Birth Videos

From New York City apartments to rural, off-grid cabins, here are some birth scenes for you to cozy up with as you begin to imagine your own birth story unfolding. You will see women and families from all different backgrounds and countries experiencing the magnificence of giving birth and being born.

There are midwife attended births, unassisted freebirths, breech and homebirth VBACs (HBAC), and a couple of hospital births. Some are busy, bright and loud, and some are nearly silent. If you have never given birth before, keep in mind that most birth videos fast-forward through the earlier hours (maybe days) of a woman’s birthing time and you are only seeing a 5-10 minute, very condensed version of events.

Some things to keep in mind as you watch birth videos

As birth has moved into social media it has become sanitized and monetized. Most of the videos are neatly packaged up with motivational music and expert editing. VLOGS. Paid advertising. Most women are wearing bras. When the baby is born, bras are awkward and difficult to remove, soaking wet. This makes an unnecessary hiccup in the precious moments after birth. Birth is a primal, mammalian experience; Babies are meant to smell, taste, and feel their mother’s flesh– not laundry detergent and polyester.

Another recent change is that sadly some women are removing all of their pubic hair. This hair is a natural protector of the woman’s vaginal and vulvar microbiota– the bacterial landscape that will populate her baby’s body during birth. Normal body hair is a part of the essential microbiome transfer and the successful priming of babies’ immune systems for lifelong health. The hairless trend seems to be dwindling down as more women reclaim their intact, full strength bodies– but please don’t try to emulate these looks!

You may need to log into YouTube or Vimeo first to make sure you have the age content restrictions disabled to see some of the videos.

Sarah Schmidt

This is one of my favorite birth videos. This is Sarah’s fourth baby and I love her no-nonsense practicality.

Martin in NYC

Surrounded by women, this first-time mama births her very cute and vernixy baby at home in New York City, then celebrates with a birthday cake! Mom is laughing and eating yogurt in early labor, then moves through many common scenes of a labor at home.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIKQcZg6L0I%20_builder_version=

Waterbirth, birth pause, first baby.

Emotional “birth pause” as the mother first witnesses her baby – something you don’t often see in waterbirths.

Ursula’s birth

Find the women and birth attendants who you would feel comfortable tending to you like this. Watch the deepening, the surrender, the oxytocin. Birth is sensual.

Peaceful Swedish homebirth of Ivar

Assisted by doula.

Brasil waterbirth, first baby

A dramatic active labor labor filled with lots of vocalizing, dancing and smooching. You can see her working to surrender. The head is out for longer than the midwife would like so she assists. Like many waterbirth babies, this one had some mucous to clear and took a few minutes to complete the transition. They also make placenta prints!

Park City, UT homebirth with molding

Around the 3 minute mark you can really see the moderate molding of baby’s head. This video also demonstrates the awkwardness of bras during birth. You can tell the baby just wants to be on mum’s chest.

Rainbow baby with cord

Birth of Braxton Bey following a stillbirth. Watch for the emotion when she hears him crying for the first time.

Waterbirth with sibling

Not a video but you feel like you are right there with this gorgeous photo story. Second baby, home waterbirth with ecstatic grandma and big sister.

Imaya Sol

Sensual family birth of a first baby. Watch her calling to her mother, so tender and powerful.

Twin Homebirth

The birth of Eilish Faye & Elaina Rose.

Quinn’s birth, First time mom

Starts with pushing and you can see a normal, longer pause between the birth of the head and the birth of the body. Midwife calls for oxygen as she is about to initiate a few puffs with bag and mask but baby begins on his own. Newborn exam performed next to mom, as it should be, no unnecessary talking or distractions.

Ezra’s birth

The ultimate sweetness of undisturbed family birth. Watch the siblings in the tub with their snorkel masks. Heart exploding!

Wood River Midwifery