When i think of the birth of my second child, Soul Lucian Gray, born 6 days ago, I am filled with such gratitude. Gratitude for an experience that will stay with me forever.
Having had a home birth the 1st time round, which left me rather traumatised, I now realise how important it is to have people around you that you trust fully and who will support, carry you every step of the way. My birth was gentle and I experienced it as peaceful and empowering, surrounded by only my midwife Annabel and my partner Toby. Able to focus fully on the birth, calm and quiet, there with words when I needed to hear them, encouraging, guiding, helping. My baby was born into my arms after a short labour, this moment of holding, feeling, seeing, smelling, tasting him for the first time – so precious; and if there was a word stronger than precious then that would be it.
My baby is calm, so very content, sleeping so very well and feeding without any problems which I am sure is due to his wonderful birth. His presence fills me with such pride, love, calm, peace and serenity. For the first 2 days after his birth I experienced such a high, the highest high I have ever felt and I am still gently riding the magical wave of after birth.
I am eternally grateful to my body for birthing this baby, my wonderful midwives Annabel and Kemi who made my birth so special; enabling me to trust and believe, to Soul for working with me during and after birth and above all my darling Toby who is with me always.
TOBY
From the very 1st moment that I met Annabel as a 1st time dad-to-be, having picked up on the concerns of Sonja from her previous home birth experience of 6 years ago, I felt totally reassured that it would be wonderful experience and the right path to take, for the most 2 important people, Sonja and our baby.
From the 1st moment everything was very relaxed, there was no timescale or checklist, we were able to talk openly and freely, and from those conversations, all of the information was attained that Annabel required.
The key to the whole birth process is to be relaxed and this is certainly how everything was. Any worries that we had were calmed and talked through, so as to allow the body to do what it is meant to do.
On the day of the birth (which was 1 week early), Annabel calmed, reassured, but importantly let Sonja’s body do its thing and make the calls of when to move to the pool, without interfering. Gentle words confirmed to Sonja that everything was going to plan and that she was always coming one step closer to her beautiful healthy baby.
It was an incredible experience and one that I am so proud to have been part of, and seeing my darling Sonja so relaxed throughout and able to fully enjoy the whole experience was a precious moment that I shall treasure forever.
Soul is the most peaceful baby, so content and so relaxed, I totally believe this has a lot to do with the birth, that was uncomplicated, serene and beautiful.
thank you Annabel for helping Sonja (and I) and allowing us to experience the glory of birth and the true wonder of the human body.
