Katie and Stu welcomed their first child, a girl, on June 6! Katie knew an induction would be her likely road to motherhood since she herself had high blood pressure. But she had a strong desire to give birth without pain medications. Friends’ induction stories can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be a scary proposition. Katie and Stu attended both my Spinning Babies® Parent Class and 7-week Birth Essentials Class Series to prepare as thoroughly as possible. They also chose providers who had a reputation for supporting unmedicated births and had great statistics, and most importantly of all, had midwives on the obgyn team.

Katie’s body was gearing up in the final weeks with contractions that would come and go. She didn’t get in her head too much about her readiness, but instead continued with her days knowing she would meet her baby girl soon. She thought perhaps her water broke but went in to get checked and it hadn’t. But when some lab results were a bit concerning, her midwife recommended she be induced. It wasn’t what Katie wanted, but she also knew she wasn’t comfortable treading a fine line between potential risks to baby either. The timing of the induction was fortuitous though because her body dilated from nothing to 4 cm in the final days prior, putting her in a much more favorable position for the induction to work well.

Katie and Stu got comfortable at the hospital, settling into the room, and officially admitting Katie as a patient. Since her cervix was already so ready, the induction began with Pitocin overnight. Even though it was increased every 30 minutes, Katie managed to sleep quite well that night until around 7:00 am when hospital staff shift change heralds the new day for everyone.

Katie got set up with the wireless monitor right away because she knew she wanted freedom of movement and hydrotherapy. She did a lot of walking that day, becoming somewhat of a fixture on the unit making the rounds, so to speak. By 1:00 pm she was dilated 5-6 cm, 60% effaced, but her baby was still high at -3 station. And she was still very comfortable. Her contractions were not very strong.

We went for a walk at 1:45 pm and Katie maintained such a brisk pace it was hard to keep up with her. And she returned to the room to squat on the bed around 2:24 pm. The Pitocin was at the max level of 20 mu, but her body was still just slightly crampy. It was time to incorporate a big Spinning Babies® move, the flying cowgirl. Katie lay in that position on her left and then her right and soon felt more pressure low in the front of her abdomen. A heating pad helped relieve some hip pain she was feeling as well.

Katie maintained her composure as things began to change and alerted us when she noticed something, i.e. discharge. We went walking again from 3:20-3:40 pm and when we returned to the room it felt like the right time to labor in the shower. Some lavender on the washcloth really helped Katie to relax and tune in to her body. She was so tuned in that she forgot to take off her glasses before getting in the shower. And THIS was the first real sign that she was moving into active labor!

She changed into her contacts and continued to labor under the hot water, leaning against the wall of the shower to tune out the rest of the space. She requested Stu turn on music, and beautifully inspiring Christian songs filled the room with encouragement. It was just before 4:00 pm and Katie felt like her pain was growing. “It is Well with My Soul” played more than once and soon after “Your Labor is Not in Vain” came on, a perfect song for labor.

I updated Katie’s nurse of the subtle changes along the way. So, when Katie began to sigh under her breath through the peaks it was definitely notable. Stu was her constant companion, always right there to give a kiss between contractions, rub her back, apply counter pressure, offer a sip of water, and even play music. I just love watching how connected couples are in labor. It is a beautiful preview of how united they may be as parents.

Katie got out of the shower at 4:20 and felt a lot more discomfort in her lower back. She asked Stu to press on her back, but she felt like she needed something different. So we set up the CUB chair on the bed so she could labor on her hands and knees. Katie felt a lot of pressure in her back and hips, so Stu and I worked together pushing on each hip simultaneously.

Katie’s contractions were 3 minutes apart and much stronger than just a short time earlier. So, when the midwife stopped by to see how she was doing she was curious to know her progress. Katie was dilated 7 cm, 90% effaced, and her baby was low at 0 station! And during contractions Katie’s cervix opened to 8 cm. She had made BIG changes in a very short time! Her midwife looked her in the face and asked if she wanted to have her water broken and Katie said after pondering a few seconds, “Let’s do it.” That was her attitude the whole time, really! So, they did!

Katie returned to her hands and knees after her water was broken around 4:45 pm and by 5:00 she was making some pushy sounds at the peaks of her contractions. They grew as she continued to breathe through them and at some point, she moved off of her hands and knees back down upon the bed.

Her midwife remained as the room began to quietly fill with some additional people. By 5:17 the birth team was assembled, and everyone was waiting for one more person to arrive. “I can’t believe she isn’t out!” Katie exclaimed, to which we reassured her it would not be long at all. We supported her legs, so she didn’t have to hold them up, and her baby crowned gently. In fact, she was born just 13 minutes after Katie said she couldn’t believe she wasn’t out.

Amalia (pronounced Ama-lee-ya) was born at 5:30 pm to the joy of her parents. After an hour on her mom’s chest, we learned her stats. She weighed 7 lb. 14 oz. and measured 20.75 in. long. In the first moments she had her first poop and pee on mom, helping out her nursery nurse by checking those boxes right away.

