Newborn Care: Mom Of Two Gives Birth At Home

While we face the difficulties of parenting in the time of COVID-19, in a most unusual occurrence, a mother of two, Vanessa Jeffery, from Brisbane, Australia, has given birth to a baby boy, Nathaniel, without her waters breaking. It came as a shock to both Vanessa, her husband, Chris, and her doula who were planning to take her to the husband moments before she gave birth in the bathroom in what was described by them as almost a birth without labor.

Because Vanessa had not shown any signs of being close to giving birth, and her waters had not broken, the birth came quickly and within a few minutes she was holding her baby in her arms. Before birth, Vanessa had planned to labor at home. According to her, she would do so until she felt ready to go to the hospital.

The Birth And Initial Newborn Care

Vanessa’s husband and her doula (an expert in newborn care) helped her deliver the baby before the paramedics arrived. Vanessa, who is a 32-year-old teacher, recounted how she had had mild contractions the previous day. She also said she had speculated she was going into the early stages of labor. She then decided to put a call through to her doula, Selena Rollason. Selena quickly came over to help Vanessa and her husband as they prepared to head to the hospital. According to Vanessa, when the baby was born, she sat on the bathroom floor because that was where she had felt the most comfortable. It was at that moment she discovered her baby’s head had already started coming out. The baby, Nathaniel, was still in the water sack when she delivered him.

She also recounted to the Daily Mail how she was in total disbelief at the entire occurrence. She had thought she had hours before she went into active labor. To Vanessa, the birth was a total diversion from her original plan to have a VBAC (vaginal birth after Caesarean), because she had not planned for a home birth.

Vanessa And Her Baby Checked In The Hospital

Vanessa and her baby had to go to the hospital for proper newborn care and evaluation before her delivery. They were released from the hospital after just one night. Speaking on how amazing women’s bodies are, Selena had also recounted that Vanessa’s water had not only been intact, but that Vanessa herself had not shown any behavioral signs of going into labor soon, which is a total anomaly, and a proof of how amazing a woman’s body can be. Vanessa recounts the entire experience as the calmest and beautiful birth and thanked Selena, her doula, who had helped her achieve that. Selena who not only knows excellent baby care tips but also happens to be a birth photographer had taken some photographs of Vanessa and the baby moments after Vanessa’s delivery. Vanessa says she will cherish the same photos and memories for the rest of her life.

Vanessa’s Story Shared Online

Vanessa’s story of an amazing birth and newborn care at home was shared online and had a very warm and positive reception. It is a beauty indeed to see such wonderful news during such gloomy times, and people flocked to the positivity surrounding the entire atmosphere.