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As my due date drew near I became more excited to finally be able to nurse my little one. I did lots of research and attended any class I could. I was very thankful to have my partner by my side to support me! Even now, he is wonderful!
Read MoreI spoke to my doula, Charlie Rae Young (she’s the best!) at eight am, while sitting on my birth ball. I wanted to get off the phone with her as a contraction came, because I knew I was going to be REALLY loud. She wisely insisted that I stay on the phone with her through it. My daughter kept trying to talk to me about something, I don’t remember what, and I kept trying to Shh her. Can’t a mama have a minute to focus? These contractions were intense!
Read MoreMy body continued to push with each contraction, and I was just along for the ride. As soon as the baby popped out, David whispered into my ear that we had another boy. It was music to my ears. I just knew we were having a boy.
Read MoreAs contractions came, and throughout the entire labor, I had an internal dialogue going on in my head. It was such a different experience, I was present in the room and could hear the conversations and what my mom or Brian were saying to me but I felt as if I was in my own little world. I kept going back to the birth stories I had read in Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin and repeating a lot of the positive affirmations that women used in those stories.
Read MoreFor a brief moment, I feared that this was the same thing that happened to me with my daughter; that my water broke and now I would have to struggle to get labor started and be put on a time clock. I then giggled and told my husband that at least contractions began before my water broke, and that seemed to ease my spirits.
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