Staying Bent And Swaying Her Hips Helped Bree Achieve Her Natural Home Birth

When did you realize you were really in labor?

My water had actually broken 2 days prior and Contractions just never really started. My midwife was coming daily for nst, and we had spoken about doing a castor oil shake to see if that made contractions start. I decided I was going to try that that evening before bedtime. But during dinner I started getting intense contractions that didn't stop.

What was the most challenging thing about going natural?

I have always gone natural with my 3 deliveries and I wonder what it'd be like to have had an epidural. But I think having the mess and being in a hospital would actually have made my labors harder.

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

This I time i was the most un-planned about how things were going to go. I just felt that things would happen as they would and planning and having it not work out would be more stressful than not having set expectations.

What surprised you about your birth?

My baby boy came in 1 hour and faster than my midwife could make it to my house!

Moving your hips and visualizing your body opening helps with pain. Concentrating on breathing is important. It's very easy to get stuck in a contraction and tighten up and hold your breath, but breathing through and pushing it out really helps aide the contraction to work baby down.

What pain relief strategies worked best?

My contractions started in active labor basically. I got them, and they were back to back. Staying bent over the kitchen counter swaying my hips was what helped.

What position did you end up delivering in?

Kneeling at the end of my bed.

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

I caught my baby and pulled him to my chest amazed i had done it alone. I told him "we did it" and kissed him.

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

Moving your hips and visualizing your body opening helps with pain. Concentrating on breathing is important. It's very easy to get stuck in a contraction and tighten up and hold your breath, but breathing through and pushing it out really helps aide the contraction to work baby down. The minute you feel like you can't do it anymore, its usually time to push. Then you meet your baby and nothing else exists in that moment you first hold him.