My Natural Childbirth Experience

Ever since I got married, I had a niggling fear that when I had a baby, it would end in a c-section. While I understand the importance of the medical procedure, I had no desire to be cut open! So, when I found out I was expecting Little K, I began researching how to avoid a c-section. My findings led to a home birth-which I knew my husband wouldn't go for. However, I thought I might be able to convince him to let me go to a birth center.

So, I shared all the information I had gathered on the medicalization of birth. I pointed out that I dislike hospitals. I emphatically stated that I wanted to recover in my own bed. After briefly trotting out the idea of home birth, I put that horse in its stall and suggested the birth center. My husband graciously told me I could decide where I wanted to give birth (as long as it wasn't at home). That settled it. I was going to the Topeka Birth and Women's Center.

The center is in an old Victorian home. I loved the pictures of the exterior and interior immediately. My house was built in 1900, so the center would be the next best thing to being at home. I knew I would be able to relax in such comforting surroundings. This also helped convince my husband, because he loves old homes as much as I do.


In the weeks leading up to Little K's birth, we got to know the ladies at the Birth Center and respect their incredible knowledge. After the first required childbirth class (which for me was a review of what I had read online about the dangers of medicalizing birth), my husband really understood why I had been so emphatic about avoiding a hospital birth. This information did not imply that you can't have a natural birth in a hospital, but just pointed out that it's much more difficult to do so.

I was encouraged to labor at home as long as possible. This ended up being about half the day. I labored on the bed at the center for several long hours. Then I moved to the tub. That was heavenly! I relaxed in the water....until it was time to push. I moved to the bed and my husband said the midwife did a great job of having me change positions to help move things along. (I just did what I was told at that point.)


After Little K arrived that evening, we had some quiet cuddles. My husband and I snuggled with her on the bed for quite a while. Then, four hours later, we got to go home! I was so excited to be headed back to my own, comfy bed. Although, to be fair, I didn't have any complaints about the bed at the birth center.

Even though I'll be the first to admit I didn't handle the pain of labor well, I will be going back to the birth center for my next birth. I felt like the midwives cared about our family as people, not patients. Bonus: no c-section needed!