Surprise! We had another baby!
A sweet baby girl, Paisley Wren has joined our family and our hearts feel complete.
We tried several forms of at-home inductions, but nothing worked until we incorporated biophoton therapy, acupuncture, and a strict natural induction plan guided by our midwife. Despite the challenges, I trusted my body and leaned on prayer and preparation to stay grounded.
Our birth plan was simple: a peaceful home birth where I could labor in whatever position felt right. I envisioned being in the bathtub, surrounded by dim lighting, the calming scent of clary sage, and birthing affirmations playing softly in the background. My husband, J, my midwife, Caeli Werner, and her assistant were my support team, and I felt confident they would guide me through whatever came next.
To prepare, I did plenty of walking, curb walking, lunges, and the Miles Circuit to encourage baby’s descent. I practiced diaphragmatic breathing, visualized the peaceful birth I wanted, and surrendered my timeline to God, praying for the strength to trust His plan.
Labor began with our midwife assisting an induction using tinctures and acupressure points. I was pumping when my water broke, and contractions followed shortly after. At first, I thought we had more time, so I lay down to rest, but my labor quickly progressed from early to active.
Contractions grew stronger, and before I knew it, I was in transition. I moved to the bathtub, feeling intense waves of heat and cold, paired with the overwhelming sense that I couldn’t do this anymore. Deep down, I knew that meant it was almost time to meet our baby.
After several powerful contractions, the pressure became too intense, and J instinctively pulled me out of the tub. Though I wasn’t able to voice it, he knew I needed to be on the bed. I crawled to the doorway of our bathroom and paused to breathe through a contraction. That’s when I felt her head deliver.
With the next contraction, a tiny push brought the rest of her body earthside. It was quicker than any of my other births, but the feeling of euphoria afterward was unmatched.
Our baby girl was my chunkiest baby yet, and she was absolutely perfect. Pulling her to my chest for the first time was pure bliss—feeling her warm, tiny body against mine was everything I had prayed for.
She had ten tiny fingers and toes, but one of her earlobes had an extra little fold. That small detail became my favorite feature of hers. It felt like a unique mark of her individuality, a little reminder of how perfectly made she was.
One of the most special moments was how J intuitively knew I needed to be moved from the tub to the bed. He has always known me so well, and in that moment, his strength and love carried me through. Afterward, he cared for me tenderly, making sure I felt supported, nurtured, and celebrated for what my body had just accomplished.
Recovery this time was smoother than I expected, thanks to the incredible support from J. He took time off to stay home, allowing me to rest and heal. I followed the “5-5-5” rule: five days in bed, five days on the bed, and five days around the bed.
He kept me nourished with warm soups and broths and prepared relaxing herbal sitz baths. I supported my recovery with supplements like Dr. Christopher’s Female Tonic, Zinc, Iron, Magnesium, Trace Minerals, and Pink Stork’s Postpartum Recovery tincture, which helped balance my hormones.
Looking back, this birth taught me so much about surrender, trust, and the beauty of partnership. J’s unwavering support and intuition made the experience even more profound, and I’m endlessly grateful for his love and care.
If I could offer advice to someone preparing for birth, it would be this: trust your body, trust your baby, and surround yourself with people who truly see and support you. Birth is a journey, and every step—however unexpected—is part of the story you’ll cherish forever.