Brianna and Angel, first-time parents, welcomed their son, Kai Andrés, on June 24, 2022. Like many births, they encountered some unexcepted challenges that began at her 40-week prenatal appointment. Her son’s heart rate had concerning decels that had Brianna at the hospital for monitoring. It didn’t take long to realize her baby would fare better being born since they were not sure what was causing the decels. Thankfully, she was to her EDD so there was not too much time to have waited for labor.

Brianna and Angel settled in for the night, understanding that inductions can take a long time. Cervadil was the ripener of choice, and Brianna rested as well as she could in the hospital that night. Her water broke at 5:00 am, bringing irregular contractions that were soon intensifying. I joined them at the hospital soon after that since things seemed to have taken off like a shot.

Brianna threw up several times and was breathing through her contractions. Her nurse brought us all of the tools: the birthing chair, birth balls, and we had my cub birthing chair. Brianna felt a lot of pain in her back, so we made good use of my heating pad. It became her mainstay through her entire labor.

When the sun rose and the nurse shifts changed, Brianna was ready for what was ahead. By 7:45 her contractions were 5 minutes apart, requiring her complete focus, and even causing her to throw up again. Her nurse got the room ready, feeling like a baby was coming sooner rather than later. But a cervical check at 8:49 was a surprising 1-2 cm. Brianna’s cervix was 80% effaced which was a significant change, but the lack of dilation blew the wind out of her sails. Her contractions felt much harder than 1-2 cm! Brianna chose an epidural so she could rest and get a break. She wasn’t sure she wanted to endure many more hours of labor like that. She was comfortable shortly after 9:00.

We dimmed the lights to help with rest, placed a cotton ball with lavender essential oil near her face, and the warm heating pad to hug to her chest. She ran cold the entire time, and the heating pad not only relieved her back pain earlier on, but it also helped her to feel warm.

Brianna felt cramps on one side of her abdomen, so her epidural was not a complete relief for her pain. Then they discovered her baby preferred how she lay in the bed. His heart rate would have decels on one side so we would roll her to the other. It became a dance between progressing dilation with positions while making sure baby’s heart rate was stable. The heart rate would dip, and Brianna would get rolled one way and another and breathe oxygen through a mask. Eventually they struck a balance. But it was never 100% effective. Those decals would still come from time to time.

Her doctor came in to discuss the virtues of Pitocin to try to put Brianna’s mind at ease about it. She was concerned but she also needed her cervix to open, and stronger contractions would do the trick. They started it low, but her baby lodged his complaint with a decel so it was turned off.

Just before 2:00 pm Brianna was dilated 4 cm, 90% effaced, and her baby was at -1 station. She was moving in the right direction, and we were encouraged. In two hours when her cervix was the same, Pitocin became the topic of discussion again. But Brianna was scared for her baby. She knew he was having decels and she knew Pitocin would bring stronger contractions and likely more decels.

She had a good talk with her doctor and explored her options and the risks and benefits of each. And after considering everything, Brianna decided she was most comfortable with a c-section to make sure her baby was ok. She had a strong desire to protect him from the possible consequences that Pitocin driven contractions might bring to his heart rate. It was not an easy decision, and it was not free of tears, but she felt better having made it.

With her doctor’s full support, they began to assemble the team and prep Brianna. She continued to feel pain on one side of her abdomen, and her baby’s heart rate continued to decel to such an extent that we had to roll and shift her into different positions to help bring it back up. And it only validated her decision to move forward with the c-section. Angel was solid support through labor. He loved Brianna through it, was her rock when things got difficult, and stood by her in her decision for a c-section.

It wasn’t an emergency so there was no rush. But once the team was ready, Brianna went back around 6:18 pm. Angel was summoned back and took his place beside Brianna to welcome their son into the world. Kai was born at 6:35 pm and we heard the lullaby play over the speakers a short time later. There was such relief knowing he was born safely! Kai weighed 7 lb. 9 oz. and measured 20.6 in. long. There was no cord issue when the doctor went in, but it might have been his position or simply the contractions that he didn’t tolerate.

Brianna and Angel were relieved and in love and gushing over their little guy from the start. They adjusted nicely at home and this little family is savoring their time together. Brianna’s decision was not an easy one, and it is not one everyone would make. But I admire her for taking the more difficult road for her baby. Signing up for a c-section is signing up for a much more involved recovery, not to mention the possible risks with future pregnancies. But ensuring their baby was born safe and healthy was always the goal. And that’s exactly what happened!

