I Did It: A Home Birth After Cesarean

Lucas’ Birth Story

We had been trying for a few months before finding out we were pregnant with Lucas. I had a loss the cycle before, so when I saw the lines growing darker, it provided some comfort.

Early on in the first trimester, I knew I wanted to have a home birth. My husband was hesitant, but he knew it was something I dreamed of and supported me in that. My daughter was breech, so I opted for a scheduled C-section with her. Because of that, trying for a VBAC at home risked me out of most local home birth midwives’ criteria.

Then I found Tracy. She was confident and funny—and had 12 children of her own. I knew she trusted birth and trusted my body’s ability to do it. I also loved her midwife assistant, Angela. They were the perfect combo for my birth team. I also knew I wanted to have a photographer there to capture all of it. And since we’d need house and childcare support, both my mom and mother-in-law came to help a few weeks before the birth. It was my perfectly crafted birth team.

My entire pregnancy was perfect. I honestly felt so great most of the time. The second time around flew by. I loved the midwife model of care—it all just felt so relaxed. The anxiety I felt the first time around wasn’t there this time. I was really able to enjoy being pregnant.

We found out he was a boy pretty early, and I was shocked. I never imagined being a boy mom. Our anatomy scan with the OB went great, and as we approached 37 weeks, I was officially approved for home birth!

Starting around then, I could tell my body was prepping. My Braxton Hicks were getting stronger, and I’d have real contractions here and there. I was starting to feel done with being pregnant and ready to meet baby boy. 38 weeks came and went—same thing: contractions mostly in the evenings. I felt at peace with his timing. I was anxious and excited to try for a home birth, uncomfortable like most people are toward the end, but still overall at peace.

At 39+2 I remember feeling a sense of urgency. That’s when my daughter was born, so I definitely had an underlying expectation that he would come soon too. My due date was October 23, and I got a membrane sweep on the 20th. I was 2cm but soft. Tracy was able to do a small sweep. I lost some mucus plug the next day and had a bloody show and cramps overnight—but they eventually fizzled out.

Each night from 4pm to 2am, I’d have contractions every 8–10 minutes. They felt stronger each night but never turned into actual labor. My due date came and went. The next day, I had an appointment with Tracy. I booked a last-minute chiropractor appointment that morning knowing I’d ask for another sweep, and wanting to make sure baby was in a good position.

When I got to Tracy, I asked for another sweep. I was 5cm, 80% effaced—which was super exciting. His head was low enough for her to feel, so Tracy asked if I wanted to feel his head and the bag of waters. That was wild—to be able to feel him right there! I was starting to get excited.

On the way home I called my photographer to update her, just to say it would probably be soon. She recommended doing the Miles Circuit. I got home around 10:30am and did the circuit positions until about 11. I was having medium-level cramps, but that was typical after a sweep, so I ignored them.

My dog had a grooming appointment, so I asked my mom to come with me and hang out while we waited. We dropped my dog off at 12pm. While talking to the groomer, I had a cramp that felt different—way more intense. I could barely hold the conversation. We went to walk around Drake Field, and I noticed the contractions seemed consistent and close. I started timing them—they were every 4–5 minutes.

I told my mom they weren’t bad, so I wanted to keep walking. About 30 minutes later (around 12:30pm), we went to the library to pee before heading to a store. When I sat on the toilet, I started pooping a lot. In my head I knew that was a sign my body was prepping, but I was still in denial that this would actually turn into labor and not fizzle like all the other days.

I told my mom I wanted to go home because I kept feeling like I had to use the bathroom. I drove us back—20 minutes—having contractions every 5 minutes. They were uncomfortable but not super painful. When we got home, I told my husband I thought something might be happening but wasn’t sure and didn’t know if they’d stop again. I said I was going to shower and do my hair just in case.

He wrapped up his meetings and came in to check on me. Around 1:30pm, he asked if he should call our midwife and photographer. I didn’t give a clear answer—my ability to make decisions was going out the window. In hindsight, that was a big sign I was in labor and this wasn’t prodromal like before.

I told him I wasn’t sure—it was more painful, but I didn’t know if it was real. Thankfully, he trusted his instincts and made the calls. I was in the shower while he called them. When I got out and finished doing my hair, both had arrived—around 2pm.

I remember feeling kind of embarrassed that they were there because I still didn’t think it was real labor. Tracy encouraged us to keep doing our thing while they set up. I labored on the ball, walked the stairs, and walked around the neighborhood too. I had to stop during contractions to focus, but they still weren’t as painful as I thought they’d be, so I stayed in denial. The whole time I had contraction pain in my back and hips—not the front.

