Alyson and Chris welcomed their second child, this time a son, in a very surprising birth on October 9. Since their daughter ended up coming about 2 weeks late by induction, baby’s arrival any time before the due date was not even on the radar. Alyson was very adept at ignoring the twinges and discomforts of late pregnancy that seem to come on stronger with subsequent pregnancies. She even requested a book from me to brush up on labor and I had been driving it around in the back of my car to bring to her a couple of weeks prior to the full-term 37-week mark. Worst case I could bring it to our prenatal that was scheduled around then.

The week Clifton was born, Alyson shared that she had been feeling weird all week. That Friday she thought her water had broken but a trip to the hospital and a spent nitrazine paper later, it was confirmed that it hadn’t. She was sent home. It was chocked up to typical last trimester discomforts and left at just that.

But baby Clifton had very different plans! We had scheduled our prenatal for Sunday, October 8 and as I was walking out of church Alyson called to tell me she was pretty sure her water broke, and we would not be having our prenatal visit scheduled an hour later. She was headed to the hospital instead since she was just 34w6. She didn’t expect a baby to come for another 6 weeks!

Turns out Alyson’s water did break. But she was only 1 cm dilated. She texted around noon to update that she would receive steroid injections to help baby’s lungs mature and if labor didn’t happen overnight, they would work on starting things the following afternoon. We covered some birth details via text, including Alyson’s desire to have an unmedicated birth. She labored on pitocin previously and while she hoped to avoid it, she was willing to give it a try again since she labored many hours before an epidural. Alyson would send updates in the meantime.

Sitting in a hospital room waiting for labor can be a daunting task. Alyson was permitted some meals which was a godsend, and Chris helped to keep the mood light. She had excellent staff taking care of her the whole time, easing her mind, and keeping things positive. Alyson tried to stay relaxed and “not freak out” (her words), and even thought she might watch some YouTube videos to reacquaint herself with birth. After all, she had expected to have another month or so to do all of the prepping.

As the date turned to night, Alyson requested some Benadryl to help her get much needed rest. The day had been emotionally eventful even if she wasn’t in labor yet. I went to bed, not expecting to hear about much labor that night based on the day’s lack of action. I didn’t get an update for a few hours, but in the meantime, Alyson sensed some contractions starting up at 3:30 am. She had been napping through the contractions prior to that but wasn’t able to get back to sleep after that.

Chris sent me a text around 5:15 am telling me Alyson was dilated 4 cm and 90% effaced. It was very exciting because Alyson’s body had begun the labor process on its own. We were all hopeful she could avoid pitocin. Alyson added that her contractions were 5 minutes apart and lasting a minute but there wasn’t a rush for me to come yet. Chris was doing counter pressure, and she was managing the pain fine. Her midwife mentioned reaching out so I was aware and would have some time. I asked her to reach out when she gets to the point of needing support and I would head over. Alyson anticipated in an hour would be a good time for me to come but would let me know if things changed before then. It was 5:30 am.

Just 45 minutes later, as I was waking up to head to the hospital, Alyson sent an update that she was in a lot of pain and feeling exhausted. She was thinking she would go ahead and get an epidural. At that point, I told her I should be there if she felt like she needed an epidural and she planned to hold off until I got there. Once I gathered my things and changed, I was on my way. I texted my eta to the hospital of 6:57 am.

The CRNA came into the room to administer the epidural, but Alyson asked her to leave. She was waiting and didn’t really want it. As her contractions continued to roll on through, Alyson moved into positions that would help ease the pain. She found herself on hands and knees on the bed and felt the surprising urge to push. And that’s exactly what was happening! Alyson had gone from 4 cm to pushing a baby out in 1 ½ hours!

Clifton James was born at 6:57 am, which happened to be the same time I texted my ETA. I walked on the unit to the news Alyson had given birth. I could hardly believe it! But sure enough, I walked into a scene of a baby born, but not yet the placenta. Alyson looked exhilarated and Chris was jazzed. They had done it! She clutched her little guy who was crying quite well (thanks to the miracle steroids!). She was given the gift of skin to skin with him right away. He was a strong little guy.

Alyson played over the details and the time frames, and it was mind boggling. Her midwife didn’t even receive a page until 5:00 am so everyone came together in a short time. Alyson was thrilled she gave birth without an epidural and said just knowing I was on my way helped her to hold off on getting it. I was thrilled I was able to help, even if virtually. We helped Alyson get settled and we marveled at her little guy, who weighed in at a surprisingly small 4 lb. 7 oz. He was 17.5 in. long.

