I feel like to start this story, I have to begin with the raw truth.

When I found out I was pregnant at 4 months postpartum, I was terrified and extremely emotional about entering into the pregnancy space so soon. I hadn’t come close to recovering from the marathon birth that I had endured to welcome Remi earthside. The exhaustion and intensity still lingered in my mind on the regular. It took me months to really open my heart and mind and body to this baby.

And for more honesty, I had to work through a lot of emotions that came with releasing my first born to this pregnancy too and my vision I had for my time with her as an only child.

But we did it. We made it through another pregnancy while caring for a baby and celebrating her big milestones along the way and we were at the finish line. 41 weeks and 1 day, 8 days past our guest date (in true sessa baby fashion) and labor started. Our son was on his way and we would welcome a new tiny human in to our family— and a lot quicker than the first time.

I went to bed like normal on Friday night and at 2am Saturday morning, I woke to a contraction. I had been having off and on contractions for weeks so I wasn’t really convinced this could be it. I got up to use the bathroom at 330 and a huge gush released as I stood (still not convinced might I add because I had peed my pants multiple times this pregnancy 🙃)— humor is good in these stories, right?

Well I got to the bathroom and sure enough, it wasn’t pee 🙌🏻, my water had broke. I updated my midwife and she told me to go back to bed and sleep until I couldn’t sleep anymore and then eat and shower and she’d see me later. I laid in bed for another hour and then I couldn’t lay down anymore; I needed to be up. So Matt got up too and made me food, set the mood with candles and music and I got in the shower.

By 5:30, I had gone from the shower to the birth ball and back to the shower for relief and my contractions were every 3 minutes a part and lasting a minute. I was in disbelief that it could really be moving this quickly. Matt had already called Nancy to let her know and she was on her way. Nancy alerted everyone else on our team that it was go time. Matt woke my mom up who was here to help with Remi and be here for the birth. This baby was coming.

I transitioned in to the tub and entered in to the other birth world to retrieve my sweet baby.

I had envisioned my birth and talked about it with multiple people over the course of my pregnancy. I had envisioned a morning birth and welcoming my son with the sun. I envisioned Remi being present at some point and her witnessing her brother being welcomed in to the world. It was all coming to fruition.

Silently, everyone showed up and set up. The birth team worked diligently to get things ready. I remember looking up in the thick of it and just being so happy that everyone made it and that everyone who I envisioned being there was there.

I started pushing in the tub and as badly as I wanted a water birth, I just wasn’t able to get in to a position that was working for me physically or mentally, to welcome our baby, so to the bed we went, into the exact spot where I had birthed Remi 13 months before. It was in this place that I assumed my position partly on my left side with my right leg up supported by my friend and midwife and roared my baby into his daddy’s hands. I am not a silent birthed; my power comes from deep within and noise follows.

And after 4 short minutes, he was here! I had freaking done it again! YES!

…And that was the home birth of Radley Maximillian.

Mama: Jori Sessa / @mama_sessa

Attended by midwives Nancy Pol CNM & Kayla Padgett CPM of Emergence Midwifery / IG: @emergence_midwifery

Photographed and filmed by yours truly! @careylaurenphoto

Hey, I’m Carey!

Your friendly neighborhood doula. Just out here taking photos of babies coming into the world, letting moms know they’re supported in their decisions to trust their body, and watching them do the damn thing.

Wanna talk birth? Let’s GOOOOOO