What a lovely story and beautiful pictures, I also had the joy of a natural delivery for my second child it really is something that so many parents miss out on,unfortunately. Well done your guys.

Great story! I also experienced a completely natural experience with my second child and he was 9lb 3oz! People looked at me like I was crazy afterwards and I admit it wasn't a walk in the park, but much easier than my first. Congratulations on the birth of your beautiful baby boy. :o)

Congratulations Jase & Katrina, he's a cutie.

Go Calmbirth, we did the program for our 2nd and it is awesome. We 'went in' with such a different attitude than the 1st. (which we did the 'normal' prenatal classes).

I agree with your post, our attitude to birth these days (which is taught in the prenatal classes) is one of fear and pain, when I have now seen first hand what can be acheived with just a change of attitude and some techniques.

Birth should be viewed as the wonderful, natural process that it is.

BTW Jason. You will need to change your bio below: 'Married with a child on the way - very excited! '   :)

yes a truly great story. My wife also had a natural birth.  Although labour was a little longer than 5.5 hours.  whilst it is a person choice I also believe that midwives and obs should respect the parents wishes and adopt their desire for a natural birth.  i hear too many stories about people showing up at the delivery suite only to be offered your drug of choice like its a McDonalds drive through.well done jason.

Jason, that's a great story, and I congratulate your wife for her achievement.  I was uncertain whether or not I would have drugs for my 2 births, and entered the labour ward with no plan either way.

I did end up using the drugs, and for my second labour it was just as well.  A 3 hour labour and 12 minute 3rd stage meant that my little boy wanted to come before I was fully dilated, causing massive haemmoraging.  He didn't cry when he arrived because he wasn't breathing.  The trauma of the birth left me exhausted and not even wanting to hold Daniel when he finally started breathing.

I admire your wife's choice to have 'natural birth', but please don't come down on those of us who do take the drugs in the end.  And Brett, I take exception to my deliveries being likened to a "McDonalds drive through".  It was bloody hard going, and I'm damn proud of what I accomplished - even with the drugs, it hurt like hell! And sure natural, drug-free childbirth has been happening for 1000's of years, but I'm sure there are a lot less birth-related deaths nowadays as well.

I say whatever a woman's decision, we should all be proud of our achievement of giving birth - and let's face it, the really tough stuff starts after the delivery when you get home!

I had natural births with little drug intevention but Jason YOU didn't give birth and NEVER will go through the pain of it. I was hoping I'd die I was in so much pain when I had my first baby so it just would be over. You have No right to comment until you personally give birth!

take a chill pill Michele. You are missing the point. Jason obviously you will never experience child birth, but it is actually lovely to hear a man talk about it. What a lovely experience you had. I am pregnant and would prefer not to be thinking "I'd rather die", like Michele did. I do believe that all we see about child birth is the negative stuff and if there is an alternative then I am all for it!  Even complications arise and we do end up using drugs I would like to know more about what you and Katrina went through and will look at that site. Not sure if they have it here in New Zealand but I'm sure I'll find something. Thank you for being so open with your experience.

Hi.. thanks for sharing a beautiful story. I really wanted a natural labour. I was well informed of everything i needed to know until complications arose at 28wks when my membranes ruptured. I missed out on my natural labour... but am aiming for it next time! Thank you for the link to calmbirth. :D

Howdy.  Jason, I completely get what you're saying now that you've clarified it.  When I read your first blog, I must admit, I was a little taken aback.  I've given birth three times now (mind you, the second and third times were twins - so I'm kind of exaggerating!!) and I took drugs both times.  I had no option with the twins (as per my obstetrician's orders - and he ROCKS so he must be right!), but obviously for my first birth I could've gone down the "no drug" option.  I certainly didn't walk in asking for an epidural, but after several hours of excrutiating pain, I succumbed - and it made the world of difference.  I was able to enjoy my husband's and sister's company (as they did crosswords....!!!) and I could really take in the experience.  My obstetrician and anatheasist got it right so I could still push come crunch time.  However, my recovery just as that with the twins was a lot slower.  I felt ill and it took many hours before I felt like "me".  I completely understand and appreciate your views and respect how passionate you are about "Calmbirth" and about having a positive attitude.  I think that there are many women out there that are lining up for their "elective caesars" and saying "load me up with whatever you've got".  But I also think that there are women out there who don't want drugs, but end up having to take them.  Then there are women in the minority, like your wife, who are just bloody amazing and don't want them and don't need them!  I would've like to have been in the latter group, but sometimes it's out of your control.  I think you've done really well putting this controversial topic on the net!  I also think it's been great for people who are thinking about or who are pregnant - as now they can investigate Calmbirth if they so desire.  I must admit, I had never heard of it until you put it on your site, and if I had've known about it, I may very well have had at least one drug free labour!  As for Michele, I'm surprised you've got children as you sound like a man hater!  As if Jason could ever give birth!  Why would you say such a stupid thing?!!

