Camron and Bryce welcomed their second child, Eleanor Blake, on November 18, a baby sister for big brother, Theo. The birth of Ellie also happened to be the 1,000th birth for me so this was an extra special birth journey for that reason and because they were repeat clients!

Camron’s first birth began when her water broke at her prenatal appointment and proceeded to take about 29 hours, requiring some interventions for labor’s progress as well as antibiotics since her water was broken for so long. This time around, she developed preeclampsia, so an induction was the topic of conversation over a month out. Camron was no stranger to an induction since that was the path her first birth had taken. And she trusted her doctors’ recommendations for the safest outcome for her and her baby. In fact, she had some concerning symptoms that had her going to get monitored at the hospital. Thankfully she made it to her scheduled induction at 37 weeks.

Camron went into the hospital for cervical ripening after having to wait a few extra hours due to no available beds. She received Cytotec orally as well as in the suppository form. The following morning, they inserted a Cook Balloon and began low dose pitocin. Camron tried to rest through that first night and stay chill during the day until contractions picked up. The biggest challenge during an induction is not letting the same four walls drive you crazy! Bryce was a wonderful partner, keeping things light and loving her through every step.

I arrived around 2:30 pm as things were starting to pick up. Camron was still chatty and pleasant, doing some catching up between contractions. I tied the rebozo to the squat bar on the bed to give her an alternative position that was upright. The contractions were growing more consistent but still just every 4:30 minutes apart and on the shorter side.

By 4:25pm her doctor came in to assess and recommended breaking her water to move things forward. Camron was dilated 5 cm, 50% effaced, and her baby was at -3 station. Due to some concerns with tracing baby’s heart rate, they used internal monitors to get a more accurate read on things. Camron soon felt more pain in her lower back, so we used the heating pad.

Just thirty minutes later, around 5:00 pm, Camron was vocalizing with her contractions. We stepped up the positions using the CUB so she could remain upright. An hour later, Camron felt a lot of pressure like she might need to push her baby out. This brought her back to her first birth however, when she felt pushy, but it was too soon. She tightened up in response to the contraction for fear history might be repeating itself. And when her doctor did an exam, Camron was dilated to 6 cm, 80% effaced, and her baby was at -2. While she had made some change in the right direction, it was not time to push.

Camron labored out of bed in the hopes she might bring her baby down upon her cervix and open it. But she couldn’t help but feel the anxiety creep in about pushing too soon. She clenched in response and told us she thought an epidural might be a wise decision if things weren’t progressing. It had been over an hour, and this WAS her second baby, so perhaps it was time to push. However, a check confirmed she was still 6 cm, so Camron knew what she wanted to do. She requested an epidural in the hopes it would keep her from pushing too soon and possibly swelling her cervix.

By 8:00 pm they were finishing up the epidural, made a little more complicated due to a rod Camron had placed in her back. But she was comfortable soon after. Her baby’s heart rate took a surprising tumble around 8:30 pm with each contraction. We suspected this could mean big changes and when Camron’s doctor did a check, she confirmed just that! Camron was dilated 10 cm, 100% effaced, and her baby was at 0 station!

They turned down the pitocin to give baby a break. And then had Camron give a push. She was a very good pusher! It didn’t take long. Her doctor got suited up and then Camron really pushed, and she pushed Ellie into the world at 9:02 pm, exactly an hour after the epidural test dose went in! Looking back, Camron felt confident that getting the epidural when she did helped keep things moving forward so nicely.

Camron and Bryce took in their baby girl from head to toe, comparing her to big brother while also seeing how she was her own unique person. With her baby in her arms, Camron looked up at her husband who leaned down to kiss her forehead. Ellie got skin to skin with mom and then with dad, getting so much love in her first hour. Ellie weighed 6 lb. 8 oz. and measured 19.5 in. long. She was a little gal, but perfectly healthy.

The love overflowed to the next level when big brother Theo met little sis, and mom and dad watched it all. That moment comes very close to the moment of birth as one of the best. These sweet parents are gentle and kind, and I have no doubt their two children will benefit from their nature as they guide them in this life.

Elyse and Tony welcomed their second daughter, a second surprise gender, in their second homebirth on Saturday, October 14. Repeat clients are a wonderful opportunity for me to develop an even deeper relationship through multiple births. And Elyse and Tony were no different. The text of the pregnancy was the foray through which our second journey began, and I didn’t hear much from Elyse until we were coordinating our prenatal visit many months (and two seasons) later! The team would be the same – same midwife and same doula We were excited for the reunion that would occur when their newest little love entered the world.

Elyse welcomed her first baby a couple of weeks before her due date so when she approached her due date with this one she felt overdue. Thankfully, the text came through on October 14 at 7:15 am that Elyse’s water broke at 5:30 am! Her water broke at the start of her first labor so it was a conveniently obvious way to signal her baby was coming at some point that day. It was especially helpful considering they had a toddler to contend with and eventually have picked up so as not to be underfoot.

Elyse would update as things developed but she did feel crampy soon after her water broke. Three hours later by 10:30 am, she sent the text, “Ok things are getting a little spicy. Contractions are 3 mins apart.” She didn’t have to tell me anything more. I knew that meant it was time for me to head over.

When I arrived, Elyse was laboring on her hands and knees against the couch and her daughter was milling about while Tony took care of details, including getting their firstborn settled for a nap and reaching out to a friend to pick her up later. Elyse sipped on a smoothie between contractions. Then when a contraction rolled through she swayed on her hands and knees against the couch. In her unassuming way, Elyse greeted the intensifying cotractions with an, “Oh sheesh,” right before closing her eyes to focus.

Tony disappeared with big sister to try and settle her down for a nap but it wasn’t happening. Something about having a visitor with a large inflatable created enough of a distraction for her not to miss anything. Elyse went to the back to give it a try and managed success for a little while. Big sister was asleep by noon. Elyse continued to breathe through her contractions and add a heating pad to her lower back. She continued to coordinate momming details with Tony like making sure their daughter had food packed for when she was picked up by a friend. Tony had it all taken care of.

As labor intensified, Elyse moved to a back room to ease the transition when their friend came to pick up their toddler who was still asleep herself. Her midwife called to check on things around 1:00, asking questions about what Elyse was feeling during contractions Rectal pressure was one of the questions to which Elyse didn’t really feel. But 10 minutes later she did feel rectal pressure through a particularly strong contraction so she called her midwife to head on over. She was only 5 minutes away, it turns out, so she was on her doorstep momentarily.

