The Arrival of Caspian: A Homebirth Story

It’s funny how everyone thinks of birth as the birth of the baby. It is the big event after all, what everyone’s been waiting for, right? Few people really get to see where the real birth takes place. The mental, physical, soul birth of the mother. The real labor doesn’t happen in the days and hours the baby is born, but in the months of the waiting and the growing and searching for strength when we feel so utterly weak, vulnerable and powerless and out of our element. I am privileged with the front row seat to exactly this experience for so many mothers. It’s not that I enjoy their pain, I enjoy witnessing the triumphant victory on the other side when they didn’t think they would ever get there.  

Mine and Julie’s relationship began before this pregnancy. I was privileged to be a part of her last 2 births as well. I remember the first time I met West and Julie.  They were a military family new to the area. I went to their home to be interviewed as a doula for their second pregnancy. I had just started my midwifery training. I remember leaving the interview excited about having them as clients. I called Nate and I remember saying the words like minded. It’s easy when you have clients with the same goals in mind as you. Thinking back, it’s beautiful to see their growth since that 1st day, mine too to be a matter of fact. They’ve grown from new parents to confident parents, from newly married to knowing how to properly communicate and love each other well. Their faith has grown and my love for them as well.  

This pregnancy was unexpected. West was scheduled for a long military deployment and they knew a pregnancy during his time away, with 3 very young boys, would already be trying on Julie. Especially with the fact that her family lives hours away. However, God had different plans. Julie found out she was expecting right before West had to leave and being the beautiful people they are, they chose to be excited and the love in their hearts for this new baby was already growing.

 It definitely wasn’t roses though. Julie had never gone past 37 weeks with any of her past pregnancies. She had risked out of a homebirth in Louisiana the last 2 times and really wanted to stay pregnant long enough this time to deliver at home, in her own home. She decided to hire me for this pregnancy and I went to work on brainstorming ways to keep her pregnant longer this time. I also went to work on getting West to be sent home early enough to place her on bed rest, which couldn’t be accomplished without him home to help. We had some early scares of possible preterm labor and possible polyhydramnios, but all in all God showed faithful and by his goodness alone West came home and Julie stayed pregnant past her due date and longer than she ever anticipated. 

The days kept going and Julie stayed pregnant. West’s time at home was numbered and we needed to get her labor started. She picked a day and started the midwives brew. I believe her labor was already partially brewing but this definitely sent things over the edge. 

She contacted me around 9:30 p.m. with regular contractions, but she thought it was too soon for me to come. In hindsight I should have just left then. However, God knew Julie's heart and knew she truly wanted it to just be her and West for the birth of this new life. Within an hour of the first call I received another one and quickly headed that way. I was 45 minutes away. West called me a few minutes after I got into my car warning me I probably wouldn’t make it. I'm already a speedy driver, but I definitely picked it up into a faster gear and was racing to make it there in time. Things quickly intensified. I received another call when I was about 10 minutes away. The water had broken and she was trying not to push. I wasn’t worried about West catching, he was an old pro at catching his own babies now. I told them to leave me on speakerphone and place the phone down. 

I was 1 minute away now and I could hear West describing the head coming. It was a slow descent, slower than normal by his description. Thank God for the natural instinct in women for Julie instinctively lifted up her leg while she was on her knees leaning over the couch. The exact same thing I would have had her do if I were present. It was all that baby needed and he slid out easily from there. This is when I arrived. I pulled up, grabbed my bags and dashed for the door. Upon entry I couldn’t hear anything. I also didn’t know what room they were in. I ran to the bathroom first and then ran into the living room. In my rush I had dropped my bags by the front door. I quickly ran into the living room and dropped to my knees to assess the baby. He wasn’t crying or moving. I took in the whole room. Julie was fine, she was taking a moment and still leaning over the couch. She wasn’t bleeding, just gushes of water were still coming from her birth canal. West was hovering over the baby while he laid on the floor on a blanket close to Julie. I immediately picked him up and began stimulation. Those seconds feel so long in the moment. I didn’t have a towel, I didn’t have a nasal aspirator and I didn’t have gloves on, but I had my instinct. I wasn’t fearful or worried, I was just on a mission and I knew exactly what I needed to do. Stimulation made him open his eyes, but no cry. So I bent lower and placed my mouth over his nose and mouth and began rescue breaths. He only needed 2 and then immediately perked up and let out a good cry. Julie was ready to see her baby and I immediately passed him on to her. He was clearly large and the biggest baby she had ever had. 

Tears of joy and relief were had all around as the photographer arrived and my assistant shortly after. We revelled in the beautiful moment and all gasped when we discovered his weight, a chunky 10.4lbs.

As usual no birth is ever the same and the lessons to be learned never run out. My take away from this pregnancy and birth are multifaceted. God honors our faith even when it wavers, his goodness is so much better than we deserve and He cares about the details and the desires of our heart. The honor of serving West and Julie over the years has been nothing but blessing to me and they have become dear friends. As they move onto their next post I have no doubt that God will provide all their needs and that He is already working out all the details.

With All My Love,

Your sister and friend, Cyndel