Lindsey and Ken are parents! They welcomed their daughter, Charlotte Reed, to the world on October 19, 2021. They were students in my 7-week childbirth class and did all they could to prepare for an unmedicated birth. Lindsey’s due date came and went, and her midwife scheduled an induction “just in case” she got to 41w 5d. She hoped that she wouldn’t and as fate would have it, she didn’t. But then again, she kind of did because at her 41-week appointment they noticed the amniotic fluid levels were low. And since she was already a week past her due date, the safest bet was to move forward with induction. Lindsey wrapped her head around the change in plans but maintained her desire to birth without pain medication.

ince Lindsey was already dilated 3 cm, her midwife felt she would respond with Pitocin and then possibly breaking her water. The Pitocin began at 1:00 in the afternoon on October 18. Lindsey waited for her body to respond with significant contractions. It didn’t take long for her to feel the cramps that would become active labor contractions. And after several hours of that, her midwife proceeded with breaking her water to continue the momentum that had begun with the Pitocin. It was 7:30 that night when her water was broken.

Shortly after her water was broken, her labor picked up considerably. The television became white noise in the background as Lindsey breathed and focused through each contraction while Ken did counter pressure on her lower back. A warm rice sock also helped, but Lindsey found staying active to be the best comfort measure. She labored on her hands and knees on the bed with the pillow, and then the peanut ball. Then she did lunges on one side and then the other.

We requested the squat bar, so she’d have it just in case, and her body continued to move into active labor with hiccups and nausea, and then the labor shakes. The midwife checked her and confirmed Lindsey was dilated 4 cm, not nearly as far as we expected from her body’s response. Her cervix was all the way thinned out though, so it was primed for big changes.

Lindsey’s midwife recommended turning off the Pitocin and seeing what some time in the shower might do. It was 10:00 pm at this time, and Lindsey was grateful for freedom from the IV pole and monitors. And she labored in the shower a full hour. She lunged on the foot stool, for the left then the right. And since she felt more pain on the right side, she lunged even more on the right. She stood and she swayed, and she even squatted while pulling on a sheet overhead.

When Lindsey emerged from the shower, she was hot and tired. A cervical exam showed her to be 5 cm dilated. Once again, it seemed lower than expected since Lindsey had felt some pushy pressure at the peaks. She breathed and blew raspberries through the peaks to relieve that pressure. And she leaned forward onto the bed while Ken pressed on her back. We placed a cold cloth on her head, but Lindsey was feeling worn down. Her midwife recommended a bag of fluids to see if it might help. She managed to rest between contractions as the fluids ran, and she found the energy and desire to return to the shower. Her nurse did a 20 minute NST on the baby since there had been some variables, but she ultimately returned to the shower for another hour, this time spending a lot of time on the birth ball. But not until she got an orange popsicle for some sugar.

In the shower, Lindsey told us how it felt counter intuitive because the contractions didn’t feel as strong as when she was out of it. But it was the relaxing effect that helped the pain feel less intense. Lindsey got out of the shower after 40 minutes and wanted to lay down but it was too painful. Her body required her to be more upright and active.  Her baby had moved from the right side to the middle which was a very good thing. It showed us that her baby was making the rotation to be born! 

When Lindsey emerged from the shower, she was hot and tired. A cervical exam showed her to be 5 cm dilated. Once again, it seemed lower than expected since Lindsey had felt some pushy pressure at the peaks. She breathed and blew raspberries through the peaks to relieve that pressure. And she leaned forward onto the bed while Ken pressed on her back. We placed a cold cloth on her head, but Lindsey was feeling worn down. Her midwife recommended a bag of fluids to see if it might help. She managed to rest between contractions as the fluids ran, and she found the energy and desire to return to the shower. Her nurse did a 20 minute NST on the baby since there had been some variables, but she ultimately returned to the shower for another hour, this time spending a lot of time on the birth ball. But not until she got an orange popsicle for some sugar.

The rice sock provided relief to her back pain, and she inhaled some valor blend to help keep her centered and capable. At this point, Lindsey was in transition. We just didn’t know her dilation. She sat upon the bed in a throne position, and she leaned forward onto the squat bar. A whiff of lemon essential oil gave her a boost of energy that helped carry her through the last bit of dilation. And at 1:25 am she was dilated 8 cm. She had opened from 5 cm to 8 cm in just 3 hours.

After that exam, Lindsey returned to the shower, this time with lemon essential oil on a washcloth. It filled the shower with the aroma, and she labored on the ball once again. There were votives in the shower which helped create an atmosphere that was conducive to birth and less conducive to watching.

While the nurse set up the delivery table, Lindsey labored in a dangle squat using a sheet. She had definitely found a second wind and was doing the work necessary to stay on track with her desires for an unmedicated birth. Ken was such a wonderful partner through it all. He was right beside her speaking encouragement and never once wavering on her. He stood strong.

After that exam, Lindsey returned to the shower, this time with lemon essential oil on a washcloth. It filled the shower with the aroma, and she labored on the ball once again. There were votives in the shower which helped create an atmosphere that was conducive to birth and less conducive to watching.

While the nurse set up the delivery table, Lindsey labored in a dangle squat using a sheet. She had definitely found a second wind and was doing the work necessary to stay on track with her desires for an unmedicated birth. Ken was such a wonderful partner through it all. He was right beside her speaking encouragement and never once wavering on her. He stood strong.