Birth is never scripted, and we can’t know how it will unfold even if we think we know. Alyson’s birth was a perfect example of this. I am so proud of how she met the unique challenges thrown her way and kept herself grounded and centered during a very different journey. And ultimately, she did have her unmedicated birth even if for her higher risk labor that required continuous monitoring and elevated concerns for her baby. Alyson rode the tidal waves of her labor with finesse!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shereen and Saxton are parents! They welcomed their son, Loren James, on October 1. They attended my childbirth class and had strong intentions of a birth without pain medications and minimal interventions. But as her due date came and went the thought of an induction did occur to her. The hope was to avoid it but she also knew there would be a deadline of 41w5d with her providers. Thankfully, her baby was on board with spontaneous labor because her body started having regular contractions towards the end of her 40th week.

Shereen’s labor began at 7:00 am on Friday, September 29. The contractions weren’t too strong or long, but they were definitely on her radar. They weren’t in touch with me just yet either. Then Saxton sent an update just before 2:00 am on September 30 that Shereen’s contractions were coming every 8-10 minutes. She continued to labor through the night and by just before 9:00 am the contractions were ranging from 4-8 minutes apart but rather inconsistent. She was not yet in active labor and so the prescription was to rest, hydrate, and eat as she was able to.

By 2:00 that afternoon the contractions were getting stronger but spaced farther apart. I gave some positional suggestions for Shereen to try in case her baby needed to tweak his position and after doing them they saw a marked change in the labor. After having regular long and closer contractions for a decent amount of time, it felt like the right point to head to the hospital. That text came at 6:00 pm. They were headed in! The contractions were regular at 5 minutes apart and Shereen had just projectile vomited – a good sign! She had been feeling contractions for nearly 36 hours at that point.

Good work had been accomplished though because Shereen was dilated 5 cm, 80% effaced, and her baby was at 0 station. She and Saxton credit the positions I suggested to them as what changed the tide of the labor. They got to the hospital at a really good time. Shereen clenched her comb through contractions and the Office played in the background on the TV in the room. Contractions were lasting 1 to 1 ½ minutes at that point and coming steadily at 3-4 minutes apart. With every contraction, Saxton pressed a Theragun against Shereen’s lower back. She couldn’t imagine laboring without that tool as things became more intense.

Shereen was feeling tired, so we used some peppermint to give her some more energy. She leaned over the CUB around 8:30 that night and we placed a cold cloth on her forehead to ward off nausea. The peppermint oil helped with that too. Her contractions soon moved to 2-3 minutes apart.

To change her position and bring her more upright, Shereen tried sitting on the birth ball at the end of the bed. She burped which was a sign of good labor. She also shared with us around 10:00 pm that she felt like the baby was in her vagina. She was feeling so much pressure, we figured her water was probably trying to break or she may have felt a bulging bag.

At 10:13 pm Shereen asked us if we were just waiting for the water to break. I told her sometimes it doesn’t break until the end, so she was waiting for her body to tell her it’s time to push. She looked up at me and said she thought it was getting close to that. And her nurse agreed as she placed the doppler way lower on her belly to get the baby’s heartrate. It wouldn’t be long.

At 10:45 pm Shereen thought her water might have broken. There was a mucus blob but a quick check confirmed it wasn’t yet her water. Her midwife stopped in about 5 minutes later to check on Shereen and to be present. And at 11:13 pm Shereen told us, “I want to push now.” She asked for an exam with the hope of good news, and she was dilated 9.5 cm with a bulging bag, as we suspected! It was 11:22 pm at the time of the exam and by 11:30 Shereen was giving little pushes as her body led her.

She returned to her hands and knees over the CUB, and we watched as she birthed the sac! Or at least the bulging bag before baby’s head. Saxton continued to apply the Theragun to Shereen’s lower back, her most valuable comfort measure for sure. She chose to stay out of the shower since she knew she wouldn’t have access to the Theragun in there!

She returned to her hands and knees over the CUB, and we watched as she birthed the sac! Or at least the bulging bag before baby’s head. Saxton continued to apply the Theragun to Shereen’s lower back, her most valuable comfort measure for sure. She chose to stay out of the shower since she knew she wouldn’t have access to the Theragun in there!

