In today's episode we meet Alicia, who is a mother of two. Alicia was raised not to fear birth and always knew that she wanted to have a home birth, but when her baby flipped breech right before her estimated due date, Alicia’s home birth plans turned into a cesarean. She went on to plan another home birth with her second baby and had a redemptive HBAC.

Join us as Alicia shares her birth stories, the emotional toll that planning a home birth and then having a cesarean can have, why she chose to labor for as long as possible with her first baby even though she knew she was going to have a cesarean, the stigmas and shame that often accompany cesarean sections, and how essential oils played a vital role in her pregnancy and birth. We also discuss battling self-doubt, intrusive thoughts and fear during pregnancy, the importance of who you invite into your birth space and how those present can make you feel pressure to perform or meet certain expectations, getting into the right headspace for birth, how important the language used to present information to pregnant women and mothers is, and the impact that compassionate and respectful care can have during the transition to motherhood.

You can find Alicia on Instagram, here.

Be sure to subscribe to The Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast on your favorite podcast app to be notified when new episodes are available, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-date information.

Want to share your Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) story? Send us an e-mail at hbacpodcast@gmail.com to get in touch.

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace advice from qualified medical professionals.