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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If you are pregnant, you have probably heard of Spinning Babies®. Maybe you visited the site and tried a few of the recommended positions. It can be overwhelming, to say the least. Visiting the site and leaving it confused, is a common tale. Perhaps your doula or a friend has given you some Spinning Babies® tips and testimonials. But both ways to get Spinning Babies® information fall short. One is missing the hands-on practical side of it, while the other might be overlooking the nuances of position that benefit mom and baby or might not explain contraindications for some of the movements.

I had attended two Spinning Babies® training workshops before going to my Spinning Babies® Parent Educator training. And I can honestly say that despite being trained twice, I lacked skill and confidence in many of the techniques, so I simply didn’t do them. The Three Balances intimidated me! And I certainly didn’t feel I could appropriately recommend that my clients do them if I couldn’t even show them myself. 

Spending three days learning from Gail Tully and Jennifer Walker, surrounded by other birth workers seeking certification as Spinning Babies® Parent Educators is what changed it for me. My eyes were opened and I had a much more thorough understanding of the concepts. I retained the information in a totally different way, knowing I would be teaching it. We explored the techniques more in-depth and pored over the reasoning behind each one and reviewed the contraindications for each movement. I learned some things that will impact my doula-ing too. After nearly 20 years, there is still plenty to learn.

The Spinning Babies® Parent Class taught by a Certified Spinning Babies® Parent Educator, bridges the gap for expectant couples between the informative but overwhelming Spinning Babies® website and a well-meaning doula or friend. In my Spinning Babies® Parent Class the sequence of learning aids in retention. First, we review the parts of the pelvis and how the bones, ligaments, and muscles are connected. Then we explore the Daily Activities(SM) and Rest Smart recommendations, which are easily incorporated into your daily routines, adding flexibility and helping the ligaments and muscles to be supple. We reinforce proper posture, how to sit, and even how to sleep. The Three Balances®, which used to intimidate me but no longer do, are the pièce de resistance, and when done in proper sequence and form, can have a significant impact on your baby’s ability to settle into an optimal birth position. The Three® Balances are also a nice activity to do with your partner, creating the opportunity to collaborate and bond over your pregnancy preparedness. And in preparation for the big day (or night!) baby comes, we review key positions that make room for baby by opening the inlet, middle, and outlet of the pelvis. Once you know the station of your baby, you will know which position makes the most sense!

With every one of these movements, activities, and positions we go over in the class, you will have the benefit of hands-on learning and reinforcement and correction from someone trained to give it! My Spinning Babies® Parent Classes are limited in size to ensure enough time and space for all participants to feel confident in executing the movements. That’s another key difference you get in the class that you won’t get from reading the Spinning Babies® website or from a helper who claims to know. You get a teacher giving you one-on-one attention as you navigate the movements.

Does this sound like a lot of information? It is, but don’t worry because everyone who attends my Spinning Babies® Parent Class will receive access to the eBook as well as downloadable worksheets from Spinning Babies®. It’s an investment, just like all the other things you’ve put time and money into as you make room for baby in your life. But this investment, can literally MAKE ROOM for baby when it matters most. In birth. Oh! And much of what you’ll learn in the class can also ease common pregnancy discomforts. So, what are you waiting for? Enroll now!

Rikki and Nathan became parents when they welcomed their baby girl, Roxie Wren, on January 12. 2022. When I first met Rikki, she had many questions for me. She understood the value of good support for many reasons, but the education component was a huge one! We had our prenatal visit at which point I met Nathan for the first time. And about halfway through our time together, Rikki blurted out, “Aren’t you so happy we have her, Nathan?” It was sweet, but I hoped that in time, Rikki would realize that she would be the one to do the work of birth and she already had everything she needed within.

Soon after our meeting, Rikki’s body started gearing up with contractions that were surprisingly painful. The first round came overnight on January 9, and then settled down enough for a little bit of sleep, only to return the following night. Rikki and Nathan wondered if it was baby time, but things chilled out again. The third night her contractions were regular at 8 minutes apart. So, by the morning, with consistent but erratic contractions, she went to the hospital and was dilated 1-2 cm. They waited an hour and checked her again and were happy to report she was dilated 3-4 cm already. This was happening! Rikki assured me things weren’t too serious yet and not to hurry to the hospital. But she would tell me if things changed. Currently her contractions were ranging from 4-9 minutes apart.

But a few minutes later she texted that they were steadily every 5 minutes so we decided to play it safe I should head in. Rikki was handing her contractions well, staying loose from head to toe and breathing deeply. But she knew things would continue to escalate and she was open to getting an epidural. Being up most of the past three nights wasn’t helping anything either and the promise of sleep once she was comfortable was very tempting. Another contraction wave came and went, and Rikki was ready for relief. The CRNA came shortly after that and Rikki was comfortable by 2:00 pm.

The contractions spaced out after the epidural, a common occurrence, so Pitocin was incorporated to make them stronger and closer. In the meantime, her baby’s heart rate dipped so they checked to make sure she hadn’t surprised everyone by making rapid cervical change. She was “over 4 cm, but not quite 5 cm” and she also had a bulging bag. So, we focused our efforts on helping Rikki into various positions to continue labor’s progress while also enabling her to rest.

It took some time to get the Pitocin titrated to the level that would produce consistent contractions but eventually it did. Whether it was the positions, the Pitocin, or (most likely) both, at 10:15 pm Rikki was fully dilated! Her baby was still rather high at 0 station, so it wasn’t quite time to push. We used that time to use gravity-enhancing positions and to give Rikki some sugar (aka a popsicle). There was also the ever-present oxygen mask that had been incorporated during the initial decel. But she didn’t seem to mind it.

