My son, Jensen’s Home Birth Story!

Birth. Until recently that was a word that made me squirm in my seat. The idea itself was… intimidating.

I remember hesitating even telling people that one of my favorite things to photograph was birth. Probably because the most common reactions were looks of confusion and, dare I say, disgust. “So you take pictures down there?” (The answer to that is mostly no, btw.)

On August 21st at 5:13 p.m. my new perspective was born. Bringing my son into this world was life-changing. It was empowering, intense, and joyous. It was one of those life experiences that can’t really be explained with words, but I’ll try. 

It was 1 a.m. on August 21st, just 4 days before my due date, when I woke up to contractions. To my immediate surprise they were not the period cramp feelings I had heard people describe them as. They were pretty significant surges that took my breath away right off the bat!

To preface a bit, the entire pregnancy I had mentally prepared to go past-due and to have “false alarms” because statistically speaking, that was most likely to be the case. (I’m a total nerd and when I am anxious about something, stats and research help me sort my thoughts. :P) Needless to say, I tried not to get too worked up or excited. 

I slipped out of bed, careful not to wake up Matthew because he had to work that morning and I didn’t want him to be tired all day because of a false alarm. 

I started tracking the contractions right away using an app on my phone. They were sporadic but about 15 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute, and intense but not painful. 

A few hours went by like that. I’d feel a surge coming on so I’d drop down on all fours (for some reason this was instinctual and felt best), sway and deep breathe for the duration of that contraction, and then continue doing things around the house. Even after photographing so many births, I couldn’t believe how one second I was totally consumed by sensation, and then the next minute it was like nothing was even happening.

Many expecting mamas ask me if it hurts. Short answer; I’d say yes but not in a traditional sense of the word. It was manageable for me. I think the big difference was that I only felt the sensations during the contraction, then I felt complete relief for a few minutes. Regular pain is generally constant! If we let them do their thing naturally, our bodies know what we need and when we need it!

Also, I read somewhere birth is “pain with a purpose.” I kept reminding myself that I’d only feel like this for a minute and I can do anything for a minute. Laboring is almost entirely MENTAL!

Back to the story, as the contractions slowly got closer together I began to think, wow maybe this is the real deal!?

Around 5 a.m. I saw that my mom had liked something on Facebook and I excitedly sent her a screenshot of my contractions. Finally, I could tell someone! She insisted that she come over even though I told her it may drag out and waste a day off. Being the mama she is, she ignored me and came anyway. Thank goodness she did.

Around the same time, Matt’s alarm started going off. I was still trying to remain calm (HA) so I went into our room, sat on the side of the bed and nonchalantly whispered to him that I was “pretty sure” I was having contractions. He of course popped out of bed already excited. 

Again, I insisted that they may taper off and be nothing and that he could still go into work and I’d call him if they sped up. He seemed unsure but went along with it. 

Around 6 a.m. I also casually emailed my midwife and doula a report of my contractions. My midwife, Rebecca, recommended I take a shower to see if they slowed so I could rest. She confirmed my thoughts, that it was still early and they may taper off.

Well, I did take a shower and they slowed for a few contractions but then sped up quickly after that. Between 6 and 8 a.m. they were around 10 minutes apart. 

In between contractions, I texted my midwife and she offered to stop by on her way to the office to check me. I liked that idea so I would know if this was as real as it felt. 

Luckily during this time my brother (who had found out from my mom that I was likely in labor) saw Matthew out before work and said: “what are you doing here, GO HOME!” Poor Matt was running around in circles not sure what to do, but thankfully took my brother’s advice and came home.

Our midwife arrived around 10 a.m. and was surprised to see me on all fours in the middle of a contraction. I think I was a little too casual with my email.

She checked me and sure enough, I was 7cm dilated! My eyes welled with happy tears when she told me the news. I was in real labor. I had made it to 7cm almost entirely on my own! It was finally happening and we were going to meet our son! She quickly told her team to prepare the tub and cancel all of her appointments. Things got real, real fast! 