Elyse rested in bed and reached for Tony’s hand at the start of a strong one, and by the next contraction there was a knock on the door. Tony roused their toddler who was on her way to an adventure at a friend’s house. And like clockwork Elyse’s labor kicked up a notch. The midwife arrived a couple of minutes later and the contractions became strong enough to require counter pressure on her lower back.

Elyse’s legs shook and her contractions moved from 3-4 minutes apart to 3 minutes apart and lasting 90 seconds. Elyse labored over the cub and lunged to one side through a contraction and then to the other. This is a woman who is not afraid to do physical work. Every one in a while they would lean in a listen to baby on the doppler. The heart rate was always sure and steady.

By 2:00 Elyse was exhaling more audibly through the contractions. We could tell that she was working harder. Her baby was also tracking lower in her abdomen, another good sign of labor’s progress. There was no need to check a cervix. The signs were there. As labor picked up so did the rain outside, providing a wonderful backdrop of white noise for Elyse. She continued to lunge through contractions and asked Tony to push even harder on her back.

She moved to stand up at 2:30 and continued to ask Tony to push harder. We knew Elyse was getting close. She took a trip to the bathroom and saw more evidence of cervical change. And 10 minutes later her vocalizations became louder and lower through contractions. Her midwife and the assistant moved into the room quietly. Five minutes later, Elyse had a contraction that brought on the recognizable guttural sound of pushing. Her midwife asked, “Did you feel like you were pushing?” To which Elyse responded, “Yes.” Her midwife excited but calmly said, “Cool!”

Elyse was already on the bed with Tony, so she eased onto her side and gave a push at 2:54 pm. It didn’t take long, maybe 4 contractions before her baby was born at 3:07 pm. It was a remarkable sight to see her child born because the eyes were wide open as the baby emerged to the chest and then flopped out! It wasn’t until Elyse had her baby in her arms and took a look at the undercarriage that Tony and Elyse confirmed it was another girl! After plenty of bonding and skin to skin, Revel Monroe would be weighed and measured at 7 lb. 6 oz. and 20 in. long.

There was so much vernix! Elyse dabbed it on her face like war paint. As their baby cried out, Elyse said, “It’s ok. We’re nice.” We stepped out of the room so Elyse and Tony could bond with their newest one. And after about 1 ½ hours the newborn exam ensued. Elyse also finished her smoothie, and within 2 ½ hours, big sister was home to meet her sister.  Soon after that, we served up a bowl of soup and rice with chicken for Elyse to enjoy, thanks to Tony putting it on the stove a bit earlier. We all were able to get fed that evening. Oh, the comforts of homebirth.

Revel was contentedly nursing and napping, as Tony and Elyse rested and took in their little family. We cleaned up our things and left once they were settled. All in all, it was a beautiful way to spend a rainy Saturday afternoon. And how lovely that behind their front door they welcomed a miracle. The ordinary location of an extraordinary process like giving birth elevates the home in a way like nothing else, if you ask me.

Meredith and Brett welcomed their second baby on October 3! It was an incredible confluence of perfect timing that allowed for Brett to be at the birth. He was deployed for the majority of the pregnancy and due to return a couple of weeks before Meredith’s due date. It was cutting it close, but it seemed a realistic expectation. I got a text from Meredith that was an update from her appointment. She was frustrated she tested positive for GBS, but she was excited that Brett was flying home that evening. They were in the clear!

Then three hours later I got a text from Meredith that her water broke. “What time does Brett’s plane land??” I asked first thing. It mattered. At least it would matter if her birth unfolded as it did the first time – with everything moving along at a breakneck pace once her water broke. He was due to land in a few hours, so we crossed our fingers and Meredith crossed her legs and hoped for the timing to work out.

Since Meredith had tested positive for GBS she was headed to the hospital soon after her water broke so she could receive antibiotics as soon as possible. We also thought her labor might capitulate and wanted her to have as much time to get treated as possible. She settled in at the hospital without much labor happening and Brett landed and went home to hug his firstborn and MIL and pack a quick go bag and turned around back for the hospital. Brett was severely jetlagged. And since Meredith was not in labor yet he tried to catch some sleep on the hospital couch. After all, he had been up for 48 hours at that point. He came off deployment and fell right back into life, whether he was ready to or not.

Since Meredith arrived at the hospital the first time completely dilated, we hedged out bets and I got to the hospital on the early side. Probably too early looking back. But you just never know how things will go with birth. Meredith bemoaned the fact that she was supposed to greet Brett at the airport looking pretty in a nice dress and here she was in a hospital gown wearing a diaper as she dripped. Brett’s sense of humor (and Meredith’s) shone throughout this labor. It was entertaining and a joy to witness.

Since Meredith’s labor was poky to start, we did the Three Balances to help it out. Meredith had already done the Miles Circuit. Next, she did three cycles with the breast pump and walking the halls, 10 minutes each, in an effort to start up some contractions. It wasn’t doing much for her labor yet, so she did hip swirls on the ball and even consented to an enema to rile things up, to no avail.

Meredith did some standing lunges and another round of pumping and walking. But it wasn’t doing all that much for her labor. She was tired so she rested during the next course of antibiotics, and when her midwife returned, she was ready to try something else. Suspecting Meredith might have a high leak in her amniotic sac which didn’t really push her into labor, the midwife recommended breaking her water completely. At 4:00 am Meredith’s water was broken all the way. And Meredith was on the move walking again.

Her body was still slow to come around to labor. She rested in bed with Brett and at 7:45 am (after a long night), she was dilated just 2 cm with no labor. We did the Three Balances again and she rested on her hands and knees over the CUB, but it was becoming clear that it would soon be time to start pitocin. Meredith had already relinquished her expectations about this birth being anything like her first. And that included accepting pitocin as a tool. They started it at the lowest level and raised it incrementally.

By 11:00 am the pitocin was at 10 mu. Meredith moved into the shower to labor. She emerged and with Brett’s help did some abdominal lifts and tucks to help her baby get positioned better. By 12:45 pm while on her hands and knees on the bed, Meredith felt more pressure in her butt which was an encouraging sign that her baby had moved. She lay on her side with the peanut ball between her legs and we watched the tremors of active labor take hold. The contractions were painful, and we used a heating pad to help ease the discomfort.

