@daniellejmitchell: I remember the moment I found out I was going to have to give birth to my sleeping baby, I was planning a vaginal birth after a traumatic C-section with my first, I had been cleared by my therapist to mentally be able to handle a vaginal birth after the trauma of my first, but was waiting for the doctors clearance to be physically fit for a vaginal birth, it was that same doctors appointment where we found out we needed to be referred to fetal medicine, because her organs were growing on the outside of her body, they said you won’t be able to have your vbac if her organs are on the outside of her body, it was much worse, she ended up not being compatible with life, we made the decision to terminate for medical reasons at 26 weeks pregnant, and I remember when that doctor told me, that a vaginal birth, is the only option to have, that they don’t do a C-section unless it is an emergency, with no life of the baby the risks are too high for the mum, and will affect future pregnancies. I was terrified, there was absolutely no way that I thought I could go through with a vaginal birth of a sleeping baby, but then after time progressed, and I unpacked it in therapy, the outcome of death had already happened, and we were already grieving. The things that are so scary about labour and vaginal birth for me is the unknown, but we already knew, and no matter what happened that outcome couldn’t change. Mums that haven’t experienced a termination for medical reasons at late term pregnancy won’t understand how I can say that it was such a peaceful experience, and I too couldn’t understand other women who walked before me that said it was one of the peaceful births that they had. But now I’m on the other side of that and I can wholeheartedly say, that the fear that you have, thinking about potentially needing to birth a sleeping baby is so valid, but you can do it, you are so incredibly strong, and so is your body, birthing our Maggie Jean, and getting that VBAC that I always wanted (just not the same outcome) was such an amazing experience, getting to meet her and hold her, was exactly what it needed to be for me, peaceful. It’s going to be hard, and the next few weeks after are really rough, but you will do it, and you will meet a whole new version of yourself. If I could go back in time and pick a C-section for vaginal birth, I’d pick the vaginal birth every time.

Danielle Mitchell

Open In TikTok:

Region: AU

Monday 27 July 2026 04:57:38 GMT