Once we got back from the walk, Tracy wanted to do some monitoring since I was a TOLAC. Around 4pm, I asked her if she thought I was actually in labor or if it would fizzle out. She asked if I wanted to be checked, but also reassured me that my body was doing exactly what it needed to.

She checked me—I was 8cm! I was so excited. I felt like I was coping well for being that far along.

The next few hours I labored in different positions, snacked, drank water, and just stayed in the zone. I was uncomfortable but the pain felt manageable with movement and counter pressure from Matheus. At 6:19pm I was 9.5cm with an anterior lip. My water still hadn’t broken. We started filling the birth pool because I wanted to push in the water. We were hoping the anterior lip would resolve on its own shortly because they typically do.

I got in the tub around 7:05pm—it was instant relief. The warm water was everything. Tracy checked again to see if the lip had moved—it hadn’t. She offered to hold it back during a contraction to see if it would resolve. I said yes. My mindset was: I’ll endure more pain now if it helps this move along. But it didn’t budge.

She told me later that it works 95% of the time, so when it didn’t, she started spinning on what else to try. I got out of the tub around 8pm to pee and reset. I didn’t feel pushy, and I couldn’t push because I wasn’t fully dilated.

We tried to break my water at 9:30pm but couldn’t. I kept moving around the house. I was having contractions every 2.5 minutes, stuck at 9.5cm, and doing all the most painful positions to try and resolve the lip.

This next stretch—midnight to 5am—was the hardest thing I’ve ever done physically and mentally. My entire birth team stayed steady and calm. Matheus did hip squeezes for me through every contraction. That was one of the only things that helped. I was moaning through each one, trying to stay loose and open.

At one point I wasn’t breathing enough, which made it harder for Lucas. I needed oxygen. His heart rate dipped once and recovered. I remember the moment clearly—Tracy stayed calm but firm, told me I needed to change positions. After that, they monitored him every 5–10 minutes. I trusted Tracy completely. I wasn’t scared—just very aware.

I kept moving: rebozo, birth ball, stairs, everything. I also listened to my body. Every time I got into the tub, it felt amazing but took me out of the labor “zone.” One time in the tub I said out loud, “I don’t think I can do this anymore.” In my head, I was thinking about what it would take to go to the hospital. But no one said anything. No one wavered. And looking back, I’m so grateful—because if anyone had agreed or doubted me, I might have given up.

Around 5am, I went to the bathroom and sat backwards on the toilet to labor alone. I started gagging and could feel him moving down. Matheus later told me that when everyone heard that sound, the room lit up. Tracy came in to check and told me I was complete and ready to push.

I moved to the floor by my bed. I tried side-lying, but Lucas didn’t love that, so I shifted into a squat. I felt SO powerful. Adrenaline, awe, energy. Everyone made me feel like a total badass. I felt the ring of fire—but it went fast. I lovedpushing. The contraction pain dropped so much. It took me a minute to figure out how to push with the contraction, but Tracy helped me.

At 5:45am I started pushing. At 6:00am, I was crowning. I reached down and felt his head, which gave me this huge surge of energy. One more push and he flew out. I reached down and grabbed him. Matheus grabbed us both in a hug. It was the best moment ever.

I looked at him and said, “I did it.” A moment I had visualized over and over again. I was so proud of myself. Months of prep—mental, physical, emotional. Hope, faith, prayer, research. It all led to this moment. I wish I could replay it.

I laid back and started nursing him. I birthed the placenta about 10 minutes later—it was a lot easier than I expected. He latched great and we stayed in that position for a while. He also had a true knot which felt like a sign of good luck!

Then I handed Lucas to Matheus and took a quick shower. Tracy examined me—I had a small 1st degree tear and labial bruising, but nothing that needed stitches.

I put on my ice packs, crawled into my bed, nursed and cuddled my baby, and watched the sun come up.

He was here.
My sweet Lucas.
Bringer of light.
And now, 8 months later—he still is.

At Nurture and Be Therapy Services, we specialize in walking alongside women through the emotional and psychological layers of pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Whether you're navigating anxiety in early pregnancy, processing a previous loss or birth trauma, preparing mentally for birth, or adjusting to life with a newborn, our therapists are here to hold space for all of it. My own birth story with Lucas—full of hope, fear, strength, surrender, and power—is a reflection of the deeply human experience that so many women move through. It's an honor to support others as they find their voice, trust their bodies, and write their own stories during this transformative season of life.

To connect with one of our specialized therapist click below: https://nurtureandbetherapy.janeapp.com.

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