Walker John

Born July 28th - 8 lbs 3 oz - 21.5 in

Getting pregnant with Walker was not a short journey. After 2 losses, we finally received our little rainbow baby's positive test in November, shortly before our daughter's second birthday. Our initial pregnancy journey was full of worry and prayer, but something felt different about this baby like he was ours to keep.

This being our second child, we went into it feeling more confident in what we did and didn't want. We had known we did not feel comfortable in the hospital setting, and the aftercare had felt incredibly isolating and unindividualized. When we discussed home birth, my husband was hesitant, but after forcing him to watch "The Business of Being Born" there was no question; we were having a home birth. We started to interview homebirth midwives, but there was no question after our interview with Jenn and Kelsey. This was our homebirth team.

Our due date was July 27th. I repeatedly told my husband, who thought I would go early, we would likely be pregnant until August and not to get his hopes up.

On our due date, still sure I would be pregnant until August, I took my daughter to the park to soak in the last bit of just us. During our time, a friend made me laugh, and I felt a small gush and let her know I either had peed a little or my water had broken. Her being a C-Section mom took this as I needed to rush home and call the midwives, but instead, I slowly loaded my toddler and laughed it off, thinking my pelvic floor had just let me down.

Once home, I stood up to get out of the car and felt another small amount of fluid; at this point, I knew it was my water. This was EXTREMELY similar to the beginning of labor with my first pregnancy, even down to be a Wednesday the 27th. This was at 7:30 pm. I let the midwives and my doulas know but advised there were no to little contractions yet. Around 8:30, the contractions were picking up in intensity a bit but not in time. I called my mom to come get my daughter and my husband to come home from his shift when he could in case my waters fully ruptured and things intensified too quickly.

I took the 15-20 minutes I had before my mom arrived to hold my first baby, soaking in the fact that her whole world was about to change.

My husband got home around 9:30, panicked he was running around getting the lights up in the bathroom and asking me what I needed 45 times. I was highly calm this time around. The contractions were coming evenly spaced, and my headspace was different, making them feel like pressure instead of pain. When one would come, I would lean into it and know my body was doing what was needed, and I was grateful for the ability to bring this baby into this world. My husband and I laid on the couch to time contractions and watch my favorite show. Slowly, the contractions picked up and were 5 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute long. I let our Doula know I thought it was time she headed our way as she had about a 45-minute drive.

Our Doula arrived a little after midnight, and contractions quickly moved to 3 minutes apart. I sat on the birth ball, and she and my husband took turns doing hip squeezes and light touch massages on my lower back. Around 12:40, after using the bathroom, my water broke a little further but still not fully ruptured. At this time, I had my husband let the midwife team know we were ready when they were. I got into the shower but was afraid to run out of hot water for the tub; the relief was short-lived.

A little after 1 am, Jenn arrived with Ashley shortly behind her. I continued to stay on the birth ball with contractions 2-3 minutes apart and vocalizing through contractions. I was unsure when to get into the tub, but finally, at 1:45 am decided it was time. I turned on my birth playlist, lowered the lights, and climbed into the tub, and it was an AMAZING relief.

My husband spent the next few hours kneeling on the floor next to the tub, holding my hand and talking me through any doubts I was feeling. I hit a wall around 2:35 am and told him I couldn't do it, to which he recited the affirmations I tell my daughter, which include "I can do hard things". Who knew he was listening to our morning affirmations?

I felt the urge to push, and Jen told me to follow my body. Through the next few contractions, I tried a few pushes but felt like they were not productive. She offered a cervical check, and I said yes. I was 9.5 cm with a cervical lip. She asked if I wanted her to try pushing the lip on the next contraction or if I would like to wait. I let her know I wanted to wait as I wanted my body to do what it was made to do. This may not have been the best idea because shortly after, we had a calm section where contractions slowed and got less intense. Looking back, I think I was disheartened I had an obstacle in the way of me meeting my son. I even asked if it was too late to go to the hospital. At this time, the Doula advised me it may be a good idea for me to get out of the tub, to which I very sassily told her no and told my husband they would have to drag me out. Ashley advised it may be a good idea to try changing positions through a contraction and see how it went. I rolled onto my left side for my next contraction and very quickly found that was NOT it. I told my husband, "this is the worst idea I've ever had". I rolled onto all fours in the tub, and that was the ticket! As soon as I moved onto all fours, the next contraction hit, and my body started to push down. I had no control. It was the oddest but most empowering feeling knowing my body was ready to bring my son into the world.

In this position, my water FINALLY entirely broke, this was around 3:40. Quickly after my water broke, the fetal ejection reflex was in full effect. I began bearing down at 3:42 am with power. At 3:47 am, his head was out, I was encouraged to move one leg up as he presented with his head one way and his shoulders the other. At 3:51 am, we had one final push, and our son was out and being handed to me. It was the most surreal and empowering experience I have ever had. I looked up, still partially in labor land, and told my husband, "I did it.". Walker did not cry right away. He, much like his sister when she was born, just looked around a bit. He was quickly brought to my chest as we waited for the placenta to emerge.

After I delivered the placenta, we were moved to our bed, where we found that our boy was, just as mom had guessed, very long and just over 8 lbs.

Our home birth was never a question for me, and I am so grateful my husband was able to be comfortable with it. It allowed me to truly experience what my body was capable of and bring my son into the world as peacefully as possible. I have nothing but great things to say about the team at WMM. If my husband was on board, we would have more babies at home. But make sure you ask me now, and not labor transition me. She and I are not the same people. Thank you, Jen & Ashley, for giving me the most incredible experience and a healthy son.