EP30 - Angela's 2VBACs (preterm labour, APH, infant loss, birth after loss, NICU, induction, artificial rupture of membranes, hypertension, reduced movements autonomy, advocacy, midwife)

It is with deep reverence and gratitude that we share Angela's birth stories with you. Midwife Angela shares her powerful journey through three profoundly different births. Her story begins with the premature birth of her first son, Colton, at just 26 weeks following an antepartum haemorrhage and preterm premature rupture of membranes. Angela recounts the emotional and clinical intensity of undergoing a caesarean, navigating the heartbreak of NICU life and the following devastating decision to say goodbye to her baby boy after 22 days on life support. She shares how her midwifery brain helped her to slow down, appreciate the birth experience at the time and also helped her advocate for the information and support she needed as her family had to say goodbye to their baby.

Angela then opens up about the grief that followed the loss of her baby boy, an early miscarriage melting into that same grief, and then the conception of her next baby—whose birth would take place just 13 months later, putting her in a 'high-risk' category for VBAC. Despite pressure to have a repeat caesarean, Angela advocated for herself with the support of a trusted midwife and birthed her baby vaginally, powerfully after an artificial rupture of membranes.

Her third and final birth was fast and intense, an induction with breaking of waters following reduced movements and increasing blood pressure. This labour was just 50 minutes from the first contraction to holding her baby! Again, with the support of her midwife, Angela experienced a powerful, swift vaginal birth after caesarean.

With heartfelt wisdom, vulnerability and remarkable strength, Angela reflects on how her midwifery experience shaped her own birth experiences and also how her personal experiences of birth have shaped her practice as a midwife.

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. 

If you enjoyed this episode, we’d love to rate or review, and tell your friends!

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.