Desiré Waller, 23, a first time mother, and boyfriend Kareem Folkes, 30, didn’t realize it at the time, but they were tapping into a modest, millennial rebellion. In 2014, midwives delivered 8 percent of the babies born in the United States. In 1989, the comparable number was 3 percent. They sought out midwife Afua Hassan to deliver their baby. “My mom had hospital births, and so did my grandma,” Desiré said. “But my great-grandmother had her 13 babies under a tree. I trust my body. I know I can do it.”
!["I remember when the baby kicked for the first time," said Desiré Waller, 23, "I was at school and I thought wow! This is the baby." Desiré who is under the care of midwife Afua Hassan, has a 35-week prenatal exam at the Birthing Place Wednesday, Feb. 10,](https://format.creatorcdn.com/f92f3d13-ab05-4605-b6df-f2c855e5b0c5/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,3643,900/0-0-0/5eef306c-9472-43f2-8ba3-08354612ab4f/1/1/midwife_GC_01_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037490782~hmac=506587851fce3563963f12b92e291694445b718facaf284c90b4cf5d14488362)
![Desiré Waller, 23, shown with boyfriend Kareem Folkes, 30, meets with Afua Hassan, midwife, for a 36 week prenatal exam at the Birthing Place Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2016, in Houston, Texas. ( Gary Coronado / Houston Chronicle )](https://format.creatorcdn.com/f92f3d13-ab05-4605-b6df-f2c855e5b0c5/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,3643,900/0-0-0/155951be-c9d6-4218-bd89-f434a8c6f6ab/1/1/midwife_GC_02_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037490782~hmac=506587851fce3563963f12b92e291694445b718facaf284c90b4cf5d14488362)
![Kareem Folkes, 30, leans in to listen while midwife Afua Hassan uses a Dopplar to listen to the baby's heart beat while giving a 36 week prenatal exam to Desiré Waller, 23, at the Birthing Place Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2016, in Houston, Texas. Desiré plans on](https://format.creatorcdn.com/f92f3d13-ab05-4605-b6df-f2c855e5b0c5/0/0/0/0,0,3432,2288,3432,900/0-0-0/96e88c4d-680a-475d-ba42-8a22c30a35ec/1/1/midwife_GC_03B.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037490782~hmac=4eeacb25465070843d0e0bd3cafcea8540751565d625eb4b557acb32c392ca85)
![Midwife Afua Hassan checks the position of the baby while giving a 36 week prenatal exam to Desiré Waller, 23, at the Birthing Place Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2016, in Houston, Texas. ( Gary Coronado / Houston Chronicle )](https://format.creatorcdn.com/f92f3d13-ab05-4605-b6df-f2c855e5b0c5/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,3643,900/0-0-0/90572d33-447e-417f-aa45-964d342e8c7b/1/1/midwife_GC_04_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037490782~hmac=506587851fce3563963f12b92e291694445b718facaf284c90b4cf5d14488362)
![Registered nurse Minique Landor, third from left, lactation consultant, gives a breast feeding class to mothers and expectant mothers at the Birthing Place Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016, in Houston, Texas. ( Gary Coronado / Houston Chronicle )](https://format.creatorcdn.com/f92f3d13-ab05-4605-b6df-f2c855e5b0c5/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,3643,900/0-0-0/fac95aa5-2d7c-49f2-aa74-f1dfff61654d/1/1/midwife_GC_05_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037490782~hmac=506587851fce3563963f12b92e291694445b718facaf284c90b4cf5d14488362)
![Midwife Afua Hassan holds Rylie McConnell, at seven weeks, who she delivered on Christmas Day at the Birthing Place, Monday, Feb. 15, 2016, in Houston, Texas. Hassan, 57, has delivered over 800 babies, not counting four of her own. The Birthing Place is l](https://format.creatorcdn.com/f92f3d13-ab05-4605-b6df-f2c855e5b0c5/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,3643,900/0-0-0/05ce83e5-be68-4709-a558-8046e96a3bff/1/1/midwife_GC_06_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037490782~hmac=506587851fce3563963f12b92e291694445b718facaf284c90b4cf5d14488362)
