Ashley Adynah is a wife, mom of four boys (one bonus son and three birth stories of her own), and the creator behind The Parenting Strategy. She went into her first birth aware of the gap in Black maternity care, spoke up, and was assured by her team that she would be well taken care of. But Ashley’s induction ended in a traumatic C-section compounded by a uterine infection, infected incision, passing out at home, and needing a home nurse. She was dismissed and not believed over and over again.

9 months later, Ashley became pregnant again, and knew she wanted a VBAC. She educated herself, switched providers at 38 weeks after being told she’d need another C-section for a “big baby,” labored at home, and was 8cm when she got to the hospital. She had a pain-free, unmedicated VBAC, delivering her 9 lb 6 oz son with no tears!

Her third pregnancy brought new fears when her placenta grew into her previous C-section scar, aka placenta accreta. Lily, Paige, and Ashley dive into what placenta accreta is and what it means for birth. After meeting with lots of specialists and facing the possibility of serious complications, she leaned hard into her faith. During her cesarean, it was confirmed that her accreta had grown into her first C-section scar (and this is why preventing primary cesareans and having the option to VBAC matters!). But Ashley’s placenta detached on its own, she was able to have a horizontal incision, and keep her uterus. Her little boy was 4lb, 11oz and spent 11 days in the NICU. Ashley is incredibly resilient, strong, and so inspiring!

Keywords: Black maternal health gap, traumatic C-section, postpartum infection, VBAC story, unmedicated VBAC, placenta accreta, NICU, birth trauma healing, maternal advocacy, birth after cesarean

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Liz's first birth was an induction that ended in a cesarean. When she said, “I can feel that,” referring to pressure, her doctor put her under general anesthesia without consent.

With her second, Liz planned for a VBAC. The midwife broke her water without consent. She labored to 9.5 centimeters and stalled with a cervical lip. She was overwhelmed by so many hands touching her as they tried to manually resolve it.

Liz was defeated and accepted another non-emergent cesarean, this time with the complicated layer of her father-in-law performing it. But before she knew what was happening, she was under general anesthesia again without consent.

Twice, she did not hear her baby’s first cry and still has no idea how long it was before she held them.

Liz sunk deep into postpartum depression and survival mode. It was years before someone told her what happened wasn’t okay. She began the long road of healing with pelvic floor therapy, talk therapy, and rebuilding her strength. She found God meeting her in the tiniest, most intimate details of her journey.

For her third birth, she chose to invest. She traveled for her care. She chose loving, hands-off support with midwife Paige Boran at A Woman’s Place and her doula, Danielle Kent.

And this birth was every bit as different as she needed it to be. Spontaneous, waterbirth, en caul.

Liz reached down and pulled her baby up out of the water. She heard the first cry. She held her baby first.

While this birth didn’t erase what happened before, something in her soul was restored that day. Her autonomy was reclaimed. It was the fought-for and faith-filled waterbirth of her dreams.

We get chills and tears every time we talk about Liz’s story, and we know you will absolutely love her like we do!

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Danielle Kent Birth & Photography

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Allison Champ is a mama of three and a VBAC Link Certified VBAC Doula serving families in the Dayton, Ohio area. Her first birth was an induced, epidural vaginal delivery with a premature manual removal of the placenta, which required a uterine scraping procedure. Allison, Lily & Paige chat about that third stage of labor and what is/isn’t evidence based.

Her second pregnancy began as a planned home birth but changed after a 20-week placenta previa diagnosis. Following multiple significant bleeds, she delivered by cesarean at 34 weeks, where placenta accreta was discovered. Allison walks us through what accreta is and what her doctor did to save her from having a hysterectomy. Her baby spent one week in the NICU and Allison shares how tough it was to not be able to go home to her toddler due to COVID.

For her third pregnancy, Allison planned a home birth (HBAC) with co-care. She had a fast labor, a surprise gender (boy!), and a shoulder dystocia that was smoothly resolved by her team. Her girls were right by her side taking pictures with their Polaroid cameras and cheering their mama on.

Allison wraps up her episode by saying how each of her very different births have made her a better doula. She is thankful that the tough moments have helped her savor the sweet ones even more.

Keywords: induction, cesarean, NICU, VBAC prep, co-care, placenta accreta, placenta previa, advocacy, third stage management

Allison's Doula Website

VBAC Certified Doula Finder

The VBAC Link Supportive Provider List

The Ultimate VBAC Prep Course for Parents

Online VBAC Doula Training

Submit Your VBAC/CBAC Story