by Kim Hudson

I have finally taken responsibility for myself. I have finally gotten what I wanted and deserved. It has taken seven babies…………here is the story of Teyha’s birth. She is more special to me because of the birth that I have experienced…It has taken long enough.

Teyha, my sweet little girl, 8 lbs, 5 ounces, & 19 inches, was born at home with just daddy and siblings in attendance at 4:51 am, July 1st, 2001. Hubby came home Saturday night from his trip. Of course he was exhausted. Of course I was pissed at him for no reason. When it was bed time, everybody went to bed, but I couldn’t sleep. I tossed and turned, but I just could not get to sleep. I kept getting up and using the bathroom, though.

So, around 2:00 am, I started to have contractions. I didn’t think anything of it. I thought that it was strange for them to be on top of each other. Hubby heard me moaning and got up and asked what was wrong. I told him that I didn’t know and was scared but I wanted to get in the shower. I got in, thinking that it would help, but it didn’t so I told him I wanted to get out.

At that point I went into the living room and began moaning louder. Our 2nd oldest daughter got up because she heard me. Meanwhile hubby held my hand and began talking to me. I raised up and said “Uh oh.” Hubby said “What?” I told him I thought I was leaking because I felt a little trickle and he said…it’s not urine. He went and got my son up and they got the horse trough and brought it into the living room. Our two-year-old was sleeping in my bed and I didn’t want to wake her.

Soon the trough was filled, but at the time I couldn’t get in because the contractions were so intense. I started calling out for drugs……Hubby was looking at me like I was crazy and said, I don’t think so. I could have smacked the crap out of him!

By that time, the three oldest were sitting in the living room with us waiting…I of course was screaming my head off and yelling at all of them to SHUT UP. Their little chit chat was getting on my nerves. I was screaming and yelling and thinking of all the other women that may be going through this with me and called out to them. I called on the Great Spirit to help me……Well, yelled out really. I said, Oh GOD please HELP ME!!!!!!!!! I felt that I was losing it and couldn’t take it anymore so I started pushing. Hubby told me I was doing fine and was in control. I didn’t know if it was the right time to push but I did. I couldn’t help it. I wanted it over.

At that point I was unaware of what was happening, but I did realize that somehow my body was floating upward and I was holding on to the sides of the trough. Hubby yelled to the kids, “Ooops…give me some tissue.” He said that the baby was coming because there was poop. He told me to get on my hands and knees or try to squat…..I screamed, “I can’t,” and he said, “Never mind….I see the head….I see the head.” I screamed her out of me and he reached down into the water and brought her to my chest.

By this time….ALL the kids were in the living room. She was looking around at everybody as they were saying hello. I held her for a while………I was amazed. This was the first time that I have ever gotten to hold my baby after birth! In the hospitals, they always whisked them away. After a while……I told hubby to get the scissors because she had a short cord and I needed to get on with business because I had started cramping…..the placenta was trying to come. They clamped and cut her cord. I delivered the placenta in the water.

All the kids helped with the cleanup. Right after the birth she had started rooting…..waiting for that first meal! She was born at 4:51 am and by 7:00 am we were all back in bed. Since her birth, my husband has been telling me what a good job I did. He is so proud of me…and so am I.