Two years later we figured it was time for Claire to have a sibling. This time was completely different. I had no extra energy. I could barely walk. I was a true waddler. I had been having Braxton Hicks since week 19. Heartburn was in full force. Still I felt it was all a small price to pay to build a human.

The day labor started I wasn’t so sure. It was a week early. I had some spotting in the morning. In the afternoon my contractions became pretty intense.

They were very irregular however and I had been having some very intense practice contractions anyway. I kept thinking maybe something is happening but didn’t want to get my hopes up. I spent the day with Claire, letting her do things she wasn’t normally allowed to do like watch cartoons when it was a sunny afternoon. I was actually afraid to go outside with her though because if she bolted I literally don’t think I could’ve caught her. She may be short, but she was much faster than a very pregnant me.

Elm was outside all day with a friend falling trees and splitting firewood. I told him my suspicions around 3pm but reassured him that if this was anything like Claire’s labor we had plenty of time. This was not to be.

Though still irregular, my contractions grew very intense. The pain traveled down my legs this time. A sensation I never had with Claire. I had to hold on to something, hunch over, and rock my hips. Any physical activity would bring one on. My defining moment was when a huge contraction hit me right as I was lifting my potty training toddler on to the toilet. I let out a big groan and just about collapsed while trying to balance her. She asked “mom, whatcha doin?”, “The baby wants to come out and meet you” I told her when I could talk again.

After resting on my side for a bit my husband convinced me it was time to call. It was a little after 6pm. I called Madi. I said I figured it could be a while but wanted to give her fair warning.

She said I wasn’t the first woman to call that evening and she would head to the birth center and prep things.

Elm made some dinner which I had every intention of eating. I went to take a bite and was immediately hit with another one. Elm put pressure on my lower back and relieved some of the pain. Elm said “That’s it, were going now”. I still wasn’t sure if it was time. I really wanted to eat, but there was no arguing with him. He got Claire and all our stuff to the car. He called my sister who had just barely arrived on the ferry. He called Madi back who was already at the birth center with another laboring woman. Meanwhile I got myself to the car. A journey up an uphill driveway that felt like Everest. This was around 6:45pm.

It was a 20 minute drive. There are very few appropriate words that can describe contractions while sitting in a car so I won’t try.

When we arrived, Elm gave Claire to my sister who was waiting for us. He also grabbed all the stuff we thought we may need.

Meanwhile I had a contraction getting out of the car, another at the door of the clinic, and another as soon as I made it to the room. I had been using the waves washing over me technique of coping which so far had worked well. Madi checked me immediately. Holy 8cm! She asked if I wanted to get into the tub. I said I did as long as it wouldn’t slow things down. She said “Your at 8, I don’t think anything’s going to slow down.” I was thrilled and immediately stripped off the rest of my clothes. Tessa, Madi, and Jess cycled through my room and the girl next door. Jess went over my chart and started taking over vitals. I felt like I wanted to push but my waters hadn’t broken yet. Jess told me I could attempt to break them myself or have them broken. After one attempt myself I asked them to do it. Madi made quick work with a long hook during an intense contraction. That was at 8pm.

I…felt…everything! The burning ring of fire as my baby emerged. My wave coping technique wasn’t working now. I was breathing too fast. I kept thinking no storm could make waves hit this fast! When its head emerged it felt like forever before the next contraction. Too long. They had me stand to get its head out of the water. Someone readied a tiny ambu mask. Then at 8:09, here he came. Slightly blue but he wriggled and finally let out a cry. I was in shock again. He had very little hair except on his butt and shoulders. His nose belonged to a grown man. He became pink quickly. Owen was a beautiful!

Such incredibly different births. Both amazingly powerful. I would relive both if I could. The anticipation, the support of every midwife and family member, the euphoric love, and relief in the end. All of it makes the physical agony of childbirth pale in comparison. It is this incentive that gives women the strength to go through childbirth over and over. Not the myth that hormones make you forget the pain.

I loved my pregnancies, my births, my two wild babies, and my midwives. The women who empowered me to embrace it all.

– Bethany Robichaud