Laurencia knew her baby was coming long before she arrived at Community of Hope—not because of a clock, calendar, or due date, but because she trusted her body.
A Washington, DC native chef, wife, and mother of two who is also helping raise her 16-year-old brother, Laurencia was intentional about her birth experience from the start. Having had a natural birth before, she knew she wanted the same again and chose Community of Hope for its birth center, supportive care, and proximity to home.
When labor started, it was quiet. , Laurencia listened closely to her body, preparing herself for what she called “a marathon.” With each call to the midwife line, she felt reassured, especially when her midwife, Ebony Marcelle, DNP, checked in, listening not just to what Laurencia said, but how she sounded.
While she waited for labor to progress, Laurencia jumped into what she knows best—her family and her craft. She prepared meals that her family would love and would nourish her postpartum including her famous white bean chili.
“I made sure to keep cooking because that’s part of me,” Laurencia said. “Throughout my pregnancy, it made me feel like I wasn’t losing a part of myself.”
Then her water broke. “My contractions got ten times heavier,” she shared.
By the time Laurencia arrived at the center, she was already seven centimeters dilated. Moments later, her body took over completely.
Surrounded by a calm, confident care team, Laurencia gave birth without rush or confusion. With one powerful push, baby Reign was born into her father, Carl’s, hands. “I felt like everybody knew exactly what they needed to do,” Laurencia said. From clinical staff to the front desk, she felt supported every step of the way.
After delivery, Laurencia remained at the birth center for just an hour and a half, giving her time to rest, recover, and begin bonding with her newborn. Back at home, she was grateful for midwives doing follow up care there “I love having that as an option for postpartum,” she shared, reflecting on how meaningful it was to recover and adjust at home with continued support.
“Going from one to two kids has been a beautiful challenge. I love a good challenge—it’s been pushing me and my husband as individuals and together, in our communication and our routine. Honestly, it’s leveling us up.” She credits their partnership as a key part of the journey. “We’ve been moving with the roller coaster of parenthood together, and that makes it even better—to have a partner who is really in it with me and intentional with me.”
By sharing her story, Laurencia hopes to support other women as they navigate their own birth experiences.
“I share my story because I know birth can be a touchy subject—there are so many variables, and it looks different for everyone,” she said. “I don’t tell people what they should or shouldn’t do. I just share my experience. Talking about it brings awareness, and that in itself is advocacy.”
Laurencia’s experience shows what can happen when a mother trusts her body and has a team that listens.
Click here to watch Laurencia’s birthing vlog!
