My VBAC Journey

I first met Jenny & Tom when they joined one of my hypnobirthing and antental group classes as they prepared for the birth of their first child. I never forgot them and when they asked me to join their birth team as their doula and support them for the birth of their second child I felt so privileged and lucky to support them again.

Having experienced supporting families in Nottingham planning for a VBAC and HBAC birth I know they journey that they can experience and having a strong team around you can make the world of difference to your pregnancy, birth and postpartum journey. I am still in awe of them both and over the moon to share their VBAC journey with you.

It’s hard to put into words our thanks and just how invaluable it was to have Kerry as our doula and to support one of the most magical and incredible days of our lives.

Kerry was AMAZING as our doula and, looking back, having her with us throughout pregnancy and birth was one of the best decisions we made - highly recommend to everyone!! She became such an important part of one of the most special periods of our lives, and we will always hold that so close to our hearts.

As a partnership and team, my husband and I knew we’d be able to go through pregnancy and birth ourselves but we knew from previously having Kerry’s Hypnobirthing support for our first daughter, that investing time and cost was absolutely worth it and more!

From the very beginning, Kerry was calm, reassuring, knowledgeable, and completely non-judgemental. Throughout pregnancy, she was always there for us, for the highs and when we were presented with challenges along the way, whether by phone call, message, video call, or in person. We had a lot of conversations around birth choices, particularly surrounding a VBAC, and Kerry had such a brilliant way of helping us navigate information without ever pushing an opinion. She gave us the space to make informed decisions whilst helping us feel safe, empowered, and genuinely excited about the birth ahead.

What stood out so much was how personalised the whole experience felt. Kerry really cared about our journey - she took the time to really understand us, our concerns, our hopes, and the kind of birth experience we wanted. She helped us create a birth plan that felt realistic, safe, and aligned with what mattered most to us. During moments where fear or uncertainty crept in, she held space for us beautifully and helped us work through decisions calmly and rationally. I can’t explain how valuable this was for us.

When labour started, Kerry was with us incredibly quickly, with her Mary Poppins bag of things and immediately brought a sense of calm. Somehow, she transformed what could have felt like a clinical labour ward in a busy hospital into a peaceful, safe, almost sanctuary-like environment. The lights, aromatherapy, calming atmosphere, relaxation techniques, massage, quiet reassurance — every small detail helped us feel grounded and secure. It genuinely allowed me to focus inward, stay calm, and lean into labour rather than fear it. My husband and I could also be very present and only have communication directed at us that was essential. We loved the labour bubble that we were in, deep sense of connection and will always remember that!

Throughout labour, Kerry felt less like someone we had hired and more like a trusted friend by our side. Whether it was making sure I was comfortable, keeping me topped up with drinks via a straw, offering gentle suggestions that helped me manage each stage of labour, adjusting the environment, or simply providing reassurance at exactly the right moment, she was always there. She did all of this so discreetly and naturally that it never felt intrusive; it simply felt like we were being quietly looked after by someone who cared about us and our soon to be born baby. She seemed to know what we needed before we did and took care of so many small details, allowing us to focus entirely on welcoming our daughter into the world. During the more challenging moments of labour, she also became an extra pillar of strength when I needed one, another steady presence to lean on both physically and emotionally, helping me find the confidence to keep moving forward.

One thing that feels particularly significant looking back is that I had carried anxiety during pregnancy around scar rupture following my previous birth. Yet during labour itself, I barely thought about it at all. In fact, it wasn’t until the following day that I even remembered that fear had existed and found myself asking whether my scar was okay. To me, that says everything about how safe, calm, and supported I felt throughout the experience, and how completely I was able to immerse myself in labour and the birth of our daughter.

Kerry also supported my husband so beautifully throughout the process and gave us space to experience moments together whilst always being there in exactly the right way. It truly felt like a team effort between us, Kerry, and the hospital staff, all working together to bring our daughter safely into the world.

I was fortunate enough to have a successful VBAC, something that meant so much to me emotionally, and I genuinely believe Kerry played a huge part in helping us both feel mentally and physically prepared for that experience.

After our daughter was born, I did unexpectedly need to go to theatre for treatment unrelated to the VBAC itself, and for anyone considering a VBAC, it is important to say that this was entirely separate from my VBAC birth. Even then, Kerry continued to be an incredible source of calm and reassurance. She made what could have been quite a frightening experience feel peaceful and manageable, helping us stay informed, supported, and cared for during an unexpected turn of events. It also meant my husband could stay with my daughter which again was important to us.

What was remarkable throughout the whole experience was that despite being on a busy labour ward in a hospital, it never felt that way. Because of the environment Kerry helped create and the personalised support she provided, it felt as though we were in our own little bubble. It never felt clinical, rushed, or overwhelming. Instead, it felt calm, intimate, and focused entirely on us and our growing family.

The support also didn’t stop once the birth was over. Kerry has continued to check in on us postpartum, not because she had to, but because she genuinely cares. She captured precious photographs and created keepsakes that we will treasure forever, and she has remained someone very special to our family.

The entire experience felt deeply personal, empowering, calm, and genuinely magical, even when parts of the journey did not go exactly to plan. Kerry helped us feel informed, confident, and cared for every step of the way. We honestly cannot recommend her highly enough. Having her by our side was invaluable, and we will always be incredibly grateful for the role she played in bringing our daughter into the world and helping us create memories that we will cherish forever.

Jenny & Tom xxx