I’ve always wanted to see a baby be born. My C-Sections didn’t allow me to see either of my babies come into the world. I didn’t see my girls until they were both wrapped in blankets, snug and beautiful. I am so happy with my births, but I have always wondered what it would be like to have a baby “the old fashioned way.”
This weekend, I was honored to witness the birth of my friend Meghan‘s baby. I was IN THE ROOM!
I got a text from her at 12:45 on Saturday saying that her water broke. We live about 90 miles from each other, so I immediately gathered my things, made arrangements for Annie to hang with my parents, and hit the road. Meghan has two older sons and their births were fast, so I was determined to make it on time. I cried in the car on the drive up, so emotional about the opportunity to witness such a special event. I knew better than to cry in front of Meghan, though. She’d kick my ass.
When I arrived, she was getting her epidural, so I had some time to kill. I walked around the floor, spending lots of time looking at the mural around their NICU.
When I was finally able to go in Meghan’s room, she was chilling on her bed like nothing was going on. She made my fainting episode look like a scene out of a bad TV show. With her epidural in place, all we could do was wait.
Her husband used the downtime to pop in at a birthday party, so it was just Meghan and me hanging out. And it was so much fun, it didn’t feel like we were in a hospital at all. Laughing at the crazy sounds her body was making, talking about our kids, and being silly. Well, I was being silly.
I was ready to catch that baby.
She was, you know, in bed having contractions.
I was in awe of how calm and cool she was. I wasn’t surprised, though. Meghan was my rock after Maddie died. I asked and needed so much from her, and she did everything without missing a beat. Everyone should be lucky enough to have a Meghan in their lives. I am surrounded by wonderful people. I am so, so lucky.
Meghan was totally in control – she predicted he would be born before 6:30. At 6:15 the nurse told her she was fully dilated and ready to push. Things got crazy busy as the nurses prepared Meghan and the room. Meghan’s husband (who had returned) and I grabbed our cameras and got ready.
I am completely shocked that I managed to take any pictures. I was so in awe of Meghan. I think I stood there most of the time with my mouth hanging open in amazement. Three pushes, and he was out. It felt like it took five seconds. Just thinking about it now, I have goosebumps and tears. I am so overwhelmed with love and admiration and pride and a million other emotions. She pushed out a baby! WOW.
Meghan asked me to take some pictures of her beautiful new son, and I jumped at the chance.
I know she’ll share more of the photos I took of him (along with his name) on her blog.
To be there for such a special event was unreal. I feel the joy and happiness from my feet to my head, and I am holding onto it tightly. His birth was definitely one of the best days of my life. I can’t wait to tell him that some day. Thank you for letting me be there, Meghan! It meant so much to me. More than you’ll ever know.
They are both so beautiful.
Annie Y says:
It’s so awesome that you got to be a part of this. I think everyone should get to witness a birth because it is truly amazing.
Congrats to Meghan, DJ, Dylan and Zach Zach and to you for being an amazing friend and being there for her!
Elle says:
I love baby feet! He is adorable. I saw some of the pics you put up on twitter and one of my favs was the photo of the care team info. Under special needs it had “secret Harry Potter name”. That made my day.
Elle says:
I’m such a dork. I also meant to say I’m so glad you were able to have this experience and congrats to Meghan and her family.
Alison says:
That is so amazing. I am in awe! I am also a wee bit jealous. I’ve had four c-sections myself (five babies – my twins and my singleton, then two singleton surrogate babies). I’ve never witnessed a birth beyond those five babies being plucked out of my body.
I am so glad you got to witness this. I am sure she felt just as blessed having you there!
Chantal Blue says:
I’m going to echo what everyone’s saying. Congrats to you all!
Kate @ UpsideBackwards says:
Congratulations, Meghan!
What a beautiful, beautiful story.
NoL says:
Congrats to Meghan & her boys!
And, thank you for the cute shot of baby feet….so sweet!
Lynn from For Love or Funny says:
I don’t know why, but I’m crying tears of happiness too. He is beautiful, and Meghan looks absolutely radiant! I love the photos that you took, Heather; they are just breathtaking.
AmazingGreis says:
What an amazing experience!! Everyone needs good friends in their lives and I’m so glad you have Meghan and that she has you. What great pictures. The last is my face, Meghan and baby are just so beautiful!!! So happy for another healthy baby!!
Jellis In Cleveland says:
Congrats! He is adorable.
I am glad you posted this and shared the experience. I too have had 2 C Sections and to deliver a baby naturally is still on my wish list. It took away from what seems like would be a magical experience.
mama_k says:
congrats to all of you…so glad you got to share this experience together.
makes me miss my job – i’m on mat leave from my work as a midwife, where i get to witness the miracle of birth regularly. i know i’m in the right career, because the experience never ceases to fill me with awe and gratitude.