At 1:50 pm her baby was noticeably lower, and she was dilated 4-5cm/100% effaced. We turned on some birth affirmations which garnered some giggles at first, but the mood quickly turned more serious as Meredith descended into active labor. In fact, her body had taken hold so well, they turned down the pitocin a bit to spread out the contractions.

Meredith breathed through intensifying contractions and labored in a variety of positions. We applied counter pressure on her back and a wet cloth on her forehead. She sat upon the edge of the bed and then slow danced with Brett thorugh some contractions. And by 3:20 pm, just 1 ½ hours later she was dilated 8-9 cm!

Meredith returned to her hands and knees, a position she felt intuitively, and 15 minutes later she was pushing involuntarily. I tied the rebozo to the head of the bed so she could grab hold through contractions as she pushed. Then Meredith rolled to her back to try pushing that way. This baby was taking a lot more work to come out, so it became necessary to change positions. Meredith was so patient even though she was working way harder than anyone expected. And after pushing with her knees closed and then open again, her baby was crowning. And at 4:38 pm Kyla Christine was born!

It was soon obvious why it took so much work to bring Kyla down: her cord was wrapped twice around her neck! Kyla suffered no ill effects and her heart rate only dipped once or twice. And she came out and gave a big cry that pinked her up right away. It was an emotional moment, and a huge sigh of relief was heard all around. Kyla weighed 7 lb. 5 oz. and was 19.5 in. long. Big brother was able to meet little sister in the hospital and before discharge Kyla had actually gained weight! Suffice it to say, they were off to a fantastic start as a family of four.

Meredith’s journey to meet her second baby was not at all how she expected. She completely flipped the script with the timing. She arrived at the hospital fully dilated the first time and took nearly 24 hours in the hospital to welcome her second. But honestly, is it ever? She was grateful for small mercies though like the timing that allowed Brett to get home for the birth, and plenty of time to receive antibiotics to treat for GBS. She might have been okay with it not taking all night and into the following day, but she could also look back and see just how strong and patient she was. I am so proud of this couple and their positive attitude and love for each other through it all.

Jessica and Nathan welcomed their son, Waylon, on September 25. He is their first son after three daughters! I had the honor of serving as their doula for a previous birth, so it was especially exciting when Jessica reached out to work with me again. Jessica was hopeful for a different experience since her third child was born right at the beginning of COVID when hospitals were trying to figure out safest practices during a pandemic. We were all looking forward to a more “normal” birth experience.

Jessica developed some mild polyhydramnios late in pregnancy and her son was measuring large. While she wasn’t eager for an induction, she was worried about pushing out an 11-pound baby, as she says. She was also wanting to give birth without pain medication as she had when we worked together before, and she knew the longer she waited the larger her fear would grow. And she didn’t want that fear present in her birth.

She reported to her hospital in the evening for cervical ripening in her 39th week. She also had low dose pitocin through the night to help nudge her cervix along. After 12 hours she was dilated 6 cm which was exciting, however, her contractions were still far apart and not too painful yet.

Several hours passed with no update so I checked in. Jessica was still 6 cm dilated, and while her cervix was thin at 80%, her baby was still high at -3 station. Her midwife was able to break her water though and the hope was that her labor would pick up. After an hour had passed, Jessica reported that her contractions were varying between 3-5 minutes apart, but they were more intense, but no longer than 20 seconds or so. Since Jessica was a multip, I felt it was a good time to head in just to be on the safe side.

When I walked in the room at 3:15 pm I could see that Jessica was still comfortable. She breathed through her contractions, but they didn’t require a lot of focus from her. The feel in the room was light with the anticipation of a baby at some point. But the birth did not appear to be imminent. Knowing her water had been broken and the pitocin had been running since the night, it was time for some labor. It was time for some Spinning Babies. We got started 30 minutes after I arrived.

Jessica was game for it all! I explained that we would do the Three Balances in case Waylon’s position was the reason her labor had not yet become active. That was my strong hunch, anyway. And I told her they would each occur during contractions to maximize their effectiveness, and it would be uncomfortable. And she was ready to do it. Nathan handed Jessica her comfort blanket for support. We started with the jiggle through 3 contractions to help loosen her pelvic floor and maybe jiggle enough to make space for her baby to chance his position. The second step was 2 forward leaning inversions which Jessica did like a champ. The third movement was the side-lying release done twice on each side through two contractions. Nathan rubbed Jessica through it to help her relax and feel encouraged (and loved!).

I could hear Jessica moan through contractions during the three maneuvers and was hopeful they would impact her labor. We finished the Three Balances around 4:00 pm or so and Jessica labored through a few contractions on her hands and knees over the CUB in bed. Nathan was a constant presence, stroking her face and her arm, reassuring her and loving her.

The contractions were instantly longer and stronger. I recommended Jessica do lunges over the cub to make more lateral space for baby. She did them without complaint and we could hear in her breath that her labor kicked up another notch. She labored standing beside the bed through a few and the plan became to move her labor to the shower.

I prepared the bathroom with votives and started the water running to let it heat up. Jessica felt like she had to go to the bathroom so the made her way to the toilet, pulling the iv pole beside her. But when she sat down, she felt the urge to push her baby out. It quickly became obvious the shower would not be the next stop. In fact, Jessica needed to make her way back to the bed and the simple act of walking in that moment felt impossible to her. But we walked beside her and one step and a time she got there.

Jessica climbed back up into the bed and rested on her hands and knees. Her nurse checked her and she was “complete and plus two!” It was time to have a baby! The midwife was called, and the nursery nurse was in the room momentarily. We put a cold wet cloth on her back, and she had her comfort blanket nearby.

No sooner did the midwife put on her paper garb and pull the delivery cart to the bed, did Jessica push her baby’s head into view. He moved but the midwife could tell he was a bigger baby than her others. She had Jessica stand in the fire hydrant position (aka a side lunge) and push that way, and her son came barreling out! He coughed and sputtered out fluids and cried out just fine. Waylon was born at 5:06 pm!

He was passed into Jessica’s waiting arms, and I think she was in shock to already have him! Although she had been there nearly 24 hours before meeting him, her active labor was just about an hour long! She clutched her son and tried to let it all sink in as we helped reposition her to sitting in the bed and her midwife waited for the placenta. Nathan cut the cord and was reeling with how fast everything went too.

Jessica’s sister-in-law happened to have left to pick up the girls from school, right as Jessica’s labor began to pick up. And it went so quickly, when she returned with the girls around 5:25, Waylon had already been in the world 20 minutes. The timing was perfect for their pickup and arrival to meet baby brother, although not so perfect for being present at the birth. They were gushing over his cuteness, and I just knew there would be some helpers in those big sisters.

