Doing a Couple of Session With a Yoga Therapist Helped Brooke During Her Home Birth

When did you realize you were really in labor?

Though this was my fourth birth, I found it surprisingly hard to finally determine with confidence that I was in labor. Contractions began at about 5:30 pm, but remained very manageable, pain free, short (30-45 seconds at longest) and erratic until about 9:45 pm. At 9:45 I actually got discouraged by the lack of consistent pattern, assumed it was a false start or prodromal labor, and put myself to bed! I even told my midwife and birth photographer that it seemed to be puttering out, so they could probably go to bed, too. But within minutes of getting into pajamas and into bed, they became much more intense and I could feel my baby moving down, so I had to text them both to head right over. Our midwife made it with just minutes to spare, without even having time to set up her tools. Maeve was born at 10:32 pm. Our birth photographer missed the birth by a few minutes.

What was the most challenging thing about going natural?

I got a little nervous when my body began involuntarily pushing. There had to be a moment of deciding that even though it would be very intense, I needed to choose to move through my resistance and cooperate with the surges, pushing along with my body. I had to remind myself that my perineum wouldn't "break." Haha. (And, in fact, I didn't tear at all).

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

I did a couple of session with a yoga therapist, who taught me some really beautiful conscious breathing techniques that I used in the weeks leading up to labor as well as during labor. I'm also an aspiring midwife and birth photographer, which means I've witnessed many empowered, fearless mamas give birth naturally. I think that being able to see that first hand over and over again has been incredibly helpful for giving me a positive perspective on birth. I joyfully anticipated the process of birth, and worked hard to clear out any and all fears surrounding it. Affirmations such as, "these surges aren't stronger than me; they ARE me" were very helpful during labor as well, and I said that out loud to myself several times.

What surprised you about your birth?

This was my fourth natural, home birth, and --don't hate me -- but it really was quite easy! I was surprised at how easy it was, and also by the weird labor pattern. Turns out weird labor patterns are really common for 4th and subsequent babies. It was also pretty pain-free. Intense, yes; Painful, no.

Get your head in the game. Filll you head with birth-positive thoughts, connect with women who have experienced physiologically normal births and garner their stories, watch youtube videos of natural birth, and banish the word pain from your vocabulary. Believe beautiful things about birth, and remember that you are part of a lineage of women throughout all of time and in every part of the world who have successfully birthed their babies naturally! You CAN do this.

What pain relief strategies worked best?

Deep breathing, consciously keeping hands and mouth relaxed, saying affirmations out loud to myself, distracting myself between contractions.

What position did you end up delivering in?

Hands and knees on my bed.

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

Amazing! My husband caught her this time, and then I got to turn around and scoop her up into my arms before laying back on the bed with her. She was so wet and slippery and fresh. She had a healthy cry. I had such a sense of relief and accomplishment and love and surprise.

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

Well, I actually wrote an entire handout about that. But I think my #1 piece of advice would be to get your head in the game. Filll you head with birth-positive thoughts, connect with women who have experienced physiologically normal births and garner their stories, watch youtube videos of natural birth, and banish the word pain from your vocabulary. Believe beautiful things about birth, and remember that you are part of a lineage of women throughout all of time and in every part of the world who have successfully birthed their babies naturally! You CAN do this.