Lindy and Leland welcomed their first child, a son, on February 22, 2022. (That’s 2-22-22!) These first-time parents were also students in my 7-week childbirth class and had chosen providers who were known for their support of natural birth. However, as the pregnancy progressed, there were some concerns that came up at 28 weeks. It became clear that their care would be referred out to the high-risk OB practice in the area to ensure Lindy and Leland’s baby got the level of care he would need. There were several concerns that added up to a heart problem that would need to be addressed with surgery in their baby’s first days of life.

This was a big pill to swallow but swallow it they did. Lindy and Leland gracefully followed the new direction their journey had taken them, and with strong faith in the Lord, they prayed fervently and adjusted their plans, surrounding them with loving friends and family to help.

In the last weeks, their baby was confirmed breech. This was an added complication as it would mean a c-section birth if baby did not turn. With the heart issues looming, and some concerning slow growth in their baby, Lindy’s doctors strongly recommended a c-section sooner rather than later. They even put a date on the calendar to insure they had the OR reserved. Lindy and Leland struggled to balance the potential for a c-section with the benefits of more time in utero for their baby to develop. Lindy went in for regular BPPS and NSTs to check on baby and make sure he was doing fine. And for a while he was. Until he wasn’t.

All was well on February 14. Then on February 17, baby checked out fine. But four days later, the ultrasound showed some reduced amniotic fluid volume that made a c-section as soon as possible the safest option. Originally it was going to be 6:00pm that night, but then it was shifted, and Lindy was admitted overnight so they could do the c-section in the morning when the full cardiac team was available. This was par for the course at this point. Their expectations were in constant flux.

We had a powwow phone call that night to check-in on emotions and review details, and I planned to arrive the following morning. When I entered the room, I saw Leland laying in Lindy’s hospital bed with her. It was such a sweet image and hit home just how united and how in love these young parents are!

We passed the time talking, and I answered questions as needed and encouraged the both of them. A parade of nurses and doctors came in to explain why things were delayed. Yes, they were delayed again. But Lindy and Leland were patient and took refuge in the fact that their baby was holding and wasn’t in such urgent need of a c-section that they couldn’t wait a little longer. Time was a gift, every day, to every hour, and in the end every minute. They played worship music to bring peace and love to the space. And with minutes remaining before Lindy was to get wheeled to the OR, a prayer was said for wisdom and skill of surgeons, and for a safe birth for their son. Lindy was taken back at 11:44 am. And Leland worked on getting dressed in his paper suit.

Leland was taken back to join Lindy at 12:08 pm. And their son was born at 12:25 am. Leland texted me the good news and mentioned there was a beautiful story to share. Lindy had worship music playing over her phone during the birth. She and Leland sang as the c-section began. Soon they heard another voice singing on the other side of the curtain, followed by another, and another until a chorus of people were singing and worshipping together. There were tears and softened hearts and a definite feeling of God with Us during the birth.

Their sweet baby, Levi Marshall, was born breathing well. And in answer to a prayer by his parents that he be born weighing more than 5 lbs. (in spite of the most recent ultrasound that had him estimated at 4 lb. 10 oz.). And Levi weighed 5 lb. 1 oz.! While still small, this was a huge victory as it was a safer weight for surgery. Hugs came from the doctor, who happened to recognize Leland from a previous encounter, and she told Lindy she brought the good energy that day.

Leland went with Levi while I stayed with Lindy. She mostly rested. She had had a whirlwind 24 hours and it was just the beginning of their crazy ride as parents. Soon they would have surgery and recovery for their baby, and eventually skin to skin, breastfeeding, and bringing him home.

In the meantime, they drive to the hospital daily, bringing Lindy’s pumped milk and taking notes to update loved ones. At the time of this writing, Levi is still at the hospital but on the road to recovery. They encountered a few little hiccups but in general things are looking good. And mom and dad even got some skin-to-skin time with their sweet boy!

Birth can be so different. And while there were not many surprises with the scheduled c-section, Lindy and Leland still went through the gamut of emotions that accompany any birth, but to an even greater degree. They are taking things day by day and clinging to each other in the process. They have loving friends and family to keep them connected, and they are covered in prayer. Their faith continues to carry them through this difficult journey, but they believe in God’s goodness and look forward to when they can bring Levi home and really feel like things are “normal”.

(UPDATE: Levi is home and doing well. He was in the hospital for 79 days total, not that his parents are counting. He’s been home about 6 weeks at the time of this writing, and his parents are ecstatic to be sleep deprived and have an uncanny understanding of breastfeeding and pumping. Levi is growing and he is getting caught up on his milestones too. He does have another surgery, but the future looks very bright!)

Makenzie and Shane have welcomed their second baby girl, Kolsyn Grace, into their family on June 8. She was a hard-fought attempt at a VBAC that ended in a triumphant repeat c-section. Makenzie returned to the providers from her first birth, trusting them, and understanding they had the lowest rate of c-section and a high rate of VBACs. She wanted to feel as though she did all she could for a vaginal birth this time. And she definitely did.

On June 7 I got a text from Makenzie around 4:00 am saying, “Hey you. Been having strong contractions since 2:15 am. Every 5-7 min lasting 1 min.” This was good news, and we were excited to know her baby girl was on the way. They progressed in intensity, proximity, and duration quickly. Just 30 minutes later had contractions ranging from 3.5 to 4 minutes with heavy pressure in the vagina. They had a significant drive, so they were on the road shortly and we all met up around 6:00 am.

