First-Time Mom Has an Empowering Natural Birth at a Birth Center | Ep 24: Hannah's Birth Story

Hannah Green: I hear this loud pop, all of a sudden I have a huge sense of relief. the midwife was like, Yeah, your water just broke. Baby's coming. and then that first contraction hit after my water broke it was the most intense thing but I was focusing on breathing and I had my midwife and she said, when you're ready, you start pushing the second that contraction comes. it was like my body took over before

Bridget: Hmm.

Hannah Green: my brain could tell my body to push, my body was pushing. when you say your body is built to birth, that was what I felt in that moment. my body's doing this without my brain telling it to do it.

Bridget: In this Built to Birth episode, we get to sit down with Hannah, who shares with us how she went from fear about labor and birth into walking into her birth feeling calm, confident, and truly prepared. she chose to give birth in a way that was different from all of her friends and family, and she got some pushback for it. But despite that pushback, she worked hard to create the experience that she knew she was capable of and one that would empower her. If you want to be like Hannah and move from fear to empowerment, make sure you check out the Built to Birth course at builttobirth.com or just start by taking the free mini birth class that you can also find at builttobirth.com. now let's listen to Hannah's birth story. Hannah, I am so excited to have you on the Built Birth podcast. I'm so excited to hear your story alongside all these moms who are listening. Why don't you take us to the beginning of before you had your baby? Maybe you just found out you were pregnant. How were you feeling about birth, about pregnancy? What are some beliefs that you had for this whole experience that was waiting for you?

Hannah Green: so the very beginning my husband and I got married in September of 2024. I found out I was pregnant in November of that year. and we were shocked, excited. This is something that I wanted for my whole entire life was to be a mom. but when it came to how I pictured birth and pregnancy, it was kind of like the typical thing you see in movies. you know. The woman's being rushed into the hospital screaming because the baby's coming and everyone's freaking out and everyone's rushing, rushing, rushing. and then she gets an epidural and then she's in the stirrups, and you know, the doctor's saying push, and she's screaming and then pushing, and the baby comes out. so I was kind of nervous for all of that, from what I was seeing in movies and from stories I had heard from friends and family. So yeah, definitely nervous.

Bridget: So at what point during your pregnancy then were you like, Hey, maybe I need to learn a little bit more than I have information of currently so that I maybe don't have that experience?

Hannah Green: it kind of started because I was very focused on non-toxic skincare. and so that kind of led me down this rabbit hole of, okay, if I'm so concerned about my skincare, I should start doing research on pregnancy and how I can help my body to kind of prepare for labor and delivery at the end of this nine months. so that's when I kind of started coming across different people on Instagram and obviously the built-to-birth course. Well, more so the videos on Instagram and your videos on YouTube. and it just kind of opened my eyes to all the different possibilities, and there are other ways to have your baby that doesn't need to be scary or rushed. so that's kind of what pushed me onto this journey and really kind of shaped my whole pregnancy journey, but also my birth experience.

Bridget: How did it shape your pregnancy journey? did you continue going the hospital route? Did you choose to hire midwives? Like how did it shape your pregnancy? And then we'll get into your birth experience.

Hannah Green: would say at the beginning, when I kind of started watching your videos and watching other videos about hypnobirthing and natural birth, I was like, maybe I don't have to have my baby in a hospital. and I seriously had some things to consider. So I had to sit down with my husband, obviously, because if he wasn't on board, then I was like, How are we gonna make this happen? so I talked to him and I just kind of expressed like I'd be interested in looking at other ways, more natural ways that kind of go with your body versus like things that are over medicalized. because I feel like sometimes birth is seen as like almost not an illness, but this thing that needs to be intervened with a lot. and that's

Bridget: Mm-hmm.

Hannah Green: not always the case. He understood where I was coming from. He was a little bit more skeptical, I would say, in the beginning. but he didn't end up changing his mind until I had a pretty rough first trimester. I was really sick with

Bridget: Mm.

Hannah Green: morning sickness. And anytime I'd go to my the practice that I was seeing before I I transferred to the birth center. They would just kind of say, okay, you know, that's normal, you're fine, everything's okay. Maybe just eat some saltines before you get out of bed. but they would kind of tell me that in a five-minute window as they're rushing out to see other patients. and I just kind of felt like is my first pregnancy, and I know you all see pregnant women all the time, but I would love it if you kind of cared a little bit more or showed me that you cared a little bit more. versus, you know, kind of throwing things at me and running out the door. so

Bridget: Mm-hmm.

Hannah Green: he kind of saw that and saw me get pretty frustrated because I felt dismissed and I felt like the concerns I was voicing weren't necessarily heard. So he kind of got on board with, okay, maybe we we tried the birth center, because he wasn't fully on board with the home birth. I think that was maybe too big of a step for him, but that's when we decided that Let's just check out the birth center and see where that goes.

Bridget: And so tell us a little bit about that experience where you encounter the midwives in the birth center, but then also your husband and what was his experience with that as well.

Hannah Green: Yeah, I mean our very first appointment. Of course I'm bringing him to every appointment because it's, you know, our first baby.

Bridget: Yeah.

Hannah Green: and I obviously wanted him there more so for moral support, but I think he wanted to be there as well. so the first appointment we're in the waiting room and it's a lot of families. And I was like, wow, this is great. Like there's kids running around and you know, they have books with like bookshelves and toys, and it's very It's not like I'm in a sterile waiting room where everyone's quiet,

Bridget: Mm.

Hannah Green: like people are chit chatting. It was very kind of homey.

Bridget: Hm.

