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The post A miracle is born at West Point appeared first on PregnancyBeyond.
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Photo Credit: Lindsey Michelle
A miracle is born! Capt. Kelvin Riddle, a tactical officer at the U.S. Military Academy, knew his wife would eventually give birth to their fourth child, Hudsyn Claire Riddle. However, he did not foresee how that unique birth would transpire, for Lindsey Riddle would give birth under painstaking circumstances that would speak to the virtue and unyielding strength of motherhood.
The morning began like any other day on June 17. Kelvin was ready to hear the buzz of his alarm at four in the morning to prepare for Cadet Field Training.
“I thought I would stay in the field overnight with my cadets, but my wife woke me up at 3:45 a.m. and said, ‘hey, it’s time,’ˮ Kelvin said.
He got his kids ready and took them to his friendʼs house in Stony Lonesome, which was seven minutes away from his house.
“Before I could get passed the stadium from my house, my wife called me and said, ‘hey, I can feel the baby’s head,’ˮ he explained. “I started freaking out a bit and I sped up a little bit more to get the kids up the hill and about three to four minutes later, she called me and said, ‘hey, I’m holding the baby.’ I thought she was joking. ˮ
He quickly dropped his kids off at his friendʼs house and moved with frantic urgency back to his car and called 911. The firefighters and military police on base immediately responded. As soon as he got down the hill from Stony and back to his house, the firefighters were outside his door preparing to enter.
“My wife opened the door and she was literally standing there with the baby in her arms,ˮ Kelvin said. “Me, the firefighters and MP’s were shocked and wondering what just happened. And so, we immediately got her seated. Once we got her seated, the firefighter clamped the umbilical cord then I cut the umbilical cord.ˮ

Photo Credit: Lindsey Michelle
The firefighters asked Lindsey a series of questions to gauge her health. Soon after, the ambulance came to pick her up and transport her from Keller Hospital to Montefiore St. Lukeʼs Cornwall Hospital for follow-up care.
For Lindsey, the experience was beautiful yet surreal. Before the birth, Lindsey simply believed she had to use the restroom before she went to the hospital. As she exited the restroom and made her way into the kitchen, she felt the urge to push.
She listened to her body and grabbed the bar stool in her kitchen. She gave it one good push to alleviate the pain but didn’t believe she was having the baby yet. ( A miracle is born)
“She was giving a push to re-adjust the baby,ˮ Kelvin said. “With that one push, the baby crowned. Another push came right behind it and she pushed the baby further out. Her instincts kicked in. She didnʼt want the baby to hit the floor because she was standing.ˮ
She reached under and grabbed the babyʼs head as she came out smoothly. Then, she grabbed the baby carefully and flipped her upwards to unwrap the umbilical cord around her neck.
“Thank god there was no health complications. Everything was completely fine, but it was definitely an interesting birth. Our two dogs got to witness the whole thing and they canʼt tell me about it,ˮ Kelvin said. “She was very pleased about the professionalism the firefighters and MP’s maintained given the extent of the emergency. I’m sure this doesn’t happen often at West Point.ˮ
Hudsyn, now a few weeks old, is said to be the last child the Riddles have and they are thrilled to welcome their miracle child to West Point. A miracle is born
H/T: U.S Army
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]]>The post My Unmedicated Water Birth Story – Madian Martinez appeared first on PregnancyBeyond.
]]>First-time mom Madian Martinez who welcomed a son in May 2019 shares her water unmedicated water birth experience with PregnancyBeyond. Scroll to the bottom of this page to see a video of Madian pushing out her son like a champ!
She wrote:
19 mins later I don’t know how I did it but I naturally pushed that baby right on out. I really couldn’t believe I had the strength and power to do that but I DID 

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]]>The post Get a Gift, Give a Gift – Why I Became A Gestational Surrogate? appeared first on PregnancyBeyond.
]]>Gestational Surrogate By Lyneda Lincoln

Faces of the parents have been obscured to protect privacy
I can’t believe I can finally start a blog post like this. But years ago, I was sitting in health class. We were discussing reproduction and the complications thereof. I was bored and hardly paying attention. Until my teacher turned on a documentary clip about a surrogate giving birth for an infertile couple. I sat up in my chair and watched, intrigued that someone would do something so selfless for someone else!
The whole thing was miraculous. I mean, did people really do this?? We went on to watch a few other clips and with each, my intrigue grew.
I went home and googled ‘surrogacy’ and found all these articles discussing the difference between traditional surrogacy. The requirements of becoming a surrogate, the pros, and cons of surrogacy, etc. But one thing became clear very quickly. There were no women who looked like me doing it.

