Home birth after Cesarean (HBAC): Tiffany’s birth story
“After my traumatic hospital birth in 2016- which ended in an emergency c-section, I was determined my next pregnancy I would have a home birth.
In October 2019 I found out I was pregnant. I immediately messaged Toni the night I found out, met with her and texted her on the way home that I wanted to go ahead and have her as my midwife. My whole pregnancy it felt like there was obstacle after obstacle. First I had placenta previa which resolved and then baby was breech up till 37 weeks. I prayed and prayed because I did not want to go to the hospital and have a repeat c-section and it was answered.
The day after my due date, I started having a few contractions: I had upper and lower contractions and I texted my midwife and told her. She said it sounded like the beginnings of labor. But they didn’t last long.
Saturday, I had few contractions.
Sunday, I had contractions all day long.
Monday, there was only a few.
Tuesday, I went to see Toni (my midwife) and she said everything looked well with baby and me and she was okay with not doing anything if I was okay with it. The next morning, I lost my mucous plug and I was so excited. My body was going into labor on its own!
That afternoon I started having consistent contractions. They hurt so much that I texted my husband to come home as soon as he could from work. I started keeping up with the contractions, they were all over the place with time but they weren’t stopping.
I kept in touch with Toni, and she told me she would come around midnight. I let two of my friends know that I was going into labor and if they would come on to the house. Mary Beth, my doula, also arrived close to midnight. It was getting hard for me to sit during the early hours of the morning so I started pacing the floors and I finally started using the shower for some pain relief.
I labored all day Thursday and after midnight I asked to be checked and I was complete but baby was still high up. The pain was so bad but I kept telling myself I could do anything for a minute. I repeated it to myself probably two hundred times. I started laboring on the toilet. I was back and forth between the shower, bedroom, and toilet. It was hard to lay down or sit.
Early Friday morning Toni had me start pushing. I was finally working baby down. I pushed off and on six hours with shower and toilet breaks in between. At one point I was being really indecisive and Toni gave me a little pep talk which strengthened my resolve to have this baby at home. I decided to go back to the bed and push. I pushed on my back and then from each side. Toni told me to go try and use the bathroom and we would come back to the bed and push some more. In my head I was like “I am not doing anymore of that!”
When I got to the toilet and sat down I felt her head trying to crown; I was so shocked I lost my breath and was probably having a slight panic attack. Mary Beth checked on me but I didn’t tell her that I thought baby’s head was coming out because I couldn’t breathe. So I got in the shower instead and labored through a few more contractions. Each time I would do a squat I could feel baby’s head trying to come out. I got out of the shower and back on the toilet. This time I hollered for Toni and told her I thought the baby was coming out. She had me get up and she checked and was like “Let’s get you to the bed.”
So I waddled to the bedroom- I don’t remember how I ended up on the birthing stool. By that point I was in my own world. I breathed and pushed with the contractions. In less than ten minutes I held my baby girl in my arms. When Toni brought her up to me she had one eye open looking at me. It was one of the best experiences of my life. She was 9 pounds and 6 ounces, 21 inches long. I was in labor close to 48 hours but every single hour was worth it!
I did end up having to go to the hospital after having her for some bleeding. When the doctor came in she tried to give me [disapproval] for having a home birth after a cesarean section (HBAC). I told her I had a traumatic hospital birth (at that same hospital) and that I wasn’t doing that again. During my stay I showed pictures and talked all about home birth! One of the ladies from the lab came and drew my blood and was like, “Are you the one who had the home birth?” I’m guessing we were the talk of the hospital that weekend.
I plan on birthing all my future children at home. It’s such a wonderful and sacred experience of giving a woman space to do what she was made to do!”
Home birth story: Baby born at 38 weeks
There truly is power in words, I say that all the time. The due date given was July 1st, 2020, but the entire pregnancy I said I didn’t think I was going to make it to July. Mid May, I started telling people June 15th, I would have the baby. I even told my midwife and she said, “OK I’ll mark it on my calendar!”
June 15th, 2020, a Monday, I was 2 days from being 38 weeks. I woke up and had a convo with baby (still didn’t have a name yet) saying “ok today is the day, let’s do this.” The whole weekend I felt very tired. Physically tired, not sleepy, so I had rested all day Saturday and didn’t do a whole lot Sunday either. As I got in bed that Monday night, I thought, “Well, shoot.”
At 12:34 AM on June 16th, I woke up needing to go to the restroom and also felt a “stomachache” feeling. Half asleep on the toilet I realized I know this feeling! I decided to give it a few minutes before calling or waking anyone. I said to myself - “if I have 3 contractions, I’ll know this is it.” I grabbed my phone and thought I would give the whole “timing your contractions” a go. They were all over the place. No set amount of time apart or any of the things you hear happen, which was also the case when I had Aiden. I did have 3 contractions so I walked out of the bedroom and woke my husband.
“Babe, I think I need to call Renata,” I said. “YOU DO???!!” was his reply.
At 1:42 AM, I gave my midwife, Renata, a call and told her it was time. She asked about my contractions, how I was feeling, what I had eaten and when I had eaten last, etc. She was packing her things as we talked. My water partially broke, which made me nauseous, so I started puking in the sink. Meanwhile, Paul is freaking out! He eventually calmed down and started getting all the things needed out for Renata and her helper, Jenna.
I’m walking around the dining room table, just breathing through it all, when again my water breaks. I made it to the trash can, Paul held my hair back, as I threw up again. He suggested I get in the shower which sounded amazing at the time. He helped me get in and continued cleaning and setting up. He’d come back to check on me and make sure I didn’t need anything.
