A Glorious VBAC, with Kally McConnell

Happy Summer, northern hemisphere! With this episode we kick off our 2017 “Birth Stories for the Summer” series!

For the next 11 weeks, I’m switching  the spotlight from the birth pros to the mighty mamas, who share what real-life birth looks like. Today, Kally McConnell shares her glorious VBAC story, all the things she did differently to prepare compared with her first birth, and how there was no time for the tub. Check it out!

 

 

What we talked about:

• When you don’t know what to expect, anything can happen
• Nutrition as an important part of your birth preparations
• Doing all the things: provider, doula, books, movies, hypnosis and more!
• The 4:30 am POP!
• Do you really know how to get to the hospital?
• Forget the oils and music – I’ll just close my eyes
• No time for the tub
• Labor contractions vs. pushing contractions vs. Pitocin contractions
• “I knew I could do it!” – “I knew you could do it.”
• The postpartum doula experience
• Committing, with flexibility

 

Resources mentioned by Kally, and more!*:

• Finding a Postpartum doula (DONA’s directory) (DoulaMatch.net)
• VBACFacts.com
• Business of Being Born
• Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, by Ina May Gaskin
• Birthing from Within, by Pam England
• Birthing Normally After a Cesarean or Two, by Helene Vadeboncoeur

 

Related Birthful episodes:

• VBAC Facts, with Jen Kamel
• Vaginal Birth After Cesarean, with Nancy Wainer
  

 

All photos are used with permission, courtesy of Kally McConnell

 

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About Kally McConnell

Kally McConnell is a stay-at-home mom to two fun little girls: Mack, 3, and Brynn, 2 months. A former sales & marketing professional and admitted junk food junky, Kally opened herself up to the holistic world after recognizing her first daughter’s predictable reactions to certain foods. This inspired her to get her certification in holistic nutrition so she could help herself and her family make better food choices. Through this education, she learned that the health of a child can be determined way before you’re deciding not to let them eat Cheetos for dinner every night. Thanks in large part to Adriana and Birthful, she is now passionate about birth and is an aspiring birth and postpartum doula. She plans on starting to work towards her certifications once she has her new baby sleeping through the night 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, from the Free Music Archive / CC BY (edited for length).

Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, from the Free Music Archive / CC BY (edited for length).