In this episode, we speak with Courtney about how she reclaimed/found her power with her powerful VBAC after a previously traumatic, preterm birth experience.

Courtney shares openly about the emotional aftermath of her first birth, which involved a preterm labour and eventually a caesarean, leaving her feeling overwhelmed and disconnected. Determined to approach her next pregnancy differently, she immersed herself in learning, sought out supportive care, and began rebuilding trust in her body and its ability to birth.

Through her story, Courtney reflects on the importance of being informed, asking questions, and surrounding yourself with people who truly listen. Her VBAC experience was more than a birth — it was a reclamation of her power, a moment of healing, and a reminder that strength often grows from the most vulnerable beginnings.

🎧 Tune in for a powerful story of courage, growth, and the transformative impact of education and self-belief on the journey to a positive, autonomous birth.

Notes and resources about this episode

A huge thankyou to my MGP Midwife Jess who has now started her own birth education business @cub.andkin Without her support and advocacy this would have been a much more difficult journey. While I didn’t cover a lot of my healing journey (that’s a whole extra episode!) I want everyone to know that healing is possible. Thankyou to Lael Stone @laelstone and B at @coreandfloorrestore for everything you do for women, supporting them through motherhood. Without the two of you this journey towards healing wouldn’t have been possible. But the biggest thanks goes out to my husband for his endless love and support. His dedication to our birthing journey and his trust in me leading us. I know our VBAC was just as healing for him as it was for me.

BIO

I’m Courtney, a mumma to two little ones, Henrietta (6) and Arlo (4). I’m a Zoo Keeper (midwife to the animals is one of my favourite roles!) turned Birth Debriefing practitioner and Hypnobirthing Australia practitioner. After the traumatic pre-term birth of my daughter, I felt inspired to support women on their birthing journey. Further inspired by the empowering VBAC of my son I decided a career change was needed and became a Hypnobirthing Australia practitioner and studied Birth Debriefing with Lael Stone and Bernadette Lack. My first birth, while traumatic, has lead me to be the woman I am today. More connected with my boundaries and a better advocate for myself and my family. My second birth, my VBAC, is the single most powerful and life changing event I’ve ever experienced. It allowed me to find my power hidden within and restored my faith in my body. My VBAC was an experience and feeling I wish every single mumma could feel during and after birth. Because of this I am truly inspired to work within the birth community to help decrease birth trauma and allow women to reconnect with the power they have within!

In this episode, we speak with Tori about how a broken leg at 32 weeks changed the course of her first birth, and shaped the way she approached her VBAC.

Tori had hoped for a straightforward first birth, but a series of cascading events starting with breaking her leg and ending with a premature, face presenting baby at full dilation saw to it that she had anything but. After a traumatic caesarean and being labelled 'not suitable for VBAC' Tori explains how she wasn't sure she could go back to have more children. Then, she started listening to the stories of other women and decided she was the expert in her body and she knew she could have a VBAC.

Throughout her second pregnancy, she explored her options, connected with a new hospital, brought along her sister who had become a doula and another wonderful student midwife, and ultimately approached birth with a stronger sense of confidence. She explains how important education was over this journey, and shares with us the exhilarating experience of pushing out her baby.

Thank you so much Tori, for sharing your powerful story - we know you're all going to love it!

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.

In this episode of Australian VBAC Stories, we meet Ashleigh Rajan, a registered nurse, mother of four, and passionate advocate for informed birth choices. Ashleigh’s path to VBAC was shaped by four very different birth experiences – from her first birth as a young mother navigating the unknown, to her second birth via an elective caesarean, and finally to her empowering VBACs with her third and fourth children.Ashleigh shares how her first birth experience, involving birthing a big baby after a stretch and sweep and eventuating in a severe perineal tear and postpartum haemorrhage, shaped her decision for her next birth, an elective caesarean. Ashleigh shares how her second birth experience opened her eyes to the hidden layers of caesarean recovery, sparking a deep dive into birth education and the importance of self-advocacy. She reflects on how gaining knowledge, making different choices, and ending up with supportive care providers transformed her confidence and helped her reclaim autonomy in birth for both her third and fourth birth experiences.Through her story, Ashleigh offers valuable insights for anyone planning a VBAC: the importance of understanding your options, asking questions, and trusting your instincts. Her journey is a testament to the power of preparation, self-belief, and the freedom that comes from being truly heard in the birth space.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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Gidget Foundation COPE Australia ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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 Maternity Consumer Network Thank you for tuning in to our podcast.