Devin and Ben welcomed their third baby girl, Austin Elizabeth, on November 15. Davin’s births were all very different. Her first was a c-section, the second was a VBAC (and she arrived at the hospital ready to push!), and this was a second VBAC! However, it wasn’t without its challenges. This time around, Devin’s placenta had a velamentous cord insertion which can leave the vessels more vulnerable. There is not a lot that can be done except possibly induce a little early to protect baby from an incident, albeit a rare one.

But Devin’s baby was also measuring smaller, and her growth had dropped to an alarming threshold, which had her providers recommending induction. Her baby remained steady in growth and even had a little growth spurt, but between the VCI and her baby falling low on the growth chart, an induction was the decision agreed upon. It was scheduled for 39 weeks, so not terribly early.

Devin was dilated 2 cm at the start of the process. She was no stranger to unmedicated birth, but this would be her first time with pitocin, so it would still be a new experience. They got situated that morning and once she was admitted, the plan discussed, and everything began, it was later in the morning. There was not much of an update since nothing much was happening initially. It took awhile for Devin’s body to respond with contractions and when it did, she was dilated 3 cm, so she went into the shower.

In fact, Ben’s first update came at 2:47 pm saying “the contractions were more intense, and he was helping to squeeze hips for help on the contractions.” When I asked how far apart and how long they were, he responded that they weren’t long and two minutes apart. It soon became clear that it was time for me to head in.

Devin didn’t know if it was quite time, but she was breathing through the contractions. The pitocin was at 12 mu and by the last text, Ben confirmed the contractions were close to 60 seconds and 2 minutes apart. I was dressed and packed so left the house shortly. I arrived 20 minutes later at 3:37 pm. And Devin had emerged from the shower a short time before I arrived. She had dilated from 3 cm to 8 cm in a very short time!

When I walked in, it was evident that Devin had turned a corner quickly. Her midwife was present, and she was struggling to stay on top of her contractions. She had asked for an epidural, but the simple fact of the matter was that she didn’t have time. Plus, it was not what she initially wanted. Ben pressed on her hips during contractions, and I took my place beside them to offer encouragement to Devin.

We kept her focused on one contraction at a time and she breathed through her contractions courageously. Her cervix was changing rapidly. She was already dilated 8 cm and it was only a matter of time before her body would lurch her into a push. In the meantime, she was wavering and not sure how much more stamina she had. She agreed to have her midwife break her water in the hopes that the last bit of cervix would melt away as baby came down. But it didn’t go quite like that.

Devin had a rim of cervix that remained through several contractions. Her midwife offered to push the cervix aside during a contraction to help Devin with dilation to complete and she was game. This is not a pleasant thing to go through, but Devin faced it head on and like a champ. And she was fully dilated as a result. Devin labored upright in the bed, pulling on the rebozo tied to the squat bar, and she soon felt the familiar sensations of a baby coming.

Devin pushed on her hands and knees over the CUB. She pushed quietly and with great strength and it didn’t take long at all for us to see her baby’s head. Austin Elizabeth was born at 4:26 pm with a full set of eye lashes! The midwife passed her through Devin’s legs and up into her arms. Devin hugged her close and cried with joy to know her littlest girl was safely born.

The placenta was a sight to see, and we took many pictures of the rare velamentous cord insertion. Austin snuggled with her mommy and soon got skin to skin with her daddy. She was small, weighing just 6 lb. 2 oz. but it wouldn’t be long before she got chunky on her mom’s milk.

Devin’s labor was such a joy. She welcomed her baby with glee and had a wonderfully flexible approach to the birth. And when induction became the plan, she rolled with that too. Pitocin is no joke, but Devin rode those rocky waves with such courage. I’m very proud of her as should she! And now she is a member of the 2VBAC club!

Rachel and Steven welcomed their fourth child on October 9 in a 2VBA2C! (Second VBAC after 2 c-sections!) Rachel’s road to meet each of her babies had unique challenges so she was prepared for every possible outcome, even a c-section. I admired her willingness to be flexible but hoped very much for her sake that she wouldn’t have to. Well, as any experienced mother would tell you, Rachel’s body was gearing up in those final weeks. Her uterus was full of baby and her house was bustling with 3 busy kids. There was no rest for the weary! But she managed those last weeks well, resting in the fleeting moments she could, and stayed grateful for another baby on the way.

At her 38-week appointment she was curious for a cervical check and learned she was dilated 2 cm. It was encouraging to know things were starting to change but Rachel also knew that it could still be weeks before meeting her baby. In the meantime, though, and for the remaining couple of weeks, she had bouts of contractions that caught her attention and her imagination. She breathed through them and even did some positional things to help ease them. The contractions became a regular feature of each day and night and Rachel greeted them with patience. I was proud of her ability to face them and roll with them. In fact, Rachel thought it was the real deal at one point, but the contractions ended up petering off. With so much activity, I hoped when the time came, she would have the advantage of at least some sleep.

Steven sent me a text three days later on October 8 just past 10:00 am telling me Rachel’s water had broken. She was having contractions and thought to err on the safe side of getting to the hospital so she could get settled. It was also a relief to have her children taken care of and no longer under foot. She was dilated 3 cm, 80% effaced, and baby was at -2 station. It was a good start to her labor. Once settled, she labored with the peanut ball on her side. Cold cloths helped on Rachel’s face and Steven applied light strokes to help her relax. Counter pressure on her lower back also helped. She was in significant pain at this point which had me wondering about her baby’s position.

Sure enough, it was conveyed to us that baby was tilted a bit to the right. With all of her prodromal labor we weren’t surprised her baby was a little off kilter in there. We got busy trying some Spinning Babies things to help him find a more direct position. Fighting nausea, Rachel was willing to do it all – the jiggle, even the forward leaning inversion, and finally the side-lying release (on each side). She threw up soon after and around 2:00 pm got an epidural. It didn’t work perfectly at first, however. Rachel struggled with a window of pain on her left. It resolved after some time and adjusting the medication and I recall hearing her breathe deeply in slumber just past 3:35 pm.

The sleep was fleeting though because the window was not 100% gone. The nurse did a check and Rachel was dilated 4-5 cm but stretchable to 6. We worked on shifting Rachel into positions that would improve the pain management as well as help coax her baby boy more midline. Rachel was game for all of the positions we tried, even though the window remained. She used the PCA button when she could, and a heating pad and strategically placed pillow gave some comfort.

