Heath Tomas: A birth story built for support

When Jamie and Hunter found out they were expecting, they were overjoyed.  They were excited to welcome this little bundle into their world.

But soon their joy was overshadowed by worry and fear.  As they planned their hospital birth, it seemed they were constantly met with a lack of support.  She and her baby were healthy but threats of C-section were thrown around early in their pregnancy without room for discussion.  Jamie and Hunter didn't know what to do but they knew that this wasn't the birth plan for them.

Jamie and Hunter knew they wanted a positive birth experience, one full of hope and joy, and most importantly - support.  Jamie started researching her options.  She had heard about home birth, but never knew anyone who chose this route for their birth.  With more and more research, Jamie grew more and more excited about a new possibility.  With less than 3 months left in the pregnancy, they decided to make the switch to have their baby at home.

Upon meeting Amanda with  DFW Midwife Collective, both Jamie and Hunter knew this was the right fit.  Amanda reviewed her and the baby's health and histories carefully and saw nothing that would make home birth risky for Jamie and her baby.  With DFW Midwife Collective, Jamie was confident she would get the birth experience she wanted.

As with many home birth families, Jamie and Hunter were again met with a lack of support for their birth plan - this time by some of the people closest to them.  As Jamie put it, they were told the most horrific things soon-to-be parents could be told.  However, because Jamie and Hunter had built the best birth team possible - one that respected their wishes and supported them to the fullest, their faith and comfort in their home birth plan would not be swayed.  They knew their baby was safe and healthy and that they were making the best decision for the two most important people who mattered.

For the next two months, Jamie, Hunter, and their birth team patiently awaited the arrival of their baby.  As with most first-time mothers, Jamie's due date came and went.  Despite regular prodromal contractions during the last few weeks, she remained patient and hopeful, excited to see her little one but knowing full well he would arrive when he was ready, on his terms.

Then, early in the morning hours on July 21st, Jamie & Hunter's baby decided it was time to arrive.  By 4  a.m., their birth team quickly surrounded them with support as Jamie's contractions quickly picked up and intensified.

Hunter worked his hardest to help ease the discomfort of Jamie's back labor with counter pressure and hip squeezes.  As Jamie sought relief from the water in her birth tub, Hunter climbed right in behind her to keep that pressure on her back, breaking only between contractions to gently pour water over her back.

Suddenly at 9:01 a.m., with only two pushing contractions, Heath Thomas was born! He was a perfectly healthy boy, weighing seven pounds and nine ounces, and measuring 21.5 inches long. 

Hunter and Jamie were overcome with joy, love, and gratitude - for their new precious baby boy and the birth experience they wanted.

Since Heath’s arrival, Jamie has been overcome with the urge to share her birth story - despite her usual preference for modesty.

“It’s my story,” she said. “It’s what I went through. It was my biggest hurdle. I feel comfortable enough to share part of my story with everyone. Mostly because of the fear women have going into childbirth. I know I’m not the only one.”