There were some late decels that Rikki’s nurse noticed, and she also developed some back pain, likely due to baby moving lower in her pelvis. Nathan rubbed Rikki’s back to help her relax and we rolled her to the other side to hopefully ease the pain. She grew warm so we turned a fan on nearby. Her nurse lowered the Pitocin to give baby a break too, since everything seemed to be a bit more intense for her too.

By 12:05 am, Rikki felt pressure down low. Her contractions were also getting more painful, despite the epidural, requiring her to breathe deeply through them. We helped Rikki roll to her hands and knees in the hope that position would move her to pushing with baby’s head low enough. Rikki swayed her hips as Nathan rubbed her back, and she maintained this position for 25 minutes. But at 12:40 her baby’s head was still at 0 station without molding, so there was still laboring down to do. 

Rikki continued to breathe courageously and calmly through her contractions as they grew, and at 1:30 am her nurse had her give a push to see if her baby would move down. She gave a good effort through several contractions on her side, but her baby was showing some signs that it was just a lot. Her doctor came in and explained her concerns about baby’s heart rate dips, the tachycardia that had developed, even after the Pitocin had been turned off. She recommended a vacuum assisted delivery, if Rikki was on board. After getting a clear understanding of what it entailed, Rikki agreed to move forward and at 2:00 am she gave her best push as her doctor assisted by vacuum. And her baby was born just two minutes later at 2:02 am on January 12, 2022! With all the 1’s and 2’s we thought Rikki and Nathan should play the lottery!

Baby Roxie was born sunny side up, as suspected. It helped give an explanation to Rikki’s erratic contractions for three nights as well as her back pain. It was all forgotten though, as her focus was 100% on her baby in her arms. Rikki spoke to Roxie about how excited she was to meet her. She also introduced her to her daddy who makes pizza, likes photography and is a skateboarder. And Rikki also made a point of letting Roxie know she really values her sleep if she didn’t mind helping preserve that. She was soon on a Facetime call with loved ones, expanding the circle of those who had been anxiously awaiting her arrival. She weighed a petite 5 lb. 12 oz. but was working on her first feed by 2:40 am.

This couple was so sweet in their excitement and expectation over becoming parents and finally meeting their baby girl. And to watch them journey together through a challenging labor was heartwarming and a good indication of their loving partnership. They were clearly more equipped for the twists and turns because they had each other to rely on.

Photo credit for the last two pictures in the gallery above goes to Roxie’s daddy who is also a gifted photographer. You can find him on Instagram: @nathaninstagrams

Loren and Colsen welcomed their sweet girl, Isla Marie, on January 9, 2022. This labor was a confusing and deceptive one for sure, sending Loren to the hospital numerous times before she was admitted in active labor. The first time, on December 6, Loren thought her water had broken. She sent me a text that there was some fluid on the bed and her mucus plug in the toilet. They went to triage at the hospital to get the fluid tested. It was a long and slow process. One nurse said she was 2 cm dilated, so that was encouraging. Eventually they got the results that one test confirmed negative for amniotic fluid and the other had a small amount, but not enough to warrant admitting Loren. They checked her cervix again and said she was not dilated at all. This whole process took 4 hours, but ultimately Loren and Colsen were able to return home. Going home is a good thing, especially if you prefer to avoid interventions, which Loren did. But it can be a hard pill to swallow (no pun intended). Loren continued to have contractions all that day and through the night. 

The next morning, January 7, just before 8:00 am, Loren texted to let me know she thought it might be time to return to the hospital. She hadn’t slept a lot, just from 10:00 to 3:00 waking up every so often from strong contractions. She was feeling nauseous, shaky, and getting vocal with her contractions. Since she had been up all night with contractions, she was feeling pretty exhausted too. This time, upon arrival to the hospital, she was dilated 4.5 cm. I met them there this time too, since it seemed to be the real deal and time! Being that she was exhausted though, they gave her the option of iv meds for some rest. Loren took them and after resting at the hospital, her contractions chilled out, so she was sent home again. And she managed to nap most of the day.

The next day, January 8, Loren and Colsen got better sleep, but Loren continued to have regular contractions. By 4:00 am once Colsen was awake, he logged a few contractions on the app and saw they were coming every 3-5 minutes. Other than having contractions, her demeanor was still that of early labor. She ate and worked through contractions, but a couple of strong ones that afternoon had them back to the hospital. It was around 2:00 pm. But while the contractions seemed closer and stronger, Loren’s cervix had not changed from the previous day. And an hour later, after still no change, they were sent home again. 

Back at home Loren was miserable. Benadryl didn’t help and she wondered if she was having really bad gas pains. Loren’s discomfort had grown so intensely they returned to the hospital a fourth time around 11:00 that night. And fourth’s time’s a charm because Loren was dilated 6-7 cm! At last! She was in active labor, and she would be admitted! This was exciting and I joined them at the hospital.

Loren had a wonderful nurse who was getting the wireless monitor ready. We made good use of the peanut ball to open her pelvis and allow for rest, in addition to sitting in the throne position on the bed. Loren got some bites of popsicle for a sugar boost, but she didn’t much feel like eating. By 1:25 pm she got in the shower for some labor, but the shower head wasn’t working properly so she quickly got back out. PSA: Check to make sure the shower works right when you get in a room!!

