A Joyful and Redemptive Unmedicated Hospital Birth

Callie's Story

After a first birth experience full of interventions and a feeling of lost autonomy, I quietly prayed and prepared to have an empowering and redemptive experience.

This time I put my mind to learning more about physiological birth and preparing myself mentally and spiritually. Reading this book and listening to the affirmations whenever I had a moment truly helped me to have a calm, peaceful, and faith filled heart throughout pregnancy and birth. Thank you!!!

10:30am -My birth starts on the morning of my due date. At my midwife appointment I agreed to a cervical check. I had not wanted one up until this point. I was at 3cm and I agreed a sweep might tip the scales into labor starting.

12pm- We made the 1.5 hour drive back home after the appt & lunch and I tried to keep my mind busy and stay positive. I was feeling Braxton hicks and ignored them. We made it back home and I decided I would stay active for the next few hours, then I would go to bed early before a possible long night of early labor. So that afternoon I stretched, went for a family walk, listened to affirmations, rocked on my ball, and did the miles circuit. 

4:30pm-  I was folding laundry and felt a gush of water. I was in denial my water broke, but sure enough it kept leaking. I was hesitant and did not feel immediately excited. In my head I was going to have contractions first and truly feel “in labor”. I took a shower, put on comfy clothes, repacked my hospital bag (again). I was very emotional. I finally cried and told my mom & husband I was sad to leave my first baby and scared about the mountain before me. I felt better admitting that to them and releasing those emotions.

6:30pm- Had light dinner & a pep talk and we were headed to the hospital. I wanted to stay for bedtime for my toddler but my husband made a good call encouraging us to just start driving. I was GBS positive with a 1.5 hour drive so that added to the timeline. I made a point to be on my knees leaning forward in the car to help baby’s position stay really engaged. I also laid on my left side for some of the drive. 

8pm- We made it to the hospital at and headed to triage. The hospitalist OB had to talk with us before they would assign us a room. She immediately mentioned pitocin as an option to progress things if contractions did not start soon. This brought up feelings of my first birth and the possibility of losing my autonomy in the hospital setting again. I paused, chose to let that worry go and say a prayer. I knew my plan to stay active and all the other options I had to get labor going. I knew my midwife supported my no intervention birth plan if all was well with me and baby. 

9pm- My husband brought our bags in and I laid out my labor “tool kit” It had my wooden comb, tens unit, acupressure balls, headphones, and some scripture and quotes I loved. I grabbed the comb and thought I’d use the rest later on (I did not get the chance)  

I stayed active/upright while the nurse was talking with me and setting the room up. At this point I got one round of antibiotics for GBS. I remember her asking me “are you in pain” and half laughing saying “I’m not going to call it pain but I will let you know”. I was having stronger contractions at this point. I was ignoring them until it was undeniable. Yes it was intense but I did not want the idea of suffering/pain to even be in my mind. That would not serve me at all. That was something from the book I really connected with. 

10pm- I wanted to try to sleep in case I had a long night ahead of me. I got a peanut ball and laid on my left side with it. I tried to rest but things intensified very quickly after just 30 mins in that position. I kept the lights off, comb in my hand and focused on counting my breathing through each wave. I would open one eye to look at the waves of contractions on the monitor and seeing them was comforting. 

10:30pm- Lots of sitting on the toilet. That was a great spot to sit in the dark and close my eyes. I alternated being in the bathroom and swaying by the bed. I had lost all sense of time by that point. I could only focus on counting, breathing, and then resetting before the next wave. I reminded myself when it felt intense that was a good thing. That meant I was doing something right and baby was descending. I tried to lean in and not shy from the positions that made it more intense. I was trying to be a buffalo facing the storm! 

11:30pm- I asked my husband if he could help me to the shower. I had him use the shower head to spray the hot water on my back and it felt so nice. He was there with me in the quiet reassuring me. I kept my eyes closed and tried to simply breathe and think of all the joy coming to us soon. I stayed upright swaying in kind of a half squat position and it was so intense. I had not agreed to another cervical check at this point. I didn’t want to be bothered, disappointed at progress, or have more infection risk. 

12am- I started to involuntarily push in the shower and it was the craziest feeling. My nurse heard the sounds I was making and stepped in. She wanted to check me and I agreed it would be a good idea. It all felt so surreal and intense. I remember thinking to myself “if this is not transition, Lord I need more help”. I waddled to the bed, she checked me and I was 10cm.  I kneeled with my arms over the head of the bed. I rocked and swayed. I held a towel over my face and had my trusty labor comb in hand. I finally heard my midwife’s voice and I was so relieved. 

The fetal ejection reflex was so intense. My body completely took over and I just tried to hold on and remain relaxed. I did “horse lips” and that really helped me relax. I was talking to God the whole time, asking for strength and to feel His peaceful presence which I undoubtedly did. 

12:30am- I pushed only when I had the urge, no aggressive coaching and no counting. After a few contractions, my midwife suggested I lie on my side to help baby rotate down. The next contraction baby’s head was out. We waited and everyone stayed so positive and encouraging while waiting for the next push. The next contraction our baby was born into my husband’s hands! He handed him to me and it was a dream. I felt instant relief, instantly the pressure was gone. There was a giant rush of emotion, adrenaline and joy filled the room to the brim. It was surreal and I was in disbelief that I did it.  I truly had the birth I prayed for — one with a respectful care team, my husband there holding my hand, God’s peace and strength in my heart, and a quick and uncomplicated physiologic birth.

I am still in awe over what I experienced!

Mama: @calleepeek - Thank you for sharing your story with us!