My Home Birth Story

The day before: August 11th- Baby girl’s due date. Mark and I spent the day together. We went to the pool where I got lots of exercise by walking around the pool and doing stretches. That night we had burgers and hotdogs, I made a large cup of red raspberry leaf tea with magnesium, and we ate cake while watching ‘Is It Cake?’ To celebrate her due date day. We went to bed that night thinking we could still have another week of waiting.

August 12th- Everly Joy’s birth-day

At 1:30am, my water breaks. I was in bed asleep when all the sudden I was woken up with a gush of water! I shook Mark awake to let him know my water broke, and he jumped up ready to get things started. When I finally had a pause in the water, I rushed to the bathroom to sit on the toilet. I texted my chiropractor, Dr. Storm, my midwives at Modern Village, and my family to let everyone know that labor was starting! Mark took care of a few things around the apartment as I began to experience contractions, which at this point felt like period cramps. This stage is “early labor.” I attempted to go back to sleep, but lying down made the contractions feel worse. So I got up and decided to take a hot shower. This felt so great to have the hot water on my back. My hips are what felt the worst with the contractions. After the shower, I sat on my exercise ball, bouncing and rocking while I laid against the side of the couch. During this I was able to get some rest. I believe “active labor” started at this time as my contractions were already less than 4 minutes apart. I have been in consistent touch with my midwives, tracking my contraction times as well, and they recommended I do the miles circuit to help labor progress. During this process, I would repeat to myself “God designed me to do this. My body is made to do this. I’m closer to meeting my baby.” These affirmations kept me mentally and emotionally strong to press through each contraction.

Around 11:45am, my parents came and brought us lunch, and Dr. Storm came by to adjust me. At this point, I began to have low moans with my contractions, which had now intensified. Making noise with them helped me work through them. Mark began to help by applying counterpressure to my hips- which was one of the most relieving techniques throughout labor. I had him do this with pretty much every contraction- all which lasted around 1 minute and were already roughly 2-4 minutes apart. These times encouraged me that labor was progressing fairly quickly.

At 12:15pm, Elizabeth from Modern Village came over to check on how I was doing. I agreed to a cervical check to see how far along I was as well. She was very pleased to see I was at 4cm dilation already! Labor was progressing smoothly. Because it was still a bit early, Elizabeth left but only for about two hours. At this time I got back in the shower to labor more there. This felt similarly relieving as counterpressure did, so the shower gave Mark a breather.

At 2:05pm, contractions had gotten much more intense. I was unable to speak through them, but was still aware of my surroundings and able to communicate during the breaks. Throughout labor, I never experienced “labor land.” I had Elizabeth return. We did another cervical check- and I had already progressed to 6cm dilated! I stayed on the bed at this point, with Elizabeth doing counterpressure on my hips as Mark prepared the birth pool. I believe this is when I went into “transition”- which was a whole different experience than just contractions. What before felt like consistent waves, now I felt like I was actively working to get baby out. This beginning stage of pushing was really my body pushing on its own- it felt involuntary, and I knew I had to surrender to this stage and that my job was to ensure my body had the energy to do its job. This meant keeping in control of my breathing and vocals. Low moans became low grunts, and often holding my breath to put all the energy into the contraction.

It’s hard to describe contractions as painful. While very intense, I really would describe them as pressure, and not pain. It’s hard to truly describe the experience, and it’s getting easier to forget the feeling as the days pass.

Around 3-4pm I moved closer to the birth pool as it was almost ready for me. I began to labor on the toilet, which allowed me to really let go and allow my body to keep doing the work of pushing baby down. Mark was behind me, doing more counterpressure and speaking words of encouragement to me. I made a joke between one of my contractions, asking him if he were getting a workout from the constant pressing on my hips. I expected him to say no but he just nodded and sighed “yeah.” Which made me laugh. This is when I changed into my laboring dress, which was just a tube top dress I got to wear in the water. Finally the pool was ready, and I got in. Later I found out that I progressed so quickly I was almost unable to get into the pool because it wasn’t ready! Getting in the pool felt incredible- such a relief of weight and a relief of pressure. Mark got in the pool with me to continue the counterpressure. I’ve never heard myself make the sounds I did during the pushing stage. I felt like a warrior woman- and I mean that seriously! This was actually another distraction that kept me going – I was in disbelief that I was actually doing this! I felt so empowered and overwhelmed with a sense of pride and blessing that I was living out such a beautiful part of God’s design for women. The midwives would check baby’s heart beat a few times during this process, and each time it was strong and healthy.

In the pool, I was on my knees with my arms over the sides. I would hold the handle of the pool with the contractions, and now I was truly pushing as my body did to get baby out. I was very ready for her arrival- and with each push I focused strongly on getting her out. The pool was in her nursery where I had hung affirmations across her crib. During contractions and in between I would read them in my mind, emphasizing words like SAFE, PEACE, and phrases like “Closer to baby,” “my body is made for this” and “no fear.” My husband and midwives continued their words of encouragement as the pushing became longer and stronger. The hardest part in this stage was when the push would last so long I felt I couldn’t breathe. It would then release, I’d catch my breath and read the affirmation, and I’d push again thinking and knowing each push was bringing me closer to meeting her. Soon Elizabeth told me her head was peaking out, and I was able to reach down and feel her crowning. Not long after this her head came out and her body right after!

4:29pm, Everly Joy was born. As baby came out into the pool, Elizabeth caught her and pushed her forward where I was able to reach down and pull her out of the water, and place her on my chest. This feeling was more special than I could ever fully explain. What was great intensity was now great peace and joy. The pressure was gone and I was filled with so much love. I could hear Mark’s joy and he continued to speak words of love and encouragement. As I was bringing her out of the water, we looked at each other and she smiled before taking that first breath and sweet cry. After placing her on my chest, we got up quickly and out of the pool where I laid down. I was bleeding more than what they would’ve liked to see, so it was imperative they find the reason and what was going on. No matter what it was, I was simply loving laying with baby on my chest, laughing and holding her close.

The complications found were that on her arrival, she had a hand beside her face. This caused a tear that they were unable to fully know just how bad it was. Her cord also had torn somewhere upon delivery while it was still in the water. The midwives helped get the nutrients they could to baby before fully clipping her cord. While laying beside the pool, I birthed the placenta. Baby was bigger than any of us expected, and the midwives found that my placenta appeared more mature, creating speculation that I was actually at 41 weeks gestation and not 40.1. 

After assessing everything and ensuring my bleeding was controlled, they helped me up and to the bedroom where I laid on the bed as baby was checked. Mark helped weigh her: 8lbs 9oz. Then they took measurements: she was 20 3/4” long. And of course got her footprints!

I was then helped to the restroom, got dressed, and we headed to the hospital to get my stitches. Thankfully my tear ended up a severe 2nd degree and didn’t go to 3rd! We stayed one night in the hospital and left the next morning.

Overall, I had a 15 hour labor with 1 hour of pushing.

—

I am so thankful to have experienced a homebirth. I could feel the Lord’s presence with me the whole day. I had a joy I can’t describe. I’m blessed to have a husband so encouraging. I’m thankful for my midwives who I plan on using for all future babies!

To anyone considering an at home water birth, I’m here to say, do it!! Yes it’s intense but to experience that switch flip when baby is born is so so special. It’s incredible to go from high intense pressure to complete relief and joy when baby is in your hands and on your chest. That’s a feeling I never want to forget!