Hannah Green: and we got brought back and this was my intake appointment. so it was about an hour long and we sat with a midwife and she asked us, you know, where we were from, about our backgrounds, like what a day in the life looked like at our home, you know, what we were eating. Things like that. And she really got to know us and understand where we were coming from. And then she opened the floor to what are your concerns? What are you nervous about? What are you scared about? and she really kind of helped reassure me, like, okay, you're dealing with really bad morning sickness. Here are some natural remedies that can help. and I just felt like she knew me for a while I was like, I know we just met, but I feel like you've known

Bridget: Mm.

Hannah Green: me, you know, my whole life. so it was just a different atmosphere and just a very warm, welcoming feeling. And I just I kind of knew then and there, like I looked at my husband and we were both like, We made the right decision for us.

Bridget: Hmm. these hesitancies that your husband may have felt at the beginning, did they

Hannah Green: Mm-hmm.

Bridget: melt away as he chatted with your midwife? Like was he asking questions because he was worried about certain aspects of birthing in the birth center? Or was it just like an immediate like, no, this feels right. This is right.

Hannah Green: He definitely had some concerns. I think the biggest one being like, we don't know anyone in our in our family or in our friends, like our circles, who have done this. Everyone has always had a hospital birth, and serious concern of his was what happens if something horrible goes wrong? and she talked to us about that. And she said, We don't really see that too often, but God forbid something happens. We are three minutes. Away from the hospital. We would send a midwife with you if we had to call the ambulance and have you transferred. This is what those steps would look like. So I think that's when he kind of realized, okay, they've got it under control. They've been around for, you know, 30 plus years. They know what they're doing. I can take a deep breath. And so I could see him kind of relax a little, which kind of helped me relax because I was like, I want him to be excited about this and I want him to kind of be on the same page as me. but I didn't want to push him or force him. And so I let him kinda ask the questions he needed to ask and I could tell immediately that all of those stressors kind of washed away.

Bridget: I love that. And I think that's so empowering for families who maybe want to, especially moms who want to go outside of the hospital setting and

Hannah Green: Mm-hmm.

Bridget: have husbands who are very hesitant to that. and my encouragement is always to ask the questions. Like for husbands who worried, like you have

Hannah Green: Right.

Bridget: a rightful place to be worried. Like this is the woman you love more than anyone else in the world who is birthing your child, like you have

Hannah Green: Right.

Bridget: every right to be protective and worry over their well-being. But don't

Hannah Green: Mm-hmm.

Bridget: just write off the desires that mom has and assume that the best and safest place is to birth in the hospital. It's like I my encouragement is always to go to the midwives and ask your hardest

Hannah Green: Right.

Bridget: questions. And if you don't get answers that make you feel like, you know what? I feel safe and I feel like we're getting very competent care, then don't choose that person as your midwife. Like that's that's a big red flag and that's great that you asked that question. But also most of the time in the experiences that I've had with parents who have had the hard conversations with midwives is that partners realize, wow, like they do have it together. They have protocols

Hannah Green: Yeah.

Bridget: in place. It's not just like We hope everything goes well and we trust birth and everything is

Hannah Green: Right.

Bridget: just hunky dory. It's like, no, they understand that like birth is physiologic, but there are situations where things can happen and intervention is desperately needed. And so they come prepared for those situations. And I've

Hannah Green: Right.

Bridget: seen that play out in real time. And it is true though that most of the time moms receiving care from midwives in the birth center system and also within the home birth is that those risks are so much lower than them happening in the hospital, which is just so fascinating because it's like the

Hannah Green: Yes.

Bridget: hospital should be the safest place to have a baby and yet there are so many increased risks of birthing in the hospital. Not to say that If you birthen the hospital, those risks will happen.

Hannah Green: Right.

Bridget: But it is interesting because it does feel backwards. And I love that you guys pursued just more education. And it's such a testament that like knowledge is power. And like so much for him, it seems like there was fear coming from the unknown of like, what if this happens? What if it this situation plays out? What if this danger exposes itself to us? You know, when he had knowledge about those unknowns, a lot of that fear was dispelled. And it just

Hannah Green: Exactly.

Bridget: is such a great like reminder that truly the more you learn, the less you fear. And so you guys are already

Hannah Green: Yes, exactly.

Bridget: going through that journey of choosing the right place for you to give birth. You said that this was like no one in your friend or family

Hannah Green: Mm-hmm.

Bridget: network had done this before. Did you guys have any pushback from choosing to go this route?

Hannah Green: We had a ton of pushback. it's

Bridget: no.

Hannah Green: funny you bring that up, Bridget. I remember after we left that intake appointment, I was like, How are we gonna explain this to people? he's like, you just focus on us. You focus on our family, you focus on our baby. It's the only people

Bridget: Mm.

Hannah Green: that matter right now. Everything else is outside noise. And He's so good at at just kind of being my rock in in times like that. and I just remember we told our parents first because of course they were asking, how how are the appointments going? and I was like, actually, we switched practices. I'm now seeing the birth center. And they're like, the what? and I said, the birth center. we didn't really like our first practice. We didn't feel like the care that we needed was there. So we switched and we are very happy. And of course, we would get comments like, you know, well, what if something horrible happens?

Bridget: Mm-hmm.

Hannah Green: you're not in a hospital, they're not doctors, like they're midwives. And I'm like, but they know what they're doing and they've been doing this for years. and then There were other comments. My husband's 6'6 and I'm 5'1, so very, you know, large height difference there. A lot of friends and family would say, Well, your baby's gonna be so big, like you're not gonna be able to birth your baby naturally. You're gonna need a C-section. They can't do that there. if I had not, I guess, made my decision and was like you said, like knowledge is power, and the more you know, the less you fear. I think I would have let those comments get to me. and I would have backed out and I would have panicked because I would have been like, you know what, they're right. Like she is going to be a big baby. Like I'm not going to be able to birth her naturally. Like I'm going to need a C-section. but that was another thing I had brought up to the midwives. and each one said, We've seen women birth big babies. You can do it. and that was kind of the the motivation I needed. So I had done the research and because I had my husband as kind of my my partner in crime. when people would say those comments to us, I was like, No, like I can do it. I have a plan, everything's gonna go, You know, according to plan, which is not always the case, but I was just

Bridget: He

Hannah Green: kind of in this positive mindset, like nothing can bring me down. This is what we're doing and I'm excited and you know, I just can't wait for her to get here.

