Hooray! Another story of a thoughtfully-approached and empowered birth!  Below, mama Ashley shares the stories of the birth of her first son with midwives in a hospital and of the birth of her second son at home.

You can view a fantastic video of her second labor, birth, and early postpartum experience here: https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150331089636822  It is worth your time!  If Facebook gives you trouble when you click the link, try cutting-and-pasting the link into your browser — it should do the trick!

Ashley’s video shows how gentle and peaceful a birth and the time afterward can be with supportive care providers.  Here, you see a laboring mama vocalizing beautifully and following her body’s own urges to push.  Also here, you see ideal postpartum care in action: immediate and ample skin-to-skin time for mama and baby in the “magical hour” after birth; delayed cord clamping; and delay of newborn procedures like measuring, weighing, and bathing until after the first breastfeeding is achieved (per AAP recommendations for healthy babies).  Plus fun, relaxed bonding time for the whole family, big brother included!

Thank you for sharing your lovely story, Ashley — the first home birth in our local birth stories series!

THE BIRTH OF DALTON

This is the story of the journey to the birth of my second child, Dalton. Ever since I was a young girl, I dreamed of the day I’d become a mother. Even then I knew I wanted to have a drug-free natural birth. With my first child, I chose a hospital with midwives. I was very interested in homebirth but wanted to be in a hospital with my first. After my first birth experience, there were many things I didn’t like about the hospital setting. Though I achieved a natural, drug-free birth, it was a very long and exhausting 24-hour labor with 3 hours of pushing and many unnecessary distractions and interventions.

I labored at home for the first Continue reading →