Keeping Herself Active And Making Her Home A Peaceful Place For Birthing Helped Amy Achieve Her Second Natural Home Birth

When did you realize you were really in labor?

I felt a small trickle of fluid in the early morning and ran to the bathroom to see if I was peeing myself. Contractions began in the next hour so I realized my water was slowly breaking.

What was the most challenging thing about going natural?

This was my second all natural labor and birth and I was fearful of repeating the pain a second time around but when the intense contractions came I was actually able to mentally handle them better knowing that the stronger the contraction the more I was progressing to finally get this baby out.

What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?

I kept myself active in work out classes until about month 7 and then my active toddler kept me on my feet until the very end. I felt strong and energized when it was time for birth. I also made sure our home was a peaceful place that I would enjoy laboring and birthing in and kept it as tidy as possible in the final weeks. It was such a comfort to not have to leave my house and actually enjoy labor (at least most of it) in my own environment.

What surprised you about your birth?

The final stage of pushing was actually harder than I expected. I anticipated an easier Stage 2 being my second child but his head was not aligned properly so my midwife guided me into different laboring positions to help him exit. It turned out that his hand was on his head tilting it to the side which explained the complications. I was relieved to have a knowledgeable midwife and grateful I was able to move naturally to readjust his position for a natural birth (which may not have been the case with an epidural and may have resulted in a c-section). A woman’s body is amazing and capable of so much which I learned through this challenging finale.

You can do it! I think so many women fear the pain and opt for quick intervention but you will surprise yourself at the strength of your mind and body. It’s an empowering experience to feel all that comes with labor and finally hold your child knowing in your arms after the hard work is over.

What pain relief strategies worked best?

Standing and leaning into my husband during each contraction was the most comfortable for me. I also knelt on the stairs during some on all fours which helped. I also kept myself busy and distracted between contractions cleaning, and baking bread and cookies during labor, another perk of home birth!

How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?

Incredible! I remember crying tears of joy and relief to finally have him on the other side, especially after a grueling stage of pushing and having anxiety that he was “stuck.”

What did you name your baby, and why?

Well, we didn’t know the sex until birth and had no clue what we would name a boy if we had one. We tried out many names every few hours hoping one would click for four days. One name that made it to the finals was Jonah after researching names that means “peace.” He has the calmest and peaceful demeanor, and Jonah means, “dove, or peaceful being.” There were other scenarios that took place that confirmed this name was fitting for him so we kept it. His middle name is Linden, the name of the trees that line our street in Washington, D.C. and overlook our home peaking into our bedroom window where he was born.

What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?

You can do it! I think so many women fear the pain and opt for quick intervention but you will surprise yourself at the strength of your mind and body. It’s an empowering experience to feel all that comes with labor and finally hold your child knowing in your arms after the hard work is over.