Around 3:00 AM, he said, “Renata text and said Jenna is on 98.” When he walked out, I physically saw my stomach shift and knew baby boy was ready. Thankfully, 10 minutes later, Jenna and Renata were walking in! They helped me out of the shower and Renata did a check. “We’re about to have a baby,” she said, to which I replied, “I KNOW!”
Paul had everything set up in the living room perfectly (if you know him, this isn’t a surprise). I had my elbows on the couch cushion and would hum through each contraction. Paul suggested leaning on the birthing ball, another great idea, so he grabbed it and I put my chest on it. It allowed me to move some which was relieving. Paul would rotate cold rags on my head and neck while Renata had warm rags from a crock pot on my bottom and Jenna massaged my outer hips/lower back with oil which was 100% amazing. Highly recommend those things!
Baby was ready but was just under my pubic bone. I never had this huge urge to push like a lot of women have. Obviously, I was ready to have the baby but never had the feeling of “I can’t help but push.” Renata had me move some, switching up my legs and encouraged me to try and push on the next contraction. I asked Paul to grab my hands and next contraction, here we went. Two big pushes and [baby] came into the world screaming at 5:51 AM, right in our living room, with Riley Green playing, the sun coming up and the birds chirping. It was a strangely cool morning for June in Mississippi so Paul had the doors cracked.
The whole experience could not have been more perfect. I know home births are not for everyone, but I have now had a hospital birth and a home birth. There really isn’t a comparison in my opinion. I don’t foresee ever doing it any other way. The comfort level of being home and having a say in what I do and where I do it is great.
My midwife isn’t just a caretaker, she is my friend. She is so knowledgeable, explains the why behind many things and her postpartum care is exceptional as well. I felt so prepared and comfortable with everything. Afterwards, my husband even made the comment of why anyone would want it any other way. We were home, in our bed, with our family and dog. We finally decided on a name two days after his birth, Asher Prince, 7lbs 13oz and 21 inches of perfection.
Prodromal labor & home birth: Rebecca’s birth story
We have been so honored to share home birth stories. Every birth story is different and we have enjoyed all submitted stories. If you know someone who had a home birth in Mississippi, send them our way. We’d love to share their birth story. Our friend, Rebecca, is next up in our series of home birth stories and although she did not give birth in our state, we loved getting a glimpse of her midwifery care with a CPM (certified professional midwife).
“Hello! My name is Rebecca, and I gave birth at home 11 weeks ago. My birth was in TN, but since then we have moved to MS and I have been looking for my options for when the next one comes along and that is how I heard of Better Birth Mississippi. Now for my birth story...
When my husband and I found out we were pregnant, we started discussing our options. For both of us, having grown up around home birth, it seemed like the best option for us to have the natural birth we were hoping for. And so we began the search for a midwife. I called several and after talking to them I settled on my wonderful midwife Erin, who is a CPM (certified professional midwife). She was amazing, giving me natural solutions to the different things you encounter in pregnancy, and encouraging me that I could totally do it. When the pandemic hit, I was so grateful that I was already set for a home birth because that meant that I could have my husband there, my mom who is a certified doula, and my mother-in-law who is a nurse.
Labor started for me on a Wednesday at 6 am, when I woke up having contractions. I powered through them, doing my last minute things. I wasn't sure if this was going to be actual labor yet (even though I was 41 weeks and 3 days) since I had some serious prodromal labor over the past week or two. My mom was there, helping me to find positions and exercises that would help move things along in the right way. But when there was not really any progress according to the timing of contractions, we sent her home to catch some rest. In the middle of the night we sent for both mothers and they came and were with us, just waiting on the birth. At about 8am on Thursday morning the midwife came to check on me, and when she did we were excited to discover that I was fully effaced and dilated! We were just sure that the baby would be here any minute, but I still didn't have the urge to push. I labored on, still with weird timing on contractions. Mostly they were 5 minutes apart and lasted for a minute and a half.
I had the option to labor in a birth pool and it was a lifesaver, helping my muscles to relax. At this point, my midwife, who had been very hands off and was letting me labor how I wanted to, said we needed to get things going. So she took me in to the bedroom and helped me try some different positions there, finally settling on a squat with my sweet husband supporting me. She had me push hard with a contraction, and she popped my amniotic sack. That's when things began to finally happen. I didn’t have the energy to sustain a squat for any longer, so she got a couple of pots from my kitchen and turned them upside down for me to sit on. Finally his head was born, but then my body stopped contractions and I was given a shot of pitocin to keep things going. In the midst of all of this, my mom is using a manual breast pump on me to try and help strengthen the contractions as well. I ended up having to birth the rest of my son without a contraction. But I was so thankful he was finally here.
When they say that you forget all the pain associated with labor the moment the child is laid in your arms, I think they are wrong. For me, when they laid this angry, red-faced little boy in my arms it is not that I forgot, but rather that it was worth it.
I rested for a few moments, then the midwife began to massage my abdomen to help me birth the placenta. I knew it was a thing, but I did not expect it to feel like that! Apparently, I threatened to punch my midwife. I didn't know until after the fact, that the placenta is the same weight as baby, which is incredible. Then we got to lay there, my husband and I, and stare in wonder at our little boy as we enjoyed the golden hour while the birth team cleaned up.
For me, labor ended up being 34 hours, but it was so worth it.
Thank you guys for the work you are doing to make midwifery better here in Mississippi! I don't know when my husband and I will be looking to have another, but we understand the importance of midwifery and we hope to have a home birth for the next one as well. So thank you.”
HBAC: One mother’s journey to her home birth after a C-section
This story is from a sweet mama, Amber, who had a HBAC (home birth after Cesarean):
“Birth started around 1AM on Saturday with me waking up to feeling a popping sensation. I thought “Well, that felt familiar” thinking it was my water breaking, but I didn’t feel any water leaking so I just assumed the baby had kicked real hard or something. Shortly after that, I had two pretty intense contractions back to back and got up to use the restroom. That’s when I felt water leaking and knew labor was starting.
