Best Shannon Heaton Podcasts (2024)

1
Episode 312 VBAC Basics with Meagan & Julie 59:49

7h ago59:49

59:49

This episode goes back to the basics and is a great place to start on your VBAC journey! Julie joins Meagan today as they talk about many common questions beginning with reasons why providers tell women they can’t go for a VBAC. Topics today include: Nuchal cords Big babies Small pelvises Arrest of descent Third-trimester ultrasounds Cervical dilat…

1
Episode 311 Sami's VBAC After an Unexpected Breech Cesarean 41:49

3d ago41:49

41:49

Upon arriving at the hospital during her first labor, Sami was told that her baby’s heart rate wasn’t stable, Pitocin was necessary, and a C-section was most likely going to be the safest mode of delivery. After laboring for a while, she was wheeled to the OR but the anesthesiologist was running behind schedule. Sami was checked and discovered she …

1
Episode 310 Kristen's Healing VBAC with a Special Scar 46:23

8d ago46:23

46:23

Every pregnancy and birth experience is different. That is true for everyone, but especially for Kristen. Kristen joins us from Provo, Utah, and shares her experiences with an initial vaginal birth, a diagnosis of omphacele with a Cesarean and infant loss with her second that left her with a special scar, an induced, medicated hospital VBAC with he…

1
Episode 309 How to Tell if the VBAC/HBAC Information You See is Real or Fake 33:04

10d ago33:04

33:04

Julie Francom joins Meagan on the podcast to talk about checking the validity of the information you see surrounding VBAC. There is so much information out there and so much misinformation that we want to help you figure out what is actually evidence-based! Julie and Meagan draw on their personal experiences with making corrections to information t…

1
Episode 308 Shannon's VBA3C + Doubt From Her Delivery Team 44:14

15d ago44:14

44:14

“I did it. They said I couldn’t, but I did it.” When planning for her VBA3C, Shannon got just about as much kickback as someone can get. She was ambushed. She was coerced. She was given the scariest information. Shannon joins us from England today and talks about how each of her four births brought her to where she is today. By the time she was pre…

1
Episode 307 Dr. Christina Pinnock + High-Risk Situations & What They Mean for TOLAC 57:59

17d ago57:59

57:59

Dr. Christina Pinnock is a Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist/Perinatologist based in California and creator of the ZerotoFour Podcast. She is here to help us tackle topics like what constitutes a high-risk pregnancy, lupus, preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, gestational diabetes, fibroids, and bicornuate uteruses and how they relate to VBAC. The overar…

1
Episode 306 Kelsey's Birth Center VBAC + Talk About Forceps 1:10:44

22d ago1:10:44

1:10:44

Our friend, Kelsey, shares with us today what giving birth is like in Canada. From moving and traveling between provinces, Kelsey had experienced different models of care and when it came time to prepare for her VBAC, she was very proactive about choosing a birth environment where she felt safest. From a scary Cesarean under general anesthesia to a…

1
Episode 305 Perinatal Fitness with Gina Conley from MamasteFit 51:09

24d ago51:09

51:09

The amazing Gina Conley from MamasteFit joins Meagan today to answer your questions all about perinatal fitness! Gina is a birth doula, perinatal fitness trainer, and founder of MamasteFit. In partnership with her sister, Roxanne, who is a labor and delivery nurse and student-midwife, MamasteFit is a place for women to find education courses and …

1
Episode 78-Tools of the Trad 50:51

26d ago50:51

50:51

When you’re making an instrument, you’re forming something that can be used to design a melody. Or a musical life. This episode follows a precious flute’s unexpected journey. And flute makers Patrick Olwell and Eamonn Cotter, piper Colleen Shanks, and fiddle players Bob Childs and Pat O’Connor talk about what it’s like to carve an approach as music…

1
Episode 304 Aisha's Surprise Breech HBAC 51:31

29d ago51:31

51:31

Aisha’s first baby was a scheduled Cesarean for a breech presentation during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Though she was symptom-free, Aisha tested positive for COVID and was not able to be with her husband or her baby right after birth. Her surgery was routine and uneventful, but the isolation left her devastated. Aisha moved and was livin…

