Josephine's Birth Story

At 6:45 pm on a warm September evening, our world was forever rocked.

As I prepare for the upcoming birth of my second child, I can’t help but reminisce on how my beautiful first born came into this world. Grab a cup of coffee and let’s cry happy tears together.

This story is directly copied from my journal.

Josephine Rose,

you came on a warm summer evening, at home in my bathtub.

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I started feeling low cramps around 3:30 am but wasn’t totally convinced that this was labor. Cooper would wake up in a few short hours to get ready for work, so trying not to disrupt his sleep, I anxiously laid there and paid close attention to what was happening within my body. 41 weeks pregnant & I kept trying to pass it off as a need to go to the bathroom. I waddled my way in and waddled my way out of the bathroom several times. Finally deciding to lay still and zero my focus in on the waves that were coming over me. I rolled over to face my husband. Whispering “I think this is it.”

Cooper gave me a wide grin with wide eyes that seemed to question what I just said. He told me he’d stay home & call into work as he didn’t feel comfortable leaving me for the day.

He drew me a bath & worked up a snack of grapes, cottage cheese, crackers & pickles. I relaxed into the warm water and phoned the midwife - she informed me to rest, nap & eat - “we have a party ahead of us”. - 5:30am

While I soaked in the tub & counted the manageable cramps, Cooper cleaned our home & set up the perfect space for our sweet baby to be welcomed into.

After some time, we loaded in our car to head off to breakfast at the Duffer’s Cafe that was situated around the corner from our home. We sat in the window and chatted with our waitress. Her beautiful sun-kissed skin & heavy german accent, pausing every now & then to let me labor. Still very manageable. - 9:15am

We got home and I relaxed on the sofa & Cooper continued to clean, set up the birthing pool & distribute tea lights; eagerly awaiting our child’s arrival. My midwife came by to check on how I was doing. Contractions were very consistent - around 10 minutes apart, still bearable, but becoming stronger. She asked if I’d like to be ‘checked’ for a progress report & I calmly denied as I didn’t want to be in anyway discouraged, knowing that dilation has little to do with the progress so early on. What I truly wanted to focus on was taking one contraction at a time. That seemed to work best for me - breathing them in & letting them go as they went. As if they were waves swelling all the way up into my lungs + rushing out again - 12:30 pm

My sweet friend, Marissa, popped by to drop of snacks + love. I was laying in our master bed when she whispered sweet words of encouragement to me before leaving me to labor. Contractions were around 8-7 minutes apart at this point & the experience was starting to become more challenging. I needed Cooper to press on my hips to counteract the tough feelings of the rushes - 2:30 pm

Somewhere between 4:30 - 5 pm, while I was trying to snooze, I had a contraction that struck me into a daze. I called for Cooper & mid-sentence another contraction hit that was nearly 3-4 minutes long. The longest + hardest contraction as of yet. At that moment I felt the urge to go to the bathroom. I needed to poop! right now! Cooper helped me waddle into the en suite. Not even 2 minutes had passed, and another wicked wave washed over me! oof.

Almost in tears I said several times “call the midwife.”

Cooper started drawing me a bath + we started laughing because we were almost convinced, I wasn’t going to make it into that bathtub, and I’d have our baby right there in the toilet. Alas that did not come to pass.

As we waited for the midwife’s arrival, I soaked in the hot water of the tub, suddenly feeling the NEED to push! Wide eyed Cooper gently asked, “She’s almost here, please do not push” nervous to birth a baby on our own, I tried my best to pull myself together.

As soon as she walked through the door, she brought with her a calm & peaceful presence, knowing all too well the familiar song + dance of the birthing mother. Convinced it would be a while yet before we met our child, she said “Focus on breathing & harboring your energy, you will need that later on throughout the night.” & “There will be a point where you will feel soo much pressure, THAT’S when you will bear down & get angry. Use that anger!”

In & out of a psychedelic state, the heat I felt in the cold bathtub was indescribable. Cooper ran to get me something to cool down. He chose his high-powered Dewalt fan, set on full power, and placed it right in front of my face. Only for me to yell “Get that damned thing off me!” laughing a bit he took it out of the room and came back.

Bent over the tub, he held me. With all his strength, with all his love, with all his attention. In doing this he strengthened me.

Whispering words of encouragement + love and reminding me just how excited he was to meet our baby.

Yet again, I am reminded that I hit the husband jackpot.

The urge to push came over me again, my midwife said “honey, it’s too soon, don’t try just yet.” I was certain my baby was coming. The fetal ejection reflex was upon me. Checking dilation, she confirmed that the head was the tip of her finger away from coming out. “Ahh yes,” she said, “we are going to meet your child in about 10-15 minutes!”

Exchanging a glance with my husband, every emotion washed over me. Fear, joy, anger, love. But most of all - determination. I felt the power of all the women before me & how God has blessed us with THIS CHILD!

Pressure grew and I realized that this, THIS, was the time to put that anger to good use. I pushed so hard I could barely breathe. I focused on keeping the head in the birth canal between short rip breaths. With a ‘pop’ of my waters, the head emerged!

SUCH BLISS!

The hard part was over. Smiling + drinking in the fresh air that surrounded us suddenly. The moments between head & body seemed to last forever… 3 whole minutes passed. I was able to recollect myself & muster up the strength. Before our child was fully present, Cooper slid in to catch our baby. The slow motion of him helping to pull out the rest of her body while I pushed seemed to last eternity but was also mere seconds.

Time stood still.

Our child was born & laid perfectly on my chest!

Praise Jesus! Praise the Lord, Almighty!

At 6:45 pm on a warm September evening, our world was forever rocked. A sweet little soul came earth side & forever changed my own soul.

Our precious baby GIRL

Josephine Rose was born.

Thank you for reading!

As our second child’s labor day approaches I’d love to request prayers of peace and a smooth labor & delivery, with zero complications snuggled in right at home.

All my love, Morgan