My First Home Birth Experience
I have been wanting to do this post, but am just finally getting around to it!!! So if you have followed my journey at all, I have shared that I was going to have my first HOME BIRTH experience! It had nothing to do with my OB doctors because I truly did like them a lot! But I really wanted this for the experience.. a peaceful environment, my kids around to be a part of the birth, no pain medication, and to walk and eat even going through the stages of labor!
Sound crazy?? It may, but now that I have actually experienced it, it was the BEST decision I could have made for us! I know not all births go smooth and home births are not for everyone as medical issues and complications can arise, but I was healthy, had no complications, and felt it was right for us… so we did it!
My due date initially was December 21st. At 36 weeks, we realized (my friend, midwife, and I) that based on my date of conception, my real due date was Dec 9th! This picture was the day before Josiah came!! My boys, myself, and my husband went to church, then a trip to the mall to see Santa!
The start of my laboring
On Sunday, I was having small contractions all day long, and Monday morning came and my contractions were getting more closer and more regular! I was 3 cm the past week and 60% effaced so I was curious to see if my body was progressing.. since both my previous births, I was induced at 1 cm. My midwife came and I was 4 cm and we decided Monday was the day!! So my hubby and I did tons of walking and moving to keep things progressing!
My birth plan was all laid out… I had a perfect plan, knowing that there was potential for that plan not to happen… I knew there were chances of complications, so of course, car seat was in car and hospital bag was packed for precaution.
My birth plan– I watched videos, did lessons, and read books on hypo birthing and water births. I learned that I could “breathe the baby out”. People laugh when I say that, but I had all intentions of doing so.
I learned how to relax every muscle in my body and I had birth affirmations hung up in my bathroom around my tub that were bible verses that my kids wrote for me. The affirmations were a way of reminding myself of my beautiful kids I already have, and that when I am struggling and in pain, God is my strength and can take away my fears and pain.
My vision had candles around my tub with my flowers that my husband and I got on our wedding day from my sister in laws. I also had my Christian playlist on Amazon music so it takes out the commercials and plays all my favorite songs that are positive and relaxing to me.
I made it to 9 cm like a champ! I was able to walk around, eat and drink, and it really did help me focus on other things than just the pain and contractions. I never in a million years though I would be able to tolerate my body at 9 cm … I mean I remember screaming for an epidural with my first child at 4 cm! So this was a HUGE step for me!
Having a home birth with older kids- what do they do while you are in labor?!
My kids came home from school when I hit 9.5 cm.. and I thought for sure they were going to miss it, but then things started to slow down a bit. The labor continued….kids played like a normal day… I had a very good friend of mine here with me who know my kids well and she did such a fantastic job at keeping them busy, along with my husband helping and making sure they were cared for! The boys came in the room here and there and we talked a good bit, ate, and then got ready for bed.
There were moments of being extremely uncomfortable, so I would get back in the pool, focus on my affirmations, breathing, relaxing my muscles throughout my body, and my husband was by my side the entire time.. praying over me and Josiah.
Having a Midwife
My midwife was absolutely amazing. She wasn’t just there to pop in and check me and leave again like in a hospital… this is not putting OB doctors down… let’s face it, they have more than one patient at a time and do not have time to stay with one patient! But my midwife was so calm, loving, and empathetic! She also brought another midwife with her so we had extra hands and help if need be which made me feel even better about the experience!
When I made it to 9.5 cm and my contractions started slowing down, we realized Josiah was not moving down at all.. 3 hours later, after doses of Pitocin, I FINALLY made it to 10 cm, but my body still wasn’t doing what it needed. So I did some pushing to help Josiah move down the birth canal. I ended up pushing for 2 hours.
I think the hardest part of this experience is that I had a really bad cough so every time I was told to take a deep breath to push, I would start having coughing spells which prolonged my ability to push down and out. Painful, exhausting, but worth it.
Then this little miracle arrived!!! Although my delivery didn’t happen in the tub like I thought, I still had my home birth and unmedicated that I wanted! I delivered Josiah in squatting position (I am telling you, my practice with squatting totally paid off because my form was pretty good)! The pain of his head coming out was indescribable… then his shoulders… but that 10 seconds of the most severe pain ever experienced brought us together!!
Who knew you had to birth another baby after the one in your belly…. ya know, the placenta?!? Oh my word.. I thought it was going to be easy… but my placenta was stuck!!! My pelvic floor was extremely tight… maybe from a lot of exercise?? But it was intense.
I had to push for an extra 1 hr and 25 minutes just to get that sucker out!!! I was getting nervous because my midwife was trying as much as possible to get it off without causing any extra bleeding, but it was not budging! Finally, after the 1 hour 25 min, it came out and I could be with my baby boy!!
The next morning comes and its time for the boys to wake up… because of course only my kids sleep through a mother in labor 20 minutes after falling asleep!
Our boys were THRILLED to see their new baby brother!!! We have all just been wondering what this little man looks like!!
This was a reaction to having a new baby bro!!! My youngest Weston who is 5, was pretty in love on the moment he put his eyes on him! He even wanted to give away his brothers Elly blanky to his new brother lol!!
Chase who is our 6 year old, was so proud!!! He wanted to hold him instantly!!! He was so gentle and his loving personality came out and it was just amazing to see!
This is one proud mommy right here with her boys!!! Each of them have such a special place in my heart!! We are so blessed!
Daddy got the first smile!! And it was the cutest moment ever .. caught right on camera!! I love watching daddy bond with our new baby boy!! As a blended family, Josiah makes 6 kids total! So seeing him first hand with OUR child together, and as a newborn, is pretty amazing!
Since I work from home, 2 days later I may have been on a call with the leaders on our team! And Josiah made his special appearance to say hi! I am so thankful to have a business where I work from home and do not have to leave him! I started my fitness business 5 years ago after my 5 year old, so I always went back to being an ER nurse which was my career prior to my fitness business… and I hated to have to leave my kids.
Josiah is our first that I will be home with from the very beginning!! Now let’s hope I can apply my time management skills and put them to good use!!
This whole home birth experience was such a different, but amazing and memorable experience!! I would not have changed a thing and I am so glad I followed my instincts and what I truly wanted, despite being nervous about the pain and outcome. I knew in my heart if I trust and believe, then all things work out for good!