Makenzie was dilated 3-4 cm with consistently close and strong contractions. She walked the halls for a bit, pausing with each contraction to squat and sway.  Thirty minutes later she was sounding so different she got another check. She was a solid 4 cm. Once in her room she labored over the CUB on hands and knees for a bit, swaying her hips to hope her baby descend.

By 7:45 am Makenzie moved her labor into the shower. Country music played over her speaker, and votives kept the lighting dim. Citrus fresh and Lemon on a washcloth filled the shower with uplifting scents that kept Makenzie alert gave a sense of renewed energy and focus. She exited the shower at 9:35 and labored beside the bed.

She labored on hands and knees, but her lower back continued to hurt in that position, so we used a heating pad. By 10:45 am she was feeling different, and a check revealed she was dilated 5 cm, 90% effaced, and her baby was at-1. I did some belly lifting and “shook the apple tree” to help loosen her pelvic floor with the rebozo. Since her contractions had spaced out some, she used the breast pump to try and bring them close together again.

Eventually they returned to less than 5 minutes apart with the pump, so Makenzie did a dangle squat the the rebozo to bring her baby down. She rested some in bed, feeling tired by her efforts, and then about 30 minutes later her water broke. Makenzie was still 5 cm at that point, but her stretchy cervix would open to 6. It was 2:25. Her baby was out of the OP position but looking toward Makenzie’s left hip. She returned to the shower to do some lunges to encourage her baby’s rotation.

Her contractions intensified and got much closer at 3 minutes apart by 3:00 pm. She was 6 cm by 3:20 and ready to get an epidural. We also wondered if it might provide some pelvic relaxation her body and baby might need. The epidural did not go off without a hitch unfortunately, and eventually needed to go in a second time. Once she was comfortable an exam at 5:20 confirmed she was 6 cm, 90% and baby was at -1. Her midwife recommended Pitocin since the contractions had spaced out again. Makenzie was on board with it and eager to meet her baby.

We had Makenzie in a variety of positions to help baby descend and rotate. She did flying cowgirl and used the peanut on her side with her knees together and ankles around the peanut to open her pelvis in a different way. She received a visit from family that included big sister, but it proved a bit upsetting to see mom in the hospital, so the visit was cut short, and Makenzie returned her focus to labor.

Her baby’s heart rate began to show some decels which had her midwife wondering why. Makenzie’s cervix continued to dilate slowly but surely though, open to 7 cm by 7:40 pm. We moved the bed into the throne position to use gravity to encourage further dilation and the Pitocin was turned back on once baby had a break.

Makenzie labored on her side and even on her hands and knees. And by 11:35 pm she was fully dilated, and her baby was at +1 station! She did a cycle of pushing and then labored down in the throne position. But her baby’s heart rate continued to decel in concerning ways. The midwife told Makenzie that her baby was telling everyone that she needed to be born a different way. It truly became a maternal sacrifice for Makenzie to let go of her VBAC to ensure her baby girl arrived safely. She did not hesitate to move forward with the c-section plan and in minutes Shane was suited up and they had the OR team ready.

Makenzie went back and Shane followed soon after, and they welcomed their sweet chunky girl at 12:26 am on June 8. Kolsyn weighed 8 lb. 12 oz. and was not coming out vaginally once they were able to see her position in relation to Makenzie’s pelvis. She was 21 in. long and cried right away to let everyone know she was fine.

Makenzie noticed she had squished ears on top like her big sister and she cried a cute little girl cry. Once the excitement of the birth died down and they got a chance to snuggle in the OR, Makenzie was moved to her postpartum room where she would remain until discharge home. They got to know their second baby and knew the path laid out before them to meet her was the safest and best one. There were no regrets knowing they had done all they could and jumped headlong into healing and loving their girls. I’m so proud of the way they remained united through labor and even through the difficult (and not as difficult as they thought) decision to move forward with a c-section again. Makenzie fought hard for labor, leaving no stone unturned. I’m so proud of her.

Amadly and Bryce met their daughter, Mila Lilliann, on June 4, after a long and patient journey. I got a text just before 9:00 am on June 3 that Amadly had been experiencing intermittent leaks since 2:00 am. She wasn’t sure if her water broke but thought it best to call her doctor, who recommended she go to the hospital and get checked to see what was going on. They confirmed that Amadly’s water did break and since it had been about 12 hours since it broke, she would be admitted. Thankfully, Amadly and Bryce stopped to get some food on their way to the hospital! This might be a long road.

Amadly had no contractions, and her cervix was not dilated. Pitocin was mentioned but she preferred to wait on that. Instead, she agreed to give oral Cytotec a try in the hopes it would ripen and help get things going. Amadly did her best to rest that night. But after several doses of the medication, by around 6:00 am the next morning her cervix was only dilated a fingertip. It was time to begin Pitocin. Amadly needed contractions if she was to have any chance for a vaginal birth. And by the time the Pitocin had begun, her water had been broken over 24 hours. We were hopeful her labor would eventually get going and were thankful for her patient doctor.

By 11:00 am, Amadly sent an update that her contractions were growing stronger and rhythmic, coming every 4-6 minutes. She was dilated 2 cm and her doctor broke the rest of her water. It was encouraging to know her cervix had dilated, and we were optimistic breaking her water all the way would continue forward momentum. Amadly continued to rest so she would have the energy necessary for active labor.

By 1:30 pm Amadly was breathing through her contractions that were coming more intensely. In fact, her contractions were requiring so much of her focus that she was at the point of requesting an epidural to help. The Pitocin was raised incrementally throughout the day. But the baby kept having decels with the contractions, so the Pitocin had to be turned down.