Waylon was indeed Jessica’s heaviest baby weighing 9 lb. 2 oz. He was 21.5 in. long. But Jessica did not let fear affect her labor and pushed out her heaviest baby was all the confidence of her smaller ones. I was so proud of her and how she labored. It was quick and intense, but it was by no means easy. It just goes to show how much baby’s position can impact the way labor unfolds. And I’m very glad what we did worked! (And so is Jessica!)

Jordan and Mike are new parents for the second time! Jordan’s first birth was a very early induction for a medical reason that resulted in her baby in the NICU and some additional challenges with breastfeeding as a result. Jordan wanted a healing birth this time, and she wanted it to be a positive experience. She was not committed to avoiding pain medication but desired to feel strong and capable and like she had choices. Ultimately, she wanted to feel present and hoped for a less dramatic pregnancy and birth this time, and thankfully that’s just what she got!

Jordan was healthy for her entire pregnancy and relished her appointments with the midwives she was also fortunate to work alongside as a labor and delivery nurse. That trust relationship had been built long before the pregnancy and it was very reassuring. Jordan went all the way to her due date with no induction on the books yet. It did have her growing a bit impatient for when and how labor might unfold but she was able to keep herself in check with some reassurance.

And on her due date she sent out an update that she was contracting more painfully than she had been and wondered if things might be percolating. She had some bloody show and fluid which had her alert up as well. But she wasn’t timing anything and wasn’t leaking so she stayed even keel. We talked about how it likely wasn’t labor since it was her actual due date and babies don’t ever choose that day. And we left it at that. (I even went to the beach!)

By that evening the contractions had intensified further and had Jordan reaching out again. She was not timing yet, just trying to ignore them as she continued about her day. Her contractions had her stopping and breathing and focusing though, and she was no longer talking. It was a good time to check the intervals. They were closer than 5 minutes apart and within that hour they were consistently 2-3 minutes apart. They made arrangements for the care of their firstborn, and we were on their way to the hospital. I met them there.

We met up at the hospital around 7:30 pm. And Jordan had minimized and ignored her labor all the way to 5 cm, and nearly 6! She had done brilliantly with spontaneous labor after only experiencing pitocin contractions with her first.  She had a bulging bag and her baby was at -2 station, but once the waters broke we suspected her baby would move right on down.

Jordan got herself situated in a room and Mike and I got busy with labor support. Counter pressure during contractions and a heating pad between them helped. By 8:30 pm the contractions were steady at 2:30 apart and lasting a full minute. They were stronger than when she arrived too.

Just before 9:00 pm was a good time for Jordan to move into the shower. Citrus fresh oil blend on a washcloth in the shower made for a spa feel, along with the battery votives. Jordan labored in there about 30 minutes and when she emerged, she was ready to get an epidural.

She was dilated 8 cm, baby was at 0 station, and her cervix was effaced 90%! Thankfully, the CRNA was fast and effective, and Jordan was comfortable in a short amount of time. At 10:30 she was still dilated 8 cm so we helped her into side-lying positions with the peanut ball to dilate the last bit of cervix. Jordan hoped to get a nap in as well before pushing.

Just before midnight Jordan’s water broke which had us wondering if she’d get much rest. It wasn’t a huge amount of fluid, so she tried to rest after we helped her into the left runner’s position. But thirty minutes later Jordan felt her water break A LOT. So we called in her nurse to confirm and then helped her into the upright throne position at 12:48 am for the last bit of dilation.

Jordan felt the pressure of her contractions so much so that she was blowing through them. So, at 1:38 am we helped her into the flying cowgirl position on her left side. She still had a 9 cm lip of cervix in the front through, so we switched it up and had her go on her hands and knees over the CUB. The nurse on duty had some Spinning Babies knowledge so she got to work doing the jiggle while Jordan was in the hands and knees position. She was completely dilated 10 minutes later at 2:00 am and her baby was at +2 station!

Jordan tried pushing and as we expected it didn’t take long! Her baby was born after just 3 contractions at 2:10 am and Mike and Jordan announced the gender. It was a surprise! And they had another girl! “We have another baby!” Jordan exclaimed. And yes, they did! This baby was much bigger than her sister though! The immediate postpartum was so different and very healing! Jordan had her baby in her arms from the start and she didn’t leave for over an hour. And she latched in the first 20 minutes, another very different journey than her first. The name took some time, but they chose Chloe Mae. (I love the first name especially since my third baby is a Chloe!)

Mike had Jordan’s parents on Facetime for lots of oohs and aahs. This baby didn’t cry right away, just made enough sounds to assure everyone she was just fine. She was content to lay against her mom and gently adjust to being born.

A fun fact about this birth is Chloe was born on her parents’ anniversary! So she dodged her due date but found another significant day. Jordan also had no tears which was extra wonderful given that her first baby was so tiny. Chloe was an overachiever from birth, already trying to catch up to her big sister. She had latched well and nursed on both sides in her first 45 minutes of life.

Jordan had friends in the hospital that came to congratulate her and felt blessed to have been at work when she was in labor. The entire experience was a positive one and very healing for Jordan. She was all smiles, as was Mike, and it was such a joy to accompany them on such a different birth journey.

Chelsea and Chris welcomed baby #3 on August 6. I had been hired by them twice before, so they felt as much like friends as clients to me. Chelsea was forthcoming at our prenatal visit about aspects of her second birth that she would prefer not to repeat. Granted it was during COVID which brought added challenges. Her first two babies also had meconium so that altered some of her postpartum experience with them and involved some separation from one as he received extra attention in the nursery.

While there’s no way to control whether there would be meconium, we were hopeful that this birth would be different since every birth truly is. Chelsea and Chris expected to welcome this baby around Chelsea’s due date since that was the pattern she had established with her first two. With that assumption, plus the hectic homelife raising two young children late in pregnancy, they didn’t do a whole lot of packing ahead of time. And the joke was on them! Because I got a call from Chelsea around 11:00 pm on August 5 telling me her water just broke. And her due date was still two weeks away! There was no meconium though which was a very good start!

