Cormac Aelon's birth story

Wednesday, August 5

In the afternoon, I noticed some contractions here and there that seemed slightly more noticeable than the usual…by baby #4 you hardly notice the tightening of the womb that they call “Braxton-Hicks”. I didn’t think much of it, late pregnancy is just kind of uncomfortable for one reason or another. I did however feel very compelled to go to the store for some tiny diapers, something I just hadn’t gotten yet, in preparation for this arrival. Laurel and Arden also helped me make some "padcicles"!

I made some sourdough noodles for dinner, noticed contractions still but not quantifying anything. Mixed up some pie crust. Made the comment to Drew that he might be the one finishing this postpartum chicken pot pie…and asked Drew to cut the cord box to a reasonable depth, as we discovered with Laurel that it was a little cumbersome as it was. This was around 9 pm. I had texted Mom, saying I wasn’t positive that it was labor but that I’d been noticing evidence of cervical change that evening as I was experiencing some contractions. She suggested that I try to rest. I prayed about whether to try to sleep or to stay up and move–night time labor was very peaceful with Kaede and I did like the idea of not being interrupted again so I didn’t want to delay things! I also didn’t want to exhaust myself if I had a long road ahead. Labor is always a new experience. I fell asleep for a short time, but then felt some baby hiccups, squirming and I just couldn’t stay lying down. I started working on some odd jobs that suddenly needed addressing–washing fragrant curtains (we’d moved in 12 days before and those things just hadn’t been done), after the kitchen/mudroom door curtain fell off at me and I wanted to vomit at the intense, sickening smell of fabric softener. After a few of these odd jobs and a quart of labor-aid, I was still contracting and did not feel compelled to sleep…admitting I was not going back to bed around 10:30 pm or so.


Laboring alone, wandering in and out of the house at all four doors, exploring my new home and mind blown that I could labor outside at night and know that no one could hear or see me this time! I still had my privacy, even outside here! The moon was brilliant and I just received the glory of it while kneeling out on the patio. I wondered if I would birth out there. Our woods were yet unknown to me at the time, despite the fact I had daydreamed about birthing at the creek…but middle of the night labor in a jungle of abundant Virginia greenery…I wasn’t ready to tromp out there alone in this condition :)


Around midnight, I chose to fill the tub and do some good work while enjoying the relief of the water. Alternating between reclining and kneeling, alternating lunge and focusing on directing expansive breath, physically beneath the contraction…as though allowing a sense of relaxation in the cervix and groin even as the womb pulled up and intensely contracted. I intentionally kept my torso upright as I alternated lunges–I believe this was a word from the Spirit, to keep gravity working for me as I shifted back and forth, breathing under the contractions and allowing the head to open the cervix effectively as I stayed out of the way by not allowing tension to build beneath. I suddenly felt that I wanted Drew nearby around 12:30 am, I got out of the bath and put on my swimsuit cover-up.


Picked up one of our washable “chux” pads and laid it on the living room floor, as though identifying and securing a safe landing space. Drew stayed with me as I labored on it, all fours. I reached down and checked progress, and felt the head and just a bit of cervix in the front. I decided to try holding it back, and, having felt a slight “FER” urge I chose to break my own water since it was bulging and I was impatient! As soon as the water flowed, this overwhelming force took over my body and Drew brought the kiddos (Arden & Thayer) quickly. Two big pushes, and our second son was born into his daddy’s hands. He laid him down on the floor for me to pick up in front, very much like Laurel’s birth. We declared together that it was a boy, since Arden & Thayer had not seen. What a welcome and beloved baby son he is, born at 1:30 am on August 6. We burned his cord, weighed and measured him (9 lbs 4 oz, 21”), then attempted to sleep the rest of the morning–-it was hard, I was still so high and excited to get to know this sweet person!


HalleluYAH! YHVH alone delivers.