Loren and Colsen welcomed their sweet girl, Isla Marie, on January 9, 2022. This labor was a confusing and deceptive one for sure, sending Loren to the hospital numerous times before she was admitted in active labor. The first time, on December 6, Loren thought her water had broken. She sent me a text that there was some fluid on the bed and her mucus plug in the toilet. They went to triage at the hospital to get the fluid tested. It was a long and slow process. One nurse said she was 2 cm dilated, so that was encouraging. Eventually they got the results that one test confirmed negative for amniotic fluid and the other had a small amount, but not enough to warrant admitting Loren. They checked her cervix again and said she was not dilated at all. This whole process took 4 hours, but ultimately Loren and Colsen were able to return home. Going home is a good thing, especially if you prefer to avoid interventions, which Loren did. But it can be a hard pill to swallow (no pun intended). Loren continued to have contractions all that day and through the night. 

The next morning, January 7, just before 8:00 am, Loren texted to let me know she thought it might be time to return to the hospital. She hadn’t slept a lot, just from 10:00 to 3:00 waking up every so often from strong contractions. She was feeling nauseous, shaky, and getting vocal with her contractions. Since she had been up all night with contractions, she was feeling pretty exhausted too. This time, upon arrival to the hospital, she was dilated 4.5 cm. I met them there this time too, since it seemed to be the real deal and time! Being that she was exhausted though, they gave her the option of iv meds for some rest. Loren took them and after resting at the hospital, her contractions chilled out, so she was sent home again. And she managed to nap most of the day.

The next day, January 8, Loren and Colsen got better sleep, but Loren continued to have regular contractions. By 4:00 am once Colsen was awake, he logged a few contractions on the app and saw they were coming every 3-5 minutes. Other than having contractions, her demeanor was still that of early labor. She ate and worked through contractions, but a couple of strong ones that afternoon had them back to the hospital. It was around 2:00 pm. But while the contractions seemed closer and stronger, Loren’s cervix had not changed from the previous day. And an hour later, after still no change, they were sent home again. 

Back at home Loren was miserable. Benadryl didn’t help and she wondered if she was having really bad gas pains. Loren’s discomfort had grown so intensely they returned to the hospital a fourth time around 11:00 that night. And fourth’s time’s a charm because Loren was dilated 6-7 cm! At last! She was in active labor, and she would be admitted! This was exciting and I joined them at the hospital.

Loren had a wonderful nurse who was getting the wireless monitor ready. We made good use of the peanut ball to open her pelvis and allow for rest, in addition to sitting in the throne position on the bed. Loren got some bites of popsicle for a sugar boost, but she didn’t much feel like eating. By 1:25 pm she got in the shower for some labor, but the shower head wasn’t working properly so she quickly got back out. PSA: Check to make sure the shower works right when you get in a room!!

She returned to side-lying on the bed with the peanut between her legs, trying to rest between contractions. We even heard her breathing deepen in sleep briefly, but it didn’t last long since there was always another contraction. 

Loren’s doctor came in to visit and they decided breaking her water was a good strategy to keep things moving forward. Her contractions were spaced and had lessened in intensity. At 2:26 am her water was broken, and Loren’s cervix was 7 cm, 90% effaced, and her baby was at -2 station. They would recheck in 2-3 hours unless things changed. Loren requested the nitrous oxide for some relief and tried using it during contractions with mild relief. She was in serious labor though with the unpleasant side-effect of vomiting. 

Loren returned to laying on her side just past 3:00 am, breathing in the nitrous during contractions. She then labored in the rocking chair for a bit breathing the nitrous, and then sat upon the cub chair for some contractions, again with nitrous. Every time she moved, there were cords to untangle in order to get the nitrous to her. But it gave a little bit of a relief and distraction for 30 minutes. We directed the fan to hit her best after each move. And Colsen placed a heating pack on Loren during contractions as she leaned forward. It was a team effort of support, while Loren did the work.

By 3:50 am, Loren verbalized her doubt in continuing. She couldn’t get comfortable, and she just couldn’t see the forest for the trees (or couldn’t see the birth for the contractions). We tied the rebozo in a knot and hung it over the top of the door so Loren could dangle squat through some contractions. It was 4:00 and I was hoping she’d have some great cervical change from that. At 4:17 she was 8 cm, with more cervix on the right side. So, she lay back upon the bed on her side in the hopes her baby might help dilate her cervix on that side. Then she stood back up and lunged with Colsen, placing her foot upon a stool, and leaning to the side through each contraction. Next, she moved to her hands and knees to labor over the cub chair. Loren did all of the things! And she was rewarded for it because at 4:55 an exam confirmed she was completely dilated! She did a “practice push” and moved her baby well, prompting the nurse to predict that she wouldn’t push long.