It became a dance between helping Amadly into positions that would encourage dilation, while also maintaining an effective level of Pitocin that baby could tolerate. It was a fine line and involved rolling to the left and the right, using the peanut ball and turning down Pitocin, and then starting it back up. By 6:20 pm, the pit had been turned down due to multiple decels, and Amadly was checked and 3 cm.

The nurses changed shifts bringing some different energy, and that nurse and I worked together to get Amadly’s baby out. It had been nearly 40 hours since her water broke and there wasn’t a lot of time left. We had her in runner’s position, and then upright in the throne position. And by 9:15 pm, her cervix was still 3 cm, but stretchy. So her nurse stretched it to 4-5 and did a membrane sweep that got her cervix to 4 cm.

We shifted Amadly to a reclined position, placing a blanket and pillow under her right leg for asymmetry, and then we helped her to the left runner’s position by 9:45 to help stabilize her baby’s heart rate. The next step was the game changer. We helped Amadly into the flying cowgirl position in the hopes it would open her pelvis and allow baby to descend. Her baby responded with decels through each contraction that popped back up after. After about 15 minutes in this position, and several sequences of decels, her nurse checked her cervix at 10:12 pm. And we were all thrilled to learn she was almost completely dilated!!

More people got involved, bringing the hospitalist OB to the room to fill the gap until Amadly’s doctor got there. The heart rate continued to dip off and on, but baby always recovered after about 3 contractions. This had been her pattern for the past day or so. Amadly breathed oxygen through a mask to give her baby a boost, and they also turned down the Pitocin. And Amadly pushed!

She pushed so well. Every push brought her baby down, and her doctor arrived around 10:20 pm with plenty of time to cheer her on with us. With Bryce by her side, and several other people as well, Amadly brought Mila into the world at 11:09 pm on June 4, 2022. She only pushed for an hour, which felt fair after how long she had been waiting, even to the point of having a c-section discussion just in case.

Mila weighed 7 lb. 1 oz. and was 21 in. long. She had Apgar’s of 7/9 and came around quickly to enjoy skin to skin with her mom. She latched for the first time at 11:40 that night, and Amadly and Bryce were smitten. And we kept talking through the amazing timeline which just goes to show how important it is for baby to be in the right position to come out!

It was a team effort for sure, but Amadly and Bryce’s openness to try new things and to even consider a c-section, validate how much their hearts wanted to meet their baby girl safely. And in the end, she was born vaginally and just perfect. I am so proud of Amadly’s courage and her confidence to advocate for her choices, all while balancing them with her doctor’s recommendations. And we are all extremely grateful for her doctor who was patient and not alarmist too. Amadly was blessed with an excellent team!

Meredith and Omari welcomed their son, Orion, on May 23, nearly a month earlier than expected. Their journey was the epitome of letting go and changing plans, a very good training ground for parenting, as it turns out.  Some serious itching and concerning lab results, confirmed that Meredith had developed a complication that would necessitate an early induction. Regular NST’s kept close watch on their son while in utero, until ultimately homed in on May 21. I reminded Meredith that inductions can be a long and gradual process. Her provider said the same. And on the day of admission to the hospital, her nurse and midwife echoed the same. Meredith told me she was all about the realistic expectations!

We were in communication during the ripening phase of the labor. The plan was laid out with her midwife. They would begin ripening with Cytotec using several doses throughout the night and into the day. Meredith was grateful to still have the option of eating in the early part of the process. After all, she wasn’t even in labor yet and she was hungry. By the following night she was dilated 1 cm, so after dinner and a shower the plan was to use a foley bulb to manually open her cervix further. Sometime that night Meredith experienced the stereotypical movie moment of having her water break in a gush! And it was reassuring to know that her body seemed to be picking up on the plan of labor.

Pitocin was initiated to help generate contractions, and we all continued to expect a slow and gradual process. But Meredith was breathing through contractions that were more difficult than expected for her dilation. She began to use her breathe and movement to work with her body. At 11:00 that morning there was still a fore bag of fluid in front of her baby’s head, so the midwife broke that to continue the forward momentum of labor. Meredith’s cervix was hard to gauge, and with contractions more painful than expected at that stage, Meredith decided an epidural would help with relaxation. She had also been staring at the same four walls for well over 24 hours at that point.

Meredith was surrounded by her best friend, cousin, and husband, and even had her in-laws and dad, and stepmom in her room from time to time. There was no lack of love for Meredith, Omari, or Orion, and it was heartwarming. But Meredith reached a point where she desired silence and solitude, so she requested most of her visitors leave so she might rest and focus. Her labor was working on getting going, but they thought an IUPC would help gauge whether the contractions were even strong enough. And on top of that, the epidural was less than perfect, and Meredith struggled with the catheter Ultimately her nurse removed it but Meredith still felt that pressure.

Then at 5:45 pm something crazy happened. Whether it was the perfect level of Pitocin, or the fact that the crowd of loved ones had cleared, an exam revealed that Meredith’s cervix was dilated 9.5 cm! Meredith sobbed, “I’m just so happy!” as everyone mobilized for second stage. The delivery cart was prepared, and the midwife gowned up and everyone got excited for pushing. The time stamps for her dilation were quite remarkable: Meredith was dilated 3 cm at 2:00 pm, 5 cm at 4:00 pm, and then 10 cm at 6:00 pm! She just flew! The energy in the room shifted and we were gearing up for a birthday party.