She returned to side-lying on the bed with the peanut between her legs, trying to rest between contractions. We even heard her breathing deepen in sleep briefly, but it didn’t last long since there was always another contraction. 

Loren’s doctor came in to visit and they decided breaking her water was a good strategy to keep things moving forward. Her contractions were spaced and had lessened in intensity. At 2:26 am her water was broken, and Loren’s cervix was 7 cm, 90% effaced, and her baby was at -2 station. They would recheck in 2-3 hours unless things changed. Loren requested the nitrous oxide for some relief and tried using it during contractions with mild relief. She was in serious labor though with the unpleasant side-effect of vomiting. 

Loren returned to laying on her side just past 3:00 am, breathing in the nitrous during contractions. She then labored in the rocking chair for a bit breathing the nitrous, and then sat upon the cub chair for some contractions, again with nitrous. Every time she moved, there were cords to untangle in order to get the nitrous to her. But it gave a little bit of a relief and distraction for 30 minutes. We directed the fan to hit her best after each move. And Colsen placed a heating pack on Loren during contractions as she leaned forward. It was a team effort of support, while Loren did the work.

By 3:50 am, Loren verbalized her doubt in continuing. She couldn’t get comfortable, and she just couldn’t see the forest for the trees (or couldn’t see the birth for the contractions). We tied the rebozo in a knot and hung it over the top of the door so Loren could dangle squat through some contractions. It was 4:00 and I was hoping she’d have some great cervical change from that. At 4:17 she was 8 cm, with more cervix on the right side. So, she lay back upon the bed on her side in the hopes her baby might help dilate her cervix on that side. Then she stood back up and lunged with Colsen, placing her foot upon a stool, and leaning to the side through each contraction. Next, she moved to her hands and knees to labor over the cub chair. Loren did all of the things! And she was rewarded for it because at 4:55 an exam confirmed she was completely dilated! She did a “practice push” and moved her baby well, prompting the nurse to predict that she wouldn’t push long.

Loren began pushing officially at 5:15 am and she pushed in a variety of positions, as you might guess. She pushed with the squat bar, then she pushed on her left side. Next, she pushed semi-reclined. At 5:46 am we could see a baby’s head just inside! And Colsen took a seat to try to compose himself, saying, “I’m just trying not to cry.”  Less than 10 minutes later they called the doctor to the room. And Loren pushed while holding her legs above her belly and brought her baby very quickly to crowning at 6:22 am. She continued to push well and sweet Isla Marie was born at 6:29 am on January 9, 2022!

Colsen cried to see his baby girl, and Loren brought Isla close. She was born on a special day, sharing Loren’s grandmother’s birthday, Isla’s great grandmother. Colsen cut the cord when the time came, and Isla was latched by 7:15 and didn’t come off for 12 minutes. It was an excellent start for breastfeeding, coasting on the incredible surge of oxytocin that comes at the time of birth. She was beautiful and made into a diva with the souped up big-bowed hospital hat for baby girls. Isla weighed 7 lb. 14.6 oz. and measured 21.26 in. long. That’s about as perfect as it gets.

I am so incredibly proud of Loren and of Colsen too. Loren’s labor was very stop and start and there was some discussion of a possible malposition that impacted her labor’s beginnings. But she charged on through the sensations she felt, resting as well as she could and conserving energy for when labor became active. And once it did, she continued her dance through labor, keeping Colsen close, staying positive (as much as possible through transition), and ultimately trusting that her body could do what it was created to do. And it did! It was exhausting, messy, deliriously hazy, but also empowering, uplifting, and beautiful.

Photo credit: Lex Leigh Photography

When people consider hiring a doula as a member of their support team, they often envision the skilled labor companion who knows a variety of comfort measures, key positions, and can provide emotional support on the big day (or night) of birth. This image is short sighted, however. For many of my clients, much of the work I do occurs before or even after the birth itself. And there is a lot that happens behind the scenes that they may be unaware of. 

When I am officially hired by clients, I secure them on my client calendar, thus taking up a spot, and limiting my availability to other potential clients. The deposit is assurance to my clients that I am committed to them and available to serve them. Once the spot is taken it’s taken. I am available to them from that point on, for resources, emotional support, or just to connect over email or phone. For many of my clients, the birth is the culmination of all the emails, texts, phone conversations, lending library pickups, and more. And for a far greater number, the birth is the longest time we spend together. But both views are short-sighted. Just ask my family. They see what doula support truly looks like from the back end. And it doesn’t look quite like that.

Being a doula also requires a certain lifestyle commitment. A sacrificial one. Let me put it another way. I am the most reliable person to my clients, but the least reliable to my friends and family. What I mean is, I never know when I might need to cancel on someone, miss a night out, give away tickets or never use them, or leave a friend stranded in the middle of an event…all because a client wanted me for birth support. These calls away are for an indefinite amount of time, which can pose more challenges than the initial leaving. I may be gone 3 hours; I could be gone 33 hours. I’ve been gone even longer than that. And there have also been false alarms—texts and calls through the night that didn’t end up as labor, rather just a sleepless night without a birth, leaving the potential for another sleepless night when labor does come.

I’ve worn my doula clothes to social events and carried my doula backpack with me everywhere. I am always begrudgingly beholden to my phone, and I mean ALWAYS. I wish I could turn my ringer off and be assured of an uninterrupted night’s sleep, but I can’t. Most of these urgent “it’s baby time” calls come in the darkest hour of night when the most people are at home asleep and very few are on the road. And I always must watch my alcohol consumption, careful that I am able to drive if needed at all hours. Along those same lines, I also closely monitor my gas tank, trying not to let it creep too low for too long. If I do, I will invariably get the call on an empty tank and must stop for gas on the way, wasting precious minutes and possibly taking a risk depending on the hour of night.

