MY BIRTH STORY | + Meet My Baby! 

I am a doula. I have found that amongst my clients who wanted unmedicated and ended up changing their plan, the common denominator is one of two things. They either had to be induced or had VERY long labors and just needed some rest. It is OK to change your plan midstream. We don’t get to change all aspects of how our birth will be and have to stay flexible. You did great!

Ayla I Think I Can Speak For Everyone If Not Most and Say Motherhood Suits You

It is sooo good seeing you with YOUR baby in your arms Ayla, congratulations 💕

Ayla you ARE a warrior. You're amazing. You did so so so well. You followed your body and what you needed and that is exactly what is supposed to be done.

Thanks for sharing your birth story! And I'm so very happy for you all!! My husband and I just got our first BFP on Thursday after 5 year's of infertility, dozens of IUI's, surgeries, one failed IVF cycle on our own, and then second IVF cycle with donor eggs!! I can't wait to experience all of what you experienced while I was watching your journey! Congrats, and glad everyone is safe/healthy!! :-*

Love your hair. First time mom haircut. Everyone does it lol. Congrats.

Don't be discouraged by not having an unmedicated birth first time round. Sounds like you did amazing. I had an epidural and episiotomy in hospital first birth and 20hours in labour. My second was born at home in water completely unmedicated and before midwives arrived, 2hours 21mins first contraction to birth. Nova is beautiful 😍 I'm so happy for you!

After all the trauma you went through from your infertility to your birth, you came out with the most beautiful gift God could’ve given you ❤️ enjoy every moment❤️💜💛💙🧡

I love your hair and you look amazing! Nova is just so beautiful ❤️❤️

Oh ayla, those were contractions FROM HELL!! i cant imagine how you managed them unmedicated for so long. I had a fast labor, went from chill contractions while talking on the phone at 11 pm to theyre-going-to-kill-me at 1 am. In the hospital at 1:30 a m they said to push. And STILL i wanted an epidural because the pain was extreme! How in the world did you do it?!? Congratulations sweetheart!

Wow! 💪🏼 What an incredible story you have! I also love your hair! 😍

Congratulations! I also wished for unmedicated birth, however got pitocin in iv...never blamed my body, we should all be proud of ourselves, no matter how our birth went, no matter vaginal or c-cestion ...it all does not matter as long as baby is safe and healthy! Love your birth story, waiting for the part2 about real struggle (don't feel like you should be careful in telling story, be open and honest, we love honest stories). Nova is so sweet! Congratulations

The timeline of my daughters birth sounds a lot like yours! My water had broken and minor contractions started around 10am and she was born at 10pm the next day. The feeling of defeat when you’ve been labouring all night and you’re told that you’re only a few cm dilated is the actual worst. I got my epidural about 20 hours into labour and I just remember laying down and almost instantly falling asleep because I was so exhausted. You look amazing by the way and Nova couldn’t be any sweeter!!

Ayla you could not look more stunning right now wowza. Motherhood looks perfect on you!! My little girl was 8 full days late. I was scheduled to be induced on a Friday since she wasn't coming on her own. We woke up that day and I worked all morning, ate a big lunch and we went to the hospital for a 2pm induction time. Got checked into our room and my water broke on it's own the second I sat on the hospital bed. I laboured until 2pm the next day with no meds and it was very very chill but little progress was made. 2:30pm on Saturday I was given oxytocin and my daughter was born at 9:07pm that evening. A very similar story to yours in that I pushed for a very long time and then babies heart rate started to drop, but everyone was safe in the end. I'm so glad you finally got to share this beautiful story YASS MAMA. Your birth story is beautiful. Even with everything that happened afterwards your story is perfect. The journey that you took to get Nova here is your own and the fact that she is perfect and you are healthy means that everything went according to plan. xxoo

Everything happens for a reason, think about what could have happened if you were at home/in a birthing center and experienced a postpartum hemorrhage. Nova is here and she’s so beautiful. A healthy mama and baby, and that’s what matters 💗 I loved my epidural. It allowed me to actually enjoy the labor and birth of my daughter!

I’ve heard some women with endometriosis say their pain from that was almost worse than giving birth, and that a lot of people say endometriosis is “gone” after you give birth. It would be cool to hear about your experience with those things!

I fully anticipated to have a planned c section at 35 weeks; I had a condition called vasa previa. I ended up having a vaginal delivery 2 days before my due date. It was unbelievable to me and felt so blessed to have my baby here safely!!

