Studying Physiological Birth Helped Lindsay Achieve Home Birth

When did you realize you were really in labor?

I didn’t fully realize that I was in labor until midnight, and she was born at three! Everything happened so fast, and I was in denial because I wanted to have a good mental mindset for a first birth that was guaranteed to be unmedicated because we planned to have her at home. I never thought it would be so short.

What was the most challenging thing about going natural?

Being a first-time mom, I think the most challenging thing was just all the unknowns, and wondering what everything would be like.

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

I tried my best to have no expectations, it turns out the only expectation I had was that labor was going to be long, and that was the only thing that didn’t turn out like I thought. Also, it really helped to face and deal with fears I had about birth (mostly due to misinformation and the need to expand my knowledge of physiological birth) during pregnancy.

What surprised you about your birth?

It was so short! I thought because I was a first-time mom it would be so long, but it ended up being only seven hours, and only three of those I knew for sure I was in labor. Our midwife arrived and ran up the stairs and she was born 10 mins later! The thing that surprised me the most, was that I got the birth that I wanted, and undisturbed and beautiful birth.

Be at peace knowing that your body was created perfectly to do exactly that, give birth to your child.

What pain relief strategies worked best?

I tried to keep my mindset and mental capacity in it for the long haul. A lot of deep breathing (and short breaths during pushing), but mostly just knowing the fact that the only way out was through.

What position did you end up delivering in?

I was holding onto the headboard on all fours, my body completely chose this position, I did not think about it at all at the moment. It was where my body went when I started spontaneously pushing. I’m almost certain it was the fetal ejection reflex because there was nothing I could do to stop it.

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

She was crying, my husband was crying, I was crying, there are no words to encompass the juxtaposition of all the strong emotions that were going on at that moment. She was beautiful, and I was just feeling such a relief having just pushed her out. We stayed in that moment for over an hour just enjoying skin to skin and talking to her, meeting her and choosing her name.

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

You can do it! Study physiological birth as much as you can and be at peace knowing that your body was created perfectly to do exactly that, give birth to your child.