In the afterglow of the birth, once the placenta was out and baby was on the breast, we realized the total sum of Katie’s active labor was just 2.5 hours, with 20 minutes of that spent pushing. Katie held her baby with confidence looking down at her and holding her as though this was not her first time. She and Stu were in love with their daughter from the start and I watched their connection as a couple grow into connected parents doting over all of their daughter’s perfect parts and mannerisms.

I was proud of the way Katie navigated this induction, keeping in mind that she had choices. It didn’t hurt that her nurses were excellently supportive, and her providers were on board with offering as many options (within the construct of a Pitocin induction) as they could. An induction can still be a journey of wonder and awe, and self-discovery. It can show your strength you’re your connection to your partner and your baby too. Every single birth provides this opportunity! It's one of the things I love most about what I do.

Welcome to the world, Maxson David Delano, born in the final minutes of June 2! This is my second time to serve as Jerica’s doula, so I was familiar with her understated way of laboring. But this was her third baby, and they have a reputation of being unpredictable. And this birth was a scheduled induction for postdates which also adds an extra layer of uncertainty on top of the already unpredictable nature of spontaneous labor.

It was a very busy day for birth but the staff worked diligently to get Jerica settled into a room as soon as one was available. She was dilated 2 cm, 60% effaced, and baby was -2. Jerica’s veins were a tricky stick, so getting an iv established required more than one try by more than one nurse, but eventually it was successfully established by an anesthesiologist. Working as a team they made it happen.

And over 6 hours after arrival, Jerica received her first dose of Cytotec. And then she waited. Jerica requested the breast pump to use in the hopes it would get things going as she waited for the next dose of Cytotec. Four hours later came the second dose, just past 6:00 pm. Jerica had some mild contractions that were close and short, but she could talk through them and knew they weren’t to the level of significant cervical change yet.  She sent David home to help settle the kids for bed.

By 9:00 pm, Jerica’s contractions were super close but still not very strong. She felt some pain in her lower back as well and considered walking around. I gave her some suggestions to ease the back pain and wondered if baby’s position was the cause. But within 30 minutes Jerica felt a shift in intensity that had me feel I should head to the hospital. She was worried I was coming too soon and preferred I want until she got checked so I waited.

At 10:20 pm she was checked and confirmed dilated 4 cm, still 60% effaced, and baby was still at -2 station. But even though the numbers didn’t seem like significant change had occurred, Jerica continued to feel pain in her back and thought they were getting more intense. She suspected it would be time to come soon so we felt it best I just head in. I left at 10:45 pm and arrived around 11:15.

Jerica was moaning through contractions that were close together. Of course, they had been close for hours, but had very recently turned the corner to active. She was standing by the bed, braced against it as she breathed through contractions. Her labor had taken hold in the 30 minutes since our call. She breathed and focused through each contraction and found the breaks shorter than the actual contractions.

Jerica felt like she had to use the bathroom, so she took a pit stop with David by her side. (Yes, I know this could mean a baby is coming but not even Jerica thought that was the case.) So, I went about setting up votives around the room to enhance the ambiance and didn’t hear her when she told David she was pushing, and then dismissed herself with “that’s can’t be right.” Jerica made her way out of the bathroom and back to the bed to lay on her side awhile. She requested David play her Hypnobabies scripts on the speaker, so he set that up as well. Then as she lay there, she said she felt her baby was coming but she wasn’t ready. Her nurse was casually setting up the delivery cart unaware that Jerica felt her baby coming, so we alerted her that Jerica felt the baby.

The nurse called for the doctor who was not in the building, so they had the hospitalist OB come in for delivery. Jerica was startled that she was actually pushing already, and she felt very overwhelmed. “I’m not ready,” became her mantra. And I met it with, “But your baby is ready. It’s okay to be overwhelmed by what you are feeling. It went so quickly!” The doctor came rushing in and got the deets from Jerica’s nurse. She hurriedly dressed in her paper suit and pulled the delivery cart up to the bed.

She lay on her side, and we supported her upper leg. The doctor watched as Jerica’s amniotic sac was born. She offered to break it but Jerica preferred she didn’t. With the next contraction, the sac was laying upon the bed like a water balloon cinched at the base. And it gently released fluid on its own. “I can’t do it,” Jerica insisted, right as she WAS doing it. We could see Jerica’s baby crowning in that moment and the doctor had David come to the end of the bed to help do the delivery! Jerica continued to tell us she wasn’t ready, but she pushed as if she most definitely was! The doctor patiently waited as Jerica pushed instinctively, following her body’s urges as she was ready. And once her baby’s head and shoulder was born, the doctor gestured for David to move in closer. The final push brought their baby into David’s hands, who was then instructed to place the baby onto Jerica’s belly. He was a bit shocked himself, so he paused for a moment of wonder before passing their newborn baby to his wife.

Maxon weighed in at 8 lb. 13 oz., the heaviest of his brothers, and measured 21 in. long. As Jerica processed the birth in that first hour or so, she told us she was scared and not ready. And she didn’t think she would make it for a long labor. So, her baby ended up coming the way she needed him to! David confessed that he felt like he might pass out right before the bag of waters was born, but he managed to stay upright. And Jerica tried to piece together when she was in transition. It must have happened on that bed and probably just lasted a couple of minutes!