![Desiré Waller, 23, attends a lactation class taught by Monique Landor, a lactation consultant, at the Birthing Place Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016, in Houston, Texas. The gathering was for mothers and expectant mothers to meet and discuss topics about raising the](https://format.creatorcdn.com/f92f3d13-ab05-4605-b6df-f2c855e5b0c5/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,3643,900/0-0-0/ff19b89a-6c19-48b1-bf1b-e5655e726b14/1/1/midwife_GC_07_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037490782~hmac=506587851fce3563963f12b92e291694445b718facaf284c90b4cf5d14488362)
!["You know what I have been thinking about today?" Desiré Waller, 23, ask boyfriend Kareem Folkes, 30. "Ice cream from Sonic. It is half price today," while they walk on Desiré's expected due date at Terry Kershey Hike and Bike Trail Friday, March 18, 2016](https://format.creatorcdn.com/f92f3d13-ab05-4605-b6df-f2c855e5b0c5/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,3643,900/0-0-0/a6f14988-93e0-4b93-9790-5f54432ffa48/1/1/midwife_GC_08_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037490782~hmac=506587851fce3563963f12b92e291694445b718facaf284c90b4cf5d14488362)
![Desiré Waller, 23, and best friend Victoria Williams stretch after doing squats and lunges while working out along the walking path at the Terry Hershey Hike and Bike Trial Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016, in Houston, Texas. Kareem is shown with Victoria's dog Royc](https://format.creatorcdn.com/f92f3d13-ab05-4605-b6df-f2c855e5b0c5/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,3643,900/0-0-0/ac1b6081-9ae4-4049-8ac6-ec5d6a24ffe3/1/1/midwife_GC_09_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037490782~hmac=506587851fce3563963f12b92e291694445b718facaf284c90b4cf5d14488362)
!["I believe there is a level of stress on both of us," says Desiré Waller, 23, while doing squats under the watchful eye of boyfriend Kareem Folkes, 30, as they work out on Desiré's expected due date at Terry Kershey Hike and Bike Trail Friday, March 18, 2](https://format.creatorcdn.com/f92f3d13-ab05-4605-b6df-f2c855e5b0c5/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,3643,900/0-0-0/96e2c964-2220-467c-8b29-fc9ba5da7498/1/1/midwife_GC_10_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037490782~hmac=506587851fce3563963f12b92e291694445b718facaf284c90b4cf5d14488362)
On Desire's due date, she hoped to be delivering a baby. Instead, she is doing squats under Kareem's watchful eye. 'I believe there is a level of stress on both of us,' Desiré says. She adds, 'I know in my heart I have more time to go.'
![Desiré Waller, 23, shows off a gift given to her by Jayden Dogan, right, as boyfriend Kareem Folkes, 30, looks on at their baby shower Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Houston, Texas. ( Gary Coronado / Houston Chronicle )](https://format.creatorcdn.com/f92f3d13-ab05-4605-b6df-f2c855e5b0c5/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,3643,900/0-0-0/0b577778-6f58-4daa-824f-db24fe08b6be/1/1/midwife_GC_11_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037490782~hmac=506587851fce3563963f12b92e291694445b718facaf284c90b4cf5d14488362)
!["We believe in the experience," says boyfriend Kareem Folkes, 30, "It will be a spiritual experience." Desiré Waller, 23, and Kareem share a moment together at their baby shower Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Houston, Texas. ( Gary Coronado / Houston Chronic](https://format.creatorcdn.com/f92f3d13-ab05-4605-b6df-f2c855e5b0c5/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,3643,900/0-0-0/731a4168-1314-4b0c-abea-d4177d356a75/1/1/midwife_GC_12_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037490782~hmac=506587851fce3563963f12b92e291694445b718facaf284c90b4cf5d14488362)
Desiré and Kareem share a moment at one of their three baby showers. He predicts the birth of their first child will be a spiritual experience.
![Midwife Afua Hassan shows photos of a patient who wanted to lie down on the grass while having contractions to Desiré Waller, 23, and boyfriend Kareem Folkes, 30, before having a 38-week prenatal exam at the Birthing Place Sunday, March 6, 2016, in Housto](https://format.creatorcdn.com/f92f3d13-ab05-4605-b6df-f2c855e5b0c5/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,3643,900/0-0-0/db642765-63df-4059-9d3a-736df04cfc09/1/1/midwife_GC_13_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037490782~hmac=506587851fce3563963f12b92e291694445b718facaf284c90b4cf5d14488362)
