Yam William Guest- Cohen entered this world at 12.35 am on Saturday Feb. 14th 2004 a real “Love” child.

The birth of my son was by far one of the proudest moments of my live. This was much less exhausting then the birth of my daughter – India.

Yam let me know he was on the way on this world for the first time on Friday afternoon at 2.00 pm. in Curlie`s Chai Shop. After, we began our ascent to the house at 4.00 pm to get ready for India’s dance class. She went there with some friends.

I continued contracting at home – knowing Rani had returned from Mapusa, but unsure where he was now. Somewhere Rani returned from his round and proceeded to the beach to play chess with a friend.

Around 6.00 pm on Friday the 13th we began to prepare our bags for the birthing center. My contractions were becoming pretty regular by now – every five minutes. Rani insisted I call Corinna again and I told him I had already and she asked me if I wanted her to come. I told her I was o.k. for now and I would call her back if needed. She assured me she was ready for me. Rani upon returning observed two contractions before calling the taxi (thank you, Ganesh) and Corinna to notify her we were on the way. I had a quick shower. This sped up the contractions. After a few contractions in the garden and a few more walking to the taxi, we ( Rani, India, me and the baby ) were on the way.

Once we arrived to the birthing center, I was welcome by Corinna`s touch on the shoulders and call me spiritual, but it’s like her touch took away some of my pain. At once, I was truly relaxed. I entered the room and instinctually headed for the comfortable cane chair in the corner. I remained there for a while as Corinna prepared the bathtub. Contracting in the chair was very relaxing with grapes, almonds and tea for extra power.

Once the bath was prepared, I was anxiously to get inside. The pain of the contractions seemed much less once inside the water – this I remember from India’s birth. I remained in the tub for about two hours during which time Corinna examined me and discovered my Cervix was 9cm open. By now, I was truly able to push, but for some reason I was unable to push down below. Corinna instructed me exactly where to push - but no such luck. Meanwhile, India and Corinna`s daughter Asoka fell asleep on the Yoga mats just outside the door to our room.

I informed Corinna that as much as I wanted to have this Baby in the water, maybe this Baby does not want to be born in the water. Slowly, I got out of the bathtub. Rani and I had a slow dance during a few contractions. This movement must have pushed the baby past the cervix and now it was really time to push. I naturally moved to the bed, attempted both the right and left sides before finally finding my place on hands and knees. In this position the pushing seemed effortless and this is how Yam entered the world – very peaceful in the night of Feb. 14th 2004. Our “Love Child” pure – born on Valentine’s Day.

It was then; we saw it is a boy. Our Aquarius son we had been trying for - Beautiful, healthy and completely natural! This birth truly was a dream come true; after my daughter was born by cesarean section and 50 hours of labor. I was almost convinced that for me natural childbirth was out of the question.

But thanks to my midwife Corinna and the love and support of my partner Rani and my daughter India I fulfilled one of the most incredible and truly spiritual experiences life has to offer - completely natural childbirth!

I my country Canada, this would never have been an option. For this I am truly grateful that there are places like this Birthing Center and people like Corinna exist in this world – especially here in Goa, India!