Category Archive

Birth stories

This is our archive of birth stories from our sister site, Offbeat Families. We have at-home births, hospital births, and c-section births — we love them all!

My thanksgiving birth story

Somewhere around my 26th week of pregnancy, our midwife Heike taught us how to find the baby’s head in my belly. “It’s called ballottement,” she explained. His head was just under the right side of my ribcage, meaning he was breech. “Don’t worry about it,” my midwife said. “Most babies are breech in the second trimester. He’ll flip.”

Proving you can do it: a successful vaginal birth after c-section

Elizabeth and her son pulled off a successful VBAC and experienced birth the way she always wanted to.

A transcendental cesarean birth story

Denise’s birth was one that enabled her to transcend the immediate pain and uncertainty and find a place from which she could gather strength for her unplanned cesarean section delivery.

First-time mom abandons fear in favor of stubbornness

When a contraction woke me up at 3:35 AM on my due date, I ignored it. When another contraction popped up ten minutes later, I ignored that one too. At 4:45 AM a contraction popped me right in the nose. It was intense, painful, and it wasn’t messing around.

Breaking plans: an “Unnatural Birth” story

Erika’s planned natural birth didn’t go exactly as she envisioned–and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

A sunset baby brings in a new beginning

Just when you think Offbeat Mama’s birth stories archive can’t get any more beautiful, something like Niko’s birth comes along and knocks you off your feet.

A Castor oil-assisted birth

Tara and Mike’s daughter, Quinn, was born at 42 weeks (O.M.G.) with the assistance of castor oil and awesome parentage.

An epic unmedicated, hospital, and midwife-assisted birth story

The mother of all natural, midwife-assisted, hospital birth stories. Buckle in, because this one is long, challenging, and glorious.