When Christine and Alex welcomed their son via VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) in June 2023, they achieved what many told them was impossible. Their journey wasn't just about a birth preference – it was about healing from profound trauma after a cesarean delivery during COVID lockdowns followed by two devastating pregnancy losses.

"Every birth is a miracle," Alex reflects, "but for us, it just seemed like a different kind of miracle." Their story illuminates how critical provider selection becomes after experiencing birth trauma. When their midwife group suddenly deemed Christine ineligible for VBAC at 20 weeks pregnant, they found themselves searching for alternatives. This pivotal moment led them to a supportive family medicine doctor and birth doulas who would become their advocates, educators, and emotional anchors.

The determination required for their successful VBAC cannot be overstated. Christine pushed for an extraordinary five and a half hours across two sessions – a duration that would have resulted in cesarean in most hospital settings. What made the difference? A provider who trusted her body, doulas who offered positioning strategies and unwavering encouragement, and what Christine and Alex repeatedly reference as their powerful "why."

Most remarkable was the collaborative spirit in their birth space. Their provider took a step back, allowing the doulas to guide positioning and comfort techniques while monitoring safety. As she later told them directly: "You would not have had a vaginal birth had it not been for your doulas."

For Christine, this birth represented profound redemption: "It was the best day of my life, the most healing, the most empowering." And in a beautiful twist of serendipity, throughout labor, Alex had been calling Christine a "warrior" without realizing their son's name, Gunner, literally means "warrior."

Have you experienced birth trauma? We'd love to hear how you've navigated healing and how your birth team has supported your journey.

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xoxo, Stephanie

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