The Birth Story of Xavier | Waxahachie Texas, Born 2 B A Blessing

My husband, Jose, and I arrived at Born 2 B a Blessing, Birth Center at about 7pm. We were greeted by our wonderful midwife, Terry Gyde, her apprentice ,Michaela, our awesome doula, Erandy Rivera, and another midwife, Rachel. Terry also arranged for an amazing photographer, Kourtnie, to come document this beautiful event for us. Terry suggested that I try to stay active to see if the labor would progess, so Jose put our labor music playlist on and I began to dance. I was so thankful that our doula, Erandy, was there to help relieve the discomfort of the contractions and show Jose and my mom how to help me too.

At about 9pm Terry decided to check to see how far along we had progressed. I wasn’t too far along, but enough to know that I was in labor. So she suggested that Jose and I try to get some rest in the birth center bedroom. I was very happy to comply with this as I knew I needed rest. We laid there and listened to our music and the thunderstorm outside. It was calming and I did get to rest in between contractions that Jose helped me through. After what seemed like just a little bit, I felt something like my water had broken. Throughout the night, I kept thinking of how thankful I was for having asked Terry so many questions, read books, and taken birth classes because it made me more prepared for all the stages of labor. After this, I got up and I continued to try to stay active, but it became harder so I sat on the birth ball to rock and had a delicious bowl of sweet potato soup my mom had made for me.

After some time, Terry decided I could go ahead and get into the birth pool. I was so happy once in the nice warm water because it helped so much trying to relax through what became very intense rushes of contractions. I didn’t really have a sense of time, but apparently hours and hours went by of me and Jose being in the birth pool. He was so amazing to get in the pool with me to help support me through it all. I don’t know how many cups of water I drank but if felt like dozens and I was blessed to have my mom and the team there to give me water, and fruit. After a long while, I knew that I was going through transition because I got very nauseous and again was happy I hit another step getting us closer to meeting Baby Torres. Another hour or so had passed and the rushes kept on. I tried my best to remember everything Terry had suggested and even what was suggested in Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth. I changed positions, tried my best to relax through the rushes, made deep low sounds through them, and even made out with my husband as its said that can help too.

It was now about 3:30am and still no urge to push so Terry had me get out of the birth pool so she could check to see how far along I was. Once I laid on the bed, Terry said I was fully dilated and effaced. I was ready to try to get us Baby Torres here. So instead of getting back in the birth pool, I decided to try the bed. I was so exhausted from lack of good sleep the night before and well, many hours of labor, so it just felt good to be able to lay down. Jose quickly ran to the bathroom to change out of his wet clothes thinking I might push the baby out right then, but after a few attempts of pushing, there was still no Baby Torres. So I then changed to a squatting position and tried pushing a couple of time that way. Still nothing and that made me even more tired, so back to my back I went. And this time, I knew I had to give it all I had to meet my new baby. After several more attempts of pushing, it was paying off.

All this hard labor and finally they could see a head crowning. After another couple of pushes, a whole head came out and they got to see the baby’s face. I knew that I didn’t have much energy or strength left so I remember thinking I had to push with all my strength left so I could meet my baby. And so I did. I knew once the baby was out because of all the smiles in the room. My mom yelled out, “es boy!” and Jose had the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on him. I wanted our baby’s gender to be a surprise and I’m so glad we did because it made finally meeting him so much better. I had a new baby boy! Terry immediately put him on me and I was happier than I’d ever been. A beautiful, healthy baby. All I had prayed and prayed for and I was thanking God for having listened and delivered. After a while, Terry showed Jose how to cut the umbilical cord and we were still in awe of what we had made with love. I then got to feed my baby for the first time. I was so thankful Erandy was there to help us. By this point, I was beyond exhausted and I couldn’t have fed our baby without her. Terry checked the baby, then me, and all was well. Thank you, Lord!

Terry and Erandy then prepared an herbal bath for me to help with recovery and Jose got to hold his son. His name was Xavier Giovani, picked out by daddy. This first time Jose carried him, Xavier decided he had to go and Jose was the first one to get pooped on. LOL!

The herbal bath was so calming and relaxing, I couldn’t help but fall right to sleep. I had to wake up after a bit so that Terry could read me my postpartum instructions for myself and the baby. Then I got dressed. We got Xavier dressed in his “Welcome to the World” outfit and we got to go home. At this point, Jose and I were both so thankful and satisfied with our birth center experience. We went home and Jose, Xavier, and I all took a much needed long nap after all that hard work. Giving birth was as perfect as I imagined it could be and our baby was even more perfect than I could have ever imagined. Jose and I thought we knew what love was, but from that moment on, we now know even more amazing true unconditional love.