Oxytocin home birth - Philadelphia PA

Jun 22

Winning black and white postpartum image from international association of professional birth photographers, mother who just gave birth reaching for herself in the mirror and touching her now empty belly, Philadelphia

You’ve heard about oxytocin, right? The “love hormone”, how it is essential for labor, and when enough natural oxytocin is flowing it can lower fear, stress, and pain? (Pitocin is the artificial version of oxytocin that is used to augment labor in hospital birth.)

Well, never had I ever seen more oxytocin flowing than at this birth between Heidi and Kevin.

Early in the morning the day after Thanksgiving, after a few days of some early labor signs, I got the call that Heidi’s midwife was on her way. I’ve learned from experience that if the homebirth midwife thinks it’s time to go, it’s time to go! Birth team assemble! 😉

When I arrived, Heidi was already saying that the sensations were intense, and was leaning on Kevin for support and comfort. Slowly the contractions grew stronger and closer together, but their connection never waivered. Kissing, touching, staring into each other’s eyes, whispering words of encouragement. Oxytocin all over the dang place!

Heidi moved from the birth pool to the toilet and back again. Always with their doula Jordyn ready with the hip squeezes and back pressure, and midwife Kathy’s comfort and reassurances. When she was close to complete and feeling ready to push, they sensed there was still a small lip of cervix left to go. I’ve seen midwives manually help the person in labor hold the lip back during a contraction so they can safely start pushing. I had never seen what Heidi did however, which was reach in herself and hold the lip back while her waters also spontaneously ruptured on the toilet! Watch the birth film below, you can actually hear the water breaking and the reaction we all had to it!

After some time pushing in the birth pool, it seemed like moving to dry land might help things along, so the whole team helped Heidi onto the bed. Only a few pushes later, and she gently, slowly, powerfully eased her beautiful baby out and into the world, with Kevin ever by her side. The joyful tears were flowing!

And the oxytocin didn’t stop there. Home births are special for so many reasons, and one of my favorite is how calm and lovely the first couple hours postpartum can be. After birthing the placenta, Heidi got up to shower and Kevin had some snuggle time with his sweet baby. Then everyone climbed into bed as Kathy did the newborn exam, and Heidi regaled us with hilarious tales from her previous births; like how her midwives surprised her with a placenta smoothie!

Every birthing person feels differently while in labor; I personally didn’t want anyone touching me, hah! I’m so grateful I got to witness the incredible way that Heidi labored, and the way that Kevin supported her exactly how she wanted. Truly a beautiful birth.

Make sure to check out the birth film at the bottom of the page! You can hear Heidi explain how all the oxytocin between her and Kevin really helped her through the labor 😊

Biracial couple prepare to labor together, dad in white t-shirt, mom in floral robe sipping tea, birth pool in the foreground

Black and white portrait of a woman in labor in a birth pool, towel around her neck, her doula's hands rest open across from her.

Woman in labor leans over the side of the birth pool and rests in her doula's arms, black and white portrait

Woman in labor in birth pool gets support from her partner, doula, and midwife, wall of plants and lights in the background

Woman laboring in a birth tub, her belly visibly contracting, her doula rubbing her head, her partner massaging her legs, black and white photo

Couple passionately kissing to increase oxytocin, mom labors in the birth tub, natural pain management, dad's hand on her belly

Woman leans on birth partner's chest, doula supports belly with rebozo, midwife in the background

Black father leans back with eyes closed as his partner rests between contractions in birth pool

Doula giving back pressure to mom in labor, double image reflected in mirror

Person in labor pauses between contractions, her birth team behind her

Overhead view of birth team supporting woman in labor, giving back pressure, water pain management, shoulder rubs, in birth tub

Black father embraces his partner, they kiss, oxytocin flowing, after the birth of their baby snuggled in between them

Doula caresses mom's face and smiles after she gave birth, baby skin to skin minutes old, midwife and photographer in background

Minutes old baby looks into camera, skin to skin with mom after home birth

Mother looks at her reflection, one hand on mirror, one hand on postpartum belly after giving birth

Black dad holds new son skin to skin, kisses his head, beautiful baby

Midwife examines newborn after home birth, doula watches sweetly to the side, birth pool and plants hanging behind them, Philadelphia PA

Black father wraps his new baby in his arms, skin to skin, kisses his new son, black and white portrait

White mother in blue floral robe gently kisses newborn baby on the head while Black father holds him skin to skin, Philadelphia home birth photography

Home birth team relaxes on bed together, midwives, doula, father, laugh at story mom is telling, Philadelphia photographer

Minutes old newborn sleeps in mother's arms and soft blankets, father gently caresses his face, close portrait of hands and baby

Please note: this is a film of a natural birth, and shows the parts of the body involved in natural birth; in other words, all of it. If you’re not comfortable with nudity, maybe skip this one. But it’s a good one, so maybe don’t 😉

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Rachel Utain-Evans

Oxytocin home birth - Philadelphia PA

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