I don’t usually pray during birth while working as a doula.  I focus, I breath, I think but I don’t usually pray.

I prayed through my own: Dear God, give me the strength for this next wave.  Give me a focus for my birth.

I prayed through my closest friends’ births: Help my friend to find her voice, tell her health care provider what she wants and how she will have this baby.  Guide the hands of those helping her bring her baby into world. Give her strength.

General prayers of protection and comfort.

But the last birth that I attended I prayed  a lot.  It was a long labor, probably the longest I’ve every assisted in.  I prayed for strength and  creativity in ways to comfort the mom.  But I also prayed: Dear God, please let the Dr., who checks her progress, find that she is 4 cm dilated.  Please let her be ready to push.  Please give her energy to push how she wants.  Please sensitize everyone in the room to mom’s wishes. Please guide the Dr.’s hands to gently bring this baby into our world.

I prayed and it was an amazing birth.  All birth are amazing in that it is the most beautiful and difficult process ever.  I always cry and feel so blessed that a mom would open her heart to me as her doula and invite me to partake in such an amazing life event.  When they place baby on mom’s chest, I burst from excitement and relief for mom, baby and even myself.  The first cry – a deep throaty scream that is pushed from the baby’s tiny working lungs brings me pure joy, and I cry. I am amazed by moms and what they are capable of.  Every mom, no matter how petite, nervous, strong, shy, or demanding has the incredible life-bringing power within her and it gives me chills when she succeeds in bringing for her own baby to this world.

This particular couple, strangers before our first doula meeting, wove themselves quickly into my heart.  I was completely invested in their birth plan and their well being.  The 25 some-odd hours that we shared in the hospital before active labor gave us ample time to share our stories with each other.  It gave me time to understand some of the unique nuances that make their relationship tick.  It was great research for knowing how to help mom cope once she really needed literal, non-stop, hands-on support.

It was incredible.  And I invited my God there.  We shared faiths and so, He was welcome there in our presence and thus obviously guarded the lives within those walls.

I long for more opportunities to share life, faith and joy with more families.