It just goes to show that cervical dilation has no bearing on labor duration ever, but especially after the first baby. And Jerica’s intuition was far more compelling than any exam she received that day. I am so proud of her for advocating for what she needed in the waiting hours, and in the 90 minutes of active labor. She birthed with composure and grace just as I remembered from the birth of her second. And like before, she didn’t even look like she had given birth. Needless to say, Jerica is quite remarkable in more ways than one!

Erica and Charles became parents on April 28 when they welcomed their son, Curtis Vance, into the world. Erica made a very comfy home for her son because the weeks ticked by and her body showed no signs of imminent labor. Still, she had a strong feeling her dates were off and her baby had more growing to do, so she did not get discouraged as the time passed. But when an induction was scheduled at 42 weeks she was curious how that would go since her suspicions about her baby not quite being ready might have some merit.

The waiting continued because Erica did not get a call for a ready bed when originally expected. It wasn’t until the following morning that she was told to head in. Around 7:30 am an exam showed that Erica was dilated 1 cm and 50% effaced. The plan was Cytotec every 4 hours throughout the day to see if her cervix would respond. They also kept an eye on her baby’s heart rate which had some concerning patterns.

Then at 3:30 pm Erica’s water broke. It was a very good sign that her body was on board with the plan for labor. Erica moved her labor into the shower as the contractions began to require more of her focus. She struggled to relax between them while in the shower and wanted to labor back on the bed where she could sit upright and also recline. Erica also chose to get some i.v. Stadol to help her relax and settle in to labor. After all, she had every reason to expect it would be a long process and she wanted to keep her head in the right place. Charles squeezed Erica’s body in different places to distract her from the pain of the contractions. She breathed deeply and calmly as he did so, and managed to labor well like this for a while.

Erica considered her reasons for not wanting an epidural originally, and realized the reasons were no longer relevant. She desired movement but had chosen to get medicine to help her rest and relax so she was relegated to the bed. And her birth had already gone down a very different path with the induction, helping Erica to recognize the value of an epidural on her new journey. With contractions coming strong every 2 minutes, Erica was ready for relief.  Epidural in place, she was comfortable by 10:30 pm.

Shortly after 11:00 pm they began Pitocin since Erica’s contractions had spaced apart, a fairly common labor response after an epidural. It was at a low level (4.0 mu) but her baby’s heart rate started to dip again so it was bumped back down. We were sure to do all sorts of positions to give her baby every opportunity to descend and help to dilate Erica’s cervix. Erica lay on her right side with the peanut ball between her ankles. And just before midnight she was dilated 5-6 cm, 90% effaced, and baby’s head was at 0 station. Yay! She was in labor!

By 12:20 am we rolled Erica to her left side and kept the peanut between her ankles. She was able to get some sleep around 12:45 am, and with baby’s heart rate looking good her nurse bumped the Pitocin up a little to 6.0 mu. After 30 minutes or so it was pushed to 8.0 mu. Erica felt some pain or pressure in her left hip which had us wonder if something significant was happening in her labor. She pressed her pca button and we rolled her back to her right, this time with the peanut ball between her knees. There was some bloody show – a great sign of progress in dilation!

And by 3:15 am Erica was completely dilated and her baby was at +1/+2! She labored down a bit as her nurse set up the delivery table and notified the midwife. And at 4:45 Erica gave her first pushes. Her contractions had spaced to 5 minutes apart, so the pushes were spaced as well. Erica gave a good effort pushing on her hands and knees (yes, with an epidural), but it made more sense to labor down. She was not pain-free as the discomfort on her left side intensified. So we tried moving onto her right side to help manage the pain by using gravity to spread her epidural to the left, and we also put her right leg in a stirrup to have a bigger impact. Erica was breathing through these contractions at this point. The epidural was not providing full relief anymore. She pushed the pca button but that pain in her bottom was growing. So the best plan was to just have a baby! Erica resumed pushing with her midwife at 6:26 am. And it didn’t take long, thanks to gravity, laboring down, and strong pushes. Erica brought her son into the world at 6:50 am right before shift change, much to her nurse’s delight!

She was not pain-free as the discomfort on her left side intensified. So we tried moving onto her right side to help manage the pain by using gravity to spread her epidural to the left, and we also put her right leg in a stirrup to have a bigger impact. Erica was breathing through these contractions at this point. The epidural was not providing full relief anymore. She pushed the pca button but that pain in her bottom was growing. So the best plan was to just have a baby! Erica resumed pushing with her midwife at 6:26 am. And it didn’t take long, thanks to gravity, laboring down, and strong pushes. Erica brought her son into the world at 6:50 am right before shift change, much to her nurse’s delight!

Curtis was latched at barely an hour old and snuggled with his mom for a good long while before we learned his stats. He weighed 8 lb. 5 oz. The adoring looks exchanged between Erica and Charles were so sweet and heartwarming. And judging by the amount of vernix all over Curtis’ body, even the nursery staff suspected he might have been less than 42 weeks. His mom was right!

