Simone Thurber is 43, a therapist, and a mom of four.
Oh yeahand more than 54 million people have watched her give birth in a stream.
Her previous births had been at birthing centers and at home.
Her plan for her fourth birth: To give birth in nature, unassisted.
“That feeling of connection to all of life is probably what hit me the most.
They staked out a nice stream where Thurber could give birth in relative seclusion.
Thurber in labor in the Daintree Rainforest.
It just felt really, really good to me.”
The stream was located a half hour by car from a hospital.
Thurbers daughter, Perouze, was born healthy after a total of 12 hours of labor.
Thurber with Perouze right after giving birth.
It was a life-changing experience for Thurber.
Thurber decided to share it onYouTubein 2013.
Her reasoning: She feels the media often depicts birth as a fearful or dramatic event.
Thurber with Perouze in the Daintree Rainforest.
She wanted to show what a normal, natural birth truly looks like.
“It was long, it was 12 hours, it was hard.
This wasnt some blissful orgasmic birth, it was just a normal birth in a different setting.
First: Pregnant women should feel empowered to have the throw in of delivery they want, like Thurber.
A lot of women, he says, let birth happen to them rather than controlling the experience.
As for Thurber’s choice of birthing location, he worries about potential dangers in the rainforest.
The unknown organisms in the stream could potentially harm both mom and baby.
“I love the rainforest,” Perouze told SELF over the phone.
Thurber says the toddler sometimes asks, “I want to watch me being born.
“He supported me, he helped me figure everything out, he believed in me.”
As for Thurber, exposing herself in the videoshe’s completely nude while giving birthisn’t really a concern.
“I dont care about people seeing me nude.
I actually dont think many people focus on that.
I think thats a really wonderful thing.”
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Photo Credit: YouTube
