My Birth story (assisted birth at home)

If you’re on the fence for a home birth, this is your sign to go for it! This was the most amazing experience of my life. I am so blessed that it worked out the way it did! I started having light contractions at 12am on Wednesday the 20th that lasted though the whole night, so I didn’t get a ton of sleep. At 6am I felt mucus trickle down my leg. I was up for the day at this point. I spent the day getting groceries and other things needed for the birth, baby and postpartum time. The contractions were close together then began to spread apart. At 5pm I started using the breast pump to release oxytocin. This made contractions so intense, after the first 45 mins the contractions lightened when I took it off. But once I did it again they stuck around. They came about 5 mins apart for the remainder of my labor, with some breaks. I tried to get some sleep which I was able to but I got woken up every contraction. At 6am I got checked and was 3-4cm, I was having a hard time at this point, I knew I still had a while to go but made me feel relieved that I was close to 5cm. I got checked again at 10am and was 5-6cm. Jerrod was the best support in the world giving me counter pressure at literally every contraction for 12 hours. At 2:15 my midwife arrived and I was 9cm, I FaceTimed my best friend    I progressed a little slow but In the 5 o’clock hour my body was starting to push. The cervix was still a little in the way so my midwife helped me by holding the cervix and me pushing. It stuck and so I was fully dilated. I began to push. My water wasn’t breaking so we did break my water but it took barely any effort. So probably would have broke soon on its own. Pushing was so beautiful. I was able to feel her head the whole time which was so helpful to know exactly how my pushes were helping the progress or not. Pushing was honestly such a relief and the easiest part. My husband was holding my head and I was floating in the water during every push. At 6:10 baby Azariah was born 6 lbs 10oz her umbilical cord was wrapped 2x around her neck but she was breathing fine and we quickly got it unwrapped. I’m so so thankful and blessed to have the most supporting man in the world by my side the whole time. He held me, researched positions, and helped me with everything I needed. My mom/doula was also so helpful keeping me hydrated and fed! I loved my birth and am so happy. She’s already a month old and I love being a mama to my gorgeous girl!❤️

I’m editing to add this now at 16 months postpartum and 31 weeks pregnant with baby number 2. I have now taken a deep dive into physiological, unassisted, undisturbed birth.

babes first latch! She was interested in feeding right away! (It was so beautiful to have my siblings there the whole time)

Me getting out of the birth pool, you can definitely tell I’m tired in my face.