1
Episode 303 Kristen's 2VBAC Stories with Preeclampsia 54:24

1M ago54:24

54:24

Kristen joins us today to share her tough C-section and two beautiful VBAC stories! After a 41-week elective induction that turned into a C-section and a 2.5-week NICU stay due to meconium and heart decelerations, Kristen was very nervous about giving birth again. She found The VBAC Link Podcast and found hope. Through her VBAC research, she gained…

1
Episode 302 Emily's CBAC + How Views Can Change 55:33

1M ago55:33

55:33

Emily’s first birth experience was a home birth turned hospital transfer which ended in a C-section and then a birth center VBAC ending in hospital transfer and another C-section with her second. She found herself feeling alone, frustrated, and surrounded by people who just didn't get it as she worked to process the trauma and grief of not one but …

1
Episode 301 Janelle's Beautiful VBAC + Signs of PPD + What is Vaginal Cleansing? 53:22

1M ago53:22

53:22

Today’s episode is full of love. Meagan’s doula partner, Christin Carlson, joins as co-host today to hear their client, Janelle, share her beautiful VBAC story. Janelle’s first baby was determined to stay frank breech even after two ECV attempts. Her water broke on its own before her scheduled date. In prep for her surgery, Janelle unexpectedly exp…

1
Episode 300 with Meagan & Julie + Where We Started & Where We Are Now 43:26

1M ago43:26

43:26

We can hardly believe that we have recorded 300 episodes! Meagan brings Julie on the podcast today to take a look back at how The VBAC Link Podcast started, the growth they have both experienced along the way and where they are now. Since 2018, we have shared laughter, tears, heartache, and joy through your stories. Thank you to all of our listener…

1
Episode 299 Katie's Healing VBAC + Home Birth Transfer 1:11:33

2M ago1:11:33

1:11:33

Katie joins us today to tell us about her two birth experiences in Germany. Although she strongly advocated for herself during her first birth, Katie was extremely mistreated. Her labor and horrible C-section experience left her with intense PTSD straining her relationship with both her baby and her husband. Katie knew that if she wanted to have an…

1
Episode 298 Jenny's VBAC After Baby Was Breech + Intense Travel 1:05:37

2M ago1:05:37

1:05:37

Jenny’s story is one of pure gratitude and joy. She is so grateful to be a mother, for the miracle of her pregnancies, for a breech baby who flipped late in her second pregnancy, for the chance to experience labor, and for a beautiful, successful VBAC. Jenny talks about all of the ways she prepped and how she even had to travel over a mountain pass…

1
Episode 297 Macy's Amazing HBA2C + What Does the Evidence Show for VBA2C? 44:22

2M ago44:22

44:22

Macy’s first birth was a scheduled C-section due to breech presentation that required follow-up exploratory surgery due to an unknown cause of internal bleeding. Unfortunately, her surgeon had accidentally nicked an ab muscle. Macy’s recovery was very difficult. With her second, doctors were nervous about her chances of VBAC and would only let her …

1
Episode 296 Brooke's VBAC with a Subchorionic Hematoma 1:10:12

2M ago1:10:12

1:10:12

“Control what you can control.” Brooke’s birth experiences have not been without challenges. She first had an extremely difficult miscarriage during COVID followed by intense bleeding due to massive subchorionic hemorrhages during her other two pregnancies. Her first delivery was a very traumatic C-section from not being completely anesthetized. Af…

1
Episode 295 Dr. Kendra's Empowering HBAC + Tips From a VBAC Doula 57:28

2M ago57:28

57:28

Today’s episode has a wealth of information you won’t want to miss! Dr. Kendra Ohora is a Licensed Clinical Marriage & Family Therapist and also a VBAC mom. From being told she would never have children to currently expecting her third baby boy, Kendra shares how prioritizing her mental health helped her through some really tough years. Kendra’s fi…

1
Episode 294 Hannah's Induced VBAC due to Preeclampsia + More on the Pelvic Floor with Co-host Rebecca 52:45

2M ago52:45

52:45

Meagan has a new co-host today! Rebecca, a pelvic floor physical therapist and a VBAC Link doula located in Georgia joins Meagan while our friend Hannah from North Carolina shares her birth stories. This episode stresses again the true importance of not just a supportive provider, but of a supportive practice including hospital policies, the team o…

