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

The Birth of Isla Marie 1/9/22