Contractions started coming 3-5 minutes apart but were only lasting 40 seconds or so. By the time I had my midwife come around 9 that morning contractions had pretty much subsided. Labor had started with Elijah (my first baby) with my water breaking and his birth was very traumatic, so I spent the day trying to deal with my emotions about how this labor was going. Most women whose labor starts with their water breaking deliver their babies within 24 hours, so I thought for sure he would be born on Saturday.
Fast forward to 9PM on Saturday night and nothing was really picking back up. I did a few spinning babies exercises and my midwife told me to just try to rest as much as possible. Around 3AM they picked back up and were stronger than ones I had had previously but were coming 8-10 minutes apart. Keith and I went for a walk Sunday morning around 6AM and I thought “Surely this is it!” By lunch time they had fizzled out again though.
Knowing there was a risk of infection with going too long with your water broken (although we were taking all precautions necessary to ensure that didn’t happen - constant temp checks, Vitamin C, no cervical checks, and sterilized toilet paper) I knew if this baby didn’t make his way down and out by 1AM the next morning that I’d probably end up having to get induced at the hospital.
This labor was nothing like my others in that it was a total mind game the entire time. I was emotionally and mentally exhausted from constantly renewing my mind in the Truth of my circumstances and the Truth of Who God is and His goodness that it was also wearing on me physically. Many tears were shed when the contractions spaced out and I began to wonder if I’d ever get to hold my baby.
Sunday afternoon, Melinda (my midwife) encouraged me to use my breast pump for 10 minutes on each side, take a 30 minute walk, then pump again for 20 minutes and take a shower. Then she came over to do some more spinning babies exercises to get him into a better position.
It was amazing how quickly things picked up as a result of doing those things! I noticed as soon as I was on the breast pump, contractions were becoming steadily 2-3 minutes apart. After the shower and exercises, she had me lay on a peanut ball in bed for 45 minutes on my right side. Contractions were getting a little further apart it felt like but I was able to get some rest and they were still intense when they were coming. At one point, I let out such a loud moan that Melinda and her assistant came rushing into the room to set everything up because they thought it was time.
That’s when the mind game became the hardest. I knew where I was feeling contractions. I knew it wasn’t time to push no matter how much I wanted it to be time. That was where I truly fought to surrender my thoughts and will to God for this labor. My doula and husband spoke Truth that I needed to hear and when I became resolved, I laid on the peanut ball on my left side for another 45 minutes. Contractions were getting more intense but instead of making outward noise, I began to look inward and breathe the baby down. “Soften (breathe) Open (breathe) Release (breathe)” is what I would tell myself as those contractions hit while laying in bed. When I got out of bed, I felt like things were progressing. I felt like he was finally on his way down.
With lots of swaying and counter pressure and an acceptance to work with my body instead of fighting it and trusting God with His timing, it was time to push. I got on all fours on the bed and pushed for what seemed like an eternity (which in reality was about 10 minutes). At first I felt like I was pushing and nothing was happening. I began to wonder if he was stuck up in my pelvis somehow. Thanks to my wonderful support team, they reassured me that I was doing this, and I would be holding my baby before I knew it. I tried my best to catch my breath and not hyperventilate. I was sweating like crazy, but then I began to feel him crowning. As soon as I felt his shoulders and the rest of his little body fly out all I could say over and over again was “THANK YOU JESUS! THANK YOU JESUS!” He was the One who sustained me. Reminding me of His goodness once again!
Actual active labor lasted a total of about 3 hours which is my fastest yet! He weighed the same as his brother Nehemiah - 8 lb 8 oz and came just in between his sister (10 days past her due date) and Nehemiah (8 days past his due date). He was 9 days past his due date.
For future babies, y’all just remind me to push whatever “due date” they give me back a week for my sanity. 🤪
I’ve pretty much experienced every birth scenario possible (with the exception of an unassisted birth and an emergency c-section). This was my first Home Birth After Cesarean after having a VBAC in the hospital with Baby #4. It was also my first birth where I didn’t have to have stitches! That was one of my major desires and priorities that I expressed to my midwife for this birth, and she helped make it happen!
Home births are my favorite. Always and forever!”
Home birth story: a hospital transfer
Kim is another mama friend of ours who had planned a home birth with a midwife but turned into a hospital transfer, here’s her story:
“All throughout my pregnancy I absolutely loved having a midwife. I felt empowered to be in control of my pregnancy and body. It was truly a life changing experience. I had a completely normal and healthy pregnancy.
In May of 2018 I went into labor. I had been having steady contractions all day. I was able to text my midwife and keep her informed. We were just waiting on them to get longer, stronger, and closer together. Night fell, we ate dinner (what I didn't know would be my last meal for 48 hours), then I put my daughter to bed. I wanted to wait as long as possible to call the midwife because I didn't want anyone waiting around on me.
About 3 am, the contractions got so intense, we finally called. Within the hour, my midwife and 2 assistants were at my home. Through my first ever vaginal exam, it was determined I was 10 cm and ready to push. My midwife VERY quickly realized something was wrong and suggested we transfer to the hospital. She did her job and saved my life.
I went on to lose 12 liters of blood and required a postpartum cesarean to repair a ruptured uterus and cervix. Without the knowledge my midwife had, she would not have known something was wrong and I would be dead. My midwife literally saved my life!
I should add my baby boy was delivered vaginally and perfectly healthy!”
Home birth after “routine” hospital birth: Blaine’s story
Our next story is one from a mother who had a routine hospital birth with her first baby: induction, epidural, coached pushing, the works… but for baby #2, she planned a home birth.