Lyneda Lincoln 2009
Particularly, I was used to being the odd man out. I went to private school my entire life, from preschool all the way up through undergrad. I found myself being the only black girl amongst the crowd on many occasions.
Although I was fortunate enough not to experience any direct situations. Where I was singled out or discriminated against due to my ethnicity. I did experience this crushing realization somewhere along the way that there were things, opportunities. That would not be as easily available to me as my Caucasian counterparts because of my ‘blackness’.
When looking through google images. I didn’t see any African American women or even women of color doing this. Which immediately told me that I might as well forget about it ever being an option for me.
Additionally, I couldn’t do it even if I wanted to. Because you had to have given birth to and be parenting at least one child. I was light-years away from getting married or having children of my own. However, from then on, the thought always lingered in the back of my mind… what if?
THIS MOM IS 36 WEEKS PREGNANT AND HAS 2-MONTH-OLD TWINS
At the end of my senior year of high school, I started dating my best friend. Four years later and three months after I graduated from college, we got married. The long and short of it is that once we were ready to have children. We quickly (or not so quickly) found out that something was wrong. After trying for a few years, we were finally evaluated. It was determined that we had severe Male Factor Infertility (MFI). We were told we had only a 1% chance of ever conceiving naturally on our own. We were crushed, but willing to do whatever it took to have the family we know God promised us.

Then we decided to begin hormonal treatment under the care of a urologist. Also, if that didn’t work, to begin the process of attempting Intra-Uterine Insemination (IUI). Under a Reproductive Endocrinologist at a Fertility Center here in California. However, before my husband could begin treatment, we found out we were pregnant. My OBGYN couldn’t believe it, and yet. Almost three years later, we have the most beautiful little wildflower you ever did see. She was the blessing that we’d hoped and prayed for, cried and longed for.


After having a perfect pregnancy and beautiful home water birth, the yearning to give that to another mother. That might have felt the same agony I did during our battle with infertility became undeniable.
I mean, what if I stopped putting myself in a box? What if I stopped perpetuating the lie that I was less than because of some invisible barrier I believed existed? And what if there was a mother out there, just hoping and praying for a woman like me who might not ignore her calling and who could give her the child she couldn’t carry herself? What if that child could only ever feel its mother’s arms… because of me?

August 16, 2018. In Labor with the twins headed to the hospital

http://https://www.instagram.com/p/BvZkUKKFSY7/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1i2b7lpvwff0d
http://https://www.instagram.com/p/BvZkUKKFSY7/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1i2b7lpvwff0d
http://https://www.instagram.com/p/BvZkUKKFSY7/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1i2b7lpvwff0d
As someone who is very spiritual, I felt that becoming a surrogate was a calling on my life. My dad used to tell me when I was younger, “Sometimes the way you choose to live your life is the only sermon someone will ever see or hear”.

Faces of the parents have been obscured to protect privacy

I decided to let my light shine. By giving someone else a gift that was miraculously given to me. It didn’t happen in the exact same way, but it happened in an equally beautiful way.



I gave birth to my surrogate twins on August 16, 2018 – they are healthy and happy, and their parents finally feel that their family is complete. The amount of joy that brings me is indescribable. My pregnancy carrying twins was difficult in many ways, but the beauty of being apart of a miracle far outweighs those hardships.
Becoming a surrogate didn’t just allow me to fulfill my calling; it helped me bring peace to a mother and a father who might have otherwise spent more of their lives wandering in despair. Becoming a surrogate is one of the best things I have ever done.
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About the Author:
Lyneda is a 29-year-old aspiring entrepreneur and mama of one. Several years ago, in the midst of her pain, she took to Instagram as a way to express her frustrations of eagerly awaiting a child and to find other women who might be experiencing the same. Since then, she has continued the unfiltered documentation of her life on her.
Instagram profile @NeddiezWhirled in the hope to spread awareness about infertility, motherhood, and surrogacy. In between Instagram blog posts, Lyneda enjoys reading, working her new endeavor as a home-based travel agent, and spending time with her family.
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]]>The post Birth Vlog – Domonique & Skylar Jae Robinson appeared first on PregnancyBeyond.
]]>Birth Vlog: Skylar Jae Robinson “Made Me Realize How Strong Of A Woman I am”

