Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear. ~Ambrose Redmoon

Have you taken a pure birth class or used the homestudy course? Email us your birth story to be listed on this website!

Birth Story by Leah:

My water broke at 7am on a Friday. No contractions all day. Ruth, my midwife, came over to check the baby's heart beat around 2 in the afternoon. He was fine. I saw her again at 7pm with no contractions still, where she tells me that if this doesn't start to happen soon we may need to take castor oil or face a trip to the hospital to be induced with pitocin. This being the case my husband and I went for an hour long walk at the mall, came home and rubbed my ankles, had raspberry leaf tea, and did nipple stimulation to induce with out the need for castor oil. All this worked because by 9:30pm Friday we were having some real good contractions. I labored on a birth ball for many of them. Ruth came back over at 11pm and checked me. Baby was fine and I was 5cm. She went home to gather her supplies and await our next call. It was a cool night so we had the windows open. The fresh breeze felt good and I was able to hear the night noises. My husband had my favorite songs playing on the stereo and a slide show of all our favorite family photos on our TV. The mood in our birth environment was peaceful and private. Then when the contractions were so close that they felt like they were on top of each other, my husband called Ruth to ask if I could now get in our birth pool. It was fine to do so, and she said she would be over around 2:30am. When she arrived I was nearly ready to start pushing. After 45 min in the tub pushing I was feeling hot, so I got out and pushed on the birthing stool (great device by the way!). After a bit of that I was tired and decided to lay in my bed and try pushing while laying on my left side. The rest I got in between contractions was nice. Finally at 5:01 am Sydney exploded into the world soaking my bed and everyone in the room! It was so nice to feel him come out. Overall I pushed for about an hour and a half. For the next three hours my husband, my new baby Sydney, and I laid in our bed while Ruth and her assistant took care of us, cleaned up, and filled out paperwork. I have to say, it didn't feel real till after I had a nap and let it all soak in. Sydney was 7lbs 10 oz, 20 & 3/4 inches long. He came to us 4days early. What a joy! I am a proud mommy.

Jennifer's Birth Story

I had an appointment with my OB the day after my EDD. During my visit, the doctor noticed my blood pressure was elevated so he suggested that we go to the hospital that evening. My previous blood pressure readings for my whole pregnancy had been perfect so we told our doctor that we were going to go home and monitor my blood pressure from there.  As the night went on we watched it very carefully.  After receiving high numbers all evening we decided it was best to go on to the hospital. 

The first 12 hours at the hospital was spent monitoring my blood pressure.  My doctor got to the hospital the next morning and we discussed my options for inducing labor since I enteered the hospital at one cm and the baby's head was not engaged.  My husband and i had already decided that we did not want Pitocin because we felt it was not safe for me or our unborn son. We immediately refused our first option for induction which was Cytotec, which is not even recommended for use in inducing labor! With careful thought and prior research we decided on the most method which was Cirvidil.  After another twelve hours of waiting the Cirvidil was removed and my doctor checked my progress and I was two cm and about 50% effaced but the baby's head was still not engaged. At this point we decided our next safest option was to break my water.  He broke my water and the contractions immediately started but since we had elected not to use the Pitocin my contractions were manageable.  I labored for the first three hours using my husband and best friend as my support. I took a shower, used a birthing ball and leaned on my husband.  We called my doula after four hours of labor.  When Melissa arrived at 10:30 I was dialated to a five and handeling the pain well. I labored for another three hours using breathing techniques, the birthing ball and lots of applied counter pressure on my back. The contractions became more intense and closer together but I kept on persevering.  Finally at 3:05 I was fully dilated and ready to push.  I was so relieved to finally be able to push, since I had been having the pressure to push since I was seven cm. I loved to push it felt like I could actually start focusing all my energy towards something! My doctor was there right I was beginning to crown and after pushing for about an hour my son made his grand entrance into the world at 4:14 am on August 6, 2010.

Every birth is a miracle but mine to me was extra special.  During my pregnancy starting at 34 weeks my doctor had told me my chances for having my son vaginally were very slim because he had not moved down into the birth canal and he was measuring big.  At one point he had told me that out of all of his patients I was the least likely to achieve a vaginal birth.  But we never gave up on our desire to have an unmedicated vaginal birth.  With lots of prayer, the  belief that God wanted me to have what I desired, and lots of support from family and friends I achieved my goal! I have achieved lots of goals in my life but nothing was like this...I have never felt so empowered in all my life!

Lisa's Birth Story:
Cameron was born 10/21/10

Even though I had been having good contractions since the Friday before, my labor did not officially start until 11am Wednesday, October 20th.  I was so excited.  I was starting to believe that I would be the first woman in history to never give birth! That morning, Will and I timed a few contractions and noticed they were anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes apart.  They were still pretty mild (I say “mild” only in hindsight because at the time I thought they were pretty uncomfortable), so we went for a walk, ran some errands, and, at the request of my midwife and doula, we tried to take a nap.  The nap was unsuccessful – I had way too much adrenaline!  At 7pm Wednesday evening the midwife’s assistants, Brandi and Deena, arrived.  They checked me, and I was 3 centimeters dilated. I was hoping for more but I stayed positive.  I was just so happy to actually be in labor!  We continued to labor peacefully in our bedroom, counting contractions every so often to see if there was a change.  It was so beautiful and intimate to have that experience together. I couldn’t imagine doing it in a hospital! Around 10pm the girls checked me again, but I had only gotten to 4 centimeters. Again, I was hoping for more, but I was actually enjoying myself so I tried not to let that number get to me.  A little while later, though, around midnight, I began to struggle more through my contractions. They were getting intense and I was having trouble finding a good rhythm, so Brandi suggested that I go ahead and call my doula, Melissa.  Melissa came around 2am (bless her heart – she drove all the way from Tulsa in the middle of the night for me.  She is my birth angel!).  I’m so glad she showed up when she did.  By the time she got there, my contractions were really hurting and I think Will was unsure how to help me. Despite the pain, though, I remember still being in a good mood at that point. I was laughing and talking between the contractions, but when one hit I had to seriously focus.  Things continued that way for the next several hours – I would have a contraction that lasted about a minute, during which Melissa and I would do “horse-lips”, and then it would be over and we would go back to whatever we were talking about before. It wasn’t until maybe 6am that things got crazy.  Around then, my contractions got really powerful. No more kidding around! I remember yelling, crying, and trying to keep my horse-lips going through each contraction.  I think my midwife, Ruth, showed up around then.  She checked me and was only at a 6! I was devastated! I couldn’t imagine continuing for hours more and I certainly couldn’t handle thinking that the contractions could get stronger.  I think Melissa noticed my despair because she suggested I get in the bath.  I did, and I think it helped some, but I remember being in that tub and thinking that my contractions were going to suck me down to the depths of hell from which they came! I was really starting to struggle and doubt myself. I was bawling and I even told Will that I couldn’t go on.  I think I may have begged him to help me. It was around then that Melissa came in the bathroom and noticed that my water broke (I remember feeling it, but I was way too distracted to communicate it to anyone).  I heard Ruth say that my water breaking should really move things along. Hope at last! I got out of the tub feeling refreshed even though my contractions were stronger than ever (mind over matter!). We went back to the bed and I maybe got through 2 or 3 contractions before I felt an overwhelming urge to push.  Ruth came in to check me and I was a 9. I went from 6 cm to 9 cm in the course of about an hour! The thing I remember most about pushing, at least the early part, was peeing. I remember thinking “I’ll hold my pee in and just push out the baby”.  Needless to say, it doesn’t work that way!  Thank God I had the water proof sheet on! Pushing hurt, but it was a relief to have something to do besides breathe through the contractions. It felt so productive compared to first stage contractions. It was hard work, though. Melissa kept wiping my face and neck with a cold washcloth, and that felt absolutely sublime.  I’m not sure I would have been able to do it without that small bit of comfort.  I also remember the midwives moving me around and having me slow my pushing because Cameron’s heart rate was struggling.  Will said he was really scared about it but I barely noticed. My body had one goal – push that baby out! I couldn’t focus on anything else.  After a few tries, we discovered that laying my right side was best so that’s what we did.  Finally, after about an hour of pushing, little Cameron made his debut at 8:13am Thursday morning.  It was such a whirlwind! I couldn’t stop crying and saying “my baby, my baby”.  It was so overwhelming and so incredible.  He came out and they immediately placed him on my chest.  I know all moms think this, but he was the most beautiful baby.  It was by far the most amazing and empowering experience of my life, and I would do it all again in a heartbeat.

Birth Story by Shela:
Born Feb. 25, 2010 at 10:11 am
7 lbs. 1 oz., 19 inches

I began my maternity leave on February 1 even though she wasn’t due, according to the ESTIMATED DUE DATE (EDD), until February 15.  I relaxed a lot, continued my yoga practice and received regular massages and energy work.  I also began my weekly prenatal appointments with Corina.  Everything was progressing perfectly!  I just knew I would have an amazing natural water birth.  As the EDD approached, I felt myself and everyone around me growing more anxious and impatient to meet Kiran.  At each appointment she had been in proper position for a vaginal delivery.  I kept hearing stories of all these women whose babies turned breech or never turned anterior.  They were all scheduling C-sections at the advice of their OB.  Most of them reluctant to do so, yet, felt their doctors knew what was best.  I talked to a few of these women and encouraged them to try alternative approaches to get their baby to turn. 
On Tuesday, February 17, 2 days after the EDD, I went for my weekly prenatal appointment. Corina wanted to check me.  She took quite some time and had some look of concern.  “I think she turned breech” Corina said to me.  I knew she wouldn’t joke about something like that.  I couldn’t believe it.  My heart dropped to the floor.  I felt completely devastated.  Tears of sadness and despair filled my eyes and cheeks.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would need to apply those techniques I described to other women to turn MY OWN breech baby.  Once I gathered my emotions and thoughts, Corina and I discussed all of my options.  I was determined to experience the miracle of childbirth naturally, however, only knew of one doctor in Miami who would deliver a breech baby.  I knew in my heart that she would turn with a little help and guidance from her momma. That afternoon, I went for an ultrasound which confirmed that she was footling breech.  Corina ordered me some Pulsatilla from a local homeopathic pharmacy.  Lynn had some moxa sticks at home.  I wanted to begin working to turn my baby that evening, so, I gathered my birthing team.  I cried throughout the day in disbelief that I was going through this at 40 weeks.  On Wednesday, I took the Pulsatilla all day, used the moxa sticks, prayed, chanted and visualized my baby turning.  I even gathered my friends for love and support.  It was a fun night.  We laughed and played as Benicio pretended to smoke the moxa stick, Arthur held the bag of frozen peas to my belly, and Lynn positioned the pillow under me to tilt my pelvis.  On Thursday, I felt Kiran more active inside me.  After lots of research, faith and prayer, I decided to go to a midwife who would perform an external cephalic version (manually turn her from the outside).  The experience was beautiful and pain free.  I was confident that the process worked.  Friday morning I went for an ultrasound and she was ready to be birthed!!!! 

I decided to rest for the next few days and enjoy the knowing that once again, I could have my perfect home delivery.  Because 42 weeks is usually the cutoff for pregnant women to deliver without intervention at 41 weeks Corina and I began discussing my options.   I still knew in my heart that Kiran and I would experience our natural birth.  I began taking blue and black cohosh on Sunday. Nothing much happened, so I decided to spend Monday connecting with my baby girl…filling our hearts and souls with light, love, courage, gratitude and surrender;  what I knew was necessary to make it through this.  I was sure the time was near. 

Tuesday morning, February 24, I woke up around 7:30. I began taking the blue and black cohosh remedy again and took it throughout the day.  Around 5:00 p.m., I used my breast pump to stimulate my nipples in hopes of getting the oxytocin flowing. I took Eli & Peyton for a long walk.  It was a lovely evening.  Around 7:30 pm, I began having irregular contractions.  How exciting, I knew it was only a matter of time before she would arrive.  I called to let Corina know.  She seemed just as excited and relieved as I was.  She encouraged me to get some rest.  I decided to journal a bit and sit on the birthing ball.  It was so comfortable and really helped ease the force of the contractions.  I spoke to Joe around 11 pm and noticed that I could no longer talk through my contractions.  I decided to stay on the birthing ball while in a deeply meditative state, connecting with my daughter and my center.  Because of my preparation, I was able to remain in this peaceful state throughout labor and her birth.  I was alone in my room and felt that I needed this time to travel deep within to gather the strength and courage I knew it would take to bring this miracle into fruition.  Around 2:30 am, I called Corina and told her it was time.  I told her if this was early labor, I don’t know if I would be able to handle active labor. She assured me that I would do great!  I woke Lynn up because I needed her comfort and support.  Corina arrived about an hour later and checked my cervix.  I was 4-5 cm.  She was had been chanting for this success on the way over.  Lynn and Corina began to fill up the pool that had been aired up and sitting against my wall for 3 ½ weeks.  I labored on while sitting on the ball next to my bed and leaning over on a stack of pillows.  Around 5 am, I got into the pool.  It felt wonderful, but, after about half an hour the water felt too hot and decided to get out.  I labored on the ball for another hour and a half then asked Corina to check me again. 7 cm…WOW!   I was progressing perfectly.  I wanted to give birth to Kiran in the water so I got back in the tub.  The all fours position was what I instinctively went for, my hips swaying to relieve some of the pain from the contractions that were 4 minutes apart and lasting 60-70 seconds.  I was able to rest in between contractions.  I had been up now for 24 hours and felt extremely exhausted.  There were moments when I felt I could not go through with it.  Corina reminded me that there was no possibility of turning back.  I continued to talk and laugh between contractions.  There was one point before Mary (my other midwife) arrived that I even asked my birthing team if she would have somewhere to park her car.  They all laughed at my concern for others at such a time.   Around 8:40, I was feeling the urge to push Corina told me that I was 9 cm with a lip and bulging bag.  I pushed for a short time and groaned loudly.  It didn’t feel like it was time yet, but, maybe that was just because I was exhausted.  Mary instructed me to refocus the energy of my voice into Kiran’s bottom pushing her out my vagina.  I labored on for an hour more with contractions that were 5 minutes apart.  I needed to push again and my bag of waters broke around 9:40.  I felt so relieved and knew that she would arrive soon.  Corina and Mary encouraged me to switch positions so I got in a semi-sit position.  Her head was visible.  I reached down to feel her furry little head and tears of joy filled my heart and eyes.  I gave a few more good pushes and my beautiful RAY OF LIGHT, Kiran, entered this world at 10:11 am.  Thank you my beloved daughter for your teaching me so much about myself during this process, about the power of love, trust and surrender.