Rachel’s contractions were steady at 3 minutes apart and we were hopeful for cervical change. The biggest struggle was the pain management though, as the window remained a challenge. She labored in a variety of positions with the peanut ball under one leg and then the other, laying on one side and then the other, and even using the stirrup to hold her top leg in the runner’s position. By 6:30 pm she felt the pressure lower and more central which got us all hopeful that her baby had moved.

At 7:00 pm she was dilated 8 cm! Her cervix was 90% effaced and her baby was lower at -1 station. These were good changes, and we continued our repertoire of positions to help him find his way out. At 7:19 pm Rachel felt more pressure and her baby seemed lower. By 8:30 pm we positioned her bed in the throne position to make use of gravity to help.

Steven continued his gentle support in light touches and loving words. He told Rachel how proud he was of her and that he loved her. You could see the love reflected back from Rachel and it was a beautiful framework for them to welcome their fourth child. And by 9:27 pm, Rachel’s baby was at +1 station! She still had a bit of cervix, but we were very excited to know that her baby was on his way out of the pelvis!

She returned to an upright position, and we shifted her knees together to make more space in the lower part of her pelvis and rubbed her shoulders with Stress Away essential oil blend to help her release tension there. She lay back on her left side and the window of pain had returned. She received a second bolus from the CRNA, and it seemed to help some. And by 10:45 pm her cervix was gone! Her baby was still lingering around 0 station though and needed to come back down. So, we encouraged Rachel to rest as she labored her baby down.

Thankfully, the latest bolus of medicine really helped to manage the pain from the lingering window and Rachel was relaxed and comfortable enough to sing with the worship music that was playing. She remarked on how wonderful her team was and how well they listened to her. It was important that she feel heard and supported and every single person was very attentive to her needs.

By 12:25 am on October 9, her baby was very low, so she was encouraged to give a push and see what happened. Well, Rachel was a good pusher because one try had her nurse assembling the team. Her midwife was in the room by 12:35 am. Rachel wanted some oxygen to help give her extra stamina through pushing and it kept her mind clear. And she pushed for about 20 minutes or so and welcomed her not so little baby boy at 12:52 am! He weighed in at 8 lb. 11 oz.

Landric Steven didn’t cry out loudly at first, so he got some support at the warmer with some CPAP to open his lungs. There was meconium in the amniotic fluid as well and it was an added precaution to set him up for a good transition. He was back in his mom’s arms a little while later.

When the room was less crowded and quiet again, Rachel and Steven took in their son and reflected on the road to meet him. Rachel is so very patient and mild, and I admired her quiet hope for a positive birth. Rachel held her baby lovingly and enjoyed her first meal of pizza and a cranberry juice and ginger ale mocktail! It was a beautiful celebration of life and love as we welcomed this new person into the world. And it was also a healing birth for Rachel in many ways and reassured her that she could indeed have a VBAC…twice!

Laura and Kurt welcomed their second child, a son, on August 2! Laura’s journey to meet this baby was a roller coaster for sure. Their first child had health complications that required a birth by scheduled c-section and a surgery soon after. Laura’s daughter’s birth and her immediate postpartum time was stressful and did not include the immediate skin to skin and breastfeeding, not to mention the bonding that is expected in most births. Instead, her daughter went right to the NICU and had surgery in her early days of life.

Fast forward to this second pregnancy and Laura had high hopes for a VBAC. She chose providers who were known for high VBAC rates (and low c-section rates) and she took the Spinning Babies class and did a lot of information gathering to prepare herself for the upcoming birth experience. After all, this would be her first labor. There would be so many firsts.

Going for a walk the evening before Logan was born. Laura was feeling mild contractions here.

However, as her due date drew near, Laura’s cervix was not showing any signs of moving toward labor. Ordinarily, this isn’t an issue, however, with a VBAC (or as the medical world likes to call it a TOLAC – trial of labor after cesarean), there were a very small number of ways to ripen the cervix before an induction and they would need the cervix to be somewhat moving in the right direction to consider them. Laura found herself in her 40th week with no dilation and not much effacement. Her doctor told her a repeat c-section was the safest route. This was not what Laura wanted but she knew that her baby’s safe passage was paramount. She spent the last days wrapping her head around the disappointing turn of events and tried to keep herself busy.

Kurt was such an engaged and supportive partner.

Then the day before her scheduled c-section, Laura thought she was having contractions. She reached out to me, and we tried to sort through them and came up with the plan of not paying attention to them and hydrating and resting. And if the contractions were changing her cervix, she could absolutely have an exam before any c-section in the morning. I wasn’t convinced it was labor, to be honest, since Laura had been out walking and that can cause the uterus to complain, so to speak. I wanted it for her so badly, but we were also trying to keep her head and heart from jumping too quickly to the conclusion of labor. But her neighbor happens to be an ob-gyn and he agreed with Laura that it was labor getting started. So we looked forward to what the night and morning might reveal.

Laura got through the night and managed some sleep. And she reported to the hospital for the scheduled c-section. She knew her cervix would get checked if she had been feeling contractions and maybe she would have a surprise and the opportunity to TOLAC. It was an amazing turn of events! She was dilated 4 cm and 60% effaced! She was in early labor, and her body had done a lot of good cervical change in the nick of time! She wasn’t having regular contractions and they weren’t very strong yet, but she would keep me posted as things progressed to the point of needing support. I was with another laboring client at the time so the need for backup was high.

Three hours passed and Laura’s cervix was the same. She wasn’t quite in active labor yet but the groundwork had been laid for a very good chance for a VBAC. Her midwife recommended seeing what happened over the next couple of hours and possibly breaking her water or starting Pitocin if her labor had not progressed. Her contractions were intensifying but were not getting closer so they decided to wait on the Pitocin and see if some more natural ways to intensify contractions might work. Her midwife did a membrane sweep and then Laura made use of the shower during this time to help her relax and stimulate stronger contractions.

Freshly born! Logan got some oxygen in the early minutes.

But an hour later, with still no change, it was time to make a change. Laura’s doctor said it was time for Pitocin. Luckily, Laura had a nurse who was all about moving her into a variety of positions as she waited for active labor to kick in with the Pitocin which was started around 1:00 pm.

Getting some respiratory supporting the nursery the first couple of hours with daddy by his side the whole time

As the Pitocin began to work, she labored on the birth ball and leaned over the peanut ball in bed. Laura felt her contractions change in the first 30 minutes so they were hopeful she wouldn’t need much Pitocin. After 1 ½ hours on Pitocin, Laura began to vocalize through each contraction. They were on the short side at 30-45 seconds, but they were getting stronger which was a good sign. Her nurse said her labor was picture perfect.

