No doctor, no midwife, no doula! Jay Anstey shares her freebirth experience

Home-births are on the rise around the world, with many moms turning to doulas and midwives for assistance. 

Jay Anstey and her partner, Sean-Marco Vorster, also decided to deliver their baby at home. The couple took things one step further and decided on a free birth.

Women who choose free birth deliver their babies without medical assistance or the help of a doula or midwife. The babies are usually born at home. 

Jay took to Instagram to share her free birth story with her followers. 

"I woke at 1 am on a rainy 6th [December], my water had broken. Intense contractions began right away. We had an app that timed my contractions and SeanMarco along with my mom and dad started filling up the birth pool as they were rapidly getting closer together," she began. 

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The 'Legacy' actress says she got into the water after walking around for a few hours and throwing up twice from the pain. Her partner Sean-Marco also got into the birth pool. 

"Breathing through each excruciating contraction. At some point, my mom joined and sat at the base of the pool giving me support (and coconut water)! As the hours passed I was now deep in a ‘trance’ focussing on breathing and remaining calm. I felt as she moved into the birthing canal and even though it was very difficult I didn’t push, I just breathed."

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Jay says 10 hours passed and she began to feel like she "couldn’t handle the pain any longer". It was at that moment that she says she felt her daughter was ready to come. 

"Enter ‘the ring of fire’ - yes it literally feels like it’s on fire.  I pushed for three contractions and my incredible partner, Sean-Marco, delivered our darling daughter into the world. His hands were the first to touch her and the only faces she looked upon were those of her family. She cried beautifully, we checked her vitals and she was happy and perfect. Everything I had wanted for her. Her perfect birth."

The actress says she had to go to the hospital three hours after the birth as her placenta did not come out. 

"I had to head to the hospital to remove the placenta surgically. I wasn’t upset that I ended up in hospital because I gave our little one the birth she deserved. I was so supported by SeanMarco and I don’t think many men could’ve done what he did. Incredible dedication to parenting and partnership. What a man."

Jay says she would 100% reccomend free birth. 

"This post is simply to express and share my journey it comes with zero judgment for however you choose to birth."

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Main image courtesy of Instagram/@jayanstey