Loren began pushing officially at 5:15 am and she pushed in a variety of positions, as you might guess. She pushed with the squat bar, then she pushed on her left side. Next, she pushed semi-reclined. At 5:46 am we could see a baby’s head just inside! And Colsen took a seat to try to compose himself, saying, “I’m just trying not to cry.”  Less than 10 minutes later they called the doctor to the room. And Loren pushed while holding her legs above her belly and brought her baby very quickly to crowning at 6:22 am. She continued to push well and sweet Isla Marie was born at 6:29 am on January 9, 2022!

Colsen cried to see his baby girl, and Loren brought Isla close. She was born on a special day, sharing Loren’s grandmother’s birthday, Isla’s great grandmother. Colsen cut the cord when the time came, and Isla was latched by 7:15 and didn’t come off for 12 minutes. It was an excellent start for breastfeeding, coasting on the incredible surge of oxytocin that comes at the time of birth. She was beautiful and made into a diva with the souped up big-bowed hospital hat for baby girls. Isla weighed 7 lb. 14.6 oz. and measured 21.26 in. long. That’s about as perfect as it gets.

I am so incredibly proud of Loren and of Colsen too. Loren’s labor was very stop and start and there was some discussion of a possible malposition that impacted her labor’s beginnings. But she charged on through the sensations she felt, resting as well as she could and conserving energy for when labor became active. And once it did, she continued her dance through labor, keeping Colsen close, staying positive (as much as possible through transition), and ultimately trusting that her body could do what it was created to do. And it did! It was exhausting, messy, deliriously hazy, but also empowering, uplifting, and beautiful.

Photo credit: Lex Leigh Photography

Brittany and Mike welcomed their sweet lass, Selah Brielle, on December 26, 2021, ending my year of births beautifully. Brittany is not a woman who has an easy time of pregnancy. She had hyperemesis for both pregnancies and it didn’t let up. In her final week, even up to the day before labor, she was still getting sick. Still, Brittany maintained a positive attitude and was very motivated to have an unmedicated birth this time. She had a long an involved induction with the birth of her son that began with her water breaking at 36 weeks, and developed into a birth that included Cytotec, Pitocin, and an epidural. The outcome was excellent, and Brittany was so happy with the journey. But she was also curious about the possibility of labor starting on its own this time and what that experience might be like.

Brittany and Mike took my Spinning Babies® Parent Class to learn all they could about helping make pregnancy more comfortable and easing labor. The goal was for a shorter labor this time and a spontaneous one at that! In the last month, Brittany measured a few weeks larger which had her providers hinting to a possible induction if things continued in that direction. Brittany hoped to avoid an induction and chose to stay the course with confidence unless or until there was reason to do otherwise.

A few days before Brittany would go into labor, she felt a lot of cramps that wrapped around her abdomen. But they weren’t rhythmic and felt more like a digestive upset with other symptoms. She also had some hot and cold flashes but found that taking her prescription for hyperemesis helped. But two days later, Christmas Day, Brittany texted to tell me she was having trouble keeping anything down. She called her OB who recommended going to the hospital to get fluids at the very least and see what was going on. She was having contractions, but they didn’t seem regular. Fluids helped and her body settled down enough to warrant a return home if or until her pains developed into labor.

Brittany minimized her contractions and tried to play it cool and not get drawn in too quickly. Surely this would take some time. After all, her first labor was 26 hours long! Brittany ate cinnamon rolls and pulled pork from Christmas Day since she wasn’t able to keep down light foods in early labor. But her early labor didn’t last long. Brittany’s body quickly moved from erratic contractions to consistent and strong ones. In the first two hours they moved from 5 minutes apart consistently, then quickly moved to 4 minutes apart, to 3 minutes, and to 2 minutes in a short amount of time. She had two very difficult contractions in bed, then as she made her way downstairs to go to the hospital she had two more intense ones. Brittany even had a contraction on the porch before getting to the car. They left the house at 2:40 pm and Brittany endured a very difficult and uncomfortable car ride. Thankfully it was a short one, although she might argue that it didn’t feel very short at the time. Mike had the car parked in the hospital lot by 2:53 pm.

