When this family called to tell me that it was time for me to join them, I was ready and zipped safely but efficiently across town. I have a habit of calming my adrenaline rush by breathing and repeating my own personal affirmations while I am in transit to a birth. I have found that it steady’s my heart rate and breathing, grounding me back into my body and self as I shift gears and prepare to walk into a family’s sacred birth space.

Well, when joined this family at the hospital, I was impressed to see the mama, Kim, chatting and smiling with her husband. The energy was calm, but charged. I wondered briefly if I was there a little too early. Kim really wanted to have the opportunity to labor in the water and the one room with a tub wasn’t available upon their arrival. She kindly and firmly expressed her desire and the midwife on-call pulled some strings and got the room ready. We rejoiced and scrambled over to the new room, quickly filling the tub to give Kim so relief because while she was still calmer than I normally see, she was clearly moving into transition.

She labored gracefully and beautifully in the tub for a short period of time before she undeniably felt the urge to push. Because of COVID regulations, the hospital was not permitting water births (it was still believed that the virus could potentially be transmitted via fecal matter and this was another layer of protection for the medical staff.) So we scrambled again and made it to the bed in time for her to embrace the feelings of her baby descending.

“YOU CRUSHED THAT, KIM!!” is my favorite part of this VBAC birth story.

Thank you so much for allowing me to document your power, beauty and grace.