EP12 - Olivia's HBAC (public hospital, induction, emergency caesarean, T-incision, special scar, PTSD, homebirth, private midwife, PROM, BBA)

In this episode, we invite you to listen to Olivia’s powerful story of her two very different births.

Olivia is from a large family, and was introduced to birth from a young age when she attended her mother’s homebirth of her younger sibling at 10 years of age.

Olivia was diagnosed with oligohydramnios (low amniotic fluid) at a routine scan at 41 weeks and was recommended an induction. After being told her baby was in distress, Olivia ultimately had an emergency caesarean, despite feeling a very strong urge to push, even as she was being prepped for surgery. With her baby so low down, there were complications, and Olivia came out of her caesarean with a special scar: a T-incision. 

Concerns with Olivia’s post-op health led to a hospital transfer, during which she was separated from her baby and partner, which was incredibly traumatic for her. Not least because of the disrespectful and insensitive care she received from many of the medical staff.

Olivia shares her long journey of processing her trauma, seeking help that led to a PTSD diagnosis, and the way that she and her partner were able to acknowledge and ultimately heal from that experience.

Olivia became pregnant with her second baby just over two years later, and knew immediately she wanted a VBAC. She decided to hire a private midwife for a homebirth, and found someone whom she immediately felt was the right addition to her birth team. Olivia and her midwife were both comfortable going ahead with her homebirth after doing their own research into the statistics on Olivia’s scar.

Olivia takes us through her peaceful, gentle, pain-free and empowering homebirth, which happened very quickly, and ultimately her baby was born before her midwife’s arrival.

We know you are going to love listening to Olivia’s emotional, raw and beautifully poignant story. We couldn’t be more grateful to Olivia for sharing so generously and vulnerably.

Go on the journey with Olivia as she shares her family’s dreamy life by the sea by following her at @olivia.buchli on Instagram.

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

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

PANDA: https://panda.org.au/

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

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

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

Maternity Choices Australia:

https://www.maternitychoices.org/

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

Thank you for tuning in to our podcast.