Reunited after Logan was cleared from the nursery team

Laura kept laboring in various positions and clenched combs in each hand to help her get through the contractions. Kurt was amazing support, and the nurse was very good at giving him ideas for how to support Laura. As her contractions moved closer to a minute in length, she had a cervical check. Kurt updated me at 3:30 pm that Laura was dilated 5-6 cm and her cervix was very thin, and her baby’s head was at 0 station. She was edging into active labor! (The exam was closer to 3:00 but the update came at 3:30.)

It was time to deploy some doula backup since things had turned a corner so my friend, Aimee Roberts was on it. Laura even cussed which is saying something! (See what I did there?) Backup was on her way soon after 4:00 as Laura and Kurt continued their labor dance through various positions with the support of their nurse. Then just 45 minutes after learning she was 5-6 cm dilated, Kurt sent a text that Laura was 9 cm and 0.5+ station just past 4:00 pm! She went really fast, dilating from 5-6 cm to 9 cm in the span of an hour! She was in a lot of discomfort and considering an epidural but since she was so close to pushing she stayed the course and did not receive pain medications. Instead, Laura clenched Kurt’s hand and breathed and focused through the contractions that finished her cervical dilation and brought her into second stage with the involuntary urge to bear down and push her baby out.

Aimee arrived right as Laura was starting to push and supported Laura’s leg so she could push side-lying. Kurt dabbed her face with a wet cloth and encouraged her through. And Laura was able to hold his hand on her side. Laura pushed on her right side as well and rotated to push in the middle too. She remembers it as being especially intense in that position. But when she followed her midwife’s advice to use her legs and curl around her baby, she made big progress in bringing her baby into view.

Laura pushed out Logan at 4:58 pm after pushing just 10 minutes according to Kurt! He weighed 8 lb. 6 oz. and was 22 in. long. In his first moments, they could tell that he was having some struggles with his breathing since he had some amniotic fluid in his lungs. The nursery nurse did end up taking him to the nursery for observation and possible support for his first couple of hours, but Kurt was with him the entire time. But the brief separation was nothing compared to the separation they endured with their firstborn. So, the reunion, albeit delayed, was a beautiful opportunity for skin to skin and breastfeeding. I was in the room for that moment and was so grateful for that. It was a precious moment of getting to know their baby and soaking in all the snuggles that had been waiting.

I love Laura’s story! Birth NEVER goes how you plan it. And holding loosely to expectations (or letting them go all together) can be the best plan. So much about this birth didn’t go as expected, including needing a backup doula! But then again, the surprise ending was more amazing than anything Laura had imagined! Turns out her cervix knows how to dilate rapidly! She labored on Pitocin without any pain medications, and Kurt was incredible support through it all. I am so proud of how they navigated Laura’s surprisingly short active labor!  Short is not easier, that’s for sure. And ultimately, Laura’s birth journey blew everyone’s expectations out of the water. Even hers.

Meeting big sister

I first met Sara and Phil in my Spinning Babies Parent class. Their first child was born by c-section because she was in the footling breech position, and they were very motivated to assemble tools to encourage their second baby to orient herself head down! After learning so much, they decided a doula would be a worthy investment as well. And I was blessed when they approached me, and I was able to take them as clients! That’s a little backstory which I think helps add depth to the way labor happened.

Sara’s providers were supportive of her desire for a VBAC as long as her cervix was showing signs of readiness and as long as she didn’t go too late in her pregnancy. A repeat c-section was scheduled for April 10, three days past her due date, in the event her cervix was not favorable for induction. Thankfully, everything lined up and Sara’s cervix made gradual changes in the weeks leading up, dilating to 2 cm at 38 weeks, and then to 3 cm the next week. Sara’s doctor removed the c-section from the schedule and changed it to an induction. This was a victory! Although Sara hoped not to need the induction at all.

Then a week before her induction date, Sara felt the first regular contractions that were different than the random scattered contractions of the previous weeks. She reached out by text to alert me to the fact that she was having some “cramping feelings a few times an hour.” They started overnight but were persisting into the morning, although mild and unpredictable. The plan was to minimize and ignore, while also hydrating, eating, resting and generally taking care of herself. If there were movements toward active labor I wanted her to let me know.

Sara went about her day as planned: she attended a routine chiropractor appointment, ate a light lunch, and sent me a text just past 1:00 pm that gave the news of more regular contractions. Sara clocked them at every 6-8 minutes and lasting 30-40 seconds. They were still mild, although constant at that interval for an hour, so she was back to the self-care and ignoring, minimizing, resting routine until they were 5 minutes apart and lasting longer than a minute.

Then suddenly, Sara’s labor took an active turn. An hour later, Phil (not Sara!) texted to tell me the contractions were every 2-3 minutes and lasting about 40 seconds. I reminded them to do the Spinning Babies Three Balances to make sure baby’s position was good, and to encourage the contractions to get even longer and stronger. 

By 3:30pm, after doing some Spinning Babies things, Sara’s contractions were lasting a minute and happening every 3 minutes! Sara was ready to go to the hospital. After planning to wait for an update after they arrived, I thought it best to meet them there. And I’m so glad I did!

I got to Sara’s room a few minutes after she did. And when I arrived, I was told she was 9 cm! Sara was laying on her back in the bed, looking awkward and uncomfortable as her nurse admitted her and checked on baby’s fetal heart rate. The monitor was part of Sara’s labor since she was hoping for a VBAC, but she wouldn’t need it long.

Sara had hoped to have a vaginal birth without pain medications but wasn’t sure if it would happen. It can also be suggested by providers to get an epidural just in case the birth ends up going to the OR for a repeat c-section as a way to make sure the mom is more prepped for that. Sara arrived at the hospital at the PERFECT time to avoid pain medications and to labor most of the time in the comfort of her own home with a beautiful ocean view.

She was clearly uncomfortable in that position and having a hard time staying calm with her intense contractions. I recommended she roll over to her hands and knees and reminded her to focus on deep breaths to center her. And once she turned over, her sister got busy doing the Spinning Babies jiggle to her pelvis which happened to be the most effective tool at home the last hour or two!