I can’t ever take trips, not unless I schedule them eight months in advance, or a miraculous opening presents itself between due dates, or babies blow through expectations by birthing all over the place. This happens rarely, so when it does, I take advantage. My husband spends more time driving to visit my family than I do, as I hang back to be ready should my clients call in labor. I have missed many opportunities for out-of-town visits because I was on call for clients and couldn’t leave the area. 

Please know when you pay the fee for a doula, it’s so much more than being at your birth. It’s about being present and available from the time of hire. It’s the huge impact it has behind the scenes on your doula’s life, and the lives of her children and partner. It affects her friends too, as they love her even though she might cancel on them last minute. It’s very demanding work, and downright unsustainable if there is no passion for it. 

And that’s just it. Being a doula is my passion. It’s not just a job. It’s a way of life. It’s a deep drive in my heart to be present for women and their partners as they become parents. And my position is a place of humility at the foot of the birthing woman, as I am there to serve her, despite changes in plans, unexpected twists, and turns, and even in the rare times when everything goes just as expected. The fee covers the hours I spend with you during your birth. But it also covers the weeks and months I can be a resource for you before then. And finally, it covers the complete lifestyle commitment to the work I do that is a constant in my personal life, regardless of any one client’s particular due date. My family gets it though. They are on this roller coaster with me, and they realize how important it is that I am available to my clients when it’s baby time. Plus, they also understand that most holidays can be shifted. ;)

Me and my kids, August 2021

They are the inspiration for the work I do.

Brittany and Mike welcomed their sweet lass, Selah Brielle, on December 26, 2021, ending my year of births beautifully. Brittany is not a woman who has an easy time of pregnancy. She had hyperemesis for both pregnancies and it didn’t let up. In her final week, even up to the day before labor, she was still getting sick. Still, Brittany maintained a positive attitude and was very motivated to have an unmedicated birth this time. She had a long an involved induction with the birth of her son that began with her water breaking at 36 weeks, and developed into a birth that included Cytotec, Pitocin, and an epidural. The outcome was excellent, and Brittany was so happy with the journey. But she was also curious about the possibility of labor starting on its own this time and what that experience might be like.

Brittany and Mike took my Spinning Babies® Parent Class to learn all they could about helping make pregnancy more comfortable and easing labor. The goal was for a shorter labor this time and a spontaneous one at that! In the last month, Brittany measured a few weeks larger which had her providers hinting to a possible induction if things continued in that direction. Brittany hoped to avoid an induction and chose to stay the course with confidence unless or until there was reason to do otherwise.

A few days before Brittany would go into labor, she felt a lot of cramps that wrapped around her abdomen. But they weren’t rhythmic and felt more like a digestive upset with other symptoms. She also had some hot and cold flashes but found that taking her prescription for hyperemesis helped. But two days later, Christmas Day, Brittany texted to tell me she was having trouble keeping anything down. She called her OB who recommended going to the hospital to get fluids at the very least and see what was going on. She was having contractions, but they didn’t seem regular. Fluids helped and her body settled down enough to warrant a return home if or until her pains developed into labor.

Brittany minimized her contractions and tried to play it cool and not get drawn in too quickly. Surely this would take some time. After all, her first labor was 26 hours long! Brittany ate cinnamon rolls and pulled pork from Christmas Day since she wasn’t able to keep down light foods in early labor. But her early labor didn’t last long. Brittany’s body quickly moved from erratic contractions to consistent and strong ones. In the first two hours they moved from 5 minutes apart consistently, then quickly moved to 4 minutes apart, to 3 minutes, and to 2 minutes in a short amount of time. She had two very difficult contractions in bed, then as she made her way downstairs to go to the hospital she had two more intense ones. Brittany even had a contraction on the porch before getting to the car. They left the house at 2:40 pm and Brittany endured a very difficult and uncomfortable car ride. Thankfully it was a short one, although she might argue that it didn’t feel very short at the time. Mike had the car parked in the hospital lot by 2:53 pm.

When Brittany arrived on the unit it was clear she was about to give birth. She had a lot of back pain and her contractions were coming back-to-back. She was led quickly to a labor and delivery room, bypassing triage altogether (thank goodness!), and an exam confirmed she was already completely dilated! I walked in around this time, arriving right behind them toting my birth ball and cub birthing chair. A nurse glanced up at me when I entered, saying, “You won’t be needing all of that.” And she was right! Brittany was already in position in the bed, stirrups, and all, surrounded by several hospital staff with her doctor suited up at the foot of the bed to catch. I quickly put all the “stuff” down and went right to Brittany’s side. She was on the threshold between full dilation and pushing, and the next contractions sent her headlong into second stage.

Brittany only pushed for two contractions and brought her baby girl into the world at 3:08 pm on December 26, just 15 minutes after they parked in the hospital lot! Brittany and Mike were so sweet in those first moments. They looked at each other in disbelief as Brittany held their sweet baby and were stunned as they smiled and giggled in disbelief. The placenta came by 3:12 and to punctuate the exhilaration of the experience, her doctor confirmed there were no tears! 

