A Water Birth Story | Fruitful Vine Birth Center

To say that this family and I were meant to meet each other is an understatement. We connected on a Jacksonville breastfeeding Facebook group and within one conversation, discovered that we had doulas and dear friends in common! We learned that Kori and her husband, Barnes, live right around the corner from where I grew up. And right away, I was really looking forward to being there for their birth!

I got a text from Kori on a sunny afternoon, saying that today might be the day! Even over texting, I could tell that she was excited about the journey that lay ahead of her. Her son's birth two years ago was a difficult one, made even harder by a NICU stay for her little boy. She and her husband had done so much research and had learned so much about natural birth, and they were ready for a redemptive experience.

Fruitful Vine Birth Center provides home birth and water birth in Jacksonville

When I arrived at the birth center, the place was full of happy, excited energy. Their two year old was exploring the room and getting settled in for the evening with his toys and a movie. 

Big brother watches cartoons while his mom labors with his baby sister.
A mom in labor laughs with her two year old at the Fruitful Vine Birth Center.

I met their wonderful doula, Annie Tinker, as well as one of the talented Fruitful Vine midwives. I was excited to see a familiar face, the fabulous Emily Wannenburg of 4th Trimester Fitness, who was working hard as the birth assistant that evening.

A doula applies essential oils to her client while she breathes through her contractions.
A birth assistant takes her patient’s blood pressure while she is in labor.

Mama was in good spirits and seemed excited to finally be meeting her baby girl. It was early in the evening, but we were all watching the clock. You see, at midnight, it was going to be Kori's birthday!  If this little girl wanted a birthday all to herself, she was going to have to make her grand entrance within the next few hours, otherwise, she would get to share a birthday with her mama!

The first emotional moment came early in the evening. Amidst all of the excitement, Kori was really starting to have to concentrate through her contractions. She needed to let her family take care of her oldest baby so that she could focus on doing the hard work of labor with her newest baby. It was a bittersweet moment when her toddler skipped off to go watch a movie. And it was one of the many times that Kori would show what she was capable of: great strength.

A doula puts a loving hand on her client’s shoulder while holding her toddler and encouraging her.

Over the next few hours, the skilled ladies (doula, midwife, and birth assistant, what a trio!) helped Kori move through her labor and try different positions to get things moving. 

A Jacksonville doula uses a rebozo to help lift her client’s pregnant belly during contractions.

A heavenly essential oil blend called Serenity was diffused. Lights were dimmed, and soft music was played. Kori and Barnes snuggled into bed and focused on breathing, opening, softening.

A laboring mother is surrounded by her doula and her husband as they encourage her to rest and relax.

Whenever a contraction started, she got this beautiful "far away" look in her eye and everyone quieted to let her work through it.

A black and white image of a laboring mom, sitting on a birth ball.
An image of a mother surrounded by supportive women while she is giving birth to her daughter.

"The Tools of the Trade." Some items so simple: warm socks of rice to relax the hands, lip balm and a roller to relax the muscles. And some so technological: a fetal doppler to track the healthy heartbeat of the baby, and a portable essential oil diffuser to bring peace and calm. The way that these skilled birth workers use their tools is really neat to watch!

Tools of the doula and midwives used, a doppler to listen to the fetal heartbeat, chapstick and warm rice bags.

After all of that hard work, mama got hungry! It was so fun to see her excitement over placing a phone order for Tijuanna Flatts Tex-Mex. "Hi, yes, I'd like to order a burrito for pickup. Yeah, I'm in labor! Like right now!" Everyone came in and enjoyed a meal together while mama ate bites in between contractions. She'd feel one coming on and say, "No, no, wait, I want one more bite!" She hadn’t been allowed to eat during her hospital labor with her first baby, so this was really exciting to her!

A mother in labor smiles and she makes a phone call, ordering food to the birth center.

Everyone came in and enjoyed a meal together while Kori ate bites in between contractions. She'd feel one coming on and say, "No, no, wait, I want one more bite!" She hadn’t been allowed to eat during her hospital labor with her first baby, so this was really exciting to her!

A woman in labor eats a burrito while she labors at the Fruitful Vine Birth Center.
A mother breathes through her contractions as her doula supports her.

With all of the fun of a break, labor slowed down a bit. The doulas and midwife suggested that she try some different positions to get baby girl moving a bit. She labored standing up, draped over a birth ball, and on all fours with a rebozo. Doula Annie was an absolute rock star as she skillfully jiggled that baby into position for close to 45 minutes; her strong arms never giving out.

Rocking on a birth ball can help encourage contractions and help baby to descend.
A doula uses a rebozo to sift her client’s baby into a more optimal position for bith.