Lindsey got out of the shower the final time and sat upon the toilet for some contractions. We placed a step stool under her feet to act like a squatty potty to encourage her baby’s descent upon the cervix. She returned to the bed for some monitoring of her baby, and she was also checked and 9 cm dilated. Her baby was at 0 station, and she had a lip on the right. We had her stand at the end of the bed and lunge to her right in the hopes the cervix would melt away on that side. 

She labored in upright positions and soon felt pressure to push. And sure enough, at 3:30 am she was completely dilated, and her baby was at +2 station. She had moved her baby so much in a short time! Her midwife returned and Lindsey breathed in the lemon oil to continue the resurgence of energy.

Lindsey gave her first push at 4:15 am. She lay upon her side and pushed and asked us, “Do you see anything?” We didn’t see anything just yet but 20 minutes later we saw her body opening. She pushed on her right side 30 minutes later, and within 15 minutes the midwife slid the delivery cart beside the bed and got dressed in her paper suit and gloves.

By 5:05 am we could see Lindsey’s baby’s head and in 10 minutes she was crowning. Another contraction, and Lindsey pushed out her daughter, Charlotte into the world at 5:19 am. She was coughing and sputtering from the start but went to the warmer for some initial support. Lindsey’s placenta took its sweet time, so the OB was called in for additional support. It was born over an hour later. But by then Charlotte was getting some bonding time with daddy.

Lindsey was able to welcome her baby girl in the unmedicated birth she had planned and prepared for. It wasn’t easy, especially when her labor was induced. But Lindsey trusted her body, regardless of what was being done to it medically. And she listened to it all the way to the end when she pushed her baby out. And you know how much her baby girl weighed? 9 lb. 7 oz! She was no peanut. But Lindsey did it. And it didn’t hurt that she was surrounded in supportive people too. Congratulations again, on seeing your natural birth through!

Brittany and Alfredo welcomed their son, Leo Matthew, on September 25, 2021! They enrolled in my childbirth class and soon realized that a doula would be a good addition to their birth team. Brittany knew she wanted to make use of an epidural, but she also appreciated the importance of using comfort measures before that point. 

A couple of days after her due date, at her prenatal appointment, she had a membrane sweep to see if it might spur on labor. She was already 3 cm dilated and her provider thought it would likely work. She felt cramps shortly afterwards and the escalated in intensity through the day. By the evening, she had a surprising amount of bloody show that concerned her. She called on it, and the nurse advised her to head to the hospital to get checked out. Thankfully, the bleeding wasn’t bad enough to be worrisome and Brittany remained 3 cm dilated and 70% effaced. So she went home to wait for labor.

The next night just past 10:00, Brittany thought her water had broken. She called on it and was instructed to head to the hospital by her provider. The leaking continued, and when she was assessed in triage, she was dilated 4-5 cm. This was exciting because it meant she would stay and have a baby!

Soon after she was settled into her room she requested an epidural, and by 1:00 she was feeling relief. The goal was to rest, but her baby’s heart rate dipped, which can happen. So after adjusting Brittany’s position, her blood pressure and the baby’s heart rate were stable again. And by 2:15 am she was sleeping. 

Shortly after 3:00, when the catheter was placed, Brittany’s nurse checked and discovered she was 6 cm dilated. Things seemed to be moving right along. We rolled her to the right side, and then to the left, and continued to inform the positions based on what we knew was happening with her cervix. It was also a balance between decels in baby’s heart rate, rotating to the opposite side when that happened. We also suspected the decels might be indicating rapid cervical change and head compression for Baby Leo. There was one period in which his heart rate dropped enough to bring extra nurses in the room and soon after that, Brittany was 9 cm dilated! She had moved from 6 to 9 cm in just 2 ½ hours!

Since her baby’s heart rate still dipped, they thought it wise to start pushing and see if the cervical lip could be moved aside. The lip persisted though, so the plan was to labor down. We used the bed to help bring baby down upon the cervix. It makes a nice throne and uses gravity well in that position. Brittany felt nauseous so we gave her a cold cloth and some peppermint to help. Things were definitely changing, and her body was gearing up to push a baby out.

Her doctor came in about 15 minutes later and confirmed at 9:00 pm that Brittany was fully dilated and her baby was at +1 station. She encouraged Brittany to give pushing a try to see if she might move her baby and she moved him so well that we soon saw his head! Within 30 minutes they broke down the bed and 20 minutes later, Leo Matthew was born with a loud cry at 9:57 am! 

Leo cried out in his very first second born and he came out looking like his Papa, Brittany snuggled her boy and giggled over his hairy shoulders remarking that he was a werewolf. She also reveled in how good he smelled, nature’s cocktail of bonding babies and mothers.

Leo was latched at the end of his first hour and when he was done there, he got some skin to skin with his daddy too. He weighed 8 lb. 14 oz. and measured 21.5 in. long. He was a big boy, but aced all his initial assessments, including his blood sugar. There’s nothing like colostrum! 

This couple was such a joy to serve. Alfredo was eager to be the best labor support and father he could. I loved seeing his excitement in the process and his love for his son from the start. And Brittany is so sweet natured I know she’ll be a gentle mother to her son. Thank you for allowing me to share such an intimate space with you as you grew your family to 3!