There was no rushing pushing, as there was no rushing labor. So, we gave your mom time to let her body dilate completely and move you down so when she did push it would be for less time. Just before 6:45 pm pushing began. Baby was at +2 station, so he seemed to be in position. But when Meredith pushed her baby’s heart rate dipped. They applied an FSE to get a precise read on his heart rate and turned off the Pitocin to give him a break. After enough time had passed, they resumed pushing and turned the Pitocin back to half. Meredith pushed in a variety of positions, including knees closed, to open her pelvic outlet. But her baby’s heart rate continued to dip in a concerning way. And he wasn’t descending as much as he should have after pushing so long.

Meredith’s doctor assessed whether he might be able to assist with an instrumental delivery, but the baby wasn’t low enough for it to be a safe option. A c-section was recommended, and Meredith’s baby seemed to punctuate the decision. There was time to consider and discuss, but Meredith was ready to meet her baby and didn’t want to possibly induce more risk for her baby. He had already displayed signs he was not tolerating pushing very well.

Once the team was assembled, Meredith went back and after Omari was dressed in his paper garb and they were ready, he was admitted to the OR to take his seat beside his wife. Their son, Orion Zadd Robertson was born at 10:09 pm on May 23, 2022. He weighed 6 lb. 5 oz. and 19 in. long. He was perfect and adorable according to his parents, of course, but the birth professionals in the room agreed. He is particularly cute!

In her postpartum room, Meredith’s demeanor was elated and relieved. She was excited and grateful. Omari was in the nursery with Orion since he needed a little more attention initially. But they were soon reunited as a family of three. I have deep admiration for Meredith and the way she loosened hold on the birth she imagined and embraced the birth her son needed. Love was at the center and surrounded this journey from start to finish, there is no doubt.

Camron and Bryce welcomed their son, Theodore Scout, on May 12, 2022. Labor is always surprising, I suppose, but the start of this labor was a blindside. During Camron’s routine prenatal appointment her water broke during an exam, and just like that, her plans for the next couple of days were decided. She called me with the news, and I could hear the shock in her voice. She was also excited though, and eager to meet her baby who had lingered a few beyond her due date already. So, all in all it wasn’t the worst thing to have happened.

After going home to gather the necessaries, grab a bite to eat, and tearfully kiss their dogs goodbye, Camron got settled in the hospital where the plan was outlined. Her cervix seemed ripe enough to warrant starting with Pitocin, so they began around 1:30 that afternoon and raised it gradually over time. After several hours, Camron’s contractions were 1 ½ to 3 minutes apart, ranging from 45-90 seconds long. They weren’t too painful yet, but Camron said they were changing rapidly.

And just 90 minutes later, Camron was having a much more difficult time breathing through them. Bryce sent out the signal flare text, saying, “I think it’s time for the big guns (you).” This made me laugh but made it more than clear it was time to head in! I arrived 30 minutes later at 7:30 pm. Camron was laboring on the birth ball with Bryce sitting very near. I noticed his hand was on her leg during the contraction, and I soon realized he was touching her in some way through virtually every single contraction. They were lasting a full minute and coming as close as 2 minutes, leaving Camron with about the same amount of time in a break as during a contraction. This is a challenging pattern to sustain and required very intense focus from Camron.

We had her nurse grab a wireless monitor so Camron could labor in the shower. Being on Pitocin required that she remain on the monitor for the duration of her labor. Bryce put his hand on Camron’s lower back and said sweet things like, “You’re pretty.” I just loved that and knew his small gestures would be the big things that carried Camron through her long labor.

Just before 9:00 pm, Camron draped her body over the CUB for some time on hands and knees. The Pitocin was up to 10 mu by then, and her contractions were steadily chugging along. A warm pack on her lower back helped with the pain she felt there, and after a bit of time passed, she lay down on her side with the peanut ball between her legs. She breathed deeply through contractions and Bryce continued his affirmations, saying, “You’re so beautiful.”

Camron felt nauseous as her labor intensified so we used some peppermint oil. “They are getting so much worse,” she exclaimed, just past 10:00 pm, making the night ahead feel even longer than it already was. Just before 11:00, her doctor stopped in for a check and confirmed Camron was dilated 3-4 cm, 100% effaced, and her baby was at -2 station. She also confirmed there was a fore bag in front of baby’s head. With Camron’s agreement, she broke the fore bag as a way to capitulate the progress of labor.

Camron moved her labor right to the shower after that and she took advantage of 40 minutes of dulled pain, as she relaxed her body and sank into each contraction. She emerged from the shower doubting her ability to go much longer and requested a cervical check soon after. By 12:30 am, Camron was dilated 6 cm, 100% effaced, and her baby had moved down t -1 to 0 station! She had done a lot over the course of that hour, and after considering her options, she decided to continue laboring without pain medications.

Camron labored sitting with her legs in a butterfly pose, then she stood and swayed in Bryce’s arms. She used a footstool to lunge through contractions that didn’t feel as if they were giving her any breaks at all. We reminded her to focus on the breaks, no matter how short they seemed, and Bryce said, “Work on the reset, best friend.) it was so sweet how they called each other best friend and bestie! Just before 2:00 am, Camron felt a lot more pressure, so she returned to her hands and knees over the CUB.

Camron labored standing up again and felt a lot of pressure like she might need to push. By 3:35 am it felt better when she pushed with the peaks of her contractions, so we wondered if perhaps it was time. She continued to labor down like that until 3:50, at which point her nurse did an exam and shocked us all when she said, “You are the same.” The strategy changed after that, from following your body to not pushing at all costs. The doctor did an exam a short while later and felt that Camron’s cervix had begun to swell. It was imperative she didn’t push at that point, and it was soon clear to Camron that the only way she wouldn’t push would be to numb the sensation with an epidural. It was a wise decision and within 30 minutes, Camron was comfortable, and even more importantly, she wasn’t pushing.

