By
An Anonymous Contributor
Three weeks before my due date, my mom decided to host a baby shower brunch. True to form, her place was overflowing with guests (she just doesn’t get the concept of a “small gathering”). Meanwhile, our home was bustling with my mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and best friend visiting for the festivities.
A Shift in Plans
Around my 28th week of pregnancy, my husband and I transitioned from my OB/GYN to a midwife named Sarah. After touring a hospital, we realized we wanted a more personal environment for the birth of our first child. Sarah instantly made us feel at ease, and all our routine checkups indicated everything was progressing smoothly.
At my 36-week appointment, Sarah surprised me with an unexpected request: “Lay down. I want to do an exam.” She informed me that I was about 10% effaced and the baby could arrive “any time now.” I brushed it off, thinking it was just part of the final stretch of pregnancy!
The First Signs
The following day at work, I noticed something was off. My stomach felt strange – Braxton Hicks contractions, I concluded. My body was gearing up for the big day. Saturday turned into a whirlwind of houseguests and shower prep. My swollen legs distracted me from anything unusual until I stepped into the shower. That’s when I saw something unexpected and called my husband in.
“What is this?” I asked. He had no clue either.
I had lost my mucus plug! We kept on with our plans, but I asked my husband to tag along with my sister-in-law and me for errands; I wasn’t comfortable heading out alone anymore.
Later that evening, we were all having a blast adding songs to the baby shower playlist: “I’m Coming Out,” “My Sweet Baby,” and “Dirty Dancing,” among others. We said goodnight, expecting a pretty standard Sunday morning.
The Surprise Evening
At 11:15 PM, I woke up and felt the urge to use the bathroom, only to discover my bed was soaked.
“I think my water broke,” I whispered to my husband as I nudged him awake.
“How do you know?” he mumbled, half-asleep.
Before I could answer, a rush of water confirmed it as I dashed to the bathroom. Contractions began right away.
My husband called Sarah, who told me to rest between contractions since first labors are usually lengthy. But these contractions were coming five minutes apart, quickly becoming more intense and closer together. I shifted from the shower to the bathtub, attempting to manage the pain.
Sarah had arrived and was trying to catch some sleep on our couch (all the guest rooms were occupied), but my husband informed her that contractions were now less than a minute apart. When she checked, I was already dilated to 10 cm – it was time to push! By this point, my mother-in-law and sister-in-law were awake, but somehow my best friend slept through the whole thing.
Welcoming New Life
At 3:16 AM, I gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby girl weighing 6 pounds, 12 ounces and measuring 21 inches long. She came into the world screaming but calmed down immediately when placed on my chest. All my discomfort faded away in that moment.
“I can do this again!” I exclaimed to my husband, filled with wonder at the experience.
The Surprise Shower
After some coffee and breakfast, my guests headed to my mom’s house to help with the shower setup while my best friend stayed with me. No one mentioned that I had already given birth.
When I walked into my own baby shower with my newborn, everyone thought I was carrying a doll – not an actual eight-hour-old baby! The questions poured in: “When did you have the baby?” “How did they let you out of the hospital?” “What do you mean you had her at home?!” Their reactions were absolutely priceless!
I loved my home birth so much that when our second daughter arrived, we did it again – my water broke, and four hours later, we welcomed another gorgeous daughter into our home.
If you’re considering at-home insemination, check out Make a Mom for their reusable kits, or see how at-home insemination works. For those seeking a sperm donor in Las Vegas, you can visit Vegas Pregnancy for a free matching service. Don’t forget to explore our post on whole food-based prenatal to keep yourself and baby healthy. For tips on IVF, Parents is an excellent resource, and for in-depth discussions, check out Modern Family Blog.
Summary
From an unexpected home birth to a surprise baby shower, this story captures the joy and spontaneity of welcoming a new life. Whether you’re considering home birth or at-home insemination, there are resources available to support you on your journey to parenthood.