On Saturday, November 9, 2019, I had my first contraction at 10:33pm. Contractions continued from this point onward, throughout the rest of the evening and into Sunday morning, lasting about 30 seconds, about 10-20 minutes apart. All day Sunday, these contractions increased in intensity and in consistency, though I still managed to hike up a hill to get my last pregnancy Photoshoot in (at exactly 40 weeks)…
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By 7pm, there was no doubt that I was in active labor; the contractions were roaring, as was I, and by 5:17am on November 11, 2019 (11/11โจ) Harmony Riot was born of a home water birth, weighing in at 7 pounds, 5 ounces, and measuring 19.25 inches in length.
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The sun began to rise ๐ right upon the birth of my placenta, as Benny and I laid with our beautiful daughter in the company of my mom and our incredible midwife and medical assistant. I learned I did not need a doula to do what the wisdom of my Womban body knew and had always known how to do. I donโt believe that I could have felt more empowered throughout the duration of this labor as I did.