Here’s her story:
“The week before baby arrived, I saw my midwife, Toni Hill, on Monday or Tuesday – can’t remember – and she said my baby was turned sunny side up. Her face was pointed at my belly button when it should have been pointed towards my back. I did Spinning Babies to try and get her to turn all week.
I saw my midwife that Friday afternoon. She and Christa measured my belly and both said I didn’t look quite like an almost 42 week pregnant woman. (It was 1/12/19 and I was almost two weeks past my “due date”… now I know I should have just assumed she would come within the entire month 🙂 ) I felt okay, just kind of tired, and really ready to meet our sweet baby. Didn’t know the gender this time either! But- good news… the baby had turned slightly so she was in position and ready to come any second.
I had a few mild contractions on and off but nothing consistent on Saturday, January 12. We stayed home all day, and I rested but started to get discouraged. I went to bed that night knowing that I was still pregnant. Still exhausted. Because I was almost 2 weeks past my “guess date” and I felt as if my body had failed. That I was a failure for not going into labor yet. That I was foolish for choosing home birth. That I should have been induced weeks ago (because that’s the norm in the birth world in our area currently). But that’s not my story and it’s not what God had set in our hearts over a year ago (before we ever even thought about baby #2).
Contractions woke me – suddenly and intensely – at 2am out of a deep sleep. I got out of bed, walked to the hallway bathroom right outside of our door – my husband was still asleep – then started timing contractions. They were tough immediately. I couldn’t even start the timer for the next contraction due to seeming to be right on top of each other. I gripped the bathroom sink to try and catch my breath when I realized, “God, this is it. Be near.” I timed them for about 20 minutes. I walked to the kitchen and poured myself a glass of cranberry juice because THIRSTY. I was able to drink one sip. That’s all I could do. I knew something big was coming!
I called my midwife at 2:30am in the midst of all this – not really able to talk well or breathe deeply due to contractions – which woke my husband up. Andrew started prepping the birth space in our bedroom. I kept walking around trying to get contractions to ease up but they only got more intense. There wasn’t time to start my labor playlist or the diffuser or anything else I had planned. I couldn’t talk or move during contractions and attempted to get into the bathtub to relax. The tub seemed to make my contractions more intense and I wasn’t even able to sit down.
The surges seemed to continue on top of each other without time to gather my thoughts or relax and let labor progress. Around 45 minutes into laboring, I felt like this baby would come before Toni got to our house. I was about to deliver this kid by MYSELF. My body had urges to push involuntarily —I kept repeating: Baby, you have to wait on Toni. Please wait. This pain will bring my baby. I can do anything for a minute. It’s almost over. This won’t last forever. My body isn’t broken.
I also remember thinking “I need to get to the hospital now. I need an epidural now. I cannot do this for the next ten hours. This is pain but I know it has a purpose.” I realized later that this meant I was in transition but had no clue just how quickly it was all about to be over. Toni was almost there, the pool was almost ready, it was almost time!
As soon as my midwife walked in the door, I had one big, long contraction as she checked to make sure I was okay. She and Andrew helped me get into the birth pool between surges. Miraculously, there was enough water in the pool for my comfort but I remember it being too hot. (I’m so needy in labor. Ha!) My husband quickly got the temp under control. Honestly, I have no idea what else was going on in the room. I just needed this kid OUT. I was able to kneel down in the water while Toni checked fetal heart tones. I remember I calmly breathed deep in and out a few times and here SHE was!
She was finally here. SO FAST! 1 hour and 22 minutes after I started having real contractions she came into this world. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Praise Jesus for His timing and His plans. Not my own. I still can’t believe I birthed my daughter at home, with no induction, no epidural, nothing except an amazing midwife, a calm husband, and a sleeping toddler in the next room. (And I slept in my own bed that night!)”
Born at home: Christa’s story
Our next birth story is one from our friend, Christa:
“Landon Farrell McGrew was born at 4:08 a.m. on Monday, November 21, 2005. He weighed 10 pounds 7 ounces and was 21 ¼ inches long. I was getting very discouraged because everyone expected this baby to come before his due date. I began having periods of regular contractions at the end of October and my mom came to stay with us because we all thought it could be any day. I stayed pregnant through the midwife’s predicted date, a full moon, and the date I had chosen. Landon chose a date no one expected, his due date.
Nana, Kenna, and I went to bed kind of late Sunday night. It was almost 9:30 and Kenna still wasn’t asleep. I was snuggling with her when I felt something strange. Not a pop, but more of a tearing sensation. I wondered what it was and then suddenly felt a rush of warm wetness that was unmistakably my water breaking. I told my mom that my water broke and jumped out of bed to clean everything up. Kenna was confused and even asked if she had wet the bed. I told her no, that Mama did it. After I cleaned up, I called my midwife and she said that she and her assistant would be on their way.
I went back in to get Kenna to sleep. She wanted to lay in her toddler bed, so I took her over and sat down on a chux next to her. I was having light contractions and every time I had one more water would leak. It wasn’t long before she wanted back in Mama’s bed, so I took her back and snuggled her in. It took her forever to fall asleep. Just before she closed her eyes, she looked up at me and said, “It be all right, Mama.” I smiled at her with tears in my eyes. As soon as she was out, I carried her to her brother’s room in the back of the house and tucked her into his bed.
Maria*, the assistant, got here around 10:30. She checked the baby’s heart tones and my blood pressure and we sat watching television while we waited for something else to happen. Contractions weren’t terribly regular or strong and I felt so much better, and smaller, now that all the water was gone. I was really afraid that they had come too soon and they were just going to have to sit around all night waiting for me to do something. After my midwife, Liz*, arrived I said I thought I’d go lay down and rest for awhile. Matthew went back to sleep near Kenna for awhile, and my mom and I lay down in my bedroom.