Leila and Keithen welcomed their first child together, a son, on September 19, 2021! Leila had a strong desire to feel empowered, heard, and supported in her birth, like she was an active participant in the process. She had a loving partner in Keithen who wouldn’t leave her side, but she knew the benefits of a doula were backed by evidence and so they incorporated me, as well as chose an OB practice with a low c-section rate in the hopes of making the likelihood of a surgical birth slim to none. They also enrolled in my childbirth class to be as prepared as possible for a birth they couldn’t predict.

Leila’s contractions began midday on September 18. She was ignoring and trying to rest, but the contractions persisted. She also felt a lot of pressure in her bottom which was alarming and seemed to point to the real deal. The contractions escalated in intensity and moved to 3 minutes apart, so a call to the midwife confirmed it was a good time to head to the hospital.

When I met up with Leila and Keithen in triage, Leila was breathing deeply through each contraction, laying in the bed consciously softening the parts of her body she could so as to get through the required 20-minutes on the monitor. The midwife checked Leila and she was 2 cm, a number much lower than she envisioned based on the strength of her contractions. But her contractions were close and strong so we hoped her body would catch up to that once she was settled in her rightful room and completed the admissions process.

Leila labored hard for another hour, using the birth ball and moving into various positions. Surely things were changed after all she had felt, but her cervix remained 2 cm. Leila decided an epidural was the next step. For whatever reason, her labor was taking it’s time and she already felt depleted after contracting much of the day. Th baby’s heart rate dipped post-epidural, which tends to happen. Then Keithen leaned in and spoke to his son in utero and the heart rate returned to normal! Leila’s blood pressure remained low so we gave her some juice and oxygen in the hopes it would improve.

A couple of hours later, Leila was dilated to 3 cm, a modest change, but thank goodness it was a change. She struggled to quiet her mind and about an hour later was able to sleep. Leila struggled to rest through the night. The new day brought a new midwife who established that Leila had dilated to 5 cm. Pitocin was used to bring on stronger and closer contractions, and several hours later around lunchtime she had opened to 6 cm. She was also 100% effaced with her baby at 0 station.

The epidural was less than perfect, requiring Leila push the PCA button and ultimately a bolus added to the line. We helped her rotate from side to side, strongly suspecting her baby’s position was somehow off. It just HAD to be. We did a side-lying release and got creative with the peanut ball to open her mid-pelvis. 

Two hours later, Leila remained 6 cm dilated. So we tried putting her bed in trandelenvurg along with some increased Pitocin and continued position changes. By the afternoon, her baby’s heart rate was showing dips that could be a sign of rapid progress or a sign that baby was getting tired. And a cervical exam revealed Leila was dilated 8 cm! This was very encouraging so as Leila’s contractons became more painful, we were hopeful it just meant it was almost time to push. Two hours later she was 9 cm and her baby was at +1 station, so she was moving in the right direction, albeit surprisingly slowly. With a lip of cervix on the anterior side, we made sure Leila was positioned in such a way as to encourage baby’s head to melt the cervix away. 

Her baby’s heart rate tumbled again, bringing in some extra people and some new strategies. The midwife tried having Leila push as she pushed the lip aside but it wouldn’t budge. They lowered the Pitocin to give baby a breather and allow the heart rate to stabilize. And about 45 minutes later, Leila was fully dilated! It was time to push! Leila was ready and she gave a strong push with the next contraction. But her baby’s heart rate dipped very low. She breathed deeply to allow for some recovery, and then she pushed with the next contraction. But the same thing happened—her baby’s heart rate fell very low. Every push had the same effect, and her baby was not recovering quickly between the dips. 

The doctor and midwife had an honest conversation with Leila, and it was clear what was the safest route for her baby. It wouldn’t be easier. It would be harder. Leila would welcome this baby in a c-section birth. She cried over the change but she also knew in her heart it was the best decision for her baby. The Pitocin was turned off, and soon each member of the birth team paraded in to introduce themselves and make sure Leila and Keithen had all of their questions answered. 

They didn’t wait long before going to the OR. And sweet baby Jude was born at 7:14 pm! The mystery of Leila’s labor was solved when the OB confirmed Jude was in the OP position AND had the umbilical cord around his neck. It made it more challenging for him to make the necessary rotation at the end, that’s for sure.

When Leila, Keithen and Jude were together in their postpartum room, they got to know each other as Jude latched for the first time. He was a peanut weighing 6 lb. 11 oz. and measured just over 19 in. long. Next to petite Leila, he didn’t look very small though.

Leila and Keithen journeyed to meet Jude with love and discernment. I thoroughly enjoyed how loving they were, and noted so many ways Keithen cared for Leila in her labor. I had no doubt she would be in excellent hands as she recovered and healed at home. Leila exemplified to me the true spirit of letting go in labor, loosening hold of the birth she envisioned almost from the very beginning. But she was always, every step of the way, informed, included, and supported. She had a voice and she had choices. And that made all the difference.

Elizabeth and Eric became parents when they welcomed their son, Arthur Louis on September 19, 2021. This was Elizabeth’s first child, but she labored with a trust of someone who had labored before. The pandemic did nothing for anxiety, and Elizabeth was no exception. She worried whether her baby would be okay and knew the only way to be absolutely sure was to have him in her arms. 

Elizabeth watched her due date approach and then pass. She continued her time of waiting, struggling with patience, but also knowing in her heart that time was an important part of her baby’s development and birth. Then one day, coincidentally (or serendipitously?) it was the day before her labor would begin, Elizabeth sent me a quote she had encountered: “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” She took this as a sign since it was on a card for the month of September, and felt some peace settle on her anxious heart.

