First-time mum shares incredible photos of the ‘freebirth’ she ‘enjoyed’ in an outdoor bath
Hannah Taylor, 23, grew up with 'scary' stories about childbirth from her own mum and wanted a more relaxed labour for her son Koa, now three months
THESE are the incredible photos of a mother's "freebirth" in an outdoor bath tub.
Hannah Taylor, 23, grew up with "scary" stories about childbirth from her own mum and wanted a more serene birthing experience for her son Koa, now three months.
Yoga teacher Hannah, and her sister Jessica Taylor, were born by caesarean section which left her keen to explore other options during her own pregnancy.
Hannah and her partner Tyler Couchman decided to have an unassisted birth when she fell pregnant after hearing of a pal's positive experience.
The couple had 6lb 10oz baby Koa in an outdoor bath on October 8 with just Tyler and best friend Shea Zamarra, in attendance.
Hannah, of Sacramento, California, US, said the experience was empowering and serene.
She spoke as it was revealed 200 women in London had freebirths last year - births without medical assistance.
Until recently figures weren't available, but London became the first city to monitor the births.
She said: "My mum had traumatic births with me and my sister and it didn't sit well with me.
"Growing up I had only heard scary stories of birth and when I heard about my friend's experience with unassisted birth. It felt right to me."
I hadn't planned to move to the outside to the tub, I just wanted to use it as somewhere to take a break during labour
Hannah Taylor
She continued: "An unassisted birth is one without medical intervention. You give birth unhindered and without medical interference.
"No one telling you when to push, you just completely listen to your own body."
She continued: "During my pregnancy I did a lot of research and I read a lot of books. I listened to podcasts focused on women and their unassisted birthing stories.
"I went into labour in early morning at about 5am on October 8 and my active contractions started around 9.30am.
"I was just home with my partner and my best friend Shea. I hadn't planned to move to the outside to the tub, I just wanted to use it as somewhere to take a break during labour.
"I was on the floor of my room when I decided to move outside to the tub. It is connected to the warm water mains from our house.
"It was an incredible, blissful, experience and I was ecstatic. Meeting my little boy for the first time was incredible."
Hannah's partner Tyler, 34, a chef, added: "So far it was the most amazing experience of my life.
"I had never heard of free birth before, but catching my son in my arms was the most amazing thing.
"Holding him brought tears to my eyes. It felt like a dream."
While Hannah's birth was unassisted, the mum did attend regular prenatal appointments with a midwife to make sure her pregnancy was healthy.
Hannah said she would have rethought her plans had there been a health issue or potential danger for baby Koa.
She said: "I had a healthy pregnancy and I visited a midwife all along. I had prenatal care.
"There was no sign that anything was wrong, and if there had been I would have had to think about changing my plan.
"Depending on the severity I would have had to consider a hospital birth in that case. But I really made sure I had done a lot of research."
Hannah has described her first three months as a mum to be "blissful" and she will always feel blessed to have had such a serene birthing experience.
Tyler said the couple feel "lucky" that their friend was there to capture the moment on camera.
He added: "It's really special that we have those pictures. They captured the moment so perfectly."
Hannah said: "The sun was out and it was beautiful. I felt extremely powerful.
"A few days afterwards he was checked out and everything was great.
"I think all people should follow their hearts. I did what I thought was the best thing for my baby.
"An unhindered birth allowed the experience to be sacred and it was incredible. I have never felt so connected to my body. I felt very blessed.
"He's so wonderful. I underestimated my capacity for love."
What is freebirthing?
The term freebirthing is used to describe a woman having a baby without the help of any medical professionals.
This means that any mum-to-be who and elects for this delivery method would have no clinical monitoring, access to pain relief or the use of modern technologies during labour.
In January last year new figures revealed 200 women in London chose to give birth without a midwife of antenatal checks.
"These births were never captured, until now," says Kenny Gibson, the NHS England's head of public health commissioning in London, adding the city was the first to log births.
The Royal College of Midwives added: "While the RCM recognises that every woman has the right to give birth without professional assistance, there are potential risks for both mother and baby, and for that reason the RCM would strongly discourage women from giving birth by themselves."
Michaela Kalusova, 34, from Croydon, who had a freebirth told: "I birthed at 41 weeks and three days. I gave birth at home with my partner and my son, who quickly became bored and wandered off to watch TV, telling us to call him when the baby arrived.
"My daughter's birth was on my own terms, she was touched by us first, not by medical professionals.
"I was in control during her birth and knew exactly what she needed. I talked to her and navigated her safely out."
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We previously revealed how Sarah Schmid, 36, from Halle, Germany, has given birth in her garden, her living room, a forest and even a water butt.
Want to know more about free-birthing? Meet Simone who gave birth in a stream.
And this mum gave birth outside a strip club... we bet she didn't expect that.