Experiencing birth is Empowering
5/10/04
By Tiffany Blankenship

My mom is a midwife and I've had the opportunity to attend many, many births with her. I never realized how awesome and empowering birth with a midwife (or two) could be until my own! I began with light contractions every 10 minutes on Mother's Day, May 9, 2004 around three in the afternoon. My mom was excited for a couple of reasons; first, my sister  and I were due just 4 days apart and second it was Mother's Day and she thought  I'd have a quick birth like the rest of the women in my family.

My mom and I went down to our community's pool to swim, immerse and relax. It worked. I really enjoyed the time there. After jumping in the Jacuzzi for a few minutes, then back in the pool for a couple of light laps, we dried off and walked back  to our home. This was around 700 p.m. and my contractions had picked up to around every five minutes. My mom checked me and I was 4 centimeters dilated and completely effaced. We called mom's friend, also a midwife, to come over and hang out with us. She lived right down the road from us.

We had a yummy dinner of roast, brown rice and asparagus and then things started really kicking in! By 10:00 p.m. I was having contractions every 3 minutes and I was 7 centimeters dilated. At midnight I got in the tub at home to try to relax because things were cooking! We have an awesome picture of me in the tub, my mom and puppy, Chloe, sitting on the side of the tub and my sister Jenni, 9 months pregnant, sitting next to the tub. I remember feeling like I was surrounded by the strongest women in the world! We passed Mother's Day into Monday, May 10th.

At 2:00 a.m. I was complete. I was in the tub pushing for a while and got out and squatted for a while, then back in the tub, but I just couldn't find my pace there. I got out and squatted on the floor next to my mom's bed. At 2:55 a.m. Sydnie started to crown and I climbed up on my mom's bed and had my beautiful baby girl at 3:04 a.m. She was breastfeeding before her cord was clamped and cut!

Having a birth on my terms and my turf was an amazing experience! Having that birth surrounded by powerful women was priceless!