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A VBA2C Birth Story – Elizabeth Quinn
Elizabeth Quinn is married to Percy and they are raising three girls in Jackson, Mississippi. Her daughters are Chesley Cox, 6 years old, Anderson Lillian ‘Anders’ 4 years old, and Adella Calhoon 22 months old.
In almost seven years of motherhood she’s gone from the totally oblivious first time mom, focused on the nursery and stroller and clueless about all things birth related to a certifiable birth junkie. The journey from unwanted, unplanned, unnecessary cesarean section to incredible VBA2C (vaginal birth after two cesareans) has given her a passion for birth education and vbac support.
She’s now a co-leader of her local ICAN chapter, coordinator of the Jackson, MS Improving Birth Rally, and administrator of a Facebook group that advocates for evidence based practices in maternity care called Birth Circle.
Elizabeth did her fair share of research and preparation for her VBAC and has since been connected with even more amazing birth resources so you’ll definitely want to check out her resource list.
You can listen to Elizabeth’s fourth birth story (another VBAC) with her first BOY after three girls via our archives by becoming a listener supporter.
Resource Links
International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN)
ICAN of Jackson, Ms Facebook page and blog
BLOGS
CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION COURSE
BOOKS
‘Ina May Gaskin’s Guide to Childbirth’ by Ina May Gaskin
‘Cut, Stapled, Mended: When one woman reclaimed her body and gave birth on her own terms.’ by Roanna Rosewood
‘The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth’ by Henci Goer
‘Birthing Normally after a Cesarean or Two’ by Helene Vadeboncoeur
Thank you so much for these episodes! I had to listen to them in pieces because they affected me so much emotionally and I could relate so much to them. I had two unwanted C-sections followed by two VBA2Cs with my births. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for your sweet words! It was hard for me to listen to parts as well and I knew what was going to happen!
This one was so great- I cried! I just fell in love with Elizabeth!
Me too! I wanted to hug her and befriend her all at once! It was my favorite one to record so far.
So beautiful!! Thank you so much for sharing!
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This rang so true for me. I knew the exact date that I conceived and was also told to ignore that when predicting my birth date since I ovulated late. I ended up having a C Section after being induced for over 30 hours and 3 hours of pushing. I was pushed very hard into getting my C Section, but refused to give in until my body just couldn’t go anymore. Thanks for sharing your story.
I must be the only person who had a VBA2C and did not find it healing. It was a 60 hour birth, and I couldn’t get the epidural till very late in because I was stalled at 2cm for an hour of absolute agony. The whole time I was worried fetal distress would ruin the chances of successful follow through (as it had before). Finally, when the 14″ head came out…well…let’s just put it this way…my vag is so swollen/infected/etc that 5 days out I can barely walk (my whole thought was that I would recover faster than from a C-section). It brought closure to my birth struggles but…did not result in increased bonding, extreme joy, or lack of pain. I think I’m just about the only person to view their VBAC this way…
I think any type of birth can be traumatizing and every woman has the right to feel however she wants about her birth, let me stress again YOU have every right to feel HOWEVER you want about YOUR birth and I actually know a woman who had a section then VBAC and then two more scheduled sections because she didn’t like her VBAC every woman should birth however they feel most comfortable. My VBAC was not an easier recovery in some ways because I was extremely weak from hemorrhaging and I had a second degree tear but for me I would still take my VBAC 100 times over because it was what was right for me but I totally respect you for feeling the way you do it’s important that you never feel like the way you feel about your birth is weird or abnormal nobody else went through what you did, no one else can step into your body and understand exactly what you went through. All I want you to get from my comment is that however you feel about your birth is normal, reasonable and that you are Wonder Woman no matter how it all shook out and how you feel about it. Be strong and mama on!
I’m 39 weeks with my 3rd and am TOLA2C. Elizabeth’s episode was amazing and I cried the entire second half. Thank you for sharing this story.
Oh my goodness Elizabeth I have listened to so many birth stories VBACs included but as I listened to your story it just hit me so hard, I cried as you talked about how excited the nurses were when you said you were complete and about dreaming about having that moment when they put the baby on your chest it just resonated with me so much. My first baby was a c-section and my experience was very different from yours but still left me so traumatized and so VBAC was so important to me and withy second pregnancy I did find a new provider who was supportive but ended up switching at 20 weeks because I just didn’t feel like he was going to fight for me like I needed him to. I ended delivering my 10lb baby boy at exactly 39 weeks out of my vagina(and they knew he was big too measuring 9lbs on the 38 week ultrasound) it was the most amazing feeling. I loved my second birth but I knew that there were things I could do even better the next time so though not currently pregnant I am preparing and planning for a homebirth whenever we have our third baby. I loved your story so much you are amazing and I just needed to reach out and tell you how much your story and courage to change your mindset about your first two births impressed me. Thank you for being brave enough to go against the system you are a badass mama.
I so understood all your stories, although my experiences were the opposite – from the beginning. I enjoyed every single word, especially because you framed each sentence so well. Thank you Elisabeth for sharing all you went through and all that you were and became!