“On December 21st I woke up around 3 am with what felt like strong Braxton Hicks. I hopped in the shower and it felt nice. I got out and tried going back to sleep. I couldn’t sleep and they were coming every 15 minutes, but I was really fine so I didn’t say anything to anyone haha. You would think after giving birth 3 times, I would trust my body and know this is labor, but nope.
Mike woke up and I told him I might be in labor but to go to the gym {around 5:30} and he {thankfully} said I was crazy and he’s not going. I texted my mom, sister, midwife, and photographers and said this might be the day but just stand by. By about 7 am I was breathing through them fine but had to focus more. I couldn’t talk through them and I was sweating profusely, not sure why. Haha
My brother headed over to our house to sit with the kids and I knew now we needed to head to the birth center as soon as he got there bc I did not want to be in transition while driving. It sucks not being able to move how I want to during the hardest part! Haha jokes on me We got to the birth center. I went up the stairs, said hello to the midwives, and asked them to fill the pool. I got a cervical check and lo and behold I was at 9.5 cm already. I started laughing and said, ‘Okay that explains it!’”
“They got the pool filled just in time for me to get in {it was HEAVENLY}. I swear it’s nature’s epidural! It provides so much relief and I was able to relax a bit more. I started feeling pushy. What’s such a cool thing about going unmedicated is no one tells you when to push- your body does! I can’t even tell you how many times I pushed (although it wasn’t many) because My body just did it! You can’t NOT push when it says to go for it- it’s crazy! During one contraction/push I felt my waters break- I was always pushed to have them broke by doctors in the hospital so it was cool to feel it happen naturally! I kept reaching down to feel the progress and when I felt his little head nearing crowning I got the biggest rush of happiness! I kept my hand there the entire rest of the time. It gave me the extra motivation and confidence that we were almost there!! Each time I pushed I was able to feel the progress of him descending and getting so much closer to meeting him! ”
“I was in the pool for maybe 20 minutes total and then he was here! It was MAGIC. This first pictures purely describes the euphoria I was feeling! I helped catch him and brought him straight to my chest and kissed him 100 times. He was here within one short hour of me arriving at the birth center. I am SO lucky and happy that my birth unfolded as amazing as I could have imagined! Thanks to Arrivals Birth Center and my awesome midwife team I was able to have a seamless and wonderful experience!! I felt safe and comfortable and empowered the whole time. I was encouraged to listen to my body and all my choices were respected. It truly was the best experience I’ve had!”
“I have a wanted a water birth for a long time but it was a hard no for Mike. And although he wouldn’t grab his swimming suit and jump in with me, he was fully supportive and am glad he jumped on board with an out of hospital birth. I was questioned a lot during this pregnancy about my choices around it, but I was fully confident in myself and my providers. Pregnancy (in MAJORITY of cases) is not a condition to be treated. It is a natural thing that should be supported and the process should be trusted. It shouldn’t be “something is/could go wrong til you prove otherwise” it should be “all is well and healthy until proven otherwise”. That is the difference I felt with this experience. I once upon a time thought not delivering in a hospital is crazy and water births were strange, but look at me now! I have done SO much research and gained SO much knowledge in the past 5 years of having babies and so much of my mind has grown in regards to it. Knowledge truly is power. This is not taboo- it should be celebrated! I am not a claimed “professional” in any way, shape, or form….. but I do have some knowledge and passion that I’m happy to share!”
“And last but certainly not least…This photo deserves its own spot in my feed because it’s one of my very, very favorites of them all. We were the perfect trio!! My body grew that marvelous placenta and that placenta helped grow and sustain life for my baby boy. I mean, I suppose my husband had something to do with this as well…. buuuuut he just did the fun part. The 3 of us did all the work.
But seriously how AMAZING are our bodies?! To grow a whole new organ whose sole purpose is to nourish a tiny human, then to be discarded and the body will grow a whole new one for every pregnancy. It’s mind blowing. I am so grateful for my body, the ability to do this and birth these babies when anatomically it seems impossible! The things that happen-from conception to birth- to get babies earth side truly is nothing short of a miracle and a God that has a perfect design.
Also, huge shout out to Wild Oak Birth for these amazing pictures I will treasure forever and ever! She is insanely talented and sweet and would 10/10 recommend every time!”
-Shay Hatch, Behryx’s Mama
