179 episodes
- 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 went to plan, and births that didn't. While every story is unique, there are some powerful themes that come up again and again.
In this episode I explore:
Why birth rarely follows the textbook
What I've learned about women's intuition
How your birth environment can influence your experience
Why continuity of care matters so much
The lasting impact of the words spoken during birth
The importance of having the right support around you
Why birth is just as emotional as it is physical
What makes a birth feel positive, regardless of how your baby is born
How birth has the potential to be deeply healing
Why I believe women are far more capable than they've been led to believe
This episode is a reflection on the wisdom I've witnessed through hundreds of birth stories and a reminder that your experience matters.
I'd love to know—what is the biggest lesson your own birth taught you?
More from Ashley:
Join us in: The VBAC Village
FREE VBAC Starter Kit
Insta: @ashleylwinning
Website: www.ashleywinning.com
Join our VBAC Homebirth Support Group here
Love the podcast? Buy me a coffee
Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care. - 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 would have assumed a vaginal birth was no longer an option.
But Mel's story reminds us that birth journeys are rarely straightforward.
Together we discuss the challenges, decisions and support that shaped her path as she prepared for a VBA2C and planned homebirth, before ultimately transferring to hospital shortly before welcoming her baby vaginally.
An example of what can happen when women are using informed decision-making, advocacy and trusting yourself while navigating complex birth choices.
In This Episode We Discuss:
Classical caesarean birth
Premature birth at 23 weeks
Repeat caesarean birth
VBA2C (Vaginal Birth After Two Caesareans)
Planning a homebirth after caesarean
Hospital transfer during labour
Informed decision-making
Advocacy and birth choices
Trusting yourself after previous birth trauma
Mel's story is a powerful reminder that every woman's path is unique and that understanding your options can open doors you may never have thought possible.
More from Ashley:
Join us in: The VBAC Village
FREE VBAC Starter KitInsta: @ashleylwinning
Website: www.ashleywinning.com
Join our VBAC Homebirth Support Group here
Love the podcast? Buy me a coffee
Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care. - 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 changing plans, hospital policies and important decisions that ultimately led to a breech caesarean birth.
But her second birth unfolded very differently.
Preparing for homebirth with a private midwife and birth team, Barbara experienced an unexpected and empowering surprise breech homebirth.
This conversation explores:
✨ Breech birth and hospital policies
✨ Advocacy and asking important questions
✨ Breech caesarean birth
✨ Ultrasound estimates and informed decision-making
✨ Vaginal seeding and postpartum planning
✨ Homebirth preparation
✨ Surprise breech birth at home
✨ Trusting yourself and exploring your options
Barbara’s story is a powerful reminder that birth doesn’t always follow a straight line—and that informed choices, good support and trusting yourself matter.
More from Ashley:
Join us in: The VBAC Village
Insta: @ashleylwinning
Website: www.ashleywinning.com
Join our VBAC Homebirth Support Group here
Love the podcast? Buy me a coffee
Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care. - 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 while navigating this at 39, turning 40.
This episode is for any woman walking through fertility struggles or pregnancy loss. You are not alone.
Support Resources
If you’re currently experiencing loss or grief, please reach out for support. You don’t have to do this alone.
⭐ Red Nose Australia – Support for pregnancy and infant loss
https://rednose.org.au
⭐ PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia)
https://www.panda.org.au
⭐ SANDS Australia (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Support)
https://www.sands.org.au
⭐ COPE (Centre of Perinatal Excellence)
https://www.cope.org.au
More from Ashley:
Join us in: The VBAC Village
Insta: @ashleylwinning
Website: www.ashleywinning.com
Join our VBAC Homebirth Support Group here
Love the podcast? Buy me a coffee
Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care. - 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 does not define your worth or success.
We talk about:
Why “VBAC failure” isn’t actually a failure
The role of mindset, support, and environment in birth
Why homebirth isn’t a guarantee—but can change the experience
Letting go of guilt, blame, and unrealistic expectations
This episode is here to remind you: if you show up, prepare, and make the best decisions you can in the moment—you have not failed.
You get to define what success looks like in your birth.
Enjoy this episode!
More from Ashley:
Join us in: The VBAC Village
Insta: @ashleylwinning
Website: www.ashleywinning.com
Join our VBAC Homebirth Support Group here
Love the podcast? Buy me a coffee
Disclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.
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About VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast
✨ 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.
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