from Isabella Villasenor – Tennessee, USA

Friday November 24th 2023, I woke up knowing I was gona be going into labor. I had the slightest
cramping and just felt different. I went about my day pretty normally and just hungout at home til around
5pm when my partner and I went out to have dinner with his parents. The contractions started picking up
and there I was mouth full of sweet and sour chicken holding my belly trying to pretend I wasn’t in early
labor. After dinner we went to Walmart then target for fun and it wasn’t until target when I was bent over a
shelf that I was like ok this is forreal we gota go home.
We got home around 8pm and I was feeling myself, I put on some music and started dancing next thing ya
know I was naked moving from one room to the other, really not knowing what to do with myself. This was
my first baby and I had never felt anything like this. Also my partner and I were in a complicated situation,
living together but not dating but I’m using the term partner for easier reference. I say this because it was
very conflicting having him there and I didn’t feel entirely safe with him to give birth.
Around 10pm my contractions were so strong and close together, I called my friend who also had an
unassisted birth over for support. She came over at midnight with her 6 month old and brought me all
sorts of goodies and helped guide my partner on how to support me. Mentally I still felt very stuck, I kept
telling myself to surrender knowing damn well I couldn’t and I wasn’t comfortable with him there. He was
wonderful and helpful but it just wasn’t right.
He and my friend were giving me hip compressions, getting me to drink water and helping me in and out of
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the tub for hours. Bless their hearts and arms.
It wasn’t until around 5am I called my friend that I knew I needed there. He had been my biggest support
throughout my pregnancy and the closest person to me. The whole energy in the room shifted and I felt
determined to bring my daughter earthside.
Around 6-7am everyone was trying to feed me but the thought of food was terrible. By some miracle I was
still running off the sweet and sour chicken.
So much happened in this time frame between laughing and crying and throwing up and calling my mom
and growling so loud(sorry neighbors, I’m sure they had their entertainment for the next few years)
Time flew by but it had felt like only an hour passed between everything that happened. It was nearing
10am when my girl friend asked me what I needed and if I had anything to say and this is when everything
changed. I asked my partner to leave and expressed why I felt that way. Truly the beginning of me standing
up for myself. I felt in my power and like I made the right decision. He left and I was hanging out with my
friends playing music while they cared for me and despite the pain, I felt comfortable.
An hour later my girl friend had to leave cause she was rightfully exhausted and had to care for her baby.
Me and my other friend stayed listening to music and talking. Another 2 hours magically passed and I felt
like giving up. I was like roll me down these stairs and take me to the hospital, I understand why people
want an epidural!!! My friend reassured me I got this and at some point I was like okay, I need to look
inside my vagina and just touch it. For the whole labor up until that point I was afraid to touch my body, it
felt so foreign to me.
But when I did, I was in the mirror squatted down with my legs wide open telling myself affirmations.
Saying to myself how strong and beautiful I was and that I have everything I need. Crying and smiling, I
could see the tiniest amount of white and I was like THATS HER, I SEE HER!!! Everything suddenly made
sense. My friend stood back and just watched me experience this.
Just like that I watched my vagina open and open. All she was waiting for was me to acknowledge her and
myself. I truly can’t even remember the pain of her head coming out. Just the feeling of me and her
working together to get her out. Moving my body around, I got on all fours and put my knees together and
feet out. My friend ran up and caught her. She came out in her sack and it popped when she was caught.
My friend passed her to me and I couldn’t believe it. I felt the whole spectrum of emotions and like I had
just been born too. Seeing her little face was so relieving and beautiful. 30mins later I birthed the placenta
and we did a lotus birth. Covered her placenta in lavender and rose and took it around with her for a whole
week til it fell off on its own.
It was hard to put this into words cause its A LOT and I still feel like it doesn’t do it justice but I’m happy I
finally got to write it out and share with others♡
My birth was incredible and taught me so much about myself, especially to connect more with my body.
I am so grateful I had people to support me in my decision to have an unassisted birth and that I ultimately
decided to do it that way.