You begin to wonder how much more and you don’t think you can go on. Things are getting very intense. You have stopped thinking about anything but your body and your baby. You are in a world of your own. Riding the waves of sensation that your body is sending seems barely possible. It is time to get this baby out. The baby gave the first signal for birth to begin. Now the baby is moving toward the open door. Slowly but surely she is inching her way out. She feels her way with head down. The pressure seems impossible. She may wonder what happened to her safe, warm and happy home. Something tells her it is the right time to make her escape. It won’t be long now.
You are not sure you can make it. Someone else can have this baby. There is no way you can manage. Your midwife is there breathing with you. Holding your hand. Your partner is there with loving encouragement. You look into each other’s eyes over and over. You feel the loving energy and draw from their strength. The water in the tub surrounds you and makes you feel safe. You are protected from any outside influence. It is just you, your partner and your baby. Your partner is now sitting behind you so you can feel their strength and love. They are totally involved in the birth. Your doula is offering support and comfort measures.
There is a big shift in your energy. You feel the urge to push. Finally you can do something besides cope. Working with your body you feel the baby move down even more. You feel the baby’s head start to come out with your hand. This gives you more strength and courage to keep pushing with a rest between each effort. You know in a very short time your baby will be in your arms. You can feel the body slide out and someone places the small wet body on your stomach. There is no need to rush.
You are waiting for the placenta. Then you wait until the baby is ready to find it’s way to your breast. It begins to move on its own in the most amazing way. It finds your breast and begins to suck eagerly. Everyone comes in and there is a glow of love in the room that is so powerful and amazing. You have done it. You have all arrived safely. The placenta is born and all is well. This is the bonding time. After a sacred birth experience is a time of quiet reverence when all are in awe. You are so happy. You finally remember to check the sex. It’s another girl!
The placenta is to be buried outside under a new tree planted for each of your children. Very soon you will write your child’s birth story. You know that they will want to hear it over and over as they grow through the years. Their birthday will always be so very special.
Yes, birth can be this simple, beautiful and amazing. Will you have exactly the birth you want? Not necessarily. Just as in life there are no guarantees in birth. Thinking we can control the birth process is an illusion.