If you’ve had a caesarean before, you’ve probably been given a whole mix of advice about what to do next time. Some people warn you off VBAC. Others tell you to go for it. And then there’s you, stuck in the middle, trying to make sense of it all.
In this week’s episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White chats with Dr Hazel Keedle, one of Australia’s leading VBAC researchers and a Senior Lecturer of Midwifery at Western Sydney University. Hazel has spent decades listening to women, studying their stories, and breaking down what truly supports a positive birth after caesarean. She’s down to earth, easy to listen to, and offers the kind of straight-up clarity mums are craving.
Renee and Hazel talk through what actually matters, what’s outdated, and how you can feel more confident in your choices moving forward.
You’ll hear about:
- Hazel’s four factors framework for planning a supportive VBAC.
- Why “once a caesarean, always a caesarean” is old thinking.
- How your care team shapes your experience more than you realise.
- The system pressures that mums often feel, but rarely get explained.
- Practical tips for choosing people who genuinely support your birth wishes.
You’re allowed to slow down, ask questions, and choose the care that feels right for you. VBAC isn’t about proving anything. It’s about feeling informed, backed, and respected. This episode will give you that grounding so you can move forward with more clarity and less noise.
Resources and Links
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
📲 Connect with Dr Hazel Keedle
Website: https://hazelkeedle.com
Instagram: @hazelkeedle
Hazel’s book The Clinician's Guide to Better Birth After Cesarean is available through Amazon and major online retailers.
If this episode helped you feel a bit clearer or more supported, pass it on to another mum who’s weighing up her options too. And hit subscribe so you don’t miss the next episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Disclaimer
The information on this podcast presented by Fill Your Cup is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Nothing contained in this episode is intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional's advice.
