Bonsie Birth Stories: A Peaceful Home Birth Story with Erin

Sharing birth stories is a powerful way to connect mothers and celebrate the beauty and wonder of birth. We also believe that if we talk more about birth—especially its many positive aspects—less fear and anxiety will surround pregnancy, labor, and delivery.

No matter how a birth unfolds, you can bet that the events of that day will be etched on a mother's heart for the rest of her life. These empowering, raw stories highlight that every labor and delivery experience is unique and that, no matter how or where you deliver your baby, the moment you meet them is truly magical.

We interviewed five new moms, all of whom our team has worked with as Bonsie models. Getting to meet these incredible women and their babies, and then hearing and sharing their birth stories, is truly an honor.

Erin and her daughter

Erin woke up on a Saturday morning last July and knew that today was the day. She was pregnant with her third baby, having consistent, uncomfortable contractions, and intuitively knew it was time.

She had an eight-hour yoga training that day and decided to go, taking it one moment at a time. Her older kids spent the day with their grandparents, her husband, Kit, prepared the birth pool for their home birth, and Erin quietly experienced early labor while attending the yoga training. (In addition to being a prenatal yoga instructor, Erin is also a former labor and delivery nurse and a doula, and she was surrounded by birthing experts that day, so she felt she was in a very safe place.)

"I made it through the entire training, contracting throughout the day. I was able to move, walk, and stretch since it was a yoga training, and it was pretty relaxing. Labor never escalated during the training. Contractions were consistent but very mild."

Once home that evening, certain that her baby was on the way, Erin mopped the floors, walked the dogs, and fed the chickens. She wanted everything—and everyone—taken care of before she delivered her baby. She then tucked her kids into bed and called her birth team to let them know it was time.

As labor progressed, Erin continued to move through different positions to help her baby descend, including squatting and rocking back and forth on her hands and knees. As contractions became more intense, her doula encouraged her to sit in the birth tub to help her relax.

"From there, I labored pretty peacefully with my doula and husband close by. It was dark, with only dim lighting and candles in the room. I had soft music playing, and I was just trying to ride each wave as it came. I tried different positions, knowing I needed to help my baby descend."

Finally, Erin moved onto her hands and knees in the tub, and her baby quickly began making her way into the world.

"It was intense and quick at that point, and I worked hard to push her all the way out, vocalizing loudly my sacred 'birth song' as she was born."

Erin and her baby girl right after delivery

Erin's midwife helped her catch her baby as she emerged so Erin could pull her to her chest.

"There is nothing like that heavenly relief when your baby is finally out, earthside. I knew at that moment that it was all over, and I kept saying, 'We did it,' as I held her close. I then pulled her up and got a good look at her for the first time, yelling, 'It's a girl!' as we discovered the sweet surprise. The kids joined us to meet their new baby sister—everyone was so excited!"

Erin spent some time with her newborn daughter in the tub before her midwives and doula helped her get cleaned up and settled into bed.

"All was well. The postpartum bliss was settling in, and I was in heaven, snuggling with my new baby."