Hannah’s Birth Story: A Peaceful Water Birth at The Addice

Birth story by Hannah Wright

Laboring Close to the Birth Center

My husband and I live about two hours away from the birth center, so when my contractions started, we drove to the hotel next door to labor close by. I kept in touch with my midwife the whole time.

After laboring there for about 16 hours using breathwork, counterpressure from my husband, walking, and my yoga ball, my contractions became strong. I called my midwife and let her know we were heading to the birth center. When she checked me, I was already 8 centimeters dilated. I can’t describe how encouraged I felt knowing I was so close to meeting my baby.

Relief in the Water

Once the bathtub was ready and I got in, I immediately understood why people call water “nature’s epidural.” It was incredibly relaxing and brought so much relief. The transition from 8 to 10 centimeters was definitely the most intense part of labor, but I kept using my breathing techniques and focused on completely surrendering to each contraction instead of fighting it.

Natanya showed my husband a good way of applying counterpressure and was so calm, encouraging, and peaceful throughout the entire experience. Her presence brought so much comfort to the room.

After about an hour in the tub, I got out and onto the bed. Almost immediately, my water broke. It was the craziest, most surreal feeling, and I knew my baby would be here soon.

I tried pushing on the bed for a little while before Natanya reminded me that I could get back into the tub. A water birth had always been what I hoped for.

I pushed on my hands and knees for a while but wasn’t making much progress, so Natanya suggested I try pushing on my back instead. Within about 30 minutes, my baby was here! I pushed for a total of 55 minutes.

Meeting Our Baby

The moment he was born, everything changed. The pain disappeared. I could breathe again. Every contraction, every moment of hard work—it was all worth it. Twenty-six hours of laboring!

Looking back, I would say contractions were completely doable with good breathing techniques, movement, and different labor positions. They became most intense during transition, but I always felt like I had the tools to work through them.

I had my own worship playlist playing throughout labor, and the birth room felt so peaceful and Spirit-filled. I truly felt the Lord’s presence with me every step of the way, giving me strength when I needed it most.

Calm Care in an Unexpected Moment

After my baby was born and I delivered the placenta, my husband took our baby to the bed while I got out of the tub. I experienced a small postpartum hemorrhage because my uterus wasn’t contracting well.

Even in that moment, Natanya remained incredibly calm. She acted quickly, knew exactly what to do, and constantly reassured me that everything was okay. Her confidence and peace helped me stay calm, and I was so thankful for her care. Once everything was under control, we settled into bed together and soaked in those first precious moments with our baby. It was such a beautiful experience.

Thank you, Hannah, for sharing your birth story with our community.

Begin Your Birth Journey with The Addice

If you’re exploring birth center care in The Woodlands, schedule a consultation with The Addice to meet our team and see the space.