Before I dive into the active birth stage, we need to back up a few days. It was Monday, July 3rd, and I had a burst of energy! I went to Walmart, At Home, the bank, and the gas station. I was walking in all the stores, unlike before when I used the motorized cart! I grabbed a few groceries and baby items. That night, I got up THREE times in the night, instead of the typical ONE middle of the night potty break, relieving my bladder from Jack's foot or hand, who know what?

At 6 am, July 4th, I ran a bath with lavender to calm my body from either an upset stomach or preterm labor. The bath helped some, but the pain came back. Scott and I agreed it was labor on its way. Now this "pretend' labor could last for days! So, we kept about our business. Scott was off since it was a holiday, yay! We gathered the birthing supplies around the house, made a list of items we still needed to get, cleaned out our guest closet, and loaded in the car! First stop, donation bin. Second stop, Target. This time I did indeed use the motorized shopping cart, since I was having contractions! No way I was going to walk through the store today! Once we returned home, I started cooking meals for us to freeze, and Scott got busy cleaning the guest room then assembling a bookshelf we bought that day. Yep, we stayed busy, all the while I am having a couple of contractions every hour. Our day was busy and successful! I did talk to Teree, my midwife, and kept her up to date on all that was happening! Since it was July 4th, we did enjoy the city firework show from our backyard, which was spectacular! Afterwards, I worked on my birthing powerpoint set up to the living room TV. We were in bed a little late, around 11:30. We woke up just an hour and a half later when my water broke.

It was 1 AM now on July 5th, and I sat on the edge of the bed with the amniotic fluid slowly flowing out of me, thank goodness I had prepped my bed for labor. I called my midwife, and she had me time my contractions for an hour. I thought I was going into active labor as my contractions were increasing in frequency and duration! She headed over as did my photographer, Jenny, and they arrived around 3 AM.

Teree did a vaginal exam with my consent, and I was thinking I was going to be dilated to a 6 or so. Nope, I was a 3 or a 4! I was completely effaced, though. After the exam, more water came out, and my contractions intensified! I did not like that one bit! They chilled out after a bit, and we all decided to take a nap.

I slept until I couldn't sleep anymore, which was around 7 am. I actually texted Teree, and she quickly got out of bed and checked on me. I told her it was time for the water. Scott woke up too, and he started the process of filling up the tub. I wanted to hop in immediately; however, Teree kept telling me we have to wait until the water is at least half way full. It felt like it took an eternity! Meanwhile, I sat on the birthing ball. Scott supported me and held me. As soon as I got the go ahead to get in the tub, I did, and instantly, about half the pain went away. It was a world of difference! The rest, my affirmations, and mental as well as physical preparations helped me gracefully go through the transition stage without the feeling that I wanted to give up or was too tired to continue.

I felt the urge to push. Teree said, is there pinching in your abs or not. There was, so she said let those go. Breath them away. I tried my best to do that until I couldn't any longer. I was now in the second stage of labor- Active Pushing! After doing this for a bit, I was encouraged to feel my baby's head. I did, and he was about 2 inches from crowning. I continued to push when I had contractions. I checked where is head was again; this time he was less than an inch away! The last time I checked, his head was there. It was partially out, and he was ready to go! I smelled my oil called Release, and I instantly had a huge contraction and pushed with it. MAN! That one hurt! Not gonna lie! So I figured out what the ring of fire meant. Let me tell you so you know what to expect! The entire area around the vaginal canal is burning, which includes your clitoris. Yeah, that is right. He was almost all the way out. I smelled Release again, and one more super intense moment, my son was out! I did bite Scott's hand for a second. I leaned back, and Teree moved the umbilical cord around, as it was around his neck, and they told me to grab my baby. I looked down, and was in shock. Here he was! It was 9:51. I fumbled to get him, and moments later, he was on my chest. My main concern was to not let him drown in the water once he took his first breath of oxygen. Then I got to enjoy him. I got to hold him. I could not believe it. The moment I had been waiting for 9 months with 24 hours of labor was finally here! I soaked up his beauty and admired my perfect little angel. His lips were plump and red, just like his gleaming hair! He was covered in rolls all over, and was the most precious thing I had ever seen. I felt complete. However, I still had the Third Stage of labor: Placenta Delivery.

Does anyone ever talk about delivering the placenta? No! The placenta is the only organ that our bodies create to nourish and carry life, then expel. Isn't that fascinating? I honestly had not given much thought to this phase of labor. I had visualized birthing my son, but not once did I visualize me pushing out the placenta. In fact, it was such a last minute idea, that on July 4th, the day I started labor, was the day I called Ame, the woman who was to encapsulate my placenta.. Talk about last minute planning! So, with that being said, my mind was not prepared; therefore, my body was not prepared. I stopped having contractions. I smelled Release, but nothing happened. The umbilical cord was still pulsing, so Jack was receiving all the nutrients he needed, but once the water cooled down under 100 degrees, it was time to get out of my beloved tub.

I made the journey down the hall with my baby and placenta still attached and inside me. We got comfortable on the bed, clamped the cord, and now daddy could do some skin to skin while I finished what I had to do, labor. I flipped over, smelled my oil, and pushed the same way I did with Jack, and the placenta quickly came out. It was a healthy, deep red color, thanks to my Ninxgia Red, and was so fascinating to look at!

Now it was time for the new born exam. He measured up perfectly. 8 pounds, 10 ounces; 20.5 inches long with a head that measured 14.5 inches around. His heart beat was strong as were his lungs.

We prepared for our herbal bath together; a bath of healing and bonding of momma and son. I still couldn't believe that he was here. Part of me and part of Scott was laying in my lap. What a miracle it is.

Mental preparation was the key to my home birth being a success. My daily 2 hour routine of mental and physical exercises helped make the birth of my dream become a reality. I feel a calling to help others' achieve a birth experience that leaves them feeling empowered. If you or someone you know is pregnant, and would benefit from having my support to empower the mom, please check out my tab "An Empowered Birth." I strongly believe we were created to birth naturally, and by following the flow of the body, the baby and the momma are the healthiest.