Sensitive Images Below: This post contains graphic images of childbirth, including blood and nudity. Viewer discretion is advised.
Hello, dearest Family and Friends!
I'm excited to share Arvid's heartwarming and empowering home birth story one week after his grand entrance. It's a tale of patience, trust, surrender, and the incredible power of a mother's intuition. This beautiful image, captured just an hour after his arrival, helps tell our story of love, strength, and surrender.
Arvid, our little warrior, had been eager to meet us for weeks. I had lost my mucus plug; he was head down and ready, but life, as it often does, had other plans. A family cold swept through, and it seemed Arvid wisely chose to wait until everyone was healthy. What a thoughtful little soul!
Days turned into weeks, and my due date of Wednesday, August 28th, came and went. I tried everything to encourage Arvid's arrival —from daily long walks to what worked with my second-born Karl (writing a love letter to him)— but he was clearly on his own timeline. One week past my due date on Wednesday, September 4th, amidst the well-intentioned texts and growing anxiety, I decided to disconnect and turn inward. I turned my phone off and let my birth team know my husband would be their primary contact. It was time to let go of control and trust the process.
A visit from my wonderful midwife, Catalina, on Thursday, September 5th at 2 pm, brought peace. She sat with me to see where I was at emotionally and also checked my blood pressure and the baby's heart rate in various positions as a labor reference point. Although I had envisioned delivering the baby and placenta just before her arrival (imagining holding them in my hands as she walked in), having this data would be crucial in case things didn't go as planned.
Later on, she guided me in breathwork, allowing me to let go of my fears and welcome the unfamiliar. This experience served as a potent affirmation of my strength, ability, and motherhood journey. In the midst of our session, the song Loosen by Aly Halpert deeply resonated with me.
"Loosen, loosen, baby
You don't have to carry
The weight of the world in your muscles and bones
Let go, let go, let go"
These lyrics let loose something I didn't even know I was holding onto. I silently let tears stream down my face to let go, let go, let go.
Less than an hour after my midwife left, early labor started with contractions 10 minutes apart. I went to jujitsu at 5 pm with my family to confirm if this was the real thing. The contractions continued at 13-minute intervals, confirming the start of labor. I shared birthing jokes and took silly selfies, signaling the seriousness to my husband. While watching all three of my kiddos stretch and run around during class, I texted my baby sister using my husband's phone to start heading my way; she has been my doula for all my births and lives 5 hours away.
When we arrived home, my contractions grew closer, and I found comfort in my family and the familiar rhythms of our home. The kids and I cuddled up close to watch Aladdin in Swedish (Thursday is our traditional Swedish movie night); my three kiddos were oblivious to the miracle unfolding within me as they drifted into sweet sleep around 930 p.m. At 1007 pm, I created a goofy video message for Arvid in the bathroom mirror telling him "Hey Arvid, this could be it, let's see how it goes." It was the only media I managed to capture while in active labor.
The night grew darker, and the labor intensity increased as it was only my husband and me, which was serendipitous. With each contraction, a wave of pain swept over me. I tried different positions for relief - on all fours, in the bathtub, on the couch. At the peak of every strong contraction, I found myself saying, "This hurts," until I reminded myself to relax and asked my husband for help. My husband, Alex, provided unwavering support, giving back rubs and words of encouragement. We both somehow managed to rest in between contractions while I soaked in the tub or laid in bed, even though the contractions, though less frequent, were more intense in these two positions.
Around 305 am, in the bathtub for the third time that night, I knew it was time. I felt the urge to push. The midwife was called. Despite being delayed by a flat tire, my sister was on her way and told us she would arrive within minutes when my husband called her at 312 am. As contractions peaked, I stood at the bathroom sink, my body instinctively knowing what to do. With a rush of water and a primal push, Arvid's head crowned. A moment of intense sensation, the “ring of fire”, and then... relief. Our baby boy slid into the world, his tiny head smeared with evidence of his journey. My husband went to check the time of birth.
At 320 am on Friday, September 6th, Arvid entered the world. The room filled with the sweetest, most gentle cry and then silence as he looked around, taking in his new world.
Overwhelmed with love and awe, I held my son close. The photo was captured by my husband at 324 am.
My body, though weary, had done its job perfectly, but it wasn't over. I gently laid my newborn down on the towels in front of me as I felt another surge, and my placenta emerged. My sister arrived and, at 333 am, captured a truly authentic moment as my baby and I were still splashed in blood from the placenta, crouching on the bathroom floor.
Shortly after, our midwife showed up. My perfect birth unfolded even better than planned, with my husband holding our baby, me rinsing off in the tub with my sister's help, and the midwife arriving at the ideal time. Our golden hour was spent in bed. I felt a little lightheaded, so I was happy to rest. At 433 am, my husband cut the cord to a very healthy placenta with zero calcification, a common worry for births that occur after the due date.
Arvid, weighing in at a healthy 9 pounds and stretching to an impressive 20 inches long, latched on for his first feed without struggle. At 530 am, I finally drifted to sleep. As the sun rose, we welcomed our other children to meet their new baby brother. Their love and excitement filled our hearts with warmth. My parents visited later that day as we took our first family photo less than 24 hours after birth.
Arvid's home birth story reminds us that life is full of surprises and miracles. It's a testament to the strength and resilience of family, the power of love, perfect timing, and the boundless potential that lies within each of us.
Let's celebrate this new life and the incredible journey that brought him into our world. May Arvid's birth story inspire us all to embrace authenticity, cultivate resilience, and fearlessly embrace our incredible family.
With love and gratitude,
Mama Jennica
P.S. We've set up a meal train if you'd like to be a part of our village and support us with a meal or grocery contribution during this special time. It would mean the world to us! https://mealtrain.com/r9k2ld
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