Unassisted Childbirth #2

by Jackie Keller
(Camden, AR, USA)

On Friday, May 31, 2002 I called Steve about 4:30PM and asked how his afternoon was going. He told me he had a bit more to do, but wouldn’t be too much longer. I told him to go ahead and get what needed to be done finished, but then come on home. He asked if I was in labor, in which I replied that I wasn’t, but thought it was soon.


I went ahead and called our childcare friend to pick up our children, and a friend, who was helping us with the birth. I got all changed and settled down on my bed to have a baby! (If only I had known in these first births what I know now about movement and gravity in laboring).

Steve, our friend and I visited and laughed while I waited for more contractions and had them regularly. I knew she was so close and only my water was holding her in. Steve prayed for my water to break and about 5 minutes later it did.

I began pushing, feeling her head descend. About 3 pushes and she was here at 8:15 PM! We cleaned her up and I tried to nurse her, but she just wanted to cuddle. Her eyes were wide open and bright.

We waited for the cord to stop pulsing and Daddy clamped it and cut it. My friend said, “You sure make it look easy, Jackie!” She took the baby to dress and weigh her while Daddy and I delivered the placenta. Another beautiful, uninterrupted, undisturbed birth.

I do several things to prep for my births. Fear is a woman’s biggest enemy, so I am careful who and what I listen to, I get regular chiropractic adjustments and take whole food vitamins. My diet has improved with each birth, but it still isn’t what it should be, so I do take high quality supplements.