The following night, Elizabeth texted to say she experienced a leak around 4:30 am. She and eric She felt some cramps and wondered if it might be labor and whether she should stay home and wait. She chose to wait and she and Eric went about their day, riding around in Eric’s bumpy old truck to and from the beach. And Elizabeth took a long walk on the beach that day, a habit she had developed every weekend the month before. They went and a little over an hour later she texted with regular contractions below her belly button every few minutes. She wasn’t even 100% sure she was feeling contractions at that point, but there was nausea as well.

Four hours passed with no updates from the last update that described Elizabeth’s contractions as every 4-5 minutes. Since the drive to the hospital was a substantial one (1 hour!), they thought it best to get on the road. When they started the drive, the contractions were steady every 3-4 minutes, lasting a minute, with a lot of bloody show. These were all good things!

At 3:20 am, Elizabeth was laboring in the foyer of the hospital with a puddle leaking onto the floor. She walked as far as she could before a contraction forced her to stop. She leaned and breathed through each contraction with calm confidence. Once upstairs on the unit, the midwife did a quick exam and discovered Elizabeth’s cervix was dilated 9 cm! It was 3:41 am. She had minimized and ignored not just early labor, but nearly the whole entire thing! She was the talk of the unit, walking so calmly so late in her labor.

Between contractions, Elizabeth managed a smile and a few words, and would be caught up in another contraction moments later. She breathed deeply and moaned through the peaks, and I dimmed the lights to help minimize distractions. Feeling a lot of pressure in her bottom, she rolled off her back onto her hands and knees and labored that way for a bit. The midwives waited quietly in the room. There wasn’t much to be done but hold space for Elizabeth so she could birth her baby.

At 3:55 am Elizabeth’s water broke completely, and she would be feeling the urge to push very soon. In a moment of panic, Elizabeth told us she didn’t know how to push. We assured her that her body would lead her just as it had so far. And in a couple of contractions, her moans turned to grunts and she followed the cues of her body as she curled over her belly to bear down.

Elizabeth’s nausea worsened at the peaks of her contractions, so we brought in a cold washcloth for her face and neck, and emesis bag just in case. The baby’s heart rate dipped which can happen during second stage, but some oxygen mask helped give reserves to both the baby as well as Elizabeth. She appreciated the guidance her nurse provided for pushing, and then incorporated various positions to help meet her baby.

Elizabeth pushed on her side, and we soon saw her baby’s hair. She pushed on her hands and knees around 4:45 am, naturally incorporating a hip sway between contractions. Some hydration helped level out her baby’s heartrate, so the oxygen mask was able to get set aside. Elizabeth grabbed Eric’s hand once it was free of the mask.

At 5:05 Elizabeth reached down and felt her baby’s head! I love the look of awe and wonder on moms’ faces when they do this! Her eyes flew open wide, and she smiled a beautiful smile. She breathed deeply through her contractions and between them, and 10 minutes later her midwife put on gloves. Daddy caught a glimpse of his baby’s head at 5:23 and was amazed! And making use of all her options, Elizabeth even pushed standing beside the bed to make the best use of gravity.

Her final pushing position was semi-reclined in the bed, allowing her some rest between contractions as well as Eric’s proximity through a held hand and a tender touch of her forehead. And then at the magic time of 5:55, Arthur Louis was born! Elizabeth smiled and then cried joyful tears. Finally, she had her baby safe and sound, perfectly healthy in her arms.

Arthur was born a little wet in the lungs but nothing a little suctioning couldn’t take care of. He was born wildly alert! And he even raised his head, showing off for Mom and Dad. And as this new family of three got acquainted, the sun rose outside to mark a new day.

Arthur weighed 9 lb. 1 oz., showing that a small woman can most definitely birth a big baby!  Elizabeth is a strong woman, but she is also quiet and unassuming. She revealed to me at our prenatal visit that she was not afraid of the pain. She was more afraid that her baby wouldn’t be born healthy. So having Arthur crying in her arms gave her immense relief and allowed her to let go of that fear. I am so proud of Elizabeth for naming it and working through it. What a beautiful way to do it!

Taylor and Steven graduated to parent status on September 16, 2021. From the first meeting I could tell that Taylor was a thoughtful person who did her research. And that’s quite frankly what lead her to hiring a doula. We got along great from the start, and she even enrolled in my childbirth class. As she learned and explored her feelings about her providers, she decided to take a leap and switch her care to providers that were on the same page about how she envisioned giving birth. Taylor had a strong desire to birth without pain medication and with minimal intervention, so she chose to birth with midwives.

Taylor practiced patience as her due date came and went. And hours following the scheduling of an induction she felt the contractions of early labor. It was 1:00 am when she reached out, and in less than three hours they had moved to the 5-1-1 mark. She continued to labor at home, preferring to arrive well into active labor. But the intensity escalated over the next three hours that she felt it was time. After all, her contractions were 3 minutes apart and lasting 1.5 minutes. Surely something was happening.

And it was because Taylor was dilated 6 cm! Unfortunately, there were no available rooms and hardly enough triage rooms. She was nestled in a cutaway in the hallway behind a curtain temporarily until she could be moved to a rightful triage room. When I arrived, Taylor was blowing through horsey lips to ease the pressure she felt, all while Steven pressed diligently on her back and hips. A few minutes later she was moved to an actual triage room but the room situation on labor and delivery was still grim, forcing some creative thinking on the part of her midwife. Her triage room didn’t have a shower, but one next door did! So once the room was available, we grabbed up their things and moved in.