1
Episode 293 Heidi's VBAC + Gestational Diabetes, GBS & Advanced Maternal Age 1:12:55

2M ago1:12:55

1:12:55

It can be difficult to find VBAC support with gestational diabetes and most who are supportive of VBAC highly recommend a 39-week induction. Heidi’s first pregnancy/birth included gestational diabetes with daily insulin injections, a 39-week induction, Penicillin during labor for GBS, pushing for five hours, and a C-section for arrest of descent du…

1
Episode 292 Jayne’s Business Birth Story + Becoming a Sleep Consultant 49:36

2M ago49:36

49:36

Today we welcome Jayne Havens, the founder of the Snooze Fest sleep training course and The Center for Pediatric Sleep Management™ sleep consultant certification program. Just like how Meagan’s birth experiences led her to become a doula and VBAC advocate, Jayne talks about how the knowledge she gained by teaching healthy sleep habits to her own ch…

1
Episode 291 Meg & Julie + What is Cesarean Awareness Month? 48:36

2M ago48:36

48:36

“If you don’t know your options, you don’t have any!” April is Cesarean Awareness Month and we hope this month is one of information, empowerment, and love from us here at The VBAC Link to you. Referring to the amazing resources provided by the International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN), Meagan and Julie break down the mission of Cesarean Awar…

1
Episode 290 Hayley's Unmedicated VBAC + Epidural and Prolapse Talk 41:05

3M ago41:05

41:05

Hayley joins the show today sharing her breech Cesarean and unmedicated hospital VBAC stories. Meagan and Hayley dive deep into the pros and cons of getting an epidural and why providers tell women so many different things when it comes to epidurals and VBAC! While Hayley had the dreamiest birth she could have imagined and everything went according…

1
Episode 289 Karen's VBAC After Navigating an Unsupportive Provider 58:34

3M ago58:34

58:34

Though Karen did research and took birthing classes before her first baby, she didn’t realize how much advocating for herself could change the course of her birth. She wanted to be the “good” patient and told herself she could do without the things her body told her she needed during labor. Karen ended up pushing for over four hours and consenting …

1
Episode 288 Jennifer's HBA3C + Getting Pregnant After Tubal Ligation 36:59

3M ago36:59

36:59

Jennifer joins us today sharing her HBA3C story! Each birth was a stepping stone that gave her more education and wisdom which ultimately led to her home birth after three Cesareans. Jennifer’s first Cesarean was due to meconium in the water, slow progress, and heart rate issues. Her other two Cesareans were scheduled, but her third was particularl…

1
Episode 287 Suzzie's HBAC + A Note From a Childbirth Educator 54:27

3M ago54:27

54:27

"She was in my arms while she took her first breath and she was just so calm and beautiful. It feels like time just stops at that moment. It was so, so special to me." From turning down the opportunity to take a childbirth class during her first pregnancy to now passionately teaching her own classes (She Births Bravely) as a childbirth educator and…

1
Episode 286 Alexis' Peaceful CBAC 54:55

3M ago54:55

54:55

Cesareans can be peaceful, beautiful, and so healing. Though Alexis didn’t have the VBAC she planned for, she still had the euphoric birth she dreamed of. Alexis unexpectedly experienced PPROM and preeclampsia at 36 weeks with her first baby. Trying to labor and push under the effects of magnesium and all of the other interventions was incredibly e…

1
Episode 285 Selah's 48-hour VBA2C + Changing Providers in Late Pregnancy 1:03:36

3M ago1:03:36

1:03:36

During her first pregnancy, Selah’s doctor predicted that her baby would be over 10 pounds. She insisted that it was not safe to deliver vaginally. Selah went right into her first Cesarean. She didn’t even have the chance to try. Her baby went to the NICU shortly after birth due to lung and blood sugar complications. When her fluid levels were low …

1
Episode 284 Kara's VBA2C With Unexpected Twists 42:11

3M ago42:11

42:11

Kara joins us today from the Los Angeles area sharing her VBA2C story! Kara’s first birth was a scary and chaotic emergency Cesarean. Though her second planned Cesarean went smoothly, Kara did not love how her birth felt like such a medical procedure. After experiencing a miscarriage during her third pregnancy, Kara experienced heartache and grief,…

