All births are special and no two are alike, but I can assure you that you will not hear another birth story like this one!In August 2001 I was in my second year as Executive Director of the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) http://www.motherfriendly.org/. We planned our Leadership Team meeting at the home of Jessica Porter, the Executive Director of the Association of Labor Assistance and Childbirth Educators (ALACE). Jessica was 37 weeks pregnant with her second baby so it made sense for us to travel to her New England home.
In preparation for a long busy working weekend, Jessica and I went grocery shopping. In the produce section, I noticed Jessica pulling a piece of paper out of her purse – she shared that it was her list of required birth supplies. From practicing with homebirth midwives for years, I knew that the birth supplies were supposed to be ready three weeks before the due date! So, we finished picking up the few remaining items and went back to prepare dinner and begin our meeting.
That night, I was sleeping quite soundly when Jessica woke me tapping my shoulder. She stood over me and announced that her water had broken and that it was all my fault!! If I had not made her finish her birth kit preparations she would not be in labor! So what do we do now – she had 5 very experienced birth advocates in her home that were not part of her birth plan. This is the unbelievable historical piece of this story, the CIMS Leadership Team consisted of Barbara Hotelling, president of DONA, Deb Woolley, past-president of Lamaze and a PhD CNM, Pat Turner, president of ICEA, and Carol Davis CIMS designation committee chair – all had extensive experience with labor and birth.
While everyone slept Jessica shared the pictures from her first birth with me. We discussed what was important to her and what she wanted differently this time, and then we began preparations as her contractions continued to do their work.
As labor progressed, Jessica modeled normal birth to her family and close friends. She created a rhythm as contractions ebbed and flowed. She naturally demonstrated how labor had its own look, feel, and sound. Nothing compares to the intensity, strength and power of labor and birth and Jessica expressed how to embrace each contraction and trust the process. I was honored to be present.
The birth room was prepared, and as Jessica sat on the birth stool I recalled the photo of her first birth. She sat on the same stool, but her mother sat behind her. Her mother would have been there, but this b
aby had another agenda so I asked Jessica if she wanted me to support her in the same fashion that her mother did – she said yes. About that time the rest of the house was awake and standing at the door. Barbara Hotelling had her camera and was able to capture many incredible pictures including this one. My view over her shoulder was heartwarming. Her husband had tears streaming down his face as his baby was slowly and gently moving into his hands with the midwife and their three year old right next to him. Baby Jack was welcomed by unexpected guests that had tears rolling down their faces as Jessica held him and announced that she would not be able to be part of the rest of our meeting!!
