15/05/2026
✨POSITIVE HOME BIRTH STORY ✨
(05/10/2026)
At 2 am on my son’s due date, I woke up to my water breaking- a big shocker given I’ve never had my water break before labor was well established. I put on a depends and called my midwife, Shoshanah, to let her know, but no contractions followed at that point.
We took the morning slow, went to church and spent our time resting and eating to prepare for the marathon.
I was having some nausea and hot flashes that afternoon.
Shoshanah came around 8pm and checked our vitals and confirmed everything was still looking great!
Her calm presence settled my heart. It was so reassuring to hear baby’s heart and know that all my vitals looked good too. No signs of infection or blood pressure issues. We talked contingency plans and how we would monitor and wait.
(05/11/2026)
That night, I had infrequent but strong hip contractions. But more than that… I was wrestling with anxiety. I didn’t want things to get more intense. I wasn’t ready to call Shoshanah again. I was afraid of labor. I got through the night and when the sun rose, contractions petered out.
I went to see my chiropractor, Dr Cheney Daniel, around 11am. we talked about anxiety, she helped me get grounded and adjusted me thoughtfully and used pressure points in my legs and feet to focus on my uterus.
Shoshanah came for a visit afterwards. we talked about my fears of the intensity- about not feeling ready. We rechecked vitals and she reassured me that if anything changed, she’d be there in a heartbeat.
After she left, I settled in for a nap with a peanut ball between my knees and listened to part of the Christian Hypnobirthing course about surrender and being emotionally prepared for labor.
I was woken twice by intense hip contractions.
then it was time to get up- I knew I had to lean into the intensity and not fear it. I put on my new nursing bra I had picked out just for labor- reminding myself that this labor will be unique and is its own experience.
✨GO-TIME✨
I started tracking my contractions using the Freya app at 4:45pm and told my husband I was going to embrace the intensity…. And things got intense fast. The contractions took immense concentration to breathe through. Counter pressure helped as I leaned over chairs and swayed my hips.
I set myself up kneeling on our baby lounger in front of my couch, laying over my peanut ball and rocking my hips.
At 5:21, I texted my midwives that my hip contractions were getting intense. They had just delivered another baby boy nearby, so Shoshanah texted back immediately that she was on her way and would be there at 5:43. Jill would finish up what she could at the other birth and then head over as soon as possible.
Surges were intensifying and I really had to huff and puff through them. They got longer and closer together. Counter pressure from my husband knocked down the discomfort by about half. He spoke affirmations over me and encouraged me. He arranged for my parents to come get my toddlers and they left about 6:30pm.
At this point, I couldn’t speak during contractions at all and barely could in between. Within minutes, I told Shoshanah and my husband that I was feeling pushy. They quickly helped me get off my sweatpants and throw down chux pads and get everything around me covered. At 6:39, I couldn’t bother to start and stop the contraction timer anymore because baby was coming hard and pushing had begun.
My body was doing what it was designed to do. With groans and gasps and grunts, i was doing it. I was embracing intensity.
Jill came through the door around 6:50 as baby was crowning and came quickly to my side- stroking my hair and cheek, reminding me to breathe through my nose and out through my mouth. To breathe short breaths as baby stretched me.
My husband and Shoshanah behind me, ready to catch baby and encouraging me with my progress.
After 3 intense contractions with roars and short breaths, my baby emerged through the most intense ring of fire I’ve ever experienced, his hands by his face springing out as he fell safely into his dad’s hands and arms. He cried the most beautiful cries as I lay relieved on the peanut ball, catching my breath.
My husband held him between my legs so I could touch his sweet head, covered in beautiful dark hair.
As I gathered myself, I gathered my baby to my chest and laid back on my husband’s chest. So happy and relieved and amazed that I had just done that!
Shoshanah and Jill noticed as I lay back that my bleeding was abnormal. I had no tearing and my placenta delivered quickly, still connected to my boy’s relatively short cord. They gave me a shot of pitocin to control the concerning bleeding they were seeing while we figured out what was going on.
We bagged the placenta in a ziploc “purse” and moved to my bed. With expert care and precision, they noticed that I had a piece of retained placenta where the cord tugged the placenta loose too quickly when baby came out. With compassion and precision, they located the missing piece and performed fundal massage to prevent postpartum hemorrhage. The whole time, staying calm but moving quickly. I was able to hold my baby the whole time and even establish nursing while they were working, which was hugely redemptive from my first birth. I felt so safe and protected in their capable hands, knowing this is exactly why I wanted these particular midwives in my team. Through their quick and skillful care, they prevented hemorrhage and protected my peace and the mother-baby dyad at the same time.
I felt so thankful that they were both able to be there and provide all the support I needed- both medically and emotionally.
Once all was well, Jill headed back to the other mom to finish up and Shoshanah started cleanup while giving us space to bond, snuggle and nurse.
When we were ready, I took a shower while my husband got skin to skin with our boy.
We clamped and cut his cord, took measurements and vitals and just basked in the joy of our newest family member.
The beauty of home birth is in this- not just where birth occurs, but how the mother is held, respected, and supported through it all. It’s in the relationships that make trust easy and a provider’s presence feel like safety rather than threat. Where emergencies are handled responsively rather than reactively and the connection between mother and baby is seen as an asset rather than an obstacle. Where birth partners are sources of strength, relief and centering rather than helpless bystanders. As we reflected on the experience that night, snuggled happily in our own bed, my husband wished that everyone could experience birth this way. Birth as a part of life, home and community rather than pathology and something to fear.
This birth was a renewed reminder to embrace intensity, allow myself to rely on those I trust, and that my Good Shepherd walks with me through it all.
Daniel Joseph Deminsky
21.5”
9lb 11.2oz
05/11/26
6:52 pm