After pushing on hands and knees, Shereen rotated to push on her side. She rested between contractions and then gave it her all with strong pushes during them. And at 12:17 am she reached down to feel her baby’s head with her hand. It’s always such an exciting sight to watch a mother’s face light up at the first touch!

Soon her baby’s head was visible and that forebag continued to sit right outside her vagina. Shereen pushed consistently with each contraction and her baby’s head crowned gradually. It is difficult sensation to feel the ring of fire grow and last through many contractions, but Shereen was strong. It almost looked like she might need some help, but her body stretched, and her baby was born at 12:49 pm! The cord was around the neck but did not cause any concern in her labor.

Loren James cried right away and had so much dark hair! He even had dark eyebrows and lashes. He didn’t take too long to latch but he was equally interested in his fingers. After all, that’s what he had to suck on in utero. He weighed 8 lb. 7 oz. and was 22 in. long. Saxton enveloped his family with love, looking into the eyes of her newborn son with wonder. Loren was wide-eyed taking in the faces of his mother and father, transfixed on his parents.

Shereen rested in those first moments, holding Loren against her chest, taking in what she had just accomplished. It was long and arduous, but she minimized her early labor and arrived at the hospital at the perfect time. All told, she was only there 6 hours before her baby was born.

Labor is always a mystery, but that mystery looms greater with the first baby. Shereen and Saxton filled in the gaps of the unknowns with a strong partnership, and balance between rest and work. The (Theragun didn’t hurt either.) I’m so proud of them and will be forever grateful to have been part of their team.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo Credit: Sarah Fitz Photo

Photo credit: Sarah Fitz Photo

Photo Credit: Sarah Fitz Photo

Kelsey and Brett welcomed their daughter, Ivy Grace, on August 2, which was a very popular birthing day for babies! (I had 3 clients give birth that day!) Kelsey had a strong desire for an unmedicated birth, so she chose an obgyn practice with midwives and even secured the rental of a birth tub. They had a bit of a commute to the hospital so that was an unpredictable element on top of the unpredictable nature of birth in general.

She first reached out to me on Tuesday at 1:30 pm with contractions coming 10 minutes apart. They were mild at that point but consistent so she would update me with any changes. Many hours passed and by 9:15 pm they had died down. I was a bit relieved to hear it since I had another client with an induction the next day. The need for backup was real.

But at 5:43 am, right as I was waking up to prepare to join my client with the scheduled c-section, Kelsey texted they were on their way to the hospital! Her contractions woke her at 3:00 am and were coming every 5 minutes. They got stopped at the tunnel on their way but ended up arriving just before 6:30 and got into a triage room. And after an exam was confirmed 5.5 cm dilated, 90% effaced, with baby at -2 station. She would be admitted to have a baby!

Twenty minutes later her water broke right as I was parking at the hospital. I was upstairs a short time later. Kelsey was calm for someone in labor. She was talkative and as a contraction washed over her, she focused on her breathing. Brett was a constant source of distraction with his funny comments. They were very helpful in the early part at least. But as things intensified the side chatter would naturally subside.

Kelsey was eventually brought to the room in which she would give birth. Soon after she got settled the tub arrived and was getting set up. We all, including her midwife, anticipated she would give birth by lunchtime, so we prepped the space and took our places in support around Kelsey and Brett.

Kelsey got into the tub at 9:15 am and we had Christian piano music playing over the speaker by 9:30 am. She stayed in the water about 45 minutes before wanting to get back out. Kelsey returned to the bed where we held a warm rice sock upon her back. She chomped ice and moved through waves of nausea. She labored there for a while, moaning with her contractions, and moving as she felt she needed to. By 10:52 that morning she told us they were getting way stronger. And at 11:00 am an exam confirmed she was dilated 8 cm and baby was at 0 station. She was moving right along!

She decided to give the shower a try this time and stayed in there for about 35 minutes. It was a good place to find privacy and to listen to her body. And we hoped the seclusion and relaxation would encourage the last bit of cervix to melt away.

By 11:40 am she returned to the bed, this time laying over the CUB on her hands and knees. She didn’t much care for it so she adjusted her position, so she lay upon her side. We were able to apply the warm rice sock to her back again which helped ease the pain she felt there. At noon we heard the f-word which was a good sign! “How much longer?” Kelsey asked. We couldn’t really say but we told her we felt baby would be coming very soon.

