Birth Story - Baby #2
As 2024 was coming to a close, I reflected on everything the year had brought. Our little girl was undoubtedly the biggest and best outcome of the year. With that in mind, I thought it fitting to finally share her birth story!
This pregnancy challenged me in many ways early on. The first trimester was a whirlwind—nausea, food aversions, and, most of all, exhaustion, which felt even more intense while chasing a toddler…pregnancy with a toddler is no joke! We had a scare and thought we had lost her, but found out it was a large and small subchorionic hematoma. Thankfully, we monitored it closely until they both healed. But things definitely improved as we approached the second trimester.
Even before we were thinking about having baby #2, we knew we wanted a home birth if possible. We chose our incredible midwives, Heidi and Eliza, who provided reassurance and support throughout the process. Having caregivers who truly supported our decisions, made all the difference; creating a positive mindset around what can be both a beautiful and daunting experience. It also meant our son could be involved in the process, which was very important to us!
Our sweet girl decided to arrive a little earlier than expected, on the morning of August 14th, at 38 weeks and 4 days. Just before 3 a.m., I realized my water might have broken. My husband walked into the bathroom and when I said, “I think my water just broke” he had to sit down and proceeded to get sick….
A little back story - with our first we joked he would pass out and he almost did just that so it was very fitting that it would happen the second time around. Since my first birth progressed quickly, we called Heidi at 3:15 a.m. She asked us to time my contractions and call back. Ten minutes later, with contractions about five minutes apart, we called her again.
I turned to my husband and said, “Good thing we set up the birth pool last night.” It felt like our little girl knew her space was ready for her arrival.
Not long after, our son woke up and joined the party. At this point, my contractions were manageable, so I kept moving and got the coffee ready for the midwives. Eliza arrived first, just before 4 a.m., bringing a wave of comfort and calm. She began helping us prepare, including filling the birth pool. By then, my contractions had intensified. For me, leaning on my husband and rocking back and forth helped me navigate the waves.
I lost track of time, but Heidi soon arrived, another huge relief. Shortly after, my contractions became very intense, and I got into the pool for some relief. After a few contractions, I felt the sudden urge to push. My husband held my hands as I worked through it, and I let the midwives know. They, along with my son and even our dog, Rip, joined the birthing space.
With the second push, Heidi told me the baby’s head was emerging and encouraged me to reach down for reassurance. The sweetest moment came when our son gently rubbed my arm in comfort during the contractions.
With the third push, our daughter was born at 5:44 am. Lifting her out of the water and seeing her curious face taking in the world was indescribable. It was pure magic having our little family, including Rip, greet our newest member.
Unfortunately, I had a retained placenta. Despite trying everything at home, we eventually had to go to the hospital for its removal (which was worse than birth - not even going to lie). While I initially felt frustrated that my perfect home birth was disrupted, the hospital experience was as positive as it could be. The nurses, hospital midwife, and OB were fantastic, but having Heidi there with us was what truly made the difference. She understood my emotions without me saying a word and reassured me every step of the way. Her presence turned what could have been traumatic into a seamless part of the experience.
People often ask, “Would you do a home birth again?” My answer is always, “Oh, absolutely. 100%. As long as I’m able.”
This birth will forever hold a special place in my heart. It was an incredible experience filled with love, support, and peace. To me, it was perfect.
Huge shout out to my amazing husband who was managing everything! He was my rock and support during contractions, making sure my tub was full and to the right temperature while also entertaining our toddler.
I saw this quote recently by Nikki McCahon that perfectly describes the journey from maiden to mother.
"Becoming a mother leaves no woman as it found her.
It unravels her and rebuilds her,
It cracks her open, takes her to her edges.
It’s both beautiful and brutal; often at the same time.”
I’m an open book when it comes to my pregnancies and birth experiences. If you ever want to chat, don’t hesitate to reach out! Sharing our stories helps us learn and embrace this wild and beautiful journey together!
Heidi Horner - Motherwit Midwifery
Eliza Wilcox - Aveta Holistic Birth Services