Freebirth of Koren Karter James✨

Birth story of Koren Karter James✨

After days of BH things started to feel different around dinner time on his due date. I started tracking contractions around 5pm. They continued through the night so all the kids were super excited hoping this was the real deal finally. B & I went to bed around 10 & they were still going but I wanted to get some rest. I woke up about every hour feeling a few of them. But after about 2am I couldn’t fall asleep between anymore. 2:30 I had some bloody show & finally felt like baby was coming today!🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

I labored most the morning in the bathroom and in bed while I let everyone else sleep. I realized it wasn’t going to be a super fast labor like my first freebirth so I had time. Hubs alarm went off for work around 5:30 & I said “Your not going to work today it’s baby day!” He got so excited he didn’t know what to do first 🤣 I called my mom & told her to let my sisters know today was the day & to make their way over. Kids woke up around 6:30 & were just overjoyed to hear they would meet their brother today! Kayson (2 years old) didn’t quite understand the concept of waiting cause he kept telling me to go to my room & have him already. So cute. By 7 everyone was here & settled and ready✨

A lot of the next few hours were a blur to me. I was riding the waves trusting the process. I had no ultrasounds so I had a pretty good idea of his positioning but there was times during contractions when looking at my stomach I had wondered if he was truly engaged. But decided just to trust him to find his perfect birthing position. In total this labor was 20 hours. Which was not something I had mentally prepared myself for. There was many times I had become frustrated with my body for not progressing fast enough. Thankfully my amazing husband reminded me that exactly what needed to happen would happen & my body & my baby would work perfectly together. To not lose hope. He had to remind me this many times 🤣 *Im so lucky to have him. Unassisted birth is not for everyone. Without his support & trust in my body I don’t think I would have made it through. I can’t share praise for him enough*

No position felt tolerable bedsides standing. Which was quite exhausting after all the hours. I used the bathroom a lot to stand & sway. Around 12:30ish I got a wave of feelings that made me feel like something was off. Just not normal. I had been going for so long with little change to my cervix. I waddle to the bathroom & said “I’m done I can’t do this anymore” while crying. Hubs followed me in leaving my mom sisters & daughters in our room waiting (Kayson was napping 🤣 I’m shocked he slept through my labor noises in the end). I had a contraction & pushed & my water broke all over him. “Yes!!! 👏🏼👏🏼That’s what I’m talking about! He’s coming baby” I remember him saying that clear as day. I had a flood of energy & finally felt like there was a light at the end of the tunnel.

After that unlike with my last babe I felt like I couldn’t wait for FER to kick in. I needed to get my baby out. So I made my way back to the room & got in a position that was tolerable and pushed him out. Kenna (4 years old) wanted to catch him so when I finally felt the ring of fire I told her it was time to get ready. A few contractions later & Koren plopped out right in front of all his family. His color changed quickly & he was fast to transition. Big sister got to cut the cord (biggest sister got to cut the last baby so she was happy to pass the torch) & she was so proud. All the kids were begging to hold him ASAP but little Koren decided to stay on nursing for a few hours before anyone got the chance✨

A couple cool things noted after. Koren had a nuchal hand which explains why labor wasn’t progressing like I thought it should. A strong reminder in all births are different & trusting the process (while being knowledgeable in risks & warning signs) & your baby is super impactful. Second when he was born it was apparent my placenta had started to detach during the last few mins of labor. He had already received most his blood while still inside. Thankfully I didn’t wait for FER & was able to listen to my body & push him out in less than 10 mins. He was perfectly blue and transitioned very quickly to a healthy pink. Placenta was all intact & I had no hemorrhaging so it must have only been a partial detachment. Two prime examples of why during a freebirth it’s very important to connect with your body and intuition & to listen! *Easier said than done as I said above I had a few moments I needed the reminder to trust myself*
He weighed 9lbs on the dot, 20.5 inches long. 20 hour labor born with a nuchal hand at 1:15pm on August 12th at 40 weeks 1 day gestation. Stealing all our hearts💙

Видео Freebirth of Koren Karter James✨ канала Ashley Hemenway