Congratulations to Ashley and Chris on the arrival of their third son, Bennett Alastor, born July 6. This couple were repeat clients of mine and reached out early. They also decided to welcome this baby at home in light of the advent of COVID-19 and the subsequent restrictions imposed by hospitals on birth support. Ashley had always been surrounded by family and this birth would be no different. So she decided to welcome her baby at home. Ashley did not reach out to me very often, that tends to be her way. Even when she waited beyond her due date. For that, much to her frustration, also tends to be her way. But when the text came through at 7:00 that Sunday evening, I knew it was labor. She had already done “all of the things” (hydrating well and getting in the shower, and even the Miles Circuit) and still her contractions persisted. Updates would come as needed, which again, was Ashley’s way. 

 The next text was from Chris and came at 10:44 pm. The fact that he sent it and not Ashley was a strong indication that she was a bit too engrossed in her contractions to be troubled to type a text. And sure enough, Ashley’s contractions were steady at every 3 minutes and lasting a minute each. It was time and I was on their front doorstep within the hour. Ashley’s mother opened the door for me holding the family pooch. She was waiting by the door for me as I approached. It was a precious moment for me, and one that is only possible with a homebirth. 

The room in which Ashley lay was decorated with a lovely string of lights and she had her mom and sister, and husband, of course, all right there. Things were escalating for sure, and she paid less attention to the Harry Potter movie on the television. (Yes, they named their son after a Harry Potter character. They are big fans!) Family chatted excitedly about the coming baby, but also were available to check on big brothers who were sleeping right next door. Chris applied counter pressure and Ashley’s midwife and assistant attended to her medical needs, allowing space and time for contractions to come and go as they worked.

Ashley’s breathing grew short at the peaks of her contractions and her back gave her great pain. The warm rice sock and counter pressure helped, but she found herself doubting whether she was progressing. Of course, the very doubt was a sign to the rest of us that she was progressing quite well. But she requested an exam just to be sure. Her midwife assured her it wasn’t necessary for they were checking with their eyes as long as everything was going well, and it appeared to be. Plus we also added that numbers lie and the centimeters of one contraction had no bearing on the next or on how much time remained before her baby was in her arms. Ashley’s breathing changed and sounded more like she was transitioning into second stage. She entered the tub right then—it was 12:30 am—but she was unsettled about the urge to push and how she would know it was time if she didn’t feel it. (She hadn’t felt a strong urge in her previous two births, or at least was pushing before the sensation to bear down was overwhelming.) This was different. There was no reason to do anything different unless Ashley was ready. But Ashley really wanted to know her dilation so her midwife obliged and confirmed she was most definitely close at 8-9 cm. It was 12:35 am. “But that’s the worst part,” exclaimed Ashley. To which I responded, “Yes, but it is also the shortest part.” Two more contractions and her water broke, and we could see Bennett. Ashley pushed through her discomfort and when her baby’s head was out she reached down to feel. And then with the next pushing contraction she birthed her son into her own hands. Bennett Alastor was born at 12:43 am, to tears and celebration in his parents’ bedroom. And all while his big brothers slept on the other side of the wall. 

He was snuggled in his mother’s arms a long while with Dad cutting the cord and even his first assessments done in that time. Bennett weighed 6 lb. 11.8 oz. and measured 19 in. long, the same weight and length of his own mother, as noted by the woman who birthed her. And that was just the icing on the cake really. The simplicity and comfort of a homebirth is something special and Ashley and Chris settled into their own bed as the rest of us gathered our things and left them to rest. I appreciated being reminded that birth works and doesn’t usually need anything more than the woman birthing. Especially considering the state of the world currently, with fear and confusion about the pandemic at every turn. Welcome to the world, Bennett Alastor. In your sweet home you were sheltered from so much, and we were all put in touch with what normal birth looks like, from behind masks, of course.