A Healing Home Birth in St Pete | Tampa Bay Home Birth Midwifery

“There is no coincidence that many of the birth stories from Barefoot Birth clients note how healing their home births were and I am no exception. In late 2019 we found out we were pregnant with our third and began planning our third home birth. I’ve been through quite the experiences when it comes to home births — my first son was born at home but I was transferred postpartum due to complications and my second son was a planned home birth but I was transferred because after my water broke, I didn’t go into active labor. 

Needless to say, I had some old stories about my ability to birth at home and trauma from the hospitals that were not serving me. My entire third pregnancy was spent healing and releasing these emotions and traumas using therapy, Hypnobabies, and embodiment. The team at Barefoot Birth were all so informed and provided me with the most evidence-based care. Not once did I feel pressured or judged for a decision I made — this experience was night and day to what I experienced in a hospital setting. 

2020 was an odd year for pregnancies globally. Women were denied access to birth support (and even their partners in some cases!), some women were separated from their babies at birth, and families were meeting newborns virtually. Planning a home birth gave me a sense of normalcy in 2020. I was offered patient centered care in the comfort of my own home with my partner and kids present. 

Sure, there were still some weird things about having a baby in 2020. For example, I didn’t meet Bennett until closer to my third trimester (post mask mandate) and hadn’t seen her face outside of her instagram posts even though she was elbows deep in my birth tub providing counter pressure on my butt! 

Even though this was my third pregnancy I still wasn’t sure I was going into labor. I called Erica at like midnight the day before I gave birth because I started having pretty regular contractions and Bennett came down to check on everything. I was told to get some sleep and call if things progressed. Contractions stayed consistent so in the morning I called my chiropractor, ate a spicy breakfast burrito, had my hair braided, and my sweet birth photographer scheduled me an acupuncture appointment. 

Quick note: I could not have gotten through pregnancy and labor without the support of my chiropractor (Dr. Madalyn Turner at Atlas Chiropractic Center in St. Pete), pelvic floor physical therapist (Dr. Kaylee Simmerman of Down There Docs in St. Pete), and the amazing acupuncturist at Thank You Mama in St. Pete). 

After my acupuncture appointment I went home and did a Spinning Babies position and baby slid into a primo position. I called the midwives to update them and laid down for a nap. Right around bedtime for the big boys Bennett arrived and I was asking for the birth tub to be set up. The boys went down for bed, the tub was filled up, and around 8pm I eased into the birth tub. The water was so perfectly hot and I was able to relax into the contractions. My birth photographer read me my birth affirmations in between contractions, and I was able to laugh and joke with Erica, Bennett, and my family. I had a sweet friend come as a sibling doula to attend to our big boys if necessary. 

Right before 9pm I heard my oldest cry out, my friend Liza snuggled up with him, and as I relaxed feeling so supported, my water broke! [When your water breaks under water it feels a bit like a boba tea bubble popping in your mouth for reference!] I felt his head in the birth canal and a few seconds later my body and my baby worked together to bring him Earthside. In two pushes (one for his head and one for his body) he was in my arms. My mom was there to witness the calm of a home birth. My boys were snuggled in bed. It couldn’t have been more perfect. 

I think the most magical part, outside of how amazing our bodies and babies are, was having a meal and hot shower within an hour of birth. Get yourself a birth photographer that begs your favorite sushi place to stay open long enough to put an order in for post-birth sushi at 10pm! Becca Ford Photography is the real deal. 

This birth was so healing. My body was able to do incredible things and I was able to surrender the fear of transfer. My inner work, birth planning, and support system gave me the space to heal and birth my baby free of fear. I knew my options, felt divinely supported, and released any stories about what my birth should look like. “