Prenatal Yoga, Healthy Diet And Staying Healthy Helped Jennifer Achieve Home Birth

When did you realize you were really in labor?

After weeks of prodromal labor and an irritable uterus, I knew it was the start of legitimate labor when I woke to a bit of bloody show when I wiped. Contractions were present, about 7 minutes apart consistently, but very mild. As the day progressed, they didn't really intensify or speed up, but they didn't wane or calm down at all. I knew that would be the night, so I continued with my normal day and let my body prepare as it needed.

What was the most challenging thing about going natural?

The most challenging thing, for me, was surrendering. Before laboring, it was trusting my body, and finding the strength to believe that my body knew what it was doing, that I didn't need to help it, encourage it, or micromanage it. During labor, it was completely letting go and trusting that my body knew exactly what it was doing. We live in a society where micromanaging labor, knowing every detail of every change happening, monitoring every medical aspect of the process is so normal. It was a strange thing to move past that cognitive dissonance and to completely surrender to the labor and delivery my body knew it needed, and to trust that I didn't have to control the process.

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

I think that the most helpful thing I did to prepare was to simply stay healthy. I attended weekly prenatal yoga when I was able, did yoga from home, stayed active chasing around my two other kids, and strived for a healthy diet. Beyond that, I completely trusted my body to lead the process, to grow the perfect baby, and to birth as it needed.

What surprised you about your birth?

I was surprised by how quickly things progressed once serious active labor began. I was surprised by how instinctual it all was, without a birth professional present. Without a more knowledgeable person present, my motherly instinct took over so much of the process. I moved as I needed to, I changed position as my body told me I needed. I followed my instinct through the whole delivery. When his head was out and I could tell his shoulders were big, my body instinctively changed positions to allow his shoulders to emerge. Everything was so unmanaged and unmonitored that my body was allowed the opportunity to take the lead and do what it needed.

Stay out of hospital if medically possible.. Home is where you're comfortable, home is safe, and home is the place your body will labor its best.

What pain relief strategies worked best?

I absolutely loved the tub for early active labor. The warmth surrounding my back and lower belly took so much of the discomfort away. As transition hit, I just needed counter-pressure on my lower back, and physical support to stand through each surge that came.

What position did you end up delivering in?

I had planned to delivery on all 4s or squatting, but in the moment, my body instinctively sat and leaned back a bit. I ended up in a semisquat as his shoulders emerged, with my right knee up.

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

It felt incredible, empowering to know I had done it all on my own, overwhelming to feel the love that I had been waiting for, exciting to see that we had another BOY (apparently I was the only one surprised by this!), and grounding to know that I had done it, the hardest part was over, and I would now get to enjoy loving my baby from the outside for the rest of my life.

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

Have a good support team! Hire a doula, prepare your partner or other support people for what is NORMAL in natural birth, and how they can help you work through things. Stay out of hospital if medically possible.. Home is where you're comfortable, home is safe, and home is the place your body will labor its best.