I always feel honored when I get to be with a family through the entirety of their pregnancy and birth journey. There is something so special about watching a couple become parents for the first time…and then seeing them welcome another baby…and another baby…and sometimes a few more.

What always strikes me about attending multiple births for the same family is how unique and distinct each birth experience is…I know this sounds obvious…but it’s really incredible to watch the same person birth three entirely different humans in entirely different ways. Birth workers say it all the time (because it’s really true): every birth is it’s own unique journey.

This third birth was a wild card (like so many third births are…) and to be perfectly honest, I almost missed it! After we all thought labor had stalled, I decided to run home to grab some breakfast and coffee because we happened to only live about 5 minutes away. I was just about to turn onto my street when I got a call: “You need to come back…she’s pushing!” My heart didn’t stop pounding until I ran upstairs and found my sweet client working so hard in the birth tub. About 15 minutes later…her baby was born.

There were a lot of tears, a lot of laughter, a lot of reminiscing, and truly…so much gratitude for the power of birth and family and friendship.