Midwife: Samantha Crickmore of First Coast Midwifery Services

Birth videographer: Dallas Arthur of Dallas Arthur Birth Stories & Support

Location: home birth in Hilliard, Florida

Groundhog’s Day 2021. Quite fitting, I woke up that morning to a huge surprise. At 5am I sat on the toilet holding a test stick that suddenly read “PREGNANT.” Groundhog’s Day. Here we go again. Here comes baby number 11!

Though I could be called a pro at this pregnancy and birthing business, my excitement was overshadowed by anxiety. I was nervous. The previous birth two years prior had given us a scare. I hemorrhaged pretty bad and I wondered if my body would behave to sustain me this time around. These were the first thoughts I had as I sat there with the test in my hand.

The next months were full of stressful life circumstances that had my emotions in several places at once. It became evident to me that the best way to handle it all was to NOT handle it at all. It was time to surrender and have faith. Educate and prepare myself, but proceed in faith. I wouldn't be fearless, but I would fear LESS.

It was a beautiful pregnancy. I was comfortable, energetic, full of joy. I expected to go beyond my due date as I had in the previous 5 pregnancies. So as I approached October 17th (my official due date), I decided to ignore the calendar and embrace the ride, despite that bizarre lower back discomfort! The night of October 16th, I packed my husband’s lunch for the next day. There was that back pain again! I took a hot shower, then I curled up with my pregnancy pillow and went to sleep.

I was awakened by an unusual contraction at 11pm. Meh, back to sleep. Then another at 11:07pm. Then another at 11:13pm. I’m thinking, “Okay. I know I’m not in labor, but why are these contractions waking me up?” Another contraction at 11:20pm. Okay, now that one kinda hurts. Anyway. Back to sleep. Another contraction at 11:25pm. Okay. FINE. If I have two more contractions like this I may give it some attention. Contractions came at 11:32, 11:37, 11:42, 11:48 and they were intense. I was in denial. “Nope! I am NOT in labor.”

At midnight I tapped my husband to let him know that I *might* be in labor. He was so happy he wouldn’t have to go to work. I was hoping I didn’t wake him in vain. The contractions intensified so I decided to call the photographer and the midwife. I was still in denial, but it was when Midwife Sam asked me a question that I couldn’t respond to on account of a savage contraction that we both knew. This was it. I was in fact in labor. This baby would be among the rare 5% born on their due date.

It was time to get in the zone. I talked with God. I spoke truth to my fears and began to set the atmosphere for a peaceful experience. Music playing just right. Frankincense and lavender filled the air.

Midwife Sam and photographer Dallas arrived at about 1:30am and things were picking up. We had just enough time to exchange pleasantries and chat about my goats (LeBron and Billy Jean) and pigs (Sampson and Delilah) who greeted them upon their arrival.

Then it was time to get to business. I could no longer hold a conversation. I remember attempting to walk some place only to make it no further than one step before being overtaken by another contraction. I was stuck there on the floor, kneeling with the birth ball. This is where the baby will be born. Within a few intense contractions and a very painful pop of my tailbone, Jett Vaughn was born at 2:24am.

After 9 years and 5 girls in a row, I finally got another baby boy. Thank you, Father! Everything went perfectly. Education and faith had served us well. Wow! Eleven. God has allowed me to birth 11 babies. My heart is full!

Pregnant and thinking about a birth film?

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