Jan 19, 2016 | Empowered, Fast labor, First Birth, Home birth
I gave birth at home after six hours of active labor, which is relatively short for a first-time mom. I lost a lot of blood, but not enough to warrant hospital transfer. I needed stitches, but I’ve healed well. For the first couple days postpartum, I couldn’t stand up...
Jul 27, 2015 | Empowered, Home birth, Midwife Attended, Partner Attended
Both my sons were born at home. Calm, Serene and blissful; my first son was born still sleeping into a pool and gave a gentle sigh for his first breath, to a delighted audience of four, myself, my husband and two lovely midwives. Loud, raucous and exhilarating; my...
Jul 16, 2015 | Empowered, Home birth, Hospital Birth, Midwife Attended, Speaking up
The Power of Speaking Up Earlier this year, I’d been asked to speak about my birthing experiences to the board of the Birmingham Women’s Hospital. The group I addressed on 26 March 2015 makes important decisions in relation to women’s birthing and post-natal...
Mar 30, 2015 | Breast feeding, Doula Attended, Empowered, Exhaustion, Home birth, Long Labor, Midwife Attended, Partner Attended, Ring of Fire
Early Labor It was roughly 2:30 AM that 23rd day of July 2014—a typical Wednesday I thought. At 41.3 weeks pregnant I was all too familiar with spontaneous contractions (false alarms) that colored various segments of my wobbly days and kept me awake at night. “Yup.” I...
Jan 21, 2015 | Empowered, Fear, Home birth, Partner Attended, Postpartum, Second birth, Transformation, Vaginal Birth
The Advent of Baby A In the late spring, I learned that I was expecting a baby. This new baby would be my second child. My daughter, R, was already 16 and looking into colleges. My boyfriend of many years, T, has 2 children of his own – both boys, and both...
May 5, 2014 | Breast feeding, Empowered, Fast labor, Home birth, Partner Attended, Ring of Fire, Siblings, Third birth, Vaginal Birth
To understand my birth story, I should really start with my journey into motherhood until now. As I sit in bed here with my newborn on my chest resting not 10 feet from the place in which my child was born, I am filled with so much love and faith in my body and my new...
