I was seventeen years old when I found out I was pregnant. My plan was to have a medicated birth at a hospital. My boyfriend, Drew’s older sister’s, had natural births themselves. They showed me the Infinity Birthing Center and they opened my eyes to so many options. The midwives and staff there educated me on everything that I was very ignorant of regarding childbirth. I didn’t think of any options of having my baby girl except the standard way that “everyone” does. So after being educated on my all of my options I decided to have an all natural birth at the birthing center. But I was still keeping my mind open to a water birth.
On September 18th, 2012 I was awoken at 1 am with strong and painful contractions. I had been having Braxton Hicks for a few weeks prior. When I felt these, I knew it was the real deal. For the next 3 1/2 hours I was on the phone back and forth with my midwife, Annie. It was around 4:30 am when she said we should head down to the birthing center. So my boyfriend and I grabbed the car seat, the bags, and headed out
the door.
When we got to the birthing center Annie had checked me and said I wasn’t in active enough labor to be admitted into the labor floor. At the birthing center you were only allowed to be admitted for 24 hours before they bring you to the hospital- even if nothing is wrong- so they try to not admit you too early. So my boyfriend and I ended up walking for the next twelve hours to keep progressing my labor. At around 4:30 pm I was admitted to the birthing suites.
Once admitted my dad, step mom, and Drew’s sisters all came to help me through my contractions, support me in my decision of natural birth, and welcome my daughter, Maddison, into the world.
It was around 8 pm when my midwife suggested I get into the bathtub to help with labor pain. I listened and I am so glad I did. The tub definitely helped me relax and have a little bit easier time pushing through contractions. I was in so much pain and exhausted that I was falling asleep in the tub.
I was almost asleep when I had a burst of energy bolt through my body. I shot my head up and said “I need to push.” Annie checked me and said I could. She had me on my hands and knees and ready to go. With my boyfriend on one side and one of his sister’s on the other they helped me push my daughter out.
At 11:07 pm we welcomed Maddison Renee into the world. I let Maddison float under the water for a minute or two. But those short moments are forever engraved in my mind. Her staring up at me, arms moving slowly, me staring down at her and falling completely in love.
Maddison’s birth has inspired me to become a doula. I am now on my way to becoming certified. I want to educate other young pregnant women of options they don’t know about- like I didn’t. I am so proud that I was able to have a water birth. It’s so empowering to go through a natural labor and birth. ~Sent in Meagan J.
Recommended Reading
The Birth of Sicily Rose {Postpartum Hemorrhage, Vanishing Twin Syndrome}
Welcome Caio {Costa Rica Water Birth}
The Conscious Birth of Madison Rose – Intervention-Free Home Water Birth- My Final Birth Story
Happy Hospital Birth
Rueger’s Birth: Learning to Give Into the Power of a Woman’s Body
Birth Of Elsie {Homebirth Story With Siblings}
My Fearless Birth {Home birth turned hospital}
Home Breech Birth 2003- Quick Home Water Birth
15 Comments
Leah
Thank you for sharing this, I hope it helps other young moms out there! I was 16 and 19 when I had my first babies, my pregnancy and births were what my family and friend around me had done, I didn’t realize there could be a difference. I too was naive about birth, I didn’t really even care to know the process since I had 2 inductions and 2 epidurals. The doctors did it all for me. After the second one something felt wrong though, I wanted that control over my body and to FEEL a new life being born. I knew that I was going to seek a midwife and have a natural birth the next time. At 23 I had my 3rd baby and the whole pregnancy, birth, and beyond was so different in a much better way! I’m now pregnant again due in a few weeks and can’t wait to experience the thrills and hard work of a water birth again (at home this time!). I’m so glad you took the time to educate yourself and didn’t have to learn the hard way 🙂 Congrats on becoming a momma! You will be a great doula one day, I hope you help many young moms know that the experience can be so much better and nothing to fear!
Amanda
Thank goodness for the other women in our lives! God bless you and your baby!
hannah
oh sweet mommy, your face in the last one made me cry! congratulations!!!!!!!!!! <3
Shary
I wasn’t that young, but I felt like a teen mom at 20 when I had my daughter. If I hadn’t been attending massage school with a bunch of lovely hippies I wouldn’t know any better when it came to birth! I’m very grateful for my experiences 5 years ago. You go mama!
mamato6
I love to see encouraging stories like these. We know that teen pregnancy happens and so often instead of supporting a young mom,she’s treated like she’s made the biggest mistake of her life, encouraged to abort or encouraged to induce and get the epidural….ya know because she so young and naive and couldn’t possibly handle it. I think the challenge of labor helps to make young moms confident and excellent mothers. So glad she had someone to encourage her along the way.
Scarlet L.
This was absolutely beautiful. Thank you for sharing. I think it is so wonderful that you want to help educate other young mothers, they’re so bombarded with media and family that they don’t know any other way than the pain meds. My recovery was sooo fast with my 2nd who was a home birth. Great job, you are amazing.
Amanda
I’ve read lots of stories on this site and they are all inspiring, but I am so thankful to read yours because it took me three pregnancies to get it right and assert my right to a natural birth. My first I was 17 and they basically knocked me out with drugs. So glad to hear of your empowering experience and especially your drive to become a doula. I pray that your certification goes smoothly and you have a long career helping others get to experience what you did. That last picture is awesome, it really says it all about how awesome you felt bringing your baby into the world 🙂 God bless you and your beautiful child!
Tracie
This is an amazing story. Thank you for sharing. I wish you all the best on your quest to empower other young women who may be in similar situations. I too am beginning doula training after having two natural, un-medicated births. I pray that one day in the near future, all women will know, and feel supported in, their innate ability to birth their children naturally and embrace the wonderful strength and beauty found in the process. Blessings to you and your precious baby girl!
Anna
Wow!! That last picture had me crying. So beautiful. Good job, mama!!
MaryAmanda
I am 36, and have three boys, ages 5, 4, and 1. I wish I had the courage you did. I know I won’t have the chance again, but I really only recently became aware of how widespread and accessible natural births/birthing centers. Reading stories like yours just makes me feel so encouraged and brings tears to my eyes. Bravo,and bless you!
Ellieliz
Congratulations sweetie! Your face in the last picture just made me sob with happy tears of joy for you! What a beautiful birth! You rocked it!
Jill
Good work mama! I was 19 when I had my first and I also had a completely natural birth center birth. 🙂
Summer Miller
Thanks for sharing and for becoming a doula!! I turned 17 a few months before my first. I luckily was in a country that didn’t use interventions and had midwives, but was on a table in a hospital. Thankfully, it was a fast birth and recovery. I didn’t have any options, legally or financially, other than hospitals for my second (who ended up with medically induced autism) and third. I am on my fourth, this time with a midwife at home.
Doesn’t matter when they come or how, if there is love and other women there to support that momma!!
Kathryn
What a wonderful story, and I love the pictures!
courtney
I was 17 when I got pregnant with my first child too. Sadly, thanks to misinformation from my regular doctor (she told me midwives couldn’t attend hospital births!!) I ended up with a highly medicalized induced birth in the hospital 🙁
This time around (I’m 21) we’re planning a home birth 🙂