Although it was one of the most challenging things Michelle (especially!) and I have ever done, it was truly amazing to experience the home birth process we chose. The birth of our baby, Zander Atlas Tran was one of those moments in life that will never be forgotten by us. Zander entered into the world on March 6th 2008 at 3:56AM after 75 hours of consistent contractions and 24 hours of active labor in the private setting of our home away from the logistics of hospital procedures, medications and vaccines.
He was born naturally into a birthing pool without the trauma of force and as a willing and I think, fortunate, father I had the honor of catching him after the final push. Unlike traditional birthing, he was not slapped on the bottom to bring him to life. When he emerged from the water, he just looked around at his new surroundings with curiosity and as if he knew instantly who his mother was, he put his hand on Michelle’s face as if to say “thank you”.
Special thanks to the team who helped during this very special home birth process. Marla Hicks, our midwife, with assistance from midwife Gerri Ryan, Michelle’s mother Scarlett, and our pediatric chiropractor, Dr. Juli Tooley, all offered their support throughout and helped to keep Michelle subluxation free during the labor. As the child of two chiropractors would be, Zander’s body was adjusted within an hour of his birth with regular adjustments continuing to play a big part in his ability to easily breastfeed.
Last and not least, a big thanks to our practice members for your support, flexibility and understanding as we arranged and re-arranged schedules. I give you this picture of Zander putting his hand on Michelle as he was born. You can see from our faces that this was truly a momentous occasion.
Yours in Wellness and gratitude,
Dr. Richard Tran
P.S. The process of Michelle’s pregnancy and labor was such a rewarding journey that we wanted to share with you in greater detail in the near future. If you or someone you know are interested in hearing about the natural birthing process, keep your ears open for our upcoming workshop on the Home Birth Experience.