Mum shares incredible unassisted home birth story and goes viral on Facebook

A mother has gone viral after sharing the incredible story of her unassisted home birth on Facebook.

Taking to social media five days after becoming a mum to a little boy, Marissa Heckel opened up about the reason why she decided to deliver her child without the help of professionals.

Writing on Facebook, she said: 'After a horrible experience being bullied about my birth plan and harassed throughout my labor, I decided to stay at home and deliver my son upon finding out I was pregnant. My husband was very supportive the entire time as he respected my body and my choice to be in a stress free environment.

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'We opted out of a midwife due to my stubbornness. I simply do not like anyone trying to tell me what is best for me or my baby. Finances were not the issue in my case. Going unassisted was more of an opportunity for me to prove to others that God made our bodies to birth-that hospitals were never the norm. I delivered my son in my bathroom after a 36-hour labor. The exact amount of time I labored with my daughter.'

Marissa, who also welcomed her daughter into the world drug-free, went on to discuss the methods she tried for pain relief and revealed how she encouraged herself through the discomfort.

'Throughout the night of active labor I sought relief in the shower and bathtub but was unsuccessful. I chose to endure the pain standing up against the wall. I just kept telling myself 'the pain is only temporary'. In the early morning I began transition. Not exactly sure how long it lasted but it seemed to be a few hours. When the contractions and the pressure came my husband was bedside holding my hand. It was actually romantic although I was practically roaring at this point.

'Somewhere during the time period my water gushed all over our bed. Five different times. When I felt the urge to push I attempted to stay in bed but felt much too 'unnatural' for me. I told my husband about my urge to push and asked for assistance to the toilet. I let my body do the pushing. I just sat on the toilet. My husband was worried I'd been pushing too long so I had to reassure him in between contractions that I could feel his head descending (the beginning of the ring of fire). Finally my husband said he could see his head. He encouraged me to keep going.'

Marissa even managed to squeeze in a joke about her other half's worries regarding the position of her body in their bathroom.

'He also expressed concern that our son would hit his head on the toilet or fall in (haha). I then told him to help me up and that I was going to deliver the shoulders standing up. My husband looked at me like I was nuts but helped me anyway. I stood up, held onto the towel rack and let my body do one last push and he was finally out. My husband stood there in shock taking all the pictures. I've never felt so powerful and accomplished in my entire life. Our bodies truly are amazing!!

'My placenta delivered itself after about twenty minutes. Our son was 9 pounds 8 oz. 22 inches long with a 36cm head. He's no average sized baby as my husband is so tall (6ft7). So if you're afraid or thinking you can't do it, YOU CAN!!! Do not fear, our bodies were made for this!'

We're sure you won't be surprised to hear that the post has garnered quite the reaction online. Since it was uploaded, it's been liked 11,000 times and shared 27,000 times.

Facebook users have been quick to praise Marissa's efforts, with one commenting: 'Wow mama you absolutely rock! If I do it again, I may just go for this option! Wow! 😍😍😍.'

Others were quick to compare Marissa's inspirational story to their own experiences of giving birth.

'My last was unassisted at home too, with only my husband and 12 yr old son. It was perfect and I would never have another baby in the hospital unless absolutely medically necessary,' wrote one.

Another enthused: 'I love this I just about gave birth to my third baby last month in my toilet at home. All day I laid in bed in labor and I had no idea because I was told it wasn't. I somehow got to my bathroom because my body just told me to get there. My husband finally got an ambulance to the house after he found me. The paramedics came and carried me into the ambulance and got me to the hospital within ten mins I gave birth in the middle of the emergency department hallway literally in front of a huge crowd.'