So happy for your new little one! My birth was also very different than I envisioned. After a few days of labor, being admitted to hospital at 5cm, getting an epidural, and even pushing...he got stuck and his heart rate dropped. I had to get a c section. I decided to not beat myself up and focused on that he was here and healthy💕 Also, reminded myself that I had literally grown a human for heaven's sake! That's the big part. I love that the midwife called you a warrior! It seems like being open is a good birth plan.

You look great momma! So happy you finally got your rainbow baby. She is precious. 🍍🌈

I did IVF as well, and now I have an 11 month old baby boy. He is absolutely amazing and brings me joy every day. My birth story did not go exactly as planned but I was surprisingly flexible about the whole thing so I wasn’t too upset. I did however sob for a long time after he was born, and I refused to let him go for over two hours. The nurses kept coming to see if they could weigh him and I was like nope. The birthing class said I could do skin to skin right after for as long as I wanted and I clearly took that to heart.

I love you Ayla. I religiously watch your videos. I knew you guys would get your blessing. Watching you guys with Nova is the best thing ever 😍😍😍😍

I had contractions doubling and tripling as well. Right as I could tell it was winding down, it was picking back up again! Not a fun time, but you're a rock star warrior!!!

Motherhood looks good on you, you are literally glowing! I’ve been watching your videos for a while now and it’s almost surreal now seeing you with your precious baby girl. Congrats mama!!!

I am so excited for you and caleb. I can't get over how adorable nova is

Our birth stories are so similar but so different at the same time! I’m so happy you and Nova are both doing well 💕

aw thank you for sharing vulnerably. really give yourself permission to feel into and grieve whatever it is you need to & process/feel about the experience and to request support if you need to work through anything. sadly its a shared exprience to experience trauma around the birth experience and you arent alone in this. self care and be gentle with yoruself and have pride/compassion: youre an incredible person.

I just had my third baby on March 9th. I wish I had this mindset of separating the birth from the craziness that followed. His birth was a surprise gender birth and we were beyond excited for that moment. It was beautiful finding out we had another sweet boy. But about 30 seconds after I had him he went into respiratory distress and was taken from me. Then I started to have problems with high heart rate so they wouldn’t let me leave my room. I didn’t get to see him for hours and didn’t hold him until the following day. I let all the stress of that cloud my memories of his birth and it has taken a long time to process everything that happened. We are home and healthy now thank goodness but I wanted to commend you for being able to keep those precious memories separate and sacred! Congrats on your sweet girl! I’ve been following your journey since I had my second baby three years ago. So grateful your dreams came true! I’ve prayed for you both so many times! Nova is beautiful and your story is beautiful! ❤️ You two are an inspiration!

Ayla shes absolutely adorable.... also LOVING your new hair, it really suits you. So I have 2 daughters, my 1st was born via C-section as she was breech and weighed 6ib 13oz... and my youngest daughter was a 13hour long labour without any gas/air or medication she weighed 7ib 13oz. Both 20cms long. I love watching you be a mummy and seeing how caleb is embracing being a new dad your both doing such a great job. Sending hugs and coffee your way lol x

Your labor sounds so painful! no breaks! I'm impressed you waited that long

I’m so happy for you. Giving birth is such a miracle experience. My first baby I had to push for close to 4 hours. It was just unbelievable. I never thought that I would go through that and I never thought I would give birth to a baby over 8 pounds being as small as I was. Little did I know my first being 8.1lbs was my smallest baby. 😱😂 Congratulations. I can’t wait to watch the after birth experience.

I love your hair! It's super cute and a perfect length to frame your face. Your head band goes under your hair. Your hair basically slides through it. Nova has the sweetest nose! People always talk about how sweet baby cheeks are, but her little nose is precious.

First! She’s so beautiful! You look amazing too!

It is so refreshing to see you finally with your beautiful little bundle of sweetness, and can I just say how absolutely glowing you are, I know lots of woman are told that when they are pregnant which you were glowing then too but wow, new haircut, glowing skin, motherhood looks AMAZING on you. 💕💕💕

Congrats! she's so precious, and your hair cut looks so good.

I also had non stop contractions with no breaks... it broke me and I got an epidural. You are a warrior woman no matter what anyone says about pain meds!

I have been following you for years... and I just cannot believe and am so so so happy for you and Caleb and baby Nova. I’m still so happy for you! It’s like a dream! Ahh! She’s perfect!

The labor with my first was like yours, in that my contractions were piggy-backing. However, I was 17, and my mother REFUSED to allow me the epidural. I’m actually now grateful for that as I went on to have the rest of my kids (I have 5) unmediated. I think the only one of my births that went 100% the opposite of what I thought was my third. It’s a rather long story, but the jist is that she was born on the maternity ward lobby floor. No one prepares for that! I so happy that Nova is here and in your arms!

