A mother livestreamed the water birth of her sixth child while in her Los Angeles home with her family amid the coronavirus pandemic and the nearby protests over the death of George Floyd.
Australian entrepreneur Emma Isaacs, 40, welcomed her baby boy in a blowup pool early Monday morning in front of more than six thousand viewers after announcing in an Instagram post that she was in labor and would be documenting the birth on her Instagram Stories.
‘Ok friends, looks like we might have some baby action tonight,’ the CEO of Business Chicks wrote. ‘Contractions about seven minutes apart. I’m going to hand my phone over to friends and family who are here with me (let’s hope they know what they’re doing!) and will see you all on the other side…’
Sharing her joy: Emma Isaacs, 40, welcomed her baby boy in a blowup pool in her Los Angeles home early Monday in front of more than six thousand Instagram viewers
Time in history: Emma livestreamed the water birth of her sixth child amid the coronavirus pandemic and the nearby protests over the death of George Floyd
‘We’ll start by sharing some stories then go live when it feels right,’ she added. ‘My two midwives and doula aren’t here yet, but shouldn’t be too long. I’m feeling strong and ready.’
Emma and her husband Rowan have five older children — Milla, Honey, Indie, Ryder, and Piper — and their eldest daughters walked in and out of the living room while she was in labor with their baby brother.
The first few videos show the expectant mom leaning on the fireplace mantel in the candle-lit room and swaying back and forth during her contractions while her husband holds onto her hips.
Ready to go: The Australian entrepreneur announced that she was in labor and would be livestreaming the birth in an Instagram post
Setting the mood: The footage started with Emma lighting candles in her living room
Helping hand: Emma’s husband Rowan held onto her hips as she leaned onto the fireplace during her contractions
Health check: At one point, someone from Emma’s birthing team held a fetal heart monitor over her stomach to check her unborn baby’s heartbeat
In the early stages of her labor, she took a moment to rub her dog’s head as her pooch lounged on the couch and watched her. At one point, someone from Emma’s birthing team held a fetal heart monitor over her stomach to check her unborn baby’s heartbeat.
Before she stepped in the birthing pool, she put on a necklace made with beads that her friends gifted her to give her strength during labor.
Emma’s eldest daughters were curled up on the floor with blankets as they awaited the arrival of their newest sibling. The mom was in a black sports bra and leggings, ready to get into the pool, when the footage cut to her holding her baby boy in the pool.
‘Introduce that little baby. He’s a bit shy He’s got his eyes closed,’ Rowan said. ‘We think he is a boy. We haven’t looked it.’
Getting ready: Before she stepped in the birthing pool, she put on a necklace made with beads that her friends gifted her to give her strength during labor
Almost time: Emma had on a sports bra and leggings right before she got into the pool
Watching: Emma’s eldest daughters were curled up on the floor with blankets as they awaited the arrival of their newest sibling
Emma had at-home water births for all six of her children, and a few weeks ago, she posted a picture of herself in a birthing pool with her daughter Piper while revealing her plans to livestream her upcoming delivery.
‘When my last baby Piper was born I really wanted to livestream the birth but got talked out of it and really regretted it afterwards,’ she explained. ‘I don’t want to make that same mistake again so I’m going to livestream this one (which let’s be honest, could happen anytime from about now).
‘I’ve had five amazing homebirths and really hope the sixth will be much the same. I’m also open to the possibility it might not be. I just want to do my little part to show that women are strong and birth (no matter what your choices are) can be amazing.’
Opening up: In a follow-up clip, Emma revealed that she lives close to where the George Floyd protests were going on in LA, and she should hear sirens and helicopters overhead
Full house: This was the sixth water birth for the CEO of Business Chicks, who has five older children, Milla, Honey, Indie, Ryder, and Piper, with her husband Rowan
Looking back: A few weeks ago, she shared a throwback photo of her daughter Piper’s water birth, revealing that she has always regretted not livestreaming the moment
Emma returned to Instagram later on Monday to share a video of herself holding her baby boy in bed to thank all the viewers for their support.
‘It was a beautiful, beautiful night,’ she said. ‘It’s a beautiful gift right now with everything else that is going on in the world.’
The mom said her home is close to where the city’s residents were protesting the death of Floyd, a 46-year-old unarmed black man, who died at the hands of a white police officer.
‘We could actually hear sirens and helicopters overhead. We’re not far from the protests here in LA,’ she noted. ‘It’s beautiful to do something so gentle and lovely at a time when the world is a little bit messed up and in pain.’