In this episode I give you a step-by-step run through of what you need to think about, where to get a birth pool and how to make it run as smoothly as possible. First Things First: Choose the Right PoolNot all birth pools are created equal. Ideally, you want one that’s:Sturdy enough to lean on without collapsing.Deep enough so you can fully submerge your belly (think: shoulders and chest in too, if possible).Quick to inflate (preferably with an electric pump).Comfortable (some have cushioned floors and sides).You can either hire a birth pool kit (which often comes with all the bits and bobs you’ll need), or buy one if you think you’ll want it for future births. Just check if your midwife or doula has recommendations, they’ve usually seen it all.What You’ll Need (Besides the Pool)Here’s the full kit:Electric air pump (don’t waste your breath—literally) Tap hose (long enough to reach the pool from your nearest tap) Tap connector (you might need an adapter depending on your taps) Submersible pump (to empty the pool after the birth—trust me, you’ll want this) Tarp or waterproof sheet (under the pool to protect your floors) New hose (use a fresh, drinking-safe one to fill the pool—bacteria is a no thanks) Thermometer (to check the water temp) Sieve or small net (for scooping out anything floating around—yes, it’s normal) Optional but nice to have:Extra towels and mats (for getting in and out) Fairy lights or candles (set the vibe) A comfy chair or birth ball nearby (if you want a change of position) How to Fill the PoolSimple steps:Lay down your tarp. Inflate the pool using the electric pump (this should take 10–15 minutes). Attach the hose to your tap. (Use the hot and cold taps to get the right mix.) Start filling! It can take 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on your water pressure, so plan accordingly. Keep checking the water temp and top up with warm water if needed.Emptying the Pool (aka, the Last Thing You’ll Feel Like Doing)Post-birth, you’ll be blissed out with your baby, and the pool will be the last thing on your mind. Hopefully you have an amazing team who will be doing all of this for you (make sure you check with them and ask them what they usually do). That’s where the submersible pump comes in. Attach a hose, plug in the pump, and direct the water outside or down a drain.Pro tip: Delegate this. Seriously. You’ve just given birth. Let someone else deal with the logistics.Birth Pool Mindset:Just remember, like all things in birth, the pool is a tool, not a plan. Maybe you’ll love it and want to stay in it the whole time. Maybe you’ll hop in for an hour and then move somewhere else. Maybe you’ll birth your baby into the water, or maybe not.None of it means you’ve “failed”.Water is there to serve you, not the other way around.If you would like support during your VBAC Homebirth, reach out to chat about the many ways I can support you to feel calm, confident and connected. Ashley x More from Ashley:The VBAC VillageInsta: @ashleylwinningWebsite: www.ashleywinning.comJoin our VBAC Homebirth Support Group hereLove the podcast? Buy me a coffeeDisclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.
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EP166 | Celebrating 5 Years of the Podcast! Behind the Scenes and Special News!
In this episode, you get just me, Ashley in a solo episode which was a bit fun as I haven’t done a solo episode all year!We celebrate 5 years of The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast, some of my favourite episodes (and yes I may have a few too many favs!) be sure to check them out if you haven’t listened yet. We cover: Top episodes:Hazel Keedle EP17Dr Sarah Buckley EP30Rachel Reed EP12Dr K EP165Emma 18 days ruptured waters, freebirth EP55Katy’s planned homebirth turned hospital birth and uterine rupture EP49EP2 Kamal’s accidental unassisted VBAC homebirthEP11 Working through fear with AshleyWe also chat about my experiences working with women in births as a birth doula and the magical experiences I’ve been witnessing, how I’m also supporting women with postpartum support at night (locally in Brisbane to Gold Coast) and how you can access my support click here. To celebrate 5 years of the podcast you can also access 25% off for the month of June, just contact me here to access that special pricing for this month only (you can book in July or August for the actual session). And much more!! Enjoy this podcast episode!Ashley x More from Ashley:The VBAC VillageInsta: @ashleylwinningWebsite: www.ashleywinning.comJoin our VBAC Homebirth Support Group hereLove the podcast? Buy me a coffeeDisclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.
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EP165 | Dr K – The High-Risk OBGYN Who Champions a Woman’s Right to Birth on Her Own Terms
In this thought-provoking episode, I sit down with the remarkable Dr K, a high-risk obstetrician and online doula who is walking the delicate line between the medical system and autonomous birth.With rare insight and fierce compassion, Dr K shares what it’s like to be an OBGYN working within a system that too often defaults to control, fear, and policy over people. Her mission? To bring balance back into the conversation and ensure that informed consent isn’t just a checkbox, it’s a sacred part of birth.✨ Inside this episode:What it’s really like being an OBGYN in today’s high-intervention maternity care modelThe uncomfortable truths around coercion, lack of consent, and birth trauma in hospital systemsWhy Dr K believes every woman deserves balanced, evidence-based, and non-judgmental supportHow she supports clients both clinically and emotionally, as both an online doula and OBGYNThe story behind her social media advocacy and why she started speaking outNavigating both worlds: institutional medicine and sovereign, women-centred careThis is a must-listen for birth workers, pregnant people, and anyone questioning the status quo in maternity care.More from Ashley:The VBAC VillageInsta: @ashleylwinningWebsite: www.ashleywinning.comJoin our VBAC Homebirth Support Group hereLove the podcast? Buy me a coffeeDisclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.
