The Birth of Nova Wren 10/21/21

Alexa and Frank met their little lady, Nova Wren, on October 21, 2021. They were students in my 7-week childbirth class and learned a lot about labor and birth, and about the ways birth might deviate from the straight and narrow path. It was no surprise that their little lady was, well little. Nova was suspected small for gestational age. So as Alexa rounded out the final month of pregnancy, and after NSTs and ultrasounds kept a closer eye on baby and her growth was still below the curve, an induction was scheduled in her 40th week. Alexa was glad to delay the induction as long as possible since her initial hope was to have a birth without interventions. But she also wanted her baby to be born safe and healthy and was willing to compromise the ideals she had for her birth. 

Alexa had one last appointment the day before the induction. She was dilated 2 cm and her doctor did a membrane sweep hoping it would either start things or help to further ripen her cervix so they might break her water to induce. Alexa and Frank had a realistic expectation of the long duration of a typical induction, especially with a first baby, so when a room was ready, they went to the hospital and settled in for a long stay.

Her doctor came in and broke her water at 9:15 am. They started Pitocin within the hour. Alex felt her first contraction at 10:25 am and figured things might take a bit. But they surprisingly didn’t. Two hours later at 12:30 pm, Alexa was dilated to 5 cm and 100% effaced. Alexa got teary as it settled in that she was actually having a baby. Apparently, there wouldn’t be the long, gradual wait everyone had prepared her for.

She requested an epidural knowing things would continue to escalate. She felt pain in her lower abdomen even after it was placed so we tried to position her in ways to minimize it. It didn’t take long before she felt pressure in her bottom with contractions and we told her that would normal and to be expected. It was a good sign of continued progress too. We encouraged Frank to go grab something to eat since he wouldn’t have an opportunity later.

Alexa labored on her side with the peanut ball between her legs and in thirty minutes she was feeling so much pressure they did another exam. And we were all thrilled to learn that Alexa was fully dilated, and her baby was at +2 station! Frank had recently left so we texted and called Frank to tell him to come back up because it was baby time. He arrived a few minutes later a bit winded. Frank told us he threw $20 at the cashier and told her to keep it as he breezed on by, chicken tenders in hand.

The delivery table was getting set up at 1:35 pm and in ten minutes Alexa was pushing! Five minutes later they broke down the bed, and then at 2:00 they called in nursery for delivery. And Nova Wren was born at 2:02 pm! (And her placenta was born 6 minutes later, completing the birth in very efficient fashion!)

Frank and Alexa cried at the sight of their baby girl and were simply in awe of how everything transpired. The doctor was likewise shocked and leaned in to congratulate Alexa and comment on how perfect her baby was. And she didn’t look nearly as small as everyone expected. She wasn’t huge, but weighed in at a respectable 5 lb. 14 oz. And she was 19 in. long.

As you might guess, Nova was latched with little trouble by 3:00 pm. Despite her rapid entrance, she seemed to adjust to being born just fine, scoring Apgars of 8/9. She was healthy and strong, just a little petite. It was beautiful how this induction unfolded. Alexa rode the waves of her contractions and the tides of her birth with courage and confidence. She trusted her body and she also trusted her birth team. And she was in the middle of every decision made. She was empowered by the experience. What a great start to parenthood, don’t you think?