Stephanie and Serena

First Birth Story:

On Wednesday, April 2023 I woke up to a beautiful sunshine filled morning. It was my first week on maternity leave from my teaching position and I was really enjoying the opportunity to tune in and dive deep into connecting with my baby, preparing for a home birth and surrendering to the final days of pregnancy. I was 38 weeks gestation and had a strong feeling baby would be coming sooner than later.

I started my day just as I had been doing with all the others, folding out my yoga mat and moving my body. I chose a labor inducing pilates workout and about half way through noticed my mat was a little wet. I thought I honestly could have been peeing, so I said to my husband Chad, “Honey, I think I’m peeing…” He shot me a very skeptical look as he stood at the stove preparing his coffee and replied, “Stephie, I’m pretty sure that’s your water breaking!” He chose to text Nicole right away and check in. She told us what to look for in the fluid to determine whether or not it was amniotic fluid. That’s when we noticed some vernix. It was definitely a slow leak!

I finished my workout, went upstairs to shower and then came down to take our dog out for a walk to the end of our property. It was on the walk that I experienced my first contraction. It made me drop to my knees on the ground. The contractions rolled in consistently from there. I labored all day long into the night for about 14 hours long. I had the honor of having a friend as my birth assistant/doula Cayenne, my Aunt Toni who is a massage therapist, Nicole, my husband Chad and my sweet dog Oberon present and helping me manage through the journey.

Finally when baby came, Cayenne and my Aunt Toni were holding me up as I was squatting above the birth pool and Nicole caught our sweet baby girl! I couldn’t have done it without everyone’s physical strength taking turns pushing on my low back and Nicole’s words of wisdom/sweet affirmations being whispered into my ear during the most challenging waves.

I remember thinking, “Thank goodness she is finally here!” That night my husband and I couldn’t sleep as we both sat up in complete awe staring at our new baby in the comfort of our own bed and home.

Stephanie and Cora

Second Birth:

We had been patiently and eagerly waiting for our second baby girl's arrival. I was past the 38 week mark when my first child was born and I remember the mixed feelings bubbling up inside of me as I tried to surrender into enjoying the final moments of pregnancy.

It was a Sunday morning and I woke up before my daughter and husband. I went downstairs to make my warm honey water before my morning movement routine and that’s when I noticed some mild discomfort/cramping. I went upstairs around 8am to wake my husband and let him know that I thought the baby could be finally making her way.

I went back downstairs to finish my morning when my husband and toddler came down to join me. We made her breakfast and that’s when I decided to take the opportunity and go shower.

In the shower, at about 8:30am I had my first contraction and it was STRONG! Strong like I remember it being towards the end of my first labor. My husband heard me upstairs breathing through it and came into the bathroom to check in on me. He then proceeded downstairs to check in with Sarah. They both agreed she would start making her way over to us.

My daughter opted to go to my Aunts house where she would spend the morning with her cousin and family as I labored. My Aunt came to help assist and provide me with comfort as my husband quickly set up the birth pool and prepared the house for baby’s arrival.

While I labored, with each contraction I remember having the ability this time to really imagine my pelvis opening and the baby making her way down each time. The visual was surreal and a bit trippy!

For 2.5 hours I labored in my room on my bed until the last 30 minutes when the birth pool was finally warm enough to get into. As soon as I got into the pool I remember the contractions deepened/changed. It was like a lightening bolt was serging though my body and it felt like I was metamorphocally turning into a lioness as I roared and moaned through the pain. The energy in the room and within me changed that moment I got into the pool. We all knew the baby would be here soon!

I remember the burning ring of fire, then pushing more and feeling a big pop, which was my water breaking. With a few more contractions and pushes something popped out and I screamed, “Something just popped out!” It was the baby’s head. With each final push I remember feeling in control as she made her way out of the vagina into the water. I was able to reach down and pull her up onto my chest. I remember feeling so proud that the baby and I did it, we made it through birthing together!

It was truly a profound and triumphant experience. I’ll never forget the amazement I felt as I sat there in the birth pool, in complete awe and shock.

I am eternally grateful to the team at Beacon Community Midwifery for all of their love, care and expertise. And for giving me the space and support I needed during the most physically challenging and marvelous moments of time I may ever have the pleasure of knowing!