Date of Birth: September 2, 2017
Mother’s Name: Domonique Robinson
Baby’s Name: Skylar Jae Robinson
New mom to a beautiful baby girl, Domonique Robinson is grateful for her beautiful blessing. Despite that she had severe morning sickness incredibly early in her pregnancy, the fabulous new mom describes her pregnancy journey as absolutely amazing! “In the beginning, I dealt with morning sickness and so many mixed emotions about the new journey I was beginning, but in the end, it was all worth it,” she said, “I am very thankful to have a supportive husband that was there for me every step of the way, along with many family and friends.”
She goes on to say that the birth of her daughter, Sylar has made her appreciate life so much more “it made me realize how strong of a woman I am” she said.
The new mom and her husband are loving every moment of parenthood “My husband and I have been enjoying being first-time parents. This experience has been so much better than we could have ever imagined and we would not trade it for anything.”
Read on to watch the labor and delivery vlog and to see photos from Skylar’s newborn photo shoot.




From all of us here at pregnancybeyond.com, we would like to congratulate both of you on the safe arrival of your baby.
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]]>The post Home Birth – Mom Opted For The Second Time Round appeared first on PregnancyBeyond.
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Why This Mom Opted For A Home Birth The Second Time Round?
After a medicated hospital birth for baby No. 1 took an unexpected turn, Shelby Clowers and her husband decided to give birth to baby No. 2 at home.
Read her emotional and empowering home birth story below!
My First Home Birth Experience
Those who attended the birth of my first born would tell you it was unforgettable in the worst of ways. Two years ago, I was riding passenger on the way to the hospital to be induced. My husband and I discussed during our drive how delighted we were for our lives to change to a family of three to avoid the anxiety we felt. After a short ride we arrived to small talk and routine work: readying IV’s, retrieving a catheter, sterilizing the area, the whole nine. Luckily I was contracting on my own the use of pitocin was unnecessary and went directly to breaking my water. Before leaving my room my doctor quickly questioned me about the need of an epidural. Although my pain was fear driven, I was young and naive, I insisted.
ALSO SEE: MIRACLE TWINS BORN TWO WEEK APART!
Seconds after receiving the epidural I was reaping it’s effects. I became so nauseated I couldn’t bare to speak. I was begging for relief as they injected a dose of phenergan into my IV. Little did anyone know I was severely allergic to the medicine. I couldn’t see. I couldn’t talk. I began to black out. I woke up for a split second patting my chest in hopes to convey something was wrong. My nurse was frustrated unaware of the situation she got two inches from my face yelling “USE YOUR WORDS” repeatedly. All I could do was grab her arm with a frail grip before passing out again. My condition was worsening when I awoke for a second time. I remember looking up to my husband holding my hand, telling me it would be okay, as he began to tear. Everyone was being rushed out of the room as a team of doctors scrambled through the door. I didn’t know it but my heart rate was dropping.
Awake for a third and final time, it was over but now it was time to push. I was exhausted and still confused, I thought the oxygen they had me on was their attempt to put me to sleep. In between surges, with what little energy I had left, I was fighting to remove the mask. Two hours of nodding in and out, I remember asking if it was almost over. Anything that could have gone wrong, did. I was ready to be holding our baby boy. A tiny six pounds and twelve ounces, he was finally here. Relieved we’re both okay, I still look back and break a little inside unable to recall the birth of my first child.
My Second Home Birth Experience
Once we became pregnant for the second time we knew, wherever we delivered, we would not opt for any interventions. It wasn’t until the third trimester we started weighing out our options of where we would welcome our newest addition. I knew I didn’t want to be in the same environment I was with my first, scarred from the experience we lived previously. It wasn’t until then we discussed a home birth. No pokes and pricks, being in the comfort of home, I wouldn’t have to find a sitter for our son, it appeared to be a dream. This is what I wanted.
It was a day after my due date when my water broke as I was laying our son down for a nap. I immediately alerted my midwife, Rebekah, who was attending a birth of another mother. I then called out to my husband and informed him we would have a baby soon. We went about the rest of our day normally, trying to do the odds and ends in order to prep our house for birth. I continuously encouraged my husband to get as much rest as possible before going to bed myself.
SEE ALSO : AMAZING STORIES OF LABOR AND BIRTH FROM REAL MOMS
Labor Day
I was filled with mixed emotions as I attempted to close my eyes. Although this was my second birth it was very much my first. I didn’t know what to expect as I had no previous experience other than reading what I could online. I woke up early Sunday morning with consistent contractions. I began timing them before I carefully crept out of bed trying not disrupt our son to go wake my husband on the couch. I could tell he had gotten little to no sleep. As I started to explain I needed his help timing my contractions he told me he didn’t go to bed until five that morning.. it was three. Nodding in and out we averaged my contractions two minutes apart while lasting thirty five seconds.
Keeping my midwife updated she decided it was time to head my way. They arrived just as the sun was making an appearance through the trees. She had brought along some back up, Paige a student midwife, as the rest of her team was still with laboring mother before me. As we got acquainted my contractions stayed two minutes apart while lengthening in time. I was checked at five centimeters when Rebekah asked if I felt comfortable with her leaving to attend her previous engagement. I gave her the thumbs up as I tried to get comfortable for the labor ahead.
Positioned for Birth
I was stretched across the couch when Paige encouraged me to get into a more baby friendly position to help descend him further into the birth canal. I put a pillow under each knee and squatted down while leaning over the seat cushions. I could feel my contractions intensifying as I was overcome by intolerable back pain. My husband would try massage me while Paige squeezed my hips, but it was doing more harm than good. I couldn’t be touched. All I wanted to do was lay down.
I crawled back up on the couch surrounding myself with pillows in every direction to give my body some ease. With each wave I would reach out to my husband and pull on his shirt until it passed. I had been laboring in the living room for a short couple of hours, since my midwives arrived, when I decided I wanted to try a new method of comfort and relax in a hot bath. Before stepping into the water, Paige checked me in between six and seven centimeters. She called Rebekah to inform her of my progression. Minutes away from reaching her destination she asked if she needed to turn around. Since my dilation appeared slow Rebekah continued on her drive.

