Ingredients:

• a little consecrating of myself to YHWH
• a little checking my “baggage” at her door
• a little reassuring touch
• a little listening to the good shepherd
• a little laughing in the living room between contractions
• a little making emotive images
• a little praying in the spirit
• a little frustration and confusion
• a little napping on the sofa
• a little consulting with fellow birthkeepers
• a little spiraling into self-doubt and self-criticism
• a little of feeling helpless
• a little clip-clop sounds of a tiny heart
• a little walking in the dark to get contractions going
• a little reminding to take sips of laboraid
• a little return to steadfast trust
• a little reassuring a witnessing child that all is well
• a little of being surprised
• a little managing my own fears
• a little holding space for tears
• a little listening to the changing tone of her vocalizations
• a little suggesting of position changes
• a little cooking of eggs and toasting of sourdough
• a little planning of response to theoretically possible scenarios
• a little being present to the journey that is only hers to make
• a little of scrambling to set up the video equipment
• a little shock that this is happening NOW
• a little wonder and admiration at her intuitive motions
• a little weeping behind the camera
• a little visual assessment of baby’s transition earthside
• a little bursting of the heart
• a little whispered gratitude to Jesus
• a little relief
• a little moving around of chux pads
• a little gentle wiping away of blood
• a little delighting over perfect previously unseen baby features
• a little facilitation of weighing, measuring, and cord burning
• a little oohing and aahing over the placenta
• a little opening of curtains to let in the light
• a little tucking of the mama-baby dyad into bed
• a little blessing of the newly expanded family
• a little satisfying exhaustion
• a little reaffirmation of belief in the goodness of autonomous, physiological home birth
• a little treating of oneself to a decadent meal after leaving their home
• a little trying to stay awake on the road back home

Instructions:

With the exception of the first two ingredients, the rest may be combined in nearly any order. The first two must always proceed the others.