Camron rested while she could, and we changed her position from time to time, in the hopes her baby’s head would be a bit less forceful against her cervix, and she would continue to dilate to complete. The nurses changed shift with the new day, welcoming the team that would be assembled for the birthday party. Pitocin was reinstated gradually, and they balanced it with baby’s response. There were some decels in the heart rate, but nothing to extreme to change the plan.

Camron’s body shook as labor charged ahead and her nurses set up the delivery table in anticipation by 10:20 that morning. The new doctor on call stopped by and assured Camron that all was well, especially since she was just in active labor that morning, they would continue moving forward with delivery. She had technically been ruptured for 24 hours, but it was a relief to know there was no deadline to Camron’s labor.

And just 90 minutes later, by 12:40, all that remained of Camron’s cervix was an anterior lip! We were all ecstatic at the news especially since she had waited so long to hear it! Eight hours earlier she was swollen down to 4 cm again. A combination of Pitocin and some key positions (exaggerated runners and knees in and toes out with the peanut ball), Camron was fully dilated at +1 by 2:00 pm. She gave a practice push at 2:05 and pushed so well she continued. Her doctor came 30 minutes later, and in just under one hour of pushing, Theodore Scout was born at 2:59 pm! Theo weighed 7 lb. 9 oz. and measured 20.5 in. long.

It was clear why he had some decels…Theo’s cord was twice wrapped around his neck. Camron heeded the guidance of her doctor and pushed gradually at the end, resulting in an intact perineum which would greatly improve her postpartum experience. Theo cried well right away, and after the cord slowed it pulse, Bryce cut it. There were tears of joy and so much joy and relief rolled together in Theo’s birth. Considering the labor became an accidental surprise, Camron and Bryce were a committed and strong partnership through it all. And with that as the foundation, it helps you weather pretty much anything.

Rebecca and Luke welcomed their son, on May 9, and learned just how resilient they are! I met them earlier in the pregnancy, and they hired me as their doula in addition to enrolling in both my 7-week Birth Essentials class, and my Spinning Babies® Parent class. They did all they could to prepare for their son’s arrival. And it’s a good thing they did too, because their little boy had his own idea about how he wanted things to go, and Rebecca and Luke trusted that.

I got a text from Rebecca on May 6 saying “we’ve just left the doctor and we have some news. They need to schedule me for a c-section on Monday.” Their baby was measuring small, and he was breech. This was the first they had known he was breech and it was Rebecca’s 37th week. (For those who might wonder, an external cephalic version was not recommended by her doctor since baby was already small. They did not want to elevate risk.) The change in plans left me, and I’m sure Rebecca and Luke, gob smacked and a bit stunned. So many questions! But first, we needed to have our prenatal visit. It was already scheduled for that day, so we shuffled it a bit to accommodate the sudden need for last minute pre-op bloodwork and COVID testing.

Luke sheepishly admitted they didn’t really pay close attention to the part in class where we talked about c-sections, and it appeared they didn’t read that part of the workbook either. So we went over their options, the procedure, what to expect, and answered any questions they had. By the end of our meeting, I could see that Rebecca and Luke were breathing easier and feeling a bit more comfortable with the new path their birth had taken. Their baby’s well-being was paramount and knowing what to expect helped them to adjust their thinking for how things would go. I would see them Monday morning, shortly after they arrived for check-in.

The caveat to a scheduled birth was the ability to take care of details including arranging for family to arrive in time to help. So, by Monday morning, Rebecca and Luke were as ready as they would ever be to welcome their son. I admired their openness and flexibility, knowing letting go of so much had to have been a challenge. They were already showing great attributes as parents!

We passed the time as Rebecca waited, and I learned that James would be the first grandbaby on Luke’s side and the second on Rebecca’s. They were able to enjoy a nice big dinner the night before and a snack right before the midnight deadline to fast. There were some nerves, but in general a sense of excitement on soon meeting their baby boy.

The doctor came in to confirm baby was still in the breech presentation, and he was. He was measuring smaller than 1% on Friday so he was definitely a little guy. As the minutes passed that last half hour before the c-section, the anesthesiologist came in to talk to the expectant parents, as did the CRNA. Final surgical prep details were accomplished, including giving Luke his paper suit, and then it was time for Rebecca to walk back to the OR. Luke waited a bit longer before he was called back.

I was not in the OR, but this is how Rebecca described it to me:

Oh boy, so the OR time was difficult for me up until Luke came in the room. Everyone was amazing and so nice, but I was so nervous and terrified that I cried the entire time until he was born. Then it was great! Luke talked to me the whole time and let me know everything that happened with James. He cried almost immediately which was a great sign. We were so nervous about how big James would be, and he ended up being over 5 pounds which was a huge relief. I don’t think they held him above the curtain, so the first time I saw him was from a photo that Luke took. Luke took several good photos to show me what was going on when I couldn’t see. James did have to go to their little NICU right after he was born, so Luke stayed with James while I went to my recovery room. James was born on May 9, at 2:17 pm weighing 5 lb. 2 oz. and measuring 18 in.

I was waiting for Rebecca when she returned from the OR and was able to be with her in that first hour or so as she recovered from surgery. Since James was so small, he had trouble regulating his temperature and would end up being sent to the NICU on May 11 and remained there until Saturday, when Rebecca and Luke were finally able to take him home, a little past Rebecca’s discharge date.