Becky says:
Crying happy tears over here too! Thank you for sharing this with us! My son turned 11 last weekend and one of my best friends was there for his birth! I thanked her for being there and she thanked me for allowing and wanting her there! It’s something I’ve never done, but was happy to give her the chance to do! It’s a day/time neither of us will ever forget!
Jess says:
Very cool…I too got to witness the birth of my dear friend’s baby, and it seemed like it lasted 2.2 seconds. I think I just stared with my mouth open the whole time with a “good job, push!” every so often. It was amazing, and I will never forget watching something so beautiful. Very fortunate for me since I had a c-section!
mel says:
This is the sweetest post. Love that you girls have each other! Cheers to a gorgeous baby boy and his super cute mama!
Lora says:
Wow! This is awesome. I was honored to witness my sister birth her 3rd baby, and it was incredible. You’re right, it’s an experience to be treasured.
Nicole says:
What an amazing thing you were able to witness! Congrats to Meghan on her new little bundle, I follow her blog and have been waiting to hear!
Jenny says:
WOW! Just so much wow! I keep looking at the picture of his little feet with his perfect little toes and toenails. Birth really is an amazing miracle. Congratulations and best wishes to the newest member of your circle!!
Courtney says:
I was there for my nephew’s birth and I feel the same as you – it is just the best ever. My nephew was born less than six months after my Mom passed away. To be there when my Mom passed away and then to be there to witness her first grandchild being born… Wow. I’m sure, for you, it is particularly sweet to witness life after such great pain, losing your dear Maddie.
I am 38-1/2 weeks pregnant. I sent your post to my Aunt who will be there when our little girl is born. It is her first time as well and she was just saying the other night, “I hope I don’t cry!” I told her to CRY! It is the best ever and let those tears flow. I know I will.
Congrats to you and Meghan!
Momma Lioness Michele says:
I’m so happy for Meghan and her family, your photo of her and her new baby is gorgeous! She truly is a rock star. I’m thrilled for you to have experienced this as well – what a beautiful recap of the day! Congratulations to Meghan’s family, and to you too, Aunt Heather!
Karen says:
Squeee!!!
Congratulations Meghan and family and friends!
Welcome, welcome, welcome to this huge, amazing, beautiful and astounding world little guy! Wonderous things await you. Wishing you lifelong blessings and guardian angels.
Though by the gist of things I think neither you nor Meghan would have had it any other way, I am so glad for you that you were able to be there for Meghan and her husband and to welcome their son directly into the world.
{ }
Meghan says:
I love you. Thank YOU for being there with me. My boys and I are lucky to have you.
Elizabeth says:
Congrats to Meghan and her family, her little boy is beautiful. What an amazing experience you got to take part of.
Erin says:
I found your blog through Meg as we lived across the street from each other when she was an east coast girl. How blessed you both are to have each other and your lovely babies. I read your blog all the time and hope to meet you one day when I get out to Cali to see Meghan. You and your daughters make me laugh, cry and see such joy in life. And yay Meghan, you are a rockstar deliver of babies my dear!!
Trisha Vargas says:
So special. Thank you for sharing. I am sure it was amazing and I’m sure Meghan was so happy you made it there in time.
(((HUGS))) from Florida
Ashley says:
Congratulations to the family! He’s beautiful
Audrey says:
I got to watch my best friend give birth. It was the most amazing thing ever. I have an open invitation to anybody that wants to come to my next birth. I’ll never keep that secret gift to myself again.
jeannine says:
very cool. i hope to witness one myself. and if i have another i hope to have someone there to take pictures.
Christen says:
How awesome!!! Just amazing!
Katrina says:
Congratulations to your Meghan! How very special that you were able to be in the room when her baby was born. I have never been in the room with a birthing mother. I think the first time for me will be with one of my daughters
Bren says:
I had my first natural and my second via emergency c-section. There is always that regret of not seeing the birth of my second (I was not even awake!) but either way it is just a wonderful thing! I am so glad you got to take part in the birth!
Pattie says:
Congrats to Meghan on her beautiful little boy, and to you as well for getting to be a part of it.
I’m at 36 weeks and praying I get to have a natural labor. I can only hope I’d have just three pushes like Meghan did until she came out.
krystal says:
So happy for Meghan and family, and a little jealous that you got to witness a birth lol! Like you I’ve only had 2 c-sections and I soo want to see a birth. I keep begging my friends to get pregnant so I can be there but they are all very selfish and wont get pregnant for me yet! They whine how they are not ready for kids and blah blah blah, psshh whatever I just want to be there to catch a baby people!
Anyways again congrats to Meghan!
Issa says:
I’m so glad you were able to be there. It’s one of those weird experiences that everyone should get to have.
He’s so dang cute.
