Birth Story: First Time Mom Freebirth
A journey from maiden to mother — a primal, freebirth led soley by my own intuition
“When left undisturbed, birth simply unfolds without the need for labels. However, for the sake of storytelling and inspiring others mothers on a similar journey, this is what best describes my experience” — First time mom, freebirth
“Your first birth isn’t a trial run”
Many people say that the first birth is a ‘practice run’. because it’s a huge learning experience. Your body is doing something it’s never done before, and you don’t know exactly how labor will go until you’re in it. It’s also a big learning curve emotionally and mentally for you and your partner. Every birth is unique, and even experienced moms say each labor teaches them something new. What they don't always mention is that women have been giving birth for centuries, they’ve trusted their intuition and have birthed unassisted throughout history.
Choosing unassisted birth
From the moment we decided to start a family, we knew we wanted a home birth. We interviewed several midwives, but none of them felt like the right fit. My husband and I deeply value the freedom to make our own decisions without having to fight for what we believe in.
Through the guidance and experiences of others, we were introduced to the concept of a wild pregnancy and free birth. We resonated strongly with these ideas and ultimately decided that was the best choice for our family.
My prenatal care include of weekly adjustments, conversations about birth with friends, and coffee dates with my doula. My husband and I had numerous discussions about birth, and used this time to strengthen our connection, eat a nutrient-dense diet, and stay active.
Due dates
We chose to use the wood’s method to calculate our “due date”, which gave us March 24th. I know many mothers who have gone well past their guess date, and I understand the mental challenges that can come with that. So, we decided to add an extra two weeks for our peace of mind, putting us at April 7th.
Monday, March 25th
I woke up for work with a few mild contractions but didn’t want to get too excited because I knew it could be a few days or weeks before baby arrived. The drive into work was a little uncomfortable but I made it there. When I got to work I told Dr. Allie I was having a few contractions and wanted to get adjusted to help my body align with baby’s position. Throughout the morning I bounced on my ball and continued to focus on my breathe through each contractions.
After having some cramping and contractions throughout the day and loosing parts of my mucus plug, I wanted Adam close by, so we thought it was best for him to stay home from work. We spent the evening together, had “one last date” and set up our birth space. He blew up the pool and I hung some pictures and lights around it. After dinner I updated our doula and continued bouncing on the ball and tried to finish knitting the baby’s blanket. I was getting very excited but knew it wasn’t time yet, so I took some sleeping aids, a long bath and went to bed.
Tuesday, March 26th
Intuitively I knew something was going to happen soon, so I made sure to get extra sleep and have a nice big breakfast. I wasn’t having many contractions, which left me feeling a bit discouraged, but also relieved since there was still a lot to do before baby’s arrival. My plan for the day was to make a weight sling, clean, and prep some meals. I start feeling antsy so, we decided to take our dog to the park to burn off some energy and help move the baby into a good position for labor. Afterward, we had lunch, I took a shower to make sure my hair was clean, and then I took a long nap. By dinnertime, I started feeling a few more contractions, but I still thought we had a day or two before meeting our baby.
Around 8 p.m., I began bouncing on the ball and expressing colostrum, which really made the contractions pick up. Soon after, I went to the bathroom and lost more of my mucus plug. After all the excitement and naps, I couldn’t fall asleep, so around 11 p.m. we made a quick grocery run for bananas. During the drive, I had some uncomfortable contractions. By then, I knew I was in labor, but still thought it was early on. Once we got home, I continued laboring on the ball while watching TV. I didn’t want to time anything, but my husband was quietly keeping an eye on the clock. The contractions were getting closer and more intense, yet I was still in denial about being in active labor.
Wednesday, March 27th
At 12:30 AM, I figured I should try to get some rest, so I went to bed. But my "rest" only came between contractions, which I guessed were about every 6-7 minutes. Eventually, I got up and went to the bathroom to relieve some pressure and empty my bladder. I was in there for a while when my husband came to check on me. He asked if I was doing okay and wanting his support, and I thought to myself, "No," but I was determined to get back to bed to rest. As soon as I laid down into bed, I had to get out again and labor next to it. Adam quickly got out of bed and started hurrying around, preparing everything for baby’s arrival.
I tried various positions around the bedroom, but once again, I felt the urge to pee. I headed to the bathroom, where I found myself breathing through contractions while on the “dilation station”.
2:30AM: Adam asked if we should call our doula, Bri, but I declined, not wanting her to come and wait around for hours with no baby arriving. I made my way back to the bedroom and tried kneeling beside the bed. The contractions were coming consistently, so I focused on drinking plenty of electrolytes and vocalizing through the tightening.