This sweet couple were so accepting of the change in plans. They trusted the providers they had chosen and were stronger in the midst of such surprising developments because they had each other. When it comes down to it, a united front can be a huge asset as parents, which is yet another example of what wonderful parents Rebecca and Luke already are. I was so honored to serve this sweet couple. And at the time of this writing James is growing and growing!

Jessie and Travis are parents! They welcomed their baby girl, Ginny Josephine, on May 5 at 11:42 am. Jessie’s body made some gradual changes in the final weeks as her due date came and went. She was dilated 3cm and 90% effaced at 41 weeks, which was a very good starting point for an induction that was scheduled for the following Monday. However, Jessie hoped she wouldn’t need it!

And thank goodness she didn’t! I got a text the following morning around 6:35 am telling me that Jessie’s contractions had started and were already getting stronger. This was very good news! I reminded her to hydrate and eat as she was able to, and to rest until she couldn’t do anything but breathe and focus through her contractions.

But Travis took over the texting and ten minutes later clarified that Jessie already couldn’t talk through them and they had begun around 2:30, paused at 3:30 and then returned with a vengeance at 5:30 that morning. The plan was to take a shower to see if it might relax her and touch base after.

Two hours later, Travis texted that Jessie’s water just broke. She was also in a lot of pain and just threw up. My drive to them was 30 minutes and it sounded like it was time to head to the hospital. But Jessie was having to focus so much through her contractions that she couldn’t move! It was time to go. They called the midwife and were on their way a few minutes later.

We arrived at the hospital at the same time and Jessie had made huge progress in those 3 ½ hours because she was dilated 8 cm! Her baby was at -1 station, but likely wouldn’t take much longer. So, her nurse got busy taking care of the admissions process while Travis and I offered comfort to Jessie. Travis rubbed her legs and I praised her for her breathing and low tones through the surges.

With her baby looking wonderful on the NST, Jessie was freed from the monitors and headed to the shower for the last bit of dilation. She was under the warm water by 9:50 pm, surrounded by votives and lavender. She did lunges on the bench, first on her right, then on her left.

She got out of the shower at 10:15 feeling pressure and was dilated 9 cm with baby at 0. There was still more work to do to bring her baby down and melt that last bit of cervix away. Jessie dangled in a squat using the rebozo and Travis was right there to support her, literally squatting behind her. I loved watching this couple labor together. They were a beautiful partnership.

After working with the rebozo, Jessie returned to the shower. She labored 20 more minutes under the warm water and felt the desire to push grow stronger and stronger. We could hear her sounding really pushy just 10 minutes later at 10:32. Jessie was beginning to bear down involuntarily.

She got back out at 10:55 pm to get checked but there was still a lip of cervix in the front. Her nurse drew labs (just in time!) and Jessie leaned over the CUB on her hands and knees, hoping her baby’s head might help push that lip of cervix back. I placed a washcloth with lavender and valor near Jessie’s head and she breathed it in and relaxed into the growing pressure to push.

We put a heating pad on her back as well and it gave her a distraction and some relief. As her desire to push grew stronger, I reminded Jessie that she would eventually feel a burning sensation and to let us know if she did. That would be her cue that baby was ready. And just a contraction or two later, Jessie said, “It burns!” We lifted up the sheet that was covering her backside and sure enough, there was a baby’s head!

Her nurse called for the midwife who arrived just in time to get dressed in the paper suit and don gloves to catch. Jessie pushed her baby out gradually with great control and welcomed her 8 lb. 4 oz. baby girl at 11:42 am just in time for lunch! Her midwife passed baby Ginny through her mom’s legs where Travis and Jessie lifted her up together. Jessie gathered up her baby in her arms and held her there, taking it all in. The tears flowed between she and Travis, and the smiles were infectious. They had done it!

Since she came out so quickly, she didn’t get much of a squeeze, so Ginny had more fluid in her lungs and wasn’t able to get really strong cries out initially. She took a stop at the warmer for some chest pt and once she cleared some fluids and mucus she was back in her mother’s arms. She sucked her fingers and rooted around, interested in latching. She found her way and was feeding with her first hour in this world.

Ginny Josephine is named for her maternal grandma and her paternal grandma, both who passed away. And when she looked at us, she had a wisdom in her eyes, like she knew more than we realize. Perhaps her great grandmas were in her eyes too.

Jessie’s birth unfolded in a very straightforward way. Her body was ready. Her mind was ready. Her heart was ready. And her baby was ready. And that makes for the perfect sort of timing. It was a beautifully orchestrated natural birth, just as Jessie had hoped. And it was a joyful birth, even during contractions. I caught some smiles even then. Good ol’ oxytocin!

Elyse and Tony, and furry big brother, Cash, welcomed Arbor Leo into the world on April 30, 2022, a day or two shy of the due date. Elyse knew early on that she desired a homebirth and she sought out the midwife with whom she felt most comfortable. She and Tony are easy going types, so I didn’t hear a lot from her over the pregnancy. They attended my Birth Essentials 7-week class and prepared for what to expect that way. But when we met up for our prenatal visit, it was a very casual meeting. It felt more like friends hanging out. When we parted, we were excited for when we would come together to usher in their sweet new person whose gender was yet to be revealed.

She texted me on April 29 just before 4:00 pm to tell me her water broke. Of course, the likelihood of it being the start of labor is less than 10% but it happened! And it was a continuous drip so no mistaking it. She was crampy from the start, and we were all excited that her body responded with contractions almost immediately. By 8:30 that night, just 4 hours in, her contractions were getting stronger and lasting 40 seconds, and coming every 2:45.

