On May 14th, 2020, me and Amanda had been in contact most of the day when she told me labor had started. She was going to run to Sprouts and wait until her waves were closer together before having anyone come. While she was there, her waves were getting closer together. The cashier asked if she was in labor, to which she replied, “Yes!” With a smile. Needless to say, the cashier was pretty shocked!

Amanda texted me at 6:30pm, “Lots of contractions…so maybe things are moving.” This was the second time I was going to be her videographer. I was familiar with how she births and knew that I needed to head to my moms and drop the kids off. At 7:52pm she asked me to head over. Her house was only 5 minutes or so from my moms so I arrived pretty quickly after.

I knocked on the door and one of her kids answered the door for me. When I walked in, it was clear that Amanda was in active labor. The birth pool was ready and the water was filling it up. She had the lights dim and was lying on the bed with her youngest daughter, who’s birth I attended just 2 years prior. They were snuggled up while her waves crashed over her. I took in my surroundings and settled in.

She had rainbow colored affirmations hung on her wall in front of her bed and candles lit. Hypnobirth soundtracks were playing in the background while Amanda worked through each wave. All of her older children were in their bedroom, quietly observing or rubbing Mama’s back. It was such a peaceful and calm space and I felt so honored to be there. Only a few later, I was to birth my own baby and being there with them got me excited to birth again.

Not too long after, Amanda’s midwives arrived. Karla Jo Bennett and Angella Mendenhall set up their gear and settled in as well. All five children were wondering in an out of the master bedroom, occasionally rubbing Amanda’s back or fetching her water to drink. They were all so respectful of the birth space and instinctually knew exactly what their mama needed. Amanda got into the pool and her husband, Spencer, was behind her the majority of the time. Everyone had a part they played and they all worked together to help Amanda birth baby Lucas.

Amanda didn’t push for long before Lucas’ head emerged. Karla encouraged Amanda to change positions quickly and Amanda pushed her son into the world. No one knew the sex of the baby so it was a lovely to watch Amanda and her husband find out Lucas was a boy. Smiles all around!

Lucas’ cord was very short so the midwives had Amanda go to the bed where they cut the cord. Lucas latched on perfectly and his older siblings all gathered around. Their focus was entirely on Lucas, except for their eldest daughter, Emma. She took care of her mama.