Bridget: So I love that, you know, despite the criticism of giving birth in the birth center, and also like not just an attack of where you're giving birth, but your ability to give birth, you were just so strong in your belief about yourself. feel like you had already done some work, and maybe it was just like the empowerment of the birth center and just how they were coming alongside of you and like encouraging you. But it seems like you wouldn't have had that kind of mental strength months prior when you were still like kind of in a little bit more of that fear state, like still planning on giving birth at a hospital. Do you feel like that really shifted when you went to the birth center and you were surrounded by midwives who really believed In your ability to give birth and the safety of birth?

Hannah Green: Absolutely. I think that was a big shift. And I also credit the Built to Birth program because at that time I had started working my way through the course and it had kind of lined up perfectly with the whole transition. And then once I was seeing the midwives at the birth center routinely for my checkups and my appointments, everything in the program kind of aligned with what I was doing at the birth center. So I think having both of those as like my library of, you know, this is where I can go and this is what I can turn to for extra information was super helpful. But I think, yeah, a hundred percent. if I didn't have the support I did at the birth center, I would still

Bridget: Hm.

Hannah Green: be in that fear state of I I can't do this, I'm gonna need a C section. you know, I would have had all these negative thoughts, like my body can't do this. I you know, I I wasn't built to birth, like I don't know what I'm doing.

Bridget: Mm.

Hannah Green: This is the first time I'm having a baby, like I have no idea what's going on. so yeah, it was definitely

Bridget: Hmm.

Hannah Green: a big shift.

Bridget: I love that. So you're pregnant, going to the birth center, you're loving having your midwives. Walk us through now the beginning of your birth. how many work

Hannah Green: Mm-hmm.

Bridget: weeks were you when you went into labor?

Hannah Green: my baby was on the bigger side. but again, I had seen your videos, you know, even though doctors say your baby's measuring big doesn't always mean they are. so it was July of 2025, and I just from people, friends and family, the first practice I was going to, they said, you know, your baby's big, you're going to have a July baby. So I was pretty mentally prepared to have my daughter in July. So when July came and went, I was a little bit shocked because I'm like, what is going on? She's still not here and my due date was August 4th. So I thought for sure she was going to be early. So I was like, all right, maybe she'll be born on her due date. And then August 4th came and went. And I was like, what is going on? Like this baby's not going to come out. I look pregnant and I feel pregnant, but maybe I'm not actually pregnant. I just kind of was in disbelief and shock. So fast forward to August. Well, so August 4th, I went in for a non-stress test. because it was my due date, I went in. There were some Braxton Hicks contractions, but nothing too serious. So they were like, okay, like Really nothing going on. We're gonna send you home. And I was like, okay, that's a little bit of a bummer, but I guess we have a few more days together. so fast forward to August 11th. This at this point I'm seven days past my due date, so a week. I go

Bridget: Mm-hmm.

Hannah Green: in for my second non-stress test, and I get there, they're trying to monitor my the contractions and then my baby's heart rate. They couldn't get a good read, so they were like, We're gonna send you on a quick walk, kind of get things moving, and then come back and we'll try to take it again. so they got a better read the second time, but still nothing consistent. my midwife at that point was like, Okay, I don't want to stress you out because I know, you know, you wanna have your baby. She said, At 42 weeks, you do graduate out of the birth center and you do have to go to the hospital. She said, but I will do everything in my power to kind of help get labor started naturally. There is different techniques we can do to kind of kickstart things. So we had game planned, this was a Monday. We had game

Bridget: Mm-hmm.

Hannah Green: planned that I would come in on Thursday and we would do nipple stimulation, we would do some other things to maybe get labor started. because she was like, I know how excited you are about having your baby here. And I want that for you. Unfortunately,

Bridget: Mm.

Hannah Green: you know, I can't really control that, but I can do a lot to help. So

Bridget: Mm-hmm.

Hannah Green: I was kind of, you know, like, okay, I'll see you Thursday, you know, trying to be polite but a little bit frustrated because I was like, What like is she my baby's not gonna come out? what is she doing in there? So

Bridget: Yeah. Yeah.

Hannah Green: I went home and I just remember my husband was like, So what do you want for dinner? And I said, well, I keep seeing these things about, you know, how spicy food can help get things going. So let's go get Thai. and he had never had Thai.

Bridget: Okay.

Hannah Green: so we went and he was like, This is very spicy. And I was eating as much as I could because I'm like, maybe this will kick start something. We get home, still nothing. so

Bridget: Ha ha ha.

Hannah Green: we go to bed. It's about two o'clock in the morning. I wake up. And I'm having what feels like menstrual cramping. So I'm like, like, okay, you know, maybe she's just moving around and I'm just having cramps and I'm very large at this point. So I'm, you know, having a harder time rolling out of bed and going to the bathroom and getting up. so I get up, I go to the bathroom, I get back in bed, and I'm like, wait a second. You know, I started to notice, like, okay, they're getting a little bit more crampy. so of course I'm Googling it on my phone at 2:30 in the morning, and

Bridget: Yeah.

Hannah Green: it's, you know, possibly very, very early labor. So I get up, I'm pacing the house because at this point my adrenaline's pumping, because I'm like,

Bridget: Mm-hmm.

