When I first envisioned my daughter’s birth, I dreamed of a peaceful, unassisted experience where my body and intuition guided the way. Little did I know, that dream would take me on a journey far beyond what I expected. After a challenging pregnancy and weeks of waiting, my daughter was born at home in a powerful freebirth.

My experience was a testament to the strength of trust—trust in my body, my baby, and the natural process of birth. For those considering freebirth, especially in Guam, I hope my story offers insight, encouragement, and a sense of possibility.

Sera’s Birth Story

I fully expected to go into labor around 38 weeks, as my previous two labors had started then. However, I found myself still pregnant at 42 weeks and 3 days, frustrated but trying to trust the process. My husband’s work schedule had switched to much longer days, and we were both stressed from four weeks of waiting and prodromal labor. I began looking through my resources on herbs and other ways to encourage labor.

While I wouldn’t recommend anyone try these methods unless they are 41+ weeks, have done extensive research, and are dealing with a lot of prodromal labor, I decided to attempt the midwives brew. I’m knowledgeable about a variety of techniques as a birth worker, but ultimately, I knew my body and situation best. The midwives brew tasted awful—like drinking liquid crayons—but thankfully, I avoided any nausea or digestive issues. I drank it around 7 PM, watched a movie with my husband, and went to bed, waiting to see if anything would happen.

Around midnight, I had two strong contractions, but after four weeks of “maybe this is it,” I wasn’t convinced until the sensations became more intense and settled into a steady 5-minute pattern. Finally, I woke up my husband, excited to tell him I was in labor! He, however, was exhausted from work and didn’t quite react the way I had hoped—at first. As the contractions grew stronger and more frequent, he quickly came around and started to support me.

I moved through various positions to manage the intensity—sitting cross-legged, on all fours, then kneeling and leaning on my birth ball in the living room. The pressure was overwhelming, and I knew I had to work with it, not against it.

Although we didn’t know the gender of our baby, my husband and I both had a strong feeling we were expecting a girl. During one particularly intense contraction, I began moaning and groaning, and a female name, along with a wave of feminine energy, came to mind. I knew for certain she was a girl, and she was coming soon.

As the labor progressed, I remembered all the wisdom shared by other freebirthing women and the birth stories I’d read. I allowed the feelings and sensations to take over completely, releasing any lingering resistance. At one point, I sobbed out of sheer relief—she was coming. After a difficult pregnancy and an excruciatingly long wait, I was finally in the birth process, and my dream of a freebirth was coming true.

My husband was an incredible support, reminding me to drink water, massaging my shoulders, applying counterpressure, and offering words of encouragement. At one point, he suggested we lie down to rest, but that idea was quickly interrupted by a huge contraction that broke my water. My husband later told me he was concerned when he saw some blood and meconium, but he stayed calm, knowing we had discussed this possibility beforehand.

He helped me move to the shower, where I labored on all fours with a birth ball for support. The intensity of the contractions increased, and I started feeling a pushy sensation. My husband couldn’t see anything yet, but I could feel her head moving down. As I crawled out of the shower and onto the bed, I cried out, “Baby, baby! She’s coming!”

With the next contraction, I couldn’t stop myself from pushing. I felt her head emerge, and I asked my husband to support me as she crowned. The pressure was so intense that I felt like I was splitting in two. But with one more contraction, she was born. The relief was instant. She was here. I checked, and yes, she was indeed a girl.

She was born at 4:53 AM on June 13th, weighing 9.4 lbs and measuring 19 inches long. After 42 weeks and 3 days of waiting, she had finally arrived.

The placenta took over an hour to deliver, and I had to coax it out by slowly tugging on the cord. Once it was out, I felt immediate relief. There was no tearing, no pain—just a deep sense of peace as I lay down to nurse my daughter and fall asleep, cocooned with her.

My husband keeps talking about how incredible and natural the birth process was, how he can’t imagine doing it any other way. He caught her himself and cut the cord. It was such a powerful experience for both of us.

The worst part of the whole process was the tailbone pain just before pushing and the afterpains in the days following. But the best part? Being unobserved and uninhibited, with just my husband by my side—no doula, no midwife, no interruptions. It was exactly what I had hoped for.

Now, as we settle into our postpartum bubble, I’m filled with gratitude. My daughter is thriving, peaceful, and calm. It’s as though she’s always been here, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us both.

Conclusion

Reflecting on my freebirth, I feel immense pride in how everything unfolded naturally and peacefully. The bond between my husband and me grew deeper, and our daughter arrived into the world exactly as we had hoped—without intervention. If you're in Guam and considering freebirth, know that you’re not alone. With the right preparation, trust, and support, this path can be an incredibly empowering one. I’m always here to share my experience, offer advice, or answer any questions. Feel free to reach out if you’re exploring this beautiful way of birthing.