Baby Mari's Natural Birth Story
- Yasmintheresa
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
At 2:33am her labor intensified and she was now in Transition. The look on her face was psychedelic, as if her fears had slipped away and she surrendered to her godliness. In that moment she transformed into a fearless warrior, her body no longer her own but connected to all the women who came before her—those who crouched, labored, and birthed nations across oceans.
THE DIVINE INTERVENTION
I like to believe I met Arlene and Charlie through divine intervention. Just days before Arlene’s due date, her original birth worker—my former classmate—had to leave for Africa for six weeks of nursing and midwifery studies. Like any responsible birth worker, Ashlie referred me as their backup, just in case baby came after her flight.
She felt my philosophy of birth aligned with hers and trusted I’d be a good fit if she couldn’t attend. She introduced us over group chat and email, and as I learned a bit of their journey, I felt I was being called into this birth for a reason.
My spirit guides told me to meet them quickly because I would soon be chosen as their birth worker. That Friday night, Arlene and Charlie arrived at my Harlem office with Charlie’s mother (the paternal grandmother) and plenty of questions. I felt the weight of responsibility to be ready at any moment, even though I knew little about who they were, how they loved, or what strength I could pull from their souls to help them through this rite of passage.
THE INITIAL CONSULTATION
I left that consultation inspired. Arlene shared her fears and joys, her anticipation and expectations. I could feel the warrior spirits surrounding her, raising her to be the woman she is. I wondered how I would gather all that power to support her through this initiation into Motherhood.
I gave them a few days to decide, because I believe the baby chooses the birth worker, not the parents. But within 24 hours, they emailed me: the baby had chosen me.
THE CASUAL YET NECESSARY CONVERSATION
My practice as a birth worker is rooted in being a woman’s keeper. My goal is to dive deep into her psyche, to learn her feelings about the journey she’s on. I often ask mothers who fear labor: “Are you ready to be a mother to this specific child?”
All births are different. Often, fear of delivery is really fear of life after the baby arrives. So I tap into my clients’ emotions, searching for guidance on what will be needed of me to keep them empowered.
When I asked Arlene if she was ready to be a mom, she confessed her fear of not living long enough to see her daughter grow. I wondered if this fear came from a world that often feels unsafe to our generation. Still, I saw her strength.
Arlene is a Libra, like me. She was working hard to unite both sides of her family before the baby’s arrival. Joyful but anxious, she wanted her baby born into a safe, loving environment. I reminded her: nothing is coincidence. Her baby would remind her, her family, and all who witnessed—what love, life, and adventure are really about: the unexpected and the inevitable.
FROM CONCEPTION TO CONTEMPLATION
Early Labor
By 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, Arlene began updating me. Charlie was thrilled to narrate every phase. I told him to keep me posted but also to go about their day—keep it normal. They began their day celebrating their love in a simple way, a stroll through the city, grocery shopping, and pizza.
As her birth worker, I was 40 minutes away, phone in hand, ready to leave my current job at the time, if necessary. By 1:00 p.m., I caught the train into Harlem since Charlie’s texts were getting more urgent. By 6:00 p.m., Arlene’s contractions were steady at five minutes apart, lasting 30–40 seconds.
When I arrived at 7:30 p.m., she greeted me while sweeping the living room. Many women clean during labor—it’s both a distraction and a way to clear old energy before welcoming new life. Arlene smiled when she saw me, peace washing over her.
Charlie cared for her like a lion, protective yet tender, while she labored gracefully.
THE EFFECTS OF AN UNEXPECTED GUEST
At 9:40 p.m., the unexpected happened. A key turned in the door—Charlie’s mother. I felt instantly this would disrupt Arlene’s flow. She had been contracting every three minutes, but the moment her mother-in-law entered, her labor stalled for ten minutes.
I pulled Arlene into her bedroom and gently pointed out the shift. She admitted she loved her mother-in-law but was overwhelmed by the cigarette smell and the frightening birth stories she had been told all week.
FROM A WARRIORS BELIEF CAME BABY CHARLEY
By 10:30 p.m., Arlene was back on track. Surprisingly, her mother-in-law stepped back and started cleaning the apartment—a coping mechanism many Caribbean women turn to in times of anxiety.
Arlene labored beautifully, even cracking jokes between contractions. When it was time to leave for the hospital, she insisted we all take a selfie in the elevator.
Even the Uber driver became part of the team, encouraging her along the ride.
At the hospital, Arlene was only four centimeters dilated. The nurses suggested she leave for two hours and return later. Disappointing—but we made it work. I set her up on a medicine ball in the hallway, headphones in, playlist on. She went inward.
By 1:00 a.m., her contractions strengthened. I coached her to switch positions, keeping her blood flowing. Charlie never left her side, kissing her forehead and holding her through each surge. Even her mother-in-law joined in, rubbing her back.
I realized that mother in law finally understood why I was there. Here was this woman in her 60s who had traumatizing births in the same city and was now witnessing her daughter in law have an empowering experience with a dream team who was supporting her every time she moved, had to pee, or needed us to hold a cubby for her to throw up in. It was in that moment that I knew my job was to be the birth worker for this whole family who was learning the true beauty of natural labor.
The BIRTH OF BABY MARI
By 2:00 a.m., Arlene’s moans filled the quiet halls—it was time. Coming off an elevator walk with Charlie, she collapsed in his arms and her water broke.
Within minutes, we were in a delivery room. Arlene birthed a beautiful baby girl—surprising everyone who had waited to learn the gender.
It was an honor to witness the quiet yet powerful love between Arlene and Charlie. In those 12 hours, I battled negative energy, transmuted fears, and held space for this family’s transformation. Even Charlie’s mother, once fearful, became a witness to the possibility of a peaceful natural birth.
By the rising of the sun, after supporting two hours of blissful bonding, my work was done.
That morning I had battled more negative spirits and transmuted negative energy into positive than I ever had in such a short period of almost 12 hours. I wrestled with the mother-in-law's negative experiences and fears and watched her transform her birthing beliefs by watching how calm and graceful her daughter in law was during her whole labor. I, as a birth worker have been honored to be asked to create a sacred space for this family to welcome their baby girl no matter what was happening around them.
A week later, when I visited them at home, the apartment smelled of newborn love. Grandma had flown back to Puerto Rico, and the family was settling in beautifully. We laughed, shared photos, and admired baby Charley—the warrior princess destined to become as fierce like her mother and fearless as her father.
To make a long story short—we’re now good friends, and I can’t wait to see baby girl Mari grow.
Join a Community of Kindred Spirits
We are all on this Motherhood gang together and it is easier when we go along with others. If you’re pregnant and seeking a supportive community, I invite you to book a free birth consultation. Let's walk through this rite of passage ceremony hand in hand.
Or, if you feel the calling to support Mothers and Fathers on their journey of this sacred Rite of Passage, I encourage you to enroll in our Intuitive Birth Worker Training.
A YtheG formerly known as YtheDoula Birth Story Dated, Quarter 1 of year 2017.
With Love. The Birth Worker
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