Moment. Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors). (Author: Ali Edwards)
Alive, primordial cracking of bones or connective tissue to the bones. I was squatting and leaning with my knees digging into my husband’s shins and bracing onto his shoulders. Behind him was my girlfriend, fellow yogini, and now doula. I stared over my husband’s shoulder, his off-white cotton shirt and into her eyes. I was trying not to scare her so did not hold a direct gaze very long. Her eyes, like white plates with elegant blue saucers were getting wider and wider. I only had six to eight pushes thus far. I could feel an obstruction that was moving within me.
With the next push was more cracking then a sharp tension that scared me. I had heard about the fabled “ring of fire” and how it could hurt more than you imagined possible. When I realized this was it I wanted to laugh. It was possible, it was real. It really was nothing to be scared of. Before the next surge began I was ready. Feet firmly planted, knees firmly gouging into flesh and bone, hands grasping and holding. I did a low scream, breath, power, energy that I held for a long time. This was going to be over.
My midwife behind me had to dive forward slightly and with one hand warranted her baby catcher title. She eased him under me then I sat back against the couch, on the floor, with my son on my chest.