Midwife Jamie's Story

In 2020, after contracting COVID 19 at 23 weeks pregnant, I went into preterm labor. I spent weeks on bedrest but finally made it to full term. It was a blessing to be able to wait for my 4th baby’s labor to start on its own. I saw my chiropractor and massage therapist the day before for my final adjustment and a labor trigger point massage. That night was the first night I had no prodromal (false) labor contractions for the past 2 weeks. I welcomed the rest and slept soundly until 2 am, when I woke up to one strong contraction. I waited for another one and nothing came. I went back to sleep and was woken up again at  8:30 am with a second strong contraction.

The morning started like any other, unaware of the incredible journey ahead. My contractions were 10-15 min apart. I did not think it was real labor yet. Little did I know, my body had already been working tirelessly to bring new life into the world. Though there were signs—perhaps subtle tightening, mild discomfort, a tiny amount of bloody show—it seemed impossible to believe I was in active labor and that it would be so subtle yet productive.

A few hours passed, and I finally decided to visit my doctor’s office for peace of mind. To my astonishment, I discovered that I was already 7 centimeters dilated! Labor had been silently progressing, and the realization was both surreal and exhilarating. A mix of emotions washed over me: disbelief, excitement, and awe at the strength of my body. I arrived at the hospital at 12:30 pm. My doctor broke my water just after I was admitted at 1 pm, and my contractions remained only 8-10 min apart. 

She quickly walked down the hall to attend to another patient and in that 15 min time span, my sweet baby boy was coming. My doula, Ash, called the nurse to call the doctor to come back; Baby was coming now! Time seemed to fold in on itself as the final moments approached. Before my doctor could even make it to my room, before my nurse could get on her gloves and before the surgical tech made it with a delivery table, I delivered my beautiful baby unassisted with my own hands. It was an empowering and unforgettable moment, filled with raw emotion, instinct, and love. 

Holding my baby for the first time felt like magic—it was love in its purest form. This was the first baby I delivered after graduating as a midwife. My sweet boy I delivered with my own hands. I could not think of a more appropriate way for a midwife to deliver her baby. Looking back, I marvel at the journey. It’s a story of resilience, intuition, and the miracle of life—a story uniquely mine.