My Unmedicated Birth Experience in a Birthing Pool

Join me as I share my transformative journey of having an unmedicated birth experience in a birthing pool.

Birth is a powerful thing. It changes you as a woman. No matter how your birthing experience transpires, you come out on the other side as a different person. A mother…a warrior. Birth is not easy but full of joy. I want to share my unmedicated water birth story in hopes that you are encouraged, inspired and can nod your head in agreement because we are bound together as women by this profound experience of labor and birth.

How it Began

I found out I was pregnant with my second child in September of 2021. We had been trying for awhile to conceive with our second one and we were filled with joy when it finally was a reality. Here’s a pic of my cheap dollar store pregnancy test.

I took a homeopathic cell salt protocol throughout my pregnancy (you can find the protocol below) and despite some strong feelings of food aversion in the first trimester, overall I felt really great throughout my pregnancy.

Cell Salt protocol

• Month 1: Calc fluor 6x, Mag phos 6x, Ferr phos 6x

• Month 2: Calc fluor 6x, Mag phos 6x Ferr phos 6x

• Month 3: Calc fluor 6x, Mag phos 6x, Nat mur 6x

• Month 4: Calc fluor 6x, Nat mur 6x, Silica 6x

• Month 5: Calc fluor 6x, Ferr phos 6x, Silica 6x

• Month 6: Calc fluor 6x, Mag phos 6x, Ferr phos 6x

• Month 7: Calc fluor 6x, Mag phos 6x, Nat mur 6x

• Month 8: Calc fluor 6x, Nat mur 6x, Silica 6x

• Month 9: Calc fluor 6x, Ferr phos 6x, Silica 6x

Due Date

So our quote on quote due date was May 28th 2022. With my first child I went a week past our due date so I sort of expected to go over with our second child as well. My midwife agreed that it was likely I would, so I began to prepare myself mentally. I am super blessed and thankful that we have an amazing birth center near my home where I received all of my prenatal care and had plans to birth our baby. If you live in the Charlotte, NC or surrounding areas I definitely recommend them.

Natural Beginnings Birthing Center

I was determined to birth this baby at the birth center. With my first child’s birth I had every intention of birthing at the birth center but it did not go how I had planned. I ended up having to be transferred from the birth center to the hospital.

My son was delivered and was very healthy, which is what really matters, but there were still a lot of emotions and feelings of disappointment that I had to process after his birth. All of that to say, I was hoping that with my second birth experience it would be different.

Once I passed my “due date” I decided I was going to take the homeopathic medicine Calophyllum to hopefully help my body progress because I didn’t want to get close to the 42 week mark and not be able to birth at the birth center.

Of course, the remedy I ordered got lost in the mail. May 28th fell on a Saturday. I went about my day as normal, not experiencing the slightest contraction. Sunday was the same. I went to bed Sunday night thinking that I was probably going to end up going a week past my due date, just like with my son but around 11 o’clock at night I woke up having contractions.

Labor Begins

My midwife had told me that with a woman’s second birth the labor process can progress quickly so I started timing my contractions. They were about 5 minutes apart but they weren’t super strong. I got in the bathtub to see if they would go away or continue. They stayed consistent for the next couple of hours so I called my mom around 1:00 in the morning to come over. She got to my house a little before two.

I went into my son’s room as he slept to kiss him goodbye before we left because I had a feeling that it would be the last time we would be just a family of three. I cried as I looked at him. Those moments in life are so interesting…you are excited for the future but part of you mourns for what you are leaving behind.

Our birth center is about an hour from our home so me and my husband got in the car and headed that way. Laboring in the car wasn’t as bad as it was with my son but I think it had more to do with the fact that I knew what to expect.

We got to the birth center and my midwife checked me. I was at 4 cm dilation. At my birthing center they don’t check you into a room until you are 6 cm because they want you to progress in time to be able to birth at the center. I had a little bit of fear rise up in me at this point because this birth was playing out exactly how my son’s had started. I was afraid I was getting ready for another 30 + hours of labor.

Contractions

I laid on the couch in the waiting room and used the peanut ball between my legs for a couple of hours to see how I would progress. The peanut ball is used to help widen the pelvis of a woman in labor and to hopefully help everything progress more quickly. My midwife checked me again at 5:30 a.m. and I was at 5 cm. To say I was discouraged was an understatement.