1
Episode 283 Danielle From Sakara Life's HBAC + Fill Your Soul With Inspiration 1:05:34

3M ago1:05:34

1:05:34

Danielle Duboise, the co-founder of Sakara Life, has changed millions of lives through her advocacy for wellness and nourishment both of the body and the soul. Danielle is also an HBAC mama and shares with us the valuable lessons she has learned from both of her births about the mother-baby connection, surrendering, and the true meaning of an empow…

1
Episode 282 What You Need to Know About Assessing Risk 49:51

4M ago49:51

49:51

Hearing about risk is hard. Interpreting risk is even harder, but deciding which risks are comfortable for you is an essential part of birth! Meagan and Julie discuss how to tell the difference between relative and absolute risk, and what kind of conversations to have with your provider to help you better understand what the numbers mean. They also…

1
Episode 281 Emily Shares Her Preeclampsia Story + How to Shift Gears 1:03:23

4M ago1:03:23

1:03:23

“Your diagnosis of preeclampsia is not forever. It will pass. You will get through it. You can do it.” Meagan invites her dear friend and doula client, Emily, on the podcast today to share her two very different birth stories and what she has learned along the way. During her first pregnancy, Emily was diagnosed with severe preeclampsia at 27 weeks…

1
Episode 280 Arianna's VBA2C + Far Travel, PPROM, Short Interval & Gestational Diabetes 47:29

4M ago47:29

47:29

“Birth is birth and we just want our babies here safe, but I also think that we all deserve to be empowered to have the birth that feels right.” One night, a few months after her second C-section, Arianna had a dream that she was giving birth vaginally to a sweet baby boy and pulled him right up to her chest. The next morning, she took a pregnancy …

1
Episode 279 What are the chances if…? 38:14

4M ago38:14

38:14

We know that unique circumstances in pregnancy can make a VBAC feel farther out of reach. Do your chances of having a VBAC go down if you had preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy or your current one? What if you have a special scar? What are the chances of having a VBAC if you were diagnosed with “failure to progress”? What about fibroids or gestat…

1
Episode 77-The Bunch of Keys 34:51

4M ago34:51

34:51

Irish musicians, and writers, and home makers can all benefit by learning some rules and technical skills—and by allowing a little spontaneity and flexibility. But how much great technique do you need? Does that get in the way of the magic? In this episode, Nathan Gourley, Brendan Mulholland, and Sharon Murphy reflect on the alchemy of order and sp…

1
Episode 278 Rebecca's CBAC + What To Do With a Swollen Cervix 59:18

4M ago59:18

59:18

We love hearing stories of how our Women of Strength navigate birth in an empowered way, no matter the outcome. Rebecca’s story shows how she carefully selected the most supportive homebirth midwife, created a safe birth space in her home, labored hard and beautifully with her husband, took time to process information, assessed her situation, and c…

1
Episode 277 Clair's VBA3C + PPROM + Close Pregnancy Duration 51:55

4M ago51:55

51:55

Happy podcast Wednesday, Women of Strength! You do NOT want to miss today’s episode. Clair shares her beautiful journey to a VBA3C. After fully dilating and pushing for hours but ultimately ending in C-sections with her first three babies, Clair finally had the vaginal birth she so badly hoped for with her fourth! Clair shows just how powerful birt…

1
Episode 276 Samantha's VBAC with a Special Scar & Gestational Diabetes 1:08:21

4M ago1:08:21

1:08:21

We are following up on last week’s informative episode on gestational diabetes with a gestational diabetes VBAC story! Samantha’s first labor ended in a traumatic Cesarean with her first baby, but she didn’t find out many details of what happened to her until she requested her operative report months later. Samantha found out that she had a lateral…

1
Episode 275 Lily Nichols + All About Gestational Diabetes 49:53

5M ago49:53

49:53

We have an incredibly special episode for you today with the one and only Lily Nichols! She is a registered dietitian nutritionist and the author of two books (soon to be three!)-- Real Food for Pregnancy and Real Food for Gestational Diabetes. Lily is truly a pregnancy nutrition expert providing women with access to the most current evidence-based…

