Jordan and Mike became parents in a way they didn’t expect but rose into their roles as mom and dad with such confidence and courage, it was remarkable. They took my 7-week Birth Essentials class and learned about so many things—what to expect in pregnancy, labor, and birth, postpartum, and even all the interventions that could come into play. And about a month after the conclusion of our classes, they put what they learned to work.

Jordan got a call from her concerned midwife about her elevated blood pressure and lab results. A couple of days later she developed some upper back pain that brought her to the hospital for monitoring as her midwife recommended. And it soon became evident that Jordan would be giving birth much sooner than expected. In addition to preeclampsia, she had also developed HELLP syndrome. And in a few short hours, her care was transferred to Maternal Fetal Medicine, and she was transported to a completely different hospital to induce labor for her 34-week baby. Jordan and Mike rolled with it and embraced the many changes that took place from that point on.

Cervical ripening and administering steroids to her baby girl were job one. There was also discussion of an epidural at some point just in case there was a reason to move rapidly to a c-section. It was a mostly safe proposition to induce, but with her baby still so young, they wanted all their bases covered. It was going to be a lengthy process, so Jordan and Mike settled in.

The induction began with cervadil as well as magnesium for Jordan’s too high pressures. It was just another addition to her collection of interventions that she didn’t know she would need. She got dinner that evening for which she was so grateful. But we weren’t sure when she’d eat next. With inductions and first-time moms, it’s usually a long process, a statement Jordan and Mike heard over and over as they waited for labor.

In the middle of the night, around 3:00 am a balloon was placed in her cervix to manually dilate her to 4 cm, a much better starting place for induction. Jordan was dilated 1 cm which was a modest change from no dilation at admission. And in less than two hours she was having regular contractions that required her to breath and focus. 

Jordan had the epidural catheter placed ahead of time for insurance, while allowing her time to labor without it. She decided that night to have the epidural medicine added. She was having contractions steadily every 3 minutes and it would only get more intense.

By 8:30 the next morning, Jordan was dilated 2-3 cm. At 11:00 the began Pitocin, and just past 2:00 that afternoon, Jordan’s contractions were 3-6 minutes apart. Within the hour she was dilated 4 cm. They would wait another 4-6 hours before breaking her water if it didn’t break on its own first.

At 7:00 that night, they broke her water and inserted an IUPC to make certain her contractions were strong enough. Jordan’s cervix had not changed and remained at 4 cm, but the thinking was that her baby’s head would come down upon it and encourage dilation. The Pitocin was at the highest level, but Jordan’s contractions were coming steadily. And the IUPC confirmed they were strong enough. All she needed was time.

Jordan soon felt her contractions in a different way. She felt more pressure lower and in her back as well as rectal pressure. Her baby’s heart rate took a concerning dive, so the nurse did a check to see if maybe Jordan’s cervix had made big changes. Unfortunately, it hadn’t, and Jordan was still 4 cm. It was time to change positions, so her nurse and I helped to reposition her onto her hands and knees. She labored in that position for 30 minutes before returning to her side on the bed.

Then Jordan felt a contraction that was a lot more uncomfortable than the others bringing much more pressure with it. And on the monitor, we could see head compression and her nurse and I were hopeful for big cervical change. And that’s what happened because Jordan was COMPLETELY DILATED, and her baby’s head was at +2 station! In just 2 ½ hours, Jordan had dilated from 4 to 10 cm!

The room quickly filled with people There were extras there for the baby who would be born several weeks preterm. An isolette was wheeled in as well for Jordan’s baby was be destined for the NICU for a time. All the while, Jordan felt more and more pressure to push. I reminded her to blow out the birthday candles while the final members of the birth team got assembled. With her baby a premie, it was important they had the necessary support. And once everyone present and accounted for (but the baby), Jordan gave her first push. And it was an excellent one! We already saw her baby’s head and just one more push or two and her baby girl came into the world at 12:05 am on December 6, 2021! 

Baby Ella Helene cried out right away, sounding like a kitten. She got a good rub down from nurses as well as her auntie who was also a NICU nurse, and soon went to the warmer for additional breathing support. Mike followed his baby and stood watch by the warmer while Jordan beamed at her new baby girl. She was the epitome of joy and had full trust in her baby’s care providers. She too, was a NICU nurse, so she had more of an understanding than most.

Ella weighed 3 lb. 1 oz. and measured 11.4 in. long. She was little but so strong. She was placed in the incubator and took a stop bedside for a quick sendoff from mom. Jordan talked through her labor in that first hour or so. It was a whirlwind and took some time to get her head wrapped around what had transpired.

Jordan pumped milk and delivered it to the hospital for her baby in those first few weeks. She and Mike faithfully commuted to the hospital to visit and get updates and even snuggles. And day by day, Ella gained weight. And after just over 2 weeks, she was discharged home just in time for Christmas!

Jordan’s birth journey took a sharp left turn and had her off-roading for the entirety of her birth. And what an adventure it was! She had good support, had agency, and played an active role every step of the way, and in the end she and her baby were healthy and strong, and off to a great start. Birth is a mysterious thing with no guarantees really. So, when risks present themselves its more important than ever to trust your team and to trust yourself. Which is exactly what Jordan and Mike did. Congratulations again!

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!