This birth meandered for sure, but at the center of it all Erica and Charles were united in their decisions. And as their midwife said, “Erica went from 1 cm to baby in 24 hours, and that’s pretty awesome!” We’ve since had our postpartum visit and I can report that Erica is going above and beyond to ensure Curtis continues to grow and thrive. I am so proud of Erica and Charles and the way they have grown into Curtis’ parents!

Katie and Matt welcomed their son on April 11 which also happened to be their dating anniversary. It’s as if their son knew that was an important day. Katie and Matt were students in my Birth Essentials 7-week series, investing many hours in preparing for birth. Katie is a researcher and a seeker of information, so she was always interested in options and best practices. But when her low-risk pregnancy ended up going for the long haul, the possibility of an induction became the reality. Katie had to let go of a lot of how she imagined her birth might go and was worried it might veer in a direction she feared. We had a chat the day before she went in so try to quell her fears and encourage her. Katie was nervous but she was also excited to know she would be meeting her son.

The original plan was to get admitted to the hospital on the evening of April 9, Easter Sunday. However, there were no available beds when they first called. The delay was short-lived though, and Katie was admitted by 7:30 that night. Her cervix was not showing imminent signs of labor so it would need a bit of coaxing (aka ripening). The doctor recommended Cytotec since Katie was dilated somewhere between 0-1 cm depending on who you ask. Katie wisely took some iv medication to aid with rest that night and got a solid 5 hours. Benadryl for the win!

Later the following morning, with modest dilation of 1 cm, the midwife on call thought a Cook Balloon was the best next step along with Pitocin.  A membrane sweep was also done in the hope of releasing some prostaglandins to aid in the process. The cramps from the balloon were very uncomfortable but Katie soldiered on all afternoon and evening. The balloon was out just before 11:00 pm and she was dilated 5-6 cm with a good amount of bloody show. Pitocin was going to start at 11:45 pm.

Katie’s contractions were erratic initially, some were mild, and some were very strong. She was feeling the emotional and physical exhaustion that comes with a long ripening and induction process and thought an epidural would be a good decision. Katie wanted to time it right so as to hopefully not slow down her momentum. Matt was her steady support through it all, right there backing up every decision she made. His loving care for her was so endearing.

Katie moved forward with an epidural and was feeling relief after 2:00 am. Her contractions continued ranging from 2-4 minutes apart, so they didn’t slow down much at all. Her body was overcome with labor shakes, so it was clear her body had succumbed to labor. And an hour later Katie was dilated 8 cm! It seemed that her timing for the epidural was perfect.

Katie was laboring in various positions using the peanut ball, on one side and then the other. Next she labored upright in the throne position so as to encourage her son to move further down in her pelvis. Katie and Matt’s attitudes were so wonderful, and they maintained their sense of humor through the rigorous process. They had grown so “close” to the hospital equipment that they had named some of them. The blood pressure cuff was Puff Daddy, the pulse oximeter was ET, and the IV tower was deemed Carsoganus.

Katie was fully dilated by 5:25 am! Her midwife broke her water and then we had her lay on her right side with her top leg draped on the rolling side table beside the bed. There was a lot of creative use of hospital equipment to help her baby out and it worked so well because Katie gave her first push at 6:18 am. She was a very good pusher because that first push made it clear that no further laboring down was necessary. The praise and worship playlist was started and Katie was pushing full force.

The doctor arrived at 6:45 am and after just over an hour of pushing, Gabriel was born at 7:39 am on April 11 to the joyful cries of his parents. Love bubbled over as Katie held her son outside for the first time.

Gabriel weighed 6 lb. 14 oz. and was 20.25 in long. He was perfect and clearly would have stayed in his mom even longer if he hadn’t been evicted. He was born healthy and strong, which was always the most important goal to his parents. When they were settled and had a chance to bring her baby to the breast, I gathered my things to let these new parents soak in their baby boy and hopefully get some food and rest too. Katie explained to me that her birth became a spiritual experience of surrender. She was reminded that she couldn’t control things and the best plan was to let go and let God. It was a beautiful culmination of preparation, trust, and anticipation and I am so grateful to have been able to watch it unfold.

Regina got used to nightly contractions. As she lay down to bed, her uterus went to work getting ready. The texts to me were frequent, and so much so that I reminded Regina that it was best to ignore and minimize the late pregnancy/pre-labor contractions unless or until they were consistently getting longer and stronger at 5 minutes apart or closer.

A week went by and then a text: I’m in labor. 5 cm. It was a startling text but Regina was in triage and calmly waiting until she was moved to her proper labor and delivery room. She assured me she was still comfortable, and it was not an emergency. But I knew with her history that her cervix could open right up at any time, so I got there within the hour.

When I arrived, she caught me up on the timetable. She woke at 7:00 am to contractions that were strong but spaced. She spoke with the midwife, made arrangements for the care of her girls, and then proceeded to the hospital. The midwife tried to break her water at 11:35 am to keep momentum going but it was not confirmed whether she was successful. So, I encouraged Regina to try various positions as she waited for her labor to move into active. She rested over the CUB on the bed, and I applied a heating pad to her back. She updated friends and family by phone since her contractions were not yet requiring all her focus.

