12/13/2024
I could not have been happier to tuck these sweet friends of mine in bed with their two little perfect babies. From the moment found out she was pregnant she knew she needed me there. I could not have been anywhere else than by her side. People had gotten in her head about when and how big this baby was going to be. I didn’t know why or how, but I felt like this labor was going to be much harder than her last labor and first VBA2C dream birth. There were many things at play, but I knew emotionally and mentally there were hurdles that in my experience create labor obstacles. Thankfully, even with lots of voices in her ears I didn’t come a day earlier than we planned. And even then it got down to the wire. The first week I was with her she was utterly exhausted. Physically, emotionally, mentally. Taking 2-3 naps a day and no where near ready for labor. She saw her incredible chiro who confirmed everything I was witnessing. A huge emotional block, amongst other things. This adjustment and acknowledgement was the first step towards labor. After a cry together and another weekend, I could see the energy come back to her. A shift was moving through her. Maybe she would never be all the way ready for the labor God needed her to walk through. But this was the most ready I had seen her. I pushed my flight back and we waited. She decided the Monday before Thanksgiving she would try a midwife’s brew and go to her chiro again. This time she came back with a star student report card. No emotional barriers, perfectly aligned, seemingly ready for labor. And by late afternoon, early labor started to stir. She labored through that night getting very little sleep. And feeling discouraged by the next morning when things had slowed. But the body is smart. I don’t look at breaks as a negative. Especially when we are home. She napped and contractions slowed. We asked if her midwife could come for their regular weekly appt and she fit her in that afternoon. She did a check and a sweep and the firm closed cervix from the week before was 4cm 90% and laboring!! By the end of that visit we knew this baby was coming today! Continued in comments …
She laid down for another nap with Beckham and nursed him to help encourage contractions. I went downstairs and continued to prep food. She came downstairs and couple hours later and we spent the last daylight outside while she curb walked, lunged, squatted. She was well into early labor and just shy of moving into active labor so I wanted to make sure she was staying nourished. I made us brisket nachos and I was thoroughly impressed she both wanted and ate it! Lol not really a labor meal, but me and Beckham were happy to partake as well. We walked outside again, I documented some last moments of her and Beckham with baby brother inside, both during and in between contractions. And then I suggested we move inside, into her labor space, turn her music on and really dive into labor land. She was laboring so beautifully, but I really felt like moving her into her closed in space with move her body to the next phase. We moved inside, into her bedroom and labor shifted. Dad asked me when I thought baby would be here. I said, give me 30 minutes to watch her and I’ll tell you what I think. It wasn’t 20 minutes of watching her labor in her bedroom and I knew. I texted him at 5:50 pm, baby by midnight! In 5 hours he would be in her arms. The three of us moved together. Through each wave. At 8:15 pm squatting at the edge of the bed, her water broke. I texted Emily it was time and she was on her way. The next three hours were the hardest part. It wasn’t going to be easy, it wasn’t supposed to be. In these three hours I saw a mother become strengthened in her brokenness. Breaking, but never broken. I saw a father vulnerably hold the love of his life with steadfast, unwavering trust and support. I saw a midwife work with incredible conviction.
And above all else, I saw and felt God with us in every breath. Booker arrived just after 11pm with love and prayer and perseverance. Booker was meant to be. God knew.
