Vegan Birth Stories

Please read our collection of birth stories. If you'd like to submit your own, please submit your story here. Vegan or vegetarian birth stories are welcome.

Mila

I will tell the birth story of my 4th child since it is the freshest one in my mind.

6 days before my due date I had a strange feeling. I went to the midwife for my weekly appointment. She told me I was 3 cm dilated--the same I've been for the past 3 appointments.

The boys were bouncing off the walls when we got home from the appointment so I sent them out to play...and to gather some blackberries in the pastures. (I knew it would keep them busy for a good 1/2 hour)

They came back and we all had BIG scoops of vanilla ice cream with fresh blackberries. I remember it tasted SO good. I folded some diapers and covers, made sure the sling was washed and ready.

My weird feeling stayed with me all evening....after the kids went to bed I thought I would go to...since nothing was happening. I laid down in bed at 9:22 PM--and a contraction hit me like a truck. I remembering thinking how strong it was. 5 minutes later another...then another.

I got up to drink some water thinking it was false labor. I told dh to be ready "just in case". I went back to bed and I heard his air compressor running. I went waddling out to the living room and there he was blowing up the pool. "What the heck are you doing?! I don't know if I am in labor or not yet?!" His response.."you ARE in labor" Hmmm..I was about to bet him he was wrong. Thank goodness I didn't.

I felt the baby drop on my way back to the room. The pressure was enormous!!! So, then I went back to the living room--told my husband to hurry up--ya, ya his hunch was right. I called my midwife and she was on her way.

I had to lean against the couch during contractions--they were about 3 minutes apart--not TO bad though. The midwife showed up and just as she was getting ready to check me my water broke. It was clear fluid. I was so happy! She checked me and I was at 7cm. WOW!!! My husband had the pool full of warm water--oh it was nice.

My mom showed up and lit some candles and brought some soup. I ate some soup and sipped some of my favorite tea between contractions. I started getting very vocal and the boys woke up. They were very serious. I remember them standing by the edge of the pool. Tyler was asking lots of questions. Nathan was rubbing my back, and Hunter wanted to go swimming with me. Oh, my little boys are such sweeties!!!

I had my head in my husband's lap so I could be in a semi-squatting position in the pool. He is such a great birthing partner. Every one else could have left and I wouldn't have cared--as long as I had him.

I felt the urge to push and it felt so good. I pushed three times and the baby was out at 11:11 PM. I remember feeling her head emerge with my hands. I wanted to savor that moment for ever, since I am sure she is our last. I turned over and held my little one. Oh, it was heaven. We waited 30 minutes to see what the sex was....it was a GIRL!! Oh my, after 3 boys I have a girl. What a shock!!!

I got out of the pool, the midwife took the baby. I birthed the placenta in the hallway--by accident. I laid in bed while the midwife did all the checks right next to me.

Mila Jacelyn weighed 8lbs 2oz and was 21 inches long. Scored 9/10 on apgar--she was perfect.

My labor was very short. From start to finish it was less than 2 hours. The pushing stage was only 8 minutes. Mila had a broken collar bone from her fast birth. She was in no pain at all--very peaceful despite her broken bone. It was totally healed 6 days later.

For the next few days we were in newborn bliss!!

Today she is almost 9 months old and still mostly breastfed and a happy, happy baby.

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