Kathleen’s birth story
Reflecting on my birth experience fills me with joy, strength and wonder. I love sharing my story, and I hope it gives confidence and encouragement to women who are in search of this. So, buckle in and here we go...!
It all started on the morning of February 10th, 2025, when I went to attend my acupuncture appointment. My 'due date' was the following day, so my acupuncturist offered one more pressure point to my treatment. I thought, 'Why not give it a try?'. The moment the needle pressed into my baby toe, I felt my little one move inside! He would often move around during my treatments, but this time it felt different, like something woke up within me. This feeling of awakening and energy in my womb space stayed with me throughout the day. I continued to feel good though, so I went about my day as planned- I cycled to my prenatal yoga class, met up with some mamas-to-be for an afternoon catch up, then headed home around 5pm. Once I was home I had this feeling that I should stay home for the evening - something just felt different about this day. And sure enough, as the evening progressed I started feeling a pulling sensation across my womb and hips. Around 9pm I went to the toilet and my mucus plug came out! I started to get a little excited - perhaps today's the day! During these hours I had some gentle cramping, but nothing that made me feel that labour had truly begun. It wasn't until a couple hours later, around midnight or 1am, while I was lying in bed trying to get some sleep, that my waters broke! And from that moment on it was clear- I was definitely in labour! I laboured throughout the night at home- on all fours, or leaning on the sofa, with my husband providing counter pressure on my hips and sacrum- such relief! Sitting on the toilet also felt nice, as I let my body fully relax and open. Throughout my entire labour at home I listened to my Hypnobirthing tracks, and had some guided breathing throughout each surge. These tools kept me grounded for hours and I felt completely in my own wild world. My labour really felt like I was riding a wave with every surge, and the waves got bigger and bigger as my baby was making his way down. I found vocalizing and making deep sounds felt so satisfying with every surge. After several hours of labouring at home, I was feeling an urge to bear down and push!
At 6:30am I decided it was time to head to the birth house. We arrived there within 5 minutes (it's just down the street from us - a wonderful coincidence!), and the moment I entered the birth room I got into the bathtub. The warm water felt amazing, as I could relax completely in between my surges. I labour comfortably in the tub for a couple hours and it felt so so good. My husband set up the music, candles and essential oils, and I just enjoyed my bath in the dim light. It was beautiful.❤️
After some time I got out of the tub and tried labouring on land to see if that would help move things along. And sure enough, as soon as I got out, labour picked up again and I could really feel my baby's head getting close to crowning. Being the birth-curious woman I am, I asked the midwives for a mirror, and they put one underneath me. While I was in a semi squat and kneeling position, I looked down and witnessed myself giving birth...! It was magical- I saw my baby's head begin to crown! The body knows best, and I would get a glimpse of his head, then back in it would go, and it went on like this for closer to 1hour! My body was slowly opening and softening, stretching more and more until he finally crowned. I felt and saw his whole head crown, and on the same surge the rest of his body came out- straight into my arms! It was incredible- I caught my own baby! I sat back and brought him onto my stomach. I looked down and there he was, baby Lennie, with wide eyes starting back at me! My midwife and husband helped me onto the bed, and just like that, life with our baby boy began. 💛
I LOVED my birth experience and feel so grateful for it, and so proud of myself. Having a trusted birth team and birthing environment was so crucial, as well as developing trust in my body and the birthing process. I loved learning all about birth during my pregnancy, and attending Lisanne's Babymoon Retreat in Ericeira further deepened trust and confidence in my body and baby, as well as connecting me with other women who were going through the same experience. My time at that retreat deepened my knowledge of birth, as well as my connection to the feminine and to a feeling of sisterhood and mothering, something I am so grateful for. 💫
Also, I completely forgot to mention but another unique and beautiful thing about the midwives in the birth house is that I never had a single cervical check. They simply gage my progress by observing me. They would also discreetly check on the baby's heart rate after every several surges. There is no coached pushing or any interference at all. They really are present as silent witnesses to the birth and are there to make sure you and baby are safe. I found this to be such a big contrast to the hospital setting. I was also not rushed to birth my placenta, and I waited as long as I wanted to cut my baby's umbilical cord (think I did it after 2 hours or so).
And another thing, having a midwife from the birth house also means continuity of care, so I had the same midwife from the very beginning at 13 weeks pregnant, until the very end. Research shows continuity of care leads to better birth outcomes.
If ever someone wants to get in touch and talk more about giving birth in a birth house, I am super open to do so, you can just ask Lisanne for my contact details.