Sara’s midwife was in the room, perched at the foot of the bed. The room began to fill with people since birth was clearly imminent. At 4:40 pm Sara’s water broke with a splash off the side of the bed onto the floor, nearly missing my shoes! And with the next contraction she lurched in the unmistakable way that indicated it was time to push. And Sara pushed so well. She lay on her side to push and it was only a few contractions before we could see her baby’s head crowning. And at 4:57 pm, Maia June was born to the wonderment of everyone but especially her mom, dad and aunt. “It just went so fast!” was Phil’s mantra over and over as he stared at his newborn baby with a smile plastered across his face.

Sara’s sister was in town to help care for her first child, and just happened to be in the room for the birth. She continued her labor support that had begun at home, and watched in awe as her sister gave birth. She cried and gushed to Sara about how strong and amazing she was and then she was gone at 5:00 to go pick up big sister! Maia couldn’t have timed her entrance more perfectly.

Sara soaked in the immediate skin to skin time with baby Maia and she was given the additional good news that she didn’t tear. Sara listened carefully when I reminded her to blow and not push hard at the end and she will reap the benefits of that control and patience with an easier recovery.

Maia June weighed 6 lb. 14 oz. and was 19.5 in. long at birth. Sara and Phil explained to me that Maia was given the middle name June because it was derived from Juno the Roman goddess and protector of childbirth and family. Looking back on how Maia’s birth unfolded, it seemed the perfect way to honor just how amazing everything was.

I am so proud of Sara. You might think it’s because she showed up 9 cm and had an unmedicated VBAC as she had hoped. And yes, I am proud of her for that. But I am even more proud of her for trusting her body but also for being open and flexible should her birth shift to an induction or even a repeat c-section. I am proud of how she felt her way through labor, ignoring the early parts and coping mightily at home when things took a short and intense turn to active. I am proud of her for staying focused after arriving to the hospital. As all the people swirled around her readying the room, she was trained on what my voice and her body were telling her. Sara emerged from this birth empowered and strong and that’s what I hope all of my clients get from their birth experiences.

Amber and Nathan welcomed their second child into the world on September 13, 2022. Amber’s first birth ended in c-section, and she was very motivated to have a VBAC this time. She aligned herself with providers who were supportive and chose a doula this time as well. We had our prenatal visit in which she reiterated with me her strong desire for not only a VBAC, but an unmedicated one. She was determined and motivated and had assembled a team to support her every step of the way.

The first I heard from Amber about labor was a text that came through about 2:40 am on September 13, the day she would welcome her baby. She had timed her contractions for about an hour and had a regular pattern of 5 minutes apart, on average, with the duration of a minute with some shorter and some longer. The app told her it was time to go to the hospital, but she didn’t feel it was time yet. Some were painful but most were still tolerable. They began around midnight. I told her to stop timing and wait until they were consistently longer than a minute and more like 3 to 4 minutes apart before heading in, assuming she was comfortable doing that.

Over two hours later, the text came in that they were heading to the hospital. Contractions were 2-3 minutes apart and longer at 1-1 ½ minutes in duration. Plus, she thought her water started leaking. They were also stronger, so it was a very goo d time to head in! Upon arrival, Amber was dilated 4 cm and 90% effaced—a good place to be. But there was some concern as to whether her sutures were optimal for a safe VBAC, however, Amber held her ground and made it clear to her doctor that her desire was to move forward with a VBAC. They would monitor her and baby throughout and as the nurse said, “watch baby like a hawk” for any signs of a rupture happening. The likelihood was still very slight, but more elevated due to the sutures done at her previous birth out of state.

I arrived within the hour, shortly after Amber was in her rightful room. Her water had broken at the hospital, and she was laboring on her hands and knees over the peanut ball. We placed a heating pad on her lower back where she felt the most pain. The wireless monitor was being charged nearby, with plans to be used later to allow the chance for the shower. And an hour later at 9:00 am she was dilated to 5, 100% effaced, and her baby was at -1 station. Things were moving along nicely, and her baby’s heart rate sounded perfect.

Amber’s contractions were coupling, however, which means they were coming two at a time and then spaced. This was a compelling indication that her baby’s position was not optimal. So, we got to work being strategic! I did some “shake the apple tree” with the rebozo around Amber’s bottom, and then had her do lunges on both sides. And then her contractions adjusted to every 2.5 minutes! She preferred the hands and knees position, so she continued it over the cub chair as she breathed calmly through her growing contractions. “Hand,” she would gasp from time to time, and either Nathan or I would extend our hand out for her to squeeze. Amber had quite the labor grip!

In time, every position hurt, but this was to be expected. Amber felt most of the discomfort in her back, hips, and belly, but they were hurting in unison which was reassuring to us that her baby was moving down, and her cervix was opening. Her contractions intensified and we secured a fan to help cool her as her body worked harder. Amber moved to the bathroom and sat on the toilet to labor for nearly an hour. She felt her contractions get stronger and she said, “ouch” through each one. I encouraged her to change her word to “out” and that became her mantra to her baby through each surge.

By 11:12 am, Amber stood back up and was ready to do some upright positions. She squatted with the rebozo tied overhead, she slow danced with Nathan, and even stood beside the bed and leaned over the peanut ball. At one point her nurse couldn’t get a good read of baby’s heart rate, so Amber lay on her side in the bed. This can be challenging late in labor, but she talked herself through it saying, “I can do this,” and managed quite well. When her midwife returned 1 ½ hours later at 12:50 pm to check on her progress, Amber said, “Good news please.” And her midwife was happy to report with a smile on her face that Amber was fully dilated, and her baby’s head was at +1 station!  “Oh, thank goodness,” or something similar was Amber’s reply.

She began pushing a short time later as her body began bringing the urge to bear down. She started out pushing on her side but didn’t feel that was productive for her. But when Amber sat upright in bed holding the rebozo tied to the squat bar she felt like she was making more progress pushing. She pushed in this position for a while, and then leaned a bit more back to push. Amber reached down to feel her baby’s head and was encouraged to know how close her baby was. She felt it after pushing a bit longer and could really feel how much more head was out! And after just an hour of pushing, Amber welcomed Naomi Blair at 1:45 pm! This beautiful baby girl weighed 8 lb. 3 oz. and was 20.5 in long.

Amber embraced her baby girl, her triumphant VBAC baby, and let all of the oxytocin wash over her. It’s quite an accomplishment to labor without pain medication in the hospital setting, but when pursuing a VBAC, it can be more challenging physically and emotionally. I was so proud of how Amber allowed her labor process to unfold and didn’t allow voiced concerns by her doctor to change her plan. She took their information in and considered her options and weighed the risks and moved forward knowing she and her baby were being closely monitored. Amber’s birth is a reminder that a VBAC is nearly always a better plan than a repeat c-section, especially when the risks can be managed, and safety measures are in place.