I dozed off and on between contractions, but soon they were more than I could rest through. Liz checked me. I was completely effaced and 4 to 5 cm. Although the contractions were rather short and irregular, they began to hurt and the pain wasn’t stopping between contractions. Liz told me to relax when they were over and I whined that I couldn’t tell when they were over. So she put me on the birth ball and got her rebozo, looped it around my belly and pulled upwards. It felt so much better. She recommended a shower, but I wanted all the hot water to go to my pool.
It wasn’t long before the pool was ready and I got in. It was wonderful. I could move with the contractions and lean over the side of the pool. I got so much relief from the water and I was really surprised because it didn’t help that much during my labor with Kenna. At some point Maria asked if I needed to pee. I knew I should, but I was really reluctant to leave the water. Contractions while sitting on the toilet were nearly unbearable. So as soon as the next contraction ended, I practically leaped out of the pool and ran to the bathroom. I made it back to the water before the next contraction came. Someone kept something to drink nearby for me and when it got empty my husband asked what I wanted him to get. I asked for the lemon flavored Propel. He went and fixed a cup and brought it to me and it tasted so good. The funny thing is that he didn’t fix what I asked for, he poured juice instead, but when I drank it I tasted lemon. I realized a day or two later that the Propel had never even been opened and I was astounded that I didn’t realize what I was drinking was strawberry-kiwi flavored instead of lemon.
At some point I requested washcloths soaked in ice water. It became my ritual to reach for a fresh rag and rub it over my face and neck during each contraction. My mom had several rags and was rotating them for me. At some point she had to leave to do something and my sister took over manning the ice water. She didn’t realize she was supposed to wring out the rag before handing it to me like my mom had been doing and I got a little frustrated with the dripping rags. It was around this time that I started to have difficulty dealing with the contractions. I told my mom I didn’t think I could do it this time, that it was so hard and I wasn’t even in transition yet.
Liz asked me why I thought I wasn’t in transition and I told her because I wasn’t throwing up and shaking like I did with Kenna. She told me that I might not do that this time. I still didn’t believe I was in transition until I felt myself involuntarily pushing during contractions. I remember loudly saying, “I’m pushing,” and then adding in this meek little voice “Is that okay?” Liz asked to check again and I was complete except for a lip of cervix. She asked me to move to my hands and knees and to resist pushing for a couple of contractions. I didn’t do very well at resisting the urge to push and suddenly I had this extremely long pushing contraction that I thought would never end. When it was finally over, Matthew said, “He has my ears!” I said, “His ears are out? Thank God! That feels so much better.”
Liz was having a hard time reaching me and the cord was around the baby’s neck, so she asked me to move from the pool to the bed. I didn’t think I could do it. I reached down and felt his head—he had so much hair! I said that I was afraid I’d squish his head if I moved. Liz said it would be okay. So I held his head as they helped me out and over to the bed. She untangled him and he came out with the next contraction. His face was quite blue from bruising, but the rest of his body pinked up right away. I was holding him wrapped in a towel and didn’t want to uncover him so he wouldn’t get cold. So I reached under the towel to feel if he really was a boy. I found what I was looking for and declared that it was indeed a boy! We knew he was a big baby. I thought he probably weighed 9 pounds. I was so surprised when the needle on the scale went past 10 pounds!
The first few hours after the birth went by so quickly. Landon nursed for quite awhile and we got him weighed and dressed and me showered. We were just settling in to get some rest when Kenna woke up and came in to meet her new baby brother. She had slept through the entire labor, even though I hadn’t been quiet. She was absolutely thrilled with him and loves to hold and kiss him.
*Names have been changed to protect privacy.
Breanna’s birth story: a rainbow baby born at home
Our friend Breanna would love to share her home birth story with her rainbow baby:
“My husband and I got married in December of 2015 and knew shortly after we wanted to start a family! We tried and tried with no luck but then found out December 2017 we were expecting our first baby. Shortly after we found out our baby was no longer there. We were devastated!
We gave it a little time and then started trying again. It took some time and tests and then on August 18th, 2019 we found out about our rainbow baby. What we didn’t know is that we were already into our 2nd trimester! By the time we had our first sonogram we were 24 weeks along. Crazy right?
We knew right away we wanted a home birth due to all the amazing stories we had heard but still a little skeptical just because it was new to us. We went and met with our local midwife, Toni Hill. As soon as we left I told my husband - she’s who we are using. We had complete confidence after one conversation with her.
Fast forward to November: We were less than a month away from having our baby. I started having contractions at 37 weeks. Me being a first time mom, I was scared because he was early but my midwife told me everything was gonna be okay! We called my mother in law and she rushed over. I was in labor for 36 hours, but my birth team was amazing. They never let me worry or get in my head. They talked me through everything.
Once he arrived, we opted to delay cord-clamping and that was by far an awesome experience to watch my baby get all the nutrients he was getting inside the womb while he was laying on my chest. Even after my son's birth my midwife checked up on me and still to this day - 6 months postpartum - still checks on us. Having a home birth is by far the greatest experience I have ever had. We will forever be grateful for our experience!”
Home birth after three hospital births: Allison’s story
Our next home birth story comes from another mama in our state, Allison, who had her fourth baby at home after three hospital births.
Here’s her story:
“My name is Allison. I'm a birth worker and have served Mississippi moms for the past 7 years. My husband and I decided early on that we wanted to birth our 4th child at home. I have birthed naturally in the hospital, but I just wanted to be home this time.
We chose Melinda Thigpen as our Midwife and we were so pleased with her level of experience and dedication to providing care that would allow us to safely welcome our daughter at home. I had bleeding problems with my previous deliveries and severely hemorrhaged with my second. So, we knew we would take precautions during pregnancy to help with my levels and hopefully lower the amount of bleeding immediately postpartum. At our home visit, I made it clear I wanted everything after the baby was born to be actively managed. I wanted to stay ahead of the bleeding. Thankfully our midwife was skilled and I never doubted she would take care of me and make the call to transfer if needed.