Just before 4:00 pm, shortly after Taylor moved to the triage room with a shower, an exam confirmed she was dilated 9 cm! It was shower time! Wild horses couldn’t keep Taylor away from the shower as she bounded off the bed straight for it. It took some finagling to get the temperature right, but we got it.

Music played, the perfect balance of upbeat and love songs. Taylor swayed to the music and leaned against the handrail. She found the hydrotherapy very effective as her body began to show signs it would be pushing soon. Taylor sat on a portable potty which doubled as a sort of birthing stool, and then she squatted. She kept moving, was always moving and it helped her baby to descend. Steven manned the handheld shower head, holding it right where Taylor instructed, and managed to stay on task with hydration. It was also around that time that he looked and me and said, “I don’t know how anyone does this without the help of a doula!” I just smiled.

Just past 5:00 in the evening, after nearly an hour in the shower, Taylor was pushy. She labored down in the shower a bit more, but a concerning heart rate on the handheld doppler had her midwife recommend a break from the shower. It was basically time to push anyway. Taylor crawled upon the bed on hands and knees by 5:30 as Steven continued to massage her back and hips. 

And just three minutes later Taylor’s water broke! There was light meconium, but it ultimately wouldn’t be an issue. She was soon pushing full on and followed her body’s cues. She was fully dilated with baby’s head at +2 by 5:56. To be less intrusive, the midwife mentioned wishing she had a flashlight. I went for my phone and Steven grabbed a flashlight out of his cargo pocket! He was ready for everything! And he later admitted he had the hospital bag packed 4 months earlier. The flashlight sat upon the bed giving the midwife enough of a view without having to be “up all in there.” 

Taylor pushed with control and precision, much how she approaches most things. And she had an open ear for the cues she received from her midwife and me. “You’re pushing great!” said her midwife. “You know how I know? Because I saw your baby’s head!” I love when providers get so excited about birth! Steven was over the moon excited as well, standing on the verge of becoming a father. It melted my heart.

And Taylor continued to push gradually with determined effort, and brought her baby into the world at 6:29 pm, as the beautiful (and thematically perfect!) song, “Homemade,” by Jake Owen played. And the song that followed was also perfect, “It’s My Life,” by Bon Jovi. The midwife passed Taylor’s baby up through her legs to her arms and she knelt there and took in her son, Owen Jack. The cord remained juicy and pulsed to Owen for 12 minutes before it stopped. And only then did it get clamped by the midwife and cut by Daddy. 

Once the placenta was delivered, Taylor got the confirmation from her midwife that she did not tear. This is a feat in and of itself and it a great credit to Taylor for listening to her body and to her midwife! Her recovery would be much less complicated because of it. She snuggled with her boy as he settled into that perfect nook under her chin.

Taylor’s birth was beautiful and empowering. Even though it was a record-breaking birthday for the hospital. Even though she labored in the hallway for a while. Even though she moved from one triage room to another. Even though they had to setup a baby warmer and bring in some extra folks for delivery in a smallish space. It was all worth it for the way she was treated and respected through it all. Birth can be scary and overwhelming, especially when you haven’t done it before. But there is intuitive wisdom in the cells of a woman, and Taylor trusted this. She navigated her journey step by step and did the work. She also had unfailing support, which doesn’t hurt either. I’m grateful to have been part of the team.

If there was ever a baby wished for, hoped for, and prayed for, this is the one. Wesley George was born on September 12, 2021, making his parents’ dreams come true. Pregnancy did not come easy to Annika and Robert. They were told it would never happen, and then through the wonders of infertility treatments and an ob who believed it would work, they were blessed with their baby boy! 

When we first met, I wanted to protect Annika. Robert’s love for her was obvious, and his strong drive to make sure she was safe and respected in her birth was admirable. Life hadn’t been easy for her and her deepest desire in becoming a mother was providing her baby with a life filled with love. But she was afraid of the birth process and knew that getting pain relief would be instrumental in preserving the experience as one that was not traumatic. We connected right away, and I left that meeting hired.

Annika texted me on September 10 just before 5:30 pm telling me her water broke. It had broken several hours earlier, and after consulting with her doctor, they went to the hospital to confirm. It had indeed broken, and Annika was 1 cm dilated. There was a plan to start Pitocin by midnight if labor had not begun. She would be ruptured 10 hours at that point. Fast forward to midnight, with Pitocin on board, Annika tried to rest.

The plan changed shortly afterward, switching to Cytotec. The night was quiet and by the next morning, her doctor confirmed her water wasn’t completely broken. They decided to move forward with breaking it all the way to see if her body would respond with contractions. And it certainly did. In just 30 minutes she was feeling them, and they were quite painful. The pain was concentrated in Annika’s back. A heating pad and counter pressure helped some, but Annika knew she was ready for some pharmacological relief. Just past 12:30 pm she had some nitrous oxide and it helped. But an hour later she was ready for the epidural.

The period of waiting for an epidural is difficult, but Robert knew how to help Annika relax by staying close and reassuring her and reminding her how much she was loved and that their baby was coming soon. Annika had frequent Facetime calls with her mom which also helped fill the time and ease her fear. By 2:15 she was more comfortable and ready to get some rest.

