Justice for Kyran.com

I was inspired to post this, since my grandson’s mother is a new mom and would like to read it.

When Kyran was four months old, I was invited to submit our birth story to “Bellies, Birth and Babies”, a local newsletter for families. It was published in the Spring 2002 issue:
“Oh, the nausea and that fatigue. The only thing that kept me standing was a good strong bit of ginger each hour! When telling a man what it is like, I ask him to remember the worst case of the flu that he has ever had and stretch it out several months. My spiritual experience with it was remarkable, despite my physical discomfort. Kyran’s soul was certainly much bigger than his tiny growing body and it seemed to encompass mine. My husband, Damien and I took birth classes where we drew pictures, played with clay, viewed births on slides and videos and meditated on our child in the womb. Being well versed in herbs, supplements, and nutrition, I meticulously dosed myself three times a day and kept track of each piece of fruit, vegetable, grams of protein, and quarts of water.
I took my last month of pregnancy off from work and just slept. I did not nest. That came two months after birth. False labor came two weeks before the real thing. If I were to have another pregnancy, I sure would not confuse the two again. They were totally different!
My water broke, SPLASH! on the kitchen floor at 6:00 am on Friday, August 3rd. First, I called my Midwife, Lori, my Doula Andrea. Then I called Damien to let him know he may need to come home from work early. I knew I should have rested, but since the birth was to be at home, I felt it necessary to clean the bathroom and vacuum the floor. I had the birth tub set up for several weeks prior, covered with a sheet, ready to go. I had promised our baby that he/she would have sunflowers to greet him/her on the big day, so I went to the backyard and found a huge blossom that I had never seen before. It was as if the plants were giving their best to us. I hastened to my office upstairs to make sure all was in place; Royal Jelly in honey, Arnica Montana and Nux Vomica tablets, Rescue Remedy, electrolyte Vitamin C Drink, Lavender essential oil, plenty of candles and the herbal soothing soak for postpartum that I made a week before. Our birth art [from preparation class] hung on the wall, near the tub for inspiration during the opening of my birth canal and our hearts.
Damien came home at noon and took a nap. Try as I could, I could not rest. The contractions were just strong enough to keep me tossing. I paced the floor for a few hours trying all the labor positions I learned in class and kept in contact with Andrea and Lori. They arrived early in the evening. I was horribly queasy and really did not want to eat. They kept me nourished with the vitamin C drink, applesauce, a protein drink, and Royal Jelly. Damien played guitar for me, sang, whispered some sweet encouragement in my ear, and sponged me with icy water. Andrea and Damien massaged me, as the baby moved lower and lower.
By 8pm or so, I really wanted to get in the tub. They filled it up and I slipped into heaven! The water was so warm and relaxing that the intensity of my contractions seemed to be cut in half. After a couple of hours, my fingers and toes were shriveled, and my contractions had slowed down. I was asked to get out of the tub and walk. Instead, I wanted to lie down and sleep. Andrea reminded me that my uterus would push for me, and I should try to rest as much as I could.
The only place I could relax enough was in the bathroom, where wave after wave caused me to grip the hands of Andrea or Damien. I labored for quite some time there. Finally, Andrea suggested that I take a shower to cool off. I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea. Then Lori ordered me into the shower to hang on Damien. It was a good idea, until I started freezing and shaking. I had just entered transition. I asked Damien to help me out and get my robe, but within a minute of putting it on, I was burning up again. I went back to the bathroom, where suddenly an uncontrollable urge to push came over me. I wanted to just squat on the floor. Lori asked if it was that I chose to push or could not control it. I could barely answer between my lion roars! Damien said he thought I was going to break his hand!
They filled the tub with more hot water, and I got in. Four contractions later Kyran was crowning. Then the ‘ring of fire’ was mine to experience. The room was lit with only candles. Even just before midnight it was 102 degrees there! Damien caught the baby, who promptly slipped out of his hands and started to float to the surface. Daddy got a hold and helped Lori untangle the cord. Then he brought our precious child up to the surface. Lori put a receiving blanket over the baby. I had not seen the genitals, so I reached under the blanket to gently feel, and found a baby boy in my arms! His little head had such a cone shape because he apparently did not tuck his chin enough on his way out. I marveled at his very long fingers. He coughed and breathed on his own and cried a minute later. When he opened his eyes, he looked right into ours. It was so magical. Time stood still.
We stayed in the birth tub while the placenta was delivered and examined. Then Damien cut the cord. We tinctured a piece of the placenta then placed the rest in the freezer. We plan to plant it with a young tree on our property in the San Luis Valley, when we move there. Kyran nursed soon after birth. With a couple doses of flower essences, his head swelling went down. Afterward I had a bite of breakfast, we all fell asleep in the family bed, where we have dreamed together every night since.”