In this deeply moving episode of Girly Pop Birth Talks, Becca and Arielle sit down with Amanda Vonderheid to share a raw, honest, and incredibly vulnerable birth journey one that holds both profound loss and enduring strength.
Amanda opens up about experiencing six pregnancies, including two living children, three chemical pregnancies, and one devastating stillbirth. She walks us through her three unplanned cesarean births, each one shaped by unique circumstances, medical complications, and emotional weight.
We talk about:
Planning a birth center birth that ended in a hospital transfer, Pitocin, and cesarean after PROM and positional challenges
Navigating preeclampsia at 39 weeks, induction, and the unimaginable discovery that her baby had passed away, followed by a cesarean and postpartum preeclampsia rehospitalization
Hoping for a VBAC after loss, only to face another cesarean due to cord complications and fetal intolerance of labor
The lasting impact of birth trauma and being treated poorly by medical providers
What it means to grieve, heal, and mother after loss
How these experiences reshape trust, advocacy, and the way we hold future pregnancies and births
This episode is tender, heavy, and incredibly important. Amanda’s story is a reminder that birth is not linear, that outcomes do not define worth, and that women deserve compassion, autonomy, and respect—always.
🤍 Content note: This episode includes discussion of pregnancy loss and stillbirth.
🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube
💗 If this episode resonates, please share it with someone who might feel less alone because of it.