Chelsea spoke with the doctor on call, and they decided it was best to mobilize and head to the hospital sooner rather than later. After all, her second labor was just two hours long after her water broke. They were on their way just before midnight with no notable contractions yet. Chris also noticed they only had 18 miles left on the gas tank! Oops! And just 15 minutes later Chelsea texted she had felt 3 contractions that were 6 minutes apart and getting stronger with each one. I gathered my things and was on my way soon after.

I joined them in their triage room and Chelsea was 3 cm dilated. Her 6 minutes apart contractions spaced out after sitting on the triage bed for the NST. I had a suspicion she would need to get put in her proper room before she could let go and labor. It took a while, but by 1:45 am she was shown to her LDR room.

We walked the hallways for 20 minutes and returned to the room where Chelsea did hip swirls on the ball. She expressed that she felt a lot of discomfort in her butt to which Chris said that meant this kid would be a pain in the ass! It got a chuckle. We talked through how fortuitous it was that Chris’ parents happened to be in town for a visit so they could leave the children in their care to go to the hospital.

By 2:35 am the contractions were steady at 4 minutes apart, lasting a minute or longer. Chelsea’s body was moving into active labor and requiring her focus. With Chelsea the signs are subtle. A furrowed brow, closed eyes were signs she was working harder. The contractions were more in the front which was a good sign baby’s position was fine.

And just 20 minutes later, by 2:55 we could hear Chelsea’s breathing as she stepped up her work. She leaned into Chris for support as he rubbed her back and gave a kiss after the contraction. She stood beside the bed and leaned into the CUB through some contractions and then labored on her hands and knees over it by 3:05. Chelsea did lunges and felt her baby moving down a short time later. We heard her breath quiver some as she exhaled at the peaks of the contractions, another subtle sign to us that Chelsea was progressing. Nausea hit her so she moved out of the bed to labor standing.

Judging from her efforts, it felt like a good time to recommend laboring in the shower. Chelsea considered renting a tub but since her second labor was so quick, she thought she’d skip it. This was right around when she told us she wished she had the tub. I reminded her that the shower was another good option for hydrotherapy. So she gave it a try. With votives and citrus fresh and lemon essential oil blends on a washcloth, the shower became a labor sanctuary that woke up her senses and maybe even helped her feel a little less tired.

The contractions were 2 minutes apart now, and Chelsea felt her baby ‘right in her butt,’ point with her hand to show us where. Her nurse began setting up the delivery table and Chelsea made her way out of the shower. We switched out cold cloths on her neck and Chris and I rubbed her back lightly. Chris kissed Chelsea on her shoulders as she labored their baby earthside.

At 4:18 am her doctor appeared and recommended a cervical exam. Chelsea was game for it and we learned she was dilated a surprising 6 cm, 80% effaced, with baby at -1. To be honest, we thought she would have been farther along. But the trajectory of labor cannot be contained in Friedman’s Curve, although so many try. Chelsea wandered to the bathroom and returned sounding different. It was 4:26 am and she dropped the f-bomb. She moaned with her contractions and requested no more counter pressure.

She lay upon her side in the bed at 4:40 am and told us she was feeling pushy with each contraction. Her doctor wanted to confirm whether it was “time” to push about 10 minutes later, but since Chelsea’s cervix was 7 cm, it was best to wait. Her baby was at 0 station, and she was effaced to 905, but Chelsea continued to feel a lot of pressure. She lingered on her side for another contraction or two and then returned to her hands and knees at 4:56. “I feel my energy coming back,” and so she resumed an upright position to get it done. Chris later said he knew his wife meant business once she said that. And he was not wrong.

I mentioned that doing lunges might help her baby’s head melt her cervix away and make the urge to push grow even more. She did not hesitate and did a lunge right then and there. It was 5:01 and she felt pushier. She did a lunge on the right with the next contraction and felt an even stronger pushing urge.

Her doctor had been lingering in the room since the previous exam, knowing Chelsea was progressing rapidly. The pushing sounds had her pulling the cart to the end of the bed and then dressing into her paper suit. Then the craziest thing happened, as Chelsea followed her body’s lead she pushed, and we heard a small gurgle. The sheet was covering Chelsea’s back side, so I lifted it up and saw her baby’s face! It was the only full-on pushing contraction and with the next push her baby was out! Their baby arrived at 5:08 am and Chelsea made the announcement that it was another boy! Chris was crying and expressing such love through his tears. Chelsea had gone from 7 cm to baby in 15 minutes.

We helped her get back down to her back upon the bed and the placenta was out in a few minutes, all while Chelsea had William Joseph in her arms from the beginning and for the entirety of that first hour. The placenta was born, and her doctor said those words that make every newly postpartum mom sing: no tears!

Chelsea drank some coconut water and ate some peanut butter for her first postpartum snack but there would soon be much better options in store. After that first hour, William had his first exam. He weighed 6 lb. 14 oz. and was 20 in. long. But he was back in his mother’s arms in no time.

Chelsea and Chris admit that this was the least prepared they had ever been for a birth. But it just goes to show they really didn’t need much. The birth was beautiful, and their children embraced their new brother without reservation. Eleanor is now a big sister twice over as a kindergartener, and Daniel quickly grew out of baby status at 21 months, to welcome his baby brother, in his words, “Baby Wheel.”

It was a joy to accompany this family in their surprisingly early birth. It tied so much together for them and for me as well. It doesn’t matter the dilation, and babies are going to come when they are ready. And this particular baby had something to say from the start!

Zoe and Michael welcomed their fourth and final baby on August 2! But just because this was their fourth time in birth didn’t’ mean it would go the way they expected. (or any of us, for that matter) They took my class to prepare for the birth of their second baby. And then hired me as their doula for their third baby, whose birth I made by minutes. Zoe’s active labor was just one hour! Knowing how fast Zoe’s third labor went had us wondering how this birth would unfold and whether I would have enough time to make it. I know it had Zoe a little on edge as well since she had three kiddos to arrange before leaving for the hospital.

The laboring pictures were actually taken July 25, the first time Zoe came to the hospital thinking it was labor.

Zoe’s body had regular bouts of rhythmic contractions that had her wondering if it was “it”. She reached out from time to time, but the contractions petered out. That is until July 25. Her contractions were 5 minutes apart since 6:30 am and moved to 4 minutes apart by 8:30. By 9:15 am she could no longer breathe through them and was thinking of leaving for the hospital soon. Her midwife agreed that she should head in and we met up around 10:20 am.

