Unmedicated Natural Homebirth/Waterbirth of Willow

Instagram: @COURTNEYLS999
March 3, 2019
I had had prodromal labor for weeeeeeks. Basically every single day I was having contractions, sometimes for hours, just waiting for it to get serious. Every day I'd think "maybe this is finally it!". And then nope. Finally, on March 1st, around 1am, I was given a huge sign and knew it would be happening any second. So on the 1st and 2nd, I pretty much just stayed in my room and slept, drank coconuts, and ate a ton of fruit. March 3rd, I woke up and had a feeling this was the day. Kevin was out working in the backyard. I remember going outside, the weather was beautiful, and I said "hey babe, guess what.....this is it. It's for real this time! She's finally coming!"
The emotions coursing through my body were stronger than ever. I remember I was so excited. I was talking fast and pacing around. I couldn't sit still. Haha.
I spent the majority of the day just hanging out in the bedroom, relaxing, breathing, sitting on my exercise ball with my arms leaning on the birthing pool, timing and tracking every contraction. I was listening to music, movin and groovin on the ball, making a playlist I could listen to during labor (I never did, by the way. Haha).
I wanted to labor completely alone. Around 6:30, I text Kevin and told him the contractions were picking up and getting stronger (not bad, just more noticeable). Around 7:30, I was texting him telling him to tell everyone to shut up. Hahaha. At 8:30, for some reason I NEEDED headphones, popsicles, strawberries, grape juice, natural peanut butter, and art paper...so I sent him to Target. At 9, I text him saying they were getting STRONG(he was still at Target). Not too long after that he was home. Around 9:30, I wanted to be in water. At this point, the pool in the room wasn't quite ready so I wanted to get in the bathtub.
It picked up FAST from there.
He brought me a popsicle...it ended up melting.
I'd guess around 11 is when shit got serious. That's when I had to really start focusing. That's when all of the mental preparation came in handy. Knowing it wasn't just 'pain'...it was pain with a purpose. Knowing I was strong. Knowing I could do it. It started getting to the point where they were so on top of each other, just one huge intense one after another, it was hard to catch my breath. I was getting 15 second breaks and 1-2 minute long stroooooong contractions. I just kept my eyes closed, swayed, focused on my breathing, and did my very best to make sure I was keeping my mind and body relaxed. The low primal noises that came from my body were uncontrollable. I remember staying so positive and strong, but then having a brief moment thinking to myself "I really don't know how much more of this I can take"....
Then all of a sudden, right around 11:40pm, I yelled for Kevin just saying "babe!! She's coming!!". He ran into the bathroom and set his phone down to record (I'm so SO grateful he did that!!!). Her head was so close! We were so close to finally meeting our beautiful baby girl. Kevin was incredible and so supportive and encouraging. I was in a different world at this point. There, but not. It's the strangest thing and really, I have no idea how to describe it. Pure magic. My water broke in the bathtub right before her head emerged. Two pushes. One to get her head out. The second to get the rest of her body! And she was here!!!! 11:55pm. Her cord was wrapped around her neck twice. I unwrapped her cord. I suctioned her nose and mouth with mine. The natural instincts that kick in are incredible. Women are incredible.
We stayed in the bathtub until after 1am (I didn't realize time had flown by that quickly). After that, I went into the bedroom, birthed the placenta, tied her cord and cut it (she was attached for about and hour and a half!).
We then just snuggled in bed all night and morning. I didn't sleep a second. Talk about the most insane natural after-birth, oxytocin high!! I literally just stared at her. I was completely, overwhelmingly obsessed. I was completely over-the-moon in love.
And now here we are....6 months later. I can't believe it's already been 6 months.