My Third Birth

My daughters were turning four and five when we found out we were expecting our third. I knew immediately that I wanted to have a homebirth this time. I had begun attending births and had witnessed many things in the hospitals that made me uneasy.

I was also more confident and had much more education in birthing and breastfeeding by this point. We bought a home near the white mountains of New Hampshire this past summer and I found a wonderful team of homebirth midwives. The home-based prenatal appointments were wonderful, so much warmer, and more intimate than the prenatal appointments at the OB/GYN offices. My pregnancy was healthy, and I ate better than ever. We were living in an area surrounded by organic farms. I feasted on pastured meat, local dairy and organic vegetables. I swam in the rivers almost daily throughout that hot and humid summer. I hiked frequently and chased after my daughters. It was the most beautiful fall weather, and as I entered my third trimester. I stayed very active and busy taking care of my girls. I practiced Dancing For Birth techniques in my second and third trimesters. I also had regular chiropractic care for much of my second and third trimesters. At 40 weeks and 5 days, I went in for an acupuncture session in the late afternoon. Very mild surges started shortly after, and they gradually progressed. My daughters and husband were there with me while I labored at home. I took a hot shower, rubbed my belly, and I told my baby that we would have a quick and healthy birth.

My midwives and birth photographer/doula arrived. My labor was progressing quickly. My daughters took out their toy doctor kit and were checking the baby’s heart rate. I was laughing- it was so sweet. I really focused on my breathing and facial relaxation during my surges, and I laughed and talked and walked in between surges. I labored in the birthing tub while I was nearing completion (transition) and used a vibrator in the tub for clitoral stimulation during the most powerful surges. I did not have any cervical checks during this labor. I suddenly had a strong urge to be upright, and I climbed out of the tub as my labor hit peak intensity. I walked through the kitchen and immediately felt that my son was coming quickly. I leaned forward on the kitchen counter in a standing/squat position, and it felt so good to surrender to the urge to bear down. As I breathed my son down and out, there was such a release and an overwhelming, satisfying sensation as he emerged. I remember roaring and crying out in that moment. It was primal, intense and surreal.

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I realize how blessed I am to have birthed three healthy babies without need for pain medications, medical interventions, or stitches. Feeling my warm newborn babies resting skin-to-skin against my belly and breasts has been the greatest high of my life.

For all three of my births, I had a strong support team (my husband, doula, and midwives, and my daughters for baby # 3!). I had prepared my body physically through exercise and good nutrition and had also prepared myself emotionally and spiritually.

I utilized relaxation techniques, self-hypnosis, guided meditations, positive affirmations, breathing techniques, movement, dancing, humor, self-stimulation, and intimacy throughout my labors. I truly believe in the power of HypnoBirthing, and I believe that my positive birth experiences are a testament to the deep connection between mind and body.

I am grateful to have experienced both hospital birth and home birth and can see the stark differences between them. I found the postpartum time to be much more relaxing and restful in my own home. I felt so supported, valued, loved, honored, respected, and cared for by my homebirth midwives. This was a feeling, an experience, that had been significantly lacking in my hospital birth experiences.

I believe I was able to avoid unnecessary medical interventions and pressure from hospital staff in my first two births due to the fast progression of my labors. I have often witnessed healthy birthing women being rushed and/or pressured into interventions by hospital-based providers, especially when labor has slowed or is taking it’s time (which labor often does naturally).

I truly believe that home birth is an excellent (and proven to be a very safe) choice for healthy birthing women who are looking for a comfortable, intimate birthing experience while avoiding unnecessary medical interventions and/or potential pressure/stress from hospital policies and practices.

I am pleased to support families who are planning to birth at home, hospital, or birthing center.