On Monday, February 21, 2022 I woke up just like any other morning and thought to myself “another day pregnant!” After 2 membrane sweeps, this was so discouraging! But I was really thankful to know I was already 3cm dilated and 80% effaced. I went to my chiropractor appointment that morning and then had an ultrasound scheduled because I was 9 days overdue. It was 1pm when David and I were on our way to the ultrasound. I started noticing a pattern in my Braxton hicks but because this had happened a few times before and didn’t progress into active labor, I just ignored it. At the scan, we were told that everything was good and normal.
I was so hungry and I told David that we had to stop at a restaurant on the way home. As I got out of the car, I hesitated going in because my contractions were more noticeable. Hunger won and in we went! Towards the end of our meal, I started feeling like we should really head home.
We got home around 4pm and I could no longer ignore my contractions so I called my midwife. She said that she was certain that I was in early pre labor and reassured me to call her whenever I felt that I needed her. I texted my doula to let her know what was going on but That I didn’t need her just yet. David and I were doing things around the house and getting things ready (I wanted to vacuum the whole house, haha).
Around 5:30pm I told my doula to come because I could sense things would start picking up soon. I headed to our guest room to set up my essential oil diffuser and labor playlist I had made. When my doula arrived, we just chatted as I bounced on my exercise ball. I knew the contractions I was feeling were a new sensation I hadn’t felt before, but I still doubted I was in labor. My doula looked at me and said “Natasha, you’re in labor! You’re having this baby!” I told David he could call our family and let them know I was in labor.
Soon after, my contractions were strong enough that I had to focus on getting through them. It was a really calm and peaceful time of breathing through my contractions with music in the background and being supported by my husband and doula. Looking back, it was everything I hoped it would be.
Around 9:30pm my water broke and I knew that it would become a lot more painful. Sure enough, I was now in active labor. My doula called my midwife and she was on her way. At this point the contractions were pretty painful and I couldn’t wait to get into the birth pool.
At around 10:30/11pm, I got into the birth pool which made my contractions a lot more bearable. They almost went back to feeling the way they did before my water broke! At this point, I put in my headphones and listened to the Christian Hypnobirthing app. It really helped me to stay calm and tune into my body. With the room so quiet and my birth team watching me labor, I really liked closing my eyes and listening to the app. As my midwives like to say, I was in labor land!
My birth team was so supportive and made me feel comfortable. My midwives were attentive to both me and my unborn baby – checking her heartbeat every so often and feeding me popsicles. My doula was really on top of it and suggested ways to make me feel more comfortable and labor more effectively. And of course, my husband who never left my side from the moment I got into the pool (he had the job of setting it up) – a constant in lending a hand to squeeze, encouraging me when I needed it, offering water, and praying with me.
During labor, I remember thinking “hm, so this is why people want pain medications and feel that they need to be in a hospital!” But I never felt like I couldn’t go on, or it was too painful, or I needed to go to the hospital. I went into transition around 12am. I asked my midwives several times “am I in transition yet?!” To hear them say yes was music to my ears cause I knew I would be meeting my baby soon! I love that my midwives could tell how progressed I was by just watching me. Not once did they do a cervical check.
I started feeling the urge to push around 1:30am. I heard David joking around and saying “she might be born at 2:22!” Time passed and then he said “nah, we’re not gonna make it. Oh well!” I remember thinking “that’s too bad!!” It would have been cool for her birthday to be 2/22/22 at 2:22am! Even though it’s normal progression, I felt frustrated to feel her head almost crown and then go back in the canal. My midwives encouraged me to reach down and see if I could feel her head. I remember feeling her hair and being excited to meet her so soon! They also encouraged me try a different position and that’s when her head came out. At this point I felt so tired but knew that it was almost over.
Jacqueline Lee was born at 2:55am. As soon as she was born, they plopped her on my chest and I immediately felt so relieved! I cried when she cried and stared at her chubby cheeks and rolls on her arms and legs – she was so chunky! David and I spent the next few hours just gazing at our daughter – she was so awake and alert! Apparently all babies born in water without medications are this way!
I did have a minor hemorrhage, but my midwives were more than prepared with pitocin and methergine as well as fluids to manage the situation. I was so sure I would have a fourth degree tear (one of my biggest fears) since Jackie was almost 9 pounds, but to my surprise and God’s grace, I only had a first degree tear and a few cosmetic stitches. My team left around 7:30am after everything had been cleaned up, and I was fed and tucked into bed.
Overall, the home birth experience was a really good one. I was so impressed with the prenatal care I received from my midwives. They came to my house for every appointment and were more than capable with caring for me and my unborn baby. Any questions I had, I knew they were just a text or phone call away.
A year ago if you would have told me that I’d have an unmedicated home water birth, I wouldn’t have believed it!! After working in two local hospitals for more than five years, I was so alarmed by how many decisions are made out of convenience rather than what is best for the patient. How many decisions are made due to cookie cutter policies that are in place, rather than giving patients individualized care. An example of this is is that every baby born gets erythromycin ointment (antibiotics) in their eyes. Why? Because if mom has an STD, baby is at risk for becoming blind due to the STD. I wanted to have the medical independence to say no to a medication I know is unnecessary for my baby. Of course I could say no in the hospital setting, but would that effect the way I’d be cared for and treated?
The postpartum care from my midwives and doula was outstanding! My midwives came back the same day she was born to check up on us, as well as the day after, one week after, three weeks after and then six weeks after. I cried after every appointment because I loved them so much and didn’t want our appointments to come to an end.
The first two weeks had their challenges (mostly with breastfeeding) but I knew it was a hill I could climb because of all the support I had.
Of course, home births aren’t for everyone, but I am really excited to share my story because I know this is not the traditional way of doing things nowadays. I think that if you are healthy and low risk, a home birth is totally the way to go! You can ask anyone who knows me well, I am such a baby when it comes to pain – so if I’m able to do it, I think anyone who wants a home birth can do it too!
Any questions? Feel free to comment or reach out to me via email or instagram – I am more than happy to chat with you!
a simpler vida 