Ready to Push
My son was still asleep in the room next to me when I got into the bath. I immediately turned on the cold water. I was refreshed with the cooling sensation through the marathon my body was running. At this time my contractions were now a minute or more long. The pain I felt in my back had me paralyzed. I could do nothing but scream. I managed to wake our son from the howls I released through each surge. As much as I wanted him there I knew I couldn’t comfort him like he wanted me to, so we quickly called for reinforcements. My husband attended to his side while Paige poured water over my forty week belly and reminded me that I could do this. I wasn’t in the tub for ten minutes when I told her I needed to push. No one was expecting me progress the way I had. She asked me slightly confused “You need to push or feel like you want to push?” I shouted “HES HERE”.
Before getting up to notify Rebekah, she wanted me to promise I wouldn’t push. I knew it was no promise I could keep. Our son’s ride arrived relieving my husband back to his former duty of being by my side. I had one more contraction in the tub when I demanded we make a run for it. I was caught in the hallway by another surge before reaching the couch. Rebekah was too far away. She would never make it back in time. It was just the three of us. With Rebekah absent, my husband and Paige rushed to get everything ready for the arrival of our newest baby boy.

A Big Blessing
I was already pushing as I watched them grab the rest of the necessities. I beared down against Paige who was positioned at my feet. Through all the pain I had felt that morning I was at such peace while pushing. With two more thrusts he was here. I lifted him up to my chest and rubbed my fingers across his face. He had the most perfectly round head and that beautiful burgundy after birth color. My husband cut the cord while I took everything in that I had missed the first time. I finally got the birth I had been longing for. I thanked my body for overcoming my mind and showing me what I was truly capable of.

I questioned myself on if I should write my story when I was reminded, I gave birth at home, after a traumatizing first experience, without any interventions, and that itself is a success. I could and I did and this time I remembered.
Thank you Shelby for sharing your story. Find more of Shelby on her website.
RECOMMENDED: Journey To Motherhood: Woman Who Gives Birth to a miracle baby
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]]>The post Baby Born In Amniotic Sac On Way To Hospital appeared first on PregnancyBeyond.
]]>En Caul Birth: Baby Born In Amniotic Sac On Way To Hospital
Raelin Scurry was 29 weeks pregnant with her second baby when she started having contractions, which she immediately dismissed as Braxon Hicks. After about 45 minutes of strong contractions which were only few minutes apart, Raelin figured out she was experiencing true labor, so she and her partner wisely decided to head to the hospital for evaluation.
Not long into the ride to the hospital, Raelin felt the urge to push! So she dialed 911 “I called 911 because I was so scared. They couldn’t understand me between the screams with contractions.” she wrote on Instagram.
Raelin realized she was about to give birth when she felt her son crowning “I pulled my pants off and reached down, sure enough his head was right there.”

