Everly

Who gets a three-thirty afternoon call that it's baby time? I always joke with families that three in the morning is when I get the call most of the time. So while I was sitting in the after-school pickup line waiting to get my kids, it shocked me to see the text: “Yeah, maybe head this way. Things are picking up.” I have never been so thankful for the quickness of the pickup line! While I waited for them to come out, I made plans on where to drop them! I had about an hour drive to this birth, so I dropped them off at my parents' house and headed out.

I walked in my clients' home at about five in the evening. It was going to be a birthday party for sure! Some births are quiet and it's only me, the parents, and a couple of other people. Others are packed full of people who are ready to support, encourage, and love. There is no right or wrong way to have a home birth, but this one was just going to be a party! (If you have other kids and you want them to meet your baby right away, this is the way to go!)

Mom was laboring like experienced mamas do- contraction breathing, directing her household, contraction breathing again. After a few hours, mom got in the tub and things seemed to pick up a little, but it was really hard to tell how far she had to go because of all the jokes and laughing in-between contractions! Who said birth had to be serious? About ten minutes after she got in the tub, it sounded like she was pushing, which is outstanding, and not even twenty minutes later, the baby was crowning!

She reached down to support the baby's head and caught her. The love that poured into that room was so tangible. My client's father-in-law brought her fourteen-month-old daughter to tub and plopped her in. Immediately, she began nursing and exploring her newest sister. The oldest daughter peered from behind the pool, taking it all in. Her sister-in-law, mother-in-law, doula, friend, and her son were all there, not to mention the midwives too. There were no nurses or doctors to bother them—they just hung out in the birth tub, with daddy holding them all up as they floated under the twinkly lights in their living room.

The midwives checked mom and baby, and once the placenta was delivered, everyone stepped out of the tub and got ready for bed. One of the midwives, Celeste helped their daughter make a placenta smoothie for mom and someone else made food. The older children were tucked into bed for the night while the newest member of the family got some alone time with mom and dad.

I was privileged to help tuck in their oldest daughter and she asked for the homebirth book for her bedtime story. This book was awesome and she had heard it many times (it was basically her sister's birth story). She hadn’t been scared or nervous. She knew just what to expect. Kids do fantastic at births, and if you want them there, have them. They love being included or just watching. Getting to be a part of the moment they get their newest best friend for life is priceless!

After the baby was weighed and measured, and I took all the pictures I needed, I snuck back out into the freezing night and made my way home. THIS is how birth should be, and I wish every birth had that much love, support, and kindness in the room!

Doula support- can look different at each birth but is always wonderful to have!