Her midwife returned and hinted that her baby might be OP so we were more strategic with positioning. Regina found lavender relaxing, so she leaned in to smell the lavender doused cotton ball taped to her wrist. She labored in the throne position and placed one foot on the squat bar and then the other. And by 2:00 pm her contractions had moved closer at a steady 3 minutes apart.

Regina felt a lot of pressure during one bathroom trip so I recommended she might give the shower a try. With dim lights (votives) and the lavender on a washcloth, Regina spent time in the shower and soon felt like her contractions weren’t as close. (They were.)

At 2:45 pm another midwife came in to do a check since Regina’s midwife was otherwise engaged, and announced she was dilated 8 cm, 90% effaced, and her baby was at 0 station. These were big numbers! Regina felt a lot of pressure and told us so. “Is it too late for the epidural?” she asked. And while it technically wasn’t, it likely would have been too much trouble for too little relief. We stepped up the support and helped Regina move into different positions to help her progress and pain management.

Her midwife joined us right before 3:00 pm and Regina insisted, “She’s coming! I can’t hold it.” She moved to her hands and knees at 3:20 but did not like it, so she rolled to her side. It was not comfortable either, but then again at that point in labor not much is. Regina breathed through the last contractions before second stage and at 3:47 pm her midwife checked and confirmed, “Your baby is right here at +2.”

“I need a break,” Regina stammered. It was 4:00 and she had been working much of the day on this baby. We validated her hard work and assured her she would have a break very soon. I reminded her to push right into the pain and not to back away from it. Regina continued, but she struggled with pushing into the pain.

There was a forebag remaining, so her midwife broke it after Regina consented. We were hopeful her baby would come right on down and out, but she didn’t. Regina pull pushed with the rebozo, and thirty minutes later she pushed in the traditional way. But her baby wasn’t coming. Regina had hit a major wall and she didn’t feel she could persist. She was tired and over it all. The doctor came in and discussed options including assisting with the delivery, and a c-section was even brought up as a last resort. “That! I want that.” Regina insisted that was what she wanted to do, and we were all confused and shocked. She was adamant! What do you do? 

Meeting big sister!

It was a relief to everyone but most of all to Regina to have her baby safely in her arms. Regina birthed her without a tear and had her daughter on the breast with little effort. Eliana weighed 6 lb. and was 19.5 in. long. Ultimately, Regina had to get to the point of being ready to have her baby. There was the final bit of work to be done and in the moment it felt impossible. But then she did it. Regina is a woman who gets things done! And I was so proud of her that day. She is back into her busy life now and we are trying to get her postpartum visit scheduled nearly a month out. (She’s that busy!) But I am confident she is adjusting to being a single mom of three surprisingly well. I also know that she has a village of support which makes a big difference. It was an honor to witness her strength in birth.

I first met Sara and Phil in my Spinning Babies Parent class. Their first child was born by c-section because she was in the footling breech position, and they were very motivated to assemble tools to encourage their second baby to orient herself head down! After learning so much, they decided a doula would be a worthy investment as well. And I was blessed when they approached me, and I was able to take them as clients! That’s a little backstory which I think helps add depth to the way labor happened.

Sara’s providers were supportive of her desire for a VBAC as long as her cervix was showing signs of readiness and as long as she didn’t go too late in her pregnancy. A repeat c-section was scheduled for April 10, three days past her due date, in the event her cervix was not favorable for induction. Thankfully, everything lined up and Sara’s cervix made gradual changes in the weeks leading up, dilating to 2 cm at 38 weeks, and then to 3 cm the next week. Sara’s doctor removed the c-section from the schedule and changed it to an induction. This was a victory! Although Sara hoped not to need the induction at all.

Then a week before her induction date, Sara felt the first regular contractions that were different than the random scattered contractions of the previous weeks. She reached out by text to alert me to the fact that she was having some “cramping feelings a few times an hour.” They started overnight but were persisting into the morning, although mild and unpredictable. The plan was to minimize and ignore, while also hydrating, eating, resting and generally taking care of herself. If there were movements toward active labor I wanted her to let me know.

Sara went about her day as planned: she attended a routine chiropractor appointment, ate a light lunch, and sent me a text just past 1:00 pm that gave the news of more regular contractions. Sara clocked them at every 6-8 minutes and lasting 30-40 seconds. They were still mild, although constant at that interval for an hour, so she was back to the self-care and ignoring, minimizing, resting routine until they were 5 minutes apart and lasting longer than a minute.

Then suddenly, Sara’s labor took an active turn. An hour later, Phil (not Sara!) texted to tell me the contractions were every 2-3 minutes and lasting about 40 seconds. I reminded them to do the Spinning Babies Three Balances to make sure baby’s position was good, and to encourage the contractions to get even longer and stronger. 

By 3:30pm, after doing some Spinning Babies things, Sara’s contractions were lasting a minute and happening every 3 minutes! Sara was ready to go to the hospital. After planning to wait for an update after they arrived, I thought it best to meet them there. And I’m so glad I did!

I got to Sara’s room a few minutes after she did. And when I arrived, I was told she was 9 cm! Sara was laying on her back in the bed, looking awkward and uncomfortable as her nurse admitted her and checked on baby’s fetal heart rate. The monitor was part of Sara’s labor since she was hoping for a VBAC, but she wouldn’t need it long.