Her midwife recommends she try pushing to see how that felt. There was a forebag remaining and perhaps it might break on its own. Brett’s jokes were definitely shut down by Kelsey at this point as she debated over whether to have her water broken. We put a cold cloth on her head and neck and could feel her body heating up with her labor.

Kelsey was in a tough spot with the task of pushing looming large in front of her and just wanting her baby out. She shed some tears as she processed where she was and what still remained of her labor. Brett took her hand and told her it was okay. I whispered to her, “Your body is there. Your baby is there. You just need to get your mind there.”

Kelsey sat upright in bed to try giving a push and then returned to the bathroom and then the shower. It was 12:40 pm and we could hear her vocalize more in the shower. We could also hear that she was growing weary. So, we gave her a cherry popsicle for some quick energy before she exited the shower resolved to have her water broken and get her baby out.

At 1:11 pm her water was broken completely, and clear fluid flowed. Kelsey felt different almost right away and expressed her concern about whether she could do it or not. She grew hot so we turned on the fan and freshened a cool cloth. She pushed with some contractions as Brett and I held her legs, but the nausea returned. She chomped ice chips and lay on her side to push, resting her leg in the stirrup. But she told us she didn’t think her baby was moving. She had pushed for 5 hours with her previous and that memory was hard to ignore as she struggled through the task of pushing this baby out. She told us it felt like last time to which we reassured her it was a different baby and a different birth.

Around 2:00 pm she was draped over the birth ball. Then she dangled from the rebozo over the door to encourage her baby to come down. Then she pushed seme reclined in the bed. Her midwife checked for progress and realized there was still a cervical lip in front. Kelsey pushed in a variety of positions to try and encourage baby’s head to move the lip aside, but it wasn’t moving. An attempt was made to push the lip aside manually, but it wasn’t moving. So, Kelsey returned to the tub and then the shower to relax and breathe her baby further down.

After some hydrotherapy her midwife returned and to everyone’s relief but most of all Kelsey’s, the lip was gone! Kelsey had spent 3 hours in passive descent, breathing her baby down and laboring in positions to help her baby move the cervical lip aside. She was completely dilated by 4:16 pm and that’s when she was able to really push! Kelsey pushed on her hands and knees and even tried pushing with her knees together to open her pelvic outlet. And her next position was reclined pushing and that would be where she met her baby! Kelsey had to push with great effort at the end as it was clear her baby was on the larger side. But she did it and Ivy Grace was born at 5:20 pm! She weighed 8 lb. 13 oz., surpassing her sister’s birth weight by 1.5 lbs! She was 21 in. long.

In the end it was all worth it, but Kelsey had to work much harder than any of us expected. She had to push through obstacles in her mind and it took a lot of stamina and belief in herself to see her unmedicated birth through. But she did it! And we were all so in awe and proud of her for it!

Christine and Mark welcomed their first child together on August 1. They had previously become parents with other partners, but found each other, fell in love, got married, and decided to further connect their families with a child. This would be the first son between them since Mark had two daughters and Christine had one. This birth was a new beginning on several levels. And this time would be different for both. They took a 1-day refresher childbirth class and my Spinning Babies® parent class, investing time in preparing for the birth they envisioned. This was also the first time they had a doula.

Christine had a strong desire for an unmedicated birth, something she had not yet experienced. And Mark was all in to support her in her goal. I could see right away they had a strong foundation of open communication and mutual respect. I looked forward to seeing that play out in the birth space and had a strong suspicion it would be beautiful.

Christine experienced an induction for her first birth and was very driven to experience spontaneous labor this time. She was optimistic since her body was gearing up for labor ahead of time. She was dilated 1.5-2 cm at 38 weeks. She experienced some digestive upsets that sent her to the ER that night, but things petered off once she was able to relieve her digestive tract. And Christine continued to have bouts of contractions that week. It makes it confusing to know when to pay attention, but after experiencing several of these episodes Christine knew to not pay too much attention to them unless or until they grew longer, stronger, and closer. She was able to manage them fine with hydration and rest, otherwise.

On July 31 Christine texted about low back ache and shooting pain. She had already been dealing with it for 24 hours, but it had intensified since 1:00 am. She took baths, hydrated, and did the Miles Circuit to help baby improve his position if that was the culprit. She felt baby move in big ways that day and felt contractions all the while. Then around 6:45 pm she wondered if her water might have broken. She had her 40-week appointment in the morning and knew there might be some answers then. However, her body helped fill in the blanks as her contractions were consist at 7 minutes apart by 11:30 that night.

