Hiring Her Private Midwife Helped Jade Feel Supported And Confident During Her Twin Hospital Birth

When did you realize you were really in labor?

I had held onto my baby twins up until 40 weeks and 3 days. When my water broke in the middle of the night I didn’t even call my midwife because I couldn’t believe it wasn’t another false alarm! My contractions didn’t start until a day later so you can see where my doubts lied!

What was the most challenging thing about going natural?

I was so excited to birth my babies, so it wasn’t going natural that was challenging it was having to defend my choices to everyone who believed birthing twins vaginally was dangerous. This was despite having a private midwife and experienced OB who fully supported me.

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

Hiring my private midwife helped me feel supported and confident that my body and babies will come when they’re ready. I also imagined how I would feel when my babies were born and it helped me to be so excited.

What surprised you about your birth?

There was 1.5 hours between the birth of my first and second baby. I was so grateful that the contractions slowed so I could enjoy my cuddle with baby Sam while I worked up the strength to push my next little bundle. It also surprised me that my labor and birth was only 9 hours.

Surround yourself with positive birth stories. There is nothing to fear unless you have no knowledge of what to expect. That’s where a private midwife is a godsend that I truly recommend. It’s worth the money.

What pain relief strategies worked best?

Definitely the shower’s heat helped me to cope. I couldn’t lie down but was so tired, so staring at the shower tiles and concentrating on my breathing helped me to really go into myself and focus one contraction at a time.

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

Absolute relief to hold my first baby, followed by exhaustion and then the realization I wasn’t finished. When I held my beautiful baby Emmett (twin b) I was so proud as I held both of them on my chest.

What did you name your baby, and why?

I suffered the loss of our first pregnancy the year before. It was so much more devastating than I could imagine. I felt like Hannah in the bible who longed for a child. When I was blessed with two boys I named my first after her first son Samuel. My second baby Emmett was a name that my husband and I just instantly agreed on and we later found out that in Hebrew it means “truth.”

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

Surround yourself with positive birth stories. There is nothing to fear unless you have no knowledge of what to expect. That’s where a private midwife is a godsend that I truly recommend. It’s worth the money.