Monday, May 22, 2006

Dignity


Kenya* - 28
Newark, NJ
1 daughter (19 mo)

I got the call on thursday night, as the clock neared midnight. She was having mild contractions, and she didnt want to be alone. I made the 80+ mile trip, tired from the days' festivities, and sat in the dark as she tried to sleep. We breathed, we rocked, i rubbed her hips with almond oil as she raised and lowered her fingers in time with the chants. I held her in the shower as she swayed. I brushed the hair from her brow as she cried.

She was a wild animal in her "sacred" habitat... there was incense burning - sandalwood - and a rubber pool. There were grapes and nasty brown rice crackers that we laughed at and I refused to try. We sat on her bed, piled with pillows, and talked about how powerful being a woman can be.

The phone went out because of the rain, and we kept the lights off. She shouted the title of the next cd that should be put on the stereo. Decency was not a thought at all as we stood near the windows - one nude, one clothed but still soaked from the shower - and moaned the word "ooooooOOOOOPEN!"

We went to 7-11 for slurpees.

And it took hours upon hours upon hours. But the opening gave way to pulsing, screaming, thoroughly electric energy.


And he was there. And we sat in awe.

So beautiful.

Welcome to the world, Adonai.
*Kenya is a Doula in the New Jersey area. She writes about motherhood at Me vs. Rut

11 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Isn't it amazing? Angels bringing forth Angels.
Kenya -- your work must make the Creator smile. Pray that doulas and midwives will double and triple and quadruple in numbers; that the way in which we bring children into this world will be this beautiful and this serene always. And that women will see through clear eyes how simply wonderful it is to be a woman.

God bless you, Kenya, and that womyn and that precious baby!

2:27 PM  
Blogger Trula said...

That was amazing to read! How lucky and and blessed this mother was to have that birth experience with you!

7:52 AM  
Blogger the prisoner's wife said...

awww, how beautiful!

1:30 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This just feels good to my wild woman/earth baby sensibility. If I ever have another child I would love to have an experience as intimate and close to the heavens as this.

6:44 PM  
Blogger soledadsista3 said...

That is everything I ever wanted my first birth to be...I've been telling my sister friends (3 of which are pregnant) that you hardly ever remember the pain...you always remember the things that surround it...but you always remember the overwhelming emotion and love as soon as that child pops out of you...

7:33 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A new life among us! What a wonderful read! Congrats to the both of you.

I love the name!

10:28 AM  
Blogger Andromeda Jazmon said...

Beautiful1

11:58 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

That was gorgeous!

Thank you for sharing. It made the emotions surrounding the birth process so understandable, especially for those of us who aren't yet parents.

7:57 AM  
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