The Birth Pool With Warm Water Helped Jamie Achieve Home Birth

When did you realize you were really in labor?

I was watching Castaway and eating Chinese food with my husband and my water broke after having irregular contractions.

What was the most challenging thing about going natural?

The pushing phase. This was my third birth and my biggest baby.

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

I prayed for the birth experience I was wanting and I allowed myself to feel any emotions I needed to leading up to my birth. If I was afraid, I let myself be afraid until I wasn’t anymore.

What surprised you about your birth?

How quiet and peaceful it was. After two natural hospital births, the experience of a home birth is so much more peaceful and calm. I was quiet until it was time to push and I never got to that point of “I can’t do this anymore”.

If you can have a home birth, go for it! It was so worth it for me and so many other mamas I know. It is seriously the most peaceful and comfortable place to deliver your baby. And if you find a wonderful Midwife, they are definitely the best support you could ask for!

What pain relief strategies worked best?

The birth pool. It made the contractions so much less intense and the warm water was very soothing overall.

What position did you end up delivering in?

I couldn’t get food traction in the birth pool so I moved to my bed and delivered him on my hands and knees.

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

Pretty amazing! He needed some help getting his breathing going so when he was crying in my arms I was elated.

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

If you can have a home birth, go for it! It was so worth it for me and so many other mamas I know. It is seriously the most peaceful and comfortable place to deliver your baby. And if you find a wonderful Midwife, they are definitely the best support you could ask for!