Carson Meyer Instagram – Part 2 of 4: Our Birth Story My waters released at 8pm on the dot. I jumped up in shock and excitement, my heart pounding. We were now on our way to greeting our baby – although we could still be days away! For some, labor begins right after water breaks, for others it doesn’t start for hours or days. In some rare cases it never breaks at all! Ruptured membranes before labor starts is often a path to induction when birthing in the hospital but being induced immediately is not necessary in most cases – and can lead to cascading interventions and risks. I asked Johnathan to make lentil soup so we would have something nourishing and warm prepared for labor and after birth. I told him to try to get some sleep while he could. We got into bed early (keeping my hips open with the peanut ball) knowing it could be our last chance to sleep (for years 🙃). Around midnight I started to feel those first rhythmic waves. They weren’t painful but they were consistent and required movement. I rested on my side and swayed against the edge of the bed. By sunrise things were picking up and although I felt it was too early for my midwife to come, I was craving the female energy. We called her around 6:30am and she arrived an hour later. As the sun rose over the Blue Ridge Mountains, I remember taking this photo in between waves because I wanted to remember the sunrise on the day our baby would be born. We listened to music, had some soup and swayed around. In the space between contractions, we chatted, and when a wave took over my midwife or Johnathan would apply pressure to my hips. Paulie stayed glued to my side looking helpless and concerned. I wore the strand of beads around my neck from my birth blessing ceremony infused with the blessings and love from my friends and family. I felt them with me every step of the way.