Sara had hoped to have a vaginal birth without pain medications but wasn’t sure if it would happen. It can also be suggested by providers to get an epidural just in case the birth ends up going to the OR for a repeat c-section as a way to make sure the mom is more prepped for that. Sara arrived at the hospital at the PERFECT time to avoid pain medications and to labor most of the time in the comfort of her own home with a beautiful ocean view.

She was clearly uncomfortable in that position and having a hard time staying calm with her intense contractions. I recommended she roll over to her hands and knees and reminded her to focus on deep breaths to center her. And once she turned over, her sister got busy doing the Spinning Babies jiggle to her pelvis which happened to be the most effective tool at home the last hour or two!

Sara’s midwife was in the room, perched at the foot of the bed. The room began to fill with people since birth was clearly imminent. At 4:40 pm Sara’s water broke with a splash off the side of the bed onto the floor, nearly missing my shoes! And with the next contraction she lurched in the unmistakable way that indicated it was time to push. And Sara pushed so well. She lay on her side to push and it was only a few contractions before we could see her baby’s head crowning. And at 4:57 pm, Maia June was born to the wonderment of everyone but especially her mom, dad and aunt. “It just went so fast!” was Phil’s mantra over and over as he stared at his newborn baby with a smile plastered across his face.

Sara’s sister was in town to help care for her first child, and just happened to be in the room for the birth. She continued her labor support that had begun at home, and watched in awe as her sister gave birth. She cried and gushed to Sara about how strong and amazing she was and then she was gone at 5:00 to go pick up big sister! Maia couldn’t have timed her entrance more perfectly.

Sara soaked in the immediate skin to skin time with baby Maia and she was given the additional good news that she didn’t tear. Sara listened carefully when I reminded her to blow and not push hard at the end and she will reap the benefits of that control and patience with an easier recovery.

Maia June weighed 6 lb. 14 oz. and was 19.5 in. long at birth. Sara and Phil explained to me that Maia was given the middle name June because it was derived from Juno the Roman goddess and protector of childbirth and family. Looking back on how Maia’s birth unfolded, it seemed the perfect way to honor just how amazing everything was.

I am so proud of Sara. You might think it’s because she showed up 9 cm and had an unmedicated VBAC as she had hoped. And yes, I am proud of her for that. But I am even more proud of her for trusting her body but also for being open and flexible should her birth shift to an induction or even a repeat c-section. I am proud of how she felt her way through labor, ignoring the early parts and coping mightily at home when things took a short and intense turn to active. I am proud of her for staying focused after arriving to the hospital. As all the people swirled around her readying the room, she was trained on what my voice and her body were telling her. Sara emerged from this birth empowered and strong and that’s what I hope all of my clients get from their birth experiences.

Summer and David welcomed their second baby, this time a boy, on March 29. Summer’s first baby was very content to remain in the breech position. It didn’t matter what her mama did, she was resolute in staying head up. Summer went through all the emotions that come when a birth doesn’t go as you envisioned, and she met her baby girl in a scheduled c-section.

This time she was once again committed to giving birth vaginally if possible. She chose the same providers knowing their reputation for supporting VBACS (vaginal birth after cesarean). And time ticked on in her pregnancy much more rapidly than it had the first time. (Babies make time go faster!) Summer and David’s first child was still a baby herself and would be 16 months at the time of her brother’s birth. She was toddling and very busy, and Summer found herself busy and, on her feet, chasing her firstborn.

This baby was head down at least. Thank goodness! But this child posed a different set of challenges. He was so content inside that he wasn’t showing any signs of budging. An induction became the likely plan, but only if Summer’s body was showing signs of readiness. Her providers wanted to be sure they could encourage a gentle induction and with her recent c-section they were limited in the cervical ripeners that would be safe for her.

As Summer’s due date came and went, it was clear that her only option for a vaginal birth was an induction. But sadly, her cervix wasn’t showing any signs of getting ready. Closed, thick, and high. These were the words she heard from one appointment to the next. A final NST and ultrasound made it official. Her baby was measuring 8 lb. 13oz. and had his hand by his head. Her providers were not comfortable with an induction. So, they recommended a repeat c-section. (Spoiler alert: remember that ultrasound weight…)

Look at those rolls!

Summer mourned the change in her birth once again. She took the time she needed to process it and then gathered herself in preparation for what was to come. Her recovery would be different simply because she had a toddler roaming about. The need for rest would be even more important this time. The c-section was scheduled for 1:30 pm on March 29, but was soon changed to the first scheduled c-section of the day. Summer surmised it was probably her compassionate OB’s doing, knowing it would give her less time to stress over it.

Along those lines, Summer advocated for what she needed. And that included how I could best serve as her doula. She requested I come after the birth and provide support then as she processed everything. The c-section went well. Music played, courtesy of DJ David. Notable songs were Mama Mia by Abba and Wanna Be by Spice Girls. The music helped with Summer’s anxiety, and so did her deep breaths. At one point she breathed so deeply she lowered her heart rate into the 40s! Sage David was born at 8:21 am, but he needed more respiratory support than expected. Summer got a glimpse of him right after he was born, but soon it was a quick kiss and then he was off to the nursery. That was disheartening as it meant he wouldn’t be with Summer for skin to skin at first. David went with him to the nursery and Summer requested I come at that point.

