My Birth Story

I must begin by stating that my unassisted birth happened organically and safely. With extensive training in birth & delivery, and communication via phone with a certified midwife, I was able to have a successful, safe, breeched, unattended birth. 

If you find yourself in a similar position and a labor professional or physician is not around to assist, please visit the nearest hospital to ensure the safest, healthiest birth for your baby. 

November 28, 2016

The Monday before my son was born, I was conducting my usual work routine for the local non-profit I represented; nothing more than grocery shopping and local errands around town. The urge of producing my family recipe of New Orleans pralines was also a priority, so I added candy making to my "to-do list".  Around 5pm, after completely depleting myself, I took a shower and prepared for my normal bedtime ritual. Once in bed around 700pm, my stomach began churning, and I knew  my sensations were different than normal Braxton Hicks contractions. 

By 11pm, I began to feel regular contractions and decided to sleep before things progressed. 

November 29, 2016

Around midnight on 11/28, contractions got me out of bed and I knew I was in pre-labor. I telephoned my midwife to make her aware that labor had begun.

As labor progressed, I instructed my already exhausted husband to also sleep in order to experience the birth of our baby. My living room space was previously set up for the waterbirth tub. Since the tub was not there, I had plenty of space to set up my  “labor stations”:

Station 1:  birth ball and rebozo 

Station 2: bathtub, candles, low light

Station 3: sleeper sofa and blankets

With constantly rotating "stations", my pre-selected music playlist,  focused breathing, self hypnosis, and ancestral prayers, I was closer to meeting my baby! 

My husband communicated with the midwife and advised labor was full fledge and requested an ETA (30 min). I gave  myself a vaginal check, I knew midwife would not make it and we would be delivering our baby in minutes. My self exam also made me aware that my baby's "head" did not feel normal. My husband set up a pallet for me on the floor of our 900 sq. ft. apartment where I would soon deliver on hands and knees. After pushing for approximately 12 minutes, baby Robinson arrived. It was not until Jelani was in my hands, that my husband informed me that my first couple of pushes resulted in seeing genitals first and feet to follow!

Thankfully, baby was born 5 lb. 14 oz., which allowed him to successfully enter the world. 

My mission is to support families in making their affirmations a reality.