We moved her this way and that, punctuated by opportunities to get some sleep. It’s difficult in a hospital, but Annika tried. If it wasn’t the hospital noises and interruptions, it was her thoughts which never seemed to stop. At one point, she finally succumbed to sleep while her mom remained connected over Facetime. It was rather sweet. At 5:35 pm, Annika was dilated 4 cm, 100% effaced, and her baby’s head was low at 0/+1 station. Pitocin had been incorporated to keep her contractions strong and steady, especially after the epidural which tends to spread them apart.

After a few hours, Annika developed some nausea that overtook her. She received some medicine that helped and was able to get some real sleep. It didn’t hurt that Robert rubbed her head to help her relax! Annika was very well taken care of by her husband.

Two hours later, Annika was dilated 8 cm! She had a headache that we suspected was due to low blood sugar. Some juice helped her to feel better and 2 hours later she was fully dilated! She was still feeling some pain and anxiety so some medication in her IV helped her to relax. Her nurse called in the doctor, who had promised to come in just for her. (He was not on call!)

Annika labored down beautifully. Her baby moved to +2 station over the course of the hour. But then her nausea returned. So, we fanned her and gave her cold rags on her face. It was also just time to have a baby! Annika began pushing at 1:55 am. She had two nurses come in to help. They had grown fond of her over the shift and were excited to be present to the end.

Annika was exhausted and overwhelmed with the whole process. Her doctor came in and seeing that she was in such a state, recommended he assist with a vacuum. Annika’s baby was also in the OP position which posed an added challenge. Annika trusted her doctor and was comfortable with that decision. And after a few pushes, Wesley George was born at 3:29 am!

He had so much hair! And his parents noticed he had monkey feet too. Annika was beside herself with joy to finally hold her son in her arms. Robert was so tender with his wife and baby; you couldn’t help but smile. Even Annika’s mom was with us on FaceTime to see the whole thing unfold.

Wesley was named for Annika’s dad who passed away in 2016, and his middle name George was after Annika’s mom’s dad. The legacy in his name was a loving tribute to lost loved ones. Giving birth to Wesley made Annika a mom, but it also gave her a genetic connection to someone. You see, she was adopted, so pregnancy and birth held such promise for her! It promised that she would belong to someone, and he would belong to her. They were bonded as family genetically, in addition to bonded in love. It was a joy to be there to watch it all unfold and to stand strong for Annika every step of the way. 

Heather and Tim welcomed their son, Micah on September 5, 2021! This couple was so eager and inquisitive from our first meeting. I could tell just how strongly they wanted to do what was best for their son. So, when contractions started overnight on Micah’s birthday, Heather reached out to me. She also was concerned about bleeding and wondered if perhaps her water had broken. Her midwife recommended going in for a check to confirm. Her contractions were also coming steadily, if not erratically, and they thought some added information would be helpful in determining next steps.

The good news was that Heather’s water wasn’t broken. And the other good news was that she was 80% effaced and dilated 2-3 cm. Her baby was at -2 station, and she had the option to return home to labor until things were more active. Heather chose to do just that. She labored in the shower and the bath and made good use of the birth ball. Things were intensifying and it wasn’t much after I arrived that we caravanned to the hospital.

An hour and a half after she arrived, the epidural had been placed. And about an hour later she was dilated 4-5 cm. Heather felt pain on her right side, which can add an additional challenge when the goal is pain relief. But she was patient as we tried various positions with the peanut ball to encourage her pain medication to distribute more equally. 

A little bit of Pitocin helped get Heather’s contractions close together again. They had drifted apart after the epidural which often happens. We continued to make sure she changed positions from one side to the other. And three hours later she was dilated 8-9 cm! Her baby was also low at 0 station. It wouldn’t be long before she met her sweet baby and Heather was overwhelmed at the thought. It just all felt so fast!

An hour later she was fully dilated with her baby at +1 station. There was no need to jump right into pushing when she could continue to rest and labor down. So we fashioned the bed into a seat and rotated Heather’s knees and feet inward so as to open the outlet of her pelvis. And that along with gravity did the trick because her baby was at +2/+3 station within the hour.

Heather pushed for about an hour and a half. It wasn’t easy because at one point she dry heaved from the pressure. But she stuck it out and pushed on one side and then the other, and even did the rebozo tug of war to help with pushing. It really helped because her midwife joined us soon after and remained for delivery. 

The room filled with people as Heather’s baby’s head began to crown. And when we could see it sitting there and not drifting back, we told Heather she could reach down and feel her baby’s head if she wanted…and she did! Her eyes got so big and she was shocked and thrilled at the same time knowing her baby was so close she could touch him. Needless to say, it only took one or two more contractions (5 minutes), and Micah Timothy was born at 10:20 pm! 

Micah was born surrounded in love, with his mom, dad, and even his grandma there. He was wide-eyed and taking in his surroundings from the start and showed readiness for nursing too. He weighed 8 lb. 4 oz. and measured 21 in. long, just perfect. And even daddy got a chance to snuggle him in the first 90 minutes of his life. And Micah was transfixed!

There was so much joy in the room during Heather’s labor. I can’t quite put my finger on why. It could have been her loving support team, her deep desire to become a mother, her strong faith in God’s blessing of a child, or simply the joy of meeting her son. It definitely felt like a birthday party, and I was so honored to have been one of the guests to celebrate!

