Sharna
Welcome To the World
Murphy Skye Te Aroha McCrimmon
EDD – 21.02. 2025
Born on the 12.02.2025
At 3.52 am
Weight 7 pounds 3 ounces (3.2kg)
Length 52cm
Head 34cm
This birth story as seen through my eyes is extra special, as Baby McCrimmon is also my granddaughter.
“Birth is the epicentre of women’s power, where strength, love, and resilience come together to bring new life into the world.” – Unknown
For my son, Isaac, this will be his first baby, and for Sharna, her second. Sharna is already a wonderful mum to the gorgeous Maddi, who, at 13, is eagerly looking forward to becoming a big sister. There are so many new and precious memories ahead for Isaac, Sharna, Maddie, and our whole family. Baby McCrimmon, you are already so loved.
Sharna’s pregnancy has not been without its challenges—morning sickness, a threatened miscarriage, pubic symphysis pain, low iron, and relentless Braxton Hicks contractions. But through it all, she has reminded herself that it will be worth it in the end. I’ve shared so much with Sharna about pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal journey, and she embraces it all with an open heart.
Isaac has been an incredible support to Sharna, always ready to care for her in whatever way she needs—whether it’s making her breakfast or giving her a foot rub. These two make a great team.
As I prepare to make the trip to Hobart for the birth of Miss McCrimmon in the next week or so, I receive a call on the 7th of February that may change all our plans.
At Sharna’s 38-week appointment, the midwives were unsure of her baby’s position. An ultrasound confirmed that Baby McCrimmon is in a breech position. For all these months, what Sharna thought was her bottom nestled under her ribcage was, in fact, her head. This little one has always been very wiggly—has she been trying to turn? We don’t know.
It was upsetting news for Sharna and Isaac—and for me too. Their midwife has arranged for them to go to the hospital on Saturday for monitoring and an attempt to turn their baby. There are a lot of nerves and feelings of disappointment as I write this today. But we do have a plan B if she doesn’t turn or if it’s deemed unsafe to try.
I have my Spinning Babies book on breech turning and moxa sticks, which we can use if Sharna and Isaac decide to explore that option. I’ve seen great success with previous clients turning their babies, so we’ll hold onto hope.
8th of Feb
An update from Sharna: she is in the hospital, feeling nervous about the procedure, as is Isaac. Baby is in a complete breech position, with the cord safely out of the way and the placenta in a good place. Our hearts are praying, and our fingers are crossed that she turns happily to head down.
The next phone call that morning brings news we had hoped to avoid—after multiple attempts, Miss McCrimmon, for her own reasons, has not been able to turn. She remained happy throughout and didn’t miss a beat as they encouraged her to shift position. A caesarean has now been booked for Monday, the 17th of February. We are all disappointed.
It’s decided that I will drive to Hobart to share what I know, helping them prepare for a caesarean and guiding them in creating a birth map that allows for a positive birth experience.
Bringing little humans earthside comes with a whole world of unknowns—it truly is an emotional rollercoaster. We all carry in our hearts a vision of how birth might unfold, and in a matter of moments, that vision can be rewritten. It takes time to process. Then, in true birthing goddess style, Sharna wipes away her tears, looks fear in the eye, and gives her a wink. She reframes her thoughts, focusing on what is within her power to control rather than what she cannot. And above all, we hold on to the deepest truth—that love will conquer all the moment their baby (affectionately known as ‘Baby” by her big sister Maddi) is welcomed into the world.
It may not look as we imagined, but one thing will remain the same: the moment you see your child for the first time, it takes your breath away. That magic is constant, no matter how birth unfolds.
I pack all my doula tools, ready to demonstrate the Spinning Babies breech program and how to use moxa sticks, giving Baby McCrimmon every chance to turn—if it is within her power to do so.
10th of February
Sharna, Isaac, and I spend the entire day—and long into the night—dedicated to the Spinning Babies program, filling the house (and ourselves) with the scent of moxa smoke. By the time we collapse into bed, we all sleep the best we have in weeks.
