Choosing folks to be with you and around you who feel safe to you relationally and emotionally is also important.
This delivery, we chose to have one of our most precious friends with us, Joan Coleman. She is so clearly a friend who God gifted us with for so many different reasons. She has been our family away from family. Home away from home. She's like a sister, a friend, a mom. She loves my children and has supported us through the ups and downs of life as we have been busy growing our little family. We were so blessed to have her at this birth. Her nuturing, maternal presence was just what we needed.
We also invited our friend Lacie Eubank to be with us! Though I can't put my finger on why, something that was very important to me this go round was that I wanted to record this pregnancy and birth journey through photographs. So, one of my closest and sweetest friends, Lacie, generously took maternity pictures with me early in my third trimester and then she came to the birth as well! It went so fast, she made it just in time to catch all the action! We have been so extremely blessed having the photos documenting Laurel's delivery and having Lacie at the birth was a special part too! You wont' see a picture of her, because she's the one behind the camera!
Last and certainly, CERTAINLY not least!!!! My doula! Jackie Priest! Clif and I always say that we would never deliver a baby without a doula. Jackie was my inspiration into the birth world, she's one of my dearests friends, and having her at my birth is... well... I just couldn't do it without her. She knows where I'm at, what I'll be needing next, when she speaks I can get a hold of myself, when she touches me I calm down.When you are planning your birth think about what and who makes you feel relaxed and safe! And consider having them be a part of your special day!