Zoe was dilated 3 cm and could easily stretch to 4 cm, but after walking around and breathing through strong contractions she was still 4 cm 2 hours later. She tried to use a breast pump to get her contractions to intensify and hopefully move her into active labor, but another exam that evening around 5:00 had her cervix the same. She was not in labor and much as she had hoped to welcome her baby that day, her midwife reminded her that going home would keep her from the possibility of needing pitocin if breaking her water didn’t work. Zoe agreed and returned home.

About a week later, at her prenatal appointment with a different midwife, the possibility of induction was brought up. Zoe was barely past 40 weeks, but the logistical details were stressful coupled with her propensity for rapid active labor. So she agreed to move forward with an induction the following day, August 2.

Zoe reported to the hospital that day and the induction process was very slow to start. It was a busy day at the hospital too, and Zoe was content to be patient knowing she was finally going to meet her baby and not go home. She was also aware that I was with another client in labor, but her midwife and I were hopeful she would birth midday. (Of course, we were wrong!)

Zoe tried a breast pump that morning around 7:00 to see if it might rustle up some serious contractions. But the contractions fizzled, and her midwife confirmed at 9:00 am that she was the same as she was: 4 cm/80%. Pitocin was the next step and began sometime after 10:00 am. It was raised little by little until at 2:00 it was at 10 mu. An exam had Zoe at the same dilation, but her baby had moved lower in the pelvis. Her midwife suspected with a little bit more pitocin she would be back in a few hours to break her water. Zoe was fine with that plan.

By 3:00 pm Zoe’s contractions were coming close, but she could talk through them. I asked her if she needed support, but she said she could wait. About 30 minutes later Zoe was dilated 6 cm. Her nurse felt it was a good time to break her water and was going to get the midwife to do so, but Zoe preferred to wait. At that point I told her to please keep me posted because it was looking like I would need to call a backup doula in for her. And Zoe said she would.

Zoe took a lap walking with the iv pole and pitocin pump and about 45 minutes later her contractions went erratic and it was time. She texted that they were going to break her water, so it was a good time to have the backup doula come. I sent out the text and Brandy Burd was on her way.

With the backup doula enroute and Zoe ready to have her water broken, it turns out her midwife and the OB were both busy and unable to break Zoe’s water just yet. But her contractions intensified all the same and she was soon feeling her body move through active labor and transition in a short amount of time.

Shortly after Brandy arrived, it was clear that birth was imminent. Zoe had moved headlong into her brief active labor and after less than an hour was feeling a lot of pressure. She was laboring on her hands and knees and feeling pushy, and her nurse looked down and saw a balloon (the bag of water) coming out. The midwife was called but it was looking like a nurse delivery! The water broke at 5:42 pm, then a head came, and the midwife arrived, quickly gloved up and caught the baby at 5:43 pm!

Lots of people came running in since the birth happened in a crazy way, but mom and baby were just fine and mostly relieved to finally meet each other! Michael was also relieved to know there was support and he wouldn’t have to catch the baby himself. Skyler May weighed 8 lb. 14 oz. and was 20.25 in. long. She is adorable and her chunks only add to the cuteness.

Zoe’s birth was unexpected in some ways, but predictable in others. I hope she learned how capable she is and how little control anyone has over birth. Even with an induction it took all day, something we didn’t expect! We had already been together for 8 hours the week prior expecting a birth and were so wrong!

Zoe’s birth also highlights the value of support. Zoe was invested in having me there to serve her but there came a point when it was not going to happen, and she needed the doula Skyler chose to be there! I don’t call backup often, but this day I had to call in 2 backup doulas for the first time ever! The babies were born in the very same hour too! I am grateful for the doulas I trust to serve my clients when I am not available. And I am grateful for the clients who choose to hire me even though they have a history of precipitous labors. As Zoe’s birth highlights, you just never know. Every birth is different. Even in the same woman.

Photo Credit: Sarah Fitz Photo

Photo credit: Sarah Fitz Photo

Photo Credit: Sarah Fitz Photo

Welcome to the world, Maxson David Delano, born in the final minutes of June 2! This is my second time to serve as Jerica’s doula, so I was familiar with her understated way of laboring. But this was her third baby, and they have a reputation of being unpredictable. And this birth was a scheduled induction for postdates which also adds an extra layer of uncertainty on top of the already unpredictable nature of spontaneous labor.

It was a very busy day for birth but the staff worked diligently to get Jerica settled into a room as soon as one was available. She was dilated 2 cm, 60% effaced, and baby was -2. Jerica’s veins were a tricky stick, so getting an iv established required more than one try by more than one nurse, but eventually it was successfully established by an anesthesiologist. Working as a team they made it happen.

And over 6 hours after arrival, Jerica received her first dose of Cytotec. And then she waited. Jerica requested the breast pump to use in the hopes it would get things going as she waited for the next dose of Cytotec. Four hours later came the second dose, just past 6:00 pm. Jerica had some mild contractions that were close and short, but she could talk through them and knew they weren’t to the level of significant cervical change yet.  She sent David home to help settle the kids for bed.

By 9:00 pm, Jerica’s contractions were super close but still not very strong. She felt some pain in her lower back as well and considered walking around. I gave her some suggestions to ease the back pain and wondered if baby’s position was the cause. But within 30 minutes Jerica felt a shift in intensity that had me feel I should head to the hospital. She was worried I was coming too soon and preferred I want until she got checked so I waited.

At 10:20 pm she was checked and confirmed dilated 4 cm, still 60% effaced, and baby was still at -2 station. But even though the numbers didn’t seem like significant change had occurred, Jerica continued to feel pain in her back and thought they were getting more intense. She suspected it would be time to come soon so we felt it best I just head in. I left at 10:45 pm and arrived around 11:15.

Jerica was moaning through contractions that were close together. Of course, they had been close for hours, but had very recently turned the corner to active. She was standing by the bed, braced against it as she breathed through contractions. Her labor had taken hold in the 30 minutes since our call. She breathed and focused through each contraction and found the breaks shorter than the actual contractions.

Jerica felt like she had to use the bathroom, so she took a pit stop with David by her side. (Yes, I know this could mean a baby is coming but not even Jerica thought that was the case.) So, I went about setting up votives around the room to enhance the ambiance and didn’t hear her when she told David she was pushing, and then dismissed herself with “that’s can’t be right.” Jerica made her way out of the bathroom and back to the bed to lay on her side awhile. She requested David play her Hypnobabies scripts on the speaker, so he set that up as well. Then as she lay there, she said she felt her baby was coming but she wasn’t ready. Her nurse was casually setting up the delivery cart unaware that Jerica felt her baby coming, so we alerted her that Jerica felt the baby.

