My First Natural Birth

My sweet baby boy was born at the end of March, earlier this year, and weighed 7 pounds 3 ounces. 

I made the decision to have a natural birth. With my previous two labors, I had caved during transition and gotten an epidural. This time I was determined to follow through with my goal. I could not have done it without the guidance in Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and my husband. 

In Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, there were dozens of positive birth stories. Some of these described contractions as a wave crashing against a rock. Others talked about how their bodies were opening up like flowers. Regardless of what story I read, I could see how labor was natural and something I could overcome. 

I wasn't sure what I would need in order to get past the contractions. I had heard of women singing or mooing like a cow. I had heard of mothers using essential oils or playing music. I tried out many different things and the only one that seemed to work was counterpressure. One of the nurses showed Jeremiah how to push on my back as the contractions were building. 

Labor progressed and I was managing the pain until I reached 8 centimeters dilated. The doctor determined that the baby was faced the wrong way and we would need to try to get him to turn. She turned the hospital bed into a huge chair and had me put my knees together. The pain was intense and I tried to escape it. I couldn't look at anyone in the room and was starting to panic. For a brief second, I looked at my husband. 

He was pressing on my knees to relieve the pain and he was smiling. I looked into his eyes and I could see how much he loved me. When I looked into his eyes, the pain from the contractions would disappear. I wasn't alone and I could get through this. My son was born a few minutes later. 

Mothers don't have to do this alone. She can lean into those who love her and get through anything. That’s why I started this business: I wanted mothers to feel less alone and to get nutritional assistance through postpartum. If you’re struggling through postpartum, check out this postpartum multivitamin.