Keely and David became parents for the second time on January 24, 2022. This was also the second time to serve as their doula, the first occurring early in the pandemic and had me serve virtually. We were very happy to know I would be in-person for this birth. It’s funny, since Keely and David live over an hour away, our prenatal and postpartum visits were virtual, while the birth was not. Ironic, isn’t it? But preferred.

The call came in just past 3:30 am on January 24. Keely’s contractions had begun an hour prior and were already regular at 8 minutes apart. She planned to labor home a decent amount but since they had the hour-long drive to contend with, they would still be more conservative with timing their leaving. Keely labored at home about 5 hours before deciding it was time to make the hospital drive.

Keely was blessed to see the same midwife was on call who attended her first birth. She was dilated 4 cm, but with contractions at a steady 2.5 to 3.5 minutes apart, things could change quickly. She was admitted, and over that hour her breathing grew more labored. Keely remained lucid between her contractions, but they required more of her. She eyed the shower as she endured the requisite non-stress test, and once the monitors were removed from her belly around 10:00 am, into the shower she went.

Keely requested her trusty Valor essential oil blend, so we applied a few drops to a wet washcloth and hung it the warm shower nearby. Keely did lunges to keep moving, knowing it would also open her pelvis in varying ways to help her baby move deeper. Her nurse would quickly lean in to catch baby heart tones on the doppler every 30 minutes but scurried away as unobtrusively as she came. Battery votives added to the spa vibes as Keely labored on.

She felt two particularly strong contractions around 10:30 that moved her baby to a lower place than before. She was growing hot in part from her labor, but also from the shower, so she took a break from it at 11:10. Her midwife did a quick cervical exam at that time and confirmed that Keely was dilated nicely to 7 cm with a bulging bag. Keely did not want it broken at that time and instead preferred to let her body move at its own pace. She hopped out of bed after the exam just in time to be on her feet for the next contraction.

Keely took several trips to the bathroom and made use of the foot stool to keep her pelvis in motion. David was always by her side to offer sips of water, touching her gently, and encouraging her with just the right words. Keely welcomed the intensity of her labor, adjusting her focus as It required more of it. We prepared cold cloths as her body heated up, and Keely’s smiles faded as she focused on all that her body required of her.

Keely voiced concern that her contractions had spaced apart, but the truth is they hadn’t. She labored over the cub chair as the cold cloths circulated from her back and neck. Keely lunged upon the bed too and at 11:46 am her water broke. It ran clear and copiously, and when the fluid had slowed to a drip, her contractions intensified even more. “Dave, hold my hand!” she barked out, and his hand was right there. It always was.

Keely placed a cold cloth over her face and in another contraction or two she told us she felt like she had to push. Her midwife, who had been perched at the foot of the bed a decent while, calmly said, “Push when you are ready.” There was no need to check a cervix here. Keely’s body was telling her what to do next. And it was telling her to push. She gave a push and then lay down to her side and pushed there.

Dave supported her raised leg and subsequently rubbed out the cramp it caused her hip. Keely didn’t push long. In just a contraction or two we could see the baby’s head. Keely was calm and collected at the end, pausing and allowing her body to gradually move her baby out, rather than pushing full-on. Once the head was born, the midwife easily unwrapped the cord from the neck, and with the next push her baby was born at 12:35 pm.

Her baby didn’t cry out immediately and seemed a bit stunned, to he took a few minutes at the warmer with the nursery staff. In all the excitement, Dave forgot to check to see whether it was a girl or a boy. He got a visual and happily reported that Clara had a little brother. And a few minutes later after the placenta was out, the midwife announced the next best news that day, the news that Keely did not tear.

Keely’s son was in her arms after he cried and perked up, and she and Dave got busy studying all his parts. Dave confirmed 10 fingers and 10 toes and noticed his son had finger toes just like him. Eventually they would select the perfect name, Callum Hayes was the winner. He nursed well in that first hour, getting a feed on both sides before I left. And he came by it honestly, weighing in at 9 lb. 3 oz. and measuring 22 in. long. Those big babies tend to be born ready to eat!

This birth was a nice juxtaposition to the Covid-enforced virtual doula support from last time. It was a blessing to witness Keely and David’s partnership and to see her courage and strength in person. And it was a special treat to meet their baby too!

The Birth of Callum Hayes 1/24/22