Our First Homebirth

Our homebirth

I am beyond thankful we chose to do a homebirth and the team of people that were there with us.

Our amazing midwife Ohio Midwife

And her team.

Photos done by Whitney Denson Photography

On Wednesday I received a text from my midwife asking if we were ready to have this baby!

And of course we were, I was 39 weeks and 3 days, and 5cm dilated for the past 2 weeks. Earlier in the pregnancy I had to go on modified bedrest at 32 weeks because baby girl was low and I was 3cm dilated at that time having some preterm labor signs. We all did some hard praying to keep her in until at least 37 weeks, and she got the message to stay cozy.

So, back to Wednesday...at that point a bulging bag of water was probably what was keeping labor from progressing.

In the meantime while waiting for for her arrival, I started cleaning up a few last minute things and packed the kids bags to go stay at my parents house. The whole time I kept thinking, “This is it, she is going to be here so soon, and I'm about to experience my first unmedicated birth!!!” Excited and nervous and definitely sweaty Zach took the kids and got some food to fuel us to get through this labor. We got outback to go, I had a few bites of steak, salad and of course the bread. Drank lots of water and electrolyte drinks to stay hydrated.

Around 8pm my midwife arrived at our home and at 8:45 she broke my water.

We started to do abdominal lifts to try and get her to turn from posterior to anterior.

That's when contractions started, each one getting progressively worse. It was amazing to walk around the room, and get into positions that made the contractions manageable.

Then one trip to the bathroom, and things started to feel intense, Zachs face said it all.. hurry up and pee, get off this toilet because we are not having a baby in here.

I wanted to be checked to see where we were at, 8cm dilated, a few more contractions and I could tell she was coming. I was able to get in to the birthing pool right in time with just enough water to sit in. The water was so nice to get in at that moment and somewhat relax in order to continue. Not long after getting into the water I began to push. Baby girl's head was crowning and facing upwards. She then went back into the birth canal, which shocked me, (thankful again for my midwife Emily and her calming voice and reassurance) she then turned herself in the canal and started kicking, the next contraction she emerged posterior and cord wrapped around her shoulders and neck, which our amazing midwife was able to calmly untangle her from her cord and Zach was able to catch her and bring her up out of the water and place her on my chest. Instant relief, instant happiness and I felt so empowered. I just cried and kept saying "I DID IT!" I sat in the pool for awhile while admiring my beautiful baby girl and nursed her for the first time. She was born at 10:45 exactly 2 hours after my water was broken.

We waited about an hour and my placenta still wasn't delivered, we then decided to cut the cord so Zach could take her and I could get out of the pool, and an hour after she was born it, the placenta was delivered.

It was amazing to go right from the pool next to our bed to get into our own bed, hold our baby girl and relax in the comfort of our bedroom. The team quietly and quickly cleaned everything up like it was never in our room.

A little while later after she was done nursing our midwife was able to examine her and she was 8lb 3oz and 21.5" long and very healthy. Our biggest baby and the only time I have not had to receive stitches.

Being able to have a successful homebirth was an incredible experience and I would definitely do it again. I honestly wish we would have explored this option with our other pregnancies. I felt so much power, to be able to go deep inside myself and birth our baby. It was beautiful.