Feb 9, 2017 | Fast labor, Hospital Birth, Overdue, Pain, Vaginal Birth
I was 40 weeks and six days pregnant with my third child, and feeling that awful, anxious, going-to-be-pregnant-forever feeling that only an overdue mother knows. My sister came to stay with us to help with our older children, and we sat up talking until midnight....
Jan 19, 2016 | Empowered, Fast labor, First Birth, Home birth
I gave birth at home after six hours of active labor, which is relatively short for a first-time mom. I lost a lot of blood, but not enough to warrant hospital transfer. I needed stitches, but I’ve healed well. For the first couple days postpartum, I couldn’t stand up...
Oct 9, 2013 | Empowered, Fast labor, Partner Attended, Postpartum, Vaginal Birth
Goodness, I can’t even believe that three entire months have passed since the birth of our little Skylar. And also? I forgot how difficult postpartum can be! The beautiful miracle of a med free delivery followed by my body realizing just what had happened to it...
Sep 16, 2013 | Doula Attended, Empowered, Epidural, Fast labor, Fear, Hospital Birth, Overdue, Partner Attended, Second birth, Vaginal Birth, Vocalizing
My second baby, due September 29, 2012, wasn’t born until October 13. My first child had been born a week and a half past his due date, but surely the second wouldn’t be even later than that, right? I assumed. I hoped. By the second week in October, I was desperate...
May 19, 2011 | Afterbirth, Breast feeding, Colic, Empowered, Fast labor, Home birth, Marriage, Midwife Attended, Partner Attended, Pregnancy test, Therapy, Waterbirth, Yoga
The day I found I am pregnant I was on a business trip to a central laboratory down in England to collect data for my research as a part of my job as a research scientist at a University in Scotland. 30 years old, I was having a long-distance relationship with my...
Mar 9, 2011 | Fast labor, First Birth, Hospital Birth, Long Labor, Midwife Attended, Mourning, Pain, Partner Attended, Second birth, Transformation, Vocalizing
The births of my two babies were full of violence and glory. They remain two of my most cherished life experiences. I still struggle to put into words what those nights were like. They were not just moments of my life that I recall with stunning, crystalline detail....
