Emily Huldens Freebirth Story | 41+4

On the night of the 13 of November I walked by the calendar and said “Will tomorrow is my dads birthday we could have this baby then.” Not that I was having any sensations but at 41+4 it’s an anytime thing. We went about our normal nightly routine which consisted of bath time and getting tucked into bed with my daughter. I had been going to bed around 6:30 because I was just so uncomfortable by the end of the day and I honestly thought I would be pregnant forever. So once Will brought my daughter into bed and he told me that he was going to run the to work so he was available for me the next day  (this had been a reoccurring thing for about a week). Moments after he left it was like a switch flipped in my head all of a sudden I had to get up and do my schedule for work because I knew I wouldn’t be able to do it the next day. 

It would be the fastest I have ever done a schedule. Once I got up I started having some irregular sensations and as I got done with my work I realized my contractions were building and possibly getting somewhat regular. I thought great I wasted the time when I should have slept and now I’m going to be in labor for two days like I was with my first daughter on no sleep. So I called Will and updated him that it seemed like something was happening but that I was going to try and nap until he got home. (It was 9:30 at this point) Well my body had other plans I was not able to fall asleep and instead I found myself needing to moan throughout sensations as well as move my body and hips. I did this well waiting for my husband to get home so I could get into the shower. I didn’t want to get in and have my daughter woke up and look for me to find me in labor and be confused. Once he got home (about an hour later) I immediately got in the shower and realized I was actually really needing to be vocal to move this energy through my body. 

I stayed in the shower for what felt like about an hour and then I got out and started walking around the house and pausing with each sensation. Still unaware that I was actually in labor because hey it had taken two days the last time. So I paced around the house and just had to keep my body moving. It was just impossible to not do that, I tied to lay down again because I knew that sleep was important in early labor but I just couldn’t lay down. Around midnight I realized woke my daughter up so my husband turned on a movie for her, I noticed some bloody show at this time and I still was blissfully unaware that my body was in the process. I kept finding myself in the living room in front of the recliner when a wave would come, I would go from completely calm to unable to do anything but yell for my husband to come so I could hang from his neck and moan through the sensation. 

At some point I had dropped to my hands and knees for one of the waves. During I looked up to see a laundry hamper full of clean and rolled towels that had been silently brought to me by my husband. I knew at that moment how well I was being held and fully supported. I then asked for some bacon so my he started making me some. Around that time I started to move less and less and found comfort with my daughter who held me and said It’s ok and that she loved me. It really was so beautiful she knew exactly when I needed to have her near and she didn’t miss a beat. At some point around 1 ish I had decided I needed to lay on my side on the living room floor, so my husband and daughter both joined me and held me in the space as things intensified. Right around 2 my husband was feeling like he was needed by both me and my daughter so he asked if she wanted to go to grandmas house (which is right next door) she said yes.

Once dad hung up the phone my waters released and oh what magic that was. My daughter got to witness all of this and she was so excited. A few minutes later which felt like an eternity grandma arrived and picked her up at the back door. As I heard the back door close I felt my first real desire to push came as my body opened up, it felt wild! I felt the desire to check if I could feel the baby and I could baby was two knuckles in. I finally realized that this baby was going to be here soon. With each sensation I felt more tired and more ready to get this baby out of me.  I felt again and the head was less than a knuckle deep. My body was doing it all by itself and I just had to surrender to the process. 

On the next sensation I felt baby’s head start to emerge but I knew I had to wait for the next sensation to come for baby to come out so I rested. I looked deep int my husband’s eyes and said I’m so tired I want this baby out of me right now. Then I pushed with all my might and baby’s head came out into my hands I reached behind myself and paused, I wanted to feel my baby turn so bad. As baby did I looked at Will and said baby’s turning and in the next moment the whole body slid right out of me. 

I turned around after having caught this perfect crying baby and pulled my baby up to my chest and saw it was a girl my Dennie Jane she was here she was perfect and I had done it. She was here pink and crying my heart was so full. My husband helped me to the recliner and I sat down with her on my chest so proud we enjoyed the calm feeling of the house for about forty minutes. I was then reminded that the placenta needed to come. I had originally planned on doing a cord burning ceremony but it was short so we clamped and cut the cord and my husband took his shirt off and he held baby on his chest. I knew that this was it this was the end of this pregnancy I gave a good pull to my cord and it flew right out into the bowl. I was done I fell so much joy and energy now. How could I go to sleep so we just sat there in awe of what we just accomplished. Once the sun was up we told everyone. Margaret and Grandma came over and brought bacon and homemade muffins they had been making since arriving to grandmas house. It really was so peaceful and perfect, and I can’t wait to do it again.

Mama - @bluemountainbirthwellness

@thepositivepregnancyjourney