Reading Other Natural Mama’s Stories Helped Jazzmin Achieve Home Water Birth

When did you realize you were really in labor?

I woke up around 3 in the morning with contractions I hadn’t felt before that were coming within 6 minutes or less of each other solidly for over an hour. Waited until 6 AM to text my doula about it to see what she thought and told her that I had taken a warm bath and tried sleeping but could not. I was convinced I had a kidney stone or something cause I just couldn’t pee a lot and really needed to and maybe that explained these contractions. Obviously when they continued to intensify which they did rather quickly, we got our team to head out. But in reality, I was totally in labor because none of my contractions were ever more than 6 minutes apart for the entire 12 hours of my labor.

What was the most challenging thing about going natural?

Honestly, the doubt of other people. I struggled a bit with my parents disapproval, not because I ever doubted myself, but because they doubted me which was hard to get over and finally had to tell them either they needed to keep their opinions and stories to themselves or they no longer got to be apart of this journey. But they got a big fat “I told you I could do it”

Physically? The hardest part was after about my very first 2 or 3 pushes my midwife noticed a lip of my cervix over my sons head and asked me to get on my hands and knees in the tub and try and to not push for another 3 contractions. Quick panting breaths helped, but dear Lord the urge to push is SO real that trying to tell my body not to was very difficult. Not necessarily super painful, but just hard! But after those she asked me to get back in a reclined position and about 2 more big pushes he was in my arms.

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

100% reading other natural mama’s stories. I would read many a day especially for bed and just remind myself that if my mama sisters can do it, so could I and I was determined. I think they helped me the most tremendously for the birth. Also reminding myself constantly on why I wanted to birth this way.

What surprised you about your birth?

From the first contraction of my birth to the last, none of them were ever more than 6 minutes apart and that surprised me because of what you’re told contractions would start like. It also surprised me that I never had a clue that I was going through transition, I asked my team afterwards when the heck they thought it happened because I couldn’t recall. But I totally let my body take over from when the contractions really started to get intense and I think I left the building for most of my labor.

Also, it’s no joke when people say that the urge to push is real and that your body will do so naturally. Pushing blew my mind. The most primal, intense spiritual experience I have ever had.

It also surprised me how quick he came. I was expecting a longer labor and to have to push for longer.

You can absolutely do this. At one point during my labor I just let my body take over, I don’t even remember when or how it happened but I swear to you just letting your body do it’s thing will make everything so much easier. Labor was not anywhere near as painful or as scary as I talked myself into believing it would be. Not once did I ever think to myself “I can’t do this” and those words never came out of my mouth. I stopped thinking and let my body birth this miracle.

What pain relief strategies worked best?

Since my contractions started out pretty regular and intense from the beginning I had to find my groove really early on. In the beginning standing and leaning on the bed with my husband using pretty strong force on massaging my lower back (I’m bruised). When our doula arrived 8 hours into labor she would rub lavender/peppermint oil on my back and massage super super lightly with her fingertips while my husband stood in from of me holding me or letting me wrap myself around him.

But from beginning until I was able to get in the tub, standing was the only way I could get through a contraction (and breathing although next time I will study more ways to breathe).

I got into the tub for about 40 minutes until my son was born and as soon as my body got in that water it relaxed SO much. Thank god for warm water and birth tubs, seriously.

What position did you end up delivering in?

Our son was born in a birth tub, my first few pushes were on my knees while I was bent over the edge and my water broke in that position, and then my midwife instructed I turn over and get into a reclined position. My doula and midwife held my feet while I took a few huge deep primal deep breaths and pushed my baby out. It worked really well for me because taking those breaths that way was easy cause I could bury my chin into my chest.

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

It felt like my biggest dream had just came true. Like everything I could ever hope and wish for was just placed into my arms. Holding this little tiny beautiful human being that I had grown and dreamed of for many months was the most exciting, surreal and life changing experience I will ever have. I get tears thinking about it.

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

You can absolutely do this. At one point during my labor I just let my body take over, I don’t even remember when or how it happened but I swear to you just letting your body do it’s thing will make everything so much easier. Labor was not anywhere near as painful or as scary as I talked myself into believing it would be. Not once did I ever think to myself “I can’t do this” and those words never came out of my mouth. I stopped thinking and let my body birth this miracle.

Also, stay present. Just focus on one contraction at a time. I never thought about the next one, I never thought about the break after either. I just moaned as loudly as I could and breathed through them. When they were over, I would focus on breathing through my nose. When the next one started, I didn’t think about when it would end. Stay present. Your baby will be in your arms before you know it and every little bit of pain you felt will be nothing compared to meeting your little miracle. I promise you can do this.