On June 25th I woke up at around 8 AM to my water breaking. I had never experienced this as the start of labor, but I was excited that baby was on her way! I was 39 weeks and my doula who is also Melinda's assistant made her way to my house. I wasn't contracting, but because we live a little ways out it was nice having her here. Susan (my doula and the assistant) did temperature checks and heart tones while I piddled around. Not much happened, but when I would rest I would get very intense contractions - they were just so far apart.
On June 27th, around 1 AM my midwife arrived and labor was progressing on it's own. I labored in bed while my husband rested and around 5-6 AM I woke him to say I wanted to get in the tub. My midwife came into the room after he asked if that was okay and she checked my temp, blood pressure, and did heart tones. Everything looked great and I got in the bathtub while they filled the birth pool. I labored in the tub and moved to the pool as soon as it was ready.
I labored in the pool for a while and I knew I was hitting transition. I started to feel afraid and I said I was scared. I can't remember if I said so, but I was afraid of bleeding to death. My team calmed me and I felt a sudden urge to push. I went along with it, but it didn't feel good so I asked Melinda to check me. She didn't say where I was, but that it wasn't time yet. I didn't care to know, but I knew I had to get out of the tub. As soon as I got out, I lost that urge thankfully and went to the restroom.
After I got out, transition was in full force and I completely lost it. I had a full on tantrum and made it very clear how much I hated what I was doing. Haha! After a while of throwing a fit and trying to figure out why anyone would pay me to help them achieve natural birth, I got on my hands and knees and everything started to feel so much better. I felt calm and focused. I started bearing down and I had my midwife feel to just reassure me that it was my baby I was feeling when I touched just inside of me. I pushed for several minutes and I could tell this baby was bigger than my others.
After about 20 minutes of pushing my little girl was here. She was born into her daddy's arms and I remember hearing him weep with joy. She needed a few breaths and I knew she was okay and in the hands of a wonderful midwife. I leaned over catching my breath while Melinda helped her breathe a little bit and maybe 10 seconds went by before I reached around for her. (She did not need to be resuscitated -- just a little bit of air to help her perk up) When I turned around she was pink and crying. Melinda immediately handed her to me, and my husband and I were so happy to be holding our precious baby!
A few moments went by and my placenta delivered quickly. I immediately noticed I was bleeding more than we'd like and they lifted me into the bed. From there my Midwife and assistant were actively managing the bleeding. I received the proper treatment and a few ammonia sticks to keep me from dozing off. It was a little intense for a bit, but things slowed down and all was well! I am so glad I chose a homebirth and I can't speak enough about having Melinda as our midwife. She was absolutely incredible!
Having a Midwife that is skilled and prepared to do what is necessary is so important. Birth most often can be done without the need of assistance, but having that available makes all the difference in not only safety, but the peace of knowing you are being well cared for is priceless. And we are just so glad we were able to have a peaceful, safe, homebirth.“
Baby abroad: home birth, birthing center, + international births
We want to feature a series of home birth stories in Mississippi. The board of Better Birth Mississippi hopes these stories are an encouragement to some mamas and for others, a message that legislation is needed immediately to license midwives in our state.
Our first story is from our friend, Lacey*, who writes:
“My son was born in Seoul, Korea in 2014. I had no idea what to expect and had no experience with babies and birthing and all the decisions that need to be made. Fortunately, my friend had a baby the year before and recommended a natural birthing center. My doctor was able to perform emergency C-sections if needed and there was a surgery room in the birthing center, which was comforting to know. There were also no epidurals and the emphasis was on mother-led (really baby-led) birth with as little intervention as possible. I gave birth in a large tub with my husband and doula. The lights were dim, no one seemed stressed, and I was allowed to go at my own pace with supportive words when needed. Near the end, the doctor came in and my son was born a few minutes later. No one told me when to push because my body knew. It was empowering and beautiful and gave me so much confidence to know I could listen to my body.
In 2017, before moving to the Mississippi Gulf Coast at 8 months pregnant, I had searched high and low for a similar birthing experience and found none. I did not want a typical hospital birth because everyone I knew had labor started with Pitocin and worry in a hospital bed on a doctor’s schedule. I was nervous to have a home birth because there's always a chance that things can go wrong. I found Ochsner Baptist Hospital an hour away in New Orleans so I set up appointments there. They employ midwives, and their birthing center is attached to the hospital. Again I gave birth in a tub on my own schedule with no intervention. Both births were about four hours so for me, the water didn't stall the labor. It helped immensely with my comfort and pain reduction. I never want to walk around during labor, but the tub afforded me a good bit of motion and movement while not standing up.
Three months ago, now living in Starkville, MS, I was pregnant with my third child. I went through the options again and again felt disappointed with the options in Mississippi. I thought about moving back to my home country of Canada where midwives can give birth in hospitals, I thought about living with a friend on the coast and going back to NOLA, and I visited with a wonderful and competent midwife here. We live very close to a hospital so I felt more comfortable with a home birth, but the fact that insurance said it would cover 0% was something we couldn't do. I was disappointed, unhappy, and scared that I didn't have a choice but to give birth in a hospital on a hospital bed. I am grateful for life saving hospital techniques, but I do feel both the mental and physical health of the mother are not honored as much as giving birth swiftly during regular hours. The only way I know how to give birth is to relax and I just couldn't figure out how I would relax under those circumstances.
I truly hope Mississippi can revisit their policies towards midwives. Letting them attend births in a hospital and allowing insurance to cover it as a regular birth would be so empowering and would really ease my mind. Also, allowing a woman to labor (even deliver) in a tub would be amazing and would also ease my fears.
