The arrival of my second child was a chaos of emotions, as I'm sure most parents can relate to. It was an intense and fast labor - less than three hours from first contraction to holding my new baby girl in my arms. The speed left little time for fear or anxiety, which I had experienced so intensely with my firstborn.
The intensity of the experience is what sticks with me. Every contraction was a powerful wave that took over my body, and between them, I felt a strange calm. Like being caught in a storm yet somehow sheltered from its wrath - an overwhelming but exhilarating sensation.
My daughter's birth was an empowering experience, a blur of screams and strength, ending in overwhelming relief and joy when she arrived safe and healthy. A natural birth with no interventions, my body's capabilities amazed me, and the whole experience remains a vivid memory, raw and full of feeling. It's a day I'll never forget - exhausting, fulfilling, and incredibly special.
I'm excited to hear other parents' tales and relive those incredible moments! Birth is an amazing journey.