Witnessing homebirth…
as in, my sister’s labor via Skype, was not how I hoped to experience my nephews birth.
Today, on her first birthday in motherhood, I am honored to share her story through my eyes..through Skype, 9 hours ahead of her time zone!
Oh and of course, read her full story here.
Why I wasn’t around
All throughout our summer 2017, I had the hope that if we didn’t visit our family, we would be able to save up enough money to travel in October/ November instead.
I even prayed sooo much for it all to play out that way. I was sooo happy to get to work as a doula for a full summer (more on that soon!). Except, all the babyness really started pulling at my heartstrings. It was more and more real that I wasn’t able to be there for my sister. Not physically there to hold her, be her doula, help her in any way she needed! Skype could only do so much right?!
Visiting our family in the summer was amazing.
I will always cherish the memories of the few days we got to go back to Miami. Enjoying time with friends and family and especially my sister was such a blessing. It also was bittersweet because I knew for a fact that I wasn’t going to be able to go back for Nicole’s labor and baby’s birth!
Sometimes it’s real hard on our emotions to receive an answer to prayer. An answer that means, sorry but no, it’s not going to happen!
I was an emotional mess the few weeks back from the States.
Back 9 hours ahead, timezones away, felt like a lifetime! I would pretty much cry every time I thought about my sister and not being able to be with her! Sending ugly cry memes and GIFs became pretty common in our messages to each other!
So when my sister called me on Skype to tell me her water broke, definite water works were released on my side too. Tears of joy for the most part and also that slice in my soul of missing out on such a big family event!
My water broke Jenny, I’m going to jump in the shower and call you back.
About an hour later…friends arriving to my home for a meeting I had planned…my mom sends me a text with a short video showing me Nicole in the birth pool in total labor land!!!
Immediate water works, through smiles and heartbreak, I hid in a corner in my home til I was composed enough to announce to my friends we would soon meet my nephew!
I got to quietly, tearfully watch…watch as our Midwife Sheila spoke to Nicole, got my brother and mom helping, and protecting Nicole’s labor space.
I watched my sister in the birth pool, breathing and moaning through contractions, wave after wave.
What a champ!
A strong woman was all I could see and thank The Most High for! Even when she was encouraged to get out of the birth pool to go in the bed for a while. Nicole got up, with help, did what had to be done. Through the pain, through the contractions.
Jenny we will call you back, nicole is going to sleep.
SLEEP! Sleep…wow…my sister is superwoman! Getting to nap during contractions? Getting to rest in the middle of labor! Well don’t let me keep you up, you go sleep girl!
So I rejoined my friends. Our Ningxia Red Party turning into a celebration of women. Me in tears thanking these wonderful woman who were joining me, keeping me company, and celebrating with me on the most important life changing day for my sister!
After everyone left, only a few women lingered behind. I got called again that my sister was back in active labor and the baby was crowning!
This time I could see my sister on her bed with her husband next to her and Sheila by her legs, keeping eye and guiding my sister’s breathing. Apparently her cervix had a lip blocking the baby. Finally the baby was ready and Nicole could push.
My brother suggested she move to the birth pool!!!
Sheila asked her, and suggested after a couple contractions, they should move her quickly.
Nicole, my sister, I am in so much AWE of her! This beautiful woman of God was moving in the hardest time in labor, from her bed back into the birth pool!
Must not even been more than ten to fifteen minutes later that Nicole gave some real good pushes. Such strong pushes all I could do was root her on in my head! I even muted myself so I wouldn’t take her focus, but even if she could hear me, Nicole was in all Spirit and Power, she was birthing her baby!!!
OUT HE CAME, the most beautiful little baby into the hands of our midwife!
This little baby who was kicking and rolling in my sister’s belly only five hours prior. This little boy, a black head of hair, purple and blue not even crying. In Sheila’s arms as she cleaned him and urged him to clear his lungs with her tender touch. And finally the little baby cries!
He cries in his mamas arms!
My sister, my little sister, a woman, a mama!!!
Unbelievable the incredible transformation we mamas go through. Transformed through our journey of entering the unknown. With only the tools given to us. The tools we’ve collected along the 9 months of preparing, gathering. until finally we get to the part of the journey that tests us to our very core. To see what we are truly made of! To see What is in store for our individual journey! How we go in, is not how we will come out.
I am so beyond proud of my sister!
Proud of her for calling upon our Father Almighty to give her strength, to help her endure. Having faith to have her baby at home. Trusting our Creator and the body He gave her to perform the way He made it to. She was able to stay in His Strength and Spirit and love, to surrender to the pain, trust the process, be strong in the unknown and persevere until having her baby in her arms.
This is true superwoman. And we all are made to do it.
All praises to The Most High always!!!
Jenny Pena
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Thank you so much for sharing such a beautiful experience. What a precious bond you have with your sister, and what a brave woman she is to home birth. Giving birth truly is the most amazing blessing to experience.?
Our bond has grown over the years as we both grew in Christ. Before we used to fight worse than cats and dogs! She is a special woman! Thank you for your words ?
You’re very welcome. That’s so wonderful. I continue to hope my siblings will come to know Christ & His joy. ?