I haven't written this story simply because I didn't know how to do it justice.  I guess the best way is to just tell it.

My old roommate R and his new wife M were pregnant, and they asked me to help them during the birth of their son.  I was truly honored that they wanted me there, but also a little more than freaked out.

I started doing a bunch of reading on natural home births and even rented the Rikki Lake DVD "The Business of Being Born."  I began to realize what an amazing empowering experience natural child birth can be, and how the hospitals have found ways to make a lot of money off of pregnant women.  There are some scary statistics out there.  1 in 3 children in the US is born by Caesarean.

Enough about that...I could go on forever on this topic.  I'm enthralled by it.  M and R decided to use a midwife and a birthing center in Lincoln Park.

Last week I was at work for about an hour when I got the call.  I couldn't believe it.  She wasn't due for three more weeks.  I got to the hospital before them and waited their arrival.  M seemed in a lot of pain and R was a little frazzled.  She was already dilated 7 cm and had been in labor for more than 24 hours.

We got settled into the room and the midwife checked M and then took her off all the monitors so she could move around the room.  She took a shower and rocked on a ball while I helped get the birthing tub ready.

Finally she settled into the water which really helped alleviate a lot of pain and pressure.  M was amazing.  She was calm, clear and focused the whole time.  R got in the pool with her and pushed on her back to help the pain.  I had her head and arms and was right there coaching her through each contraction.  And then she decided she was ready to push.  I whispered to her about letting the baby easy out and breathing the baby down the birth canal so there would be no ripping.  Sink your energy and relax.  Don't fight it but let the contractions take over your body and release to them.  If you fight it, it will take longer just relax and breath.  And she did.  She was in the middle of a tough contraction and pushing when she screamed get the baby.  Someone grab the baby.  We couldn't believe it.  She simply relaxed and breathed him out.  It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen.  I'm getting tears in my eyes just remembering.

Aidan was born at 1:01 pm. 18.5 inches and 6 lbs 14 oz.  He really is a miracle.  I will never look at M the same way again.  I have more respect and love for her then I can possibly put into words.  This event has changed me too.  I’m not sure yet how, but I know that I’ll never be the same.

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