Amani's Birth Story

I arrived at Fort Worth Birthing and Wellness Center around after midnight. I walked up the stairs and into a dark room filled with deep moans and dancing candlelight. There was music playing. It was so hypnotic, you couldn’t help but relax yourself. I was relieved. Amani’s husband, Shakeem was stationed overseas and made it back to the states 2 days before this night. Amani waited for him. Baby waited for her. Doula Eve and I waited for more contractions. Finally, we were all in the birthing space together. In the words of Amani when she told her birth story, “it was time to ride the waves.”

Doula Eve reminded Amani to surrender. She whispered that she couldn't. Each time, Shakeem whispered back “you can.” She labored for 1 hour when Midwife Lindsay calmly suggested that she move to the bed. Baby’s heartbeat dropped. “Now, I want you to give me 2 big pushes and I want baby out.” Tension in the room built as we all tossed looks of confusion back and forth but Amani said “yes ma'am,” took a deep breath and pushed.

Eve whispers in Amani’s ear. “You are a lioness you better roar that baby out.”

She pushed - baby’s head crowned. One more long hard push and baby was out. They named him Zyir which means “Price of Peace” in Arabic. Shakeem clutched his chest in awe. Amani cried as she looked at her baby boy for the first time. I am honored to have been invited to capture these moments. Check out Amani’s birth story in her own words here.