Mountain Homebirth

by Growing Flowers

The perfect birth. Not necessarily “normal” birth, but it was perfect. I think I will avoid a discussion about the difference between “normal” and “perfect” but I think it will be a blog post one of these days.

This one was perfect.

It had been a week of many animals seen. We saw a gray and dashing coyote run across the road on the way to the home visit last week. Coming from the Ski Valley, with teens in my car,  we saw a huge herd of elk on Indian land, near the Pueblo – highlighted by the mountain and spotted by the hunter on the side of the road watching with binoculars. His old beat up truck parked on the side of the road, alerted us to the herd.

We see jack rabbits probably every day and the little fluffy cottontails too. I always like to think seeing animals is an auspicious sign, but I’m careful. We saw a golden eagle heading to a homebirth once – we were sure it was a good omen. It wasn’t. Or maybe it was, and it could have all been that much more difficult.

This birth was perfect.

Quick for the mama, quick all around. It was how you imagine birth to be when you are at home, in the mountains. Oh and they served us so much food. That matters. We dash out of our homes in the middle of the night, it’s fast. I’m happy to just have time to scrape the ice off my windshield, never time to grab snacks and meals. So when we are fed, oh gosh. It is heaven. Strawberries, sausage, cheese, blueberries, apple pies, Quiche. A thin coffee. Oh thank you, thank you for feeding us.

Hard to leave the warm, little, sunny cabin after such a birth. I like drinking the steaming coffee on the couch and filling out all the paperwork. Chatting and reliving every moment with the family. Remembering the last two hours. But I did – the apprentices bagged the placenta, loaded up the car and we drove home through the canyon. The song on my ipod made me cry. It was that joyous remembering. Oh! This is why I do this. Thank you for the reminder…..

I sent a note to Agnes Gereb when I came home – I wanted to share the beauty that I know she understands……

Just a quick note, Agnes, to tell you that I thought of you this morning.  We were out in the mountains in New Mexico. It was a clear night.  Here in the desert we can almost see every single star.  My apprentice and I and my second midwife drove to a small rented home where a mama was in active labor.  She lay on her side in the birth tub….the water soothing her.

She began pushing soon after we got there, it was a fast birth. She delivered on hands and knees on her bed – a beautiful eight pound baby boy named Stanley.

No blood loss, no complications. One of those perfect homebirths. Keep fighting Agnes. Stay strong. We love you and think of you in these moments.

love, Kiersten