Earlier in the evening, soon-to-be big brother had gone to bed in a back bedroom. At one point though, as toddlers often do, he woke up crying and needed his mama. Kori scooped her baby into her arms and rocked him on the birth ball along with her contractions. Strength. It was a sacred, time-stopping moment, as she rocked her baby for the last time as an only child.

A mother comforts her toddler during labor and delivery at her Jacksonville birth center.

Over the next few hours, labor slowed and picked up, slowed and picked up.

A mom in labor rubs her belly between contractions.
A doula places her hand on her client’s forehead and holds her hand during a difficult moment in birth.

The midwife did a check and offered to break Kori's water to get things moving, and it absolutely worked. Barnes was strong and steady as he held his wife and quietly shared his strength. Watching the two of them work together to bring their baby earthside was an honor.

A mother in labor grimaces and she holds onto her husband for support.
A father gently holds the belly of his wife as she sits on a birth stool.

As the hours slipped by, Kori's mom quietly said to her daughter, "Happy birthday!"  It was midnight. It looked like this mama was going to be getting an extra-special birthday present this year!

A midwife uses a rebozo to lift the belly of her patient between contractions.
A mother grimaces as she labors on the toilet during the birth of her daughter. She is supported by her doula.

Finally, mama started feeling a deep pressure and she was ready to push. A big, warm tub was all ready for her. She labored in a few different positions in the tub, holding tight to her husband's hands and then lying back and resting.

A husband and wife hold hands as she starts to push in a birthing tub at Fruitful Vine Birth Center.
The mother breathes deeply as she prepares to push and meet her baby in her Jacksonville water birth.

When Kori's baby was beginning to emerge, she leaned into the encouraging words around her, from her doula, her mother, her midwife, and her husband. Her faith played such a strong role in her labor, particularly in those last final moments.

A doula uses her fists to provide firm lower back pressure during contractions.

She asked her husband to pray, and his words and God's power gave her strength. "Jesus, help me get her out!" Those simple words sprung tears to my eyes and gave me goosebumps, as those were the same thoughts running through my mind when I had delivered my daughter only a few short months before.

A mom in labor closes her eyes and breathes while she holds her husband’s hand and starts pushing.

When baby girl started crowning, we were all so excited! Everyone was chattering, cheering mama on, describing the sweet little head that was emerging. Kori quickly said, "Stop talking..." so that she could focus (strength!) and then gathered all of her energy to push her baby girl into the world.

Everyone looks on excitedly as she pushes and baby’s head begins to crown.
A midwife brings the baby up out of the water to give the mother skin to skin with her new baby.

The look of wonder and relief on her face and the amazement on her husband's face was so precious. They had done it! A natural birth, their own way, making their own empowered decisions, and their baby girl was safe in her mama's arms.

A mother looks up with exhaustion as she holds her new baby, covered in vernix, in the birthing tub.
A new mom rests after birthing her new baby daughter in a birth tub in Jacksonville.

Baby girl was put skin-to-skin with her daddy while mama was helped into a warm, cozy bed.

A new dad holds his newborn daughter skin to skin at the Fruitful Vine Midwifery birth center.

Lots of emotions washed over these new parents as they snuggled their little girl, and the moments held a mixture of tears, deep breaths, and laughter. 

A new mom cries as she holds her newborn daughter skin to skin after birth.
A mother smiles at her baby, relieved that she is finally here.

Baby needed a little oxygen and a few big cries, but her little pink body was just perfect.  

A midwife assesses a newborn baby shortly after birth.

The rest of the night was a dance done many times by the women of Fruitful Vine. A tender newborn exam, a swift cleaning up of the room, and checking out mama. All was well as the sun rose over a new day.

A midwife from Fruitful Vine Midwifery creates footprints on a baby’s birth certificate.
A newborn closes her eyes during her newborn exam after birth.
A new dad looks back at his wife while holding his new baby daughter.

Welcome to the world, baby Abigail. Your mom and dad worked so hard to bring you into this world peacefully, and your calm, sweet nature is a blessing to them!

A couple cuddles skin to skin with their new daughter at the Fruitful Vine Midwifery Birth Center in Jacksonville, Florida.
A couple smiles at the photographer Dallas Arthur at the Fruitful Vine Birth Center in Jacksonville, Florida.

Dallas Arthur

Hey, I’m Dallas! I am a certified doula and professional birth photographerin Jacksonville, Florida. As a birth nerd and mom of two, I am passionate about showing the world that birth is beautiful! I’d love to hear your story and be part of your birth team! Read more…

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