October 2020

Alexandra Marzella is a performance artist, model, actress, and most recently she entered into the most difficult of all titles — Mother. It was not easy. In fact, Alexandra had to face more hurdles than anyone could have anticipated just a few weeks prior. It was May of 2020 and New York City was being called the ‘epicenter’ of the novel virus known as Covid-19. Hospitals no longer felt like a, ‘safe space,’ as patients filled the rooms and halls, and many soon-to-be moms did not know what to do. Alexandra knew. She had known for quite some time that she wanted to have a home birth. As the global pandemic continued to rise, she diligently prepared to give birth to her first child in her Bushwick, Brooklyn…bathtub.





To say, “that takes balls," would be an elephantine trivialization of what this soon-to-be-mother was entering into. The phrase “going into labor” can often sound as synonymous to unmarked ears as “going out to lunch”, but unlike lunch, it can often last from 12 to 36 hours — and while biting into an olive pit with your salad may be uncomfortable, pushing a Hades-grown-watermelon-with-shoulders out of you while people shout, “push — breathe…,” is worse. It takes the work of your entire body, mind, and every force of strength you never even knew you had, to push a human baby out of your body.  And even though women have been doing it ever since we’ve been here doing it, it takes an extremely brave and powerful woman to face childbearing at home. Alexandra did it. And Maak Haus is thankful that she sat down to answer our questions.








Maak Haus: Did you always know you were going to have a home birth, or was there a deciding moment?


Alexandra Marzella: Once I decided, I knew I wanted to do it that way.










MH: Did you have any cravings in your first trimester?


AM: Just for love and affection.





MH: When was your estimated due date, and when was baby Earth born?


AM: April 23rd, May 5th.





MH: Did you have a favorite song during your pregnancy?


AM: I listened to a lot of beautiful break-up music. FKA Twigs, Okay Kaya, Caroline Polachek





MH: Did pregnancy change your life in any unexpected ways?


AM: I didn't expect to get pregnant, or feel so strongly about seeing it to term.











MH: What was it like when you realized you were in labor? Was there the typical Hollywood "omg - my water broke!", or was it something more subtle?


AM: I wiped when I went pee and there was a little bit of blood. I had taken a blue cohosh tincture that morning and then I started having menstrual-like cramps.






MH: Did you find yourself having any recurring thoughts or memories while in labor?


AM: I was worried about me and the father's dynamic. Mostly I was trying to get through the pain.





MH: What was the atmosphere like at your home birth? Did you have certain lighting or music playing?


AM: It was rolling. We were 11 people deep. I spent a lot of time in the bath/shower. I was so pissed when I realized it was light out and my midwife and doula made me leave the bathroom and walk/dance in the bright common area. I played some music but there was mostly none.









MH: How did you cope with the pains of labor? How long did your labor last?


AM: I moved around a lot, I projectile vomited all 3 times I laid down. Counter pressure on my lower back and hips was incredibly important. There wasn't a ton of coping. Hot water helped. I just had to go through it. I was in labor for 20 hours, 14 or so were active. It was awful :)





MH: Where did you give birth?


AM: In my bathtub








MH: Who was with you?


AM: My roommates, best friends, Midwife, Doula, 2 photographers and the father.





MH: Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would do differently?


AM: Not take that tincture, maybe. Maybe get some black out curtains. A dream would be to labor in nature in warm weather and a warm body of water.



MH: And last question,


How has life changed for you since becoming a mother?


AM: I have very little time to fuck around. I spend most of my energy taking care of Earth. I want to conserve as much as possible and am more motivated than ever to be a better me.




Alexandra’s Instagram is @artwerk9999