This brought up so much emotion for me. Tears of joy. I’ve had a csection, a homebirth with a midwife, and a freebirth. There’s no feeling like taking back you power and birthing your own child in all of that power taking full and complete responsibility. It gives new meaning to the words mother, and woman. I’m so thrilled for your experience and feel the pride you have for your daughter and granddaughter. Congratulations from the bottom of my heart!
I am a man and can certainly not fully appreciate the full experience or the complete feeling of bliss but having been chief of support and head of the comfort department during our four home births, I can assure you that babies do not need to be ‘delivered’. They come of their own will and in their own good time. It’s meant to be and it’s beautiful.
Faith, strength and courage.
Here is your reward!
As well, if something goes wrong, we must believe that was also meant to be...
This is so beautiful! Congratulations to all of you!!
I wrote a comment on one of your posts many months ago now, when I had just found out I was pregnant and also had a home birth a few months ago. Giving birth at home was everything I imagined it to be - deeply empowering, freeing, joyful. I loved being in my own space, setting up my environment the way I wanted it, and felt so relaxed and calm the whole time. I don't remember it as painful at all.
I was told all these horror stories about how much my husband would hate me if anything happened to our baby and how I would live with myself if anything were to go wrong. I still find it heartbreaking that so many people make their decisions out of fear, especially in the context of birth, without understanding that fear is exactly the worst thing to pursue because its physiological effects can manifest the same problems they're so scared of.
I'm so happy for your daughter, that she made her choice despite all of that, and for you, that you could separate your worry from responsibility and find joy in the experience.
Congratulations again to all of you! Babies bring so much unabashed happiness and laughter with them. I'm stunned every day by just how much.
Planning my own first freebirth, living on a farm with my parents in the next house, it was so nice reading your thoughts on it as I know they also will have their worries. I might have them read your words, hoping it would help. Thanks for sharing, happy for you and your family ❤️
Such a beautiful story ♥️ a free birth, with you as a witness, as it should be !
I also freebirthed my second daughter 9 months ago, and reading powerful birth stories brings all those beautiful memories back. I would do it again tomorrow, and again and again.
Congrats! Glad to hear your daughter follows the path taken by millions of powerful women before her! Our son is now 27 birthed at home, all 10 lbs of him, as our horrified community whispered at the post office and grocery store.
Your daughter knows her strength and there is no turning back.
Welcome to this beautiful earth little one. Be blessed Above Down Inside Out!
Congratulations! I too have been navigating the world of taking back our womanly power in birth. If I have a third baby I will most likely travel far away so that I may have the birth that I want and was not allowed (by who??) to have where I currently live with my first two. I love birth stories and am so happy to hear that your beautiful granddaughter came into this world as your daughter wanted! Sending love to you all ❤️❤️
All the research I did 18 years ago is what led to my two homebirths… I’m amazed the hospital model has still not changed much and the cascading interventions for “ safety” ( theirs, not yours) is still ongoing… congratz to the new family!😊 enjoy your Babymoon!!
Congratulations to baby for arriving here! And to mom and dad and all the rest of you on the delight of having another soul in your family! I especially appreciated your paragraph on worry feeling like a responsibility to share... that is something i’ve struggled with... wanting to warn others of what i fear when they have no such fear themself. Thank you for giving me something to chew on to help me work on that aspect of myself.
Congratulations! What a beautiful moment and beginning you just described.
I had my first as you described your births, "natural" I now know was a lied. In bed, pushing on command, the end I still held my beautiful babe, but knew it should be different. My second I sought a midwife, but she practiced at the hospital. Better by far, but still not what I had dreamed. But it was the only way, right?
Almost a decade later, my 30s drawing to a close, we were shocked to discover I was expecting. I knew so much more, like you said, that piece finally picked up and examined. 18 months ago I had a home birth and it was unlike anything I could have dreamed. Even more amazing is she would have been a section at the hospital, failure to progress, wrong presentation. Turns out that's her.....that day I knew what we were in for with this one and she has spend 18 months showing us her untamed, unadulterated, nourished and free self.
I wish the world could know the options one has! All must be examined.
There is something about becoming a Grandmother/Grandfather that I think closes some deeply luscious, human spirit and God woven loop. I myself am only 26 but every time I hear Grandparents talk about their grand babies there is this really divine sparkle that just speaks from something so much deeper.. That’s how I know it’s true 💕 Congratulations Tara to your beautiful family. Thank you for sharing your joy
Welcome to the most amazing and perfect wonder of the world- Grandparenting!!!
What a beautiful and joy filled post this is!
Thank you for allowing us to experience the magnificence of your experience joining your daughter in free birth. Thank you for the pictures of the new baby and her grandparents. Your faces say everything all at once!! And she...she with all her hair and her rosy cheeks - and all the inherited love and wisdom - SHE shall be a force to be reckoned with!!! What a delight!!
Sending you so so much love Tara, as you enter into one of the most beautiful, exciting and important journeys. Hello Grandma!! 🥰
This is one of the most powerful, important essays on being a parent that I've ever read. Just, thank you. What a gift you are giving to your daughter and your grandchild. So many blessings to you all!
