After three frustrating hospital inductions, Lauran wanted a change. OB after OB had ignored her warning that she would birth quickly once transition hit. In fact, her second baby was caught by a nurse because the OB left to take a nap when she was 5cm dilated only an hour before!

For her fourth baby, she was able to finally pursue a birth on her terms, at home with a midwife. After weeks and weeks of prodromal labor, she worked so hard to bring her baby boy into the world. The way that she calmly rode the waves of her contractions was so unique…despite all of the Hypnobirthing clients that I’ve had the privilege to work with, I was still completely blown away by her ability to talk through contractions right up until transition. This was an amazing birth that I will never forget! Here is Lauran’s home birth story, in her own words! Enjoy!

“The morning before his birth, I had gone in to Fruitful Vine for a checkup, and he was comfy as could be. We did a [membrane] sweep in hopes it would get things moving.

I remember having contractions through dinner, but it didn’t really phase me. This had been going on for weeks so I figured it would just be another night of prodromal labor. I showered, drank my tea and decided to call it a night. Might as well get rest if it is true labor right??

I woke up around 2 am to having consistent contractions. They didn’t hurt, but were just really annoying. I tried to lay there and just rest but my gut kept telling me to get up and call my midwife. I fought with myself over this for about 30 minutes. No way I could be in labor…my water hadn’t broken yet! I decided to time some contractions and they were 3-4 minutes apart. That’s when I said, “Okay, I better call my birth team.”

Knowing that Lauran had gotten a sweep that afternoon, I had this gut feeling that she would go into labor soon. I decided I would sleep in the guest bedroom, so that a middle-of-the-night phone call wouldn’t wake my own baby boy and husband up. Sure enough, Lauran called, positive and calm, and said it was time. Knowing her birth history, I flew out of bed and was in my car within two minutes. I was so grateful to see Lauran’s smiling face when she opened the door! We chatted for a while and waited for the rest of her birth team to arrive.

“It was just after 2:30 am at this point. The beginning was really easy. I could feel the tightening but that’s it. I was laughing and talking to everyone as they showed up.

They got here at 3:30 am and nothing had changed from my appointment the previous day. I was still contracting about 3-4 min apart though so I was hopeful. I clearly remember Dallas asking if I was contracting because she couldn’t tell since I was just talking through it all still!”

So…I’ve been a birth photographer for years now. Many of my clients use Hypnobirthing techniques to stay calm and peaceful during their births. Heck, I’ve had two calm, unmedicated births myself.

So when I say that Lauran labored in a way that I had never EVER seen before, I mean it! She could look you in the eye and continue a conversation and I couldn’t even tell she was having a contraction. No one would have known she was in labor.

And yet, Lauran surrounded herself with a birth team that TRUSTED HER. That took her at her word and didn’t doubt for a second that this was the real deal. She was 5cm dilated, and with her history, that meant birth was imminent.

Heather, the birth assistant and student midwife, playfully slapped a sticker from the home birth kit on Lauran’s belly! Fitting, right??

“I put some clary sage oil on to see if it would get things moving and it definitely helped.

Things started to get more intense, but at the same time I was getting nervous that it was going to take forever or that I couldn’t handle it.

My water still hadn’t broken so I was getting in my head a bit.

I was having to breathe through my contractions and ask if I was allowed to get in the tub yet to see if it would help. They said to do whatever I felt I needed but sometimes water could slow it down. After a couple more contractions I was like, ‘Nope, fill the tub, let’s go.’”

Lauran had a beautiful space set up in her bathroom, and the window was filled with handmade birth affirmations to encourage her.

“The hot water definitely helped, then everything hit like a ton of waves.

My labor was fast and intense, like my previous three had been. My contractions were on top of each other, easily having 3-4 back to back then a small break before the next wave of contractions would hit.

I KNEW I was in transition but at the same time it felt impossible because my water STILL hadn’t broken.

I remember telling them I felt like I needed to push. My body definitely was pushing, but not full-on ‘get the baby out’ pushes yet.

