09/10/2025
Sterile gloves on, waiting with patience....
The signs of separation were there
Mama's cramping and the gush.
With consent, I supported the birth of the placenta using gentle cord traction.
I clamp the cord, guard the uterus with my left hand, and guide with my right—up and down, working with the body’s rhythm. I usually have the client push or give a series of deep coughs.
Sometimes it’s quick, sometimes it takes a few minutes. We stop, we breathe, we go, always with the contractions.
As the cord lengthens, I tell the family, “She’s coming.” And when the placenta slips into my hands, I thank her. She’s not waste—she’s a gatekeeper, an ancestor, deserving reverence.
Before leaving, we give a tour of the placenta: the cotyledons, the cord insertion, the tree of life. Families always light up at that part, snapping pictures of the body’s artistry.
I’m grateful every time.
To support families in this way, to welcome ancestors back into this realm—it’s an honor.
And today, the ancestors showed up heavy. My mommy’s favorite cleaning-day songs played, reminding me she was right there beside me.
Note to self: You were not only called. You were chosen. I receive that. Ase!