My midwife said my cervix was very squishy and was a little stuck under my pelvic bone. She said if I wanted to she could reach in during a contraction and try to move it around. I was willing to try anything. She said it probably wouldn’t feel good but surprisingly it actually felt relaxing. She moved it and said I immediately dilated from a 5 to a 7. I was thrilled. They checked me into a room and told me I was going to have a baby.

The Birthing Room

Even after progressing so quickly in my mind I still felt uneasiness because I was afraid that even after I dilated to 10 centimeters I would be incapable of pushing my baby out. My midwife and her assistant hugged me and told me that I could do this. I cried and I think that was the encouragement and release my body needed. I was ready to have a baby.

After I got into my room the contractions came on strong. My midwife encouraged me to be in a variety of positions during each contraction. I wasn’t excited but I knew that it was necessary in order for me to be able to progress. My baby started coming down through the birth canal and I could feel it. I squatted during contractions, I was on all fours and I even had contractions while sitting on the toilet. Sitting on the toilet is my least favorite position…I’m pretty sure I had PTSD from my son’s labor. While I was having contraction after contraction they were filling up the birthing pool because I wanted to have a water birth.

The Birthing Pool

I got into the birthing pool a little after 6 am. The contractions were so strong and I could feel so much pressure. The water was so relaxing and helped take the edge off of my contractions.During transition I asked the midwife if she thought I could really do this because I seriously was doubting myself in that moment. (for all of you mama’s out there, you know transition is no joke) She looked at me and said, “you already are doing this.” I felt so loved and supported by my midwives the entire time.

I just love the concept of women helping women bring their babies into the world! My water had yet to break, which was the same thing that happened with my son. They told me my baby started to crown in the water bag and they told me I could reach down and feel his or her head. At first I said, “no thanks!” Eventually I warmed up to the idea and felt it. It was an amazing moment…to know we were so close to meeting our baby.

The Pushing Stage

After feeling my baby crown everything happened so quickly. Our baby was coming. The ring of fire was strong and I remember saying it hurt. There was just a lot of pressure and and I could feel stretching down there.

My midwife assistant was so sweet and encouraged me to focus my mind on whatever I might believe in. I knew she was trying to be inclusive of everyone’s beliefs but I blurted out that I believed in Jesus and we had the sweetest moment of us just quoting scripture back and forth to each other. It was perfect.

It was time to push and after only about 15 minutes of pushing our baby was here, birthed just the way I had always hoped for, naturally and in the the birthing pool.

My Daughter’s Arrival

At 6:58 am, we welcomed our beautiful daughter into the world. Sage Justus. She was 7 and a half pounds and was 20 and a half inches long. She was born on Memorial Day so this picture is appropriate.

After her delivery, I got cleaned up and me and my husband were able to lay in bed, with our new baby girl and hold her skin to skin. It was perfect. She nursed so well, we had some food and were able to call our families and tell them that they had a new granddaughter! (we didn’t find out the gender during our pregnancy so it was a surprise to us all)

I had brought my homeopathy kit with me in case I needed any remedies. Labor progressed so quickly that I didn’t even have a moment to think of taking any homeopathic medicine. I did take some Arnica immediately after delivery to help with healing and bruising. My postpartum recovery after this labor was a dream compared to my first experience. I am just so thankful and blessed in how it all worked out.

Empowerment to Birth How You Choose

I want to be clear that I am grateful for both of my children’s labors and how they transpired. Experiencing labor in two very different ways is something that I am extremely thankful for. It has given me a good perspective and empathy and compassion for mothers in a variety of situations when it comes to birth. I want all mama’s to know that having a healthy baby is the most important thing and my wish for you is that you are able to have the type of birth that your heart desires. Whether that is at home, at the hospital or at a birthing center. There is something empowering about being able to birth your baby in a way that you desire.

And to those mamas out there that maybe didn’t get to have the type of birth that you desired I just want to say I see you and I understand. I hope you are able to process those feelings…because it’s important that you do.

Get a Copy of My Book on Motherhood

Like I said, after my son’s birth I had so many emotions and feelings not only surrounding his birth but feelings of inadequacy of being a new mom. One night during a nursing session I had a download of emotions and I began to write in order to process. I wrote a short little book for moms to encourage them on their journey and help them to remember and know that they are enough for their little one. It’s titled Enough, A Journey Into Motherhood. You can access it by clicking the image below.

To all of the women out there who are preparing for your own unmedicated birth experience, I hope my story is an encouragement and inspiration to you. As you journey from woman to warrior I hope your mind and body is full of peace and strength. You can do this. Comment below and share your birthing experience. I would love to hear it!