The Power of a Praying Woman

A Pregnancy Rooted in Prayer

Power of a “Praying Woman” - When I asked Casey his favorite song from their birth playlist this was the instant response. Every decision in this pregnancy came from that powerful partnership between God and each other. From our first meeting and the honest upfront way she told me she felt drawn to homebirth but didn’t feel certain yet, following up with asking if she could pay to do co-care with me until they decided. At first it seemed they might just want to have help with nutrition and herbal options to support their pregnancy.

Preparing Body, Mind, and Spirit

Fast forward to a firm decision about midway through the pregnancy that they wanted to be home for this birth. These parents did the work. She did yoga, saw a pelvic floor specialist, read the books, asked all of her questions, he researched and bought the Birth Partner to read and refer to. She asked me for breastfeeding education and focused on her nutrition. At one point her blood pressure rose to unsafe levels but we adjusted her nutrition, added the herbs I suggested, and her blood pressures settled back down into a beautiful place with these supports. She then sailed through the rest of her pregnancy with continued movement, nutrition, mental emotional, and spiritual preparation, bodywork and Casey helping her do side lying releases, and jiggles to help keep her facia and muscles ready for this journey.

When Labor Began

The day before this handsome man came into the world Aly texted to let me know she had lost her mucous plug before church and was having some mild cramping. Throughout the day, the Super Bowl, and the night she kept me posted with Casey taking over the updates during the wee hours. They never asked for their doula or me to come, telling themselves first labors could be days and not wanting to over react. But it seemed things were progressing when they let me know she threw up and was taking a shower, and soon after said they were much more intense after they she hugged him a few contractions (we had talked about how that activated your sacrum and helps it open for baby toward the end of labor). So I settled my little ones and headed that way and so did their doula.

When Labor Suddenly Deepened

When I walked in, she was laboring beautifully, leaning over the couch, vocalizing strongly and doing her 360 breathing in between. A contraction or two later her amazing doula Kateri arrived with her amazing touch. We listened to baby, she laid down for a moment so I could palpate her belly and double check baby’s position and then she went back to kneeling…. But the next contraction she spontaneously grunted a small push at the peak of her contraction and in a flash Casey and I were setting up for a birth, filling the pool and laying out supplies. Each contraction her urge to push increased and I texted my assistant Caitlyn that this was the real deal and to hurry if she could. Aly sank into the pool and relaxing even more the pushing got even stronger. She breathed as much as she could and then let her body decide when the pushes would happen, and gently brought baby down.

Born Into His Mother’s Hands

When a few inches of the top of baby’s head was emerging I asked if she wanted to feel and she exclaimed I can feel the head! At one point she told Casey, “we’re going to be parents soon!” Then some time later the baby’s head slipped out and I invited her to feel again. As she reached back their baby turned its head toward her, her body shifted and the shoulders gently emerged and baby was born into her hands! She sat back shocking Casey (and I think herself) with their baby in her arms already! A few moments later they looked to see who was born, it was a boy! Welcome Baby McCoy! As I write this they are rocking newborn days, Dad researching nursing tips and keeping mom nourished with broth and hearty soups. Mom is resting and they are getting all of the skin to skin time they can. All of the work and prayers go hand in hand and they are living this blessed life as a family of three!!!

Every birth has its own rhythm, its own challenges, and its own quiet moments of courage and love. At Heart Strings Birth Services, we believe birth is more than a medical event — it is a sacred unfolding, lovingly supported and deeply personal. These stories are shared with permission to honor the families who trusted us with their care and to encourage others as they walk their own birth journeys.

This blog post originated from @heartstringsbirthservices - February 12th 2025