I love how you say it's harder to cope in the moment than it is when you plan it beforehand! I had prepared with hypnobirthing techniques for my labour but ended up having to be induced and getting an epidural. Not how I originally imagined but I was happy with how it all worked out anyway! Your Nova is absolutely beautiful, you have so many wonderful and exciting times ahead ❤️ very happy for you!

So so happy for you. Sounds like you did such an amazing job! Go mama! X

A big part of it is actually lack of sleep and exhaustion. You made the best decision at that moment. Glad you and the baby are okay, healthy and safe. Congratulations ❤️

Love 💕 it it touches my heart ❤️ to see you and Caleb with your beautiful baby.

Beautiful birth story. Welcome to the mommy club!

You look beautiful with your new hair Ayla 😘 aww Nova is the cutest😍❤️

I love your hair and the Color!! With my 1st I went into labor my water broke in the middle of the night (short story) 36 hours later as much patocin as they could give me..and only dilating to a 5( my son was sunny side up) I was rushed into a csection..poor Simon had a cone head so bad.....but I think being flexible is the best advice you can get❤❤Nova is beautiful and I'm glad you are doing better..your coloring looks so much better..thank you iron and platlets💘💘💘

Your description of your pushing period and how fun and happy everything was makes me feel SO MUCH BETTER about my own birth coming up (first baby due August!).

Congratulations on your baby! I just started my own channel and think to share my birth story as well! Thank you for sharing your experience!

Less than 3 hours, is actually pretty fast for first birth pushing! You did a great job mama!!!

Ugh!!! I absolutely cant imagine laboring all night and getting repeated contractions.. I labored all night before my son but my contraction were spaced out a little and I was able to speak and catch my breath between them until the last 5 hours. You're so strong and you did an amazing job!! I'm proud of you and Caleb! You both did great and I'm so happy you're okay and Nova is okay. Motherhood looks great on you! 😍❤

Omg that hair suits you! You look so beautiful ❤️

Worth every second ten times over again huh!!! But yes , it’s been along time so long that when I had my daughter ( 22 hours ) there was no such thing as epidural!!!! Lol. I’m sure you were a rock star tho it’s not a piece of cake at all !!! Well congratulations ( im a bit late on that ) but what a miracle!!!! ❤️👼🙏

You are so beautiful and motherhood looks good on you! Good job mama on having a great labour and bringing your beautiful baby girl into the world and into your arms! You are so strong! Now where is your outfit and headband from? Super cute!

Firstly, love your hair, it looks great, secondly, over 2hrs of actual pushing, girl, you're amazing. You and Caleb are such a great team, wee Nova has awesome parents. Nova is just beautiful.

Your hair is so beautiful! And also Nova is such a cutie! I am following your journey also being myself pregnant... I gave birth to my first baby the 25th of march with 40 weeks and 6 days... I also wanted a natural birth, it took place in my house and after 17 hours of contractions my little Luca was born!

I absolutely love your hair like this!! So cute!

Beautiful birth story, you are so strong!! I’m so happy for you Ayla and Caleb! Nova is gorgeous♥️ congratulations! After doing fertility treatments for two years I got pregnant. I laboured for 10 hours and pushed for 2 hours and my sons head was stuck (he had a large head) so they used the vacuum/suction to get him out as his heart rate was dropping. I tore really bad and had no meds and it was the worst pain I have ever experienced, but the second he was on my chest nothing else mattered and it was all worth it.

First of all. That new hair do.. stunning.. you are radiant. My 3 births were all different .. birth one felt very textbook.. it went like as if a birth teacher wrote it .. but after birth did not go as I planned.. birth 2 I was in denial the whole time and she practically fell out of me.. birth 3 was the hardest.. and scariest but easiest recovery .. Its amazing what our bodies are capable of. I'm still in awe each day when I think of it.

You are so strong Ayla! I didn’t want the epidural either but I’m so glad I got it. My contractions were coming back to back too. I didn’t have time to think or process anything but pain. All I could do was nod when they asked me if I wanted the epidural. No regrets. I would do it over and over for my little rainbow. I’m so beyond happy for you guys. You deserve that precious little love. ❤️ Hold her tight. It goes so fast. 😭🥰

Well done, Ayla! You are a strong woman. Great work. When my doula clients say they "couldn't do it" (meaning unmedicated), I remind them that they "could" do it, but it is fine to decide that you no longer "want to." You chose to use one of the many tools available to you.

