My Planned Home Birth

It?s been a while since I've posted around here but I wanted to share some positive news since it seems as though we're constantly bombarded with all things negative! So here goes a very short version of my home birth story.

Everly Mae was born at 1:09AM on October 20th (the day before MY birthday!). Just 18 hours earlier I had been startled awake by my water breaking. Unfortunately yes, I was in bed so my morning was spent cleaning up that lovely mess, but it was a hurry up and wait situation because I was having very mild almost nonexistent contractions. Nothing to get very excited about. I called my midwife and doula just to let them know that sometime that weekend we would be having this baby! I also called my office to let them know I wouldn't be there. Then I continued with my normal schedule. I had a haircut planned for that afternoon but wasn't sure if I should go or not. By the time my appointment rolled around I was still feeling pretty great so I went ahead and got my hair cut as planned. Once I got back home I had plenty of time to kill so I took a nap and crocheted a hat while I watched a movie. It was a fantastic day off! That evening around 10 pm my labor picked up at which point I called my doula and asked that she head over. Can I just say again how AWESOME doula's are? She was so helpful to me. We had a great time just chatting and relaxing in-between contractions, then the moment a contraction would set in she got busy timing and would rub, coach, calm, whatever I needed her to do she was right there! So worth the money (and friendship). Also, if you don't have a birthing ball - GET ONE! That helped me SO much. I imagine I'm not the only one who says so. My contractions were irregular so we figured not much was going on because I was still feeling pretty great for the most part. They would be 5 min apart, then 7, then 3 in a row, they were really all over the place so we were waiting and watching to see what was going to happen. All of a sudden, really out of nowhere, I felt the baby's head move down. Clearly I had made it through transition and that?s when things really sped up. I felt pressure and my body had the urge to push right away but couldn't... we hadn't even called my midwife yet. My doula called my midwife right away and told her to get there immediately. In the next 15 minutes we filled the tub, got my dress off, got me into the tub, my midwife arrived, unpacked and  she wasn?t there for five minutes before Everly was born. She was out in just 3 contractions. I say contractions, because I literally did not "PUSH" this baby out. The contractions did 100% of the work for me. It was quite amazing. I had read about this before, but it was a very different sensation than the drugged epidural version of "pushing" on your back in a hospital. Night & day difference. I ended up with just a mild 1st degree tear and a beautiful baby that I pulled up and out of the water by myself. God is good! It was so exciting and quite healing to go through this experience after a terrible birth in a hospital. I am so grateful that I had access to care providers who would attend my home birth and help me do this safely.

For those of you that are getting ready for a natural birth (or home birth) I say: ?Girls, you can do this!? Natural birth is the way to go. Hands down IMO. Bonding and breastfeeding went great. I had no PPD and I?m sure the encapsulation that we did had something to do with that as well. Thanks for letting me share. I wish someone would have shared their uplifting stories with ME when I was pregnant with my first. I might have avoided a traumatic experience had I prepared a little better and had a little more confidence in myself and my body.

Good luck to you all & happy birthing! 

ETA: I didn't think to mention in my original post, but Everly had an immediate serene disposition. When she was born, it was amazing how calm yet alert she was! She didn't let out her first cry until she was several hours old. She coughed once or twice to clear her throat but she was mostly silent just takint it all in. I just loved that part. No screaming, crying, terrified baby being rubbed & jostled all over the place. She felt safe & secure from minute one. Very happy!