Brittany and Mike tried to wrap their heads around all that had transpired that day. So much had! In the end, Brittany had labored and birthed her baby in the unmedicated labor she was hoping for. And as soon as her baby was born her hyperemesis was cured! That was a big motivating factor right behind healthy mom and baby. Brittny and Mike had the opportunity to share one last Christmas with their son as an only child, and were blessed with the best Christmas gift the next day, Selah Brielle. She weighed 7 lb. 6 oz. and was 19 in. long. She had a crooked nose like her big brother, and she had so much vernix it covered her ear and made it stick to itself. It was also a nice coincidence that Selah was born on St. Stephen’s Day (Boxing Day), which happened to be the same day her Aunt Margaret passed away. Surely she was looking down on her and smiling. 

Every birth is a new experience. And every baby has their own journey to enter the world. But it’s nice when birth comes through us so quickly that it leaves us exhilarated and empowered. I was thrilled for this couple and their birth and the promise it fulfilled that every birth is different, and an opportunity for a totally new story. What an exciting story they have to tell Selah Brielle when she’s old enough to understand.

Ragan and Tommy welcomed their second daughter on Christmas Day, the second client of mine to get the best gift that day! Ragan was no stranger to natural birth since she had welcomed her first baby girl that way. But every birth is different, and there is the added detail of making sure big sister is taken care of before leaving for the birth place. Thankfully, Ragan’s mom planned to live with them for an extended time right around her due date window to facilitate the transition when baby arrived, in addition to Tommy’s anticipated deployment soon after the birth.

Last time, Ragan arrived quite advanced in her labor so she hoped to have more of an opportunity to settle in at the hospital so things might feel less frantic. She took care of the preliminary details as much as she reasonably could, and trusted things would unfold when and how they were meant to. She even declined a membrane sweep in favor of waiting and seeing.

I got a text from Tommy at 5:27 am saying that Ragan’s contractions had started at 4 am. They were irregular in spacing, jumping between 10 minutes and 3 minutes apart, but they were about 50 seconds long. Unfortunately, I was at a birth but hoped to be able to join them in support. I alerted my backup doula just in case and she was ready. They had spoken with the midwife and planned to leave for the hospital in about 30-45 minutes. 

An hour later, when they arrived at 6:40 am, Ragan was dilated 5 cm, 80% effaced, with baby’s head at -2 station. She was still comfortable laboring with Tommy for the time being. I stopped by the triage room to visit briefly. Ragan teared up knowing I wouldn’t be by her side, not yet anyway. But she also verbalized that she knew it was going to be okay, and I echoed that to her, gave a hug, and promised to be back as soon as I was available. Once Ragan completed the 20-minute NST she was able to move to her labor and delivery room. 

By 7:20, Ragan’s contractions were steady at 4 minutes apart and she was considering calling the backup doula. She continued to labor another 40 minutes and when she made the first vocal contraction, Tommy dispatched the doula. He remembered that point in Ragan’s labor last time and he knew things were turning a corner. She requested some essential oils, so I was able to deliver a few bottles to Ragan. It was nice to see her, and I hoped I would be seeing her soon, but knew she was in excellent hands in the meantime.

The backup doula arrived at 8:20 to find Ragan leaning and moaning through her contractions. She was feeling emotional about everything, labor, Christmas, a backup doula, so she asked for a hug and gave the doula a tight squeeze. Ragan was soon in the shower where her contractions moved to 2-3 minutes apart. She moaned low through them. She labored with one foot on a stool to keep her pelvis asymmetric. And though the water was making her feel hot, she didn’t want to get out because it felt so good. She savored the shower, knowing it was such a luxury for moms!

Tommy was decked out in his Christmas morning pjs. Turns out Ragan was wearing matching pajama pants when she arrived but had long since taken them off. It was a funny sight to see him dressed that way but I’m sure it will be a great memory when they revisit the birth pictures. At 9:00, Ragan could feel her baby was low, and her contractions grew more intense, bringing her sounding stronger as well. She put her leg up facing the water for short breaks and continued to vocalize low. She was out of the shower by 9:10 and was able to sign her consents at that time. 

She moved to the bed and labored on an extended hands and knees position and felt more pressure in her bottom. And as each contraction came, Ragan moaned through it and returned to a very calm state between. She was wonderful about conserving her energy that way. At 9:45 she took a trip to the toilet and had 3-4 contractions sitting there. She tried sitting on the cub after that but didn’t care for it. So instead, she stood by the bed and leaned over the birth ball. 

By 10:00 her labor had reached the next level, with noticeably longer and stronger contractions. “I just want to take a nap,” Ragan said, a very normal way to feel as a woman works her way through the most challenging part of her labor. Her contractions were very close and intense, leaving Ragan really having to focus intensely. Tommy setup the playlist, Christy Nockels Christmas which seemed fitting, after all.

Ragan labored on her hands and knees with a fuzzy pink blanket she had brought from home, and about 15 minutes later she was laboring on her side. I arrived around that time and quietly slipped in beside the bed and spoke softly to Ragan that I was there and she was doing an amazing job. She had two doulas for her birth, as it turned out.

At 10:30 Ragan yelled out as her water broke, stepping her contractions up in intensity once again. She was soon bearing down with her contractions and rolled over to her hands and knees. Ragan frantically called out to me and reached out her hand, so I grabbed it. Her eyes were closed, and she couldn’t see me, only heard that I was there. Then she pushed with the next contraction. Her legs shook from hormones and adrenaline, and she soon pushed her baby out into her midwife’s hands. Ragan reached down and received her baby into her arms, becoming a mother for the second time at 10:46 am on December 25, 2021. 

