There are too many overused words in the English language. Words like powerful, unforgettable and triumphant don’t begin to describe the words and images I am privileged to share with you in this post.

As I look forward to the birth of our second child there is a huge sense of uncertainty. Apparently that’s our normal, since Daniel was fired (not for anything he did) right before the birth of our first. It was a stressful period to say the least, but through the difficulty God provided a better job with a  salary that allowed me to become a stay-at-home mom.

This time around we will likely be homeless. With Gigi here our house is too packed to welcome a baby so we hope to sell this place and be somewhere temporary before baby is born. It’s a long story.

One of my greatest comforts is that I am surrounded by women that have faced immense challenges surrounding the birth of their children . . . and overcome. These are my real-life friends . . . I won’t spoil their stories for you. Read and bask with me in the beauty of birth.

Disclaimer: These birth slide shows may make some men blush.

Chad, Esther, Curt and Jackson

In her own words:

“Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failures, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.”                                                                                                          -Theodore Roosevelt

This powerful quote became my desire and focus during my pregnancy as I prepared to attempt a VBAC: daring to win a glorious triumph by attempting a natural birth without reservation. I was determined, that no matter what, I would honor God, our precious baby, and myself by trying to deliver my baby in a way which doctors told me was impossible. After enduring a traumatic and necessary c-section birth with my first son two years ago, I had finally come to a good place of letting all negative emotions surface, choosing to heal from the experience and move forward.

. . . Taking charge of my birth experience and and reclaiming back my body after an unwanted c-section was a healing balm for me and my family. Truly it is a gift to give birth without any medication or interventions. I am eternally grateful to the Lord, my husband, and the incredible birth team (Ann Crowell and Cindy Haggerton–they were the same team that helped with my first delivery and were a huge factor in my vbac coming to fruition) for believing in me and assisting me in achieving the birth that longed for and was created to do. I learned to trust myself, my body, and knowing and wholeheartedly believing that the inner strength was in me and would come into fruition in the exact moment when needed.

Click on the image above to start slideshow

Barry, Whittney and Avery

In her own words:

My 11 week old daughter was born very peacefully at home into the hands of my husband and midwife. My birth was not what I planned, but exactly what I hoped for. My labor began at 4:30AM with contractions 3-5 minutes apart. I labored at home alone as I wished until my water broke at 1:45PM. My husband came home from work and we called my midwife and doula. When my birth team arrived, they were surprised to find that I was completely dilated and my daughter was coming frank breech (bottom first). My little one had been head down for weeks and we think that she flipped during my fast labor. My birth team was professional and calm and discussed quickly with us our options. We could transport to the hospital where I would certainly have a Cesarean section or we could stay home and deliver vaginally. My midwife discussed the risks of both and we decided that we should stay home.

My midwife called in another midwife in the area for support and they calmly coached me through the pushing stage. They checked the heart tones of the baby every few minutes and studied exactly how the baby was presenting. I never once felt that me or my daughter were in danger. My body was created to have babies….even a breech baby.

Click on the image above to start slideshow

Eamon, Mae and Lily

In her own words:

Eamon started to fill the birth tub with hot water as I breathed through some more contractions. I quickly got down to my tube top and hopped…ummm, waddled in. At around 10 p.m. I finally convinced Eamon it was time to call Ann.

Our conversation went a little bit like this
“Hi Ann, it’s Mae”–apparently I was unaware of caller i.d.
“Hey Miss Mae”
CONTRACTION
Ann- “Well that was a good one, whatchya thinkin?”
Me – “I’M THINKIN I’M GONNA HAVE A BABY, ANN”
Ann- “That’s a good thought to have!”
“Well have you taken a hot bath?”
Me- “I’m in the tub right now!”

I have to admit, if I were her, I wouldn’t rush right over either!
After a few more minutes of deciding what we needed, Eamon and I decided that it would be best for us to labor alone for just a bit longer, a decision that set the night off splendidly.

Click on the image above to start slideshow

Did you not just love this? Tell me you did!!!

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• Birth Story Bash – Sebastian’s Birth
• Birth Story Bash – Daniel’s Birth Story
• Calling All Mamas: Get Your Birth Stories Ready
• Micah’s Birth Story Part 2
• Why Choose a Birth Center?