Hannah Green: you know, am I in labor right now, or is this just cramp? I cramps, I don't know. so Around 3 30, I call the birth center. They have a midwife on call. And I'm talking to the midwife, and she's like, okay, it sounds like you're in early labor. She said she'd recommend I kind of hang out at home, maybe hop in the shower, maybe walk around some more, try to rest if I can. especially if, you know, I'm going to have my baby today, try to get

Bridget: Mm-hmm.

Hannah Green: as much rest as I can. And I was like, I'm gonna be honest with you, my adrenaline is pumping right now. I'm so excited. I don't think I'm gonna be able to rest, but I can definitely sit down and try to, you know, take a few deep breaths and maybe walk around some. So I'm pacing around the the house and my dog's looking at me like I'm crazy. My husband's still sleeping, so I haven't woken him up yet. and then 5:30 rolls around, and I'm like, okay, these are definitely getting more intense.

Bridget: Hm.

Hannah Green: So I call the birth center again. And we kind of game plan that I'll come in around 7 30. So the midwife has time to come meet me. and I get my husband up, he's showering. I notice that as he's showering and packing the car, I'm like, whoo, like trying to at first when the contractions hit, they kind of took my breath away, but they weren't intense enough where I couldn't talk through them. So I was still talking. But that initial, like, you know, their coming was like, ooh, like kind of Taking my breath away. and he and I'm like, I think we need to go. I don't want to wait any longer. It's a 40 minute drive, like we have to go. Yeah. So we get in the car, we text my parents, you know, we think the baby's coming. we're on our way to the birth center, it's a lot of back roads. and then we're on a highway, and of course, my husband is freaking out because I'm in the car with my eyes closed, focusing on breathing. So he runs a red light. and later on we got a ticket, but it was it was okay. but we get to the birth center

Bridget: did you try to dispute it?

Hannah Green: we we tried. they weren't very they they they did not take our excuse as they put it. And I was like, I was in labor. I have my daughter's birth certificate to prove it. But anyway, I

Bridget: I know they should have.

Hannah Green: know we we paid it. But So we get to the birth center and we walk in. I'm the only one there. So they're like, okay, you have your pick of rooms. And I was like, yes, I get the blue room. I wanted the blue room. This is great. So

Bridget: that's amazing.

Hannah Green: I was really excited about that. And of course, my husband was like, Of course, it's the small things that make you very happy. but I was so excited about that. So the midwife gets me on the bed.

Bridget: Why why was the blue room what you wanted?

Hannah Green: when we first toured, because they give you a tour of the birth center, and they kind of go through the rooms with you and they're like, we'll give you a form as you get closer to your due date, almost like a wish list of things that you want.

Bridget: Hmm.

Hannah Green: and the first question is, what room? and for whatever reason, on that tour, I was just drawn to the blue room.

Bridget: Hmm.

Hannah Green: it was, it had just this very calming ambiance about it. but

Bridget: Mm.

Hannah Green: I mean someone could say the same thing about the other rooms. But to me it was just blue room. Gotta have the blue room. So

Bridget: Yeah. Yeah. What did it have in there?

Hannah Green: it had this cute bed with some nice blankets and pillows and kind of this wooden piece of art behind the headboard, had a birthing tub, and then it had

Bridget: Mm.

Hannah Green: like a counter for all of the midwives stuff, like a scale and different things they need obviously for during labor but then also post birth and then it just had a a bathroom with a shower and a toilet so I don't know what about the blue room but it just I was drawn to it. so the midwife checks me and she's like okay you're four centimeters and I'm like what four centimeters

Bridget: Yeah.

Hannah Green: I thought I was way further along but okay. And she kind of said, We are at the point where labor will either keep progressing or it will stop and we'll have to send you home. And I think my husband could tell by the look on my face that I was like, We are not going home today. I am having this baby. So she was like, I'm gonna send you Yes.

Bridget: You're just gonna will this baby out.

Hannah Green: I am. Like, she is coming. so the midwife said, Just take a walk around the building outside. You know, sometimes movement helps labor progress. So we get outside, it's funny because the birth center is on the first floor, but there's two other floors of this office building. And I'm hobbling around, like kind of holding on to my husband, breathing through contractions, and people are pulling in to start their work day. So they're seeing me. walking around the building and it was really cute. A lot of people got out of their cars because I think they're just used to it. They work in the building and the birth center's there, so they see

Bridget: Yeah.

Hannah Green: women in labor all the time. but a lot of people would walk by and be like, You got this, like, keep going, like you're so strong. And so it was really

Bridget: Mm.

Hannah Green: it was really nice 'cause I'm like, here are strangers starting their work day and here they are cheering me on.

Bridget: That's so sweet.

Hannah Green: So yeah, it was really sweet. But we probably only made it about 15 feet outside the door. And I was like, I need to turn around. Gravity is not on my side. I feel very big and just not comfortable and I can't walk. so we go back inside and kind of telling the midwife, like, I I can't walk. I just I need to I need to get comfortable. and she's like, Okay,

Bridget: Mm-hmm.

Hannah Green: we can let's labor on the bed. So she grabs a peanut ball. I'm laboring on the bed. I'm like, nope, this is not for me. and she's like, okay, like, let's have you sitting on, you know, the birthing ball. So I'm bouncing on the ball and I'm like, nope, this is not for me either. And she's like, okay, let's try the shower. So I'm like, great, I had my lavender essential oils. I had the audio that you made to kind of Walk me through like you got this, mama. So that was playing

Bridget: Yeah.

Hannah Green: in the background, and I think that was my saving grace, Bridget. so thank you. but I'm sitting in the shower, you know, I have the lavender essential oils, the lights off, the audio in the background, I have my eyes closed, I'm just kind of in the moment, and I was so relaxed with the hot water. I thought I'd only been in there for about 30 minutes, but it ended up being like probably closer to two hours.

