Pregnancy Meditation

I got this great meditation from my good friend Laurie Fremgen. I like to read it with my clients toward the end of their pregnancies, at the point when they are teetering on the fulcrum of not really looking forward to the birth and saying, " I really want this baby out!" It seems that every pregnant mama experiences that feeling at some point at the end of her pregnancy, it is part of the journey.

The birthing mother keeps her mind always at one with birth:

that is what gives her radiance.

Birth is ungraspable, how can her mind be at one with it?

Because she doesn't cling to ideas.

Birth is dark and unfathomable. How can it make her radiant?

Because she lets it.

Since before time and space were, birth is.

It is beyond is and is not. How do I know this is true?

I look inside myself and see....

As I breathe in, I am calm and relaxed.

As I breathe out, my baby shares my calmness.

As I breathe in, my baby and I are a team, ready for the work we are about to do.

As I breathe out, I know that my baby and I are normal and well connected.

As I breathe in, my uterus works by itself.

As I breathe out, I know the waves hug and massage my baby.

As I breathe in, I see my uterus as separate from the rest of my body. I watch my contractions come and go much like the waves of the ocean coming to shore.

As I breathe out, I know this normal.

As I breathe in , I touch my strength.

As I breathe out, I release my fear.

As I breathe in, my legs, hands, and jaw are loose.

As I breathe out, my belly and bottom are loose.

As I breathe in, I know my baby's head fits perfectly through my pelvis.

As I breathe out, I know my vagina can stretch to accommodate my baby.

As I breathe in, pushing feels good and exhilarating.

As I breathe out, I know the baby will be here soon.

As I breathe in, I love my baby.

As I breathe out, my baby will be beautiful.

As I breathe in, I see my baby's head crowning and my skin as supple and soft.

As I breathe out, I see my baby's head out.

As I breathe in, I see my baby's shoulders coming out easily.

As I breathe out, I reach for my baby's body and help it out of my body.

As I breathe in, I smell my baby.

As I breathe out, I hold my baby in my arms.

As I breathe in, I know that my placenta will be gently released from its home.

As I breathe out, I know that my uterus will contract.

As I breathe in, my baby is here.

As I breathe out, my baby is perfect.

Welcome Lucille Rose

Little Lucy was born last Tuesday, January 19th. She looks so much like her oldest sister, Grace, who just turned 6! I have now helped Lucy's parents, Katrina and Sam, have 3 babies...what an honor.

Lucy is the biggest at birth, weighing in at 7 pounds 2 ounces. But she will definitely have a tricky time keeping up with Marie, who is now in the middle and so full life, as only a 3 year old can be. Such a sweet family!

My Babies-all grown up!

.....well, at least a little grown up!

I want to wish everyone a belated Happy New Year and share with you some of the babies I have helped over the past year. The first picture is of my children, Jonah and Laurel....they were wrestling and then, just when I was about to....well, you know....they stopped wrestling and started dancing together.

Jonah age 11, Laurel age 8

The next adorably cute pictures are some of my 2009 babies!!

They are growing, rolling, smiling, crawling and occasionally walking!

Thank you to all the families who have let me be a part of their lives this past year.

Sadie Pearl

January 17, 2009

Kaiya Anastasia

February 14, 2009

Madelena

April 26, 2009

River Indigo

June 28, 2009

Summer Rose

July 1, 2009

Sadie Elizabeth

July 21, 2009

Jacquelyn Rose

July 29, 2009

Sylas Orion

August 10, 2009

Iris Tamsin

August 19, 2009

Stockton Enzo

August 28, 2009

August Alexander

September 8, 2009

Ronald Wilson

September 11, 2009

Lylah Simone

November 23, 2009

My First New Year's Birth!!

This year I had the pleasure of attending the first new year's birth I have ever been to! I was so excited when Illysa called me late on the 31st and said. "the baby is coming!" It was about 10pm and I was hoping Colleen's baby would slip into the world right around midnight. Colleen was pushing when I arrived, she had been in labor for many, many, many hours and was still so strong. Her little baby boy, Wyatt, popped into the world at 12:15am on January 1st, 2010! He did literally pop into the world, as he went from not quite crowning to full body out in one contraction, surprising us all! We are thinking he was probably the first baby born in the Central Texas area in 2010, as the first baby reported in the news was born at 12:53am on the 1st, way after Wyatt showed himself. He came with fanfare-there were many fireworks and loud booms going off in the neighborhood as he emerged. Such a joy and honor to spend the turning of the New Year at a birth!

My First New Year

Seeing Babies about Town

Sadie and Lenee

Today my little girl Laurel really wanted to go to the Farmers Market. For some reason she is a big fan of the Sunset Valley Farmers Market, last year she even wanted to have her birthday party there. We set out today with no particular thing to shop for, although she may have had some ideas, she did not share them with me. It was crowded....kids and dogs were everywhere, long lines to buy coffee and greens, local musicians played, Santa even had a little tent. As we were strolling along, I happened to see little Sadie, her mama Lenee, and big sister Mila also strolling along. There is NOTHING that warms the heart more than seeing one of the babies or families you helped. I immediately felt a big smile spread across my face and ran up to give Lenee a big hug! Sadie was born in July and is such a happy, big girl now! Ahh....pure midwife bliss....

Rainy Appointment Day

Today, Tuesday, December 1st, was such a cozy day for doing appointments in my office. The rain was pouring outside but inside we were warm, dry and smiling. Erin and baby Iris, who was born in August, came by for their last postpartum visit. As we were finishing the appointment, Mindy came in with son Jonah for her first prenatal appointment; Mindy is due in June and we heard the baby's heartbeat for the first time today.