And one more thing about Sage. He was a big boy! He weighed 11 pounds! Ultrasounds can be off by 20% when used to gauge baby’s size in the final weeks, but this ultrasound was off by 25% in the wrong direction! Suffice it to say, Summer welcomed the big number with relief as it helped her feel even more justified in the repeat c-section. I have seen several 11-pound babies born vaginally unmedicated, but Summer was content to sidestep that experience. And I was happy she got validation for the c-section through that detail of his weight! An 11-pound baby definitely wouldn’t have made labor any easier.

I was by Summer’s side soon after she called. I helped her process things but also aided in her advocacy regarding getting information about Sage and when she could go and see him. She was recovering from the c-section well and was on her way to visit him by wheelchair before I left. And he was back with her later that night.

All in all, this birth experience was less traumatic than the first one. Summer told me there were some bonuses too. She didn’t get extremely nauseous like last time since the anesthesiologist was able to adjust her meds this time to prevent that. Plus her OB was able to give her a scar revision, which she appreciated. And to top it off, her doctor did come see her later that Sage was very high in her pelvis and the VBAC may not have happened even if she had tried. This was just another validation! Summer felt the c-section was the best decision, especially in light (or heavy?) of her son’s weight. I just love when birth can be healing. And this one was.

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.

Alisa and Mark came to me first as students in my 7-week Birth Essentials class, and then over time became my clients. Their pregnancy journey is an odyssey in and of itself. After many years of trying and of loss, they were expecting a baby! A fun fact about their baby is that s/he is a donor embryo and is half Indian and half Peruvian. The gender was a surprise but so would the appearance! Another fun fact, Alisa and Mark are full of so many, the embryo transfer happened in the middle of pyrotechnics training, so the pregnancy started with a bang, literally and figuratively!

Last baby belly picture!

Alisa and Mark were overjoyed and a little cautiously optimistic based on their history. But it was soon clear that the pregnancy and their baby was growing well and very healthy. Alisa embraced the pregnancy discomforts as blessings and by her account really didn’t have many complaints to speak of. She was thrilled to carry her baby to term, even when some risk factors loomed larger in conversation the closer her due date came.

Throne position was Alisa’s preferred position

There were a few risk factors, but the most compelling was Alisa’s blood pressure and how it had been creeping up. She had some good readings in the last weeks, but she also had some not-so-good ones. Considering all risk factors, and their journey to get to the end of a healthy pregnancy, they felt the best decision was to agree to induction. Alisa’s due date was February 3, and Alisa was admitted for induction on January 27.

Mark putting the flying pig socks on Alisa since “baby will be born when pigs fly”

Spirits were high and Alisa was very patient, as was Mark. The process can be grueling and so very gradual, especially for a first birth and with hardly any dilation. Cervical ripeners were carefully and wisely used to help coax Alisa’s cervix to a more ready place. Medication was given for her blood pressure, and they started with two rounds of Cytotec the first night. Then extended three more doses into the first full day. Alisa even got a break to eat real food which was nice. 

By 2:00 am the second night, Alisa was feeling the contractions more and unable to sleep. She didn’t sleep all that great the first night either, truth be told. So, she was starting her labor journey exhausted. Her discomfort was getting her somewhere though, because by 6:00 am she was dilated 3 cm. This was a great change from her previous check of 1.5 cm. Knowing she had a long road ahead of her, Alisa chose an epidural for the promise of rest. Her back was also giving her a lot of pain, probably as much from the bed as from the contractions. Soon after the epidural she was dilated 4 cm. It was encouraging to see the dilation increase so soon.

While the blood pressure medication kept Alisa’s blood pressure within normal parameters, after the epidural she experienced a low drop that had her feeling awful. Once they got her balanced out and could resume Pitocin, her contractions were steady at 4 minutes apart. Alisa did a great job of keeping herself calm when things went awry and stayed the course to meeting her baby. She was no stranger to slow and steady with the eye on the prize, as had been her journey to motherhood so far.

We shifted Alisa into a myriad of positions to encourage her to dilate further as well as to bring her baby deeper into her pelvis. The Pitocin was gradually raised, with a close eye on her blood pressure and her baby’s heart rate. It had dipped on occasion and had her providers wondering if her baby would have the stamina for the many hours of labor remaining. After spending the day shiting her position into side-lying, hands and knees, flying cowgirl, and more, Alisa was dilated 5 cm. It was an incremental change, but it was a change. We put her bed into a throne position in the hopes it would bring her baby down upon her cervix and open things further. Alisa really liked that position too since she had spent so much time laying down. How invigorating it was to be upright after so long!

Mark’s careful attention to Alisa shone over the course of the labor. He was always there with empathy and love, and Alisa’s willing task master. For example, at Alisa’s request, and after much digging in bags, he placed Alisa’s flying pig socks on her feet, “since baby will be born when pigs fly.” Their sense of humor was refreshing and a big part of what kept them sane and patient throughout the process.