Bridget: Hmm.

Hannah Green: and at that point my mom shows up. So it's my mom, my husband, and myself. And the midwife comes in and she's like, Okay, you've been in the shower for a while. Like, I want to check you again just to see where you're at. like, let's try laboring on the bed again. So I was like, Okay, so I get out. and I forget how far along I was at this point, but I get on the bed and I'm like, No, I need hot water. I need to be in

Bridget: Hm.

Hannah Green: water. And she's like, Well, how about the birth tub? And I'm like, all throughout my pregnancy, after I had transferred to the birth center, I would always hear the midwives talk about the birthing tub. And I remember looking at my husband at one point and I was like, That's not for me. That's not something I'll be using. I don't

Bridget: Hmm.

Hannah Green: want to have a water birth. I want to have a birth on the bed or standing up. Like, I just don't want to be confined to a tub.

Bridget: Hmm.

Hannah Green: I also didn't really know what that looked like, having a baby in a tub. I did not do enough research on that. So I was like, I don't really know. I don't, I don't

Bridget: Yeah.

Hannah Green: think that's for me. but I got in the tub and I was like, this is the best thing. I don't know why I

Bridget: Mm-hmm.

Hannah Green: was so against it. It was so relaxing. I felt weightless. The contractions were almost easier as they came and went

Bridget: Mm-hmm.

Hannah Green: because I was like totally calm.

Bridget: Hm.

Hannah Green: so I'm in the tub, and my best friend shows up. So it's now me, my husband, my mom, and my best friend. And she's actually my daughter's godmother. So I wanted

Bridget: Hmm.

Hannah Green: her there because she's been a big part of my life. So she was holding a fan, my mom's holding a fan. I'm holding on to my husband in the tub because he's got his arm in, so I'm just kind of like floating but holding onto his arm. And then the midwife is bringing cold towels for my head and my neck. And I was just in this state of almost euphoria. I'm like, this is very nice. I feel very relaxed.

Bridget: Well

Hannah Green: I started to get a little concerned though because I realized my water hadn't broken. so I was like, How am I gonna know if my water breaks when I'm in the tub? And that was just a concern I had had towards the end of pregnancy, like when I would get into pools or get in the shower. I was like, how will I know? And everyone's like, you'll know, you'll know. And I'm like, but will I? So I'm laboring some more in the tub. was one contraction that came. And I just remember it made my kind of back arch almost like I was doing cat cow.

Bridget: Hm.

Hannah Green: and I h had a lot of pressure. I just remember looking at my husband and asking, Did I just poop? and before he could answer, I see the midwife out of the corner of my eye grab like a little fish tank net.

Bridget: Yeah.

Hannah Green: She comes over and she, you know. Cleans it up and she drains the tub and she refills it. And I'm like, okay, so I did, and it was just a no one acknowledged it, and we moved on, so that's great.

Bridget: Yeah.

Hannah Green: so I now we're kind of getting closer towards the afternoon. I'm still in the tub, I'm still laboring, contractions are getting more intense. and it's about 1:30 p.m. and I have a lot of pressure. My back does like this kind of arch thing, and then I hear this loud pop, and all of a sudden I have a huge sense of relief. and

Bridget: Mm.

Hannah Green: I look down in the water, and the water kind of turns like a cloudy-ish color, and I'm

Bridget: Mm-hmm.

Hannah Green: like, I think my water just popped. Or my water just broke. And the

Bridget: Mm-hmm.

Hannah Green: midwife was like, Yeah, your water just broke. Baby's coming. so I was so excited and then that first contraction hit after my water broke and it was the most intense thing ever. but I was focusing on breathing and I had my midwife and she said, you know, when you're ready, you start pushing the second that contraction comes. And it was like my body took over and before

Bridget: Hmm.

Hannah Green: my brain could tell my body to push, my body was pushing. when you say your body is built to birth, like that was what I felt in that moment. I'm like, my body's doing this without my brain telling it to do it.

Bridget: Yeah.

Hannah Green: so I'm pushing then the contraction stops and my b my midwife says, Stop pushing or you'll tear. she's like, just breathe, and I was like, Sarah Grace, I feel this burning sensation. And she's like, that's the ring of fire. She said, reach down, you can feel your baby's head. So I did. it was so cool. I mean, her head was so soft, and I'm like, she's right there, she's right there, I'm

Bridget: mm.

Hannah Green: so close. Like, I can do this. And then the second contraction comes. I'm pushing, I'm pushing. And then in between that second contraction and that third contraction, I felt like I was at home in bed sleeping. I don't know if my body just kind of shut down and like was getting ready for that final push once that third contraction came, but I was like I felt like I was at home sleeping. I was so like peaceful and relaxed.

Bridget: Mm.

Hannah Green: And then that third contraction came. I did one more push and she slipped right out and I brought her up and put her on my chest and I just remember everyone was like, my God, she's beautiful and she's so big and you did it.

Bridget: Mm, okay.

Hannah Green: And I looked at my husband and before I could even acknowledge, I'm like, I wanna do this again. And he's like, What? It's like you're insane.

Bridget: my gosh. I love that. my gosh, that's so great. What was the reaction in the room when you said that?

Hannah Green: my gosh, the midwife was laughing. She's like, You just had a baby. You need to rest. And I'm like, no, I want to do this again. I want to do this again.

Bridget: No

Hannah Green: so it just I like I was over the moon. I was so happy. I'm crying. My mom's crying, my best friend's crying. My husband's shocked because his wife just said, I want to do this again after, you know, hours of labor. it was just, it was awesome.