![Assistant Malea Hardeman, 20, looks on while midwife Afua Hassan lets Desiré Waller, 23, and Kareem Folkes, 30, they need to maintain a positive attitude during a 39-week and three days prenatal exam at the Birthing Place Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Houst](https://format.creatorcdn.com/f92f3d13-ab05-4605-b6df-f2c855e5b0c5/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2428,3643,900/0-0-0/472cabc5-b43b-41ab-b4ce-b105a42cc795/1/1/midwife_GC_14_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037490782~hmac=bf44a3643ecfe94c9bd9f75f9da0e0fca393856319b3509e572413fc55ab34af)
!["My mom had hospital births and so did my grandma," said Desiré Waller, 23, "But my great-grandmother had her 13 babies under a tree. I trust my body. I know I can do it." Midwife Afua Hassan shows Desiré how the baby is positioned while having a 39-week](https://format.creatorcdn.com/f92f3d13-ab05-4605-b6df-f2c855e5b0c5/0/0/0/0,0,3642,2429,3642,900/0-0-0/4da22b5a-7c03-42f3-8969-e23dd32ea555/1/1/midwife_GC_15_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037490782~hmac=c62af37adb094dccfe247d4bec35efa12efc15851fb28cd00afb568e7225f817)
![Desiré Waller, 23, shown with boyfriend Kareem Folkes and friend Victoria Williams, looks for a restroom at a gas station while trying to relieve contractions by walking in the neighborhood near the Birthing Place Monday, March 28, 2016, in Houston, Texas](https://format.creatorcdn.com/f92f3d13-ab05-4605-b6df-f2c855e5b0c5/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,3643,900/0-0-0/c75a9312-112e-4a35-9d83-378364553db7/1/1/midwife_GC_16_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037490782~hmac=506587851fce3563963f12b92e291694445b718facaf284c90b4cf5d14488362)
![Desiré Waller, 23, shown with boyfriend Kareem Folkes and friend Victoria Williams, experiences the pain of a contraction while walking in the neighborhood near the Birthing Place Monday, March 28, 2016, in Houston, Texas. ( Gary Coronado / Houston Chroni](https://format.creatorcdn.com/f92f3d13-ab05-4605-b6df-f2c855e5b0c5/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,3643,900/0-0-0/12e50d19-9d5a-4ca9-a40c-751d489a3b82/1/1/midwife_GC_17_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037490782~hmac=506587851fce3563963f12b92e291694445b718facaf284c90b4cf5d14488362)
Along the walk Kareem and friend Victoria Williams help Desiré with a contraction. She is determined to get through labor and delivery without pain medication.
![Boyfriend Kareem Folkes, 30, lies in bed with Desiré Waller, 23, monitoring the time between contractions at the Birthing Place Monday, March 28, 2016, in Houston, Texas. ( Gary Coronado / Houston Chronicle )](https://format.creatorcdn.com/f92f3d13-ab05-4605-b6df-f2c855e5b0c5/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,3643,900/0-0-0/c6c84540-7d37-49bb-ae7a-d79d61a25289/1/1/midwife_GC_18_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037490782~hmac=506587851fce3563963f12b92e291694445b718facaf284c90b4cf5d14488362)
![Desiré Waller, 23, shown with boyfriend Kareem Folkes, 30, attempts to have a water birth at the Birthing Place Monday, March 28, 2016, in Houston, Texas. ( Gary Coronado / Houston Chronicle )](https://format.creatorcdn.com/f92f3d13-ab05-4605-b6df-f2c855e5b0c5/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,3643,900/0-0-0/f39c6c03-9626-4bc6-bebd-b44dacedd75b/1/1/midwife_GC_19_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037490782~hmac=506587851fce3563963f12b92e291694445b718facaf284c90b4cf5d14488362)
![Desiré Waller, 23, shown with boyfriend Kareem Folkes, 30, attempts to have a water birth at the Birthing Place Monday, March 28, 2016, in Houston, Texas. ( Gary Coronado / Houston Chronicle )](https://format.creatorcdn.com/f92f3d13-ab05-4605-b6df-f2c855e5b0c5/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,3643,900/0-0-0/0af21fe4-8a2b-48f5-909c-0540528713be/1/1/midwife_GC_20_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037490782~hmac=506587851fce3563963f12b92e291694445b718facaf284c90b4cf5d14488362)
Kareem and Desiré are in the hot tub, hoping the baby will come quickly, hoping the pain will recede.
