My natural homebirth story at 42 weeks
By: Kaity Huff
Tags: Natural Birth, Home Birth, Birth, Pregnancy

With prodromal or “false” labor starting around 37 weeks, I thought for sure that this little one would come early. I couldn’t imagine going past 40 weeks, let alone until 42 weeks.

At 40 weeks, I started to get the usual antsiness. We were walking every day and eating all the pineapple and spicy foods.

Even though we definitely wanted him to come earlier, I was generally feeling ok — physically worn out, but nothing surprising at 10 months pregnant.

At 41 weeks 2 days, I went for an acupuncture induction session. The chiropractor warned me that acupuncture for induction is nothing like an acupuncture session to help with pain, for example; she said that an acupuncture session to induce will likely be incredibly uncomfortable… and she wasn’t kidding.

She placed a few needles in my feet, inside my ankles, and one on each hand. It lasted for about an hour. I couldn’t believe how quickly baby started moving around and how crampy I felt after leaving.

Mild contractions continued all afternoon and evening but stopped when I went to sleep that night.

The next day, I went back again for acupuncture session two. Even though the first didn’t immediately throw me into labor, I was hopeful I had at least made some progress by how I felt afterward. Session #2 was even more uncomfortable and contractions were even stronger directly following. But baby just wasn’t ready to make his appearance yet.

Saturday morning, we headed off to a Friendsgiving that I was planning to bring a baby to — not just my pregnant, overdue self. But I didn’t have another acupuncture session in me, and I was sick of walking all around town trying to get things going.

41 weeks 4days (far right)

On Sunday, I did the Miles Circuit routine twice (fitting name, huh). It’s basically designed to get baby up and out of the pelvis in case it’s a poor position that is holding things up. After doing some research and seeing how I felt after, I’m kicking myself for not starting this exercise earlier in pregnancy.

That Sunday, with 42 weeks and Thanksgiving looming, I asked my midwife, Rosie for suggestions on ways to really get things moving. She suggested the “Midwives brew” — castor oil, apricot nectar, almond butter, and a full(!) mini bottle of champagne. But because it was so effective, she asked me NOT to do it on Sunday, because she had another mamma who was also 42 weeks had just downed the concoction.

So I waited until Monday — when I was 41 weeks 6 days, and until our midwife was able to check things like my blood pressure and baby’s position to give me the green light.

The castor oil midwives brew was awful… bubbly champagne with clumps of almond butter and the taste of baby oil. I would not recommend it unless you’re truly approaching overdue (41 weeks +). And to add insult to injury (i.e., the horrific taste), I couldn’t keep it down. I threw it up about an hour after downing as much of the approx. 16-ounce drink as I could. Figuring an hour wasn’t long enough to do its magic, I figured “that’s that” and went about my day.

But to my surprise — it worked!

Labor and Birth

Contractions started around 6 pm at about 10 minutes apart. Around 7:30, they sped up to 3 minutes apart, but still very manageable. Even though my contraction app was hollering at me to go to the hospital, I wasn’t fully convinced I was in labor until around 9 pm — I had so much false labor until then, so I really didn’t want to get my hopes up.

Looking back, I feel a little silly that I wasn’t convinced until I was as far along as I was — I was rushing around the house quickly in between contractions to straighten up, and I was hanging onto walls and leaning on the tv stand during contractions. Yet I still thought, “this could stop if I go to sleep”.

I texted the midwife to let her know I was having contractions, but it was more of an “I don’t know if this is the real deal”. I mostly didn’t want to feel like a jerk if it was real, and didn’t send her a text until way later than I should have.

I moved to the exercise ball and labored there for the next couple of hours. It was a nice place to sway a little during contractions.

Ryan started setting up the pool around 9pm, but we finally realized that it wasn’t filling as quickly as it should because it had a hole. We texted Rosie, and she saved the day with a new pool at around 10:30.

She watched and timed my contractions, then asked me how far along I felt. Even having Lincoln’s birth to compare it to, I genuinely had no idea what to tell her. I didn’t feel overwhelmed or in much pain, so I told her I didn’t think I was even halfway there. I looked at the clock and thought maybe he’d come by 4–5 am, so Rosie headed home.

Finally, the pool was filled — I got in the pool at 11:15, just in time to watch Jimmy Kimmel. I was sitting with my arms up on the sides of the pool, almost in a lounging positing. Contractions were every minute or so, but still very manageable. We were talking about the show, really having a nice time and joking about how we should buy a birth pool to pull out occasionally to watch TV. It was really a cozy, comfortable place to be.

Shortly after midnight, things all of a sudden sped up. Ryan was in the bathroom for a couple of minutes, I think taking his time not realizing things were intensifying as quickly as they were. Sitting in the pool was too uncomfortable, so I got up on my knees to rest my arms and head on the side of the pool. That must have been all he needed because I quickly felt myself in transition.

I gave it a few contractions, then had Ryan text Rosie. I couldn’t believe how quickly I was feeling pressure and a push feeling. We went from casually watching Jimmy Kimmel one minute, to all of a sudden having a baby the next minute.

It’s a good thing our midwife, Rosie only lives 10 mins away. If she lived much further, she may not have made it in time.

Rosie was behind me when I started pushing. The pushing feeling came so naturally, and a little at a time. Each contraction felt a little more pressure and “pushy” than the last. I gave it one concerted push during a contraction and felt him move down. Rosie then had me blow air out of my mouth — I think to slow him down and move him thru during contractions.

She then told me that she was going to turn him — she later told me that his arm was up in a position she’s never seen before — with one arm wrapped around his neck, almost like if you were going to pat yourself on the back.

Although uncomfortable, it was oddly calming feeling her move him into a better position. My water broke right at that time, too.

She then told me to push whenever I’m ready. A few seconds later, when my next contractions came, I pushed one more time and felt all of him at once.

Rosie said, “grab your baby!”

I looked down and scooped him up from the water and pulled him onto my chest.

Myles came so much easier and quicker and gentler than I could have ever hoped for, and I immediately felt that and felt so grateful for it. It truly made going until 42 weeks to-the-day worth it. And, a day before my birthday made for a perfect gift.

He was 8lbs 10oz and had the biggest head measurements our midwife had ever seen in her 14-year career. It’s truly amazing what we’re capable of when we believe in our bodies and ourselves.