Her midwife recommended she do the Miles Circuit, a mighty fine suggestion. And a couple of hours later once it was completed, Elyse texted that her surges had migrated to a minute long and coming 4:45 apart. They were stronger too, bringing the strongest pressure in her lower back and bottom.

An hour later, after taking some time in the shower, her contractions were lasting over a minute and steady at 5 minutes apart. Her plan was to rest a bit, but an hour later she texted to say she couldn’t rest with the intensity. She wasn’t quite ready for me to come. Elyse was allowing Tony to sleep as she breathed through her surges and waited for them to reach the next level. Her midwife was confident in waiting to hear from me after checking in on things before coming. It was nice to know she had that trust in us. Elyse’s plan was to wait an hour and reach out.

Another hour passed, and things had kicked up another notch and she was ready for me to come. The time was about 2:00 am and I was there by 2:20. Tony led me to Elyse who was laboring in the baby’s room with her dog by her side. This would be the image throughout labor. Elyse breathing through contractions and Cash the Dog nearby. She breathed calmly through a surge, leaning over the ottoman for the rocker. And when the contraction faded, Elyse sat back up, opened her eyes, and greeted me with a smile.

It is always an honor to be invited into someone’s intimate birthing space. But when the birthing space is the home, there is even more intimacy. Fewer people come and go, and it is truly their space. I felt welcome and part of the birth family right away. There was no need to introduce myself or educate on my role. It was very easy and natural—an extension of how our time together always goes.

I sat with Elyse for another 20 minutes. But with contractions coming at a steady 3 minutes apart, I thought it a good time to summon her midwife. They called their midwife at 2:45, right before Elyse entered the shower to labor. The shower didn’t last long. She came out to use the bathroom and decide to labor on land. Tony started the yoga playlist and Elyse returned to the bathroom. Sitting on the toilet felt good to her, and I knew it would only progress things even more. We could hear her sigh through each surge, something that had changed even in the hour since I arrived.

She sat upon the CUB after that, mimicking her position. And her midwife arrived a few minutes later. Cash lay down on his new dog bed, placed beside her parents’ bed just in time for the birth and new baby. Elyse asked us what was next and what we were looking for. We simply said there would be more. More contractions, more intensity, more progress. Her midwife asked if she would like a cervical check and Elyse was curious. And her exam was a nice 5 cm. She had already done the hardest most gradual part of her labor. Her midwife said, “Elyse, that is very good!” And she began to unpack her things and get settled in the space.

Elyse asked her midwife how she thought she was coping, and her midwife said she was coping perfectly. A blood pressure check came out perfect too. Elyse felt more butt pressure as her midwife listened to baby. Elyse gently swayed through her contractions, rolling her neck and shoulders, with her hand anchored in Tony’s.

By 4:15 we could see she was working up some sweat with her contractions, so we placed a cold washcloth on her neck. Elyse grabbed her dog’s soft ear through some of the contractions, a sweet comfort measure that would not have been an option in the hospital.

As it neared 4:30, Elyse leaned forward over the CUB, feeling a lot of the discomfort in her back. She breathed deeper with her surges, so I did some counter pressure on her back. “That was intense,” escaped Elyse’s mouth as the surge drifted away. She was in active labor now. I recommended another stint in the shower and this time Elyse labored there for 30 minutes. She returned to her hands and knees position over the CUB upon the bed, and her deeper inhales and exhales told us she had progressed.

Meanwhile, the midwife and her assistant were taking care of birthing details, including filling the tub. Elyse grew hot so she took off her top. We could hear that she was feeling more pressure at the tops of her contractions so the next place she labored was the tub. She was in the water by 6:42 am and we heard some pushy sounds by 7:15 am. She paused after a surge to ask if she was getting close. And her midwife and I responded with affirmations like “It sounds like it,” and “yes!”

Right after peeking and realizing “It’s a girl!”

Elyse cried out through a contraction and her midwife asked how it was different. She felt more pressure in the front—a very good thing after the back pain—and she confessed as she reached down, “I want it to be right there.” But it wasn’t. Not yet.

Elyse asked us just before 8:00 am if she was doing anything and I assured her that she was, and that the first baby is building the birth path and takes more time. Her midwife did a cervix check then and could only feel a lip of cervix. So, she offered to push it aside as Elyse pushed. The lip at the top stayed so Elyse breathed and panted through her contractions for a bit longer.

Her midwife gave arnica and we had Elyse do lunges as she blew raspberries through the contractions. Thirty minutes later the lip was still there, so more arnica was administered. Elyse labored on her hands and knees with her bottom in the air to keep baby from applying extra pressure to her cervix that might encourage pushing too soon. And 20 minutes later, the cervix was gone. Elyse could push!

She pushed on her side, with Tony and I holding a leg for support. She then pushed on the other side. And she rotated back and forth with each contraction a bit. Her midwife felt some tightness, so she reminded Elyse not to clench and hold her baby with her strong pelvic floor. Baby’s heart rate was steady the whole time. And as Elyse pushed, she got a kiss from Tony from time to time too. That’s great for oxytocin!

Elyse ended up on her hands and knees to push and this was where her baby was born. Right there on her bed, with her partner and dog by her side, Elyse became a mother. Her baby came out with her hand by her head and the cord around her arm. Arbor was born at 10:33 am, 19 hours on the dot after Elyse’s water broke at 3:33 pm. And Tony proclaimed after getting a visual that Arbor was a girl!

