Our first VBAM (vaginal birth after myomectomy) was Episode 189 with Mabel back in 2022 and we are SO excited to finally be bringing you another! Maria Magdalena “Mags” Campbell joins us from Cape Town, South Africa to share her inspiring story through loss, fertility challenges, and ultimately TWO VBAM births.

With the support of Chinese medicine, acupuncture, progesterone, and a fertility coach, Mags went on to conceive her son naturally. She met with 8 doctors before finally finding a VBAM supportive provider and hospital at 32 weeks. After a successful ECV for a breech baby, she went on to have a hospital VBAM with an epidural at 9 cm at 40+1 weeks, welcoming her 3.9-kg son.

Her second pregnancy came easily and felt very different. Mags prepped similarly with things like Chinese medicine and acupuncture, but leaned even more into holistic prep through breathwork, meditation, yoga, and doula support. Mags chose a hospital birth over a home birth and went on to have a euphoric, unmedicated vaginal water birth at 40+3 weeks, welcoming her 4.1-kg daughter.

During her prep, Mags connected with Mabel and she hopes that her stories can bring the same inspiration that Mabel’s did for her. We are also posting a new blog all about VBAM in honor of Mags’ episode that you can find at www.thevbaclink.com/blog.

American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology (AOGS)

PubMed Study

European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology

Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada JOGC

ScienceDirect Review

Episode 189 Mabel's VBAM (Vaginal Birth After Myomectomy)

We’re thrilled to welcome back Dr. Hazel Keedle from Sydney, Australia! Dr. Keedle is a researcher, midwife, Director of Midwifery Academic Programs and Senior Lecturer at Western Sydney University back to discuss her book, A Clinician’s Guide to Birth After Cesarean, released in August 2025.

In this episode, Hazel shares insight from her years of research into VBAC experiences and clinical care. She talks about birth and the “Olympic coach” analogy, how providers can balance risks between VBAC and repeat cesarean, and the best ways to use research in your decision making.

Hazel, Paige, and Lily also unpack the importance of removing terms like trial, fail, and success to better honor every story. Hazel also graciously offers her personal perspective on how clinicians can process difficult outcomes and still show up with compassion, empathy, and belief to help every mother birth the way she desires.

The Clinician’s Guide to Better Birth After Caesarean

Birth After Caesarean: Your Journey to a Better Birth

The Birth Experience Study

The VBAC Link Podcast Episode 209

Dr. Keedle’s Publication - Debriefing Women’s Birth Experiences

The Perinatal Experience of Women With a History of Intimate Partner Violence

The Ultimate VBAC Prep Course for Parents

Online VBAC Doula Training

After an induction at 41+3 weeks turned emergency cesarean with her first and a second cesarean at 42 weeks due to failure to progress, Irene had an unmedicated VBA2C with full placenta previa pregnancy that resolved at 30 weeks!

Irene started her VBA2C pregnancy journey at a new practice that was not VBAC supportive and told her to schedule a cesarean at her first 8-week appointment. She switched providers at 20 weeks and owes her successful unmedicated VBA2C to the many different people and routines she incorporated into her pregnancy. Irene shares allll of her prep details with us including prayer, meditation, zoning out to Pink Floyd, and how she created a special labor visualization ritual so that when it was time for the real thing, she was excited, ready, and so at peace.

She says, “If providers aren't informing you about all the resources out there that you can utilize to prepare for your VBA2C, they're likely not going to be very supportive during your birth.”

Keywords: VBAC, placenta previa, birth stories, maternal health, pregnancy, women's empowerment, childbirth education, supportive care, doula, prenatal preparation

The VBAC Link Blog: VBA2C: The Facts and Statistics

The VBAC Link Blog: 6 Ways to Physically Prep for VBAC

The Ultimate VBAC Prep Course for Parents

Online VBAC Doula Training