Stephanie, Wayne and Meadow Ruby

The ways in which I define home will never be the same. Meadow Ruby was born in the water at home in Baraboo on the morning of August 26, 2007.

Throughout my pregnancy I was full of questions-lists and lists of questions, but as Wayne and I waited, waited, and waited we began running out of questions. We were just ready!

In the weeks before Meadow's birth, I was hard at work-attempting to prepare myself to be unprepared for childbirth. Together, Wayne and I took walks through Devils Lake State Park, made final decisions on names, and arranged our bedroom to accommodate a birth tub. I followed my sister-in-law's advice, and reminded myself daily to "open like a flower."

On Saturday, August 25th, I started the herbal induction protocol (my expected due date had passed over a week prior) and lounged, occasionally walking around the house and staring dreamily at all of the baby things we'd accumulated. Soon, the evening came and went and "nothing happened." At this point, I had been dilated for two weeks, and I was ready for this baby to come, but I also knew that the baby had to be ready, too. So, I reassured myself that I could continue waiting. Luckily, I didn't have to-Meadow was ready to join the world! At 1:00 a.m., contractions started, and an hour or so later I called Aszani.

The pain came quickly and frequently. I let myself go deep, and I tried to stay relaxed-the greatest challenge of all. It was as if my mind could not wrap itself around the pain my body was experiencing, so I let my thinking self go. In hindsight, I would say that my mind set me free. When thoughts of time rushed in, I pushed them away-birth was not a journey in time, but a journey in self. Of course, I was also grateful that my journey was short!

Around six hours later I started feeling the urge to push. After the first few pushes, my waters burst, and that "pins and needles" sensation that they describe in pregnancy books began. Everything was moving so quickly. Meadow was born just an hour later (at 8:00a.m.), and I could not have asked for a more serene or peaceful birth experience. She came with a "gush" beneath the water's surface, and Aszani helped me scoop her up and set her on my chest-the most beautiful baby girl I'd ever seen! Meadow then moved her little hand, and rested it on my breast. A short while later (what felt like just a few minutes) she latched right on and began nursing.

Now, as she begins to sit up, "coo," and becomes increasingly animated…Wayne and I think often of our baby's graceful entrance into the world. We believe Meadow Ruby is an incredibly happy, healthy, and content baby because she was born in such a wonderfully calm place called home.