“The home birth of an 11-pound, 2-ounce baby boy was a great way to start off the year! Of course mama nor her midwives, Spokane River Midwives, were not expecting an 11-pound baby. They thought the baby might be on the bigger side, just not an 11-pounder.
It was a cold, snowy morning when I got the call that labor was progressing well. Natalie was having consistent, strong contractions and I could hear in her voice that labor was in the active stage. I quickly gathered my gear, made a cup of coffee while my car was warming up and then made my way to her house.
When I arrived, she was standing near the birth pool laboring in a candlelit room. Soft music was playing along with essential oils diffusing. Her birth space was serene and comforting.
Shortly after, Natalie knew it was time for the birthing pool. The water was comforting as contractions grew intense.
![Husband massaging wife as she leans against birthing pool](https://lwm-a1.azureedge.net/uploads/2018/02/woman-leaning-against-birthing-pool-900x675.jpeg)
![Pregnant woman holding stomach in birthing pool](https://lwm-a1.azureedge.net/uploads/2018/02/woman-in-birthing-pool-in-900x675.jpeg)
![Woman leaning leaning against edge of birthing pool](https://lwm-a1.azureedge.net/uploads/2018/02/pregnant-woman-wearing-glasses-in-birthing-pool-900x675.jpeg)
![Husband holding pregnant wife in birthing pool](https://lwm-a1.azureedge.net/uploads/2018/02/husband-embracing-wife-in-labor-900x675.jpeg)
After laboring in the water for a while, her body needed something different. She went into the bathroom for a few minutes to gather her thoughts and labor in different positions. Next she tried the ball, as contractions came in waves.
![Pregnant woman sits on side of chair in home looking down at stomach in pain](https://lwm-a1.azureedge.net/uploads/2018/02/pregnant-woman-on-yoga-ball-900x675.jpeg)
Natalie wanted a family-centered home birth, having their older two children up and present for the birth.
After getting back into the birth pool she stayed for the remainder of her labor.
![Pregnant woman leaning back in birthing pool while husband holds towel on forehead and toddler son watches](https://lwm-a1.azureedge.net/uploads/2018/02/family-supporting-woman-in-labor-900x675.jpeg)
After very few pushes HE was out! Baby was a surprise gender, so finding out they had another boy was so exciting!
![Midwife reaching into birthing pool to help woman give birth while family watches](https://lwm-a1.azureedge.net/uploads/2018/02/midwife-assisting-in-water-birth-900x675.jpeg)
![Woman holds bloody 11 pound newborn out side of birthing pool in look of shock](https://lwm-a1.azureedge.net/uploads/2018/02/mom-shocked-holding-newborn-baby-900x675.jpeg)
Can you believe all his back rolls?! Isn’t he just the cutest?
![Relieved postpartum mom holding newborn baby](https://lwm-a1.azureedge.net/uploads/2018/02/mom-relieved-holding-newborn-900x675.jpeg)
![Crying postpartum mom holding 11-pound newborn](https://lwm-a1.azureedge.net/uploads/2018/02/woman-emotional-holding-newborn-900x675.jpeg)
Once he was out we could tell he was a little chunker! Natalie and her husband were immediately in love with their new son.
![Woman who just gave birth to 11 pound baby wrapped in towel holding newborn looking up at husband](https://lwm-a1.azureedge.net/uploads/2018/02/happy-parents-with-newborn-baby-900x675.jpeg)
![Woman wrapped in towel holding 11 pound newborn in her lap](https://lwm-a1.azureedge.net/uploads/2018/02/mother-cradling-newborn-baby-900x675.jpeg)
Once Simon was born, Natalie moved from where the birth pool was into the comfort of her bed. Simon started nursing right away! After time spent doing skin-to-skin and nursing it was time to weigh him. Imagine the surprise when her midwife announced, ‘He’s 11-pounds, 2-ouncesNatalie!’ Oh my goodness, we were all shocked!
![Close up of 11 pound newborn swaddled in brown towel](https://lwm-a1.azureedge.net/uploads/2018/02/newborn-baby-wrapped-in-towel-900x675.jpeg)
After the newborn exam, Natalie and Simon took a healing herbal bath.
![Mother of 11 pound newborn baby holds newborn in lap in bathtub with murky water](https://lwm-a1.azureedge.net/uploads/2018/02/mother-holding-sleeping-newborn-900x675.jpeg)
![Woman who just gave birth to 11 pound baby holds newborn in lap in bathtub while dog leans over tub](https://lwm-a1.azureedge.net/uploads/2018/02/dog-meeting-newborn-in-bath-900x675.jpeg)
Her Spokane home birth was so empowering. With no interventions, internal exams and no tearing, she safely delivered their 11-pound, 2-ounce baby home at home.”
![Mother in father of 11 pound newborn baby lie in bed holding the baby](https://lwm-a1.azureedge.net/uploads/2018/02/parents-lying-in-bed-with-newborn-baby-900x675.jpeg)
![Close up of 11 pound newborn baby resting head on mothers breasts](https://lwm-a1.azureedge.net/uploads/2018/02/newborn-baby-against-mothers-chest-900x675.jpeg)
This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Laura Fifield of Laura Fifield Photography in Spokane, Washington. Join the Love What Matters family and subscribe to our newsletter.
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