By 3:00 am, Christine’s contractions were intense enough to the point of needing support. She called her midwife and was told to come in. Her contractions were erratic, ranging from 5-9 minutes apart but they were strong. An exam at 4:00 am confirmed she was 5 cm dilated. It was exciting to know she was progressing. She had been laboring at home since 10:30 pm, conserving her energy and staying hydrated. It was time to assemble her birth team, so her arrival was well timed. I arrived by 4:45 am.

Christine was having a lot of back pain with her contractions. She asked if she could still labor in the tub with an epidural, but she was told it wasn’t an option but that the tub was the “midwife’s epidural.” Christine knew she was committed to an unmedicated birth at that point because she wanted to be in the tub so badly!  We used a warm rice sock to help, and I offered peppermint for her nausea which was also part of her experience. Her nurse was asking her the admissions questions someone was busy setting up the labor tub for her. And as soon as it was ready, Christine got in.

We made the space conducive, with votives, dim lights, twinkle lights, and instrumental Christian music.

Christine felt more and more pressure as her labor intensified. The nurse tried to get a vein but struggled so they had to find someone else to help. All in all, it took three nurses to finally get a vein at 6:15 that morning. I figured if Christine could labor through all of that she would be just fine.

Mark was a steady, loving companion to Christine. He never left her side or took a break. He was offering gentle reassurance and touch between contractions and did counter pressure. We took turns pressing on Christine’s back, knowing that was where she felt her contractions most intensely. She got out of the tub about an hour later just before 7:00 am. Christine took Mark’s hand and leaned into him for strength as she made her way to the bed. She continued to hold his hand there.

Christine was asking what was next. She looked ahead at what was to come and didn’t feel sure. She got an exam at that time and was 7cm dilated. This was good progress! She then felt her water break somewhat, another good sign of things moving forward for her labor. Her baby was on the right side of her belly, so we did some side-lying release to create more balance in her pelvis.

She felt more pressure after that and told us she felt like she might need to poop. We love to hear those comments! The doctor came in at 7:33 am to follow up on those sensations with an exam. Christine wanted to know where she was and was encouraged to know she was dilated 8 cm, 90% effaced, and baby was at 0 station. There was a fore bag there, so she was comfortable with the doctor breaking her water completely. The hope was it would help her baby to come down upon the cervix and melt it away.

Less than 10 minutes later, we could hear Christine make pushy sounds. It was around 7:40. The doctor lingered in the room just in case, since those sounds can signal baby’s arrival was imminent. But she stepped out just before 8:00 and stayed nearby. It was nice to not have her watching and waiting, freeing up Christine to labor with her core birth team.

She went through waves of hot and cold, as transition can do. We alternated a cold cloth and a heating pad to relieve those temperature fluctuations, knowing they were strong indications that baby was coming soon! Her doctor returned to find Christine’s pushing urges were growing. She was on the bed at this point, moving in ways that felt right. She was on her hands and knees for a lot of it though. As expected, Mark was always the closest to her physically, holding her hands, looking into her eyes, and generally loving her through labor.

The doctor wanted Christine to wait to push since she wasn’t fully dilated at the time of the check, but her nurse and I reassured her to listen to her body and she would know. And Christine’s body took over almost immediately and the time to push was upon her. Christine didn’t have to push long, her body had a memory from her first birth, even though it had been 12 years. We all spoke encouragement to her, but she didn’t need guidance, just support. She was on her side and pushed mightily with contractions and rested between. It only took 10 minutes which by then was only 2-3 contractions. And at 8:38 am her sweet baby boy, Zachariah Julian (Chi) was born!

“I can’t believe I did that! We did it!” was what I heard Christine say in those first moments. Mark’s words were equally wonderful. He exclaimed, “Holy cow! Oh wow!” upon witnessing Christine bring their son into the world. Then the tears! If his eyes didn’t give him away, then his hand wiping the tears did. “The panda can eat bamboo,” Christine said. And when I asked what that even meant she explained that it was the code to announce to her daughter that baby brother had arrived.

