Taking Mama Natural Birth Course Helped Erin Achieve Her Home Birth

Video Interview With Erin

When did you realize you were really in labor?

I had a little bit of blood the night I went into labor. I called our midwife and she said that may mean labor is soon, but not imminent. I went to bed and I knew this was the night! I started having regular starting at midnight, (on her due date!) I was so excited.

What was the most challenging thing about going natural?

I think it was more mental than anything. Of course, I did feel pain, but it felt more like varying levels of intensity than pain. We did a home birth and At one point I remember thinking, “This is how it has to go. There’s no other way. I will birth this baby.” And because we were at home I didn’t have anyway “out”.

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

We had an amazing midwife team who did weeks of pre and post-care with us! My husband came to all our appointments and I learned so much about nutrition and definitely worked through a lot of things instead of just accepting it.
Taking the Mama Natural Birth Course was seriously life-changing and I actually felt 100% prepared and ready. Right before the birth, I watched mama natural’s own home birth video, and that one was the most helpful.
I remember her talking about just riding the waves, and that made my entire labor. I was in my mind all day just riding the waves like I was at the beach. It was amazing. It helped me stay peaceful and in control.

What surprised you about your birth?

The moment after she came out there was no more pain, it was incredible. I couldn’t believe it. Also, I could do it! I didn’t really doubt myself, but at the end of the day, everything went so well. I looked at my beautiful baby and thought, “wow, I did it. I birthed her!”
It was also surprising how long I felt like I was high. Definitely, for the first several hours I felt like I could do anything but even for the whole first two weeks afterward! It was the best feeling in the world.

It is totally possible and so fulfilling. You were literally made for this! You won’t regret it. You’ll feel like you can do anything, and you can.

What pain relief strategies worked best?

I had terrible back labor the entire time. The only thing that would help was to have counter-pressure on my back. My husband and our doula would take turns giving me counterpressure.
There was also a lot of mental work. I told myself “you’re not being hurt. This doesn’t last forever.” Our doula would tell me to let the last contraction go and then I would feel my body relax in between which helped a lot.

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

So natural. We were still connected with the umbilical cord and she was all wet and crying and I had no hesitation to hold her just as she was. Immediately a Bible verse came to my mind “When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.” John 16:21
That was exactly how it felt.

What did you name your baby, and why?

We had talked about so many different names and still didn’t have one. One we had talked about was Iola which means “violet” in Welsh and is also an old family name in my family. My husband and I had been praying about what her name should be, and on the same morning we woke up at the same time and both shared that we had dreams about our baby and songs for her with her name- Iola! (Eye-ol-ah).

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

It is totally possible and so fulfilling. You were literally made for this! You won’t regret it. You’ll feel like you can do anything, and you can.