Natural, plus size at home water birth of our rainbow baby.

Trigger warning (miscarriage is mentioned) also a very long post.

I was told when I was 16 I had PCOS and having children would be very difficult, if not impossible, for me to have children. In July 2017 after a few weeks on metformin for my cysts, we found out I was pregnant! We were so surprised and excited! We weren’t planning but weren’t preventing either. We told our parents at 8 weeks. But, on 8 weeks and 4 days, I began bleeding. I lost the baby. I was devastated.

Shortly thereafter, my husband and I adjusted our diet to be vegetarian/vegan. About 6 months later, I had some familiar feelings. My boobs were super sensitive, I was moody and just had a feeling of familiarity with all of this. Although my period was still 6 days away, I decided to take a pregnancy test. One of the ones that came with my opk. I hoped in the shower thinking “it’ll be yet another negative”. To my pleasant surprise, it was a faint positive. I tried to wake my husband (it was 4:45 am as I worked at 5:20) but he was out cold. So I decided I would give him a little gift when I got home. He was so happy! We’re having a baby!

I’m 5’9” and started out at 274lbs. Kaiser immediately labeled me high risk. I had no high risk markers except being overweight. When I had miscarried, I was uninsured. I met with a midwife that I fell in love with. She didn’t charge us a thing to meet with us and discuss how my body will react and what to expect. We decided she’d be our midwife if we ever conceived again. She remembered us when we called and excitedly told her we were expecting again.

My pregnancy was fairly easy. I dealt with moderate nausea and vomiting. I puked almost every night. Oh, and the heartburn. Ugh! I didn’t gain any weight until my 30th week. At my 39 week appointment I weighed 284. Most of that was put on in the last 3 weeks!

My due date was October 3rd. But, I’d been having contractions on and off for nearly two weeks. So when I woke up at 2:30am on the 3rd, I thought, just more BH. But, I had bloody show!! I came to the room and told my husband “Babe! We’re having a baby today!” He excitedly said “about Time” rolled over and went to bed. I tried to go back to bed but by 4:30 I could t sleep anymore. So I started timing. My husband woke because I was starting to make so much noise. Contractions were about 5-7 minutes apart but mild. Texted the midwife and she said she’ll come around 8:30. When she arrived I was at 3 cm and about 90% effaced. She said we’ll have the baby by midnight if not sooner. She left and said she’d be back around 2 unless anything changed drastically. I labored on the couch, on the floor, on my knees and with a shower and bathing, and ribozo scarf. If you don’t know about it, research it. It was literally the best relief next to the water. At 5pm I was 5 cm and 100% effaced. Around 7 I wanted to get in the water. So my husband filled up the birth pool. I got in around 7:30 and felt so much better. The Bradley method classes helped me remember to breathe through contractions. While they hurt, I could tolerate them still. At 9pm I was 9cm. I was told if I felt an overwhelming feeling to push, I could start pushing. Shortly after, I wanted to push. I was leaning against the side of the pool on my knees. I few pushes in the midwife checked me, but she said the pushes weren’t doing what they needed to. Baby Girl was stuck behind my pubic bone. I needed to rotate to a sitting/squatting position. But that... that HURT! My contractions were much stronger in that position. Then I started pushing. 25 minutes of pushing and I delivered her head. After which Baby Girl SHOT her hand out causing me to have a 1st degree tear. 3 more pushes and she was here! 9lbs 20.5 inches long and a thick head of hair! I did it!

We did it! We had our baby at home. No meds. No interventions. No unwanted staff. No bright lights. Just calm, quiet and beautiful! My husband sat down with her while I was stitched up briefly. Then we laid down together, began nursing and soon we were asleep. It felt magical! I would much rather have a baby that way again than ever have the ankle surgery I had. Mind you, I have NO PAIN TOLERANCE! And I did it! A plus size woman with PCOS. I want to encourage other woman to do research. See what’s out there. Had I never seen “Business of Being Born” I would’ve likely ended up with a c-section or other intervention I didn’t want. Knowledge is power. I’ve never felt more confident and sexy as I have wearing a diaper around my house knowing what I had accomplished. Much thanks to my amazing, supportive husband for going on this journey with me. Thanks for reading this far!

One week old

10 minutes after birth

Immediately after birth

Today, 2 weeks and 5 days. She always looks surprised. Lol