HBA2C in Wisconsin
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…
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EP168 | Long Labours: How to Prepare Your Mind for the Marathon of Birth
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...
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EP167 | How To Set Up A Birth Pool
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...
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EP166 | Celebrating 5 Years of the Podcast! Behind the Scenes and Special News!
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...
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EP165 | Dr K – The High-Risk OBGYN Who Champions a Woman’s Right to Birth on Her Own Terms
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...
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EP164 | When the Midwife Becomes the Mother – She Planned a Homebirth Twice, Here’s What Changed
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...
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EP163 | Ana’s Midwife-Supported HBAC in Portugal: Reclaiming Birth After Breech Caesarean
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...
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EP162 | If It’s Not a Hell Yes, It’s a Hell No: Lizzy’s Second VBAC, First Freebirth Story
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…
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EP161 | Yoga for Homebirth: Beyond the Mat with Claire Holloway
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...
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EP160 | The Truth About the Fourth Trimester—What No One Tells You with TEDx Speaker Sonal Patal
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...
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EP159 | Four wildly different births. This birth story will shift how you see labour forever
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...
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EP158 | Beware of the Medical Cartel with Billie Harrigan
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...
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EP157 | Plus Size Pregnancy & Birth: Busting Myths
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...
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EP156 | She trusted her body and it led to a surprise breech HBAC at 39. Emilie’s birth story is pure magic!
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...
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EP155 | High blood pressure. Pre-eclampsia. Medical pushback. Nothing could stop Sarah from having the home birth she knew was possible.
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…
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EP154: No midwives. No hospitals. Just pure trust. Victoria’s powerful unassisted home birth in rural Broome will leave you in awe!
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…
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EP153 | Type 1 diabetes didn’t stop her. Two C-Sections Didn’t Define her. Lise’s HBA2C
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...
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EP152 | Reclaiming Women’s Wisdom with Jane Hardwicke Collings
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...
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EP151 | The Freebirth Witch-Hunt: What the ABC is Missing (Part Two)
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...
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EP150 | The Freebirth Witch-Hunt: What the ABC is Missing - Part 1
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...
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EP149 | Mastering Your Circle of Control - The Art of Letting Go
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…
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EP148 | The Forgotten Women: VBAC Homebirth and the Fight for Support
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...
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EP147 | Rhea Dempsey: A Conversation on VBAC Homebirths, Confidence, and the Power of Birth
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…
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EP146 | 36th Homebirth Conference take aways and overview
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...
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EP145 | Carissa - FBA2C, long labours, uterine fibroids, chorioamnionitis
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,...
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EP144 | Musing on Birth: The Future of Birthing in an Unnatural World
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: Etsy Creations and Birth Advocacy An…
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EP143 | Advocate in Action: Birth Partner Support
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...
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EP142 | Brooke -Navigating Long Labours, HBAC with supportive birth team
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...
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EP141 | Preparing for a VBAC Homebirth: Practical Steps for Your Best Birth
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...
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EP140 | Postpartum Recovery after VBAC Homebirth
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,...
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EP139: Keep Homebirth an Option for VBAC Homebirth Women!
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...
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EP138 | Ashley: Breech HBA2C
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...
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EP137 | Interview with Amanda and Eleanor: Co-Creators of Born at Home Film
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...
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EP136 | Four Years In: A Milestone Celebration 🎉🎉🎉
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…
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EP135 | Brittany HBAC
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...
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EP134 | Jess - Canada 2HBAC + PCOS
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…
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EP133 | VBAC Birth - A call to action for women's birth rights
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:...
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EP132 | Ella’s FBAC Story
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,...
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EP131 | Emily - HBAC after birth trauma
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...
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EP130 | Chentelle - FBAC Wild Pregnancy and Birth + 4.4 kg babe
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...
About this show
✨ Unfiltered, unapologetic, and deeply inspiring VBAC homebirth stories.If you're a mama seeking VBAC homebirth inspiration, you’re in the right place! Hosted by Ashley Winning, a Homebirth Educator, Doula, and HBA2C mama, this podcast shares raw, real birth stories from women who reclaimed their power and birthed on their terms.Listen for powerful stories, expert insights, and encouragement to help you trust your body, navigate challenges, and births on your terms, your way.🎧 Subscribe now⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.
Hosted by
Ashley Winning