Laura and Axel welcomed their daughter, Leona Vivienne on August 13, 2021! This sweet baby was an answer to prayer during the COVID-19 pandemic. And Laura and Axel did not go unscathed by it. They both got the virus, Laura first, and there were so many prayers that she would not go into labor until she felt strong and well. But then Axel got COVID, requiring additional quarantine time.

But Leona did not want to wait any longer! Laura sent me a text “in labor” on August 12 right around 10:00 that morning. She was sick with COVID the 10 days leading up to the birth so she began her birth journey running on fumes. She wanted to rest during early labor for that reason, but it’s also a good idea for labor’s sake. She ate here and there and tried to keep hydrated with electrolyte drinks, but she was just so tired.

She suspected she might have a slow leak and when they realized it was tinted with some brown, her midwife asked her to come in and get checked. With contractions lasting a minute at the 4.5 minute interval, it seemed like things were picking up. Laura had labored at home for 18 hours at that point and was willing to give her natural birth a try, if her energy could keep up.

Turns out, her water was broken but there was no meconium. However, Laura was dilated 1 cm and her cervix needed a little kick start. A cervical ripener and some iv medication helped Laura to rest an relax. What’s more, her cervix dilated to 6 cm! Laura was still exhausted, and her contractions were extra challenging because of that and also because they were all in her back. So after careful consideration, she and Axel decided an epidural was the best next step to help with rest and relaxation. After all, there was still pushing!

Five hours later, Laura was fully dilated! She didn’t push long for a first-time mom, just 40 minutes, and sweet baby Leona was born at 2:20 pm! Love at first sight is an understatement, as these new parents drifted right into their roles seamlessly. Their strong faith in God also helped get them through not only COVID, but a challenging labor. Plus, Leona did end up testing positive for COVID and would end up needing some medical attention. So their early parenting time was definitely extra challenging.

But now, many months out, they are embracing parenthood and I have even caught Laura out wearng Leona like she’s been doing it for years. I’m so proud of this couple. Their birth had some additional challenges, but Lauara worked to keep her mindset positive by remembering what a blessing it was for her to bear a child. Motherhood is a precious gift, and one made more precious through adversity. And this couple definitely had some added challenges in the beginning. Thankfully, at the time of this writing, they have come into their own rhythm and are enjoying the new discoveries parenting a new baby brings. You both should be so proud of your journey.

When I met prenatally with Casey and Scott, an induction for high blood pressure had already been discussed at her appointments. Of course, Casey had hoped to go into spontaneous labor. She had taken my childbirth class and chosen providers who were less prone to induce. But blood pressure was a deal breaker and so she and Scott quickly wrapped their heads around the new direction her birth would go. 

Then they got the call. Casey’s labs were not optimal, so her midwife recommended she be induced. They readied their bag and Casey ate lunch. And the plan was to stay in touch. While the circumstances around her birth had changed, it wasn’t completely unexpected, so they were able to wrap their heads around the induction. 

Her induction began with a foley catheter that evening at 5:45. And within the hour she was having contractions she could feel every 7 minutes. Casey had seen contractions on the monitor prior to the foley, but she hadn’t yet felt them. But as she labored a couple of hours, her blood pressure remained consistently high, so they decided on magnesium to help. This was another turn in the road and would require Casey remain in bed for her labor. But she took the changes with grace knowing the goal was a healthy outcome for both her and her baby. And to that end, an epidural was another consideration as a second line of defense for her high blood pressure. 

Casey got through the night without a lot of action. She tried to rest as much as one can in a hospital. Then just before 6:00 am during a cervical check, Casey’s water broke. The balloon was removed at that time, and she was dilated 4 cm. It was baby day! Casey’s blood pressure was maintaining at a safer level, and she was managing the magnesium better than most with no nausea. Pitocin was bumped up gradually to encourage stronger, longer, and closer contractions.

Just past 9:30 that morning, Casey was having to really focus and breathe through her contractions coming 3-4 minutes apart by then. Scott did counter pressure on her back to ease the pain, which helped. Things really felt like they had escalated to Casey requested another dilation check to see about possible next steps.

And she was dilated 6 cm! This was progress and landed her into active labor. She chose an epidural to help with her blood pressure but also to aid in pain management. It didn’t take too long, and by 10:15 that morning she was feeling more comfortable. Scott managed to grab lunch by then as Casey tuned in to the pressure she felt in her bottom with each contraction.

Casey was moved into various side-lying positions in the bed and in two short hours her cervix managed to dilate to complete! It was 12:35 pm and with the epidural working well, Casey labored down for a few hours. And it worked beautifully for her! At 3:13 she began pushing and it didn’t take long at all. Her baby was right there! And in 10 minutes we could see her baby’s head starting to crown. Ten minutes after that they broke down the bed, and in 5 more minutes Gage Anthony was born at 3:32 pm on August 30, 2021!

Gage was smuggling a hand right by his chin when he was born, but thankfully it didn’t slow him down too much. He was still a peanut, weighing 6 pounds, 10 ounces, and measuring 19 inches long. He got lots of skin to skin with mommy and daddy as he got acclimated to the big world outside of his uterine home.

Casey’s birth experience was different than she had imagined it would be, but in some ways was the same. She labored with courage, and she tuned in to her body. She had the steadfast support of her husband who became very skilled at counter pressure! Casey had providers she trusted who tried to balance her desires for less intervention with the need for a healthy outcome. And she and her baby were brought together in a vaginal birth surrounded in loving support. It’s a great start, that’s for sure.

