YESSSS I finally attended a home birth on a mountain. Please note my obsession with trees 😂🙃

Pro-DRAMA Labor

I know I’ve previously talked about prodromal labor and how much of a bitch it is. Naomi’s labor started and stopped a few times. Most notably on the 21st of February. She texted me in the morning saying her surges were about 10 minutes apart and had been for a few hours and were getting stronger.

I cleared my day.

I checked in a few hours later to see how she was doing and she was frustrated but wasn’t sure what was going on. I told her I wasn’t going to check in for updates so she could focus on herself and just call me when it was time for me to head up (remember she’s on a mountain).

the 22nd

The following day, she texted me saying it had completely stopped the previous night and nothing was really happening that day so it was most likely prodromal labor.

“False labor” happens. It’s frustrating and can be exhausting because it mimics “real labor” without the dilation of the cervix. BUT it’s the body prepping and preparing for labor. Prodromal labor isn’t for nothing. I promise.

the 23rd

I hadn’t heard anything the previous night so I assumed all was quiet. Which it was, until it wasn’t. Naomi woke up in the early morning hours with surges and shakes, all promising signs it was the “real” thing.

Her husband called me about 5:20 am to say she was in labor and for me to head there. Her entire birth team (including herself) were a little worried we wouldn’t make her birth on time. The previous week, her midwife’s house actually burned down so both her midwife and myself had over an hour drive to her (her midwife and family are all safe and have a roof over their head thankfully).

I got to Naomi’s house about 6:45 am. It was a crisp cold morning, and as much as I was hoping there was snow on the ground, it was clear.

As I entered her house, her husband and the midwives we in the kitchen talking and drinking coffee. She was in her bedroom with her mom and their two year old who had been up since she got up at 4:30 am.

the morning

It was slow. You could tell she was still in early labor when I got there. Frozen was on in the background as her two year old was intently watching my every move.

Naomi got into the birth tub to try and relax and was in there for a little while before getting out and walking around a bit per her midwife’s advice.

She then sat down and the foot of her toddler’s bed where we all laughed and joked about the most random things. As she was sitting there though, with her legs folded underneath her, her surges began to pick up and change a bit. Noticeably getting stronger.

As she was in the bathroom laboring on the “dilation station” (aka the toilet) my dumbass accidentally fell down her stairs. Like total America’s Funniest Home Video’s status, holding onto the railing, sliding down each and every one of the carpeted steps. Thankfully only my right ass cheek and ego were bruised 😂

early afternoon

Her surges had picked up, but she was still able to cope with them well. Her midwife suggested taking a walk outside to get some fresh air and decided that all three of the midwives were going to go to lunch and leave the house for a bit. Especially Naomi’s first born was down for a nap. She was able to really focus on her body.

While outside on the balcony, I suggested the “Captain Morgan” position as it seemed like baby was in the mid-pelvis area and some specific movement would possibly allow for them to make their way farther down the birth canal or place their head in a better position to dilate the cervix.

Within 20 minutes of the position on each side, Naomi’s surges were even stronger, requiring more focus and breathing through them.

It had worked, a change had happened.

Mid-afternoon

When the midwives came back from lunch, they too noticed the change. Her two year old was up from his nap, and following everyone around, curious about what was happening.

The birthtub was prepared for Naomi to get back in it and a little before 3 pm, she climbed her way back in. Even in the tub she was really having to focus and breathe through the surges as they washed over her body.

There was no doubt she was in active labor now.

At about 3:30 pm her body began showing signs of transitions. Big temperature fluctuations, shaking, rectal pressure. Everyone fanning her, cooling her off with cold washcloths, and of course kisses from her toddler always help.

At about 4 pm, we could audibly hear her body start pushing. The pushing you have no control over, the fetal ejection reflex (FER).

And at 4:56 pm, her SURPRISE baby boy made his entrance earth side. Safe and sound. In the comfort of his own home. Brought out of the water by his parents, with is grandmother looking on, and his older brother running around.

His dad announcing “it’s a boy!”

postpartum

Naomi stayed in the birth pool for awhile, savoring the fresh moments of this brand new life she had just birthed. Soaking in all that oxytocin and reveling in the journey they all had just taken.

After birthing the placenta and taking some more time as a new family of four, she was helped out of the tub and onto the bed nearby.

Her husband was tasked with ordering her a big juicy burger from the local restaurant, and the midwives cleaned up the birth pool. Except, they ended up being showered (along with everything else in the room) with the birth water. Like, it literally went everywhere: the bed, the walls, the glider. Thankfully myself and my camera were not in the room when this happened, although the sounds of it were heard throughout the house (and possibly by the neighbors as well 😂).

After the newborn exam and placenta exploration, I packed up my camera and belongings and left for the hour drive home down the mountain.

Welcome to the world little one 🌿