Ms. Moon says:
There is no greater honor than being asked to be at someone’s birth. I am so glad you got to experience this. How beautiful Meghan and her son are. You are right. They are.
domestic extraordinaire says:
I am so happy that you could be there for her and that she is there for you.
Everyone needs an amazing friend.
((hugs))
Lisa says:
That is so awesome that you got to be there with her and experience that with her. He is such a little doll. Meghan is an amazing, amazing lady, and she makes cute kids
Candice says:
I am thankful you have Meghan. She sounds like a great friend.
I was also fortunate enough to be in the room when my best-friend delived her second son. My family was living in South Africa at the time and I flew all the way home to be there. What a special, amazing, beautiful moment…that I will cherish forever. I had my son the old-fashioned way, but there is a big difference between doing it and observing. Both special in their own right.
Jenn says:
Hi Heather,
When you twittered me last night, I didn’t realize you where actually AT THE HOSPITAL with Meghan! WOW – What an amazing gift she gave you. I let my sister come into the birth of my 3rd child. When she did, she was so excited, she cried and she tells everyone it is the greatest gift I could have ever given her. I so hope too be able to be able to witness a birth one day. It is definitely on my “Bucket List’.
Take Care,
Jenn
Glenda says:
Beautiful post… Congrats to Meghan and family. I had 2 “old fashioned deliveries” minus the epidural… I was in the delivery room for my niece-in-law and she ended up w/ a C-section so I had to leave, but was there during the initial contractions and pushing, but she pushed for what seemed hours before the Dr’s realized she needed a C.
Amanda M. says:
Isn’t it crazy watching a tiny human come out of a bigger human?? My lifelong BFF let me watch her push out her tiny human, and you nailed the awe-inspiring nature of the event. You see it in movies and on TV, but to stand there and watch it makes you realize how absolutely insane it is.
I’m glad you got to experience it! I imagine, vaginal delivery or otherwise, it’s a very different experience when you’re the one expelling the tiny human, so being a third party in the room, I think, is super epically cool.
Michelle H. says:
Congrast Meghan! I’ve seen one baby born in person and it was the most amazing thing I’ve ever witnessed. I’m so glad you got to see it Heather!
Lauren says:
Beautiful pictures to go along with an equally beautiful post.
amanda says:
you ladies are BOTH amazing. Thank you for sharing those perfect pics!
DesignHER Momma says:
I can only say, from a receiving end of this gift, that you gave her something that is completely and udderly priceless. This? I know.
Trisha k says:
I whitnessed birth for the 1st time when I was 16 & it still makes me cry thinking about it it really shaped my ideas, veiws and opinions on birth.
My beautiful daughter was born at home on our bed. My midwives (2 of them) mom and husband were there and my father was hiding in our spare room. Our dogs (one named Eleanor Rigby BTW) were chilling on the floor:). This is the way I think of birth, the way I experienced it. This is what feels normal to me. I am so in awe of the brave women who have cesareans- what they go through for their babies. I think birth is so amazing no matter how that baby comes out, the mama still brought it into the world.
Congratultions to Meghan! Beautiful baby<3
Dawn @ What's Around the Next Bend? says:
Heather I am SO glad you got to be witness to this! Nothing better than to experience a loved one’s little on coming into the world!
Michelle W says:
Friendships are so amazing and I am so glad you have each other and that you got to share this amazing moment. Although I have delivered the “old fashioned way” I’ve never been on the other side to be a witness and it’s something I’d like to do. My Sister was there for my first born (along with my husband) and she was overcome with emotion and really appreciated being part of that moment and she was such a gift to us too!
Jill says:
Tears of joy for both of you who have each other, and for your families to know and appreciate what true friendship means. What a wonderful experience. For both of you.
T says:
My twins were born at 24 weeks and spent 4 months in that NICU. Their hand prints aren’t up yet, but they have been prepped and will hopefully be up when they move to the new NICU.
EmmieJ says:
This —> “Everyone should be lucky enough to have a Meghan in their lives.” <— Abso-freakin-lutely. So glad you got to be there for Meghan. She deserves it and so do you. Love to you both.
Amy says:
Dammit, now I’m crying again. You are both amazing. xo
alicia says:
SO awesome.
Expat Mom says:
That’s awesome that she let you be in on such a neat experience. I know from personal experience that what feels like seconds to YOU is a little longer for the mom, lol. Course, I was never allowed an epidural, so I guess it seemed even longer.
Meghan is gorgeous and so is her little boy!
Marsha says:
I was lucky enough to experience an entire pregnancy and birth of my friend Annie’s twin son and daughter. The best part was that before Annie even had her first ultrasound, I told her that she was going to have twins and that they would be a boy and a girl. I believe her response was “SHUT UP!” And then she had that first ultrasound and nearly passed out when they told her it was twins! I was the first one she called I believe! Anyway, even though they were born via c-section, it was the most amazing experience of my life, especially since I have not been blessed with my own babies.