Thad’s Birth Story | Part 6: Entering the Labor Tunnel

I shared Thaddeus’s birth story in installments on social media. Since not everyone is on social media, I wanted to also share the story of his birth here on my blog. This version is the narrative form version, which I wrote initially for family and friends. If you’re jumping in here on this post, you may want to go back and start with Part One.
Alternatively, I also have an overview post of my pregnancy and Thad’s birth over here on this post.
I could hear Gabe blowing up the tub and then getting the water going. Then I heard him building a fire in the wood stove. With each contraction, my awareness of what was happening around me would shrink to the sensations in my body and my focused thoughts and coping techniques. And then, as the tightening eased, my zone of awareness would expand back out.
Gabe tiptoed to the bedside. He kissed my forehead and offered me a straw from a glass of coconut water mixed with cranberry juice. “Birth tub’s ready, and the fire is going so it should stay nice and warm.” He whispered.
“Thanks, babe.” I said, then paused to hit start on the timer app and breathed through the contraction. Gabe waited patiently.
I exhaled slowly and stopped the timer and said, “They’re still the same. About 7 mins apart, 50 seconds average. I’m getting little naps between them. This could go on all night. You should try to get more sleep.”
He nodded and left the room, returning a few moments later after turning off any excess light in the living room. The only light in the house came from the flickering of the fire and the flickering of the candle.
He climbed into the other side of the bed and moved all my throw pillows around and off the bed to get comfortable. Another contraction came and after it was done I asked him to put a hand flat against my lower back. Gabe’s hands are always warm and they make a nice hot compress.
The house was quiet. The kids slept in the room next to us. Gabe’s breathing evened out and I could tell he was slipping into sleep also.
Other than those 50 seconds of repeated focus and concentration on keeping my body relaxed and “melty,” it felt so normal. Just another night. Our little family, cozily tucked away in the quiet, under starlight and a full moon. Gabe’s comforting presence and calm breathing in the bed behind me.
The minutes came and went. The hours came and went. The tightenings came and went. I felt slightly suspended – like I’d stepped out of the normal progression of time and had entered the labor tunnel.