In the weeks leading up to T’s birth Mom had a few false alarms.  An incident of diarrhea, increase in lower abdominal pressure and nausea on the 16th really had her attention. Then, again on the 27th she was hopeful the consistent and uncomfortable contractions that woke her through the night would amount to something.  Instead, they grew less intense as she went about her day.  All along Mom’s perspective was amazing, she was confident and secure in the realization that these experiences could go on for days to weeks before finally meeting her baby!  T’s expected due date was Tuesday, May 28th, which came and went with growing anticipation for labor to begin.  Mom even wondered if she had leaked amniotic fluid through the night, waking up Friday morning the 31st to wet underwear. T was still content inside and active but later that night she started her journey earthside!  Mom noticed mucus with strings of blood around 10 pm, however she was able to sleep through the night until some mild contractions woke her around 4 am.  Jennifer, knowing this was a marathon not a sprint, went back to bed until some pink discharge interrupted her sleep early that morning at 6.  At that point she decided to fuel up with breakfast before another nap.  Around 9:30 she finally got up for the day and intended to be active in errands and food prep, ignoring the waves while she still could.  Her contractions were 20 minutes apart throughout the day but as early evening came and she winded down they were only picking up! The waves were closer together now, coming every 8-10 minutes and growing stronger.  Mom planned to rest for the remainder of the night, the waves were uncomfortable but she was still able to breathe through them.  I woke early the next morning certain I had missed texts or calls, thankfully after checking in with Mom and Dad I found out Jennifer had labored peacefully through the night but was still able to sleep off and on as the waves had spaced out.  By 7am the waves were coming every 5-10 minutes, Mom reported they were uncomfortable enough that she found herself unable to lie down during contractions but was listening to her body and resting on the couch in between.  She had been nourishing herself with fluids and food prior to Dad filling the birth tub around 7:30 for her to get some relief. Jennifer continued to labor confidently and independently until 8:17 when she felt ready for extra support. 

 It was a dreary Sunday morning on June 2nd, as I arrived at their house by 8:56 I found Mom laboring quietly and intently in the living room.  She was completely in tune with her body, rhythmically rocking and steadily breathing through the surges, birth comb in hand.  She would alternate between the couch and birthing ball for another hour, going inward and shutting down her senses each time a surge came.  We chatted quietly in between as she welcomed sleepy Jaxson and Zoe into the living room while she did what she needed to do. They looked on intently, waking up slowly on the couch, playing quietly with each other as Dad was making preparations for a celebratory feast in the kitchen.  He seamlessly bounced from tending to the kids, prepping food and attending Jennifer reverently.  It was 10:01 when Mom ventured back in the birth pool and only a few minutes later when Sullivan woke up, coming first to check in on her.  At that point she had started to become vocal with each surge and was focused on her hands, squeezing the comb or spikey ball alternately, one in each hand. It was that pattern that would see her through to the tail end of T’s birth (only releasing the items once she crowned). Mimi came in to see Mom before she took over the kids but by then Jennifer was so solid in her focus she didn’t register extra eyes on her more than a tiny acknowledgement with a soft smile.   When T’s waters broke at 11:19 I texted the midwife from Jennifer’s phone, Dad halted in his kitchen tasks and set up on the living room couch, all eyes on Mom.  Lindsey arrived at 11:40, checking heart tones first and Jana was there by 11:45.  At this point Mom was in the zone, distracted by nothing as all four of us held sacred space for T’s journey and Mom’s continued work.  Focused  only on the power of the surges Jennifer, on her knees, made waves in the pool, rocking her body back and forth, pushing and pulling on the edge of the tub, still grasping the comb and ball in each hand.   She knew she was getting closer to meeting her daughter.  By noon Mom was instinctively making pushing sounds, heart tones were checked right as Mom set out to purposefully push around 12:24.  Jennifer never once tired in her resolve or questioned her progress, her eyes stayed closed and her voice stayed low yet also loud.  Lindsey listened to T again as Mom reached down at 1:13 and felt her baby “right there”.  Just a minute later T was crowning! Jennifer laid back and Lindsey delivered her, head at 1:17 and her body, completely outside of her Mom for the first time by 1:19 pm. Jennifer was in utter awe, entranced by her daughter from that moment.  She was so eager to show her off to the rest of the family.  Dad was shocked, he stood there frozen, admiring both girls from afar until Mom called him over to meet his new daughter.  Sullivan was the first brother to meet T, he had the biggest grin and kept his eyes locked on Dad as he looked over Mom and baby. Finally Jaxson and Zoe came in slowly and calmly with eyes of wonderment captivated by their new baby sister ❤