Rachel reached out for the support of a doula because she had a strong desire for a VBAC after welcoming her first son by a c-section for breech presentation. She attended my refresher childbirth class and learned all she could about labor and birth since this would technically be her first experience with labor. 

Rachel’s labor started in the least likely way and that is with her water breaking first! Thankfully, her body got going with contractions very soon after. In fact, they were surprisingly close and strong! This made things confusing since her labor wasn’t following the “typical” pattern, which is laughable since we can’t really put labor (and babies!) in a box, can we? Rachel and Josh called the midwife sooner than she thought she would need to, foregoing laboring around her home in favor of driving to the hospital. It’s a good thing Josh’s mom arrived from Iowa just 12 hours before so they could leave for the hospital easily!!

They arrived at the hospital just past 7:00 am on March 26, and within the hour it was confirmed that Rachel’s cervix was very thin and dilated to 4 cm with her baby’s head well applied. She would be staying to have a baby! She was shocked by the intensity of her labor—she was hardly dilated at her previous appointment—so it had made rapid change. 

Not knowing what was left to come, Rachel requested an epidural. There was a delay since she had to receive enough fluids first, but by 9:00 am they were able to call anesthesia. In the meantime, Rachel labored in upright positions, including pulling the rebozo tied to the squat bar for leverage. Since she was laboring for a VBAC, the protocols required she remain on the monitor, but staying active helped her feel less tethered.

By 9:30 am the epidural was completed, and Rachel was feeling a bit more relaxed. Josh grabbed a quick bite to eat since we suspected he wouldn’t have a better chance considering how quickly Rachel’s labor was moving. And when he got back, he tried to take a power nap. We encouraged the same for Rachel, but I think her mind was too busy thinking. Rachel used the peanut ball to keep her pelvis open as she rotated from side to side. 

Votives and twinkle lights help to set the scene for serenity and calm. But Rachel felt a nagging pain on her left side and general pressure all over that continued. We suspected her body was moving along so her midwife came in to see what was happening. She did an exam and held up her open hand to Rachel who thought “5 fingers, so I must be 5 cm dilated.” But no! Her midwife meant, “High five because you are COMPLETE!”

They got busy setting up the delivery table, clearly not expecting Rachel to progress so rapidly! (I love when that happens!) And by 11:45 am Rachel gave her first push. She really liked the rebozo, so she pushed by doing the tug of war with it tied to the squat bar and her feet braced upon it. Josh was her partner in the tug of war and Rachel remembers this part of her labor fondly! 

She pushed in various positions. She pushed with her knees pointed in, then she pushed on the left side and the right side. Her baby was OT (occiput transverse), so he was needing some creative positioning to help him navigate the pelvis. We did a side-lying release and then Rachel went back to pushing on her right side with the peanut ball between her ankles and her knees pushed in to open her pelvic outlet. Then she did some pushing semi-reclined using the trusty rebozo for some tug of war pushing. 

By 3:00 pm, her baby had rotated from looking at 11:00 to looking at 9:00 so he had made some adjustments. But Rachel had been pushing over 3 hours, so it was a good time to evaluate. The next step was to add Pitocin to add some force to her contractions and maybe helped nudge her baby to rotate. This was a less invasive option than using a vacuum which was another possibility. The doctor stopped by to talk through options including a potential vacuum assist if Pitocin wasn’t enough. Rachel preferred to start with Pitocin and go from there and her doctor agreed. He said, “It’s best for you and your baby if you push him out and don’t get any help from me.” 

So the Pitocin was increased incrementally, and by 4:22 it was at 6 mu which was the magic level for Rachel. By 4:30 she reached down to feel her baby’s head with her own hand and a short time later, at 4:42 pm her son was born!! Isaac William was born about 5 hours after Rachel’s first push. Rachel’s vaginal birth was largely due to her stamina and her providers’ patience. It was a dream team for sure!

The first full song of Izzy’s life was “One Headlight”, but he came into the world to an awesome collection of songs. He was born into Rachel’s midwife’s hands with the doctor standing by, but not needed. She relished having her baby in her arms immediately after the birth and was singing to him just minutes afterward. It was so touching.

After an hour with his mom skin-to-skin, Izzy weighed in. And he was not small! He weighed 8 lb. 11 oz. and was 20.5 in. long, quite stocky. So, his OT positioning was made more challenging by his chunky size. But Rachel had the moxie to do what she had to do, and we are so proud of her for sticking with it!

Rachel discovered such strength in her body through this birth, but she also was able to realize her hope of a vaginal birth. Not only did she push out a big baby for many hours, but her labor also took off quickly. She spent more time in the second stage of her labor than the first! And that is saying something. VBACs are extra special but thankfully, with a supportive provider and good preparation, it’s an excellent option for most women who have had c-sections. Well done to everyone on Rachel’s team for believing in her and believing in vaginal birth.

Leslie and Jeremy welcomed Kai Jian Hui, son #2 on February 28, 2022, in a much hoped for and prepared for VBAC! I first met Leslie at an ICAN meeting in which I was a member of a panel of doulas. I had just showed up after a birth and not at all dressed for a social engagement, but I somehow gave her a good impression and reached out to me for a doula interview. Jeremy was at the meeting, and they made it very clear how important it was that Leslie have a voice this time. She had some high-risk issues that required care from high-risk OBs, but Leslie believed in her heart that she need not be treated as a high-risk patient.

She educated herself on her own as well as through my classes, and she and Jeremy were ready for whatever came their way. An induction because the recommendation, even though Leslie’s providers were hesitant. They recommended a repeat c-section, but Leslie stood her ground and asked simply “for a chance”. They waited for an available bed and then made their way to the hospital. As is the case with most inductions, there was a lot of waiting around initially. There were also words of caution and concern, sprinkled between the options and plans that were laid. A wireless monitor was brought to the room so Leslie would have every opportunity to move freely with her labor.

They waited through most of the day as the Pitocin was bumped up gradually. It was nearly maxed out, but Leslie’s perception of the pain was still mild. There was a recommendation to break her water to intensify contractions and change her cervix, but Leslie had a strong desire to hold off and let her body have a chance. She was effective in advocating for more time, and a phone conversation with me did her good. Several more hours into the night had her contractions coming closer than 5 minutes and longer than before, so I headed in. I arrived at her room around 10:45 that night.

