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VBAC Resources

VBAC Books Recommendations

Vaginal birth after caesarean by Helen Churchill and Wendy Savage

Silent knife by Nancy Wainer Cohen and Lois J Estner

Thinking Womans Guide to a Better Birth – Henci Goer
(a researcher who has collated evidence regarding the current birth culture -stats and facts)

Obstetric Myths v’s Research Realities – Heni Goer
(like book above but more academic and referenced)

Caesarean Birth:  Your Questions Answered by Debie Chippington-Derrick, Gina Lowdon and Fiona Barlow.

The VBAC companion by Diana Korte
(A small booklet with several VBAC stories)

Gentle birth gentle mothering by Dr Sarah Buckley
(Birth preparation, birth stories, interventions, prenatal testing, parenting preparedness)

Ina May Gaskins A Guide to Childbirth
(1/2 of the book are birth stories and the rest explains what the body is so perfectly made to birth.  Ina May is a world renown expert on normal birth and has incredible outcomes at ‘The farm’ in Tennessee where she runs a birth centre practice).

Birthing from Within by Pam England and Rob Horowitz (Childbirth preparation)

The Pink Kit – Understanding your pelvis, exercises, visualizations etc to have as much space as possible for your baby to navigate their birth journey through.

VBAC Website Recommendations

CANA – vbac choices – Caesarean Awareness Network Australia www.canaustralia.net
(full of facts and stats, articles, testimonials, recommended reading etc)

ICAN – caesarean information – International Caesarean Awareness Network – is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support for cesarean recovery, and promoting Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC)

Birthrites – vbac choices – Healing after caesarean www.birthrites.org
(full of facts and stats, articles, testimonials, recommended reading etc)

Childbirth Connection’s www.childbirthconnections.org
“What every pregnant woman needs to know about caesarean section” www.childbirthconnections.org/article.asp?ck=10164

www.vbac.com – vbac research – Research-based information, resources, continuing education and support for VBAC

www.spinningbabies.com – optimal foetal positioning – Spinning Babies is a unique, step-by-step approach to Optimal Fetal Positioning. Certain positions of the baby make labor easier than others.

Statistics and research UK:
https://www.rcog.org.uk/womens-health/clinical-guidance/birth-after-previous-caesarean-information-you

RANZCOG Website

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Website

VBAC Workshop Recommendations

Birth Works  – Vaginal Birth After Caesarean ½ day workshop  www.birthworks.com.au

Some public and private hospitals eg. Box Hill Hospital, Birallee, etc.

Consumer Advocacy Organizations

ICAN (International Caesarean Awareness Network) – USA based

MC (Maternity Coalition) www.maternitychoices.org.au – Australian based

A mother/baby centred caesarean – It can be done! – (Youtube Video Clip)

(other suggestions of resources that you would recommend are most welcome)

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Birth Stories

Welcome Kiddo – a powerful birth by induction

(Written by the birthing mother) Part One: Waiting Thursday 19 July 2018 It’s the middle of winter, and now four days past my due date. The cat is underneath the doona, curled up next to my huge swollen belly, purring as I feel that swooshing live fish flop of the...

Reflections of doula support

Reflections on a couples journey from pregnancy to parenting. ***** 1. What are you proud of with regards to your birth preparation and birth experience? I’m proud of myself for taking the initiative to do the work for a natural birth. I had not even considered that...

A dads birth story, shared from the heart

Discussing, understanding and documenting what sort of birth Jess and I wanted was critical in helping me prepare for potential unknowns. Imagining the birth process from start to finish also helped- and actually practicing things like active birth exercises in our...

Birthing with bi-polar and epilepsy

Dear Erika, At the beginning of 2009 we spoke to my psychiatrist about the possibility of me having a child. After he outlined all the complications due to my bi-polar, epilepsy and medications I had as good as accepted I’d never be a mother. When I discovered in...

An empowering induction birth

Erika was called and arrived at a critical point; Alex and her support team were exhausted and the institution was starting to move closer and closer to taking complete control of the birth. After months of research and excited planning for the complete unknown of the...

The internal journey of a long labour

The birth of Marlene After a long labour Marlene was born naturally at 1.45am on the 7th of March at Angliss Family Birth Centre, Upper Ferntree Gully. I was surrounded by a magnificent birthing team that supported me throughout the labour, which comprised of my...

Homebirth after a caesarean

I gave birth to our little boy at home, with no interventions, no drugs, no stress. I laboured the way that felt right for me, and birthed in the position that came naturally. My husband caught his own son, and it is an experience that we will never forget in a...

Two births – a marathon and a sprint

My contractions were getting stronger. Erika rang the hospital and then drove me in her car. I chose the back seat. About half way to the hospital my waters broke (fortunately I was sitting on a towel). When I told her, Erika said just what I needed to hear: that’s...

Proactive birth preparation with hypnosis

I'm so proud of the steps we took, including hiring our wonderful doula Erika, and the preparation we put in which helped create the most intense, incredible, memorable, rewarding and magical 24 hours of our lives. Our Birth Story Going into this, we didn't even know...

A great home birth experience

Effie - "When I found out I was pregnant, my biggest fear was having to go into hospital to give birth. Hospitals gave me fierce anxiety as my pastexperiences of them had always been negative. I wasn'tconvinced that hospital was my only option, so I took to Dr Google...

Creative childbirth education with a toddler

“Erika helped prepare us for the birth of our son in a very short period of time, and with our 3 year old ‘helping out’ with costumes too!! This delightful couple were happy to have their daughter join in on some birth preparations massage techniques I was showing the...

Miranda’s vaginal birth after a caesarean

Not only were Erika's teachings and advice a useful tool during labour and birth, I was able to apply a lot of them to my life in general (as well as the relationship with my husband and son), and it allowed me to enjoy my little family and appreciate what I had all...

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Get ready to feel more calm, in control and positive about birthing your baby and feeling the power house of awesomeness that is YOU. This Birthready with Hypnosis guidebook and 4 audio tracks covers your basic hypnosis theory as it relates to birth preparation. Included are your home work fun sheets, scripts and guided meditation practices to help you apply the theory and tools of hypnotherapy into your daily life. This program overlaps and compliments the franchised programs of Hypnobirthing and Calmbirth.

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