Bridget: That's so amazing. And I just love like from where you started to where you ended up, where it was like there was fear. It was, you know, there's only one way to do this, giving birth at the hospital. And then you start to make changes, and people are so doubtful, you know, what's gonna happen to you and your baby. You're not gonna even be able to give birth. You're gonna have to have a cesarean to then

Hannah Green: Right.

Bridget: labor and folding and you just being so strong and yet. you know, surrendering to the experience as well. And then getting to the end and not just doing it and being like, my gosh, that was so hard. Which of course it was hard, but like your initial thought, because of how incredible of a birth you had was, I need to do this again, is just so amazing.

Hannah Green: Yes.

Bridget: and hilarious. But so encouraging too. And especially as a first-time mom, like I feel like that's not that's not the experience that women hear about and they should hear about

Hannah Green: No.

Bridget: it because it can be so euphoric. It can be so beautiful and empowering. And I just love I just love every moment of that.

Hannah Green: it was beautiful. It was the best and hardest and most fulfilling experience in my whole entire life.

Bridget: That is so amazing. So looking back at your labor, I feel like you really hit the sweet spot when you got into the shower and then got into the tub. And so water was really impactful in being able to find comfort in your labor before

Hannah Green: Mm-hmm.

Bridget: you got into the tub in the shower. How were you experiencing contractions? What were you doing during your surges that helped you get through them?

Hannah Green: Yeah, I was definitely working on my box breathing. and I'm I'm blanking now, but I'm pretty sure it was just in for four, out for six, in for four, out for six. I

Bridget: Mm-hmm. Yep.

Hannah Green: was focusing on that, and when it felt like that wasn't enough to get me through on my exhale, I was kind of vocalizing through that. and that seemed

Bridget: Mm-hmm.

Hannah Green: to help because my jaw wasn't locked. It was loose, I was letting the air out. so that was definitely so helpful during the contractions that weren't in the shower or the tub.

Bridget: Do you feel like before you got in the shower in the tub there was a little bit more fear with your surges and more like I I'm fighting against them or was it the whole time this constant reminder to just surrender to the surges and breathe with them?

Hannah Green: I think in the beginning there was a little bit of not necessarily fear, because I kind of knew going in like this is not going to be easy. This is going to be hard. but I am not fearful. I am excited and I'm ready to kind of accept the contractions and kind of ride that wave of them. but I would say I would I was more tense in the beginning. And it was actually my husband, because I had written down some affirmations, he kept reminding me, he's like, breathe with them, don't fight them. and your audio was also saying the same thing. so that was kind of a repetition going on in my head, like, don't fight them, don't tense up, like breathe with them, ride that wave. You know, you're going to come to that peak of the wave and then it's gonna crash and everything will be better and you'll have a rest. And I'm like, okay.

Bridget: Mm-hmm.

Hannah Green: Like I got through that contraction, I can get through the next one.

Bridget: Hmm. And I love the word that you used was accept. Like I can accept these contractions. And I think that's such a beautiful way of looking at it. Because I think often a especially at the beginning, especially for first time moms, when you haven't experienced that before, like you experience this

Hannah Green: Mm-hmm.

Bridget: intensity and this power. And your first inclination is like, I need to like come above this and control it and subdue it. And you can't do that. And so

Hannah Green: Right. No.

Bridget: Then you're like, okay, do I fight it? Like if if I can't squash you out, then I'm gonna have to fight against you. And in both of those situations, like it just makes it harder on your body. And then when

Hannah Green: Yes.

Bridget: you realize I just have to surrender and like breathe and allow this contraction to happen, accept it, almost welcome it, then it

Hannah Green: Mm-hmm.

Bridget: actually takes on this whole new experience where it does become easier where you feel like you are more in flow with your body and your breath and with each surge that is coming. And so I just love

Hannah Green: Right.

Bridget: the word that you use, accept. I think that that hopefully becomes someone's like motto going into their own birth after hearing this

Hannah Green: Right.

Bridget: is accept the contraction or accept the wave, you know, because that really does make a a significant difference in the way that you experience it.

Hannah Green: It does.

Bridget: So you didn't envision water birth. How was that experience for you?

Hannah Green: No. I am ready to do it again. I'm like, I

Bridget: Ha ha.

Hannah Green: hope, you know, this next pregnancy, I hope hope my body is comfortable again in the tub. Because again, like obviously things change and maybe that's not what's comforting at that time, but I hope it is because it was the best experience that just feeling like you're being wrapped in a warm hug, but then also feeling kind of weightless, which helped a lot.

Bridget: Mm-hmm.

Hannah Green: was just a a game changer for me.

Bridget: Yeah, they call the tub the midwives epidural for a reason. It really does

Hannah Green: Yes.

Bridget: bring so much relief. And so even for moms who don't have like a birthing tub option where they can like birth inside water, even

Hannah Green: Mm-hmm.

Bridget: using it throughout labor as much

Hannah Green: Right.

Bridget: as you can can be so helpful. You know, whether that's like I'm just trying to labor at home for as long as possible. You know, once you reach that point in labor at home where you're like, this is really hard. Like, do I need to go? If you hop in the tub for an hour, that will give you an extra, you know, little amount of time to spend laboring at home versus going into the hospital. Or now some hospitals

Hannah Green: Mm-hmm.

Bridget: have birthing suites where they have a bathtub that you can labor in. but I just I think that's so funny that you're like, No, I'm not gonna do this. And it's so funny how

Hannah Green: Yep.

Bridget: labor changes it, you know, like you

Hannah Green: Mm-hmm.

Bridget: things that you didn't think you would do, noises you didn't think you would make, positions you didn't

Hannah Green: Right.

