In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Hazel Keedle. 

Hazel is a Senior Lecturer of Midwifery at The School of Nursing and Midwifery at Western Sydney University. Hazel has worked in nursing and midwifery for over two decades. Her interests in research focus on vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC), birth trauma, and women’s maternity experiences explored primarily using feminist mixed methodologies. She is now a lead researcher in the biggest study on experiences in maternity care in Australia - The Birth Experiences Study.

Hazel starts by sharing her own personal journey to a VBAC. I’d love to provide a content warning as Hazel discusses the obstetric violence and lack of consent taken from healthcare providers in her first birth. She talks about how her birth inspired her research in her PHD, in which she explored women’s experiences of accessing VBAC in Australia. She has recently written her excellent book, Birth After Caesarean: Your Journey to a Better Birth, which I highly recommend for anyone on their own VBAC journey. 

We then delve into topics around choosing the best, most supportive birth team for you on your VBAC journey, myths that exist around home birth, and why the language that is used around VBAC is so important. 

Hazel discusses the following questions:

• Who’s the best care provider to choose based on evidence with VBAC rates?

  
  



• What role does a supportive birth team play in planning a VBAC, and how can individuals find healthcare providers who are experienced and supportive of VBAC?

  
  



• Can you share some evidence around VBACs in hospital vs at home?

  
  



• What are the fears and myths around home birth and how can we dispel these?

  
  



• How can the language we use when discussing VBAC impact a person's perception of their experience?

  
  



• What alternative terms or approaches can we use to move away from the "success/failure" mindset and provide more supportive language for individuals pursuing VBAC?

  
  

  
  

  
  

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  I would like to acknowledge the land on which we recorded this episode - the Dharug people as the Traditional Owners of the Eora region and the Wurundjeri Wilam and Boon Wurrung/Bunurong peoples of the Kulin Nation. Australia always was and always will be the land of the First Peoples. Every month, I Pay The Rent and so can you - click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to learn more.