Essence Atkins Talks 40-Hour Labor and Complications

Actress Essence Atkins Also Had A Baby, Talks 40-Hour Labor and Complications

Essence Atkins is beaming with joy as a new mommy. She welcomed her son, Varro Blair Mendez, on Christmas day and recently told Essence.com that giving birth is the most ‘astonishing’ thing she’s ever experienced.

“I’ll have these moments where I look at [my son] and I just can’t believe he’s mine.”

The birthing process wasn’t easy for Essence, though, and she told the site, “We’ve been through a lot.” She said she was in labor for 40 hours and when Varro was born, the umbilical cord was wrapped aroung his neck. She’s currently recovering at home from an emergency C-section.

“You go through all this suffering, but at the end of it, look what God gives you,” she said.

Luckily, since giving birth things have been smoot sailing for mommy and baby. Essence said her son is a natural at breastfeeding, joking that “he knew what to do from the moment they put him on me.” She also explained the meaning behind her son’s name. Varro is Latin surname meaning “durable and strong” and she chose Blair in honor of one of her husband’s college friends who died a month before the two met online.