🌿 Why I Chose a Home Birth for My First Baby

When I Found Out I Was Pregnant

When I first saw those two pink lines, I was in total shock. I had been on birth control and wasn’t planning—or expecting—to be pregnant. I truly had no idea what to do next. I felt unsure of myself and completely uncertain about what steps to take.

I immediately called my OBGYN to schedule an appointment. That’s when I learned I’d have to wait until around eight weeks for a “confirmation of pregnancy” visit. That waiting period felt excruciating.

But when I finally went in and saw my baby’s heartbeat on the monitor, something shifted. I knew this was meant to be. I knew I was destined to be this baby’s mom. And I knew I wanted to do everything I could to have a healthy pregnancy and birth.

What Drew Me to Home Birth

Growing up, I knew that my mom ended up with C-sections for all her births—and I knew I wanted to avoid that if possible. It was my dream to have a natural, unmedicated birth. So I started researching everything I could about birth, especially unmedicated birth, and quickly realized how much there is to learn about pregnancy and childbirth.

At my prenatal appointments, I didn’t feel supported in the way I needed. Everything felt mechanical. Like I was just another name to check off on a list. I’d wait 30 minutes, get my vitals checked, see a provider for five minutes who’d listen to the baby’s heartbeat—and then I’d be sent on my way.

I left those appointments feeling like there had to be more. I wasn’t building a relationship with my provider. I didn’t feel safe asking questions. And as a young, confused mother, I often felt looked down upon or dismissed when I voiced concerns.

In my research, I found a local birth center and looked into transferring my care there—but was risked out because of my slightly elevated BMI. Around that time, I watched the documentary The Business of Being Born, and it completely flipped the script on everything I believed about hospital birth. I realized that the hospital wasn’t my only option—and maybe not even the safest option for me.

That’s when I began searching for a home birth midwife.

I realized that unless serious complications came up, birth is a normal and natural process—something women have done, literally, forever. I believed (and still believe) that God created my body to birth this baby. I didn’t want my pregnancy treated like a medical condition or turned into a statistic. I wanted individualized, personal care—and that’s exactly what I found with my home birth midwife.

Now, I believe that birth should be normalized as something that can safely happen at home, without being confined to hospital protocols. Being pregnant isn’t something that needs to be “treated.” It’s as normal as having a period.

The Day My Baby Was Born

I’ll never forget the day my first baby was born.

My water broke the night before, but contractions hadn’t started yet. I called my midwife, and she recommended that I try to get some sleep—it might be a while, and I’d need the rest.

Sure enough, contractions began soon after my water broke. I did my best to sleep, but by 5 a.m. the next morning, I was feeling them intensify and called my mom to come support me. She helped set up the birth tub while my dad made me breakfast. Around 7 a.m., I called my midwife again to update her. She arrived shortly after.

Of course, once she arrived, my contractions slowed a bit—probably from the excitement of having someone new in my space. I could still talk through them, but I was so thankful she came early. I didn’t fully know what to expect, and having her there was comforting.

I walked around my cul-de-sac to stay active and encourage labor to progress. Around 10 a.m., I laid down with my partner to rest. I ate some Chick-fil-A and was told I could get in the tub once it was filled. My midwife stepped out for lunch while I continued laboring—likely still in early labor at this point.

By 1:30 p.m., I got into the tub. My midwife returned around 3:00, and things really started to pick up. She had me get out of the tub and sit on the (dreaded) toilet to keep things moving. I then moved to the bed, alternating between hands-and-knees and leaning over the edge for each contraction.

That’s when the nausea hit—I threw up and knew I was in transition.

I began feeling pushy, and my midwife asked if I wanted to try pushing. I did, and then got back into the tub where I labored and pushed for several hours. At one point, I developed a cervical lip, and my midwife had to hold it back while I pushed. I turned 360 degrees in the water to help the baby’s head descend.

I was exhausted.

Eventually, I got out of the tub and moved to the bed in a supported supine position. That’s where I pushed my baby out. He was born at 7:15 p.m.

When they placed him on my chest, I was in absolute shock. I had done it. I had my baby—and I did it at home. The sense of accomplishment was unmatched.

The Moments After

My midwife and her assistant were incredible. They helped clean everything up, checked me and baby thoroughly, and created the calmest environment for his transition into the world.

I was helped to the bathroom to shower—it felt like a rebirth in itself. My dad made me a nourishing, delicious meal. And then I was able to crawl into my own bed (which had already been cleaned and made fresh). My midwife came back the next day to check on us.

The entire experience was peaceful, respectful, and centered around me. It felt so right to bring my baby into the world in a calm, homey space where I could follow my instincts—without interruptions.

And through it all, I had full peace of mind knowing my midwife was trained, experienced, and ready in case of an emergency.

What I Would Tell Another First-Time Mom

You don’t have to wait until your second or third baby to have the birth you dream of.

If home birth speaks to you—explore it. Do your research. Find a licensed, experienced midwife in your area who comes highly recommended. Ask about their emergency protocols and how transfers are handled. Learn what true risks might look like.

I was surprised to discover that many common “emergencies” are manageable at home—or allow plenty of time to transfer safely.

Birth can be scary. But don’t let fear control your decisions. Fear is a liar.

Your body was created for this. Birth is a normal, natural process. Surrender the fear to the Lord and trust Him to carry you through. Trust your body to do what it was made to do.

You are strong.
You are capable.
And you don’t have to settle for anything less than a birth that feels right for you.

💛 A Note About Birth Planning

If you’re feeling unsure about what kind of birth you want, or how to prepare for it, stay tuned. I’m working on a resource to help you create a birth plan that actually supports you—emotionally, spiritually, and practically.

Make sure you’re on my email list so you don’t miss it. ✨