The birth story of Remi Brooks

So after a weekend of trying to do everything I could to go into labor-membrane stretch & sweep, sex, medicine ball bouncing and hip rotations, Cotton Root Bark, Labor Smoothies, and Castor Oil-I gave up. I was 39 w 5 d and it was time for my weekly appt. @ the OB. The Nurse Practitioner checked my cervix, did another sweep, I was advised that I was abt 6-7 cm dilated, and my cervix was fully thinned out.

The NP asked if I felt that my waters had broken because she felt like she was feeling HAIR from the top of baby’s head 🤯. I told her that on Christmas morning, I felt some fluids come down, but after using pH paper and speaking w/my midwife we were convinced it hadn’t broken. She sent me upstairs to Labor and Delivery triage to be checked. All tests came back ok, but the Dr’s tried to convince me to stay since I was already 6-7cm dilated and I was experiencing contractions every 3-5 mins; they were mild and I barely felt them. I told the hospital I would prefer to be discharged home if there was no medical reason to keep me as I was planning a home water birth. They had different ppl.try to change my mind to stay and have the baby there. At this point, I started to feel like they just wanted the insurance money, lol! Eventually, they discharged me around noon.

I called my midwife to advise her what was going on and we planned for both she and my birth photographer to arrive at my home around 8pm of things didn’t pick up sooner than that. She arrived around 8, but my contractions had died back down. We broke my waters around 8:40p, I walked around my house for about 30 mins while midwife and hubby filled the pool and as my contractions got stronger at 9:10 I got in. I listened to my hypnobirthing meditations and had the urge to push at 10:36. By 10:40p SHE WAS EARTHSIDE!!😊💕

Today is actually my due date.

I was so happy I didn’t allow the hospital to talk me into staying. My home birth was a beautiful experience and everything I could have asked for and or wanted. I was comfortable and surrounded by the love of my husband, children, and mother. It was peaceful, intimate, and I was in control of my environment. All of which made for a pretty easy labor and delivery! I still can’t believe how big she is! I’m only 5’1 (5’2 on a big hair day😏) so you can imagine how uncomfortable I was! I felt like a MACK truck hit me the day after delivery and I’m still pretty sore, but actually starting to feel better today.

12/28/20 10:40p

Remington Brooks Garland

9 lbs 0oz. 21 inches long