Birth Announcement: Welcome baby Benjamin! 4.18.18

Sarah and Matt welcomed their second baby, Benjamin James, to the world on Wednesday, April 18th at 8:25 in the evening. Big sister Ellie was thrilled to meet him, too!

Sarah first contacted Mindful Birth to register for birth classes, and we talked a lot about her first birth experience which unfolded much differently than she had been prepared for. She wanted this birth to be different, her support to be different, her own internal process to include being more thoroughly prepared. After our Birthing From Within class series, she and Matt signed up for Distance Doula Care with me, and their birth team was complete. Sarah didn't leave anything up to chance this time around, the sign of an experienced birth warrior!

Matt never faltered in his support for his wife. He was open and authentic in our classes and was up for the task of being Sarah's number one birth support person. Once labor began, I communicated with Sarah throughout early labor and active labor, giving gentle tips and reminders, and then checked in with Matt to ensure he was on the ball. Without a doubt, he was. They prepared to head to the hospital and he was at the ready with the magic Double-Hip Squeeze he learned in our class time together, as well as guiding Sarah through her contractions with Breath Awareness, also learned in our class time together.

"It was insane how much the double-hip squeeze helped!"

The good word came rather quickly that sweet baby Benjamin was born at 8:25p, weighing 6#9oz. When I spoke with Sarah afterwards, she shared things like, "It was awesome! We were WAY more prepared than last time! It was insane how much the double-hip squeeze helped." Sarah and Matt also prepared mindfully during their pregnancy by practicing some Spinning Babies exercises which were taught in Birthing From Within class #1 such as rebozo lifts, inversions and lots of movement. We'll never know if that was the key to unlocking an easier labor, but I can guarantee it had an influence!

All this is to say a little bit of high-quality preparation can go a long way. The difference between Sarah's two birth experiences was night and day. To hear the pure JOY in her voice in the days after Benjamin's birth is pure JOY in my doula heart!

Please join me in welcoming Benjamin to the world, with a huge congratulations to Sarah, Matt and Ellie!

In doula love,

Chris

P.S. If you are interested in distance doula care or to find out more about how Birthing From Within classes can influence YOUR birth preparation, give us a call at 239-560-2403.