First-time mother Jacqueline attended my Embracing the Intensity workshop in preparation for her the birth of her daughter, which took place at home, as planned. ‘She entered the world through warmth and water, carried by a willing body that trusted itself and welcomed her with love,’ writes Jacqueline.
As a first-time mum, my first birthing experience has left me in awe of what a woman’s body is capable of. I entered birth as a willing woman, shaped through birth education run by Rhea Dempsey and through deep personal preparation. I was lucky enough to be part of Midwifery Group Practice at our local hospital and had three beautiful midwives present for my journey and birth. My husband was my pillar of strength, supporting me as I fell into the depths and intensity of each contraction. My mother was also present, which was deeply healing for our lineage.
Willingness, for me, meant saying yes to sensation, yes to uncertainty and yes to the innate intelligence of my body and my baby. It meant trusting that birth would unfold perfectly when I was supported to stay inside myself, to feel, to respond and to choose.
Our baby arrived in her own time, guided by instinct, strength and calm, into a space shaped by trust, presence and love.
On the afternoon of her estimated due date, gentle contractions began. At first they were irregular, quietly preparing my body for the journey ahead as Stage 1 began and my cervix commenced its work of opening. As evening turned to night, the waves continued, allowing my baby and I to synchronise. Before long, rest became impossible as labour claimed my full attention. Some contractions led into the next, minimising the time I had to centre myself in between.
In the early hours of the following morning, contractions strengthened and found their rhythm. By 6:00am, labour was intensifying and establishing itself. From approximately 6:00am until around 9:30am, Stage 1 progressed steadily as my cervix continued opening toward full dilation. There was no induction and no medication used to hasten the process. My body worked in its own steady, intuitive way, supported by trust and surrender (my mantra).
I moved through labour using grounding and natural supports. A TENS machine alternating between surge and rest modes offered relief, while warm-water immersion allowed my body to soften, open and release. I also found listening to meditative hypnobirthing tracks anchored me back to the experience and my strength. Cold face washers, refreshing drinks, an acupressure ball and birth comb were also powerful throughout the journey.
My baby’s heartbeat was monitored intermittently, preserving my freedom of movement and reinforcing my trust in the physiological unfolding of birth. The birth space remained calm and deeply focused, held by hypnobirthing meditations reminding me to connect to my breath and baby. When the time felt right, I requested my husband play some curated playlists I had put together as suggested by Rhea. Each playlist supported a different stage of labour.
My membranes released naturally while I was in the water. The waters were clear, offering reassurance that labour was progressing smoothly and that my body was doing exactly what it needed to do to bring my baby earth side. As full dilation approached, my body began to signal the urge to push.
Around 9:30am, Stage 2 began as I moved into the bearing-down phase. Labour continued steadily and powerfully as our baby moved through the birth canal and into the world. This phase lasted approximately one hour and forty minutes. Throughout labour, my baby remained head down and rotated naturally into an optimal position for birth.
Around 11am, our baby was born gently into the birth pool as a sacred mantra played, traditionally used to bless new beginnings and protect those crossing thresholds. Our baby emerged headfirst through a normal vaginal birth, without instruments. Still covered in vernix, she was guided immediately into my arms, surrounded by warm water and wrapped in a family heirloom towel. After a brief, soft cry, she opened her eyes and looked curiously toward the blurred light of the outside world. Her transition was calm, held and unhurried.
After the birth, my body continued to work beautifully. Stage 3 followed naturally as the placenta was delivered with membranes complete while my baby breastfed for the very first time. After more than an hour, her umbilical cord was cut by my husband, marking a gentle and intentional close to her time in utero and the start of precious skin-to-skin time with him.
I sustained some small birth injuries, including a second-degree perineal tear and a minor labial graze. Blood loss remained within normal limits.
Throughout the experience, I remained connected and embodied. Sensation returned normally, healing was supported and both my baby and I are well.
Our baby was born at 40 weeks and 1 day, following a spontaneous, physiological labour that unfolded over the course of the afternoon, night and morning. She entered the world through warmth and water, carried by a willing body that trusted itself and welcomed her with love.
A gentle beginning.
A powerful arrival.
A beautiful start to life.
Were Rhea’s books or workshop part of your birth preparation? Share your story here. We would love to hear from you!
