06/09/2012::G1P2::
It was my graduation day. I had not attended Sacred Mountain this weekend due to it. I hear Delphine telling me that, "The universe will test you to be sure you are on the right path." I feel like yesterday was one of those days. I was very connected to this mama and DID NOT want to miss her birth but I had worked so hard and so long to graduate. I know walking at graduation isn't the biggest deal but I had been looking forward to it! I talked with Matt and we agreed I would go to the birth, leave for the ceremony and then return to the birth. Hopefully I wouldn't miss it during the two hour ceremony. I brought my cap and gown, dress, and birth supplies and packed them into my car. What a combination. Delphine had her grandson in town and her daughter was on her way to pick him up. Delphine headed to the mama's and I stayed with her grandson until his mom arrived. I was going to shower while waiting but my newly pregnant was being difficult. When Lo arrived we exchanged hugs and I admired her beautiful pregnant form. We chatted for a bit and then I said my good-bye and then headed to the birth.
When I arrived the senior apprentice hadn't made it yet. The mama was breathing through her rushes but had not reached vocalizing yet. She was very sensual in her movements with a lot of repetitious activity. She would get an eye connection and hold onto it through her entire rush. I began to set up birth supplies and chatted with Delphine. We tried the senior apprentice several times. I was given the option to give up on calling her and for us to do this birth with just the two of us. It was so tempting, I was very ready to get my "hands wet" but realized that it wasn't about my needs or wants. The mama's team was not complete. Therefore I chose to drive to the farmer's market and see if I could track her down. I left around 11AM, made it to the market by 11:20AM, found the senior apprentice with ease, informed her of the laboring mama, got a coffee, and made it back to the mama by 11:45AM! Whew! In order to not be late for my ceremony, I had to be there by 1PM. By this point I would need to leave again in an hour.
The mama seemed to be sinking deeper into labor. She was in the pool and moaning. Her cheeks were flushed. She had the labor-glow going on in full force. As she labored we hung out and chatted casually. Around 12:30PM Delphine did an internal exam and reported that the mama was 6CM! I may have make it back if this baby isn't in too much of a hurry! I disappear downstairs to change into my gown. I was nervous and excited. I was about to graduate! I was about to finish one large cycle of my life but I also didn't want to miss this birth!I couldn't believe that these two events were happening on the same day! I only had one mama due this entire month, too! I felt torn. I made it to graduation despite my extreme nausea. Eight weeks pregnant, feeling faint, in a room of 5,000 people! My mind was consumed with trying not to pass out and simultaneously not vomit. I clutched my phone begging the goddess to keep me conscious and to allow me to make it to the birth before the baby.
I made it back to the mama's home around 4:30PM. She was working hard. I was pleased to see that she was still with child and that they had ordered pizza! I truly needed food! We took turns being with the mama. It seemed at times that the father was distant. I would like to work on being able to bring mamas and papas together. I feel that dads can sometimes be left out. I wonder if our language in some way excludes men. It is very female-centered and often about topics that men are often left out of or have little reference points for. At one point, the mama and I were alone in the room and I was her focus point through her contraction. As our eyes met and locked her body swelled with the energy of her rush and I felt like I was witnessing something intimately private, but I knew I was her anchor. As her rush subsided she smiled and I knew I wanted to do this forever.
Her contractions seemed to begin to space out, so Delphine recommended breast stimulation to see if we could bring them closer together. After an internal exam (she was 6cm) she decided doing steps two at a time and a fruit popsicle would help with the positioning of the baby and giving the mama more energy. Mama was strong. She worked hard. She was determined, centered. The papa wavered in and out of connection. At times I was amazed and at others I wanted to shake him. Around 6PM Delphine asked to do another internal exam and the mama was still at 6CM. At this point we had a quiet meeting downstairs. Although the baby was doing great, the mama had no cervical change in 6 hours. Her contractions were spacing out and becoming weaker. It also seemed that the mama was becoming exasperated. Delphine thought we may have to access the hospital for pitocin due to an exhausted uterus. We decided to talk to the mother and father and see how they were feeling. The mama pretty much jumped at the idea of going, she was ready. Delphine and I encouraged her and the papa to talk about it further while we called the hospital to inform them of our transport. It was so warm outside. The birds were singing and the breeze was scented with early summer growth. I felt the need to let the mother and father know that they still had options. I wanted them to know that there was no emergency. If they wanted to they were able to wait awhile longer. Mama let me know without a doubt that she was ready. I told her that I understood and let her know that Delphine was ensuring the transport now. I helped the senior apprentice clean up the house. I did dishes while the senior apprentice packed the birth bags. Delphine and the parents left for the hospital with plans for me to meet them there after I made an appearance at my graduation party.
I made it to the party close to 7:30PM. Everyone was so excited to finally see me. Many people were finding out that I was pregnant, too! So there were many things to celebrate. I was just finishing dinner when shortly after 9PM Delphine sent me a text telling me that the mama had just birthed a healthy baby boy! Just a little help from the pitocin and bada boom, a baby! I'll admit I cried. I couldn't believe I had missed it. But my day was beautiful and the mama always gets the birth she needs. It's all so much bigger than us and if I wasn't there, it was because I wasn't meant to be there.
