To say that I had been anticipating this birth would be an understatement.
Tabitha and I have been friends now for almost 4 years and I couldn’t have been blessed with a better best friend.
She is a wonderful friend, mother, wife and an incredible example of selflessness in all she does.
Her children are wonderful and sweet, and her husband is an honorable and kind man.
I had just become friends with the Krauss’ the year she became pregnant with their third girl.
I was blessed to be at the birth of that baby which came into the world 30 minutes after arriving at the hospital.
This pregnancy (her fourth) was very much anticipated because this was their first boy.
I worked on Tabitha from the moment she had her 3rd baby to convince her that it was crazy for her to rush to a hospital to have her baby with no medications, when a midwife would offer better care and she wouldn’t even have to leave the comfort of her home.
It worked!
When they found out they were expecting their fourth baby she interviewed Illysa Foster, CPM.
After their first meeting with Illysa they didn’t see any need to look further, they were sure it was a good match.
This pregnancy went by without any complications and the overwhelming joy of the news that they would be having a boy this time.
Tabitha had been having “warm up labor” for a couple of weeks before Maverick decided to make his entry into the world.
All of their other children had been early, but it seemed that he was just going to do it his own way.
I got the call early Friday morning at 3:37 a.m.
Tabitha was on the other end and said she thought her water broke but there weren’t any contractions yet.
I told her to go ahead and call Illysa in case her contractions picked up quickly.
At that point sleep was not an option for me.
I had been waiting so long for this call that I could hardly stand the silence of my phone.
She called me back at 4:30 a.m. and said that Illysa was on her way, she was having some contractions and that I could come whenever I was ready.
“Whenever I was ready!!??” HELLO…I was flying out the door as soon as “you can come whenever” was out of her mouth.
I got to their house at 5 a.m. right at the same time the second midwife was arriving.
Illysa was already there and Will was setting up the birth pool.
Tabitha was doing well with the contractions
it appeared that from the smile on her face that this was early labor.
Illysa examined her about 5:30 a.m. and she was about 4 cm.
I felt so bad for Tabitha. I could just see it on her face…”SERIOUSLY! all this and I am only 4 cm…come on!”
We listened to Mavericks heart tones regularly and tried to leave Tabitha and Will alone to labor together in their bedroom.
Meanwhile in the kitchen, the family was gathering. Both Will’s and Tabitha’s mother had arrived along with Will’s sister Maya (their third daughters namesake).
Family had come to pick up their youngest daughter and the older two were up making signs to welcome their new baby brother and helping to make breakfast for everyone.
making breakfast for the birth crew
7 a.m. rolled around quickly and it was very obvious that Tabitha had entered active labor and that things were moving quickly.
More hot water was added to the birth pool and there was a buzz of anticipation around the house.
Tabitha got into the pool about 7:30 a.m.
Shortly after 8 a.m. Will said a prayer for her and Maverick.
During that prayer Maverick decided it would be a great time to make his entrance.
Tabitha began pushing and his head was born.
However, due to his shoulders being “sticky” as they say in midwifery, Tabitha had to stand up out of the pool.
As soon as she did that, Maverick slipped into Illysa and Will’s hands at 8:16 a.m. Friday, September 12th.
Tabitha immediately sat back down into the pool to bond with her newest gift from God.
The midwives gave Maverick a couple of puffs of oxygen to pink him up quickly.
It was a beautiful birth.
He was so sweet and perfect.
Maverick was “singing” from the moment he was born.
There was some concern that he was having trouble breathing, but they found out he just has a small larynx.
They are happy and doing well adjusting to life as a family of 6.
Me & Maverick