Bridget: think you would get in. You're just like, nope, this feels right. And I think that has so much to do with how we are built to birth and how our bodies are so instinctual in knowing what we need and us just learning to listen to our bodies and trust our bodies and respond and giving our bodies what what they need. And it sounds like you did That all throughout labor, which I love. what was one thing that your husband did during your labor, or even like your mom and your best friend, because you had such a good support team? What was something that they did that was really impactful for you in labor, either mentally or physically, to help you find comfort in labor?

Hannah Green: think just having them there as my support system was huge.

Bridget: Mm.

Hannah Green: because I wasn't sure this being my first birth, like, yes, I had kind of pushed that fear of of labor and birth out, but I was like, I want a great support system around me, and so I had that. I would say the one thing that was so helpful was just having like the cold air blowing on my face. So unfortunately for them, I don't even know how long they were holding the fans because there

Bridget: Yeah.

Hannah Green: wasn't a good way to attach them to the tub. But they were just they were nonstop holding the fans, and they were on it. And then in terms of my husband, he would reassure me every once in a while. he knows me very well that sometimes if you know, if I'm in this kind of in my head, I just needed to focus. And so talking would have been too distracting. But every once

Bridget: Hm.

Hannah Green: in a while he would say something like, You got this mama, like you're doing this, baby girl's gonna be here soon. And it was just those kind of moments where I was reassured by him verbally. But then also having him there just to hold on to when I needed him or squeeze his hand like as I was breathing through a contraction or breathing with a contraction physically was also super beneficial.

Bridget: what was your husband's experience, like being on the other side of, you know, at first feeling skeptical and not quite sure

Hannah Green: Mm-hmm.

Bridget: about going that birth center route after experiencing labor and birth in that setting with the team of people that you had? What was his experience coming out of that?

Hannah Green: Coming out, he was like, can we take everyone home with us? They were phenomenal. He's like, if you want to have future pregnancies and births at the birth center, let's do it.

Bridget: Hm.

Hannah Green: and part of me was like, maybe I can talk him into a home birth. But I think for right now we'll probably stick to the birth center. But he he was definitely very pro-birth center and he loved all the midwives. I mean, they were so

Bridget: Hmm.

Hannah Green: helpful and they were so kind to him as well. I think

Bridget: Mm.

Hannah Green: from what I've heard like from friends who have had hospital births, you know, it's obviously everyone's focus is on mom and baby. So dad's kind of forgotten, you're gonna sleep on that tiny little couch, but I think like they were also in certain moments kind of checking in on him.

Bridget: Mm.

Hannah Green: and still obviously not taking away from, you know, what I'm going through and then, you know, the baby, but also like, you got this, Dad. Like you're doing a great job.

Bridget: Mm-hmm.

Hannah Green: Like just be there for mom. Like you got this. And it was nice for him to kind of Have that support system as well because we're both doing this for the first time. and he's obviously not pushing the baby out. you know, I kind of have the hard part, but

Bridget: Ha ha.

Hannah Green: he he was able to kind of rely on the midwives and and was reassured, like, okay, like they know what they're doing, everything's gonna be okay, like we're gonna get through this.

Bridget: Yeah. And I think that's one really amazing thing that the midwifery model of care does really well is seeing mom, baby, and dad as like a unit that is in the center of this experience. And I

Hannah Green: Right.

Bridget: I feel like you really drew that out in sharing your experience where, in the hospital setting you were having rushed pretty quick. surface level conversations where you didn't feel like you were being heard or listened to or being taken seriously with your concerns. And then stepping out of that system, which is in place for a reason, but stepping out of that and going to mid-wiffery model of care, where it is this understanding that birth and pregnancy is An outpouring of like the systems that you have in place in your life. So that's your home life, that's your relationship with your partner, that's your diet, that's your lifestyle. There's so many

Hannah Green: Right.

Bridget: factors that go into a healthy pregnancy and a healthy birth. And not just healthy physically, but one that women are empowered by and something that was positive for them. There's so much that goes into that. And that's something that the midwifery model of care does really well. They have to take those things into account as well because they don't have the other resources that a hospital has so that if you know an emergency does happen, they can do XYZ really quickly. Versus in a birth center or at home, midwives have to ask about your diet because they need to make sure that you're staying low risk in order to stay under their care. You know, they're asking about your relationship with dad because they know that that's gonna be such an important person for you in your birth experience. And they're asking you so

Hannah Green: Right.

Bridget: many questions because they want to ultimately protect this experience for you, both physically, mentally, and emotionally too. So I just think that was a really valuable experience that you shared with us because I think it's gonna be eye opening to understanding what the medical model of care looks like and what the midwifery model of care looks like. And it seems like you really experienced like that spectrum, that very wide kind of divide

Hannah Green: Mm-hmm.

Bridget: between one and the other. And I love just, you know, the empowering experience that you had with your midwives. and an empowering hospital birth is so possible too. there's different reasons why people give birth in each place. So I think it's so cool that you despite being kind of like the odd man out in terms of like none of your friends or family going this route, you were like, no, this is what's best for our family. And that's what I

Hannah Green: Mm-hmm.

Bridget: want to encourage moms listening is, make the decision that's best for you guys. And I love especially your husband just being like, hey, just worry about you and the baby and like our family right now. Cause that's like

Hannah Green: Mm-hmm.

Bridget: all that matters right now. Not

Hannah Green: Right.

Bridget: what everyone else is saying and thinking and whispering about in the background.

Hannah Green: Mm-hmm.

Bridget: Like you need to focus on what's most important. And that's true for every woman listening is make the decision that's right for you, whether that's birthing in a birth center or in a hospital or at home or having a doula or whatever it looks like in your pregnancy preparation and how you're going to end up laboring and birthing. Choose what's going to best suit you and the birth that you are wanting to pursue. And so thank you for sharing all of that. did you wanna share anything about the birth that you left out or I don't know, any little details. And if not, then I'll ask our final question that I know you're going to have a great answer for.

