The Unexpected Calm | Mia
When I gave birth to my first baby, it was anything but calm. I remember feeling completely out of control—everything was chaotic, loud, and honestly, a little scary. So when I found out I was pregnant with my second, I braced myself for the same kind of experience. I told myself, Just get through it.
But this time, things were different.
My contractions started one evening while we were getting our toddler ready for bed. At first, I wasn’t even sure it was labour. They were there, but manageable—just a dull, steady ache. I remember sitting on the edge of the bed, breathing quietly while my husband packed up the last-minute items for the hospital. There was no panic, no rushing. We actually laughed on the drive, joking about how different this already felt.
When we got to the hospital, I half-expected the whirlwind to start—the poking, the questions, the urgency I remembered so well. But the nurse who greeted us was calm and immediately put me at ease. She dimmed the lights in the delivery room and told me I was doing great. It was such a small thing, but it made all the difference.
The hours blurred together after that. I kept thinking, This can’t last. It’s going to get harder any second. But it didn’t—not in the way I expected. Sure, the contractions were intense, but there was a rhythm to them, almost like my body knew exactly what to do. Ben stayed by my side, holding my hand and whispering encouragement. For the first time, I didn’t feel like I had to fight my way through labour. I could just… let it happen.
And then, before I knew it, Noah was here.
The moment they placed him on my chest I felt everything at once—relief, love, exhaustion, gratitude. He was so tiny and warm, and I couldn’t stop staring at his perfect little face. I felt proud of my body.
Looking back, it wasn’t a “perfect” birth. There were still moments of pain, and I definitely wouldn’t call it easy. But it was calm. It was peaceful. And for me, that was everything.
Sometimes the things we fear the most surprise us in the best ways.