Unfortunately, two weeks ago, at twelve weeks, I miscarried. I'm unsure if we'll try again or not, but not being allowed to deliver the way I want to is definitely giving me pause. It's not a small thing. It's contributing to me thinking we may not try again. And I think the way a mother gives birth, as long as it's safe, should not be another worry that we need to grapple with.”
*Names have been changed to protect privacy.
Change for the Better: Why License Midwives in Mississippi?
We live in a time and place where health care professionals are licensed. When consumers hire health care providers, they assume they have met standards for their profession, through state issued licenses. A few of the professions that require a license in Mississippi are Physicians, Speech Pathologists, Respiratory Therapists, Dieticians, EMTs, and even Tanning Booth Operators. It is clear that MS operates under the assumption that licensing is a public protection policy that Mississippians expect.
Under current laws, any one can claim to be a midwife and practice midwifery. Because of this, midwives who have lost their right to practice midwifery in other states for one reason or another come to our state to set up shop. These are the same midwives that prompted a bill (supported by the Nursing Board that essentially would have limited midwifery to Certified Nurse Midwives only (effectively making the home birth illegal in MS). Licensing Midwives will instill confidence in the consumer and other birth professional in the care provided by midwives in MS.
Benefits of advocating for Licensure:
1. Providing a mechanism for families choosing out-of-hospital birth to verify their midwife’s training, skills and educational credentials
2. Ensuring adherence to evidence based-practices and providing for transparency and accountability
3. Ensuring continuity of care and offering liability protection to physicians and birth providers who collaborate with midwives
4. Providing access in our community to:
– A family-centered model of maternity care that offers individualized education, counseling, prenatal care
– Continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery
– Minimal use of costly technological interventions
– Support of the physical, psychological, and social well-being of mothers and families throughout the childbearing cycle
5. Ensuring that every family can experience an enhanced birth experience and the ability to choose their birth provider and birth setting based on their religious, cultural and philosophical beliefs
Interviewing Your Future Midwife
This is one of the questions we receive most often, and for very good reason! It is very important that you take the time to interview potential midwives, and become familiar with their process of care, before making your ultimate decision. We hope to help in this process by offering a list of some of the top questions you want to be sure to ask as you interview.
▪How long have you worked as a midwife?
▪What is your training?
▪How many births have you attended?
▪What were the outcomes & what is your transfer rate?
▪What does my prenatal care look like with you as my midwife?
▪Will an assistant or team be involved in my care/labor?
▪What happens if there’s a complication in my pregnancy?
▪What happens if I’m am still pregnant past my expected delivery date?
▪What might labor/delivery look like with you as my midwife?
▪How will my baby and I be cared for postpartum?
Other questions to consider:
Why did you become a midwife?
What makes you a highly qualified midwife?
Are you certified in Neonatal Resuscitation and CPR?
Continuing education?
What can I expect at prenatal visits? Frequency? Location?
How many clients would you accept near my EDD?
Do you work with another highly trained midwife to provide back-up in case you can not attend my birth?
Will any else attend my birth as your assistant or apprentice? Will I be able to meet them before I go into labor?
Do I need a doula?
Are you experienced with water birth?
Do you provide a birthing tub if I am interested in water birth?
What percentage of your clients transfer to the hospital? What percentage are emergency transfers? Non-emergency transfers?
Why did those women transfer to the hospital?
Will you stay with me if I transfer?
Do you have a relationship with a local OB/GYN who will serve as my backup doctor?
What kind of equipment do you bring to births? Medications? Herbs?
Are you experienced with using herbs with laboring and postpartum women?
Tell me about different complications you have encountered and how you dealt with the problems.
How do you prevent a postpartum hemorrhage?
How do you stop a postpartum hemorrhage?
Do you have experience with shoulder dystocia?
What is your policy on meconium staining?
Do you routinely break women's bag of waters?
What do you do to help me prevent a tear as I push?
If I tear, are you experienced in suturing my repair? At what point do you recommend I see my OB/GYN or transfer to the hospital for repairs?
What do you do if I exceed your average length of time for placental delivery?
What happens if my placenta does not come out in one solid piece?
Do you delay cord clamping?
What routine baby care do you provide immediately after birth?
Do you have access to Rhogam if I am Rh-?
What do I need to do for my baby's birth certificate? Social Security card? Do you provide the newborn screening test?
How many postpartum visits do you do?
Do you accept insurance? Do you have a provider number so I can file my own claim?
Types of Midwives
Before we begin, let’s explain what exactly a midwife is and what she does. A midwife, according to the American Pregnancy Association, is a “healthcare professional who provides an array of health care services for women including gynecological examinations, contraceptive counseling, prescriptions [in states where licensure is in place], and labor and delivery care.”
A midwife attends births in hospitals, clients’ homes, and birthing centers. There are several different types of midwives, some of which you may or may not be aware of.
Below you will find a description of each, per the American Pregnancy Association:
🔹Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM): a midwife trained and licensed in nursing and midwifery. Nurse-midwives should have a BSN (Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing) from an accredited institution and then pursue an advanced degree (Master’s degree) in Midwifery. CNMs are certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
🔹Certified International Midwife (CIM): a midwife with extensive knowledge and experience in International out-of-hospital Pregnancy, birth and postpartum care. International Registry of Midwives require a minimum of 75 births for entry level Midwives working under a preceptor and a minimum of 150 births for Experienced Midwives seeking Certification; a portion of these births must take place in low resource/high risk settings.
🔹Certified Midwife (CM): an individual trained and certified in midwifery. Certified midwives must have at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. They are also certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
🔹Certified Professional Midwife (CPM): an individual who is trained in midwifery and meets standards of the North American Registry of Midwives. Multiple educational backgrounds are recognized to become a CPM.
