EBB 368 - Redemptive Cesarean after Planning a Home VBAC with Rikki and Nova Jenkins

Rikki and Nova Jenkins join Dr. Rebecca Dekker to share the personal and powerful story of their second birth: a planned home VBAC that ultimately led to a hospital transfer. Rikki, Evidence Based Birth® Instructor Coordinator, doula, and IBCLC, reflects on the trauma of her first Cesarean birth and the deep healing she found through midwifery care, doula support, and intentional preparation. Nova, a Grammy-nominated music producer and proud girl dad, shares his emotional journey from feeling powerless in their first birth to becoming a protective presence throughout this redemptive experience. Together, they offer a vulnerable, moving conversation about reclaiming birth after trauma, processing grief, and creating a peaceful bubble of support for their family, even when things don’t go as planned.

 

Content Note: This episode contains description of obstetric violence from (14:05) to (18:55) and of unexpectedly losing consciousness during a Cesarean from (40:54) to (45:43).

 

(04:36) Why They Chose a Home VBAC After Trauma
(08:46) Dual Care with a Midwife and OB
(11:22) Processing the First Cesarean—Seven Years Later
(19:09) Prepping for a Home Birth and VBAC
(21:40) Including Their Daughter in Prenatal Care
(24:10) Amora’s Labor and When Things Stalled
(30:12) Making the Empowered Decision to Transfer
(34:11) A Healing, Respectful Cesarean Experience
(45:02) When Language Hurts: “Failed Home Birth”
(51:04) Planning for Postpartum and Accepting Support
(52:49) Advice for Those Planning a VBAC or Home Birth

 

Resources

Follow Rikki: @sacredjourneylv

Follow Nova: @novablessed

Explore Heart & Soul Collective: www.heartandsolcollective.org | @heartandsolcollective

Check out Flor Cruz’s “Badass Motherbirther:" www.badassmotherbirther.com

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