Ragan cradled her baby to her chest and looked down. She was so beautiful in that moment to me, literally holding in her hands the fruit of her labor. Her daughter cried out and everyone sighed and smiled. Then we helped her roll to her back upon the bed where she was able to get settled and birth the placenta. Tommy cut the cord when it was done pulsing and after some snuggle time, Ragan brought her baby to breast for a first latch at 11:18 am. And once measured, Arwynn Rose was 7 lb. 11 oz. and 19 1/2 in. long.

The finer details of what happened and when, were a blur in the midst of labor. But the contractions grew hazy, and Ragan held her baby in her arms, she realized what she had done. Her entire labor lasted just 6 ½ hours and most of Christmas Day remained. The power of her laboring body moved intensely through her, and she rolled with it, gracefully taking the unexpected changes that occurred—a Christmas birth, and a second doula. It made for a beautiful birth on such a special day to so many for other reasons. And it was not lost on us that the day Ragan and Tommy’s baby chose to be born was a very significant birthday for another very special baby. The message of love and peace that we’ve come to associate with Christmas Day shone through Ragan’s birth from start to finish. She was literally surrounded in loving support and birthed with little help from the rest of us, other than a cold washcloth at the perfect time, a steady hand to hold, and encouraging words when she needed to hear them. But we believed in her and were there to serve her however she wanted us to. And to watch Ragan do her great work, we were reminded of the significance of simply being there to honor her power and vulnerability entwined. That’s the essence of motherhood, isn’t it? To be strong and soft all at once.

Hannah and Nick welcomed their second daughter on December 25, 2021! She was absolutely the best Christmas gift they ever received, but she made them work for it. Hannah and Nick took my 7-week Birth Essentials childbirth series to prepare. Who says once you’ve had a baby you don’t need to take a class? Plus, it was a nice opportunity for them to carve aside some intentional time preparing for their second birth. That can be a challenge with a toddler to take care of. 

Photo credit: Kristin Watkins Photography

Hannah’s first birth began with an induction for high blood pressure, so she was hoping to avoid the induction process this time around. She sought out midwives for her prenatal care and birth, knowing their model was more fitting for the birth experience she desired. But even though she took the class and had previously giving birth, she still found herself confused as to when labor might be starting. She noticed increased mucus discharge, but the nothing. Then a few days later she texted that she was 99% sure her water had broken. Surely this was it! She tried to rest overnight, but we expected her body would respond with contractions. When it didn’t contract with consistency and then flat out stopped, she went in to see her midwife as instructed. And it turned out her water had not broken significantly enough to warrant going to the hospital. The plan was to wait and see and to minimize anything that didn’t stop her in her tracks. Surely her body was very close to labor.

Later that evening on December 24, Nick texted to tell me Hannah’s contractions were 5-7 minutes apart and consistently lasting longer than a minute. She had also thrown up so surely this was it! It was late at night, but Hannah was past the point of sleep, since her contractions required all of her focus. She got in the shower and within 45 minutes they had moved to less than 5 minutes apart consistently. They called the midwife and she told them to head to the hospital.

We met there around 2:00 am and Hannah was shown directly to a room for which we were thankful. (No triage!) She was dilated 4 cm, 80% effaced, and her baby’s head was at -1 station. This was a big change from her previous appointment so it was a great validation. Hannah’s body shook in response to the hormones of her labor and the pain became so intense she struggled to cope. Hannah chose to get an epidural and within the hour she was comfortable and had the option to sleep. 

Soon after the epidural an exam showed Hannah to be dilated to 6 cm, 80% effaced, and her baby’s head at 0 station. These were big changes in just over an hour. With contractions coming just 2 minutes apart, all signs were pointing to a baby soon! Then again, what do we know?

We had Hannah in a variety of positions and made good use of the peanut ball. Her midwife came in about 30 minutes later and Hannah was dilated to 7 cm. Hannah tried to rest at this point since she really hadn’t yet, but she had persistent pain on her left that made rest elusive. She tried to keep her head in a positive place though, knowing she still had much relief.

Two hours later, Hannah was dilated 8.5 cm. We moved the bed into the throne position to use gravity to our advantage. We were careful only to have Hannah upright for 30 minutes so prevent her epidural from migrating down to her feet from her belly. She returned to the reclined position until 30 minutes later when one of her doctors paid a visit. Hannah was ready to have her water broken and was glad the doctor stopped by! It was broken at 7:25 am, and with just a lip of cervix, the doctor asked Hannah to give a push to see if it slipped past the head. It didn’t, so she labored down another 30 minutes.

Her nurse encouraged Hannah to do a practice push at 8:00 and then again at 8:20, which finally revealed the cervix was gone! Since it had taken so long to dilate to complete, we suspected her baby was OP. We helped Hannah roll over to her hands and knees where she began pushing. Then she pushed on her right side, and then we assisted her into the flying cowgirl position, putting the peanut ball between her legs, while pointing her feet inward behind her. Then we switched it up at 9:00, encouraging the internal rotation of her femur by putting the peanut ball between her ankles and calves. 

And that might have been what finally did it because at 9:10 am Hannah moved her baby from +1 to +2! We could already see her baby’s dark hair and when we told Hannah this she choked back some tears. She pushed on her right side with great effort, and we placed a cold cloth on her neck. And right at 9:30 her midwife joined us and quickly suited up for delivery. Hannah felt a lot more pressure with each contraction and as her baby’s head began to crown, she reached down to feel with her own hands. I love when moms do this! 