Leslie was in good spirits, considering she had been staring at the same 4 walls all day. She had one excellent nurse after another and that would continue for the duration of her labor. Nurses work so hard and good ones are priceless! (And I rarely meet a nurse who doesn’t want the best for her patients.) Leslie’s doctor came in and did a cervical exam shortly after I arrived and she was dilated to 4 cm, 50% effaced, and baby was still high at -3. This was the third check that was the same. It was time for some Spinning Babies. Pitocin had been shut off which gave Leslie a nice break from the annoying and unproductive contractions.

We did the Three Balances that Jeremy and Leslie had learned from the Spinning Babies® Parent Class. Once completed, Leslie tried to rest. Two hours later they did another cervical exam and Leslie’s cervix was still unchanged. Once talking through the risks and benefits, Leslie and Jeremy felt comfortable with breaking her water. Her baby’s head was tight against the membrane, and they hoped once broken the head would move down nicely to help dilate the cervix. But it was too difficult to break at that time because there was not much give. So, they started up the Pitocin again to see.

Two hours later at 4:00 am, her cervix had made change! She was dilated to 5cm, 50% effaced (still), and baby was a smidge lower at -2 station. Her doctor tried again to break her water and this time it worked! Clear fluid flowed which brought reassurance to everyone that baby was doing just fine. Leslie lay on her right side with the peanut ball between her legs, and soon she was breathing through intensifying contractions. (She was still able to text between them though, so it wasn’t too active yet.)

She draped herself over the cub birthing chair just before 5:00 am to help her baby continue to navigate downward. But she didn’t rest there. She got up and labored on the toilet some and swirled her hips on the birth ball. And she even did lunges. Jeremy applied counter pressure to her lower back as the pain escalated, and Leslie drew strength from his steadfast support. He was all in the entire time, encouraging her with words, pressing on her hips, or literally holding her up when she was spent. Their love shone brightly through labor and was such a sight to see.

By 6:30 the morning of day two, Leslie was dilated 6 cm, 80% effaced, and vocalizing loudly with contractions. It was hard for Jeremy to see his wife in such pain that she cried out, and it brought tears to his eyes. It wasn’t soon after that Leslie requested an epidural. Her road had already been long, and active labor had only just taken hold. She wanted to preserve her energy for pushing, something she wanted so much in her heart to do! 

Peace and calming essential oil helped her to cope and she liked the feeling of the peanut ball between her legs to keep things open. She had to wait a bit but by 8:00 am the epidural was placed, and Leslie was comfortable. She tried hard to sleep and so did Jeremy. About 90 minutes later they started the Pitocin back up to see how labor would unfold. We helped Leslie onto her left side with the peanut and moved her to the right when her baby’s heart rate showed some variables from likely cord compression.

But they stayed the course, walking the balancing act between progress and safety.  Leslie “feasted” on an orange popsicle, but truth be told she really wasn’t very hungry, so it hit the spot. An hour later at 11:00 an exam revealed Leslie was dilated 8 cm! Her baby’s head was the lowest so far at -1 station too, so we were all very excited. Leslie was overwhelmed with emotion as tears spilled out of her eyes. She had not progressed to 8 cm in her previous birth, so this was a very significant labor landmark! She confessed that she didn’t think she’d get that far so her heart dared to hope for even more progress. I wanted her VBAC for her so bad, and she wanted it too. It broke my heart a little how tentatively she held her VBAC dreams, but I understood why.

Leslie slept, but after some rest she got busy being active. She lunged on her side with the peanut, we did side-lying releases to help encourage her baby’s passage down, down down, and she even rolled onto her hands and knees to labor over the cub with that epidural. And just over 2 hours later she was dilated to 8.5 cm. It was a small change, but her baby had moved down to 0 station, an even more significant change! She labored upright in bed in the throne position, and we placed the peanut strategically to keep her pelvis asymmetric. And just before 7:00 am she was dilated 9.5! Her cervix was 90% effaced and her baby was solidly at 0 station with some caput. It was back to hands and knees over the cub to get that last lip of cervix to melt away. Leslie felt more pressure in that position which made us hopeful it was working.

Leslie tried to relax as the pressure grew but by 8:00 that night she was pushing into the pressure. She had a lip that remained, but the doctor was able to push it aside, so her baby was no longer impeded by a thing. Leslie pushed with courage and persistence. She dug deep and pushed for nearly two hours, including with closed knees, and even using the tug of war push/pull with the rebozo. By 9:45 pm it was time to call the team! The room swirled with people and at 9:53 Leslie pushed her son out of her body!

She cried, Jeremy cried, baby Kai cried! It was a celebration by everyone, and Leslie savored the feeling of her baby on her chest from the very first moment. This was something she didn’t have with her first and it set the stage for such a healing start. They noticed his hairy shoulders and how alert he was, staring up at mommy. And once the crowd left and the room was once again quiet, Leslie brought Kai to the breast. And he latched in the first hour of life; another wish of Leslie’s fulfilled.

Leslie’s VBAC required a lot of patience, persistence, advocacy, communication, and belief in the process. Leslie was met with resistance, then cautious optimism, and finally a rousing congratulations. I hope everyone who was part of her care team learned something that day. I hope they learned that even risky birth can be approached with options and careful considerations. Communication is the key and does so much for a mom’s heart. I am so grateful Leslie was able to have the VBAC she prepared for and hoped for. And I am also grateful to have been by her side when it happened.

Photos in the gallery above taken by professional photographer, Stephanie Dunn. Follow her on Instagram: @stellar_photography _757

Dulce and Joshua welcomed their third child on December 22, 2021! This was my third time to serve as their doula and it has been such a wonderful gift to watch them grow as parents with each new addition. When they reached out to tell of their pregnancy, they were in California with plans to return to Hampton Roads in the later half. I was so excited at the opportunity to serve them again! Dulce’s birth history is varied in some ways, and consistent in others. She has had recurrent high blood pressure that resulted in inductions for every birth. However, they unfolded differently. Her first child was born by c-section, her second by a VBAC. And then came Charles Duke, born by a second VBAC! 

In this third pregnancy, Dulce’s blood pressure was actually very good almost the whole way through. It was a nice change and left open the possibility of spontaneous labor. That is until the very end. Dulce’s blood pressure was high at her appointment on December 21, just one week shy of her December 28 EDD. She was sent to triage for evaluation, but they soon made the call to keep her for induction. Dulce and Joshua were happy with the decision given her history.

