Being on call during a holiday can bring much stress to birth workers. Especially one so fun as Halloween. Worrying about missing the holiday entirely are dwarfed by thoughts of whether or not we’ve prepared enough so the holiday can go on without us.
But these things pale when we’ve attended a birth that is absolutely transformative. That’s what happened last year. In the wee hours of Halloween I received the call that it was time for me to go. It was Sunday morning, my husband was in Afghanistan, my childcare provider was MIA & not answering her phone, my backup plan (and dear friend) was getting ready to attend mass that was particularly special for her & so I went to another dear friend, my backup to the backup plan. Already I’m stressed getting out the door. I still had an hour drive ahead of me, and I did remember my Halloween socks!
My childcare provider finally called as I was pulling up to momma’s door. A wash of relief allowed me to enter this birth cocoon with a different energy, not a suppressed worry.
While I won’t blog about the birth itself, I will tell you that followed was a birth so beautiful, so strong, so AMAZING. Watching this momma birth with such empowerment was a true gift. She pushed aside everything that could have derailed her amazing body and birthed her child as she intended. It was an incredible honor to be a part of this family’s special day. Births like hers are what we as birth workers strive to help our families attain.
I was on such an oxytocin rush that driving home felt like flying. In fact, I made it home in time to make chili for the building like I did every year and get my kiddles dressed to Trick or Treat. I was still able to have Halloween with my own children. It doesn’t always happen this way, but this time it did.
And wouldn’t you know that Halloween was this birthing momma’s favorite holiday? She’s cool like that.
PS – Did you notice that the blog has a new look? Ginormous Thank You to Chicken Scratch Studio (check her link on the side)! She’s my peep that keeps me looking so good. And she’s cool like that too! 😉