156 | Peace & Power - Deborah Woodson

Birth Stories in Color

Intentional family planning set up Deborah Woodson and her husband, Mike, for an empowering journey. She started eating healthier and working out before they started trying. YouTube offered helpful insight about ovulation, and they conceived soon afterward. Homebirth was top of mind, but they were in a relocation transition, so they started care with an OB. After Deborah interviewed a few midwives, she landed on one that clicked with her, Grand Midwife Claudia Booker. They would continue care with both providers to cover all the possibilities. Meanwhile, she still needed to get her husband on board with the idea of home birth. Watching documentaries and reading articles about birth and, specifically, Black birth experiences helped bring the two of them in step with home birth planning.

Early morning bathroom trips hinted that early labor would start soon. However, after some nausea and a walk, the body shifts calmed down. Deborah’s mom was there and shared that she believed labor would start that day as she managed her stomach pains. Her mom was right, Deborah would lose her mucus plug that night, and intense contractions began. Her midwife advised that she rest and to contact her when things picked up. Deborah fell into labor land and frequently retreated within herself. Their baby girl arrived before the midwife. However, her husband, mother, and sister were present in the home. Shock kept her frozen as she waited for her midwife’s care. Mike held their daughter, sobbing with joy.

Deborah’s key takeaway from her first birth was learning that she could rely on her body. She became more aware of the intricacies of her body and how it changed. She felt good physically in the immediate postpartum period.

Less than two years after their daughter's birth, their family expanded again. There was an unexpected shift in care providers as they learned they had lost their midwife after a hard-fought battle with cancer. The loss deeply hurt Deborah; grief showed up as she had to find another midwife. She had grown close to Claudia and was accustomed to her no-nonsense approach to care that she needed. Eventually, she connected with a birth center to establish care while she searched for a homebirth midwife. She found a midwife that knew Claudia and that was comforting her.

Deborah struggled with the concept of expansive love for multiple children. The pregnancy was uneventful and without physical challenges. Deborah's hyperawareness about her body helped her know that her baby had shifted to a breech position. Her midwife helped her flip the baby through skillful maneuvering. Labor was a lot more painful as they discovered during the pushing phase he was malpositioned in LOT (Left Occiput Transverse). Once he was delivered, her baby was calm; the family bonded comfortably in their home.

Her second birth has helped her release the need to control and embrace flexibility. Parenting two young children comes with the need for patience and understanding of their individual needs.