Your hair is adorable! Makes me want to get a haircut! I totally understand separating the labor/birth experience from the after birth experience. I had a beautiful labor and birth with my daughter, it was such a beautiful moment and I cherish those memories. However, a few moments after she was born, we were still adoring her and I began hemorrhaging. We had her at home, so there was no hospital. My midwife got the bleeding to stop, but I was so pale, I couldn't hold my head up or even think about standing up. I had to crawl to the bathroom and my heartrate was so fast. I should have been ambulanced to the E.R. I didn't know how easily I could have had a heart attack and died from such a low blood volume. Not going to the hospital caused a very long recovery. But I couldn't focus on me because at 4 days my daughter began running a fever and ended up in the NICU for 10 days. So the post birth was a nightmare, the labor and delivery a beautiful dream. They will always be separated in my mind.

Ayla, I also had contractions one minute apart and it was so tough getting no break in between! I ended up getting an epidural too and I'm so glad I did. You did what you needed to do to get through and you did amazing! Congrats!

Your story is just so beautiful and empowering 💜 how lucky is Nova to have such a strong, beautiful mumma. Also absolutely obsessed with your new haircut and the headband you’re wearing 😍💙

Thanks for sharing. My first birth I planned to go natural but ended up with the epidural and am so glad I did. I was exhausted and similar to you, the labor was progressing slowly. The epidural gave me some relief and time to rest before the delivery. I'm happy you can separate those two events and remember the birth fondly. I hope you are learning some techniques for dealing with the PTSD of the after birth.

Your and Caleb's story is the most beautiful of all I've watched. I am so happy for you!

Congratulations on the arrival of Nova, she is absolutely gorgeous and you are looking amazing! Love your new hair, you look fab! :) I started following your main channel back in 2016 when I got pregnant with my first son. Im now 34 weeks pregnant with our second son, he's currently breech so hoping he turns so I get to have a "normal" birth, this time hopefully without the forceps :)

I’m so glad you feel that way about your birth plans changing. That’s so important for mommas to realize. Birth is such a short period of time. Mine didn’t go as planned (Pit induction 10 days postdue, NOT clear waters) but I’m happy with the result. My baby boy is the light of my life - STILL - even though he’s now three years old and currently mad at me because I wouldn’t let him keep the earthworm he accidentally tore in half 🤷🏻‍♀️

I just love your hair!! Ps....where is your headband from? I need it

So happy for you guys I had a hermamge with my son it is very scary for sure just realx as much as possible I will say this I had my thrid baby and didn't bleed out this time I hope recovery is very good for you

I am so proud of you. You made the best decision for you and your family.

Honestly I went in with the same plan- go as far i can and if i have to -get the epidural. I was so scared but honestly when I got it it was instant relief and it didn’t even hurt! I had to check to make sure I didn’t pee myself because I got a warm sensation down my leg right away. My anesthesiologist was a BOSS at his job. 10/10 would recommend 🙌🏻 😂

I love this video!!! It's so amazing. Also you look STUNNING!! 😍💕

Congratulations 🎉 so beautiful 😍

So happy Nova is finally here! Congratulations to you and amazing Caleb! Also I just have to say you have THEE most beautiful skin ever!

First time labor is hard for most women. So glad you made the decision to go to the hospital for pain management. Lots of things are good in theory. Congratulations on beautiful Nova.❤❤

Awww...thanks for sharing your birth story. Nova is perfect in every way⭐️ Love your hair!

I love how you separated the birth with the after birth trauma. My hemorrhage was 6 years ago and I never thought to separate them. I had to have two blood transfusions (4 bags of blood) and my blood pressure was 80/40 and I was going into shock. I’ve never seen the room fill so fast with doctors and nurses literally sitting in me to get it all out. I won’t go into any more detail because I’m sure that was enough, but I think I’m ready to finally SEPARATE the birth of my son with what happened TWELVE hours later. ❤️

Love you Ayala. Congratulations

You look so beautiful Ayla! 😊💕 I love your new hair! 💇🏼‍♀️ It's so nice to hear your birth story, you were absolutely amazing! 💗 My husband and I have a 2 year old daughter and her birth was perfect, I always said I wanted a completely natural birth with no pain relief and I was extremely lucky and fortunate to have that ☺️ I'm currently 35 weeks pregnant with our son and I'm hoping to have a completely natural birth again at home with my husband and my daughter there, fingers crossed it will go to plan! 🤰🏼🤞 Seeing you with Nova is so heartwarming! 😊💖 Xxx

Love the new hair Ayla! You looking good mama 💜 welcome again Nova 💜💜💜 mom looks amazing on you btw 😘

Okay, I’m only a minute in but your hair looks absolutely amazing! So beautiful!

