This post is dedicated to my two incredible labor partners: my husband and my mom.  I decided to have a natural birth and to deliver Eden unmedicated after learning about the effects that induction and pain meds have on both mom and baby during labor and thereafter.  It was a personal choice that I had the privilege to make, having been blessed with a complication-free pregnancy and healthy baby. So Conoon and I carefully devised our birth plan and I prepared to surrender both body and mind to the natural birth process.

Night and day of, Conoon coached me through nearly every single contraction. We were in labor for 24 hrs, from Tuesday 1:00am to Wednesday 1:15am.  At the time, we didn’t have a definite end time to work toward. The only finish line we could see was after each declining contraction; as one passed, it became time to focus on the next.  “Just one more.”  Without Conoon’s encouragement, help with breathing through waves of pain, and literally his body to hang onto, I probably would have asked for an epidural or pitocin eventually.  But the mantras he spoke kept me focused; his confidence and spirit gave me strength, and we welcomed Eden home by our original plan.

With ultimate patience and true “mom intuition”, my mom provided me and Conoon relief and comfort in areas that we had control over.  She abided with my requests (or at times, demands) for water, counter-pressure for back pain, and fanning when it got too hot.  She cushioned my knees with a pillow when I labored in positions that had me kneeling on the hard ground.  She brought me new towels and dried my hair after each hot shower.  She made sure Conoon stayed hydrated and ate to sustain his energy.  What was feeding her in those 24 hrs, I have no idea. But her presence and humble help allowed Conoon and me the additional room and focus to do the purposeful work we needed to do.

Definitely a team effort. Definitely #teamcozykim in play here. To Conoon and Ma: from the deepest part of my heart, thank you. Thank you for the gift of a work-heavy, unmedicated, beautiful labor. Thank you for trusting and believing in me. And most of all, thank you for the gift of the healthiest, happiest, strongest Eden possible 🌹💪