Choosing to home birth was not the first time I've stepped outside the box but it sure was the hardest.

What I've learnt now is that choosing yourself or choosing the road less travelled will garner criticism - even from those who are meant to love you most, but it is essential if you're being true to yourself.

Gut instincts are in decline.
We no longer trust ourselves, our bodies or our wisdom.
We trust the credentials.
We trust the loudest voice.
We trust the herd... but what if they don't know best?
What if you truly were the keeper of your body?

Choosing to birth at home following 2 caesareans was met with fear and I knew it would be. We've been conditioned "Once a caesar always a caesar" but the stats actually tell a different story. Delving into the wise women such as Dr Rachel Reed, Rhea Dempsey + Jane Hardwicke Collings, reflected a different story.
My body was more than capable.
My baby was more than capable.
I KNEW... I knew this was our path.
I saw my entire pregnancy and birth, my baby told me they were perfect and ready.
Walking it was the easiest choice. Sharing the path was not!
People did not have the capacity to support me without projecting their thoughts, fears and bias.

CUE, the most isolating time in my life. I had my husband, I had my Doula and only a handful of trusted confidants.
Everything else and everyone else, I had to block out.
And gosh, this was heartbreaking.

And guess what unfolded?
My healthiest pregnancy (previously I was hospitalised with Hyperemesis and was vomiting up to 15x a day) the least amount of swelling (Thanks MSM) and the strongest my body has felt (thanks weight training all the way through) and the birth.... oh my birth.
10 hours labour with my best friend (Hubby) holding me, my Doula seeing me in all her wisdom and my babies rubbing my back.
No one rushing me, no one inserting their checks and authority and no one labelling me.
I worked with my body, moving as a team to bring her down gently in her sac (waters never broke) and allowing my body space and time to stretch.

A family experience.
A healing experience.
And she emerged safely into the water in our lounge room - My Avalon Aurora.
The most transformational moment of my life.

I share this in hope that it may inspire you on your path. We're all unique beings and I wish we treated ourselves as such. Health is not a checklist. Its not a 20 step routine and its not one size fits all.

Yes, we all need very basic things as a baseline;
+ Sun exposure
+ Sleep
+ Filtered water
+ Whole (real) foods
+ Lowering stress
+ Daily movement
+ Rest

And for your unique position you know the things you need. Your body is craving it. Sometimes we need to get out of our own way. Stop handing over our authority and stop with the excuses.

Written with love,
Jess
xxxx

COVER IMAGE by The insanely talented Fiona Vail Photography
Birth Images captured by my Doula Cate Grant