Maria and Kent welcomed their third baby girl on July 26! I’ll never forget when I first met Maria. She expressed to me that her first two births were less than ideal. She had two beautiful daughters whom she loved, but her birth experiences left her feeling a bit disappointed. She said, “I just want my ideal birth, and this is my last chance.” (No pressure!) We talked about how she wanted to FEEL her birth. She wanted to experience it differently than her others. Maria had a strong desire for natural childbirth and hoped to avoid Pitocin and an epidural. She enrolled in my 2-week refresher class to prepare the best she could, while simultaneously caring for her two young children. And perhaps most importantly, Maria chose providers who believed as she did that her body was strong and capable, and that birth was a natural process that didn’t necessarily need help. She also filled her mind with positivity and the strong belief in her body’s ability.

Maria felt a lot of uterine activity. Her body was gearing up for the big day with bouts of contractions that left Maria tired and wondering. Her cervix was changing week by week. At her 40-week midwife appointment she was dilated 4 cm. She agreed to a membrane sweep, but little came of it. Maria was patient and waited to see what her baby would do. Then a few days later, I got a text at 2:20 am that her water had broken. Since it was late (or early, depending on how you look at it), Maria tried to rest. Her midwife encouraged her to stay home and rest until her contractions picked up. 

About 2 ½ hours later, Maria reached out again with frequent contractions that kept her awake. Her midwife felt it a good time to head to the hospital. Within the hour, Maria was settled in her room and dilated 5 cm. She was breathing calmly through contractions but working. Since they detected meconium at the hospital, Maria would be on the monitor for the duration. She focused on her body and not the straps, and stayed positive. Kent went home to help with the bedtime routine but returned a short while later. And there was a FaceTime call or two as well. Maria’s baby was about to be a big sister! The thought can be mind boggling.

At this point it had been about 9 hours since her water broke and her contractions were not very strong yet. Her baby was in the OP position to boot so she might need some help to interface with the cervix. Maria’s midwife respected her desire to avoid Pitocin if at all possible, and instead recommended the regimen of an enema and a breast pump. Maria had some lab work that came back a little concerning so she would be relegated to the bed, in addition to the monitors. But Maria did not let this dissuade her from her goal of movement. Instead, she made good use of the bed, taking advantage of its various shapes and the squat bar to remain upright and mobile.

And the regimen worked! The enema and pump gave Maria’s uterus the little nudge it needed to kick labor into high gear. And things ramped up quickly. Maria labored over the birth ball on her hands and knees, rocking back and forth in the hope her baby might rotate. Then she labored on her side with the peanut ball between her legs. It was just past 2:00 pm and it was evident that her contractions were much stronger. Maria exhaled sighs as her uterus balled up with great intensity.

Twenty minutes later she was dilated 7 cm, 100% effaced, and her baby was at -2 station. There was also a forebag and her midwife broke it with Maria’s consent. The nurse set up the delivery table and Maria’s contractions were consistently 2 ½ to 3 minutes apart. They were in the sweet spot and would be meeting her baby soon.

By 3:12 that afternoon, Maria was doing a lot of bearing down at the peaks of her contractions. She moved to her hands and knees over the peanut ball since she felt like she was clenching on her side. Then at 3:22 she felt lots of pressure to such an extent that she had difficult differentiating between contractions. She was in transition, the place where it feels like there are no breaks! Maria gave herself a pep talk through each contraction, saying, “Ok, ok, ok, I’m ok, I’m ok.” At 3:29 she felt like she had to push, but as it turned out there was still time to labor down.

Maria was upright over the head of the bed and by 3:55 she was sitting up holding the squat bar. Her midwife returned to the room, quietly watching and waiting. An exam at 4:15 confirmed Maria was dilated 9 cm, but she wouldn’t be for long. She reached for Kent’s hand, and continued to breathe through each contraction, allowing the fullness of a low baby to relax and open her even more. And then it happened—Maria was pushing full stop. And she didn’t push long, less than 10 minutes. And as her baby’s head crowned, Maria yelled out in a visceral and powerful way! 

Her baby’s head was out, and the midwife moved the nuchal cord aside. But Maria’s baby didn’t slide right out. The shoulders were big and wide and required a lot of effort by Maria and her midwife as her baby made her way out. Maria was so overwhelmed with the sensation of her baby coming out that she screamed out. I looked her in the face and reminded her to push, and Maria returned that focus and pushed with equal measure of strength and yielding. And at 4:36 pm, Maria’s baby was born! With the baby in her hands, the midwife called out, “I need some help here,” as she hoisted Maria’s baby up toward her. Maria grabbed up her daughter with the strength of a warrior, for that indeed is what she was.

Oh the cheeks! And the shoulders! All the rolls! Baby Eleanor needed some breathing support at first as she transitioned to breathing air, but she came around quickly. It turns out she rotated out of OP at the very end and even though she was a chunky girl, because her mom yelled out and paused in her pushing as a result, she did not tear! And this baby girl weighed over two pounds more than her sisters! Eleanor weighed 10 pounds, 6 ounces and she measured 21 ¼ inches long. She had dark hair on her head that came down to her forehead, and she even had dark eyebrows to match. She was beautiful and perfect, and such a triumph in so many ways.

As things settled down and Maria began to process what she had done, she was awash in peace. She looked at me and with certainty told me she got her perfect birth. And how! Maria discovered what she always knew. And she did it in such a big way. (no pun intended) I am extremely proud of this woman! And I’m happy to say she is proud of herself too.