The nurse called for the doctor who was not in the building, so they had the hospitalist OB come in for delivery. Jerica was startled that she was actually pushing already, and she felt very overwhelmed. “I’m not ready,” became her mantra. And I met it with, “But your baby is ready. It’s okay to be overwhelmed by what you are feeling. It went so quickly!” The doctor came rushing in and got the deets from Jerica’s nurse. She hurriedly dressed in her paper suit and pulled the delivery cart up to the bed.

She lay on her side, and we supported her upper leg. The doctor watched as Jerica’s amniotic sac was born. She offered to break it but Jerica preferred she didn’t. With the next contraction, the sac was laying upon the bed like a water balloon cinched at the base. And it gently released fluid on its own. “I can’t do it,” Jerica insisted, right as she WAS doing it. We could see Jerica’s baby crowning in that moment and the doctor had David come to the end of the bed to help do the delivery! Jerica continued to tell us she wasn’t ready, but she pushed as if she most definitely was! The doctor patiently waited as Jerica pushed instinctively, following her body’s urges as she was ready. And once her baby’s head and shoulder was born, the doctor gestured for David to move in closer. The final push brought their baby into David’s hands, who was then instructed to place the baby onto Jerica’s belly. He was a bit shocked himself, so he paused for a moment of wonder before passing their newborn baby to his wife.

Maxon weighed in at 8 lb. 13 oz., the heaviest of his brothers, and measured 21 in. long. As Jerica processed the birth in that first hour or so, she told us she was scared and not ready. And she didn’t think she would make it for a long labor. So, her baby ended up coming the way she needed him to! David confessed that he felt like he might pass out right before the bag of waters was born, but he managed to stay upright. And Jerica tried to piece together when she was in transition. It must have happened on that bed and probably just lasted a couple of minutes!

It just goes to show that cervical dilation has no bearing on labor duration ever, but especially after the first baby. And Jerica’s intuition was far more compelling than any exam she received that day. I am so proud of her for advocating for what she needed in the waiting hours, and in the 90 minutes of active labor. She birthed with composure and grace just as I remembered from the birth of her second. And like before, she didn’t even look like she had given birth. Needless to say, Jerica is quite remarkable in more ways than one!

Summer and David welcomed their second baby, this time a boy, on March 29. Summer’s first baby was very content to remain in the breech position. It didn’t matter what her mama did, she was resolute in staying head up. Summer went through all the emotions that come when a birth doesn’t go as you envisioned, and she met her baby girl in a scheduled c-section.

This time she was once again committed to giving birth vaginally if possible. She chose the same providers knowing their reputation for supporting VBACS (vaginal birth after cesarean). And time ticked on in her pregnancy much more rapidly than it had the first time. (Babies make time go faster!) Summer and David’s first child was still a baby herself and would be 16 months at the time of her brother’s birth. She was toddling and very busy, and Summer found herself busy and, on her feet, chasing her firstborn.

This baby was head down at least. Thank goodness! But this child posed a different set of challenges. He was so content inside that he wasn’t showing any signs of budging. An induction became the likely plan, but only if Summer’s body was showing signs of readiness. Her providers wanted to be sure they could encourage a gentle induction and with her recent c-section they were limited in the cervical ripeners that would be safe for her.

As Summer’s due date came and went, it was clear that her only option for a vaginal birth was an induction. But sadly, her cervix wasn’t showing any signs of getting ready. Closed, thick, and high. These were the words she heard from one appointment to the next. A final NST and ultrasound made it official. Her baby was measuring 8 lb. 13oz. and had his hand by his head. Her providers were not comfortable with an induction. So, they recommended a repeat c-section. (Spoiler alert: remember that ultrasound weight…)

Look at those rolls!

Summer mourned the change in her birth once again. She took the time she needed to process it and then gathered herself in preparation for what was to come. Her recovery would be different simply because she had a toddler roaming about. The need for rest would be even more important this time. The c-section was scheduled for 1:30 pm on March 29, but was soon changed to the first scheduled c-section of the day. Summer surmised it was probably her compassionate OB’s doing, knowing it would give her less time to stress over it.

Along those lines, Summer advocated for what she needed. And that included how I could best serve as her doula. She requested I come after the birth and provide support then as she processed everything. The c-section went well. Music played, courtesy of DJ David. Notable songs were Mama Mia by Abba and Wanna Be by Spice Girls. The music helped with Summer’s anxiety, and so did her deep breaths. At one point she breathed so deeply she lowered her heart rate into the 40s! Sage David was born at 8:21 am, but he needed more respiratory support than expected. Summer got a glimpse of him right after he was born, but soon it was a quick kiss and then he was off to the nursery. That was disheartening as it meant he wouldn’t be with Summer for skin to skin at first. David went with him to the nursery and Summer requested I come at that point.

And one more thing about Sage. He was a big boy! He weighed 11 pounds! Ultrasounds can be off by 20% when used to gauge baby’s size in the final weeks, but this ultrasound was off by 25% in the wrong direction! Suffice it to say, Summer welcomed the big number with relief as it helped her feel even more justified in the repeat c-section. I have seen several 11-pound babies born vaginally unmedicated, but Summer was content to sidestep that experience. And I was happy she got validation for the c-section through that detail of his weight! An 11-pound baby definitely wouldn’t have made labor any easier.

I was by Summer’s side soon after she called. I helped her process things but also aided in her advocacy regarding getting information about Sage and when she could go and see him. She was recovering from the c-section well and was on her way to visit him by wheelchair before I left. And he was back with her later that night.

All in all, this birth experience was less traumatic than the first one. Summer told me there were some bonuses too. She didn’t get extremely nauseous like last time since the anesthesiologist was able to adjust her meds this time to prevent that. Plus her OB was able to give her a scar revision, which she appreciated. And to top it off, her doctor did come see her later that Sage was very high in her pelvis and the VBAC may not have happened even if she had tried. This was just another validation! Summer felt the c-section was the best decision, especially in light (or heavy?) of her son’s weight. I just love when birth can be healing. And this one was.

