I Get To Love You

It’s almost impossible to describe the gift it is to be invited to kneel next to folks as they move through one of life’s most profound moments… as they breathe… as they strain… as they breathe… as they groan… as they wrestle… as they breathe… as they cry out…

To lean over steaming pools to bathe sweaty faces with cool cloths… to press mugs of bone broth and spoonfuls of honey to lips… as they breathe… as they strain… as they breathe… as they groan… as they wrestle… as they breathe… as they cry out…

To listen to the melodies of tiny heartbeats… to touch tentatively, tenderly to assess progress… as they breathe… as they strain… as they breathe… as they groan… as they wrestle… as they breathe… as they cry out…

To sit by candle light with loops of music filling our ears, filling our souls as the seconds, the minutes, the hours tick, tick, tick by… whispering encouragements, whispering prayers… squeezing hands, rubbing backs… as they breathe… as they strain… as they breathe… as they groan… as they wrestle… as they breathe… as they cry out…

To stand in awe of women strong, determined, resilient… in awe of men overflowing with love, with admiration, with warm, salty tears… as they breathe… as they strain… as they breathe… as they groan… as they wrestle… as they breathe… as they cry out… as they bring their fresh, slick, wiggly little ones into the light of day with agony, with relief, with joy!

“I can’t believe it’s true…

I’m undone and I thank God once again…

I get to love you…

It’s the best thing that I’ll ever do…”

Kim Woodard Osterholzer, Colorado Springs Homebirth Midwife and Author

Books by Kim:

Homebirth: Safe & Sacred

Homebirth: Commonly Asked Questions

A Midwife in Amish Country: Celebrating God’s Gift of Life

Nourish + Thrive: Happy, Healthy Childbearing

One Little Life at a Time: Recommendations + Record Keeping for Aspiring Homebirth Midwives