Day 5: Walk it and birth it

Today we celebrate the birth of our last child, who was born at home surrounded by her siblings and caught by Baba.  It was a hard labor, unlike her brother's who was our first home birth. During our labor with her brother, I walked and walked until I could walk no more and eventually HAD to stop and give birth.  I am still tickled as I recall my Doula telling me let me to let her know when I was ready to push, I asked her "When will I know?"  but before she could answer I told her " I NEED to push!"  During our first home birth, I did not necessarily want to walk but I knew I needed to walk until the pain told me to stop, squat, sway and recite affirmations until the intensity of the pressure and pain would subside and I could then move on to walk again. Well, I stopped walking during my labor of my last birth. I usually go to bed early but I was nesting and went into labor at 11 p.m.  Initially, I walked back and forth in the upstairs hallway and by 2 or 3 a.m. I just wanted some sleep.  My Midwife, Birth Worker, and Mate kept asking are you sure? I was only able to snatch 3-4 minutes of sleep before my intense labor pains would jar me upright and I would have to  get up to walk and whistle, moan and breath through the labor pains.  Obviously, I was willing to settle for a few nips. Finally a few nip was NOT enough,  so I rose and walked and walked and walked and around 8 Baba caught a beautiful baby girl weighing almost 8 pounds.  I knew my labor was as long as it was because I choose for it to be long and hard.  Birth is going to happen. It maybe a live birth or a dead birth but it is going to happen, but you choose the walk. I choose a live healthy birth and to walk it out how 'bout you?