Photo: Courtsey of Raelin Scurry Via Instagram
With just one push, her baby boy was born ‘en caul’, completely encased in his amniotic sac! “I pushed one time and my miracle baby was here. When I looked down I realized he was still completely wrapped in the amniotic sac.”
Raelin delivered her 3lb 1oz baby boy herself while dad continued to drive to the hospital “The dispatcher told us to pull over. But I knew we would make it to the hospital before they would make it to us. So I told Ean to keep driving.”
“At first the baby was still and all I could do was pray he would be okay. And then I rubbed his face with my thumb and he pulled his little hands and feet up to his face as if he understood my prayers and wanted to reassure us he was okay” the new mom said.

A few minutes later, they arrived at the hospital.` “About 7 minutes passed that I held this miracle baby in my hands until we made it to the hospital. A familiar face came running out and grabbed my baby. “
“I know he’s going to be an awesome little man,” Raelin writes. “He is truly a miracle baby. We are so blessed to be his parents.”

SEE ALSO: Mom Gives Birth To Two Sets Of Twins In One Year

What is En Caul
An en caul birth occurs when a baby is born inside of the entire of his amniotic sac. The amniotic sac is baby’s home during gestation and it is filled with fluid, cushioning the baby from pressure outside the womb. Often, during labor it ruptures and the fluid rushes out, which is where the term ‘breaking water’ comes from.
An en caul birth is extremely rear and only occur in about 1 in every 80,000 births.

Raelin says she and baby are doing well “He is 4lbs now and off the CPAP mask. Doctors still can not believe how amazing he is doing” she told Pregnancybeyond.com
What an amazing story and a big congratulations to the now-family-of-four!
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]]>The post Jaden August-Roodianne Birth Story appeared first on PregnancyBeyond.
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Jaden August-Roodianne Birth Story – Mama of two, Larianne Tide who gave birth to her baby boy, Jaden on the 27th of August 2015 describes the day as the most painful day of her life! She ended up with a C-section after having pushed for 2.5 hours; she was however grateful for her healthy baby boy, particularly because she had suffered two miscarriages before conceiving him.
SEE ALSO: Pregnancy Sleep Secret – All that You Need To Know
Holding her newborn for the first time was indescribable, she said “he was perfect in every way and I fell in love instantly”. Watch the Birth Vlog!
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]]>The post Hayven and Rosealyn Starks Birth Story appeared first on PregnancyBeyond.
]]>Hayven and Rosealyn Starks Birth Story:
Babies Name: Hayven and Rosealyn Starks
Date of Birth: May 8th, 2017
Parents: Jonathan & Jade Starks
Here’s the cute babies Hayven and Rosealyn Starks Birth Story.
Jade Starks wanted one baby but got two! Despite the difficulty she had with breathing and being very nervous of delivery, Jade says her labor & delivery was the best experience possible. She welcomed her twins girls via a scheduled c-section and it was a total adrenaline rush; she cried when she heard their first cry and holding her girls for the first time was totally love at first sight. We could not be more happy with our two blessings, she says, they bring us so much joy everyday and we couldn’t imagine doing life any different.
Jade however noted that being a parent of twins isn’t as easy as it looks –– you get no days off from motherhood, but we are thankful for our twin girls and so exited to watch them grow and thrive together.
Watch the birth vlog!
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]]>The post Tru Berry Birth Story appeared first on PregnancyBeyond.
]]>Cute baby, Tru Berry Birth Story.
Date of Birth: June 4, 2017, at 12:53 am
Mother’s name: Diamond Berry
Baby’s name: Tru Berry
…
Diamond Berry was at a Jazz Festival when her water broke! I didn’t know what was going on at first, she said, I thought I had peed on myself (LOL). I called my husband to the room and we made our way to the hospital which was about 20 miles away.

We finally get to the hospital, after being monitored for about an hour and a half I was told, I was almost 5 cm dilated and I was having so many contractions. They induced me and then it got super real! I started having contractions about 2 minutes apart for like 1 minute long and at this point, all I wanted was an epidural. Right after the epidural, I got checked to see how dilated I was, it was then the nurses noticed that the baby had turned and discovered he was breech. I was rushed into theater for an emergency c-section which was totally terrifying, I just couldn’t stop shaking. After he came out my first words to my husband were “oh my gosh he is so cute!.” He weighed 6lbs 8oz, 20inches long and had the cutest cry ever!


When we got to our room and I had to feed him, he latched on right away and I noticed it was all worth it. Giving birth was honestly the best thing I’ve ever done, it was the most amazing experience of my life and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Being a first time mom is an unexplainable thing. I never have felt so much love for another human like I do with my son. I literally stare at him all day!

Congratulations mama and thank you for sharing your delivery experience with us! Follow her on Instagram @dimefachon
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