3:01AM: Adam texted Bri to update her on how I was feeling and let her know that things were progressing quickly. A few minutes later, we decided it would be a good idea to call our doula, have her listen to me work through contractions, and get her opinion on whether she should come. After that call, I headed to the bathroom. I felt like I needed to pee constantly and also required counter pressure, and the toilet was the most comfortable place to relieve the pressure on my bottom. I was checking myself to see where I was in terms of dilation.
3:34AM: Bri called back to confirm that I wanted her to join our birth space, and she told Adam to start filling the birth pool. During the call, she mentioned what to do if the baby arrived before she got there...that’s when I realized we’d be meeting our baby very soon.
4:32AM: Bri arrived and joined me in the bathroom. She knelt next to me and said, "Your body was made for this". Hearing that from a mother was incredibly encouraging.
I reached down and could feel my water bag bulging. I asked her if I should break my water, and she said, "If you do, your contractions will get more intense." I responded, "More intense than this?!" My body knew what it needed, and with the next contraction, my water broke. Bri was right—the sensations became much more intense, and I felt like I couldn’t catch a break from the contractions. She then checked the birth pool and told me that if I wanted to birth in the tub, now was the time.
I got into the birth pool and immediately felt such relief—it was the most weightless I had felt throughout my entire pregnancy. The warm water was incredibly soothing, and I finally got to catch my breath. Adam and Bri offered me water and cold cloths to help cool me down. I had a few minutes of relief before the intense contractions hit again.
I reached down and could feel the baby’s head—there was so much hair. From that point on, the contractions were coming one after another, and I had trouble remembering to breathe. Someone reminded me to stay in the water and focus on slowing my breath.
Then, I could feel the baby crowning. I tried to communicate what was happening and yelled, "Ring of fire!" And just like that, the baby was crowning.
I felt a bit anxious and unconsciously held back, causing her to slightly revert. But with the next contraction, she was crowning again, and I gave one small push.
I knew I wanted to trust the fetal ejection reflex and avoid straining my body by pushing too hard. I took one long breath to give my body a rest, and with the next contraction, the baby’s head made its way out. I was filled with excitement—we were just one contraction away from meeting our baby. In that brief moment, I felt the baby’s head. Then, with the next contraction, my body involuntarily pushed the rest of the baby out.
I scooped the baby up and onto my chest, feeling an immediate sense of relief the moment they were in my arms.
“Nothing compares to the surreal moment of catching your own baby.”
I took a few moments to catch my breath and admire my precious baby. We then announced their gender…
a GIRL. I was shocked. Shortly after, I felt the heaviness of my placenta and tried giving a little push in the pool, but I couldn’t find my footing. I handed the baby to Dad, and we made our way to the toilet. I sat down, and with a gentle push, I caught my placenta. After I freshened up, Bri set up a cozy spot for us in bed.
Welcome Layla Mae!
Layla Mae born at 5:15 AM, named after her Auntie, my first best friend. We had her latch, and Dad cut the cord, we snuggled up in bed as a family of three 🤍
Postpartum Bliss
My husband was the absolute BEST postpartum doula! I was able to spend so much time bonding and resting, which made for a smoother recovery. I’m incredibly grateful for the support and nourishing meals we received from friends and family. The first week was truly blissful and amazing. The bond and connection that forms between a mama, her baby, is such a beautiful experience. I can pinpoint the exact moment I fell in love with her, and I’ve loved her so deeply ever since!
Postpartum Thoughts:
I would love to get into the tub earlier with our next, to experience the relief and comfort sooner.
During my next pregnancy, I want to learn more breathing techniques and ways to stay focused throughout labor. I felt like once the contractions started, I couldn’t quite get on top of them.
Looking back, I wish I had captured more moments throughout labor, just for my own personal memories.
Postpartum Acknowledgments
Thank you, Adam, for being the most supportive and loving husband throughout this incredible experience.
Layla, thank you for choosing me to be your mother. You are everything we’ve ever hoped and prayed for.
Our postpartum support was absolutely amazing! My sister, in-laws, and friends who cooked, cleaned, and filled our home with love—this support has meant the world to us.
Sometimes building a “village” can be hard, but I am so grateful for the women who have supported me on my motherhood journey. I’m so excited to continue growing our village in the years to come.
I am very grateful to the women who introduced me to free birth and inspired and encouraged me on my journey to a sovereign birth.