The beginning of the next chapter {The birth of Zia}

As I found out I was pregnant in El Paso, I had to cut my time there short and go back home so Johnny could work for the month & I could see clients before we would head to the Philippines. But, leaving early meant we could attend the most beautiful (& my absolute favorite) wedding ever of our good friends Bri + Ethan. Anyways, at the wedding Robyn came up to me and either said something to me or asked me a question that made me think she was pregnant, but she said a friend of hers who was at the wedding was actually the pregnant one & that we should meet.

Fast forward to late October, I was in Maine for one of my academic sessions at midwifery school and I messaged Robyn because she was on tour and was supposed to be playing a show in Portland that I was planning to go to.

I asked her which day she would be in Maine and she responded with,

“Ahhh. I was supposed to be there on Thursday, but a funny thing happened. I came home last Thursday...

...because I'm pregnant.”

YASS! I was so so so excited. Finally, a friend of ours is pregnant! I had known Robyn for a few years and her partner Zach since high school.

She asked about unassisted births and different midwives in the area so I sent her the links of all of the local midwives and some information about having an unassisted birth. They had met with a local midwife I thought they would really love, and they really liked her, but she unfortunately doesn’t take on clients in NJ because of licensure. I then told Robyn I would be happy to do her birth knowing that I would not be licensed myself, but I would bring a licensed midwife along with me to and I would have to bring my baby with me, since my due date was 6 weeks before hers.

When I got back home from the Philippines we started prenatal care . The one thing I admired most about Robyn was her intuition and how much she trusted the process of pregnancy & birth. I could sense that she had no fear & felt genuinely excited to give birth.

Anyways, fast forward 8 months, we were nearing the 4th of July and Robyn DID NOT want a 4th of July baby. The morning of July 2nd she was feeling ready and was showing some signs that labor was near (bloody show, mild contractions, etc). I encouraged her to rest & eat throughout the day and to play it off like it was nothing until she couldn’t.

Around 11pm I checked in with her before heading to bed and she said her contractions were about 7 minutes apart, there was a gush of fluid & baby was moving well. She was going to try and rest while she still could.

At 1:30am 7/3 she gave me a call and said she wasn’t able to rest, things felt much more intense, but still manageable. It sounded like things were getting active, but she didn’t sound like she was quite ready for me to head over yet so I told her to have Zach give me a call when she was ready for me. At 3:15am he called and said she was more vocal and contractions were intense, they were ready for me to head over.

When I got there Robyn was laboring calmly in her candle lit living room with her partner Zach & Bri. With two musicians as parents-to-be I only expected the most beautiful music to be played during her birth and that’s exactly how it was. I listened to baby’s heat tones which were perfect and then strapped Kes to my chest as I set up my supplies for the birth. Robyn then headed into her GORGEOUS tub and contracting every 2-3 minutes, she was so focused and grounded. Her intuitive energy filled the room and set the tone that everything was okay.

I nursed Kes to sleep and put her down in the guest bedroom. Then I just sat in the corner of the bathroom observing her strength & confidence as she labored in her tub that was just calling for a baby to be born in. Bri would sketch Robyn in the tub in between contractions and Zach sat their patiently and just providing the support she needed. After only an hour of being there Robyn was sounding pushy. A little after 5 am I did a vaginal exam and immediately felt the head. She was gently pushing in the tub, switching positions and roaring through her contractions. Baby continued to sound perfect!

Around 6am her contractions started to space and she would rest in between. I felt that baby was close to being born. At 6:10 am she was on hands and knees and could feel her perineum stretching. 9 minutes later Zach said, “I think the head is out.” I looked down, yep indeed it was! The head was out as she was kneeling in the tub. “I can feel her moving around. This is crazy.” we waited for her next contraction and at 6:21 am her baby girl made her way earthside. Robyn took a deep breath and sat back with baby on her chest. She was perfect, she let out a great cry and looked right up at her mama. “You have eyeballs!” Robyn exclaimed! Reishi (their adorable pup) immediately came and laid by the door, excited to meet his new human baby sister!

Shortly after the placenta was born in the tub. Then we got her out of the tub and cozy in her bedroom. After I checked on her & baby to make sure they were transitioning well, I tucked them in and let them soak in the snuggles for the golden hour while Bri & I cleaned the tub and bathroom. After we were done cleaning we sat on the porch and Bri let out a good cry, it was the first birth she had ever witnessed, “I feel like I’m coming down from an acid trip.” Yep, that’s exactly what it feels like! The sun was out, people heading to work, an ordinary day. But pure magic just happened in this house, a baby was born!

I believe that the role of a midwife is to sit on their hands unless assistance or support is needed and in case of an emergency. There’s a common comparison of midwives to lifeguards, basically we are the lifeguards of birth. But, this was a birth where I was 100% able to just sit on my hands and it was AMAZING!

Bri’s husband Ethan walked up the street from their home carrying a large pot of delicious chicken soup for everyone at 7:30 am. It takes a village, and they certainly had a village! It was beautiful to see the strength of their community in action supporting Robyn, Zach & their new baby!

I heard Kes in the guest bedroom. Oh right, I brought my baby here! She slept so well that I totally forgot she was here! After the golden hour we headed back into the bedroom to do the newborn exam while I wore Kes. Zach got to do some skin to skin, cut the cord and then weigh his daughter who was 9 lbs!

It’s always a privilege to witness the birth of a baby & mother. But, this one was especially special to me!