Watching Home Birth Videos And A Lot Of Mental Work Helped Amanda Achieve Her First Home Birth

When did you realize you were really in labor?

I had been having prodromal labor for over a month, so I was concerned I wouldn't know when it was the real deal. My midwife assured me I would know I woke up that morning to painful contractions that were so different than the prodromal contractions I had been having. They were so intense and felt different. I knew as soon as I felt the first one that I was actually going into labor this time.

What was the most challenging thing about going natural?

For me, it was the waiting and the fear of the unknown. I had had two hospital births previously so I really didn't know what to expect with a home birth.

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

I watched every home birth video I could find and read everything I could. I did a lot of mental work to try to prepare.

What surprised you about your birth?

How fast and easy it was and how incredibly easy the recovery was. I was only in active labor for about three hours and only has to push once. I didn't tear like I did with my other kids so I felt back to normal within a week. Much different than my medicated births, which both took six weeks to recover from.

You can do anything for a minute at a time, and that's really what labor is until the end, and at that point, your body takes over.

What pain relief strategies worked best?

I stood or squatted for most of my contractions and swayed back and forth during each. I leaned over my birthing ball on the bed for the most intense contractions and squatting back onto my haunches helped during transition.

What position did you end up delivering in?

I thought I had to use the bathroom and didn't realize how close I was to delivery so I ended up having her standing up in front of the toilet being held up by my husband in our very tiny bathroom! He had wanted to catch her but my midwife ended up doing it since it happened so fast and all three of us barely fit in that tiny room!

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

As the picture shows, I was in shock! I didn't have any idea I was about to have her and thought I would be in labor much longer than I was. It was unreal that I had just done that and I just couldn't believe it. I kept saying "I just did that! I just had a baby in the bathroom!"

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

You CAN do it. Contractions aren't easy but they don't last forever and just keeping in mind that each one brings you closer to your baby makes it doable. You can do anything for a minute at a time, and that's really what labor is until the end, and at that point, your body takes over. If I hadn't done any prep work at all, my body would have still known what to do. It is so instinctual that there is no way to do it wrong. Our bodies truly were made for this.