Shannon Zakharkin's Birth Story

I was sitting on the couch debating whether to go to a 5 PM Pilates class or not. My husband and my oldest daughter were outside riding bikes when I first noticed the surges started to come on. Since I’ve been having practice surges for so long, it was hard for me to notice when I was in actual labor, which is very similar to what happened to me with my first daughter’s birth. I decided I better not go to my Pilates class, and instead laid on the couch while my husband heated us up some burgers that my mom had dropped off and I had a nice big meal. This is when I decided I should probably start timing my surges as they seemed to be coming more and more often. They were pretty random when I started timing them, and then, pretty soon they started getting more and more accurate. I timed for an hour, and many of my surges were five six or seven minutes apart. I contacted my Doula to let her know I think that it might be time although I was still hesitant and not sure. She let me know it sounded like I was like I was in early labor and that’s when it really started to feel real to me. She mentioned to try and get as much rest as I could for now. I came upstairs to try to rest while Celina and Yevvy inflated the birth tub. I put on my hypnobirthing rainbow relaxation and did all I could to lay down. Very soon the surges started to get stronger. I called my mom to come get my daughter and my puppy as I realized how much more intense and fast my contractions were coming. She came in and came up stairs, held my hand and gave me a big mama bear hug.

I wanted my daughter to be here but I didn’t want to scare her as everything moved way faster than I expected. I am not sure how much time passed, I just knew there was a point where I could no longer rest through the surges. Yevvy was by my side, playing affirmations and trying to get me into my Hypnobirthing state. The only position I wanted to be in was all fours or squat everything else was too intense. I started to bleed and surges got much more intense and I knew she was getting closer.

My husband was so gentle in keeping me calm. At this point with the intensity getting more I started to get scared thinking there was something wrong , that I needed to go to the hospital. He continually assured me that nothing was wrong and we were about to meet our baby girl.

I attempted to stay quiet during the resting period and then when the surges took over I couldn’t help but cry out. I asked him to start timing my contractions. All of a sudden within minutes I went from 5-6 minutes apart to 2-3 minutes apart. I asked him to call our doula and midwife which he did. When he got on the phone with our doula I had a back to back contraction not even a minute apart. They both hopped in the car and were on their way. I knew this baby was coming it felt like it would be a miracle if they arrived in time. Tiffanie told my husband to fill the birth tub right away and get me in it. I still don’t remember how I got down the stairs that night but I know he helped me. I got in the tub.

My husband did not break his calmness or excitement the entire time. He was the BEST Daddy Doula . I’ve never seen him so jittery like the happiest most proud dad and husband in the entire world. He wasn’t scared, I was! I just was not prepared for the intensity, but deep down, I was. I knew my body was made to do this. And he continually reminded me of this. Once in the tub I did feel so much relief almost immediately.

Then the surges started coming and they were coming fast. I was ready to bear down. Right when I started to bear down my beautiful doula came through the door. So much peace when I saw her face. She assured me I was okay. Even through my contractions I still asked if she wanted a snack because it was so important to me that I had snacks for my birth team 😆.

At that point I was wanting hands off for the most part - and also my husband and I laugh about the fact there was a point where no matter what sweet thing he said I just kept repeating “shhh say less words.” I was going within, even though I felt like I might not be strong enough to do this. More bearing down and then here comes my most wonderful midwife through the door. My doula, midwife, and my husband all looked like angels to me at this point. I couldn’t help but utter the words that I was scared and I don’t know if I can do this, and Tiffanie just reassured me that I was already doing it. Surrounded by love and encouragement, my entire birth team by my side, I continued to push as the surges came. They were so intense, but I knew I would meet my baby soon.

Tiffanie checked her heart beat and once I heard it nice and strong it gave me so much courage to keep going. I finally knew she was safe in there and it was okay. I wanted to know how much longer or how much more time it was going to take to meet my baby. My midwife asked if I wanted to be checked and I did, she told me “her head is right there, you’re so close.” On my next surge I reached down to feel her head. It was the most exciting feeling, she is almost here. I can do this. As the surges came I would bear down. All of a sudden her head was out, but not all the way. The whole bearing down phase felt amazing honestly so much relief to the surges, but this part was of course challenging. They don’t call it the ring of fire for nothing I guess. When she was crowning the hardest part was waiting for another surge to be able to bear down again. That minute felt like an hour but I was able to wait and then one last big push and she flew up into my arms. I don’t even remember the moment that she came out and I caught her I only remember it because my husband told me about it 100 times now. He thinks it was the coolest thing ever. I came back to Earth when I brought her up on my chest.

Holding this little angel. I looked down and realized that she looked exactly how she had looked in every dream I had had of her. Just a perfect angel sent from above that had chosen us as a family. I cried and she immediately looked up at my husband and I could tell she recognized his voice. I just laid there and basked in all the emotions and feelings. I have no idea what I said or did during my golden hour, but I know I will never forget how I felt. I held my baby and at this point I felt SO strong like I had just done the most amazing thing in the world, because I did. I felt powerful, beautiful, and amazing. All the doubt I had and all of the fear of “I don’t think I can do this” melted away as I just realized that I did just do it. I looked up at my husband and just cried. His support during this entire process, which started at pregnancy and all the way to this moment was beyond incredible. A partner willing to go on this natural journey with me, take classes, read books, go to all appointments possible and just be by my side through it all. What a gift. He was a Daddy Doula. So special. And looking around at my birth team, the two women who had been by my side since pregnancy and helped me with all my fears and worries. They are fierce, beautiful women who I have the honor of knowing and having in my life and my families life. Tiffanie helped me out of the tub and baby got to go to daddy.

So many emotions and tears of joy during this time. She helped me on to the couch and got me cleaned up. Then Echo came back to my chest where Ali helped us with our first latch. Baby latched on to me and all I felt was pure bliss and connection from mother to daughter. Nothing else in the world mattered to me. Everything melted away and I was able to bond with my daughter skin to skin out of the water and in my arms. After that it was just pure bliss. Lying on the couch with this perfect baby. Sitting with my husband with tears of joy flowing in. My angel midwife and doula sat with us for hours to ensure everything was going okay with me and baby. They did the newborn exam and checked on me to make sure everything was good. It was so nice just sitting with these women who had helped me through pregnancy and up until this moment. And next to my husband with our new baby girl on my chest. It felt like a big slumber party. There was laughter and joy and happiness. I just couldn’t believe that everything just unfolded the way it did. Tiffanie asked if we wanted to get set up up stairs. They carefully helped me get upstairs to set us up in our bedroom.

They packed up their stuff and took off, leaving my husband and I lying in our bed just staring at this beautiful creation. We stayed like that for hours! I knew we were exhausted but all we wanted to do was stare at baby. We finally decided we needed to get rest which we did as we were so excited for the next morning (which was only in a few hours) where our daughter would be coming to meet her little sister. Which was then most beautiful moment ever. We laid baby down and looked into each other’s eyes and just were full of the most incredible bliss and that I can’t describe. Magic happened that night in our lives. I will never forget the feelings I felt that night as I was fully present and aware of everything going on. It was beautiful, intense, magical and powerful. And I wouldn’t change a thing about how it all unfolded.