Griffin's Story

Griffin Beau: Photo by Ryan Gledhill

A friend of mine once told me that my blog was becoming too motherly.

"You would never see Sting or Coldplay write about their kids, or share recipes on a blog," my friend advised.

I do understand their point. But, for one, I am not Sting nor am I Coldplay. And two, I just want to be real. If Griffin ever learns anything from his momma, it's to just. be. real. People can take it or leave it. So, pardon me while I get all motherly on you and share the story of Griffin's birth.

Over the first weekend of August, I went to my annual family reunion. I could tell that my baby's arrival was nigh. My body was preparing itself and I knew it. I told my husband, "I think we'll have a baby by tonight or tomorrow." But Baby did not come. Hence, I dismissed my intuition as wishful thinking. However, on Monday morning, as soon as I got out of bed, my contractions began. I went about my day like I normally would. I took one of my sons to a summer camp. Contraction. I came home. Contraction. I did the dishes. Contraction. Then, I packed my bags for the hospital. Contraction. I called Aunt Lindsey to see if she could take my two other boys. Contraction. I cleaned out the carport. Several contractions. And called my husband for help.

We met our midwife at the hospital by 4:30 that afternoon. I was dilated to an 8. Shortly after the midwife hooked me up to the monitor, she noticed that the baby's heart rate would drastically decrease through my contractions. Not a good sign. She explained that this is often a sign that the umbilical cord is wrapped around the baby's neck. She said that if the heart rate didn't go back up by the next contraction, she would need to break my water to speed things up and call in a doctor for backup. NO!!! This was exactly what I did not want. I had a specific vision for this birth, and those things were not in my plans. I prayed. What else was there to do? I felt the impression to change positions. So, I knelt on the ground and leaned forward onto the bed with my elbows.

Boom.

The baby's heart rate went back up. I stayed there on my knees until my son was born an hour later. No drugs, no nothing. Just my body doing what it was made to do. I told the midwife that I wanted my husband to deliver the baby, which she agreed to. That was such a gift. The cord was indeed wrapped around his little neck when he came out, but my husband unwrapped it and there were no further complications. He handed the baby to me right away and I held him close to my pounding heart, the both of us struggling for a steady breath.

I won't lie. The last ten minutes of the birth were incredibly intense. But, I've never experienced anything quite so romantic and empowering in all my life.

Sending out my love and appreciation for all of you who have left me kind notes, phone calls and food delivered to my door.

Now, I just need to get to work making a lullaby album . . .