When Brittany arrived on the unit it was clear she was about to give birth. She had a lot of back pain and her contractions were coming back-to-back. She was led quickly to a labor and delivery room, bypassing triage altogether (thank goodness!), and an exam confirmed she was already completely dilated! I walked in around this time, arriving right behind them toting my birth ball and cub birthing chair. A nurse glanced up at me when I entered, saying, “You won’t be needing all of that.” And she was right! Brittany was already in position in the bed, stirrups, and all, surrounded by several hospital staff with her doctor suited up at the foot of the bed to catch. I quickly put all the “stuff” down and went right to Brittany’s side. She was on the threshold between full dilation and pushing, and the next contractions sent her headlong into second stage.

Brittany only pushed for two contractions and brought her baby girl into the world at 3:08 pm on December 26, just 15 minutes after they parked in the hospital lot! Brittany and Mike were so sweet in those first moments. They looked at each other in disbelief as Brittany held their sweet baby and were stunned as they smiled and giggled in disbelief. The placenta came by 3:12 and to punctuate the exhilaration of the experience, her doctor confirmed there were no tears! 

Brittany and Mike tried to wrap their heads around all that had transpired that day. So much had! In the end, Brittany had labored and birthed her baby in the unmedicated labor she was hoping for. And as soon as her baby was born her hyperemesis was cured! That was a big motivating factor right behind healthy mom and baby. Brittny and Mike had the opportunity to share one last Christmas with their son as an only child, and were blessed with the best Christmas gift the next day, Selah Brielle. She weighed 7 lb. 6 oz. and was 19 in. long. She had a crooked nose like her big brother, and she had so much vernix it covered her ear and made it stick to itself. It was also a nice coincidence that Selah was born on St. Stephen’s Day (Boxing Day), which happened to be the same day her Aunt Margaret passed away. Surely she was looking down on her and smiling. 

Every birth is a new experience. And every baby has their own journey to enter the world. But it’s nice when birth comes through us so quickly that it leaves us exhilarated and empowered. I was thrilled for this couple and their birth and the promise it fulfilled that every birth is different, and an opportunity for a totally new story. What an exciting story they have to tell Selah Brielle when she’s old enough to understand.

Cassandra and Joe welcomed twin baby boys, Parker Matthew and Grayson Robert, on December 9, 2021! And Cassie did it in the unmedicated birth she had hoped for. But it didn’t come easy and wasn’t a sure thing. They already had two boys at home, so they were experts at taking care of babies and young children but throwing two in the mix on top of the two, would be an adventure. They are no strangers to changes, with Joe a submariner in the navy and moving the family when new assignments arise. But this assignment was like nothing they had experienced.

Cassie knew that to have a vaginal twin birth, her babies would need to settle into the head down position, well at least Baby A needed to. But at 24 weeks Baby A was in the breech position and Baby B was transverse. Cassie got busy with chiropractor appointments and did many positional things to encourage Baby A to rotate to head down. Thankfully, at her 28-week appointment, both babies were indeed head down! Now they just needed to stay that way.

Cassie’s providers recommended induction by 38 weeks if labor had not started on its own. She had hoped to go into labor on her own, but at the very least advocated for the latest induction date which landed her nearly to 39 weeks. She reported to the hospital prepared for the waiting game that is standard for inductions. Cassie called the unit on the scheduled day for ripening, December 8, but they didn’t have a room ready. So she waited an hour, and then got the call to go in an hour after that. 

Since her cervix was dilated 2 cm, her doctor decided to move right to induction with Pitocin rather than ripening. Cassie tried to get comfortable being strapped to so many things, but it was hard to get her head wrapped around everything wrapped around her belly. She knew the plan would be to rest as much as possible before labor began, but she had difficulty with that seeing as she was connected to so much. She struggled to rest that night, with little happening, including sleep.

By 7:00 the next morning, December 9, Cassie texted she was having contractions every 3-5 minutes, but she was resting through them, and was able to get some sleep that night. The doctor came in about 30 minutes later and broke the water for Baby A in the hopes it would be just the thing to get labor going. Joe reported that Cassie got a break and was able to take a shower. She was breathing and talking through the contractions and also working on a puzzle, so things hadn’t really ramped up yet. On occasion she would have a stronger one, but by and large they were mild.

Early that afternoon, just past 1:00, Cassie was still waiting for action, doing her puzzle, pacing around the room, sitting on a birth ball. They had started the Pitocin again and her contractions were getting stronger, but not so much that she couldn’t focus. A couple of hours later, an exam revealed that Baby A’s amniotic sac was not completed ruptured, so the doctor broke it completely. Cassie was dilated 4 cm and 80% effaced so the hope was that she would soon move to active labor.

