One mother's journey of healing, trust, and support

When Rileigh Lovato welcomed her first son, she was grateful for a healthy baby. But after an unplanned cesarean birth following 36 hours of labor, she found herself carrying lingering doubts about what future pregnancies might hold.

"As I processed my birth experience, a small voice in the back of my mind began planting seeds of doubt," Rileigh said. "Maybe I just made big babies. Maybe my pelvis was too small. Maybe a VBAC would never be possible for me."

For Rileigh, pursuing a VBAC, or vaginal birth after cesarean, wasn't simply about how she hoped to deliver her next baby.

"More than anything, I wanted my next pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum experience to be one of healing and redemption, regardless of the outcome," she said.

But before she became pregnant again, Rileigh knew she had work to do.

Preparing for a healthy future

"If I wanted a VBAC someday, I knew that journey couldn't begin when I became pregnant again," she said. "It had to begin long before that, with healing, education, and learning to believe that my previous birth did not define what future births could look like."

As she prepared for another pregnancy, Rileigh focused on rebuilding her confidence. She researched her options, listened to The VBAC Link podcast, read affirmations nightly and made a habit of asking questions. At every prenatal appointment with Jefferson Obstetrics & Gynecology providers, she asked the same question:

"How will you support my VBAC?"

The answers gave her confidence.

"What stood out most to me was that the team truly functioned as a team," she said. "There was alignment, consistency and a shared commitment to supporting my goals while prioritizing safety."

Those conversations helped her approach her next pregnancy from a place of hope rather than fear. At Jefferson Obstetrics & Gynecology, she felt that she was an active participant in decisions about her care, not simply someone receiving instructions. Providers took time to explain options, discuss risks and benefits, and ensure her voice remained part of the conversation.

Outside of prenatal care, Rileigh found another source of healing through Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital's Welcome to Motherhood and Toddler Time programs. There, she found connection with other mothers who were navigating many of the same joys and challenges of parenthood.

"These programs have become a healing resource for me," Rileigh said. "They have provided community, connection and support during a season of life that can often feel isolating. I genuinely do not think I would be where I am today without them."

Feeling supported and empowered

When labor began with her second child, Rileigh arrived at Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital carrying both excitement and uncertainty. But when she learned that familiar faces from her first birthing experience would be caring for her, she immediately felt reassured.

"I knew I was surrounded by people who believed in me," she said.

As labor continued, Rileigh reached milestones that carried deep personal meaning. By the time she arrived at the hospital, she had already progressed further than she had during her first labor, an accomplishment she described as both affirming and redemptive. After spending months wondering whether her body could accomplish what she hoped for, she began to realize that it already was.

"In that moment, something shifted," she said. "After spending so much of my pregnancy wondering if my body could do this, I suddenly realized that it already was."

Looking back, she believes the environment around her played an important role.

"I truly believe my body progressed the way it did because I felt safe, supported and cared for every step of the way."

Throughout labor, there were moments when another cesarean delivery seemed likely. Yet Rileigh said she never felt rushed, pressured or excluded from decisions about her care. Instead, she felt informed, respected and involved throughout the process. At Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital, she felt like an active participant in her birth experience, even when difficult decisions arose.

One moment stands out above all others.

Throughout the long hours of labor, her physician, Dr. Kraus, remained a steady presence, helping Rileigh navigate difficult decisions while continuing to support her goals. After one assessment, he shared encouraging news: she could keep going. For Rileigh, it wasn't simply the decision itself that mattered. It was what the moment represented.

"What stood out most was not just that I trusted him; it was that he trusted me, too," she said. "He trusted my intuition, listened to my concerns and believed in my ability to birth my baby safely."

Looking back, Rileigh says that trust extended far beyond a single provider. She remembers nurses who reassured her when challenges arose, caregivers who honored the wishes outlined in her birth plan and a team that never lost sight of what mattered most to her.

"This was my birth, and my team never forgot that."

Ultimately, Rileigh achieved the VBAC she had hoped for. But she says the experience meant far more than how her baby was born.

The journey to owning her strength

"Having a VBAC changed how I viewed my body's capabilities," she said. "It gave me the opportunity to trust my body in a way I hadn't before."

Emotionally, it helped her see her first birth experience through a different lens.

"What I once carried as heaviness became part of a larger story of resilience and redemption."

While her VBAC became an important part of her personal healing journey, Rileigh emphasizes that every birth experience is unique and meaningful. For her, the most important outcome was feeling informed, supported and respected in the decisions she made alongside her care team. Whether families choose a VBAC or a repeat cesarean birth, she believes those decisions should be guided by each person's goals, needs and circumstances.

Today, she hopes sharing her story encourages other mothers to ask questions, advocate for themselves, and know they do not have to navigate pregnancy, birth or recovery alone.

"More than anything, my experience reminded me that I am capable of doing hard things and that my voice, choices and goals matter."

For Rileigh, the most meaningful part of her journey wasn't a specific procedure or outcome. It was learning to trust herself again because she was surrounded by people who listened, respected her goals and walked alongside her through one of the most significant experiences of her life. From the guidance she received at Jefferson Obstetrics & Gynecology, to the community she found through support programs, to the care she experienced in the Family Birthing Center at Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital, each part of that journey helped transform doubt into confidence.

"Having a team that believed in me helped me believe in myself," she said. "One of the most valuable things I learned is that you do not have to navigate your birth story, recovery or future goals alone. There are people ready to walk alongside you every step of the way."