A world of congratulations to all the new “people”...parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins perhaps, all created by the arrival of this amazingly fantastical beautiful creature! Tara, she is beyond gorgeous! Your joy and pride shines like the brightest sunbeam. I can’t imagine how you have the strength to now walk away, and greatly admire your acceptance of that need. You shall have endless hours to love and dote on her as Grammy Tara! Thank you for sharing this magical, miraculous moment through your beautiful words and photos.
Aside from my joy in seeing and hearing of your granddaughter’s arrival, I have to say how —once again— you have crafted the perfect mix of words to describe a life process: “...I just noticed a hiccup in the engine one day, long ago, and had to open the hood. One thing led to another and next thing I knew, there were parts all over the ground at my feet waiting for my attention...” Such a great analogy for something I wish more folks could experience, in order to open their minds and hearts to true living. But I guess it just takes something/someone special to notice that first hiccup. I’m happy you noticed.
I'm unapologetically crying. A girl!! What an absolute blessing!! From the deepest part of my heart congratulations to you and to your family. She is such a gift! And how blessed is that sweet girl to be born into such a loving and passionate family❤️ I'm sending teary cheek hugs.
When we taste the bitter in life, the sweet is that much sweeter ❤️
Wow! Congrats Tara to you & your wonderful family! Thank you for bringing me to tears of joy and love today.. along with all of your readers! The truth and wonder of a mother witnessed in her birthing power is healing and inspiring for everyone. I have only just learned about 'free births' over the past year while getting to know a whole new community of freedom-loving people in my homeschool network. It's revelatory. These empowered mamas are seeding a whole new paradigm for the generations to come and I'm so grateful.
I appreciate how your writing touches these deeper considerations around our sovereignty. Though I had both my boys 'naturally' in hospital (a decade ago), I didn't trust myself enough to 'break the law' and have a home birth- (here in PEI, midwifery is still in the process of being legislated). The biggest 'aha' for me though, is how fear has been used to control us in so many areas of life, but especially motherhood- because for most (if not all) of us- it's the nearest and dearest role we play. With each free birth I learn about, I rejoice in the power of women reclaiming our choices, our health, our freedom, our love & our sacred moments.
Bask in the luminous wonder of your beautiful grandchild and your glowing powerful daughter! Love Love Love!
This brought up so much emotion for me. Tears of joy. I’ve had a csection, a homebirth with a midwife, and a freebirth. There’s no feeling like taking back you power and birthing your own child in all of that power taking full and complete responsibility. It gives new meaning to the words mother, and woman. I’m so thrilled for your experience and feel the pride you have for your daughter and granddaughter. Congratulations from the bottom of my heart!
Congratulations again!!!
I am a man and can certainly not fully appreciate the full experience or the complete feeling of bliss but having been chief of support and head of the comfort department during our four home births, I can assure you that babies do not need to be ‘delivered’. They come of their own will and in their own good time. It’s meant to be and it’s beautiful.
Faith, strength and courage.
Here is your reward!
As well, if something goes wrong, we must believe that was also meant to be...
This is so beautiful! Congratulations to all of you!!
I wrote a comment on one of your posts many months ago now, when I had just found out I was pregnant and also had a home birth a few months ago. Giving birth at home was everything I imagined it to be - deeply empowering, freeing, joyful. I loved being in my own space, setting up my environment the way I wanted it, and felt so relaxed and calm the whole time. I don't remember it as painful at all.
I was told all these horror stories about how much my husband would hate me if anything happened to our baby and how I would live with myself if anything were to go wrong. I still find it heartbreaking that so many people make their decisions out of fear, especially in the context of birth, without understanding that fear is exactly the worst thing to pursue because its physiological effects can manifest the same problems they're so scared of.
I'm so happy for your daughter, that she made her choice despite all of that, and for you, that you could separate your worry from responsibility and find joy in the experience.
Congratulations again to all of you! Babies bring so much unabashed happiness and laughter with them. I'm stunned every day by just how much.
Congratulations ❤️ she looks perfect ⚘️
Planning my own first freebirth, living on a farm with my parents in the next house, it was so nice reading your thoughts on it as I know they also will have their worries. I might have them read your words, hoping it would help. Thanks for sharing, happy for you and your family ❤️
Such a beautiful story ♥️ a free birth, with you as a witness, as it should be !
I also freebirthed my second daughter 9 months ago, and reading powerful birth stories brings all those beautiful memories back. I would do it again tomorrow, and again and again.
Blessings to your family
Congrats! Glad to hear your daughter follows the path taken by millions of powerful women before her! Our son is now 27 birthed at home, all 10 lbs of him, as our horrified community whispered at the post office and grocery store.
Your daughter knows her strength and there is no turning back.
Welcome to this beautiful earth little one. Be blessed Above Down Inside Out!
