The night I met Shawnte and Eric at the hospital for the birth of their second child was full of laughter and support. Shawnte’s preferred method to cope with contractions was to stay distracted. So Eric regaled us with funny stories, we cracked jokes about the film Castaway playing on TV, and through it all, their awesome doula Mercedes created a soft and supportive energy as this family navigated their birthing process.
An attentive partner, a tub of warm water, a doula soothingly pouring that water over your contracting belly - this is birth magic.