Calm Birth Story

At 4 pm Mom calls me to let me know that they are heading into the hospital with regular contractions. Her house is full of in-laws and young children, she hasn't worried herself with timing these contractions - she knows they're "real". She feels it's a little early for the hospital, but wants the private space to get into labour. I meet the couple at the hospital at 5:30, where they have a long wait to be assessed. Mom puts on her hypnosis CD and relaxes into a calm state of peace as she comfortably sits in a lounging chair. Dad and I pass the time in the hall reading and chatting - we wish to respect Mom's need for privacy. At 6:15, the midwife assesses Mom and finds her to be 4 cm dilated, but the contractions are a bit more spaced out. We decide to take a walk to a near-by restaurant for dinner. Our walk is occasionally slightly slower as Mom walks through each contraction. I doubt out waitress recognizes the imperceivable shift in Mom's attention as she turns inward for each contraction. Even I barely notice the subtle change in her breath as she releases to the work of her body. We return to the hospital where Mom again wishes to escape into the privacy of her room listening to her hypnosis CD. I ensure she has anything she might need ( especially water) and help set the atmosphere of the room a bit by dimming the lights. Around 8:30 pm Mom pops out into the hall and suggests that she'd like the tub if it's OK. We get a nurse's go ahead and start filling the large jacuzzi up. Mom is 7 cm dilated and the nurse and I marvel at the fact that neither one of us can tell that she isn't just taking a rest! WOW. I finally realize, as I sit in silent support of the mom, that I can recognize a contraction by watching the powerful lifting of her uterus. This is my only cue that she is in labour. Every 3 minutes I watch her abdomen tighten, squeeze and rise upwards. But Mom's breath remains slow and regular. She makes no noise; her body doesn't move. No other muscles tighten. After a minute or more you can see the powerful muscle relax again and still mom stays the same. She is floating in her watery cradle just as her baby is still held by the waters of her womb. Dad and I keep the pool temperature comfortable. Dad offers his body in the tub to help support his wife as she completely relaxes. We keep her drinking bottle close by and ensure her hypnosis track is running smoothly. This Mom is without a doubt the calmest women I had ever been honoured to attend in labour.

As midnight rolls around you can sense Moms slight edge of concern. Not worry, more curious wondering, “Why hasn't this baby come yet?” Have we slowed things down by getting in the pool? Mom decides that she wants out of the tub, and that a shower may be a nice alternative.

Dad sits on a stool across from Mom as she sits and leans against his body. She's slightly more vocal now and we sense that her urge to bear down has begun. The hard floor of a shower is not the place she wishes to deliver her baby and she is anxious that he will fall. No amount of blankets beneath her and reassurance can sway that maternal instinct to protect. The midwife finds a small anterior lip of cervix which she tries to push past baby's head. Accidentally, she ruptures the membranes, releasing clear amniotic fluid. The mom decides to move and has one powerful surge as she walks towards the bed. For the first time she cries out with the contraction. The next surge brings her to her knees at the foot of the bed and she roars like a lioness, like a goddess of creation! Her baby is crowning. The next moment at 12:32 in the morning, he is born pink and beautiful, peaceful, calm. Is it any surprise he is so calm? I have never seen a babe nurse like such a champ. I left an hour after he was born and he hadn't moved from his mothers breast, nor had he cried. This birth was perfection.

The birth of a baby is always a joy. Regardless of the specific circumstances of the labour; every mother is utterly delighted to hold her child in her arms for the first time. I always feel honored to be welcomed by a family to share in this wondrous and sacred moment. This particular birth however, like no others before it, awed me. I can not stress enough how important the qualities of calm, acceptance, relaxation, surrender and absence of fear can be in creating an ideal birth.