But by 6:00 pm, their baby’s heart rate had dipped again, several times, bringing their doctor in to assess. Alisa was dilated the same, 5 cm, and he strongly recommended a c-section. They were stuck between a rock and a hard place. Alisa needed more powerful contractions to dilate her cervix, but her baby was not responding well to the increased Pitocin. And keeping things as they were would not produce labor. Alisa and Mark advocated for more time. They wanted to be sure they were doing the right thing. And their doctor stepped away so they could process the situation.

But after seven contractions on her left side, Alisa and Mark’s baby’s heart rate dipped through every single one. Alisa’s doctor returned and said with sincerity that he strongly recommended a c-section. He was growing worried for their baby. At this point, Alisa and Mark were prepared to move forward, but Alisa just needed some quiet to process it. The Pitocin was turned off and after a short while, they mobilized to the OR.

Alisa and Mark welcomed their precious baby, a girl!, Fyfe Greta, at 8:55 pm on January 29. The doctor had music playing during the birth and Fyfe was born to Faith Hill singing “Wild One”. She came into the world with her own theme song! Fyfe weighed 7 lb. 14 oz. and had so much dark hair, just as we suspected, considering her genes. She had the cutest fuzz on her shoulders and back, and her eyelashes were incredibly long, gracing the tops of her cheeks when she closed her eyes.

After an induction process that spanned more than 70 hours, I wish I could say that the worst was over at that point. But I can’t. Alisa continued to have struggles with the immediate postpartum recovery. She hardly slept the first night and had waves of nausea that interfered with eating. Her blood pressure was not quite where it needed to be postpartum either, and required additional medical attention when it was all said and done.

However, at our postpartum visit, I was greeted by Alisa and Mark knee-deep in newborn care. They were grateful to be home, and working their way through the struggles of milk supply and making sure their baby was growing well. I could already see that Fyfe was chunking up so they were well on their way. The journey to meet their baby did not resemble the one they had expected, but the end result was always what they had dreamed of. Alisa and Mark have their healthy baby and a bright future full of promise as they watch her grow and become who she is meant to be in this world. With their loving guidance, I have no doubt she’ll have every opportunity to do just that!

Mark and Alisa are avid Lego hobbyists so of course they created a Lego family complete with Fyfe!

Haley and her husband, Spencer, were overjoyed to be expecting a baby in the winter. But they were disappointed to know that Spencer would be deployed during much of the pregnancy and the birth. Haley and I go to the same gym and were brought together by one of the coaches there. I am so thankful for her doula matchmaking help because Haley was such a joy to serve.

In the last month or so of the pregnancy, after everything had been proceeding normally, Haley got the shocking news that her baby was in the breech position. This can be very disheartening since in our birth community it means the baby would be born by c-section. I mentioned some things Haley might try to encourage her baby to turn, however, she had already accepted the situation and trusted that her baby knew best what position to be in. Plus, she trusted the recommendation of her doctors and appreciated the benefits of securing support for the day of the birth. Thankfully, Haley’s parents do not live far from her home so she rested in the confidence that they would be available to help in the early weeks and months, as she waited for Spencer’s return.

Haley and her mom arrived at the hospital bright and early, and I joined them a short time later. Haley’s time waiting in triage wasn’t smooth sailing. It took three different tries to get the iv established and the more she thought about the c-section approaching, the more anxious she felt inside. Her nurse was perfectly paired for her since her husband is on the same ship as Haley’s husband. She reassured her and represented a connection to Spencer, in a way.

An ultrasound that morning by Haley’s doctor confirmed that her baby boy was decidedly breech and had not budged. The anesthesiologist came in as did the CRNA, to introduce themselves and explain the spinal process and to answer any questions. The surgical assistant came in as well. But right around the time everyone had stopped by, the thought of the c-section became very real, and Haley had to process some nervous emotions. She steadied her breathing and tried to focus on the fact that she would be meeting her baby very soon, and she was able to calm herself to the point of being ready.

Haley walked back to the OR, flanked by members of her medical team, as her mom sat ready for when they called her in a short time later. Haley recounted her baby’s birth as a very emotional moment. There were tears from both Haley and her mom as they heard Hayden’ Brooks’ first cry! Haley was more happy than sad, but she wished her husband, Spencer, could have been there to experience that moment too. There was also a funny moment when her doctor was pulling him out, “There’s a butt, and there’s poop!” Hayden’s plumbing was working right from the start, and he was very much breech!

Haley recognized some family resemblances in Hayden’s grumpy face, and he had a decent amount of hair too, And he looked very much like his daddy. He was absolutely perfect and weighed in at 8 lb. 4 oz. and was 20.5 in. long.

Hayden was latched for the first time when he was ready, and he is still nursing well, over a month later. Now the countdown has turned from baby’s arrival to counting down to when daddy comes home! Haley and Hayden are very excited for that day! In the meantime, I am so proud of Haley for trusting her gut and her doctor and listening to her body in the early postpartum weeks to insure she heals well and being a downright awesome new mom while her husband is away! She is amazing!