All photos by Angelique L’Allier

Friday, 3/29, I had no signs of going into labor. I was feeling a little nervous because Banks’ due date was the next day, Saturday, 3/30. I knew babies are rarely born on their due date but I was also in the hot zone for birth to happen anytime. Matthew and I spent the day together and there was lots of peace surrounding us. Late afternoon on Friday, I started to feel nauseous but didn’t give it much thought as I had been experiencing a lot of 3rd trimester nausea around the same time of day.

I went to bed early and woke up around midnight feeling extremely nauseous and knew I was going to get sick. At exactly 40 weeks pregnant and on my due date, 3/30, I had caught the worst flu bug of my life. I was up every hour on the hour hugging the toilet in the bathroom. At around 5:30am I became concerned about the intensity of the flu and the safety of my baby. I texted my doula, Julie, that I had been vomiting through the night. She encouraged me to let Janelle, my midwife (Paris Mountain Midwifery), know since dehydration can happen quickly in pregnancy (and can put you into labor).

10am on 3/30: the bug seemed to have passed and I was drifting in and out of sleep–completely exhausted and dehydrated-trying to rest in bed because I had no idea when Banks would want to arrive and I wanted to be strong for the birth.

2:45pm: I woke up from a nap. Matthew let me know he was going to run and get some food. Almost as soon as he left, I experienced a period like cramp. I froze up hoping it wasn’t time yet. A few minutes passed and another cramp followed, and then another. I knew the labor process had started. I texted Matthew: “I might be having small starting contractions.” I remember lying in bed so physically exhausted from the flu and thinking I had no idea how I was going to make it through labor. I prayed to God that He would give me strength because I was already in a place where I didn’t have the stamina to stand up, let alone give birth. I took a last belly picture and then moved to the living room to labor.

From here on out, my memory is spotty. I’ve relied on the fuzzy moments I remember, birth notes, discussions with my birth team, and photographs. Julie and Janelle both said that when it’s time, the woman can “leave” her body to go get her baby. this statement was so true because Banks’ labor and birth were acutely out of body which was wild to experience.

4pm-11:30pm: I continued to labor at home with contractions that had decided to settle at 3-4 minutes apart and 30 seconds long. I quietly labored in different places around the house including the toilet as a labor station-iykyk—and the shower.

11:30pm: I woke up Matthew and texted my doula, Julie. The contractions were still 3-4 minutes apart but holding at a minute long. The contractions were strengthening and I knew I needed Julie by my side. I was also starting to feel extremely nauseated again which had me feeling defeated (flu round 2??). Julie said she was heading over to our home.

EASTER SUNDAY: 3/31

12:30am: Julie arrived at our home. I was sitting on the edge of the bed, and quiet during the contractions. I immediately felt safe and more empowered.

2:15am: Angelique, my birth photographer arrived. My team saw I hadn’t set up my birth space due to being down with the flu. They quickly got to work and prepared such a holy and special setting for me.

2:45am: I asked to move to the birth tub. I had a contraction halfway to the tub and had to stop so the pain could pass. Once in the tub, the warm water felt heavenly. Contractions had intensified to where I was squeezing Matthew’s hands to get through (look at our hands in the pictures) and I was vocalizing through each one.

3am: Transition. See the picture of me crying and covering my face. Something new shifted in my body and the pressure in my pelvis changed. The pressure in my butt was enormous (who knew lol) and Julie contacted Janelle, my midwife, to come. I had no idea Banks would be here soon. Henry the cat was present the entire time.

EASTER SUNDAY

3:50am: Janelle arrives. I remember seeing the oxygen tanks roll by, and then the memory fades. Janelle checked banks’ heartbeat with the doppler and I continued to labor.

4:20am: I was experiencing contractions that felt like my body was breaking. I didn’t know how to communicate because I was trying to be strong and ride out the contractions. Bless Janelle because she got to my level and said something to the effect of “it’s time to reach into your inner power and push that baby out. He’s a big baby and it will take hard work.” I was shocked! I was so focused on riding through each contraction that it didn’t seem real. It was time to push!?

4:28am: After 2-3 huge pushes, my water finally broke. It felt like an explosion inside of my body. Thankfully, pushing became a little easier.

4:28am-4:59am: After a few huge pushes, Julie asked me if I could reach up with my hand and feel his head coming down—and I could! That moment made it all real and motivated me to continue pushing. Twice I remember feeling his head go back up my pelvis which made me mad. My birth team said once he was past the curve in my pelvis, he would stay down. I gave a huge push at the next contraction, and he stayed put! The burning started and I let my team know lol. I was so afraid to tear but at that point I wanted to be done. I stopped pushing and at the next contraction, my body pushed banks’ head out. The next contraction felt like it shot his body out of mine and into the tub.

5am: After 14 hours of labor, Anderson Banks was born on Easter Sunday. As part of my birth plan, I wanted to be the first one to touch him and hold him. My team made it happen. Once it hit me that Banks had arrived, I held him, crying, while saying over and over “my baby.” His birth song was: “Evermore” by Hollow Coves. I had to move out of the tub pretty quickly due to bleeding.

5am: Since we were anticipating that I might have some extra bleeding, my team got me out of the tub and to the bed pretty quickly.

5:13am: The placenta is delivered. Angelique, captured an incredible photo showing Banks’ “home” for the past nine months. The placenta had detached almost immediately when Banks was born so getting in bed quickly allowed my team to monitor and control the bleeding.

5:14am-6:06am: This time is a blur of holding Banks and my physical exams. Praise God I only had a small 1st degree tear that didn’t require sutures. We also noticed Banks’ umbilical cord had a true knot, which is seen in 0.3% to 1.2% of pregnancies! Part of our birth plan was delaying the cord cutting. Once Janelle gave the all clear, Matthew cut the cord while Banks laid on my chest.

6:07: Julie brought me my herbal peribottle and my team helped me to the bathroom. One thing I wasn’t anticipating post birth (because I just hadn’t thought that far lol) is how tender, loving, and honoring my team would be towards me and my body when I was at my most exhausted and vulnerable. This is a memory I will hold close for the rest of my life.

After I was sorted, Janelle completed the newborn exam and Julie readied us all for the champagne toast. Banks was 9lbs 5oz, 22 inches long, and had a 15 inch head circumference. Henry stuck close the entire time.

7am: The team leaves and all is quiet in our home. We held our easter baby close, and watched the sunrise together from our bedroom.