Before I knew it I was slipping into a blow-up pool of warm water. And let me tell you, it was heavenly. It totally took the edge off and I felt my whole body relax. Around this time I looked up from the pool and saw my entire “birth team,” each working their magic right in our home. I again welled with happy tears – I was beyond grateful that everything was working out so that we could have a home birth surrounded by love. You can see this moment in our video when I say “I’m just so happy, it’s all happening.” 

I labored in the tub for a couple of hours and as the contractions started to intensify I felt my water pop! (Which kind of felt like a rubber-band breaking.)

After that time seems a little warped. As my midwife, Rebecca, explains it Jensen dropped down after my water broke and became stuck on my hip bone. She then encouraged me to get out and move around for a few contractions. 

Not going to lie, I didn’t really want to get out of the warm water but I did want to get this baby out so I tried laboring in the sitting position on the toilet and even did a contraction standing… which was not fun for me. I was feeling major pressure. My doula was a huge help with this. She applied counter pressure on my hips and I just remember mumbling “that feels so good” approximately 50 times. 

Speaking of my doula, I should probably write a blog just for Sylvia of Sacred & Surrendered Births because she was my right-hand woman during labor. She applied counter pressure, essential oils, and made sure I was nourished by constantly giving me water and snacks. 

In my later contractions, she reminded me to vocalize deep and with intention to help my body release rather than be clenched. I was a very vocal birther which surprised me! She reminded me to breathe and calmly spoke words of encouragement in my ear. She was a true birth angel for us. 

I needed that extra encouragement because at this point I was running out of steam. It was late afternoon and I had been in labor for over 12 hours. 

Our incredible midwife, Rebecca made the game-changing decision to call my chiropractor, Bonnie, who also works at the Birth Center. I saw her all throughout my pregnancy so she had a good idea of my posture downfalls and baby’s positioning! 

Bonnie recommended that I labor lying down with a wedge under the opposite hip Jensen was stuck on. THIS WORKED! It was rough but he was coming down so we decided to try the tub again for delivery.

I must have been a little too comfortable in the water because as soon as I was in things stalled again. After an hour of lots of pressure and me grunting through contractions while my body naturally tried to push my baby out, we went back to the lying with a wedge setup.

I’m not going to sugar coat this. The last part of my birth was intense. He was a big ole’ baby with a big ole’ head and after 3-4 hours he was still stuck because he was turned the wrong direction. His heart rate had dropped so Rebecca told me I needed to get him out soon. At that point, I’m pretty sure I screamed him out. It was primal. 

I just did whatever I had to do, and then… pure bliss. I have been calling this a “birth high” because it was an instant 180. I went from screaming to crying with happiness, smiling and chatting as if nothing had happened. I had to be stitched up but I barely noticed thanks to the cute little distraction I now had. This high lasted for days.

When I looked down and saw Jensen’s squishy red face pressed into my chest I truly became a new person. 

A person with refreshed gratitude for life and God’s favor.

A person who tears up multiple times a day if I think too hard about how much I love my son and how fast he’s growing. (Let’s be real, hormones probably play a role in this too.)

A person with a new appreciation for my husband and how incredibly nurturing he is. 

A person who realizes how truly supported we were by so many friends and family members. 

A person who feels pride in my strength and stick-to-it-ivness, as our Grandpa Jones used to call it.

A person who now knows what real, unrelenting, selfless love feels like.

I became a mother.

Every ounce of work it took to meet my son was SO worth it. Every article I read, doubt I conquered, contraction I felt fully, hour of sleep I missed (and am still missing.) I’d do it all again. He is my greatest work. 

Credit where credit is SO due!

We truly had the BEST team we love each one of these people like family and are beyond thankful for all that they did to make Jensen’s arrival so beautiful.

Birth Center: Community Birth & Wellness Center – Eustis

Midwife: Rebecca Luckey Student Midwife: Delmari Howell

Doula: Sylvia Scarlett – Sacred & Surrendered Births

Birth Prep Class: Ashley Jass – Central Florida Birth Services

Photography (some of my most treasured images, so thankful for this talented friend): SO Photography

Video: My sweet Mamma!

Video Edit: DrewBee Edits

If anyone has questions about birth and our experience with an at-home natural birth PLEASE email me or comment below! I’m an open book. I want ALL women to have a positive birth experience that they feel in control of, whether that be in a hospital or in a blow-up tub at home! ♥