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EP164 | When the Midwife Becomes the Mother – She Planned a Homebirth Twice, Here’s What Changed
In this powerful episode, we sit down with a midwife-turned-mama who planned two homebirths and ended up birthing in hospital under very different circumstanceswith her first baby. This raw and revealing story offers insight into what happens when the tables turn, and the one who usually supports birth journeys must navigate her own.This is a VBAC story filled with nuance, informed decisions, intuitive pivots, and emotional depth.✨ Inside this episode:The reality of planning a publicly funded homebirth and what shifted her decisionHow her waters breaking at 41 weeks kicked off a long and complex labourWhat it was like transferring into hospital by ambulanceHow she advocated for herself and said no to theatreThe physical and emotional toll of her first VBAC birth experience—being exhausted, having her consent disregarded, and feeling unsupportedHow she worked with a trauma-informed counsellor to unpack her first birth and using breathwork.Preparing for her second VBAC (Hazel's birth): iron infusions, chiropractic care, rest and self-nourishmentThe impact of a supportive birth team: her midwife, and an amazing student doulaA powerful second VBAC at 1:30am, weighing in at 4.425kg, with spikey balls, birth combs, water injections and sheer inner strengthThis is a must-listen for anyone planning a VBAC, working through birth trauma, or wanting to understand how deeply emotional and layered birth really is.⭐️ Mentioned in This Episode:VBAC planning and advocacyTrauma-informed careThe importance of birth debriefingThe impact of truly supportive midwiferyPain management strategies: water injections, rest, tools like spikey balls and combsMore from Ashley:The VBAC VillageInsta: @ashleylwinningWebsite: www.ashleywinning.comJoin our VBAC Homebirth Support Group hereLove the podcast? Buy me a coffeeDisclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.
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EP163 | Ana’s Midwife-Supported HBAC in Portugal: Reclaiming Birth After Breech Caesarean
In this week's episode, I sit down with the lovely Ana, a mother of two boys living in Portugal, as she shares her inspiring journey from a medicalised breech birth to a midwife-supported VBAC at home.Ana’s first birth in late 2019 ended in a caesarean after going to 41+5 with a breech baby and navigating a tough hospital system. Her initial private OBGYN was unsupportive, pushing decisions without much collaboration—until Ana found a new provider who honoured her options and helped her feel seen. Although her first birth ended in surgery, it was the spark that set her on a mission to reclaim birth on her own terms.With her second baby, Ana took radical responsibility—diving deep into birth education, training as a doula, and choosing a supportive team of midwife and doula well before she even conceived. During her pregnancy, Ana felt like a goddess—nourished, empowered, and surrounded by care that truly respected her.At 41+5, she went into spontaneous labour and spent 25 powerful hours navigating intensity, pain, and deep inner strength. With her husband by her side and her compassionate birth team surrounding her, Ana vaginally birthed her baby in the safety of her own home—a healing and empowering VBAC journey that she now shares to inspire others.In this episode, we explore:✨ Why Ana chose a midwife-attended homebirth after a breech caesarean ✨ The power of birth education and training as a doula ✨ How Ana prepared for her VBAC and stayed grounded during a 25-hour labour ✨ The importance of being surrounded by a supportive birth team ✨ The joy and healing that came through trusting her body and her baby🎧 Tune in for this beautifully grounded story of self-trust, feminine power, and VBAC victory. Ana reminds us that when we reclaim birth, we also reclaim ourselves.More from Ashley:The VBAC VillageInsta: @ashleylwinningWebsite: www.ashleywinning.comJoin our VBAC Homebirth Support Group hereLove the podcast? Buy me a coffeeDisclaimer: The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The stories and opinions shared are personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. Every birth journey is unique, and we encourage you to research, trust your intuition, and consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.The host and guests of this podcast are not liable for any outcomes resulting from the information shared. By listening, you acknowledge that you take full responsibility for your own health and birth choices.
✨ Unfiltered, unapologetic, and deeply inspiring VBAC homebirth stories.
If you're a mama seeking VBAC homebirth inspiration, you’re in the right place! Hosted by Ashley Winning, a Homebirth Educator, Doula, and HBA2C mama, this podcast shares raw, real birth stories from women who reclaimed their power and birthed on their terms.
Listen for powerful stories, expert insights, and encouragement to help you trust your body, navigate challenges, and births on your terms, your way.
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⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.
Ireland