The midwife pulled the delivery cart up to the side of the bed 5 minutes later as Hannah continued to push with all her strength. And then we saw the head, emerging with the cord loosely wrapped. The next push revealed the culprit that delayed the process—there was a hand by the chin! Eden Elizabeth was born at 9:46 am on Christmas Day! She was the best Christmas gift ever, weighing in at a perfect 7 lb. 12 oz.

Hannah held her sweet baby so tightly, it was as if she’d never let go. She cried and was so grateful to have her daughter in her arms. Nick was steadfast support the whole way through, always right beside Hannah believing in her, trusting her, and most of all loving her. 

Hannah’s midwife gushed over her beautiful placenta and gave her a tour of the vibrant home she had grown for her baby. Sweet Eden was born a bit juicy, so she took a stop at the warmer, and then a trip to the nursery. But she was back within the hour. 

Photo credit: Kristin Watkins Photography

I was so honored to stand beside Hannah as she labored. She did all the prep work and when labor was more challenging than expected, she rolled with it and maintained a positive attitude. She was surrounded in support and when she met her baby, we were there to celebrate with her. I grabbed my things up a little while later since there was another client whose baby wanted to be born on Christmas. It’s worth noting that Hannah tried to send me away to the other client sooner, but I knew she was in the capable hands of my backup doula. It takes a village for all of us sometimes.

Photo credit: Kristin Watkins Photography

Dulce and Joshua welcomed their third child on December 22, 2021! This was my third time to serve as their doula and it has been such a wonderful gift to watch them grow as parents with each new addition. When they reached out to tell of their pregnancy, they were in California with plans to return to Hampton Roads in the later half. I was so excited at the opportunity to serve them again! Dulce’s birth history is varied in some ways, and consistent in others. She has had recurrent high blood pressure that resulted in inductions for every birth. However, they unfolded differently. Her first child was born by c-section, her second by a VBAC. And then came Charles Duke, born by a second VBAC! 

In this third pregnancy, Dulce’s blood pressure was actually very good almost the whole way through. It was a nice change and left open the possibility of spontaneous labor. That is until the very end. Dulce’s blood pressure was high at her appointment on December 21, just one week shy of her December 28 EDD. She was sent to triage for evaluation, but they soon made the call to keep her for induction. Dulce and Joshua were happy with the decision given her history.

Dulce’s biggest hope for this birth, behind healthy baby and mom, of course, was to not feel frantic. Her first birth got scary when her water was broken and her baby’s heart rate took a turn, making the call for a c-section for her baby’s sake. Likewise, in her second labor things got crazy when her water was broken and then things ramped up so quickly, she hardly had time to get an epidural. This third birth she hoped to feel less frantic and calmer. And that meant being a bit more strategic about things. 

Dulce’s initial exam had her cervix dilated 2 cm, 50% effaced, baby at -3, with a posterior cervix. There was some ripening to do. They began with a Foley bulb and Pitocin together and just an hour later, Dulce was feeling contractions. They were short and erratic, but they were contractions, nonetheless. And the Foley bulb was out in just 1 ½ hours. The plan was to gradually increase Pitocin and do another exam in a couple of hours around 9:00 pm.

An hour later, her contractions were coming at a steady pattern of every 2 ½ minutes and lasting 30 seconds. They planned on getting the epidural in place before breaking her water this time, to help guard against the crazy experience she had previously at that point. In the meantime, Dulce walked and paced and sat upon the birth ball, moving in ways that helped with the contraction pain, and also brought her baby deeper in her pelvis.

They broke her water shortly after the epidural and she was dilated 3 cm, but Dulce’s body shook in a way that hinted to active labor getting established. We had her lay over the cub birthing chair for some rest but to also help bring baby down to dilate her cervix. It was 10:40 pm.

Shortly before midnight, her nurse noticed some variables in the baby’s heart rate. Dulce was also feeling some pain in her vagina, so it seemed a good time to investigate. Her cervix was a stretchy 5 cm, so we tried a new position to encourage descent called Froggy Walchers. I loved how eager Dulce’s nurse was to learn and collaborate with me with positions to encourage the birth!

The doctor came in and inserted an IUPC to make sure contractions were strong enough and also to add fluid to help float the cord to help stabilize baby’s heart rate. They also turned off the Pitocin to see if Dulce’s body might continue dilating on its own.

Someone drifted in to setup the delivery table and we helped Dulce roll to her side and placed a peanut ball between her legs. She felt more pain in her vagina and a check at 12:15 revealed Dulce was fully dilated, and her baby was at 0 station. The turned Pitocin back on at the lowest level to help bring baby down. But I doubt it was necessary really, because when Dulce gave her first push after they removed the foley at 12:30, we could already see her baby’s head! 

Dulce pushed a total of 3 minutes, so I guess that was 2 contractions. And Charles Duke was born at 12:34 am on December 22, 2021! The cord was loosely around his neck and easy to move aside at delivery. His face was so purple from bruising as he navigated his way through his mom’s pelvis. And he was a little slow to perk up, so he took a 5-minute detour to the warmer for some extra attention. Joshua was never far from his son, and I was never far from Dulce. And he was soon back in her arms. Charles weighed 7 lb. 10 oz. and measured 21 in., the same length as his brother and sister at birth. Dulce birthed her son without a tear too, by the way. And he was latched not too long after birth.

Dulce had the calm and gentle experience she envisioned for Charles. She had a hand in the decisions and was reassured by her providers every step of the way. They even worked collaboratively with her chosen birth support, going so far as asking whether I was going to “coach” her in pushing or they were. Honestly, I don’t think Dulce needed any coaching from any of us, but it was so nice of them to ask. It was a truly lovely birth and I think there was a lot of good cross training happening too! 

