When you were born, so was I

This is a beautiful poem by Kristina Stevens who wrote it about her calling to midwifery following the birth of her daughter. Kristina is a student midwife in Chicago, USA and wrote this poem as part of the virtual celebrations for the International Day of the Midwife 5th May 2010.

When you were born, so was I

Before that momentous day, much work had to be done

A single, magical cell divided and multiplied

Limbs grew and organs formed

And dreams of a new life took shape

Obstacles and fears and uncertainties

Kept me awake at night

(and sometimes so did you

kicking inside my protuberant belly)

inane chatter of fear mongering folk

tried to fill my head and heart with doubt

get the epidural, schedule a c-section

won’t it hurt? Aren’t you scared??

but I knew

that my body was yours

made to carry you

made to deliver you

when the first rushes of labor started

I went for one of many long walks

Over several summer days,

I reveled

Giddy with anticipation of finally meeting you

The warm air, blue sky and green grass

The colors, sounds and smells

had they ever been so intense and vibrant?

As the third evening of labor settled around me

We packed up the car

And headed to the hospital

Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breath out

All around me, people headed out for the night

But I had entered into a parallel universe

Time expanded and contracted along with my belly

As you pivoted down my pelvis

The pain was irrelevant, inconsequential

I knew the work ahead of me that had to be done

I was prepared

and so were you

Sunday 2:50am

After 6 hours of hard, sweaty labor

Primal and perfect

I pushed you in to the midwife’s hands

And together we were born

Kristina Stevens

This poem is published with Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivative

Works 3.0 New Zealand Licence.