J.F. - May 17, 2022

J. What can I say about J? She was a forced to be reckoned with. From the moment I met her, I knew she was special. So much power and determination radiated from her. This was her second child and she had a very clear idea of the birth she wanted and knew she could achieve. She knew a lot about birth already, which made our prenatal meetings go smoothly and allowed plenty of time for us to get to know each other.

Her first birth was fast, so I knew this one would also be just as fast. J called me in the morning to say she felt tightening, but no pain. We agreed this might be early labor and to take it easy for the rest of the day and to call me with any updates. At 8:00pm she was having painful contractions and I hurried over. Normally I would not run to a patient's side at the first real contraction, but, like I said, J was powerful and I knew that baby would come swiftly.

When I arrived at her home, I helped her husband, T, pack the car and then we got J into the tub to ride the waves. It was obvious she was progressing quickly and we called the midwife to let her know we would be leaving soon.

At the birth center, the AC clearly had not been switched on prior to our arrival and it was HOT in there. I got out my fan and did not stop cooling J until Baby Girl was born.

J rocked it. Kept her body moving from the tub to the bed to the squat bar, doing all she could to find a position that worked for her. At one point she sat at the edge of the bed with her feet braced on both me and T and pushed with all her might. The bed even moved with the force of her.

With T sitting behind her in the tub, Baby Girl was born around 12:30am. I did not cry at this birth, as I do at most. Yes, I was emotional and proud of what J had accomplished, like all my births. But this one was different. I had no doubts in my mind J would get the birth she wanted. Had no doubts this baby would be born quickly. I was truly in awe of the magic J brought to the room.

Watch out, world. J's daughter is now in the world and, like her mama, she will be a force to be reckoned with.