Amaya Adore’s Birth Story
Amaya means one who has strong character, spiritual growth, and deep connection to God. It also means having a deep purpose in life.
After 35 hours of labor and 3 really good pushes on all fours, I naturally birthed my child at Roots Community Birth Center. My baby was born on her due date, exactly 40 weeks to date. She came at 6:34 pm, I was born at 6:34 am. She weighed 6lbs 9oz and 22 inches, exact measurements like her God brother who is just 2 days and a year older.
My birthing team consisted of midwives Rebecca (CEO and founder of Roots), Ashton, Mandy, and my doula, sis, and soror Brittany Wright.
My amazingggggggggggggggg village! First off my baby’s Godmoms were all present! My favorite cousins were present! My big brother and my Godson were present! And of course, God was present! Oh yeah and that BD too.
So much I have to say so I’ll try to keep it short.
This was a spiritual journey for me. From choosing to keep my baby in the midst of my life having so many transformations to giving birth. My family would tell y’all the whole labor I didn’t talk. I was focused on my breathing and getting baby girl here. But I may joke but I won’t tell y’all a lie, I wanted to quit. I had Group B strep so I needed antibiotics. We had tried 5 times to get a vein but my veins kept collapsing. So I had to stop and pray to recenter cause no way I was taking any risk during birth with my baby. I was getting antibiotics no matter what pain I was enduring getting poked a million times. After being stuck at 6 cm for over 24 hrs my water hadn’t broken yet either. I looked Brittany and my BD in the face and said take me to the hospital and get me a c-section. Forget the epidural, get the baby out now! And as gentle as can be Brittany said no 😂 and I’m grateful for it. Cause I definitely needed the reassurance that I could still do this and that baby girl and I were healthy and would get through this and we did. And after stopping and praying again with my village, I kid you NOT my water broke within 10-15 mins and my labor got back to moving along. Which in hindsight was a blessing in disguise because most of my village went to work and by time everyone was back off and back up to the birthing center we were moving along and no one in my village missed the birth of baby girl.
To Godmom Mo Brown thank you sis. You inspire me and empower me so much. Your peace and serenity and smile is all I needed to see in between contractions. And just for showing up while still navigating all that you are. You teach me such grace.
To Godmom Ronica Wagner thank you for staying through the night in between working all your jobs. I was pleased to wake up to you next to me. One thing about you V, you’re so helpful and I’m thankful you were there to help me.
To Godmom Kijana thank you for standing in the gap with prayer. For still showing up to support me while not feeling well. I’m so happy you ain’t missed this moment.
To Godmom Eyommi Seaberry thank you bestie for hopping in the car and driving from Milwaukee to MN once you got the call I was in labor. You are definitely going to advocate for me no matter what. When I got discouraged you prayed with me. And anytime we pray together things happen.
To Honey Hunny the cousin everyone needs. Thank you for being here the whole pregnancy. Thanks for always being one call away.
Thank you for getting my early labor into active labor cause of that damn walking at Target and Walmart 😂
To Jazmine Madison thank you, cousin, for always being willing to help and support in any way! Thanks for letting me squeeze your fingers 😂
To Brittany, thank you soooo much sis for making this journey as peaceful and straightforward as possible. Thank you for advocating for me while I focused on labor. Thank you for encouraging me. Thank you for keeping me focused on my breathing. And reminding me when it was time for my different breathing too. Thanks for DJing for me during the whole labor. The vibes got the baby out for sureeee. Having my baby to Munch Lauren is so Milwaukee of me 😂
To Dee Kristina thank you for every morning us praying over baby girl. We haven’t stopped since we found out about her. Thanks for always being a call away and standing in the gap for us. Even in DC you were still tuned in.
To my BD, thanks for catching our daughter. Thanks for being there from start to finish. Thanks for going half with me on the most precious baby girl anyone could pray for. I still think she looks like me, but nothing matters as much as her being healthy and well.
Special shoutout to Gather Birth Cooperative: Birth Support, Birth Photography, and more for capturing the most precious moment in my life.
God, I can’t thank you enough. You gave me a beautiful healthy baby girl whom I will raise in the way that she shall go. I want nothing but the best for my child. I’m thankful that I have been chosen to be her mother.
My baby is just so so smart. Baby girl latched on her own out of the womb 😂 I guess she was hungry since I didn’t eat and just had water and ice for 24 hours. And it wasn’t that I couldn’t eat, I just kept throwing up 😂 . But it was allll worth it for you.
Happy one week Amaya. You are SO loved. Everyone says how blessed you are to have me and how much I’ll be a great mother but I’m the one who is blessed to have Y O U!
P.S. don’t mind my hair I literally had a wig on and took out two braids and couldn’t bear doing anything else 😂
Edit: Edrence Yalley was the woman I did my prenatal yoga through. Definitely another important key in my pregnancy and labor and delivery journey. Not only did she teach me breathing techniques but how to tap into my strength with God.