Hilary Blake recently celebrated the arrival of her third child, a daughter named Mae, during a home water birth attended by her husband, Jake Koma, along with her son, Luca, 9, and daughter, Bella, 2. While they had someone care for Bella during the delivery, Hilary felt it was crucial for Luca to witness his mother’s strength throughout the birthing process. “I wanted him to see how powerful women can be and what giving birth truly involves,” Hilary shared on The Informed Pregnancy Podcast. “He’s aware of periods, and I believe it’s essential to have open conversations about female strength and the realities of childbirth.”
Hilary expressed her desire for Luca to grasp the true essence of human strength. “Sometimes, a 9-year-old boy might think, ‘Men are stronger because they have bigger muscles,’ but women bring life into this world. We carry a baby and go through labor,” she noted. “We’ve been discussing topics like equality and how strength can manifest in various forms, not just physical.”
However, the birth didn’t unfold as planned. Hilary revealed that the labor was quite rapid, lasting just over three hours, and Luca arrived in the room “just as I was pulling the baby out.” Despite his eagerness to be part of the experience, he missed the actual moment of Mae’s birth.
Hilary also highlighted the importance of exposing her son to the different ways childbirth can occur. “I want him to respect how his future partner may choose to have a child, whether at home or in a hospital,” she explained. “There are countless ways to bring a baby into the world.”
She shared her experience because she enjoys hearing about others’ childbirth stories, finding them fascinating and inspiring. “Women are capable of incredible things,” she said. “I hope my story encourages other moms out there.” Mae James Bair was born on March 24, 2021, and it’s clear she has a supportive older brother looking out for her.
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Summary
Hilary Blake opened up about why she wanted her son to witness her home water birth, emphasizing the importance of teaching him about female strength and the realities of childbirth. Despite a fast labor that caused him to miss the actual birth, she hopes to instill respect for diverse birthing choices in him.
Keyphrase: Hilary Blake childbirth experience
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