A redemptive birth story:

As someone who struggled with a somewhat traumatic delivery with my first child I was filled with fear, distrust and anxiety delivering my second, especially in a hospital setting. A few weeks before my due date we decided that I might benefit from hiring a doula. Lucinda Goold ended up being so much more than that. Within weeks she helped me go from anxiety ridden and fearful (due to an extremely stressful pregnancy), to feeling at peace and ready for the beautiful experience that physiologic birth could be. She was so informative the weeks leading up to the birth, answering every question, empathizing with every struggle, and supporting/encouraging me to trust my God given intuition as a mother.

Doctors pushed and pushed for an early induction, but I knew if we gave Adeline time she would come when she was ready. On her “due date” at 3am contractions began. As soon as I felt that first wave I was filled with peace and joy, knowing we would meet our daughter shortly. Around 5am Sammie started making me breakfast and I spent time with our 3 year old son. It is a beautiful memory now - in the kitchen sinking into a deep squat, breathing through a contraction as Bo rubbed my back. He was concerned and I told him I just needed to breath through it, so he grabbed my hands and breathed slowly with me. That moment touched my heart in ways he’ll never know.

We headed to Scottsbluff as the sun came up and met our doula at the river walk where we walked and talked for a mile, working through each wave with counter pressure and words of encouragement. She took one last picture of our family of 3.

After a couple hours we drove to my incredible sister-in-law’s house where there was a room waiting for me. By this time I was sure my labor had stalled and I had done something wrong, but Lucinda ensured me I was allowed to rest while my body worked peacefully. I had no idea my body would allow me to rest while it still worked through labor, what an incredible thing! I rested and listened to the beautiful sound of my son and niece giggling together in the other room. Sam warmed some bone broth and made sure I stayed nourished and hydrated while Lucinda used oils to relax me and help with the back pain. When I felt rested and ready to start again Lucinda walked Sam and I through how to naturally encourage the contractions to progress. I honestly had my doubts that cuddling could release enough oxytocin to help…but we tried, and within minutes labor was fast and intense. I was blown away. A few times I felt those contractions start taking over my mind with fear and pain, but the support Lucinda and Sam gave me pulled me back together, and gave me so much strength. She coached me on how to manage those contractions through breathing and reminded me that each contraction brought me closer to meeting my daughter.

Sam was my calming force, strong and steady through it all. I’m still in awe that in a time of so much pain we shared some of the most loving moments of our marriage that brought us so much closer.

Lucinda helped me labor as long as I could in a place I felt safe, but knew when it was time for us to go to the hospital. Driving on dirt roads while in the most intense stage of labor is not something I would suggest to anyone, but it was 100% worth it. I just about gave birth in Sam’s truck, but Lucinda walked me through how to breath out each urge to push. Once we pulled up to the hospital they ran me down the hall in a wheelchair while Sam parked. Nurses kept asking me questions which I couldn’t answer because I was doing everything I could to hold the baby in, but Lucinda was right there with every answer. She knew my wishes inside and out, and was a force to be reckoned with as she ran beside me.

Everyone was running around in the delivery room, but all I could think about was making sure I didn’t push before Sam got back into the room. The relief I felt when I saw him running in was incredible, and from that point on my mind just left me. The room spinning and I wasn’t sure what was really going on, but each time a question arose I knew I could look to Lucinda and be reassured just through a glance that I was safe and had an advocate by our side to see my wishes would be heard even if I couldn’t speak.

I heard the midwife say “Ok, push” and in a couple of pushes out popped the brightest ray of sunshine. Every bit of pain disappeared as I reached for my beautiful daughter.

We spent a grand total of 6 minutes in the hospital before delivering Adeline, and it was the most incredible experience. A redemptive birth was what I had prayed for, for so long. I praise and thank God for that.

Thank you, Sara Beth Photography for capturing these beautiful moments in your home.

If anyone is in the area and is considering hiring a doula, I would highly recommend Lucinda Goold. She is truly a miracle worker!