Mar 24, 2026
The Intensity & the Beauty: A Homebirth Conversation
Back in December, I had the opportunity to witness Rylei’s home birth experience firsthand—and it was incredible.
It’s one of those topics that tends to draw a lot of opinions. Some people are curious, some are skeptical, and others question whether it’s even a safe or reasonable choice.
But what I saw up close was intentional, supported, and deeply powerful. Today we asked Rylei a few "hot topic" questions related to homebirth and we're sharing her answers with you! We hope you enjoy it!
Q: Looking back now, what part of your home birth experience stands out the most to you?
There were so many moments from labor that I think about often. It was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done—but also the most rewarding.
What stands out most is that I had a communal birth. That might sound unusual, but I was surrounded by a group of women, plus my husband, who supported me the entire time.
I think birth today can sometimes feel sterile or isolated. But in many cultures, women give birth surrounded by others—and I was really drawn to that.
Having five other women in my corner felt incredibly empowering. That sense of support is what I remember most.
Q: I know it got intense at times — what was going through your mind in those moments?
It definitely got intense. I was in labor on and off for about three days—starting Wednesday night and delivering Friday night.
At one point, contractions were coming every 2–3 minutes, and I hadn’t slept in over 48 hours. I was completely exhausted. There were moments where I truly felt like I couldn’t do it anymore.
But between contractions, I had just enough time to reset. And during the hardest parts, my birth team stepped in—they read affirmations, reminded me I was safe, and helped me focus on meeting my baby.
When I couldn’t stay mentally strong, they carried that for me.
Q: Did fear show up at all — even briefly — and what helped you move through it?
Honestly, I never felt fear during labor. I think that’s because I felt safe the entire time.
My midwives were consistently checking the baby’s heart rate, so I always knew he was okay—which would have been my biggest concern. I had also spent a lot of time preparing and learning what happens during birth, so nothing felt shocking or unknown.
Faith played a huge role too. I had been praying intentionally leading up to labor, and I felt grounded in that the entire time.
Q: Pain-wise, be honest — how did it compare to what you expected?
It’s a tough question—but the honest answer is: it was painful.
Before birth, I saw a lot of “pain-free birth” content online. That wasn’t my experience. I expected it to hurt, and it did. But something that helped me was thinking about the millions of women who have done this before me—in all kinds of environments.
It was intense, but not impossible.
And even knowing how painful it was, I would still do it again.
Q: What surprised you most about your body during the process?
How intuitive it was.
My body knew exactly what to do without me forcing anything. It knew when to move, when to rest, when to push.
Everything followed a rhythm that felt completely natural.
I didn’t feel like I had to control the process—my body led, and I trusted it.
Q: What was the first hour after birth like — emotionally and physically?
It felt like heaven.
I delivered in a birth pool, and afterward I stayed there for close to an hour just holding my baby. I completely lost track of time.
We didn’t know the gender beforehand, so finding out it was a boy made the moment even more special.
Physically, I was exhausted and in pain—but there was also a huge sense of relief. My body had just gone through something massive, and it needed time to settle.
Emotionally, it was overwhelming in the best way.
Q: Was there anything you had to “unlearn” from mainstream birth culture?
Yes—mainly the idea that birth always needs medical intervention.
I understand every situation is different, but for many low-risk pregnancies, birth can be natural and empowering.
For me, it meant shifting my mindset away from seeing birth as something that’s automatically a medical event, and instead trusting that my body was capable.
Q: If someone is curious but scared, what’s the first step you’d tell them to take?
First, take time to reflect and seek guidance—whatever that looks like for you.
Second, do your research and find a supportive, reputable birth team.
Third, talk to other moms who have gone through it. That made a huge difference for me.
And finally, do the mental work. Your mindset matters more than you think.
If you believe you can do it, that belief carries you a long way.
This is just one story—but an important one. Conversations like these matter because they give us the opportunity to learn, ask questions, and better understand experiences that may be different from our own.
Rylei has graciously offered to be a resource for anyone who is curious or wants to learn more. If you have additional questions or simply want to continue the conversation, you’re welcome to reach out to her at
In faith, strength, and surrender,
Dr. Kara
