Precious Moment

I was called to another birth this morning. I've gotten to know this family over the last 2 months by helping out at their prenatal appointments, and it was an honor to be at this birth with them. I got the call just a bit before 7am, was out the door by 7am and booked it down the freeways because they live about 45min to 1hr away. I got there in 35 minutes, haha. (shhh... don't tell)

I was the first to arrive and A was busying herself brushing her teeth and getting ready inbetween contractions. She had been having mild contractions all night and was able to sleep through most of them, but around 6am they changed into something stronger and she knew it was time. Shortly after D arrived with her many bags of supplies and I helped her set those up. We always prepare and set up the emergency equipment just incase, even though, in most cases, they never need them.

They had the birthing pool already set up in their master bedroom and we started to fill it with water while A worked through her contractions with her husband. Eventually she was ready to get into the tub and melted once she hit the water with a big sigh. =) The contractions started to pick up pace and even a couple doubled up on her. She used her voice to moan through them in an almost zen-like chant. It reminded me of the "Om" peace chant in my yoga classes because at one point all of us were "oming" along with her.

The room was super peaceful with music playing and the sound of their adorable 2 year old daughter, Zoe, taking a bath down the hall with her nanny. She wanted to have her own bath just like mommy was, but with less noise, and more splashing =) Soon the contractions were very strong and A was challenging herself to breath through them. I was humbled to be at her head supporting her and encouraging her, while she gripped my hand for strength. Near the end of one of the intense contractions we saw her have the urge to push. You could hear it in the way she grunted a bit and she then told us she felt a bit pushy.

The midwives reassured her to listen to her body and trust in it. She had been lying on her side for while and decided to get on her knees and lean on the edge of the pool to have more stability and to feel stronger for pushing with each contraction. She used her voice and held my hand in one hand and her husbands in the other. I was kneeling facing her and we were head to head as I encouraged her and relayed what the midwives were saying. "the head is right there, i can see it" "you are so close, the next push will bring the head out"

Her husband was going to catch the baby so he moved to be in positition and once the head was out he told her "I have a little head in my hands" and she smiled sweetly. With the next contraction she pushed the baby out and she was caught by her dad and the midwife supporting. A stayed where she was, saying she needed a minute. She cried softly to herself and said "i did it" and when she was ready she turned to meet her daughter. Which was such a sweet surprise because they chose to not find out the sex. She was thrilled that Zoe had a little sister now.

The birth up to this point had already been amazing and beautiful. Such a sweet family all coming together. I was able to take pictures for them while they met and got to know their new little girl. Seeing for the first time her perfect little nose, her gorgeous chinese/caucasian eyes, her plump little lips. Zoe was able to say "baby" and "sister" and was super excited to meet her. Tender kisses were passed between husband and wife, mother and daughters, father and daughters. A lot of love filled the room.

Eventually A started to get a bit crampy, a sign that the uterus was ready to contract again and expell the placenta. They were ready to cut the cord and what happened next was a rare and precious moment. A asked for them to wait so she could talk to her baby before they cut the cord, which was still connecting them. We all respected her space as she spoke to her daughter, caressing and kissing her "I'm going to let you out into the world now. Thank you for choosing me to be your mother, I am going to miss having you inside me, but I will always be here for you. I love you so much." Tears welded in my eyes because I knew what a sacred moment that was, honoring the connection between mother and baby, knowing that so many mothers so often have their babys cut away from them briskly.

So with that the proud papa cut the cord and Zara was welcomed into the world as her own person. She then cuddled with her dad while the placenta was birthed, and we helped A dry off and get into her bed. Soon the whole family was in the bed cuddling, baby nursing and since everyone was fine we let them be for about 20 minutes. At their first birth with Zoe it was a bit hectic with family and friends there, and they never got a chance to be alone and bond with their baby. So this time they requested that we made sure they got their time together.

Once they were ready to recieve people again the midwife did the newborn exam while Zara rested on her mothers breast. Perfectly healthy little girl =) Each birth I have been to so far has been amazing and beautiful in their own ways. But this one will always hold a special place in my heart. It truly was a precious moment.