It was my graduation day. I had not attended Sacred Mountain this weekend due to it. I hear Delphine telling me that, "The universe will test you to be sure you are on the right path." I feel like yesterday was one of those days. I was very connected to this mama and DID NOT want to miss her birth but I had worked so hard and so long to graduate. I know walking at graduation isn't the biggest deal but I had been looking forward to it! I talked with Matt and we agreed I would go to the birth, leave for the ceremony and then return to the birth. Hopefully I wouldn't miss it during the two hour ceremony. I brought my cap and gown, dress, and birth supplies and packed them into my car. What a combination. Delphine had her grandson in town and her daughter was on her way to pick him up. Delphine headed to the mama's and I stayed with her grandson until his mom arrived. I was going to shower while waiting but my newly pregnant was being difficult. When Lo arrived we exchanged hugs and I admired her beautiful pregnant form. We chatted for a bit and then I said my good-bye and then headed to the birth.
When I arrived the senior apprentice hadn't made it yet. The mama was breathing through her rushes but had not reached vocalizing yet. She was very sensual in her movements with a lot of repetitious activity. She would get an eye connection and hold onto it through her entire rush. I began to set up birth supplies and chatted with Delphine. We tried the senior apprentice several times. I was given the option to give up on calling her and for us to do this birth with just the two of us. It was so tempting, I was very ready to get my "hands wet" but realized that it wasn't about my needs or wants. The mama's team was not complete. Therefore I chose to drive to the farmer's market and see if I could track her down. I left around 11AM, made it to the market by 11:20AM, found the senior apprentice with ease, informed her of the laboring mama, got a coffee, and made it back to the mama by 11:45AM! Whew! In order to not be late for my ceremony, I had to be there by 1PM. By this point I would need to leave again in an hour.
The mama seemed to be sinking deeper into labor. She was in the pool and moaning. Her cheeks were flushed. She had the labor-glow going on in full force. As she labored we hung out and chatted casually. Around 12:30PM Delphine did an internal exam and reported that the mama was 6CM! I may have make it back if this baby isn't in too much of a hurry! I disappear downstairs to change into my gown. I was nervous and excited. I was about to graduate! I was about to finish one large cycle of my life but I also didn't want to miss this birth!I couldn't believe that these two events were happening on the same day! I only had one mama due this entire month, too! I felt torn. I made it to graduation despite my extreme nausea. Eight weeks pregnant, feeling faint, in a room of 5,000 people! My mind was consumed with trying not to pass out and simultaneously not vomit. I clutched my phone begging the goddess to keep me conscious and to allow me to make it to the birth before the baby.
I made it back to the mama's home around 4:30PM. She was working hard. I was pleased to see that she was still with child and that they had ordered pizza! I truly needed food! We took turns being with the mama. It seemed at times that the father was distant. I would like to work on being able to bring mamas and papas together. I feel that dads can sometimes be left out. I wonder if our language in some way excludes men. It is very female-centered and often about topics that men are often left out of or have little reference points for. At one point, the mama and I were alone in the room and I was her focus point through her contraction. As our eyes met and locked her body swelled with the energy of her rush and I felt like I was witnessing something intimately private, but I knew I was her anchor. As her rush subsided she smiled and I knew I wanted to do this forever.
Her contractions seemed to begin to space out, so Delphine recommended breast stimulation to see if we could bring them closer together. After an internal exam (she was 6cm) she decided doing steps two at a time and a fruit popsicle would help with the positioning of the baby and giving the mama more energy. Mama was strong. She worked hard. She was determined, centered. The papa wavered in and out of connection. At times I was amazed and at others I wanted to shake him. Around 6PM Delphine asked to do another internal exam and the mama was still at 6CM. At this point we had a quiet meeting downstairs. Although the baby was doing great, the mama had no cervical change in 6 hours. Her contractions were spacing out and becoming weaker. It also seemed that the mama was becoming exasperated. Delphine thought we may have to access the hospital for pitocin due to an exhausted uterus. We decided to talk to the mother and father and see how they were feeling. The mama pretty much jumped at the idea of going, she was ready. Delphine and I encouraged her and the papa to talk about it further while we called the hospital to inform them of our transport. It was so warm outside. The birds were singing and the breeze was scented with early summer growth. I felt the need to let the mother and father know that they still had options. I wanted them to know that there was no emergency. If they wanted to they were able to wait awhile longer. Mama let me know without a doubt that she was ready. I told her that I understood and let her know that Delphine was ensuring the transport now. I helped the senior apprentice clean up the house. I did dishes while the senior apprentice packed the birth bags. Delphine and the parents left for the hospital with plans for me to meet them there after I made an appearance at my graduation party.
I made it to the party close to 7:30PM. Everyone was so excited to finally see me. Many people were finding out that I was pregnant, too! So there were many things to celebrate. I was just finishing dinner when shortly after 9PM Delphine sent me a text telling me that the mama had just birthed a healthy baby boy! Just a little help from the pitocin and bada boom, a baby! I'll admit I cried. I couldn't believe I had missed it. But my day was beautiful and the mama always gets the birth she needs. It's all so much bigger than us and if I wasn't there, it was because I wasn't meant to be there.