Emily and Adam became parents on December 14, 2021, when their son Oscar Mitchell was born. Their labor journey was a stunning display of a beautiful partnership that I have been blessed to witness in the early weeks of parenthood as well. Emily’s contractions began on her due date, December 12, as mild cramps. They grew more significant around 1:15 am and had developed into enough of a pattern to warrant a call to me around 6:00 am. Emily’s contractions were already 5 minutes apart at that point, so I mobilized and was to their house by 7:30 am.

Emily had already attempted to eat and thrown it up, taken four showers, and drifted into a predictable labor pattern that cued Adam in on applying counter pressure with each contraction. They had spent the night developing their rhythm, so when I arrived, I provided an opportunity for Adam to eat something as well as offer some fresh ideas. Emily had the shakes, and although she was still chatty and able to smile between, her labor was requiring a lot from her. 

Emily’s contractions spaced out a bit, but they grew longer lasting 1:45 each. That didn’t amount to much more of a break between. She sucked down some fruit pouches and rested between contractions in so much as she draped herself over whatever was near—the birth ball, the cub chair, and even Adam. Especially Adam. By 11:30 am, she labored out in the backyard for a change of scenery and the energy the sun provided. 

But when she returned indoors, laboring in the shower helped her labor take a more active turn, with contractions that moved from 4 ½ minutes apart to the landmark 3 ½ minutes apart. She was feeling tired and a bit worried for what was to come. She had a particularly strong contraction that reminded her there was more work to come. In her vulnerability, Adam pulled her in close and spoke words of love and encouragement. “I can’t wait until we meet our son,” he said. “Me neither,” was Emily’s reply. A call to the midwife, and we were off to the hospital soon after that.

In her triage room, Emily had her first cervical exam and was dilated 4.5 cm and 70% effaced, and her baby was at -2 station. There was still a bit of work to do, but Emily had dilated about halfway and we reminded her that the second half of labor tends to be shorter. Once done with the NST and settled into her room, Emily was ready to be on the move. She put on her pants and walked the unit. During contractions she gripped the handrail and did anterior pelvic tilts to bring her baby deeper into her pelvis. It didn’t take long for her to want the privacy of the room, so she returned there and did some hip swirls on the birth ball instead.

She gave the hospital shower a try and I left she and Adam alone for that time, hoping oxytocin would be bolstered by their closeness. Emily emerged from the shower tired, so some lemon essential oil helped to perk her up. She labored upright in the bed shaped into a throne awhile, laying her head back onto a pillow with her feet below, to encourage her baby’s continued downward movement. At 9:37 pm Emily was dilated 5 ½ cm. This was unexpected since she had been laboring at the hospital about 6 hours and only dilated ½ to 1 cm more. She didn’t let it discourage her and her midwife was patient and encouraging.

Emily resolved to do some dangle squats with the rebozo and then returned to the shower. She and Adam worked together in the shower alone, providing a good opportunity for Emily to voice her frustration to him, “I just want to be done.” Adam spoke such strength into her, sharing how amazing she was doing and how much he believed in her. She returned to the bed to labor as the nausea returned. Peppermint assuaged it as it did previously, and a bit of Zofran didn’t hurt either. Emily threw off her blanket as her body heated up. Surely, she was making changes now.

There was even some bloody discharge that hinted of a more open cervix. Her nurse had to place the monitor lower on her belly, another good sign of baby’s descent. Emily did more dangle squats with the rebozo, and then sat upon the cub birthing chair, as burps and hiccups bubbled up, another positive sign of progress.

During a bathroom trip, Emily felt a new degree of pressure that had her express that she thought her baby was moving as if to find the best way out. (He was!) And at 2:00 am she was dilated 7 cm and her baby’s head was at -1 station. She had finally turned that corner. She and Adam returned to the bathroom for a heart-to-heart pep talk, and then a return to the shower. Emily moved down to her hands and knees as the water beat upon her back and the contractions grew even stronger. And soon she felt like she might need to push.

She got out of the shower and was ready to have her water broken if the conditions were right. Her midwife broke it and simply said, “Do you want to have your baby?” “Yes,” was Emily’s reply and she rolled over to her hands and knees and began pushing at 3:25 am. And Emily moved her baby down so rapidly, that her midwife pulled the delivery cart over just 10 minutes later. She sat at the foot of the bed as Emily did the hard work of birthing, perfectly poised at her feet in service to the source of such birthing power.

The midwife supported the perineum with oil and nonchalantly signaled the nurse to call for nursery. And with words of affirmation with each push, and Adam’s growing excitement as he caught more and more of a glimpse of his son, Emily brought him into the world at 3:50 am on December 14, 2021! He was born juicy, and since there was thick meconium, he got a little more help at the warmer clearing it all out. He was back in mama’s arms a few minutes later and always had Dad standing by. Oscar weighed 7 lb. 15 oz. and was declared perfectly healthy, punctuating that by having his first pee and poop on the warmer.

We recounted the details of the birth and were grateful for patient providers that left Emily and Adam to welcome their son the way they felt best. Emily was patient and wise and was strong in her vulnerability. She left open the possibility that things might unfold differently than the books say but knew they would unfold in the way their baby needed them to. Emily stayed focused on one contraction, one breath, and one step at a time, and I think that was the key, well that and the unfailing support of her husband. It was a beautiful journey and an important reminder that every birth is different and doesn’t necessarily follow Friedman’s Curve.