11 | Ashleigh's story of repeat emergency caesarean following a successful VBAC; Caseload Midwifery Care, Public Hospital, Placental Abruption, Bandl's Ring, Calmbirth

VBAC Birth Stories

In this episode we meet Ashleigh who experienced three very different births in a Sydney public hospital under the caseload midwifery care model. Ashleigh suffered from Hyperemesis Gravidarum in her first pregnancy only. She went into preterm labour in her first birth at 36 weeks and was prepped for a caesarean after her son was showing unexplained foetal distress. She was taken into theatre where it was found that she had suffered from placental abruption during the labour. This occurs when the placenta detaches from the uterus.

Following this experience Ashleigh was steered towards the repeat caesarean path by her hospital during her second pregnancy but decided that caesarean recovery and surgery was not what she wanted. Ashleigh tested Group B strep (streptococcus) (GBS) positive in this pregnancy.

It was her caseload midwife who supported her desire to achieve a natural birth and at 39 weeks she delivered her second baby via a successful VBAC. This birth left Ashleigh on cloud nine, and when she fell pregnant two years later with her third baby she assumed the same kind of birth would unfold. But her third birth was very different to what she had anticipated.

Ashleigh’s story isn’t your usual VBAC birth story, it’s so much more. It’s about how Ashleigh confronts the trauma from her third birth where these factors were truly out of her control and how she reconciles this with the feeling of complete control that she had during her VBAC. Her story highlights the effects of birth trauma on parents and families and the brilliance of her caseload midwife in ensuring she was ok.

Notes ~

Bandl's Ring:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Bandl%27s+ring

M. Reyad & M. Quinn (2008) Pre-term uterine constriction rings and their consequences, Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 28:4, 447-448, DOI: 10.1080/01443610802138106

Postpartum Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) support: If you or anyone you know is affected by PTSD or experiencing PND symptoms please don't hesitate to contact the following support networks.

The Gidget Foundation

https://gidgetfoundation.org.au/get-support/,

PANDA

https://www.panda.org.au/info-support/pandas-national-perinatal-anxiety-depression-helpline

Beyond Blue

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/get-immediate-support

**VBAC Birth Stories features women's lived experiences. It is not intended to replace medical advice. Should you have any concerns during your pregnancy please always consult your healthcare provider.

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