There was so much love and joy in that space. Birth is always a celebration but this one seemed particularly sweet to me. It might have been Christine and Mark’s second chance at love in finding each other and bringing a child into the world. It might have been the sense of accomplishment and empowerment that can come when a woman has an unmedicated birth she had hoped for. And their little boy was about the cutest thing I had seen in a long while. I do remember something else Christine said. “He looks just like Mark! That’s what I wanted.” And she looked up at her husband with adoring eyes. It was precious. And he looks like his daddy. I loved being in that space and was honored to assist Christine and Mark in welcoming their first child together.

Rachel and Lucas welcomed their third child, this time a BOY, on June 23! Rachel was familiar with the road of induction since she had been induced for her first two births due to high blood pressure. She hoped to avoid it but knew that it was a possibility again. She also had experienced a postpartum hemorrhage and hoped to avoid that this time. But Rachel trusted her providers and knew with good support and some strategies in place she would have every opportunity to welcome a third baby in an unmedicated birth.

Like third babies do, Rachel’s uterus was very busy preparing in the final weeks, producing bouts of contractions and general discomfort. She’s also a busy mom so it’s not easy to sit much and rest like one might do with a first pregnancy! Her body set the stage for labor in the last weeks though, and she was dilated 3-4 cm at her last prenatal appointment.

With an induction on the calendar, Rachel tried to do “all of the things” to jump start labor beforehand, but none of it worked, although it might have helped lay some groundwork. The day of the induction there were no beds at the first call—a hurry up and wait experience that is typical of inductions--but a few hours later there was a call that a bed was ready, so Rachel and Lucas made their way in.

Rachel was dilated 4-5 cm with regular (but far apart) contractions at 9 minutes. Her midwife did a membrane sweep in the hopes it might move her into active labor along with the breast pump. The contractions got stronger and closer but remained irregular. A few hours later around noon Rachel was dilated 5 cm, but her labor wasn’t really coordinated yet. The plan was to break her water closer to 1:00 and hope that worked. Pitocin at a low dose was another option but Rachel hoped to avoid pitocin and go the most natural way with induction.

Rachel stayed quite active as she waited, even doing full low squats. She continued to chat pleasantly with us, hardly acting as though she was in labor. And when her midwife returned at 1:00 she broke her water. Rachel was still 5 cm, same as an hour before, but we expected her body would take off with active labor and big changes soon.

Rachel squatted and leaned over the Cub birthing chair and kept moving around to see if her body would get going with active labor. She even did lunges over the Cub on the bed in case her baby’s head might interface more directly with the cervix to dilate it and bring on stronger contractions. She was willing to do anything suggested and even some things she thought of on her own. She listened to her body and was not afraid to move it.

Rachel shared with us that her contractions were definitely stronger soon after her water was broken, but by all accounts, she was managing them well. It seemed a good time to have her try the shower so we dimmed the lights, added votives so she could focus on her body’s signals. Rachel stood on the shower, sat on the bench seat, and even lunged with her foot upon it. Her chatting lessened as she was drawn more inside herself for the last bit of labor. She might not have known it at the time, but the 20 minutes Rachel spent in the shower when she thought it felt “so good”, was when she went through transition!

In fact, Rachel had the wherewithal to tell Lucas and I towards the end of the 20 minutes, “It’s not long now. We’ll want to notify the midwife soon.” That’s when we let the nurse know and helped her out of the shower and back toward the bed after a quick potty stop. Her midwife arrived a few minutes later at 2:42 pm and confirmed at 2:47 that “baby is right here.” In fact, as Rachel recalls, her midwife said, “You’re a 10!” And Rachel responded with, “That means I can push?” She felt him descending as she breathed through two contractions. And then her midwife gently suggested Rachel push.

“Babe, I need chapstick,” was Rachel’s response before her first push. Lucas had it there in a flash. Rachel pushed through one contraction. Then Lucas applied chapstick to her lips, and with the next contraction Rachel reached her hand down to help ease her baby out as she growled her push. Rachel received her baby from her midwife’s hands, meeting Eli Melech Charles at 2:55 pm.

Eli tried to cry when he was halfway out! And once his body was born, he cried out in a high-pitched squeal. Rachel got a good look at her boy and noticed in a short time that he had the same toes as his sister. I love how parents see family resemblances in their newborn babies.

Rachel did not tear and as a result her midwife was finished soon after the placenta was out. There was plenty of time for a big hug! It was such a beautiful birth and a very gentle induction. And when I saw Rachel recently for our postpartum visit, she was still riding the high of the birth. She said it was perfect and everything she would have wanted. And as her doula, I can say the same about her as a client!

