Real Birth Stories: Camille on Pregnancy, Birth & Motherhood
Meet Camille
Every birth story is unique, and today, I’m honored to share Camille’s journey into motherhood. She’s a wife, mama of two, and a content creator and blogger. Today, Camille is opening up about her pregnancy, home birth, and postpartum experience.
Pregnancy: The Journey to Motherhood
How did you feel when you first found out you were pregnant for the second time?
The second time I found out I was pregnant was a trip! Mainly because it was my first cycle off birth control and our first try… I was a little in denial for like a week, but the morning sickness QUICKLY forced me to come to reality.
When you became a mom for the first time while in college, I imagine it was challenging to balance motherhood and working toward graduation. What’s something you learned during that journey that helped you the second time around?
I think the biggest lesson I learned in that time was to just finish what I started. It’s a lesson that we all have to learn in adulthood, and even though I was already in my 20s as a first-time mom, I was still a child in many ways. Becoming a mom, and then graduating with my degree, made me feel like such an adult. I felt unstoppable.
Being a second-time mama, you carry so much wisdom from your first. Was there something from your second pregnancy that you weren’t expecting?
To be honest, I expected my pregnancy to be similar, if not the same. My first pregnancy, I had little to no symptoms and it was a pretty easy experience. The second time around, I threw up nearly every day, which caused dehydration that led to migraines. It was the opposite of easy.
Another thing I didn’t expect was the amount of dread I felt about giving birth, especially since I knew based off my first birth that it was going to hurt like hell! I think the first time I gave birth, I was naive and couldn’t grasp the concept of a contraction. I felt like I was fighting my labor a little in the second birth.
Did you do anything special to prepare for birth?
To be honest, I think I took a pretty practical approach to giving birth and prepping for it. If anything, I tried to stay away from receiving too much information because I didn’t want to get in my head.
With nearly a 10-year age gap between your daughter Zara and your son Ace, did you feel any nerves about the birth or how Zara would adjust to having a baby brother?
She bawled her EYES out at the gender reveal… but not because she wanted a brother. At first she was disappointed, but she grew to love him, of course. Now they’re two peas in a pod! I love getting to see their relationship blossom and their bond strengthen!
Birth: The Big Day
Can you share your birth story with us?
I was having such a normal day, and I even had an appointment with my midwife. I was expressing doubts that my baby would come on time, and we were talking about natural ways to induce. That evening, I decided I should do the stairs sideways to try and loosen my hips. I guess that’s what did it for me because later that evening I started feeling pressure in my lower abdomen.
My husband had just fallen asleep when I started breathing heavier and harder through my contractions. That was around 11 PM, and I remember thinking I was going to have this night to rest and probably by tomorrow afternoon, I would have a baby… Of course, I was wrong, and my labor just kept on progressing.
Because I was having my baby at home this time around, I just wanted to curl up in my bed and take a nap. But the contractions kept coming on harder. I don’t know why, but this labor hurt more than my first labor. I don’t remember it hurting quite this bad.
Around 3 AM, the midwife showed up and helped me and Tony through the labor. I would say everything was pretty normal, but one thing I just wasn’t expecting was to go number two! I had heard about this happening, but never in my life did I think it would happen to me! I later asked my husband what it was like witnessing that, and he said in the moment it wasn’t even something he flinched at. He said it looked like Play-Doh.
Not too long afterward, Ace was Earthside. I was so relieved, but I was especially happy to already be home. The midwives cleaned me up and made me breakfast. It was a wonderful experience.
What emotions did you experience during labor?
Emotionally, I think I was pretty steady. Like I said, I was dreading the birth a little bit. But of course, once I had him, I was relieved and filled with love.
Did your birth go as planned, or were there any surprises?
My birth was pretty normal, but I would say the only thing I didn’t realize was that the second time around my labor would go much faster than my first. So I thought I was going to get some rest in my labor, and boy was I wrong! I just kept transitioning through different phases of labor until he was out. Everything happened so fast.
Partners play such an important role in the birth experience. In what ways did your husband support you during that time?
He was there, comforting me and taking instruction from our midwife. He was doing such a great job reading me and just being a big emotional support for me. He helped a lot when I felt the need to walk around, and at the very end of it, he cut the baby!
Postpartum & Motherhood: The Fourth Trimester
What was the hardest part of postpartum for you?
The hardest part for me was seeing the amount of changes my body was going through. Between the breastfeeding and weight gain, I didn’t recognize myself anymore. I didn’t hate my body I just wanted to speed through the process.
What was the most beautiful part of postpartum for you?
The breastfeeding, of course! It’s definitely a grind, but worth every second.
What helped you the most during those first few weeks?
My husband was my ROCK! He helped me so much and was extremely hands-on with our newborn. He’s still hands-on with our now toddler, which has truly helped me find balance in all of this.
Breastfeeding is such a beautiful gift—an incredible reminder of how our bodies can create and sustain life. Can you share your breastfeeding journey? What did you cherish most about the experience, and what challenges did you face along the way?
My goal with my second was to breastfeed until he was at least a year old. With my first child, I breastfed her until she was almost 2, so I didn’t want to go nearly as long with my second. My journey overall went pretty smoothly, but I would say my biggest struggle was comparing myself to other moms who were posting how much milk they were able to pump.
I never had a struggle with actual breastfeeding, but when it came to pumping, I never felt like I produced enough milk—which meant that wherever I went, baby would also go. It made it hard to try and live my life normally, but at the same time, I was just grateful that my schedule allowed for flexibility and that breastfeeding came easy.
What advice would you give to an expecting mom?
Take any advice you hear with a grain of salt, and try not to be an overthinker. Your instincts are strong and you know what’s best.
Final Thoughts
Camille’s story is a beautiful reminder that no two journeys into motherhood are the same and that’s what makes each one so powerful. 🤎
