Stephen Skinner holding Elijah, Doula Chris Goldman, Katrina Skinner holding Aubrey.

Doula Chris Goldman's story:

Stephen phoned me at 1:50 am, telling me that Katrina's water had broken at 1 am.  When I asked about the contractions he said they were coming every 5-6 minutes apart, lasting 1-2 minutes, and  asked me if I thought they should get to the hospital.  I told them yes, as soon as Katrina's mother arrived, and to call me back when they were on their way and I would meet them there.

Less than 5 minutes later, Stephen called me back to let me know that one of the babies was coming!  "She is pushing, she is pushing one out!"

I then told him "Stephen, DIAL 911!"  I quickly flew out of the house and got there just after 2 a.m., Elijah was born, and the paramedics had just arrived also.  Katrina was on the bed, breathing calmly and waiting for Aubrey to be born.  We prayed, and could sense the Lord's presence.  She asked me if I thought that the baby was breech. I felt her stomach and re iterated to her to take things one at a time, and to stay calm and focused on her body, that help was here and the Lord was guiding everyone.  After a few contractions, Katrina sensed the need to change position and knelt beside the bed.  She felt Aubrey coming, I guided her with her breathing.  The paramedic told us it was his first time catching a baby, and that he saw a foot being born.  I guided Katie with her pushing and breathing efforts and let her know to focus on her body, and she instinctively knew what to do, keep gently pushing to get the baby out in a timely manner.  Katie took one deep breath and pushed Aubrey out.   Aubrey was perfectly colored, covered in vernix and cried after 10 seconds.  The paramedics re wrapped Elijah, who was being held by his grandmother; we wrapped Aubrey and headed to the hospital to get everyone settled. 

Elijah weighed 6 pounds, 4 ounces; Aubrey weighed 6 pounds, 6 ounces. Mother and babies came home Saturday from Community General Hospital.

Here's what happened, in Stephen Skinner's own words:

"At about 1:04 a.m., Katrina's water broke. She lay back in bed to rest and wait for contractions. We called friends and family.

"Her parents, Bradd and Cherie Walker, left their house (in North Syracuse) to come over to watch our older kids.

"Her first contraction came about 1:25 a.m., then seven or eight minutes later, she had another. After another contraction at 1:42 a.m., I called our doula (private labor coach) Christine Goldman, saying Katrina's in labor. She said she'd stand by. Katrina told me she needs to push, and I thought she was kidding. I felt his head and hair start to peek out. I was trying to keep cool. I called Christine back immediately and said, 'She's giving birth now, what do I do?' She said to call 911. . . .

"The (dispatcher), as he dispatched the ambulances, said he wanted me to stay calm. I was rubbing my wife's back with my right hand, I had the (cordless) phone in my shoulder, and my left hand bracing my son coming out. . . . Katrina's parents pulled up, and I yelled out the window. . . .

"I ran downstairs, unlocked the front door at around 1:57-ish. I'm talking to the (call-taker), he was really good. He coached me on the phone. Elijah's whole head peeks through on the next contraction, and 20-30 seconds after, his body had come out. . . .

"We needed to tie up the umbilical cord, and the guy instructed me to grab a shoelace. Elijah was maybe 1 or 2 minutes old, and the EMS guys showed up. They ran upstairs, they cut the umbilical cord with the proper utensil. My wife rested maybe four or five minutes. They wanted to get her to the hospital before the second one was born, but she said, 'I have to push again.'

"We knew Aubrey had breached (from sonograms). As she starts to push, these guys see feet and knees start coming. She gets her part of the way out, and the shoulders are almost out and the cord wasn't around her neck. They asked her to keep pushing, but she was almost out of breath and energy. She gave one more push and the head popped out.

"Our Doula assisted my wife and comforted her, and assisted with Aubrey. They rushed the babies and me into one ambulance and Katrina into a separate one. The older kids slept through the whole thing, and Katrina's parents stayed with them.

"I asked Katrina later at her hospital bed, 'Were you freaking out at all?' She said no. I was definitely a little bit nervous.

"In the beginning, no one else is there, and I'm scared I'm not going to come through. She was just relieved, not worried. She was very calm through the whole thing. We're very thankful, and God is very good."

"Katrina's mother had been praying for a fast delivery so she wouldn't go through pain," Stephen Skinner said. "I told her she prayed a little too hard."