A doula's letter

Dear baby Samaira,

I wish to gift you this wonderful birth story as a welcome present into this beautiful world. I am sure you will hear many different versions of your birthday or should I say birth days, but this is how I, your doula experienced your birthday.

It began with a meeting with your mommy who was preparing in many ways to bring you into this world. She glowed and I am sure it was also the glow of your beauty within her, along with the joy at the thought of your birth. As I met your family on "the day" I realised how loved you were. The grand moms and great grand mom, the aunt and uncle, mom and dad... you were their dream girl.

Now many will say that it was a long labour, and lots of pain, and more at first glance, perhaps they did not witness what I did. I also saw love pure and simple of a mom for her baby, the determination of a woman who had a belief and went all out for her belief. The wonderful love and shared dreams of a couple. But most of all, it was amazing how much they already felt you as a real person in their life.

God tests the faithful. If that were true then you, dear girl, would be God's very own special baby since he really tested each one of your family before he was sure that you were in good hands. It is said that babies carry a imprint of their wombs and births. This birth had every thing that a life time could bring for you. Joy and disappointment, hard work and priceless reward, fortitude and gratitude and the dynamic working of a loving family. Their was a spectrum of emotions, an entire range of motherly concern and sisterly emotions, and most of all the vulnerability of a loving father and husband. I am sure deep inside you have an imprint of it all, this is Gods' ultimate gift, the valuable experience to draw upon no matter what life throws up at you.

It felt that every layer of planning was stripped, one by one until your mom was left with nothing but her spirit to continue and give birth to you. I would never forget that look of determination on her face, looking at all her plans stall and faced with the helpless eventuality, when she looked me in the eye and said... "I would do all of this again if I had to ... so lets do it."

I also cherish the expression on her face when she first heard you cry, first felt your hands on her face as you nuzzled into her cheek in an instinctive response.

For me it was a birth in all sense as she moved from a deep dark place she had reached to bright sunshine in a single moment... the moment of your birth.

Samaira, the enchanted one, you certainly enchanted your dad's heart in that very moment, as he stood aside and watch you and your mom together. He was great to step back and see the two lovely ladies of his life meet each other.

I carry so many special moments from your birth and am happy that I did witness your mom give birth in spirit. I hope as time will pass and you will explore your own potential for strength this memory of birth will be your guide. God bless you.

Your doula with Love

Divya