Sarah
The Birth of
Charlie Jack Brooks
Born on the 17th of December 2022
at
10.52 pm
52cm long
3.8kg
“We must understand that childbirth is fundamentally a spiritual, as well as a physical achievement. The birth of a child is the ultimate perfection of human love “- Dr Grantley Dick - Read
Sarah’s pregnancy went on for 40 weeks and two days.
This is the second time I have had the honour of supporting Sarah and Josh.
These two are just an absolute joy to be with. They are also amazing parents to Eleanor. Their new baby is so very blessed. Life is gifting him a beautiful family, who will love and treasure him always.
Sarah always embraces her pregnancies with confidence and a calm mind. Trusting in her ability to birth her babies. Sarah knows she is made to do this!
Sarah is educated and informed about all her options. Sarah is ready to meet her baby whenever he is ready.
I was planning on attending a wedding on the 17th of December and Sarah was hoping to go to a wedding on the 18th of December.
Could we dodge both days?
My birthing Goddess was having mild sensations on the morning of the 17th.
Sarah wanted me to still go to the wedding I had originally planned to attend.
I felt like Sarah was trying to hold off going into labour, as she did not want me to miss out on the wedding. I guess asking me “ what can I do to stop labour “ was a good clue
I was lucky enough to be able to attend my friend’s wedding, and by 6 pm, I could tell by Sarah’s messages that I wanted to make my way to Sarah and Josh. I arrived at 7.20 pm. Eleanor had just left to go spend the night with her nanny.
Sarah could now fully surrender to all her labour sensations. There is nothing to hold her back. This must have been a feeling of relief for Sarah. There was nothing stopping her now.
We balance Sarah’s body with spinning babies’ exercises. Sarah’s sensations are really starting to pick up, finding their rhythm.
Sarah is in good spirits. Always smiling in between sensations.
Even letting me take a photo of her in the birth sling for my records when it clearly felt very uncomfortable for hr to be in the sling.
Sarah is glowing. I mention this to Josh, and he agrees. Sarah looks beautiful in labour
Josh is a calm and loving support to Sarah. We continue to support and encourage Sarah as her sensations keep on building in intensity and frequency.
The tens machine, acupressure and double hip squeezes help manage the intensity. Sarah labours in all the optimal positions to help her baby descend.
Around 9.45 pm Josh is wondering if we should be heading to the hospital.
Maybe we should be starting to think about heading in. Sarah does share with me later that she was ready to go but couldn’t use her words to express this as she was in her birthing brain.
I had been checking a purple line that appears in the bottom of women in labour. Sarah’s line was defiantly moving up.
10.03 pm we are heading into the LGH.
The last two sensations were very strong, and Sarah can feel his head coming down as she moves down the steps.
I will follow in my car behind them. We both enter through different doors at the LGH. I can hear Sarah, I find Sarah and Josh very easily, Sarah is in the foyer holding onto a chair and working hard.
A nurse asks if we need a wheelchair. Sarah is happy to walk.
By the time we reach labour ward, Sarah is moving closer to meeting her son. We are heard before we arrive! The birth song is being sung, loud and clear. Nothing like making an impressive entrance
We are guided into a room with a beautiful big bath, as we requested. Though the lovely midwife feels Sarah may birth her baby before the bath fills up.
Our MGP midwife is also on her way to the LGH.
Sarah’s wish was to achieve a second water birth. I feel again, Sarah is holding back until she can immerse herself in the warm water. As this is her safe birthing space. Sarah is leaning over the bath and doing her almighty best to breathe her baby down and wait for the bath.
Sarah is strong enough to hold on, then she will be strong enough to let go.
Our midwife listens to baby Brooks with a Doppler, he is very happy.
The bath is ready! Josh and Sarah both move into the bath. Sarah is now exactly where she needs to be, encapsulated by the warmth of the water, she relaxes her body, and her muscles respond beautifully. We continue to support Sarah emotionally and physically, the inner power she possesses is building to match the peaks she is now experiencing. Sarah is giving herself over to the inevitability of birth. Soaring with the powerful waves, resting in calm waters. Surrendering her mind and body to the wild ride, one that will take her beyond this world, when she returns, Sarah will have her baby with her. 25min after our arrival Sarah births her baby boy into the warm water. Reaching down she can feel his head and his little ear. Touch is the first language we speak. I like to think that Sarah’s baby can feel his mummy’s safe and loving hands are there ready to welcome him . With the next few strong sensations, he makes his very gentle and peaceful debut up into his mummy’s arms. Charlie is pink and bright-eyed; he looks so very calm and happy to be snuggled on his mummy’s chest. Sarah is still glowing and of course, the biggest smile is on her face as she looks up at Josh and then the rest of us. We are all beaming from ear to ear.
The miracle of birth A new baby’s first breath truly takes ours away
There is love, joy and happiness swirling around us all. What a perfect day it has been so far
One of Sarah’s hopes was that she didn’t want to tear this time. Sarah had researched all she could on how to give herself the best chance to prevent a tear. Sarah didn’t want anyone directing her on how or when to push. Sarah wanted to listen to her body, enabling it to stretch as it needed in her body’s own time.
This strategy worked perfectly. Sarah avoided any tears.
Women are the experts on their own bodies.
That thing we call intuition … you can trust it.
“A woman in birth is once her most powerful and her most vulnerable, but any woman who has birthed unhindered understands that we are stronger than we know.” —Marci Macari
Sarah achieved the physiological and undisturbed birth she had prepared for.
A postpartum haemorrhage was to throw an unexpected twist to such a positive and empowering birth.
Thankfully we are in the right place for Sarah to receive the care and treatment she needed to control the bleeding, only just escaping the need to go to theatre
I am so proud of all you achieved in and through your birth, Sarah.
Through it all, you smiled and stayed so optimistic. Even during the haemorrhage, suffering from low blood pressure, vomiting half a packet of jubes straight up and feeling like you were going to faint, you kept saying. I have had a positive birth.
Sarah, you are the brightest star, that always shines brightly.
You controlled everything that was within your power and continued to ask questions. when you needed to trust unknown care providers as they worked to control your haemorrhage. I sat beside you; Josh was able to enjoy some special skin-to-skin with Charlie in his time, keeping close to you too.
“I am not only going to birth without fear for myself, but for all the women who have birthed with fear. I will birth with power to give other women hope and strength to pull from. Birth is safe… as safe as life can be. I will trust this process and bring my baby into the world with confidence, love, and joy.” - birth without fear
Thank you Sarah and Josh for inviting me for a second time to be part of your special birth story. I really enjoy making memories with you both. Your two beautiful children are very blessed to have you both as their parents. You all have lots of wonderful times ahead to look forward to. Parenthood is the most beautiful love story ever written in your heart.