Congratulations! I too have been navigating the world of taking back our womanly power in birth. If I have a third baby I will most likely travel far away so that I may have the birth that I want and was not allowed (by who??) to have where I currently live with my first two. I love birth stories and am so happy to hear that your beautiful granddaughter came into this world as your daughter wanted! Sending love to you all ❤️❤️
All the research I did 18 years ago is what led to my two homebirths… I’m amazed the hospital model has still not changed much and the cascading interventions for “ safety” ( theirs, not yours) is still ongoing… congratz to the new family!😊 enjoy your Babymoon!!
Congratulations to baby for arriving here! And to mom and dad and all the rest of you on the delight of having another soul in your family! I especially appreciated your paragraph on worry feeling like a responsibility to share... that is something i’ve struggled with... wanting to warn others of what i fear when they have no such fear themself. Thank you for giving me something to chew on to help me work on that aspect of myself.
Congratulations! What a beautiful moment and beginning you just described.
I had my first as you described your births, "natural" I now know was a lied. In bed, pushing on command, the end I still held my beautiful babe, but knew it should be different. My second I sought a midwife, but she practiced at the hospital. Better by far, but still not what I had dreamed. But it was the only way, right?
Almost a decade later, my 30s drawing to a close, we were shocked to discover I was expecting. I knew so much more, like you said, that piece finally picked up and examined. 18 months ago I had a home birth and it was unlike anything I could have dreamed. Even more amazing is she would have been a section at the hospital, failure to progress, wrong presentation. Turns out that's her.....that day I knew what we were in for with this one and she has spend 18 months showing us her untamed, unadulterated, nourished and free self.
I wish the world could know the options one has! All must be examined.
She is so beautiful, congrats again Grandma!
There is something about becoming a Grandmother/Grandfather that I think closes some deeply luscious, human spirit and God woven loop. I myself am only 26 but every time I hear Grandparents talk about their grand babies there is this really divine sparkle that just speaks from something so much deeper.. That’s how I know it’s true 💕 Congratulations Tara to your beautiful family. Thank you for sharing your joy
Congratulations!!!
Welcome to the most amazing and perfect wonder of the world- Grandparenting!!!
What a beautiful and joy filled post this is!
Thank you for allowing us to experience the magnificence of your experience joining your daughter in free birth. Thank you for the pictures of the new baby and her grandparents. Your faces say everything all at once!! And she...she with all her hair and her rosy cheeks - and all the inherited love and wisdom - SHE shall be a force to be reckoned with!!! What a delight!!
Sending you so so much love Tara, as you enter into one of the most beautiful, exciting and important journeys. Hello Grandma!! 🥰
This is one of the most powerful, important essays on being a parent that I've ever read. Just, thank you. What a gift you are giving to your daughter and your grandchild. So many blessings to you all!
A world of congratulations to all the new “people”...parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins perhaps, all created by the arrival of this amazingly fantastical beautiful creature! Tara, she is beyond gorgeous! Your joy and pride shines like the brightest sunbeam. I can’t imagine how you have the strength to now walk away, and greatly admire your acceptance of that need. You shall have endless hours to love and dote on her as Grammy Tara! Thank you for sharing this magical, miraculous moment through your beautiful words and photos.
Aside from my joy in seeing and hearing of your granddaughter’s arrival, I have to say how —once again— you have crafted the perfect mix of words to describe a life process: “...I just noticed a hiccup in the engine one day, long ago, and had to open the hood. One thing led to another and next thing I knew, there were parts all over the ground at my feet waiting for my attention...” Such a great analogy for something I wish more folks could experience, in order to open their minds and hearts to true living. But I guess it just takes something/someone special to notice that first hiccup. I’m happy you noticed.
What a perfect Thanksgiving Holiday!!!!
I'm unapologetically crying. A girl!! What an absolute blessing!! From the deepest part of my heart congratulations to you and to your family. She is such a gift! And how blessed is that sweet girl to be born into such a loving and passionate family❤️ I'm sending teary cheek hugs.
When we taste the bitter in life, the sweet is that much sweeter ❤️
Ughhh Gushhhhhhh ❤️❤️❤️
Wow! Congrats Tara to you & your wonderful family! Thank you for bringing me to tears of joy and love today.. along with all of your readers! The truth and wonder of a mother witnessed in her birthing power is healing and inspiring for everyone. I have only just learned about 'free births' over the past year while getting to know a whole new community of freedom-loving people in my homeschool network. It's revelatory. These empowered mamas are seeding a whole new paradigm for the generations to come and I'm so grateful.
I appreciate how your writing touches these deeper considerations around our sovereignty. Though I had both my boys 'naturally' in hospital (a decade ago), I didn't trust myself enough to 'break the law' and have a home birth- (here in PEI, midwifery is still in the process of being legislated). The biggest 'aha' for me though, is how fear has been used to control us in so many areas of life, but especially motherhood- because for most (if not all) of us- it's the nearest and dearest role we play. With each free birth I learn about, I rejoice in the power of women reclaiming our choices, our health, our freedom, our love & our sacred moments.
Bask in the luminous wonder of your beautiful grandchild and your glowing powerful daughter! Love Love Love!