![Desiré Waller, 23, is comforted by boyfriend Kareem Folkes, 30, during a contraction while midwife Afua Hassan, left, looks on at the Birthing Place Monday, March 28, 2016, in Houston, Texas. ( Gary Coronado / Houston Chronicle )](https://format.creatorcdn.com/f92f3d13-ab05-4605-b6df-f2c855e5b0c5/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,3643,900/0-0-0/e5086112-cc1c-41e6-8f9a-f4d6bce675fc/1/1/midwife_GC_21_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037490782~hmac=506587851fce3563963f12b92e291694445b718facaf284c90b4cf5d14488362)
!["Your doing such a good job," says midwife Afua Hassan. "Excellent. Push. Give him to me. Keep coming." Desiré Waller, 23, gives birth to Kareem Akeel Folkes Jr., while father Kareem Folkes, 30, and Desiré's mother look on at Birthing Place Monday, March](https://format.creatorcdn.com/f92f3d13-ab05-4605-b6df-f2c855e5b0c5/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,3643,900/0-0-0/cb1a5c3b-5416-4507-99b4-049f611ec952/1/1/midwife_GC_22_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037490782~hmac=506587851fce3563963f12b92e291694445b718facaf284c90b4cf5d14488362)
!["Don't worry, Baby. Mommy and Daddy are right here," says Desiré Waller, 23, while she and Kareem Folkes, 30, get their first look at Kareem Jr. at the Birthing Place Monday, March 28, 2016, in Houston, Texas. Midwife Afua Hassan is also shown wiping off](https://format.creatorcdn.com/f92f3d13-ab05-4605-b6df-f2c855e5b0c5/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,3643,900/0-0-0/63a12898-9b5d-479e-b986-f4984a81fa0c/1/1/midwife_GC_23_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037490782~hmac=506587851fce3563963f12b92e291694445b718facaf284c90b4cf5d14488362)
!["And his hands! Big hands like his daddy," says Desiré Waller, 23, after giving birth to Kareem Akeel Folkes Jr. at the Birthing Place Monday, March 28, 2016, in Houston, Texas. ( Gary Coronado / Houston Chronicle )](https://format.creatorcdn.com/f92f3d13-ab05-4605-b6df-f2c855e5b0c5/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,3643,900/0-0-0/77ff8a93-a1e2-4405-9b1a-592ced3d72e6/1/1/midwife_GC_24_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037490782~hmac=506587851fce3563963f12b92e291694445b718facaf284c90b4cf5d14488362)
!["I love you, Baby," says father Kareem Folkes, 30, to Kareem Jr. while Desiré Waller, 23, turns to look at the Birthing Place Monday, March 28, 2016, in Houston, Texas. ( Gary Coronado / Houston Chronicle )](https://format.creatorcdn.com/f92f3d13-ab05-4605-b6df-f2c855e5b0c5/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,3643,900/0-0-0/c72b9575-b928-4f41-9c03-e14062f382d7/1/1/midwife_GC_25_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037490782~hmac=506587851fce3563963f12b92e291694445b718facaf284c90b4cf5d14488362)
![Kareem Folkes, 30, looks at his son Kareem Akeel Folkes Jr. while mother Desiré Waller, 23, relaxes after giving birth under the care of midwife Afua Hassan at the Birthing Place Monday, March 28, 2016, in Houston, Texas. ( Gary Coronado / Houston Chronic](https://format.creatorcdn.com/f92f3d13-ab05-4605-b6df-f2c855e5b0c5/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,3643,900/0-0-0/055f8d33-ab0d-42e4-82fd-1e8f41155ec2/1/1/midwife_GC_26_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037490782~hmac=506587851fce3563963f12b92e291694445b718facaf284c90b4cf5d14488362)
![Kareem Akeel Folkes Jr. rest on mother Desiré Waller's, 23, stomach while midwife Afua Hassan has father Kareem Folkes, 30, cut the umbilical cord at the Birthing Place Monday, March 28, 2016, in Houston, Texas. ( Gary Coronado / Houston Chronicle )](https://format.creatorcdn.com/f92f3d13-ab05-4605-b6df-f2c855e5b0c5/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,3643,900/0-0-0/3cf69ede-121b-4646-88c4-8329c8591805/1/1/midwife_GC_27_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037490782~hmac=506587851fce3563963f12b92e291694445b718facaf284c90b4cf5d14488362)
![Friend Victoria Williams and father Kareem Folkes, 30, watch Desiré Waller, 23, breastfeed Kareem Akeel Folkes Jr. at the Birthing Place Monday, March 28, 2016, in Houston, Texas. Kareem Jr. was born at 5:09 p.m., 7 lbs. 8 oz., 23-inches long. , father, i](https://format.creatorcdn.com/f92f3d13-ab05-4605-b6df-f2c855e5b0c5/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,3643,900/0-0-0/fd5b5dce-359a-4ac3-931f-8ec6f3424c11/1/1/midwife_GC_28_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037490782~hmac=506587851fce3563963f12b92e291694445b718facaf284c90b4cf5d14488362)
![Father Kareem Folkes, 30, looks on as Desiré Waller, 23, watches friend Victoria Williams put Kareem Akeel Folkes Jr. in the car seat as they get ready to go home after Desiré gave birth under the care of midwife Afua Hassan at the Birthing Place Monday,](https://format.creatorcdn.com/f92f3d13-ab05-4605-b6df-f2c855e5b0c5/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2428,3643,900/0-0-0/cc87fd71-5170-4240-81e5-7ee2135aad54/1/1/midwife_GC_29_JPG.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037490782~hmac=bf44a3643ecfe94c9bd9f75f9da0e0fca393856319b3509e572413fc55ab34af)
After a 15-hour day and naps all around, KJ and his support team leave the birthing center and head for home in southwest Houston. Victoria, sitting in the back with KJ, puts him in his new car seat. Read the story at https://bit.ly/3svjFdn
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