Since her doctor had strongly recommended that she get an epidural just in case there was a need for a c-section, Cassie chose to have it placed without medicine flowing in it. This was a first for the staff, but they were able to accommodate her wishes, reassuring her providers there was epidural access, while giving her the freedom she desired for labor. The epidural was placed without any medication in it by 4:45 pm. And by 6:00 her contractions were strong enough that she had to focus and was struggling to talk through them. It was time! And with contractions 2-3 minutes apart, it was active labor. Remember that time: 6:00 pm was when Cassie’s active labor began.

At 6:26 pm, Cassie was battling nausea and laboring leaning against the bed. She felt pain in her lower back and counter pressure really helped. Her nurse was trying to keep both babies on the monitor as Cassie moved where her labor sent her. She stood and swayed, she leaned onto the bed, and ultimately ended up on her hands and knees on the bed. And at 6:30 she was dilated 6-7 cm. 

It wouldn’t be long now. Her nurse called for the OR team just in case they needed to move to a c-section, but Cassie would push her babies out in the OR as per hospital policy. She leaned over the cub chair on the bed and then she lunged her foot to the side at my recommendation. It hurt a lot and was difficult to do, but she did it. Cassie hit a wall and wondered if she had it in her. I reminded her she had hit the same wall previously with her other two boys and she climbed right over it. She knew it was true.

At 6:45, after seeing Cassie move and sound like it was time to push, her nurse felt just a lip of cervix. That’s when things got a bit crazy. A team came in the room to roll her bed into the OR for pushing. Joe was dressed in the paper bunny suit, and I waited behind in the empty labor and delivery room for their return. I could hear Cassie pushing from across the hall since the OR was very nearby. And after some time, I heard a baby cry! Parker Matthew was born at 7:12 pm on December 9, 2021!

I waited to hear clues of more pushing, but instead I heard voices in the hall. It was Cassie! They wheeled her back into the labor and delivery room to push out Baby B! There was a midwife in the OR who advocated to get her back to her room with her doula and for that we will always be so very grateful. Baby Parker was wheeled in as well, and lay content in the bassinet a few feet away from his mom who was gearing up to push out another baby.

Her cervix had reduced to 7 cm so there was a second round of laboring to do. Can you even imagine? Cassie gathered her strength from deep inside and she labored through those three centimeters again. She moaned and growled like a warrior until she felt the familiar sensation of needing to push. It was a high mountain to climb but she knew she had no other option but to do it. Her doctor encouraged her, her nurse encouraged, Joe encouraged her, I encouraged her. We all knew she could do it. And just in time, her on-call doctor, who was previously unavailable, was able to step in and relieve the doctor who was present for the birth of Baby A.

And Cassie pushed with such strength and stamina! She wasn’t excited to do it and she voiced her discontent to her doctor but quickly apologized. Of course her doctor did not mind and responded with even more encouragement for Cassie. And she quickly brought her baby’s head in sight and after a little more pushing, Baby B, otherwise known as Grayson Robert, was born at 8:38 pm! Grayson weighed 7 lb. 1 oz. and Parker weighed 5 lb. 6.8 oz. That’s a lot of baby!

Photo Credit: Heidi Calma Photography

Cassie sobbed as she held Grayson. Her body was spent, and she had literally given it all she had. Joe expressed his love and admiration for her. We were all so proud of her. Her doctor helped with the rest of the delivery and clean up. Cassie snuggled with Grayson while Parker slept, and she soon brought him to the breast.

Photo Credit: Heidi Calma Photography

As time passed the nurse came in to do some newborn checkups, which gave Cassie the chance to have Parker in her arms for a bit. As she recounted the details and we praised her for all her hard work, she realized even though her boys were twins, they had different births. They ended up born in two separate rooms with two different doctors, for starters! And the finer details of the births had their own uniqueness too. Her labor went fast and furious once it got going, taking her from active labor to Baby A in just 1 hour 15 minutes, and Baby B born about 1 hour 30 minutes after that. That’s active labor and pushing out two babies in just under 3 hours!

Cassie was a trailblazer that day. She followed through with her hope of vaginal births for both boys, and she did so without any pain medication. Her doctors don’t see unmedicated births of singletons very often, but they rarely see twins born in that way. Birth teaches us a lot as mothers and as birth workers. I hope this birth taught Cassie that she is strong and capable, and her body is wonderfully and amazingly equipped to grow her babies and to birth them. Recently, we had our postpartum visit and Cassie shared with me that she feels proud of what her body was able to do. I’m so glad for that! We were proud of her, but it’s even more important that SHE is proud. I was honored to be there in service as she worked so hard. Mothers are powerful creatures!