My heart is so full.. I love seeing this

oh yes indeed she was on her waythe best thing you did is go to the hosp and get your needle and get comfortable in the hosp cause then you have everything right there

You were totally amazing and did great for first time laboring. You were a champ.

Ayla! I have been following your journey for years now! I am so happy you for you guys! 💗😘 btw, you look beautiful!

She’s so cute and so are you!

Aww congratulations xxxx she's so beautiful xxxxx

I'm so sorry that your birth plan didn't go the way you wanted. I just had a homebirth... It was 48 hours of labor, at least once a day I ask if I should go to the hospital, my midwife, doula and husband were really good to keep me calm. My contractions where on my back (which is the only medical reason to get an epidural), so it was really hard, finally after the 48 hours my baby was born right into his fathers arms. It is the best experience in life. I did a lot of research and watched a lot of births... But always the first one is the scaryies one. If you ever get pregnant again... I wish you could live the all experience. God bless your family.

Such a beautiful momma, baby, story,and hair cut

I wanted a natural labor too. Nothing went as planned! I had to be induced because my daughter had stopped growing. My induction took 3 days. I labored mostly unmedicated but eventually caved on the third day with an epidural and she was born 30 minutes later. Like you, I just needed some rest. In the end I wish I hadn’t gotten it since she was born so quickly after it was placed. Looking back I was in transition and I didn’t realize. If we are blessed enough to have IVF work for us I hope to go completely unmedicated for our second child. With the knowledge I have now, I think I can do it. I’ll definitely be hiring a doula though because my husband was completely useless during my labor. He just didn’t know how to help me despite reading lots of books about being a birth partner.

Aww! Your hair! It’s so pretty

My birth was completely opposite of what I "planned". I had midwives and planned for an unmediated hopsital birth. In a blink of an eye I had a breech baby that couldnt be turned and had to schedule a csection as none of the midwives or OB's in my area practice breech delivery. Although even if they did I most likely would have opted for a scheduled csection anyways because there's too many risk with breech delivery. I was initially upset with how things were going to go but now I LOVE my birth story! I had a wonderful experience with my csection and recovery! My midwife was held me while I got my spinal and she was the one who got my baby after the cord was cut and brought her over to me! It was wonderful. I'm so thankful for the resources we now have to support labour and delivery. Next baby I hope to experience a vaginal delivery so I can say I've had both types of birth but I honestly don't really care deep down. I just want my baby in my arms. Pregnancy, labour, birth and postpartum can be pretty unpredictable and its okay when things dont go as planned. And its also okay to be upset about it. Thanks for sharing your story!

Hi Ayla my kids were not planed I had 3 kids my 2 boys first my 27 year old he was 1 day late he came quick 4 pushes he was out I had when I was 28. My 2 youngest I had in my 40s my middle boy he's 13 had him at 41 years old he was 3 weeks early 4 pushes he was out. My daughter I had her at 45. They induced me 2 days early took 60 pushes she started to come out head first she turned her butt was coming out first they turned her it took a long time. Now she is 10.you look Awsome. Nova is beautiful. Love you all 💝

Congratulations to you both she is beautiful. Now you have the family you have always wanted and dreamed of. I'm so happy for you guys. Much love 💕 👪 👶 ♥

You did great through it all. Congrats again! She’s a cutie.

By the sounds of it you kicked labour butt ... love the new hair cut looks amazing 💕💕💕

Motherhood looks amazing on you 💜💜

Welcome nova, congratulations to you all, look out for somethings in the post soon xxx

Nova is lucky to have u as her mum!❤️

Do you think maybe the acupuncture brought labor on too strong? That's one of those things where IF you could go back in time and see if it changed.... lol idk I always wonder those things. Beautiful story either way. Birth is HARD but so dang fulfilling. I hoped to do unmedicated as well but I also labored through the night and had back labor (with pitocin) and I tapped out at 6cm. You are a warrior!!

Great work mama. You did it!

Love your hair! My second birth didn’t go to plan at all. I ended up being induced at 39+3 due to frequent reduced movements (growth restricted baby). I had 3 stretch and sweeps prior and the day I got induced I was already 5cm. Was hopeful it was going to be a quick birth. Waters were broken and it was game time! I was trying to achieve a VBAC but after 15 hours of labour, stalling at 8cm, baby not being in a great position and I because i was bleeding quite a bit - an emergency c section was called. Just like you said though, all the hard stuff ‘melts’ away when you see your baby for the first time. None of it matters in the end!