Dulce’s biggest hope for this birth, behind healthy baby and mom, of course, was to not feel frantic. Her first birth got scary when her water was broken and her baby’s heart rate took a turn, making the call for a c-section for her baby’s sake. Likewise, in her second labor things got crazy when her water was broken and then things ramped up so quickly, she hardly had time to get an epidural. This third birth she hoped to feel less frantic and calmer. And that meant being a bit more strategic about things. 

Dulce’s initial exam had her cervix dilated 2 cm, 50% effaced, baby at -3, with a posterior cervix. There was some ripening to do. They began with a Foley bulb and Pitocin together and just an hour later, Dulce was feeling contractions. They were short and erratic, but they were contractions, nonetheless. And the Foley bulb was out in just 1 ½ hours. The plan was to gradually increase Pitocin and do another exam in a couple of hours around 9:00 pm.

An hour later, her contractions were coming at a steady pattern of every 2 ½ minutes and lasting 30 seconds. They planned on getting the epidural in place before breaking her water this time, to help guard against the crazy experience she had previously at that point. In the meantime, Dulce walked and paced and sat upon the birth ball, moving in ways that helped with the contraction pain, and also brought her baby deeper in her pelvis.

They broke her water shortly after the epidural and she was dilated 3 cm, but Dulce’s body shook in a way that hinted to active labor getting established. We had her lay over the cub birthing chair for some rest but to also help bring baby down to dilate her cervix. It was 10:40 pm.

Shortly before midnight, her nurse noticed some variables in the baby’s heart rate. Dulce was also feeling some pain in her vagina, so it seemed a good time to investigate. Her cervix was a stretchy 5 cm, so we tried a new position to encourage descent called Froggy Walchers. I loved how eager Dulce’s nurse was to learn and collaborate with me with positions to encourage the birth!

The doctor came in and inserted an IUPC to make sure contractions were strong enough and also to add fluid to help float the cord to help stabilize baby’s heart rate. They also turned off the Pitocin to see if Dulce’s body might continue dilating on its own.

Someone drifted in to setup the delivery table and we helped Dulce roll to her side and placed a peanut ball between her legs. She felt more pain in her vagina and a check at 12:15 revealed Dulce was fully dilated, and her baby was at 0 station. The turned Pitocin back on at the lowest level to help bring baby down. But I doubt it was necessary really, because when Dulce gave her first push after they removed the foley at 12:30, we could already see her baby’s head! 

Dulce pushed a total of 3 minutes, so I guess that was 2 contractions. And Charles Duke was born at 12:34 am on December 22, 2021! The cord was loosely around his neck and easy to move aside at delivery. His face was so purple from bruising as he navigated his way through his mom’s pelvis. And he was a little slow to perk up, so he took a 5-minute detour to the warmer for some extra attention. Joshua was never far from his son, and I was never far from Dulce. And he was soon back in her arms. Charles weighed 7 lb. 10 oz. and measured 21 in., the same length as his brother and sister at birth. Dulce birthed her son without a tear too, by the way. And he was latched not too long after birth.

Dulce had the calm and gentle experience she envisioned for Charles. She had a hand in the decisions and was reassured by her providers every step of the way. They even worked collaboratively with her chosen birth support, going so far as asking whether I was going to “coach” her in pushing or they were. Honestly, I don’t think Dulce needed any coaching from any of us, but it was so nice of them to ask. It was a truly lovely birth and I think there was a lot of good cross training happening too! 

Kayse and Parker welcomed their sweet baby girl, Indy Lauren, on June 25, 2021! Kayse’s first birth was a c-section and she was very motivated for a vaginal birth this time. She chose providers who were supportive of VBACs and enlisted a doula as part of her team. She also made sure her body was healthy and fit, knowing labor would require it. 

Kayse’s body was giving her signs labor was coming, but she tried not to get invested too early, monitoring her hydration and rest. Then a few days later she felt contractions that were different and they didn’t subside when she did “all of the things.” Her contractions were ranging between 5-8 minutes the night of June 24, and when rest was no longer possible, she spent some time in the shower and moved into positions that made the contractions more bearable. 

Her contractions were on the short side, so she did the Miles Circuit to see if that might get her labor on track. And sometime during the process her water broke! And soon after that her contractions were coming steadily at 2 ½ to 3 ½ minutes apart, lasting 45 seconds. They called, and the midwife recommended Kayse make her way to the hospital. And once they were settled in the triage room, Kayse’s midwife confirmed she was dilated 4-5 cm and 90% effaced. She had done some great work at home in a few short hours! 

Kayse was experiencing back pain with her contractions so we did counter pressure and used a warm rice sock to alleviate it. Once in her rightful room, Kayse labored on her hands and knees over the peanut ball as things continued to escalate. She got some quick sugar from a popsicle and then moved her labor to the shower around 1:45 am. Music set the tone as the water beat down, and a lavender infused washcloth also helped her to relax and stay in the zone. Her pain migrated from her back to her bottom and hips and brought some pressure that indicated her baby was moving down.

By 2:15 am, Kayse got out of the shower to cool herself down. It can get stuffy in there! A cold washcloth on her neck and back helped. And when she was hit with waves of nausea, the washcloths and peppermint essential oil helped somewhat, although she did end up vomiting. She was hitting a rough spot and wanted to know her progress and options. Her midwife checked her again and she was dilated 6 cm, 90% effaced, and her baby was at 0 station. She opted from some iv medication to help her relax for a bit. But unfortunately, it did nothing!

Kayse continued to labor with the pain and was open to staying active and upright. Parker was so loving and attentive to her. He provided love and comfort, and a sounding board for every decision. This was Parker’s first baby so the journey was every bit as surprising and new as it would be for any first-time father. Kayse’s previous birth experience and confidence in her body were a beautiful pairing with Parker’s wide-eyed wonder and eagerness to help.

We used a heating pad on Kayse’s hip, taking turns providing comfort measures, Parker and I, and tried various positions we hadn’t earlier. She sat upright in the bed and then labored on her right side and then her left. The pain was overwhelming though, and the iv meds were just not providing enough relief. Kayse requested an epidural and had relief within half an hour. It was 5:55 am when the epidural was completed, and by 6:55 Kayse was fully dilated! 

But full dilation doesn’t necessarily mean it’s time to push and Kayse had hoped to get some benefit from the epidural. So she rested and labored down to conserve her energy for pushing. She reached out to update loved ones and then tried to rest. Every thirty minutes we changed her position. She sat upright in the throne position to bring baby lower, and then she labored on her right side. Next she leaned back in the bed with a peanut ball under one leg to change the angle of her pelvis. 