I leave the next day, trusting them to continue with the program and see what unfolds. The doctors believe there’s only a 3% chance she will turn on her own. But sometimes, babies settle into certain positions for a reason. The best we can do now is help Sharna’s muscles and ligaments find balance and softness, giving her baby the space to move if she chooses.
I leave them in good spirits, choosing to trust in whatever mother nature has planned in the hours and days ahead. She knows the best way for Baby McCrimmon to make her debut.
Around midnight on the 12th of February, my husband and I are woken by a phone call. It’s Isaac and Sharna—Sharna’s waters have broken in bed, and it seems Baby McCrimmon has chosen her own birth date. Of course, we can’t go back to sleep. Isaac and Sharna caught between excitement and nerves, make their way to the Royal Hobart Hospital. I’ll drive down in the morning to support Sharna, Isaac, and Maddi once they’re settled in the postnatal ward. My heart is so full as I pray for Sharna and look forward to meeting my precious new granddaughter.
“Birth is the epic waiting game. It’s a long pause filled with hope, dreams, and the certainty that your world is about to change forever.” – Unknown
I do know that Sharna is happy that their baby has chosen her own birthday and that her body has gone into spontaneous labour, knowing the hormonal benefits this will bring to both her and her baby in the hours, days, months and years to come.
At the hospital, it’s confirmed that their baby girl is still breech. With Sharna beginning to dilate and experiencing mild contractions, the care team decided not to wait for the morning changeover—her caesarean will be happening soon. Their midwife is on her way in, ensuring they have a familiar face to walk this path with them.
This isn’t the way they imagined meeting their baby, but birth—like life—rarely follows a script. One thing never changes, though: the moment you first lay eyes on your child, it stays with you forever.
No matter how a baby is born, it is an act of love, a testament to strength, and a moment that reshapes a woman in ways that can’t be measured.
In the hours before surgery, I knew the weight of it all was pressing on them. Isaac, being the steady force beside Sharna, did his best to keep her mind from racing. In true Isaac fashion, he turned to humour, lightening the room with impromptu skits. Sharna filmed Isaac playing the role of a confident surgeon, dressed in his theatre scrubs as if he were about to deliver a perfectly healthy baby. I can see in the video that, despite her nerves, Sharna is smiling at the man she chose to walk through life with—the one who would not only hold her hand but also hold her heart.
And together, they would do this. Because, in the end, love carries us through.
“The most empowering and emotional part of birth, however it unfolds, is the moment you hear your baby’s first cry. In that instant, you know that no matter how your journey brought you here, your love is the most important thing.”
- Krista McCrimmon -Doula
At 3:52 am, the world seemed to stop, holding its breath, honouring that one moment in time that would change Isaac and Sharna’s life forever. Their beautiful, healthy baby girl made her debut. With dark hair and bright little eyes, she looked at them intently through the clear screen as the drapes were lowered and let out a healthy cry. Listening to Isaac and Sharna share Murphy’s birth with me, I could feel the love that filled the room—so special, it took your breath away. All those months of wondering what their baby would look like and how her journey into the world would unfold came together in that one perfect moment.
Sharna’s birth was challenging for both mummy and baby, but they both showed incredible strength. Baby McCrimmon was firmly wedged in her breech position, and it was discovered that the cord was wrapped around her neck three times. Thankfully, it was loose enough not to cause any distress, but it completely prevented her from turning head-down. If she could have talked, she would have said, “Mummy, I can’t turn, sorry.” In the end, a cesarean birth was the only safe option for her birth. She made the call.
Although their story unfolded differently than they had imagined or hoped, the love they have for their child is no less powerful. Isaac, becoming a first-time dad, and Sharna, welcoming her second precious baby after 13 years since Maddi, are in awe of the new life they’ve brought into the world. Their first thought when they met their daughter was that she looked so much like her big sister, Maddi.
Isaac shared with me, “Mum, I know now why you call all your clients birthing goddesses. I just witnessed Sharna be so brave and strong when she was so scared. I can’t believe what she has done for us and for our baby.” Writing this part brings tears to my eyes. Birth is an emotional rollercoaster, but the reward is something you could never trade.