DeAnn and Tyler welcomed their second son on March 25. DeAnn was no stranger to an induced labor since her first baby came that way. However, she had hoped to avoid induction this time with the plan to labor at home as long as possible. She gave birth the first time without pain medications but hoped to have a gentler journey to welcome this baby. One in which she followed her body’s own cues as labor began.

DeAnn’s body was moving in the right direction and had been for weeks. She was dilated 2-3 cm at 39 weeks, but there she remained at 40 weeks. And then she went beyond her due date and the stress of childcare overcame her. She worried that her mother who was staying with her to help would have to leave before her baby came. The stress of going into labor without her there brought a lot of anxiety and had DeAnn trying all of the self-induction methods she could find. But none of them were working. I recommended she stop trying to put herself into labor and rather relax and be patient. She told me she would give it a try. And she made arrangements for her mother-in-law to come help after her mom left if it came to that.

Eventually, an induction was scheduled for 1 ½ weeks after her due date. DeAnn still hoped not to need it but she had also made peace with another induction. Her baby waited and she found herself checking into the hospital to get admitted for the induction process. She was dilated 4 cm so that meant she wouldn’t need ripening, which was a good thing. They began the process by breaking her water. Baby’s heart rate dipped so they held off in pitocin which worked out for the best since DeAnn had hoped to avoid it anyway. Instead, they used a breast pump to bring on contractions.

Within an hour or two, DeAnn was feeling contractions she had to breathe through. At 10:10 pm she told me she was able to cope with them just fine. But by 11:00 pm her contractions were already ranging between 3-5 minutes apart. It was time for me to head in since it made no sense to wait and see in this case!

DeAnn rolled over the ball on the bed to labor on her hands and knees for a bit but she returned to sitting on the ball. She leaned forward against the bed during contractions, breathing deeply through each peak and returned to us in the space between them. She was able to chat just fine during the breaks but was clearly drawn into the work of labor when the contractions came.

DeAnn was soon vocalizing through each contraction and told us she felt things were getting harder. (Yes! We could tell!) Her contractions went from 3-5 minutes apart to a steady pattern of every 2 ½ minutes in a very short time. And it was evident from her demeanor that her labor had taking a sharp turn to active.

She had a strong desire for hydrotherapy, so we prepared the shower for her with votives and lavender aromatherapy on a wet washcloth hung in the shower. She had an aromatherapy pillow she brought from home and smelled the lavender in it through each contraction by the bed, so this was an attempt to keep the lavender nearby. And DeAnn responded well to it. She entered the shower at 12:23 am on March 25.

Two minutes later DeAnn told us she felt a lot of pressure. She wasn’t sure if she was pushy yet, and the next contraction she breathed through without that pressure. So we waited a bit longer.

DeAnne asked me if there were breaks in transition and I told her there were, but she might not notice them as much. There were always as many breaks as contractions. She sat upon the bench in the shower and felt pushy pressure there. DeAnn was acting more and more pushy so she got out of the shower to return to the bed and hopefully push out a baby.

Her doctor met her there and it was clear her baby was right there and ready! People came in to set up the delivery table and they did it just in time because DeAnn was pushing a short time later. She didn’t push long at all. If anything, she had to work to slow it all down at the end.

Hunter Robert was born at 12:55 am on March 25 in a whirlwind! There was shock, elation, surprise, and relief, and joy all rolled up into one big emotion! DeAnn held her son as Tyler stroked her hair out of her face. Then she cried as the emotions washed over her.  It was a beautiful first meeting.

DeAnn did not have any tears, which is a credit to her controlled pushing, even though this baby was coming fast. He wasn’t small either, weighing 8 lb. 14 oz. and measuring 21 in. long. She was settled in her bed saying goodbye to her doctor within 10 minutes of the arrival of her son. They snuggled and she unrolled him in front of her to get a good long look at all of him. And then she brought him to her breast for his first feed. His brother had some issues but from the first moment this little guy seemed to have the hang of it!

It was an honor for me to stand and serve DeAnn and Tyler in the birth of their second son. And I’m thrilled that although an induction, DeAnn had alternatives available to her that worked and helped her to avoid pitocin. Flexibility and communication make for a wonderful start to an induction or any birth, for that matter.