Now, it’s necessary, here, to point out that being a Trendsetter™ is not the same as being trendy. I don’t regularly post on Instagram. I don’t use Snapchat. Heck, I don’t even own a Fedora. But today, I’m happy to use any trendy excuse I can to share about a woman I admire, my mom… my #wcw.

Then it was time to cut the cord. The last baby I would have was finally about to be completely separated from me. It was the last time I would be part of two. It was the epitome of bittersweet - it was the end of a journey, not just of this birth but of all of them, but although it was an ending it was a happy one, one symbolic of so much, so many lessons I had learned, so much love I had gained…

What I perceive as Braxton-Hicks contractions are more frequent, lasting longer, and the strongest they’ve ever been. I think I knew, subconsciously, that it was right around the corner.

We brought zam zam water, a holy water of sorts, and Khayyam gave me sips of it when I was able. We also brought dates, an homage to the laboring Mariam (Mary), may god be pleased with her--as her labor story in our holy book mentions her at a palm date tree and that they gave her energy for the great work. I tried to mutter prayers, as it is said in our faith that the prayer of a laboring woman is guaranteed God’s ear so to speak.

Christy was a client of mine last year who overcame some seriously tough twists during her labor (You're 10 centimeters! Just kidding... still 7!) to birth her sweet baby boy, Ashby, at Mercy Hospital in Anderson. She blogs over on Eat Clean Live Simple (go give her some love) and she's kindly written her birth story for us to share and enjoy.