Dallas was telling me I was so strong and I could do this. Everyone gave me the space I wanted, it was nice and quiet while I was just in my element, dealing with labor the way I knew how to. Being in my own space, was so peaceful and quiet. No wires and tubes, or beeping machines. Being allowed to listen to my body and not get yelled at or told no.

Sharon asked if I wanted to be checked and I said, ‘I don’t know; maybe.’ I was in the middle of contractions and just couldn’t move yet. She just patiently waited for me to be ready a few minutes later.

Heather grabbed a second glove for Sharon and helped her put it on since her other hand was in the water…it was a long, comical minute while they tried to maneuver the glove on in between contractions! We were all giggling!

“The second glove! Omg it felt like a lifetime of waiting!

Once I could move she told me I had a small [cervical] lip and asked if I wanted her to hold it back so I could push and I said yes.

I asked if I was allowed to push. Silly I know, but I didn’t expect literally every part of my birth to be in my hands and my time. They all said to do what my body told me to. Which was completely new to me since my hospital births were such a mess, and the OBs wouldn’t listen.

I think I pushed hard 3-4 times before his head was out.

I was thinking, “Wow, this is what a normal birth feels like!” I remember being angry at the OBs that delivered my other three kids, and how just amazing and peaceful this birth was.

Sharon told me to catch him and I was like, “I can’t.” My body was still in shock from how quick everything went!

Once he was out of the water I pulled him up and remember thinking he was just SO big. He looked just like his daddy, and just like big brother when he was born.

Fun observation…can you see my accidental selfie in the image above??

The room was all smiles as this little boy adjusted to life on the outside. He was a little bruised and purple from his speedy entrance into the world, but he pinked up in a few minutes.

Quiet Christian music played from Lauran’s cell phone as she lovingly looked over her newest baby boy.

His long umbilical cord was left alone to pulse until it turned white and limp. Lauran birthed the placenta in the tub and passed baby off to his daddy while the midwives helped her get out.

Baby was so alert, yet so content. He quietly blinked in his daddy’s arms while mom took the short journey from the tub to her bed.

Lauran loved that she was able to immediately snuggle into her own bed, skin to skin with her new baby. It was a completely opposite experience from her previous three hospital births and an absolute dream come true for her.

The midwives assessed her vitals and bleeding and returned the bathroom to its previous state. I absolutely love working with the Fruitful Vine midwives and I highly recommend them!

Soon their baby was interested in feeding, which was a joy to watch!

“Feeding him was the best! He knew exactly what to do. His latch wasn’t the best but we’ve been working on that. He did take a giant poop on me during skin to skin after he was born!”

The midwives weighed baby and we all threw out our guesses. In the end he was…

…8 pounds and 8 ounces! Lauran laughed, as this sweet boy was over two pounds heavier than some of his siblings!

The midwives lovingly assessed baby at the edge of the bed, respectfully and gently taking tiny measurements and looking over every inch. The sun was beginning to rise and we wondered if any of his siblings would be waking up soon.

“From start to finish, his birth was less than 7 hours, and it was an amazing healing birth at home! The kiddos slept through it all and got to meet their new brother when they got up at 7:30. They were excited for sure!

The youngest of the three was a bit unsure, she just wanted to snuggle with momma.

This birth was the absolute best experience ever. So beyond happy that we are ending on a good note. I’m so grateful that my voice was heard and what I wanted was respected. Birth is so raw, and beautiful. Having a home birth has always been a dream, and it finally came true. Then getting to crawl into my bed and be comfortable with our new squish.

Dallas was amazing to work with. She’s so sweet and professional, and just has a calmness about her. Very respectful of your wishes. She captured such a beautiful moment of our life and having these photos as a memory to relive that day again and again are priceless. Adding her to our birth team was one of the best decisions we made.”

Lauran, I can’t thank you enough for the honor to witness your strength. Your birth is one I will never forget!

-Dallas

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