Birth Stories

Being A Childbirth Educator Helped Courtney Achieve Her Fourth Natural Home Water Birth

  • When did you realize you were really in labor?

    My water broke ahead of contractions for the first time in all my pregnancies. That marked the start of labor and contractions started in about an hour and a half.

  • What was the most challenging thing about going natural?

    This was my 4th home birth. I don’t know how to answer this question since I never considered not going natural.

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

    I’m a childbirth educator, so I was very, very prepared!

  • What surprised you about your birth?

    It was longer than I thought it would be. It was long and then my second and third but even though it was only about five hours.

  • Take a childbirth class get a Doula if you’re giving birth in the hospital, and have a really good supportive team.
  • What pain relief strategies worked best?

    Relaxation, using a birth tub, encouraging words from my husband and team, and hip squeeze it in for my back labor.

  • What position did you end up delivering in?

    Semi reclined in the birth tub so I could catch my own baby!

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

    Amazing! And such sweet relief!

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

    Take a childbirth class, get a Doula if you’re giving birth in the hospital, and have a really good supportive team.

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