🔹Direct-Entry Midwife (DEM): an independent individual trained in midwifery through various sources that may include apprenticeship, self-study, a midwifery school, or a college/university program.
🔹Lay Midwife: an individual who is not certified or licensed as a midwife but has received informal training through self-study or apprenticeship.
In terms of education, CNMs and CMs are required to have a graduate degree for certification through the American College of Nurse-Midwives. CNMs and CMs also must hold at minimum either a registered nurse license or have completed health and sciences courses respectively. There are no specific requirements for CPM credentialing but prerequisites may include childbirth and doula experience, high school diploma, and equivalent courses in health and science.
CNMs and CMs are covered by some private insurances (policy dependent) and most (but not all) state Medicaid programs as well as Medicare and Tricare. Check with your specific health insurance plan for coverage regarding home births attended by CPMs and DEMs. Certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives typically attend hospital births. They are also licensed to “provide initial and ongoing comprehensive assessment, diagnosis and treatment; … conduct physical examinations; prescribe medications including controlled substances and contraceptive methods; admit, manage and discharge patients; order and interpret laboratory and diagnostic tests and order the use of medical devices” according to Midwife.org.
Essential Birth Support: Doulas vs. Midwives
One of the most common questions we get asked from birthing families is... Do we need a midwife? A doula? Or Both?
We thought it might be of value to our community, to first define the roles of a Midwife vs a Doula to help aid families in choosing the right type of birth support for your individual needs.
A midwife is a health care provider, trained to provide prenatal, birth, and postpartum care to low risk birthing mothers. Many moms prefer a midwife as their birth provider of choice due to the emotional support, personal relationship, and comprehensive whole person care that many midwives are able to provide their clients. There are varying degrees of training and education levels for midwives, and therefore depending on the type of midwife serving your family, they may be able to provide support and care for your birth in a variety of birth settings. As Mississippi is an unregulated midwifery state, we strongly encourage families considering hiring a midwife as their primary care provider for birth to ask for transparency during the interviewing process including experience levels, trainings, and birth outcomes from each midwife that you interview. Midwives monitor both the laboring woman and the baby during the labor and delivery process. Midwives use their expertise and skills in determining labor progression, monitoring risks, and may encourage hospital transfers if adverse signs occur during labor or after delivery.
Doulas aid in helping navigate the birthing experiencing for parents through prenatal education and planning, labor and delivery support in many types of birth settings (at home, a birth center, or a hospital), and postpartum care. They provide physical and emotional support in the form of comfort measures during birth through relaxation methods, assisted breathing, massage, position changes, as well as supporting the birth partner’s needs during labor and delivery. Doulas also support families during the postpartum transition by offering support for breastfeeding, mom’s self care, and infant care techniques. Doulas, however, do not receive medical training, nor are they allowed to provide prenatal medical care or deliver babies. If your doula is claiming to do so, she may be acting outside of her scope of practice and therefore might be a safety liability to you and your birth experience.
The Heart of Midwifery
How do you explain to someone that has never held their newborn immediately after the birth the importance of continuity of care that a midwife gives?
How do you recapture those first minutes of family life?
It is nearly impossible…..
Holistic care provided by a skilled, competent midwife is a process most people know little to nothing about. It is so different from the routine care the general public receives in a hurried medical environment.
It is knowing, personally, your caregiver.
But even more, it is being known by that same caregiver. She knows:-Your individual needs
- Your nutritional patterns and therefore, how to counsel you in nutritional needs
- Your birth history and what you did or didn’t understand or like
-Your birth plans and desires
A Certified Professional Midwife knows how to care for a healthy, well-educated, low risk expectant Mother. She knows how to assess for complications and how to manage them or refer them to a specific care provider outside of her practice. She knows how to guide the Mother and Family through pregnancy, birth, and the period after the birth. All of this to accomplish, not a routine birth, but the birth the Mother desired to have; respecting the Family’s rights, wishes, and plans while providing thorough, competent, considerate care.
Midwives are still a respected caregiver all across the globe for the expectant Mother.
American families are returning to the traditional caregiver for their maternity care once again.
Renata Hillman
Certified Professional Midwife
Serving Mississippi Families since 1981
Considering a home birth during COVID-19?
As the concerns surrounding COVID-19 grow, many midwives are now fielding an overwhelming amount of calls from families weighing their options for birthing at home due to current fears surrounding a traditional hospital setting.
Traditionally, home births are a safe option for most low-risk women and are a way to birth in a calm, familiar environment. Women who birth at home choose to do so without the use of labor augmentation and without the use of IV anesthesia for pain management. Home births are usually attended by a midwife who is their healthcare provider throughout the pregnancy. Midwives use their expertise and skills in determining labor progression and may encourage hospital transfers if adverse signs occur during labor and after delivery.
Unassisted births, however, are growing in popularity due in part to the unavailability of midwives in the area and also due to mothers wanting to birth without assistance. The laboring mother does not have the assistance of a healthcare provider during her labor. Mothers may choose this option if they are confident in their ability to birth alone without monitoring by a midwife or other healthcare personnel.
Better Birth MS’s official stance is against recommending unassisted births even in the most low risk births. For the safety of both moms and babies in MS, we always recommend birthing with a qualified healthcare professional whether in your home, birth center, or a traditional hospital setting. However, we understand during this time of uncertainty, many women may be faced with an unplanned, unassisted childbirth due to new hospital policies or closures, lack of access to qualified birthing professionals, delayed responses from emergency medical services, travel restrictions, etc. Please contact your provider and discuss emergency risk management planning for your birth, if faced with the reality of any uncertainty surrounding your birth at this time.