25. Earthside: Ripley’s Story
On the early evening of July 18, 2022, I received an exciting call to attend a birth as a midwife assistant. This opportunity filled me with joy and a deep sense of purpose. God had recently reaffirmed my calling back into birth work in numerous ways, following a four-year hiatus. Just a week earlier, I had joined their prenatal visit with their midwife, where I met their sweet daughter and their gentle dogs.
With my nearly six-month-old baby in tow, I headed out, leaving my four older children at home with my visiting grandparents from Florida. They were all cozily settled in for a movie night sleepover in the living room with their great-grandma and great-grandpa.
Upon arrival, I found Josie laboring beautifully. Her husband, Adam, like many fathers, was excited yet watchful. The midwife briefed me on the progress, and together, we continued to support this incredible mama through her labor waves.
A few hours into the night, I stood back as a "fly on the wall" observer, witnessing the sacred event unfold. The three of them engaged in enlightening conversation, laughter, and snacking as needed. However, I noticed Josie becoming visibly irritable. Guided by the Holy Spirit, I gently suggested a walk, and she eagerly accepted. We set off, she in her radiant laboring glory, and I with my infant snug in our Tula carrier.
As we walked through her neighborhood, we talked about her hopes, fears, and excitement. The weather was perfect, making it an ideal day for a birth. Upon returning home, there was a noticeable shift in her—a release of tension and renewed strength. Just a bit later, she was laboring peacefully on her living room floor, nestled in a pillow bed with her coziest blanket.
While Josie rested peacefully on her living room floor, I gathered ingredients to make some Laboraide. This has become quite the tradition for me, either gifting it to a mama in her final weeks of pregnancy or whipping it up as she labors in the next room.
Josie's calm presence filled the entire home. There was no anxiety, no worries—just peace, trust, and surrender.
Shortly before 11 pm, Josie expressed a desire to get up, move, and use the bathroom. The midwife and I exchanged glances, preparing ourselves for a long night, as transition seemed far off.
But birth, in its beautiful unpredictability, had other plans. As Josie stood beside her bed with one leg propped up on the bed frame, we realized just how close her baby boy was to being earthside.
At 11:18 pm, a sweet baby boy was born right beside his parents' bed. Josie labored with such quiet strength—the fastest and most serene labor I had ever witnessed. The birth tub wasn’t even halfway full when her baby arrived! True to her intuition, she knew a water birth wasn’t her path.
As Josie sat back on her bedroom floor, propped against the closet doors, we all marveled at the beauty we had just witnessed. This sweet baby boy, whom we thought wouldn’t arrive for many more hours, was here!
Forty minutes later, the placenta was born, completing the miraculous process.
Afterward, mother and baby enjoyed a soothing herbal bath once the tub was filled, reinforcing the importance of trusting a mother's intuition.
We helped Josie get tucked into bed around 12:30 am, quietly leaving them to rest by 2 am.
Witnessing the sacred space of a birthing woman is the highest honor. The raw power and grace displayed during labor and birth are nothing short of awe-inspiring. Each contraction, each moment of surrender, and each breath taken in the rhythm of life brings forth a deep sense of reverence and admiration. Being part of such a transformative journey is a powerful reminder of the profound strength and beauty of women. It is a testament to their resilience, their unwavering spirit, and their innate ability to bring forth new life with love and courage. Every birth is a unique and sacred event, a celebration of the incredible journey of motherhood and the miraculous process of life itself.
Ripley Joseph
July 18, 2022 at 11:18pm
7lbs 4oz & 20”
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