Congratulations Jason & Katrina.  Just over 20 years ago I had a very natural, calm birrth planned for my first son.  Unfortunately things didn't work out that way and I was scheduled for a ceaser 2 weeks before my due date.  It took me months to get over it and I was very down on myself for not being able to do it naturally.  Eventully I realised that my son and my health/life were far more important than.  Second also had to be born by ceaser and the one thing I feel I missed out on in life was that experience of natural birth.  The two things  I dodn't miss out on in life was watching my sons grow into men.  Done as naturally as possible from birth onwards.

Thanks for sharing your story I hope it helps a lot of people choose the calm, natural approach.  Just remember that some people have to have the intervention to ensure the health/life of both parties involved.

Congrats to Katrina & Jason, I have had 5 natural births which ranged from 50minutes (8 months ago) to my longest of 4.5 hours. The nurses kept offering pain killers but i wanted to be in control at all times- like you say if you're calm and everyone around you are it is a beautiful experience.I was up and about 10mins after all the deliveries and i felt great.Giving birth doesn't have to be scarey.

Thanks for sharing your experience, sounds like it was wonderful, but have to wonder how many ladies out there would think it was so wonderful with a long labour of over 30 hours without pain killers???? I feel like laughing when people wonder what the big deal is with pain in birth, when the only experience they have had is a labour that was just long enough for full dilation and delivery. Would be great if everyone really could experience a birth like that, but the fact is that that is just not a reality. Most people either deliver too fast and tear because they are not fully dialated or have excruciatingly long labours, like I did.

I wanted a natural birth and went into hospital with the right attitude to do so, however after 26 hours of full on labour I gave in to drugs and glad I did. My labour continude over 38 hours and ended in emergency c-section because my son was stuck and had cord wraped around his neck.

I also took exception to Jason's comments when I first read his blog. In the ideal world we would all give birth quickly to small babies with little pain. But some of us who go in with the best of intentions and positive thoughts get blown away when real labour starts. And sometimes it does go on and on and on... As an aromatherapist, I went in with all my oils ready. How useless were they! The smells actually made be nauseous and vomit! As for the painkilling effects, no way! In the prenatal classes they said that the contractions felt like period pain. I'd never had any pain! Wow! Those poor women who suffer every month! I used to wonder why they took painkillers. Now I know why!

I've had 1 stillbirth and 2 live. With my first live birth, Iwas induced, it went for more than 24 hours and there was meconium which meant I was confined while they monitored the baby. But the pain was too bad to move anyway! The epidural gave me relief, and some well needed sleep. At the end, they turn it down so you can push and experience as much as you want. And that is what is important! The mother controls her experience and comfort level. With my youngest, I rang the hospital and told them to have the epidural waiting. As my ob said, and someone else here, the experience is so much better. As a result, it was much more pleasant, quicker and as for making phone calls, why did it take you an hour to make any? There are so many factors effecting the decisions to have the drugs. Don't judge those of us who take them. It would be interesting if after a very long day with a toddler and needing to do a middle of the night (having not gone to bed) dash in labour via the in-laws to drop off the toddler your wife would have the energy to be calm and give birth naturally.

If I were able to have any more, I would certainly have the epidural straight away again.

hi guys,

I felt compelled to write a message and not leave it all up to my husband! Firstly, please know that jason would never pass judment on anyone - he has the biggest, most beautiful, non-judgmental loving heart. All he is trying to do is inform other women who (like I was) are a bit freaked about giving birth, that there are courses and methods that may assist in equiping you both physically and mentally to make the experience a positive one...whether it be a natural birth, or otherwise. He writes his blog after seeing me transform from someone who was an absolute mess whenever anyone would speak about birth. I would literally almost faint whenever someone would discuss birth. It wasnt an easy journey for us to finally end up pregnant with a few hiccups along the way, so I really needed something powerful to help move me to a positive mindset. Essentially the message Jase was trying to get across was that the Calm Birth course we completed together was a fantastic tool, giving us both confidence and a calm head throughout the labour. We were certainly in a better position after doing the course than before it. Of course medical assistance is required if the pregnancy gets complicated. The Calm Birth course also assists the Mother feel more calm if this is the case as well.  The health of Mum and bub is foremost!  Thanks everyone for your blog contributions. Its amazing to hear of the many unique birth experiences. No one birth is the same.