There truly are not words I can muster up that can fully portray how epically hard this mama worked for this baby boy. We all thought this would be a quick & easy second-time home birth, since her first birth was fairly short, and a "breeze" in comparison to what this 2nd baby would bring. She had this amazing partner by her side the entire time, who not only supported her throughout labor physically, but cooked a full breakfast for the whole crew without even asking! I mean, talk about setting the bar high.

Mama armed herself with a badass birth team that included the two incredible women of HazelTree Midwifery, as well as their wonderful birth doula, Michelle. The support of this team was really awe-inspiring to watch over so many hours (I truly cannot wait to work with them again). She had to obviously focus through each contraction when I arrived, but in-between, we were enjoying conversation, good food, and lots of laughs. I followed them as they took a stroll through their neighborhood, which was an Autumn wonderland during this time of year in Northern Idaho!! Oh my goodness, I was so in love with watching them sway, walking hand-in-hand, over the river and through the woods together [literally].

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Cool, calm, and collected: this first-time mama listened to her body, she trusted her birth team (the amazing Spokane River Midwives) and released all the positive energy into her space to have this incredibly empowering first delivery. This couple worked effortlessly together through the day to bring their surprise gender baby into the world, and I could not be more proud in how strong this mother was.

As their Doula, I helped this mama change positions, make sure she (and dad) ate and drank properly during labor, showed her husband counter-pressure measures to help soothe her hips during contractions, and made sure everyone stayed focused in the moment. She walked, talked, laughed, ate, and enjoyed labor around her house, even spent some time outdoors. As labor picked up quickly, the birth pool was filled with warm water, the lights went low, diffuser went on, and all was calm. 

Side Note: OMG how cute is their dog?? She was by mama's side whenever she had the opportunity, until she was eventually kicked out of the tiny bedroom when things picked up. She was melting my heart!! I could really tell that mama enjoyed having her there for comfort; she made her really feel at home, not physically, but emotionally. Perks of a home birth, eh? 

Mom and dad labored so gracefully in the tub, like they had done this before. They swayed and they grunted, "uuuuuuuhh", and then this tiny little human rippled to the surface of the pool, right into dad's hands. Mom brought baby to her chest, then says aloud so peacefully "honey, it's a girl!". Big sister cried out for joy (as you can see), dad got a weak chin, and tears started flowing. Baby "Avalanche" was finally here; a gorgeous, healthy baby girl!!

Vitals were checked on baby in mom's arms, or at her feet. This new mother gave her hours-old baby her very first chiropractic adjustment, which was so beautiful to watch! Both mom and baby were tucked into bed with a nutritious meal, ready to start the day as a new family. This was a truly incredible birth to witness: physiological birth at its' finest.

Are you interested in having your birth story documented, or in having extra support during labor? Feel free to reach out to me anytime for your complimentary in-person consult! You can also browse my portfolio to see more of my work and what I offer.