1
Episode 274 "I Don't Know Who Needs to Hear This, But..." 37:34

5M ago37:34

37:34

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but… You do NOT have to be induced at 39 weeks to have a vaginal birth. You CAN have an induced VBAC. Your cervix DOESN’T have to dilate by 40 weeks. Home birth is just as SAFE as hospital birth, even for VBAC. Your pelvis is PERFECT. You are capable of doing MORE than you even know. Tune in to today’s hot episo…

1
Episode 273 Amina's Incredible VBAC + Dialing in & Following Your Heart 57:57

5M ago57:57

57:57

Amina’s story shows the true POWER of a supportive provider. Both of her birth stories had similar interventions (but given in very different ways) with very different provider reactions and a very different outcome! “That was the biggest change for me. It’s not like the second birth was just smooth. There were moments when there was blood. There w…

1
Episode 272 Grace's Traumatic Cesarean & Beautiful VBAC + Warning Signs for ALL Birthing Moms 1:13:54

5M ago1:13:54

1:13:54

Grace: “'If you are COVID-positive as the mother, you are not allowed to do skin-to-skin, you are not allowed to breastfeed your baby, and you are only allowed to hold your baby two times a day for 15 minutes.'” Meagan: "That’s what they told you?" Grace: "That’s what they did. That was their policy." Today’s episode is a must-listen for everyone i…

1
Episode 271 Dr. Nathan Fox Returns Sharing Evidence on Uterine Rupture, Induction, Cervical Exams & More 51:38

6M ago51:38

51:38

“I think that’s why there is so much discussion about this because it is not the numbers. It is the attitudes. It’s the opinions. It’s just trying to make sure that you have an aligned vision with your provider and with your hospital.” One of the most important things you can do during pregnancy is to find a provider who loves and believes in VBAC.…

1
Episode 270 Crystal Nightingale Returns + Postpartum & Lactation Tips 1:06:14

6M ago1:06:14

1:06:14

Crystal Nightingale from The Mama Coach joined us a few months ago and is back again today diving deeper into postpartum and breastfeeding than we’ve ever gone before! Did you know that new research is showing that cold compresses are more effective in helping clogged ducts than warm compresses or showers? Crystal shares her valuable insight gained…

1
Episode 269 The Most Common Questions of 2023 33:31

6M ago33:31

33:31

Meagan finishes out this year of podcasting by answering some of your most common questions! Topics range from the time between births, gentle induction methods, gestational diabetes, “just-in-case” epidurals, home birth, tips for having a successful VBAC, and how to cope if you don’t get your VBAC. “Women of Strength, I just want to thank you so m…

1
Episode 268 Radical Acceptance Part Two 26:36

6M ago26:36

26:36

“I feel that what I would like to add to this radical acceptance part two episode is that yes, it is so important to feel all of the feelings, not judge them, and give them space to exist so that you can work through them and move on, but it is also equally important for you to not live there. You cannot live with those feelings 100% of the time, 2…

1
Episode 267 Caitlin & Chrisie from The Lactation Network + All About Breastfeeding 47:36

6M ago47:36

47:36

Here at The VBAC Link, we want to empower you with better birth experiences AND better postpartum experiences. The Lactation Network does just that. Caitlin McNeily is Vice President of Consultant Relations at The Lactation Network, working closely with thousands of International Board Certified Lactation Consultants in all 50 states. Her backgroun…

1
Episode 266 Sabrina's VBAC + Operative Vaginal Delivery 43:46

7M ago43:46

43:46

Sabrina’s first birth was a traumatic crash Cesarean. She and her baby were thankfully perfectly healthy, but Sabrina was left with no desire to have any more kids. She didn’t realize how much her birth experience played into those feelings until she became pregnant with her second. Sabrina found The VBAC Link through another birth podcast and list…

1
Episode 265 Amy's HBA2C + Cervical Exams 1:06:16

7M ago1:06:16

1:06:16

We have another follow-up story on the podcast this week! We love hearing from our previous guests and today, we get to follow up with our friend, Amy. Amy was on the podcast for episode 102 sharing her VBA2C story and now we get to hear her HBA2C story! Amy talks about her journey to embracing home birth with her fourth baby, how she found the rig…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Shannon Heaton Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide