My First Birth Story & What It Taught Me

Let me start with my story. I’ve had four vaginal deliveries, and each has its own story. My first was at 34-years-old. My preparation? A half-hearted attempt at a home hypno-birthing class—not because it wasn’t good, but because time got away from me (I’m a procrastinator at heart, lol). I read books. I watched endless positive birth story videos. That’s what resonated with me most: seeing how a wide range of people worked through it.

Labor & Delivery

I delivered in Chicago with a midwife in a hospital, and she was wonderful. I labored at home for almost the entire time (definitely not the plan!). Contractions started on a Sunday evening, and at first I could walk and talk through them. I got some sleep, but by early morning they were stronger—just not closer together.

So, I moved around the house, ate and drank what I could, stopped to breathe and low moan when contractions hit. My husband was home working but available, and I moved on my own, doing what felt good.

Because this was my first delivery, I was considered low-risk, and my midwife told me to come to the hospital (only 10 minutes away) when contractions were 3 minutes apart and 1 minute long. Well… mine were stronger and more intense, but they were never consistently 3 minutes apart—sometimes 5, then 7, then 4. Until later that evening when I told my husband it was time to go to the hospital. As we walked down three flights of stairs, stopping mid-step to breath through each one, contractions suddenly jumped to 3 minutes, then 2 minutes apart.

At the hospital, while my husband registered, I leaned over with a contraction and calmly said, 'I think I need to push.' The gentleman at registration replied, 'Uh… don’t push,' and got me to triage ASAP.

The nurse checked me—10 cm. They rushed me upstairs. My midwife met me in the delivery room. As she got ready, she said, 'Okay, now it’s a matter of if you’re having this baby today or tomorrow.' I glanced at the clock—10:40 pm—and thought, Oh no. Nope. Not doing this for another hour and 20 minutes.

I pushed when my body told me to. At one point, I had a vision of my pelvic floor shattering into a thousand pieces. I told myself, You won’t get this baby out if you keep thinking this. Relax. You will not break. On the next push, at exactly 11:00pm, this beautiful baby girl was out and on my chest. What a beautiful, exhausted, visceral high. (And isn’t that an insight into the next 18+ years of our lives?!)

Lessons from My First Labor & Delivery

• Guidelines are just that. They are not written in stone. First-time moms often labor for a long time. I didn’t (and haven’t since). I may take a while to get to 7 cm, but once I’m there—it’s fast.

• If I feel like I have to poop, someone better be ready to catch my baby. No joke.

• I can trust myself. Movement feels good. Squatting feels good. Sitting does not. Low moaning feels good. Quiet feels good. Talking does not.

• Having a trusted provider makes my body feel safe. When I feel safe, I can relax. When I relax, it’s easier for baby to enter the world. And if there had been an emergency, I would have followed their guidance without hesitation.

• Birth prep matters. Preparing my body so my pelvis could move, my hips could open, my pelvic floor could relax, and my breathing could flow made a huge difference.

Why This Matters

Labor and delivery doesn’t have to be an unknown. It can be beautiful. I can honestly say I loved this labor and delivery. Was it hard? Yes. Did it go exactly as I had imagined. No. But, I walked away feeling strong and empowered. This experience was the catalyst for all I do now—helping other women feel that same strength.

I know how fortunate I was to have this experience, and I know it’s not the case for many. Too often, birth isn’t what someone hoped for. And yes—plans can change in an instant—but I believe that with practice, education, and the right support, our bodies can work more efficiently, and we can learn to trust ourselves.

The truth? Women aren’t always set up for success from the start. Our healthcare system is busy. Insurance limits access. Good quality birth prep classes aren’t always accessible—or even known about. Because… we don’t know what we don’t know. Without practice and knowledge, we won’t have the tools ready when we need them most.

So, What The Tools?

Stay tuned for my next post that has details of my Birth Prep Program!

If You’re in Indianapolis…

Whether you’re preparing for your first birth or your fifth—I see you, and I believe in you.

📞 317-660-1383

📧 info@strongherroots.com