Bundle of Joy
March 7, 2007
By Eric Coalla

We had a wonderful birthing experience at home. Stefany's water broke at 2:00 AM and she insisted on not letting me call anyone including our midwife. Stef said, "Why so early let them sleep at least to 5:00 AM." So we waited. We got the birth room ready (our bathroom), candles, aromatherapy, we walked, she went into the tub, she bounced on her birth ball, I slept a little, she dozed off a little in the tub. At around 5:39am the contractions were getting heavy. I said "We must call the midwife!!" She said "Ok call her" (that's when I new the baby was near). So I called the midwife, she answered all groggy and I said, "I think you need to come over." She answered (all groggy) "When did her water break?” I said, "2:00 AM." She answered, (very alert) "And your calling me NOW!!! I'm on my way! Stay on the phone and keep talking to me!" So I did, putting the handheld on speaker phone and on the floor. The contractions were really close apart and heavier. Stefany had moved from the toilet to the floor and was on hands and knees swaying back and forth. She looked up at me and said, "I feel her head!" She was crowning, so our midwife coached me to put counter pressure in the appropriate area (to help her not tear). "I can see her head!!” I yelled. "Put your other hand under the head.” said our midwife.

Throughout this commotion I could hear an engine roaring over the phone and asked our midwife if that was her car engine, she said no another car (I wanted her to arrive safely) She later told me not only was it her car but she was running Red Lights to get to us!

The next surge came "The head is coming out!!!” "I'm almost there!” said our midwife. I hear the car drive up and the stomping of footsteps running in and bags dropping and unzipping as our midwife and her assistant prepped everything. Our midwifeput her hand relieving my hand and exactly 2 minutes Joy was born.

How exciting!!! The "Dynamic Duo" (as I called them) attended to my beautiful baby girl and my tougher than nails wife. I cried with happiness.

Soon after my family arrived everything that needed to get done got done. They feed us and took care of us.

Joy Selah Coalla was born, March 07, 2007 she weighted 6 lb. 4 oz. and was 18" long.

Having her at home was the best decision we could have made. Everything was so calm and natural. There we no drugs, no IVs, no protocols. She was born at the time and pace she wanted to come out, with no one dictating a time schedule for her arrival. And my wife was so calm with the room temperature she wanted, and the lighting she wanted, the smells she wanted and the freedom to eat, walk, jump, sway and birth in whichever position felt natural and comfortable for her. It was a birth without someone else’s standards and rules.