She felt some pain return but was not afraid of it. She wanted to use it to help her know when to push. At 9:50 am she was checked and baby was at +2 station! And ten minutes later she gave her first push. This is where Kayse’s strength and endurance kicked in for her. She pushed well and her baby had so much hair we could see it by 10:18! Her midwife joined us and encouraged her with each push. She had a team of support that included a student midwife and a student nurse whom she welcomed. And then, the fateful push brought forth Indy Lauren at 11:00 am! She had the cord around her neck but it didn’t slow her down. She was born healthy and perfect and vaginally! 

Kayse cried as she held Indy. All of the emotions flowed: the overwhelming love upon meeting her baby, the sense of accomplishment in achieving a VBAC, knowing that it was done and she DID IT! We were all so proud of Kayse! And not to be overlooked, Indy grabbed tightly to her daddy’s finger, showing she was strong like her mom. And her daddy just melted. After her first hour with her parents, she was weighed and measured. Indy was 6 lb. 14 oz. and 20 in. long. She was adorable and perfect in her parents’ eyes, but in our eyes as well. She truly was beautiful.  

Every birth is special but there is just something extra special about a VBAC. Kudos to Kayse for doing the work to align herself with truly VBAC supportive providers and for doing the physical and mental preparation to give herself the best chance for success. It all came together, and she rocked it!

Brooke and Ben welcomed their son, Braxton Asher, on February 4, 2021 at 12:32 pm. When they woke up the previous morning, I don’t think they expected to head to the hospital. After all, Brooke was only 35 weeks that day, and things had seemed to be going well. But Brooke had some blurry vision and after an NST and some tests, she was admitted for induction. Her blood pressure skyrocketed and it became clear that Brooke was safer not pregnant and Braxton was far enough along to have what he needed. We hadn’t yet had our prenatal visit but at least they had finished their refresher childbirth class. The plan was to update as there was news. But that was the kicker. There wasn’t much happening for a while. Brooke’s cervix was doing its job well. It wasn’t time to open for a baby just yet. Her past pregnancies had gone beyond her due date so this was a big shift, to say the least. Brooke took it in stride and accepted that it was the safest course.

They moved quickly after making the decision to induce. In no time Brooke was on magnesium and had a foley catheter in her cervix. She was counseled to get an epidural but she desired to avoid it. This would be the first birth without one and she really wanted to keep with her plans. This would also be her second VBAC for which everyone was thankful. At least that was less of a risk than had it been her first VBAC. Her scar had already withstood the contractions of labor and birth.

By 3:30 pm Pitocin had begun to flow. And it continued that way for many hours, getting bumped up incrementally as Brooke waited for contractions. The foley bulb was removed and contractions came at a steady 4-minute interval, although Brooke hardly felt them. The biggest challenge in those hours was not getting overly frustrated with the many cords attached to the outside and inside of her body. And when she moved the monitor would lose contact with her baby’s heart rate, sending her nurse in to push and adjust the belt and monitor until the baby’s heart rhythm was once again detected. The waiting hours of an induction are the longest. And with no food and little to distract her, by the middle of the night Brooke had hit a wall. She was over it—tired of being tethered, wanting to eat, impatient with her lack of contractions, and desperate for the sleep that never came. She was in a difficult place. 

With the sunrise came a new day and a new attitude. The day staff came on, bringing a new nurse and I arrived at bedside to ride it out alongside Brooke and Ben. The Pitocin was at 24 mu/min, which was quite high, but Brooke remained unchallenged by the contractions. She had been dilated 5-6 cm at her previous exam and laying on her left side with a peanut ball between her legs. She was trying to be restful even if she couldn’t sleep. But she was ready to be more active. 

I recommended Brooke move to her hands and knees over the head of the bed. She labored that way for about 45 minutes, using gravity to her advantage. Squatting seemed the next place to go as the Pitocin continued to get bumped up. Brooke’s nurse fetched a squatting bar for us and Brooke got busy. She grabbed the top of the bar and squatted through each contraction, sitting back upon the bed in between. She squatted quite low, hoping her open pelvis would encourage her little boy to find a lower space that might bring on some labor.

And then we saw it. After about an hour of squatting, Brooke changed. She vocalized more with each contraction and she was spending more time in recovery between. It had been many hours since her last cervical exam so the doctor came in to see where she was at. Brooke’s cervix had also turned a corner. It was dilated 7 cm, 90% effaced, and her baby was at -1 station. That effacement was the biggest news of all for it meant that her cervix would melt away with less effort than getting to 7 cm had taken. And sure enough, within minutes of the doctor stepping out, Brooke exclaimed, “There’s an incredible ring of pain!” 

The next doctor on shift came in right away and it was clear that a baby was coming. The room quickly filled with people, especially since Braxton was only 35 weeks, but the doctor did the most wonderful thing. She squatted at the base of the bed, right there at Brooke’s feet for she was also squatting. And she told her to keep doing what she was doing and that she would be right there. I saw her cradle the baby’s head as it emerged and in just a contraction or two Braxton Asher was born at 12:32 pm! And he weighed 5 lb. 8 oz. and measured 19 in. long. 

He was rubbed and suctioned in an effort to bring out a cry or two. And he was then passed into his mother’s waiting arms. She had waited much longer than she expected to considering he came earlier than she had planned. She kissed him and Ben had his hand on Brooke through it all as they took in their newest son. Once the cord had stopped pulsing and Ben cut it, Braxton was taken to the warmer for a little more attention. It was determined that he would need additional support in the NICU so Brooke and Ben waved their son off as he traveled in his fancy box.

Minutes later there was good news. Braxton had figured out breathing and would be in the observation nursery instead of the NICU with the plan to return to his parents in 24 hours. This was not the same as never being separated at all, but Brooke knew full well that a 24-hour separation was not nearly what it might have been. Thankful for improved health and blood pressures, and for the simpler recovery that comes with a birth without pain medications, Brooke felt really good immediately after delivery. We would touch base a day later and she maintained her position that natural birth was a completely different recovery and she was grateful for that. 

Birth comes in many shapes and forms. But in the end, the journey to meet our babies is less about how they came into the world and more about how we were treated during the process. Brooke’s birth journey was a triumphant one in which she found her voice and her options and a provider who was respectful and patient. Congratulations on your unique journey!