Congratulations. You broke me for a while there.
But you didn’t break the spirit and strength of all the families I’ve worked with. I didn’t birth their babies for them. THEY did that. THEY had the strength to get through the hard minutes, hours, some even DAYS of hard work. THEY believed in themselves and breathed their babies into their OWN hands. THEY bought the supplies. THEY filled the pools, THEY studied and did the work necessary to give birth at home CONFIDENTLY, FEARLESSLY, and FIERCELY. THEY took responsibility for their choices AND outcomes. They didn’t need or WANT anyone else to blame if things didn’t turn out the way they hoped. They accepted that whatever happens is because it was supposed to happen that way. Whether that be a land birth vs water birth, a transfer, a C-section, or even a loss. That’s the reality of ALL birth.
Some may say they couldn’t have done it without me, but it’s not true. Each and every one of them could have. But they chose me to be there. They chose me to encourage them. They chose me to support them. They trusted our friendship and knew that I cared for them and their babies. They wanted the information that I have, fully knowing that I didn’t know everything. Fully well knowing I did not possess the power of The Almighty. Fully well knowing that I would walk with them through their journeys no matter what came their way. They held up their end of the deal. As did I.