Before heading out to dinner one evening, Val Williams, a teacher at Bramlett Elementary and mother of an eight-year-old daughter, had a gut feeling she was pregnant.

“I took a pregnancy test,” she says. When it came back positive, Val knew life was about to change.

“I felt little butterflies in my stomach—not nausea, but excitement,” she shares. Her husband, Willie, was in the other room, and when she told him the news, his beaming smile said it all. “We were so excited.”

A Different Journey

Val’s second pregnancy, while joyful, came with a unique set of challenges compared to her first. “I was way more uncomfortable this time around,” she shares. “My body had changed. It wasn’t the same as it was eight years ago when I had Kira. With Deon growing, I had constant back pain and was so much more tired. I think I slept through the first three months of my pregnancy.”

The physical discomfort often left Val questioning herself. “I didn’t know if I was sleeping wrong or moving too much. I had to remind myself that my body was different now and allow myself some grace. I had to accept that this pregnancy wasn’t going to be like the last time—and that was okay.”

To manage the fatigue and discomfort, Val took proactive steps. “My iron was really low, so I started supplements, drank lots of water, and used hydration drinks to stay energized. I didn’t want to just lay in bed all day, even though my body was telling me to rest. I had to balance rest with staying active, because I still had Kira, and she needed my attention too.”

Throughout her prenatal care, Val was under the guidance of Hannah Dye, C.F.N.P. at Oxford Clinic for Women. “Hannah and her team were amazing,” Val says. “They didn’t just see me as a patient or a set of numbers on a chart. They made sure I understood every change in my body, answered all my questions thoroughly, and approached everything with a smile and open arms. I could tell they genuinely love their jobs, and that made all the difference.”

Kira, eager to become a big sister, embraced the idea with maturity and excitement. “I explained to her that the attention would shift to Deon because he would need us for everything,” Val shares. “But I made sure she knew that didn’t mean we loved her any less. She understood, and I think experiencing this at her age has been great for her. She’s very in tune with her feelings and understanding of others. She still gets all the love she needs, but she recognizes that this is Deon’s time right now.”

Despite the challenges, Val found joy in the moments of connection with her baby. “Feeling the kicks and movements was the most exciting part for me,” she shares. “Even on tough days, when I’d feel a little stretch or a nudge, it would lighten my whole day. It’s a blessing to know you’re growing and nurturing someone inside of you.”

One of the most memorable moments of her pregnancy was finding out Deon’s gender. “I told my husband, ‘If we’re going to try, I’d love to try for a boy.’ Of course, we’d be excited for either, but we’d been praying for a boy to complete our family unit,” she says. “When we went to the clinic, Ginger could tell right away. She said, ‘There’s no doubt about it—it’s a boy right there.’ We were so happy. My husband ran out of the office and called his parents before we even made it through the double doors. He was so excited that he just couldn’t wait.”

Preparing for Deon’s Arrival

At her final prenatal appointment, Val was still only two centimeters dilated. “Hannah decided to do a membrane sweep that day,” Val recalls. Despite the discomfort, Val was ready to do whatever it took to get things moving.

The following Wednesday, Val decided to take matters into her own hands. She had already felt some pain that morning but wasn’t sure if it was contractions. Undeterred, she came up with a plan. “There’s this really steep hill where I work—like gravity-defying steep,” she explains. Instead of sitting on a bouncing ball or walking flat ground, she decided to walk up and down the hill.

With her daughter Kira by her side, Val walked up and down the hill several times. “Every time I would walk down and back up, I’d sit down and feel a little gush of something,” she says. “It wasn’t much, but by the fourth time, when I went back up to sit down, my water broke.”

“Fun fact: my principal really wanted to take me to the hospital,” Val laughs. “She said it would’ve been on her bucket list to take a pregnant lady to the emergency room.” But instead, Val drove herself to the hospital, called her husband to meet her there, and got checked in.

Welcoming Deon

Although Val opted for an epidural, labor with Deon felt different from her first pregnancy. “The contractions were a lot more intense,” Val recalls. “It was like a surreal moment—I didn’t expect to feel what I felt. But it was a great experience. I was able to feel everything, and they talked me through it. The team was so welcoming, so understanding, and so patient with me.”

Her labor team, led by Dr. Henderson, provided exceptional support. “Dr. Henderson delivered both my babies,” Val shares. “He was great.”

Val’s mom was also by her side in the delivery room. “She was incredible,” Val says. “She has four kids, so she understands what comes with labor and delivery. She knew just what to do to keep me comfortable, even though I was in the most uncomfortable positions ever. Something about her tone and her actions was so soothing, it took me to a happy place.”

At 9:00 p.m. on May 29, Deon Anthony Williams made his entrance into the world. “He popped out, and he looked just like his sister—literally twins,” Val says. “I find myself comparing them all the time, but it’s in those subtle moments when I see a lot of her in him that I reminisce. It’s nostalgic, and it makes me happy to see that I’ve created someone that will continue to walk this world.”

Navigating Postpartum

Once home, Val focused on healing and following her provider’s advice. “This time, I listened—don’t lift, don’t move too much, just rest,” she says. “I wasn’t in a rush to be on the go, and I think that made all the difference.”

Her community stepped in to support her every step of the way. “I haven’t had to buy wipes or diapers since Deon was born,” Val shares. “My family has supported me in ways I’ll never forget. Whether it’s fixing a bottle or giving me extra rest, they’ve been there for me.”

Yet, postpartum wasn’t without challenges. “When I stopped breastfeeding, I noticed changes in my body—my hair started falling out, and I didn’t look the way I wanted to,” Val says. “It was eye-opening, but having people around me who love and care for me helped me stay grounded. They reminded me to give myself grace.”

For Val, one of the joys of postpartum has been watching Deon’s milestones. “Seeing him get excited and entertained by the things around him makes me happy,” she says. “It lets me know his brain is growing, and he’s learning.”

Her advice for new moms is simple: “Surround yourself with people who support and love you unconditionally, and give yourself time to heal. Whether it takes four months, six months, or a year, it’s okay. It’s about what your body needs.”