This birth story has some backstory which is an important part of the journey. Jessica and Dan welcomed their fourth child on December 1, 2022. This was our fourth (and final) birth journey together which made it a bittersweet one for sure. Jessica’s births were a journey of self-discovery that originated with an ob practice with doctors in Newport News, then shifted to a Midwifery Center run by midwives in Norfolk. Her births were all unmedicated and showcased Jessica’s ability to stay calm through the most intense contractions. So, she was confident in her ability to birth wherever she might be, as long as she felt supported. Given her history and the fact that she would have to drive through a tunnel to get to her birthplace, Jessica felt most comfortable with a provider on her side of the water. This was a sensible consideration but was a leap of faith on Jessica’s part since they were new providers to her. They had midwives though, and that was her primary draw.

But Jessica experienced some red flags as her due date drew near. Her midwife pushed for an induction at 37 weeks that didn’t feel right to her. She went so far as to go to the hospital for monitoring and labs and still had to sign a paper leaving against her provider’s recommendation. But Jessica had always birthed past her due date, and she wasn’t eager to sign up for an early induction for a questionable reason. Then a week or two later, as Thanksgiving drew near, her midwife recommended scheduling an induction to avoid birthing near the holiday since there would be less midwives available. Jessica had chosen this ob group specifically for their midwives so to be told she might not have access to one in her labor was the last straw.

She reached out to me desperate for alternatives, feeling trapped in her 40th week of pregnancy with unsupportive providers. I mentioned homebirth and Jessica was open to considering it if she could find a midwife who would take her. Thankfully, she did and felt an immediate weight lifted and a sense of peace at their initial meeting. Jessica was at ease and ready to welcome her baby whenever she might decide to come. It didn’t take long to feel safe and protected, and unconditionally supported, which was a very strong reminder to her of the importance of assembling a team that you trust. She would have a homebirth. And just 11 days later that’s what she did!

It was just over a week past her due date when Jessica felt the familiar waves of contractions. It was around 6:30 pm when she sent the first text to me, but she had been feeling contractions soon after doing the Miles Circuit as recommended by her midwife. She was wise to have the children and dog head to her parents’ house close-by for the night, knowing she would likely be giving birth. I didn’t hear from her for nearly four hours and then a call came in from Dan telling me Jessica was breathing through strong contractions and very focused. This is significant for Jessica and meant she was in active labor, so I was out the door and got to their house by 11:30. (The drive was a long one, given the tunnel, but I was grateful to have made it!)

Her midwife was not yet there and after watching Jessica through just a couple of contractions I knew it was time to call and fill the tub. Dan was on it, and he let the midwife know it was go-time and got to work filling the tub. In the meantime, I remained with Jessica. She breathed with a sigh through her contractions, clutching the headboard of her bed, and trembling through the peaks. She looked to be in transition or very nearly there. This was moving quickly!

She tried a bathroom trip and took several contractions to get there and back. Her contractions were lasting 90 seconds and 3 minutes apart, leaving her with a very short recovery. A cold cloth on her neck and a fan nearby gave slight relief, but her sweat revealed her strong work. Her midwife arrived with her assistant by 11:50 pm, just 20 minutes after me. Jessica stood beside the bed through some contractions and immediately felt pressure down low. Her midwife got her things set up and they paid a visit upstairs to Jessica in the bedroom to greet her and check on baby.

Jessica was in labor land, looking disoriented and tired in between her contractions. Around 12:15 am she asked me, “If they don’t check you how do they know you can get in the tub?” I smiled at her innocent question and reassured her that there were other ways to know. I reminded her that if she felt stinging and burning and that would be her baby’s head. Three minutes later, Jessica felt her baby’s head there.

She made her way slowly down the stairs to the birth tub as the second birth assistant arrived, and she sank down in the water. The tub was situated beside the Christmas tree and made for a lovely backdrop for birthing a baby on December 1. While in the tub, we made sure Jessica took sips of her electrolyte drink prepared by Dan, and we kept a cold cloth and fan nearby. It was little things we did, but the significance behind it all was that we believed in her and trusted her.

Jessica lay back in the tub, eyes closed, and breathed with each contraction. She was in tune with her body and literally breathed her baby down and out. Her midwives watched in wonder, as did we, as Jessica with hardly a sound, and ever so gradually, brought her baby lower. First there was the bulging sac which had always been broken in her previous births. Her patient midwife waited until it gave way naturally, allowing Jessica’s body to ease her baby into the world and prevent a tear.

The midwife summoned Dan close, so he was poised to catch their baby. And he leaned in with complete confidence, saying all of the right things to encourage and reassure Jessica that he saw more of their baby with every breath. And then the head came, so quietly and gently. And after three minutes, another push brought the baby into Dan’s hands at 1:12 am on 12-1-22! Dan and the midwife brought the baby up into Jessica’s waiting arms and she held her to her breast.

It was a truly wondrous birth that left every person quietly in awe. And as I sat in those first minutes it occurred to me how very differently this birth might have unfolded had Jessica not taken the leap of faith and courage to switch her care providers! It was a beautiful and gentle birth by a woman who has a quiet strength about her that I have always admired.

There was no aggressive rubbing of their baby as she made subtle sounds and moved her body in a way that verified she was breathing. And she was pink from head to toe almost immediately. She transitioned in her own way with hardly any cries in the warmth and security of her mother’s arms; a far sweeter first moments in the world than those of a typical hospital-born baby. The placenta came a short while later and remained attached until it felt like the right time to cut it, yet another unique feature that is hard to come by outside of homebirth.

When Jessica felt up to it, she did the herculean task of getting out of the tub and walking back upstairs to her bedroom. Once settled, and confirmed she had NO TEARS (the first time ever!), she watched her baby’s newborn exam occur at her feet and saw as Dan did the honors of weighing her. She weighed 8 lb. 6 oz. and was 19 in. long. The name was still being debated but they would soon settle on Esme Joy. Interestingly, Esme means ‘to love’. Partnered with Joy as a middle name, it’s the perfect name for a baby born on the first day of December in the early part of advent, in which we celebrate with joy the coming of a Savior who came to the world to teach love. In true homebirth fashion, we assured Jessica had some nourishment and hydration, cleaned up any remnants of the birth, and then took our leave so she could settle in her own bed to sleep.

I can’t imagine a more perfect way for Jessica and Dan to have rounded out the births of their four children. I am so proud of Jessica for her courage in making a last-minute change in care. I am grateful for the midwife who could take her on so late. And I will forever be honored to have accompanied Jessica and Dan in all four of their births. I hope they share their story so others may know the importance of feeling safe and supported in birth, and trust the voice that speaks to their hearts is the same voice that has a right to be heard.