Hannah Green: There was one detail I forgot to mention, and this is sort of funny. and I'll try to keep it short, but towards the end of my labor before I had my daughter, I'm, you know, so focused on the contractions and, you know, kind of riding them and getting through them. All of a sudden, a phone dings, and I'm like. I was like so in my head and focused and like we're doing this, and then the ding just kind of threw me off, and my eyes opened, and I like looked at my husband, and I'm like, turn your phone off. And he just didn't say anything. Cause normally he leaves his phone, his ringer on for work and stuff. So I was like, of course, you know, the one time he was supposed to turn it off, he didn't turn it off. That's just

Bridget: Ha

Hannah Green: You know, we're gonna

Bridget: ha

Hannah Green: we're gonna talk about that later. So come to find out, after I had my daughter, you know, I'm in that golden hour, we're nursing, I'm in bed, my family's there, we're talking, you know, we're just recapping what just happened. I was like, you know what, I wanna apologize to everyone. I was so mean. And my husband's like, like, what do you mean you were mean? And I was like, Well, I yelled at you for your phone. And he goes, that wasn't my phone. That was the midwife's phone. She had accidentally left her phone ringer on because she was waiting for a phone call from someone. And she's like, I don't normally leave my ringer on, and I forgot to turn it off, and it dinged, and I am so sorry. Like I and I was like, I'm so sorry. Like I yelled at my husband, and then I'm su I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable. And so we all

Bridget: my goodness.

Hannah Green: had a good laugh afterwards. And she was like, You're probably the nicest pregnant person I've ever experienced. Because you're apologizing. so yeah, that was it was just a nice laugh afterwards. Like, I have my daughter, I'm with my husband, I have, you know, family and friends there. And We're slowly telling people, we're sending out pictures and

Bridget: Mm.

Hannah Green: we were just able to sit down and laugh. Like she was part of, you know, my family, my inner circle.

Bridget: Mm. Mm-hmm.

Hannah Green: and she'll always have a special place in my heart because she helped, you know, me deliver my my baby, my first child.

Bridget: Hmm, hmm, that's so special. And I think that is such a a great little part

Hannah Green: Yeah.

Bridget: of your story that I'm glad you didn't leave out because your environment impacts

Hannah Green: Mm-hmm.

Bridget: the way you labor so much. And so even though

Hannah Green: Yes.

Bridget: it was just like this little beep, I just imagine if you were in a different setting and you were hearing like beeping from a monitor and different people coming in and out of the door and you know, just like different noises, how

Hannah Green: Mm-hmm.

Bridget: disruptive that might have been for you. And just

Hannah Green: Right.

Bridget: how important it is to really guard and protect your environment because it really does play a really big role in how you can like stay focused and in your flow state

Hannah Green: Mm-hmm.

Bridget: for labor. that was so funny that just like a little a little phone going off just was like, No, not allowed, turn it off. That's great.

Hannah Green: Tiny little ding, yeah.

Bridget: And two that your midwife. was able to sit with you after the birth and that you had that experience together. And I

Hannah Green: Mm-hmm.

Bridget: love that. And I think again, that's such like a beautiful part of the midwifery model of care is that they do become like family. Like you get to the end

Hannah Green: Mm-hmm.

Bridget: of your pregnancy and you're like, I'm friends with you. Like you are

Hannah Green: Yeah.

Bridget: you are part of my life. Like you're not just my provider, but like I trust you. I have this relationship that I've built with you. And so

Hannah Green: Mm-hmm.

Bridget: not only is that like a beautiful person to have in your birth space, it's a really trusted person you have in your birth space. So that if

Hannah Green: Mm-hmm.

Bridget: things didn't go according to plan and there was need for intervention or a transfer, because

Hannah Green: Okay.

Bridget: you've built that relationship with someone you are so aligned with and trust so deeply, it becomes an easier decision because you trust them and you have that relationship.

Hannah Green: Right.

Bridget: And I think that that's just so valuable for women to have when they're having their baby is someone that they can totally trust to have their best interest in mind. And it sounded like your midwife was that for you. So I love that. Thank you for sharing that little tidbit.

Hannah Green: Yes. Mm-hmm.

Bridget: But I want to ask you one final question before we wrap up, which is what is one piece of encouragement or advice or wisdom you would share with the mama who's listening to your story right now?

Hannah Green: Yeah, I guess my one piece of advice would be everyone's gonna have an opinion on how your pregnancy and your labor and your birth should look like. But at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is how you envision your pregnancy journey and your birth experience. because like you know, you always say, so credit to Bridget and the Built to Birth program, but our bodies are built to birth. So, Don't let outside noise affect your birth experience.

Bridget: I love that. And that is such important wisdom to carry throughout pregnancy and birth and honestly motherhood, because there

Hannah Green: Mm-hmm.

Bridget: are a thousand opinions on how to do it right.

Hannah Green: Yes.

Bridget: And the way that you do it might be right for you and look totally different from everyone else around you. So

Hannah Green: Mm-hmm.

Bridget: thank you so much, Hannah, for coming on, sharing that wisdom with us, but also just sharing your birth story. That was incredible. And I just can't wait for other moms to listen to this and to carry this experience with them as they prepare for their own empowering birth. So thank you so much for sharing your story with us.

Hannah Green: Thank you, Bridget. Thank you for having me.

Bridget: I loved listening to Hannah's birth story and I hope you did too. And I also hope that as you are walking away from this birth story, one thing you're taking away with you is that you are truly built to birth and that you can birth and you can mother in the way that is best for you, even if it's different from everyone else. If you want to keep equipping yourself and empowering yourself beyond just this birth story, I want to encourage you to check out the Built to Birth course at builttobirth.com. Thanks for listening to this podcast episode. I will see you in the next one.