Our Halloween Baby - Home Waterbirth

During the evening of October 30, 2003, Jennifer went into labor with baby #3, ecstatic that the baby would be born on Halloween!

Ara Wilson Cerda Tan (we call him Wilson or Wil) was born gently into a warm waterbirthing tub at home, unassisted, after 4.5 hours of labor. The birth was peaceful, powerful and pleasurable! Pure bliss....

Ara: Armenian Great-grandfather's middle name, "king"

Wilson: English Great-great-grandfather's surname, "protector"

Cerda: Filipino Grandmother's surname, "handsome"

Tan: Father's Chinese surname

We utilized yoga, meditation, acupressure, aromatherapy and flower essences. The warm water was amazing, too! Daddy sat outside the tub, Grandma and big brother Ricky sat nearby on the bed, and big sister Joey sat in the waterbirthing tub, sharing a raspberry leaf tea popsicle with Mommy. Wilson was welcomed into the world with the hushed, excited tones of his loving family in a warm, happy, familiar environment. He didn't cry, but looked at us with his glorious little eyes. An exquisite birth....

Happy 6th Birthday to our Halloween baby!

Wilson's Song (played on flute and harp)

Once, there was a baby

Inside of me

He danced with such glee

We named him Ara Wilson

Because he's a king

Protected by thee

Now, he's about to be born

As night turns to morn

He is water-lorn

Magic abounds

As the fairies and frogs

All leap up

At the sound of the horn

Now, there is a child

A brother and son

He can jump and he can run

His gifts and talents are many

He plays with a smile

And flies towards the sun

Once, he was my babe

Bright as the day

A pleasure in the bay

Magic abounds

As the fairies and frogs

All kneel down

To sleep as he lay

The stories of his birth, as told by Jennifer, Ricky and Joey, may be found in issue #12 of The Mother magazine.