Koah John Grimes was born unassisted at home in the water 4:56 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 16 after a roughly 6-hour birthing time. You read that right — midwife didn’t make it! She arrived just 5 minutes after we caught him! 

After a long day of midwife, acupuncture, ultrasound and chiro appointments. I was BEAT. As soon as we put Kaz to bed, I decided to take a nice relaxing bath.

I ended up falling asleep in the bath and woke up to a very intense wave (contraction). I stood up and realized my waters had ruptured. After weeks of prodromal labor, it was a welcomed discomfort; so we called our birth team and told them where things were at!

Right off the bat, my waves were very intense,  3-4 minutes apart and lasting at least a minute. For those that aren't familiar with midwife care, the general guideline is midwives will come when waves are 5 minutes apart, lasting a minute for at least an hour. My waves progressed at this rate for an hour and we're getting closer together so we knew it wouldn't be long. 

My team arrived around midnight and waves were increasing in intensity, getting closer together and still lasting at least a minute. My midwife decided to check me to see if she could gauge anything (at this point she didn't tell me what I was measuring) and before I knew it, people were leaving to get some rest and would come back once things progressed. 

I continued to ride each strong pressure wave. I turned on my Hypnobabies track and immediately went inside myself and became so focused on the task at had: welcoming my baby out of my body and into our arms. I was so calm and quiet, everyone thought I had fallen asleep and things had died down. NOT.

Around 2:30 in the morning I woke Dave up  and exclaimed, "GET EVERYONE NOW." The sensation of my body beginning to push baby out had started and I wanted to get in the tub.

My doula came into our bedroom and watched me ride a couple of waves while Dave made sure the tub was at the perfect temp. After seeing what my waves were like, my doula decided it was best to call my midwife, who had gone home to rest (I thought they had just gone to another part of the house!) and told her things were progressing quickly.

I got into the tub and immediately the waves changed from pressure to pushing. There was more rest time between waves, but they were lasting longer and there was no holding back the extreme pushing sensation. My doula could tell the pressure was building and encouraged me to check and see if I could feel baby's head or if the pressure was just strong because of a cervical lip or something. During the next wave I decided to feel for baby and he was RIGHT there. It wouldn't be long.

My doula called my midwife again and she heard one noise from me in the background and said "I'm coming."

The last two pushing waves were unlike anything I've ever experienced. I went completely internal again and was silent. I prayed that the next wave would be the finale and sure enough. I felt the pressure build and caught my baby boy (with Dave's help) in the water before my midwife arrived.

We lingered for a moment while the adrenaline subsided and then slowly emerged out boy from the water and brought him to my chest. It was pure magic. Wow. 

A few minutes later my midwife arrived and the rest of the morning just fell into place. 

This birth was completely magical. Filled with pure joy and love. Was is hard? YES. But I freaking did it. 

Women were created to do such an amazing thing. We are truly warriors.

I'm so thankful for everyone who played a part in the birth of our sweet second born. He's a dream.