Sharna, I know you were both scared and incredibly brave at the same time. I also know that birthing your baby this way wasn’t what you had hoped for in your heart. But I hope you can see that this journey is a testament to your strength and resilience—a courageous path to bring new life into the world.
“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop and look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think that you cannot do.” Eleanor Roosevelt
There is so much excitement and joy in our house today as we celebrate the birth of our beautiful new little family member. When Isaac and Sharna facetime John and me this morning, our hearts were bursting with love. Thank you, Sharna, for the gift of our beautiful granddaughter and niece.
Our extended family and friends were also excited to hear that Murphy had made her debut. My mum, who so lovingly crochets a special little animal for all my beautiful clients, has made one for her new great-granddaughter and is eagerly looking forward to giving it to her. This is a beautiful tradition my mum has upheld for me since I’ve been a doula, and it fills my heart with love knowing Murphy will have a little keepsake made with so much love from her great-grandmother."
"Every birth is a miracle, a reminder of the incredible strength within a woman and the profound love that will carry her through life." – Unknown
I hope to express the utmost love—the kind that hardly has a name special enough to describe—when you meet a little part of yourself in the form of a granddaughter.
I drove down from Hobart, excitement bubbling inside me the whole way. We had all been looking forward to the birth of this beautiful baby girl, and now, at last, it was time to meet her. As I walked into the maternity ward, I felt it straight away—the love, the peace, the quiet magic of new life.
Maddi’s face was full of wonder, and my son was glowing with pride. And then there was Sharna, my birthing goddess—vulnerable and radiant, having given everything of herself to bring their baby into the world. She had been through so much, yet in this moment, she was shining. And in her arms, this dark-haired little soul, so fresh, so new, yet already carrying the hopes and dreams of a whole family.
As my baby granddaughter was placed in my arms for the first time, my heart melted, completely hers from that first touch. As I looked at her tiny face, I saw my son, my daughters, and the generations before her, all woven into this perfect little being. And in the curve of her beautiful full lips, a reflection of her mummy. In her features, glimpses of her big sister. She carries pieces of all who love her, a beautiful blend of the families who came before her.
I whispered to her how loved she was, how we had all been waiting for her, how lucky we were to have her. Murphy looked up at me, her eyes wide and knowing, as if she already understood. That moment—her warmth in my arms, the weight of her tiny body against my chest—felt like the most precious gift.
The love of holding my granddaughter for the first time—it’s a moment I will carry with me forever.
It fills my heart to watch my son step into the role of a new dad to Murphy, showing a depth of love, care, and protection for his daughter that is beyond words. I’ve witnessed his love and dedication to Maddi, and now, seeing him with Murphy fills me with pride. The tenderness, devotion, and kindness he shows to Sharna only add to this immense feeling. I’ve always known he would be this man—strong, protective, present, kind, and filled with love. I love him more than words can express, and I’ve always been so proud to be his mum.
Sharna is truly the most beautiful mum, and I couldn’t wish for a more loving and caring young woman than her to be my son’s life partner. She’s such a treasured member of our family, and the love she shares with Isaac makes my heart swell. Sharna and Maddi are both a true gift, and I feel so blessed to have them in our lives.
To finish my special story, I want to thank Isaac and Sharna for trusting me and welcoming all my knowledge as I supported you both during your special journey—first as the nanny-in-waiting, and then as your doula. You both truly valued everything I had to share, and I’m so grateful for that.
Now, the next chapter in their story begins as they navigate life with a new baby—the recovery, getting to know Murphy, functioning on little sleep, soaking in the love, and experiencing all the new firsts. I’m so grateful to be here with them for the next 10 days, supporting them in their new role and helping Sharna as she recovers from her surgery. It’s an honour to witness these sacred first days, and I’m enjoying stepping into the roles of postpartum doula, nanny, cook, cleaner, and dog walker.
As you make new memories as a family of four, I hope you savour every moment. Murphy is so blessed to have the most beautiful family to love and treasure her for the whole of her life.
Welcome to the world, Murphy Skye Te Aroha (meaning 'the Love') McCrimmon. We are so blessed, and you are so loved."
Love Krista, Mum and Nanny xxxx