“It was an absolutely transformative experience. I felt so empowered.”

Our son, was born on August 2nd, 2015 at 10:19pm! He was 7lbs 9oz and 20 inches long. Here’s our birth story:

I had contractions 6 minutes apart for 5 hours on Saturday the 1st, but they petered out. Things started back up around noon the next day. We labored at home until about 4pm. By that time I was having contractions 4 minutes apart for over an hour. I was admitted at Northside at 5pm. I was 4cm, 100% effaced, and our baby was at pelvic station 0. We brought copies of our birth preferences shared it with our midwife and all of the nurses. They were willing to honor all of our preferences, assuming an uncomplicated birth. My water broke at 5:30 and after that the contractions rolled one after another with no breaks. I progressed a cm per hour until I reached 7cm, then I went through transition in a little over an hour. Throughout labor–from when it began to get intense, all the way until I was through transition–I found the most relief in laboring on my knees with my upper body draped over the top of either a chair or upright bed. Swaying back and forth and humming on each exhale were also comforting. There was literally no time for any of the other comfort measures we had prepared for. By 9:30 I knew it was time to push. I pushed for about 45 minutes, and then our son arrived! I was able to deliver him just like I dreamed: unmedicated and without any interventions. It was an absolutely transformative experience. I felt so empowered and grateful. Seeing my son fully alert immediately after birth and sharing those first moments together completely aware of each other was worth it all. 

Gwynne, thank you for all you did to educate and prepare us for this experience. Your classes really helped to teach us about what to expect during each phase of labor, when to go to the hospital, and how to work together so that I felt supported throughout the entire process. I definitely plan to deliver my future children naturally if possible.Thank you again!”

Jessie M, Atlanta, GA

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• The Best Natural Childbirth Articles: A Roundup
• 3 Natural Childbirth Books To Read Before Delivering
• How Often to Feed a Newborn (& How to Know If Baby Is Getting Enough)
• How Long Does It Take For A Natural Birth
• Pregnancy Affirmations to Encourage & Empower