Cord burning ritual done by parents and midwives

Elyse and Tony were so in awe. Elyse mentioned it was all such a trip and felt like a dream. She brought her baby to her breast where she latched at 10:59, not even 30 minutes old.

Elyse birthed Arbor over an intact perineum, due largely to her control during pushing. It also didn’t hurt that there was no counting or forcing a longer push than what Elyse felt she wanted. The placenta, birthed a few minutes after Arbor, sat in a bowl beside her until they were ready to separate it. And they did so with a slow and gradual cord burning. As Elyse snuggled Arbor beside her, Tony and the midwife heated it with the candle flame and waited about 7 minutes as it sputtered and eventually separated. It was a beautiful reminder of the significance of the placenta and the work it did to sustain Arbor’s life through the pregnancy. It deserved all the time we gave it.

Arbor weighed 7 lb. 9 oz. and measured 20 in. long. She was an average size in babies which is perfect. I gathered some food from the kitchen so the new parents could get some nourishment. And the midwife even made sure Cash got some food too. It looked and felt like an ordinary Saturday morning once all our things were gathered.

It was a lovely birth spent in Elyse and Tony’s home. We were a true team, following Elyse’s lead and trusting her body and her feelings. It was a joy to serve them and to have the bonus opportunity to finally attend a birth with this midwife whom I’ve known for years. It felt comfortable. All of it. So lovely.

First family selfie, Day 2

Photo Credit: Ely Mac Photography

Gabriella, Michael and I go way back! At least it feels like it. We met when they were pregnant with their first baby. They took my childbirth class, and I was their doula. And here we are just six years and four babies later. They spent some time in Colorado and welcomed their third child there, but the US Navy returned them to Hampton Roads. After two hospital births, then a birth center birth, Gabriella was excited to welcome this baby at home. It was where she felt comfortable, and her previous births taught her that once labor gets active she doesn’t have a lot of time. Cutting out a hospital commute would be a relief. Coordinating her birth team to her home would prove to be a bit stressful though.

Photo Credit: Ely Mac Photography

Gabriella has a great trust in her body and its perfect design by God to grow and birth her children. I remember being particularly struck by that in her first birth. She is a woman comfortable in her skin and she assisted the doctor in supporting her perineum as her baby crowned.

Photo Credit: Ely Mac Photography

This time, the biggest anxiety was having the children taken care of and making sure her birth team got to the house in time. The week before she would give birth, Gabriella called with the distressing news that Michael had been scheduled for watch the Friday and Monday right near when she would likely give birth, going from her history. He would be difficult to reach and have some distance to drive to get home. I assured her that her anxiety about that happening might help to keep her from going into labor that day. She had friends who could help, and of course she had me and her midwives. But it was a hurdle, emotionally and logistically, and we prayed against it.

Photo Credit: Ely Mac Photography

On Good Friday, I got a call from Gabriella just before 9:00 am that it was baby day. It also was mid-rush hour and I had a drive through the tunnel to get to her. I told Gabriella it would be best for me to wait a bit to avoid the highest volume travel time, and I would leave after that. But even more importantly, it was the day Michael had watch. Gabriella initiated the message to him that she was in labor but knew there would likely be some delay getting him home. This added another layer of pressure to get everyone there in time.

Photo Credit: Ely Mac Photography

Just over an hour later, I was on the road with an hour-long drive ahead of me. Gabriella and I were in touch a bit during the drive and I could tell she was nervous she wouldn’t have us there when she needed us. Her midwife and assistants, husband, and I were all expected to arrive between 10:30-11:00. In the interim, she had her best friend on the phone and a local friend at the house to help wrangle the kids and serve as interim doula.

Photo Credit: Ely Mac Photography

I hit traffic on the way to Gabriella’s house, probably worse than the traffic I would have hit had I left right at 9:00. But it served as a reminder that I could not predict traffic, and that everything would unfold as it was meant to with or without me. Michael’s eta was about the same as mine and it was far more important that he arrive in time!

Photo Credit: Ely Mac Photography

Ultimately, I arrived before the baby, following suite behind the midwives and Michael. I put down my things and thanked Crystal for doing counter pressure in my stead. Gabriella was laboring braced against the kitchen counter with Michael at her side. There were children milling about doing what children do, none of which seemed concerned or even much interested in what Gabriella was doing. I love that her labor was considered so normal that everyone carried on with playing and then lunchtime.

Photo Credit: Ely Mac Photography

Gabriella was listening to a lovely playlist on her phone that several of us commented on including “First Day of My Life” by Bright Eyes. Gabriella happened to be laboring right near a doorway when the line “Swear I was born right in the doorway” played. Gabriella swayed to the music and even sang under her breathe, while I Michael held her. I pressed gently but firmly on her back. She liked my cold hands.

Photo Credit: Ely Mac Photography

It was only a handful of minutes before Gabriella was asking for the tub. She longed for the water in labor and expected to welcome her baby boy in it. I went upstairs to get an update from her midwife, but the water was not the right temperature, and the water level was low. I went out to update Gabriella and she had nearly made her way to the top of the stairs where a contraction stopped her. She swayed against the banister with Michael there to support her. But when the contraction dissipated, she asked me if the tub was ready. I told her there was still some time left to wait.

Photo Credit: Ely Mac Photography

Gabriella labored through a contraction or two on the upper landing, then went into her bedroom asking, “Is the tub ready yet?” Then she implored, “Please? Please?!” to her midwife, who apologetically said it was not quite ready but would be very soon. It was 11:15 am at this time, and I dipped my hands in some ice water before placing them on Gabriella’s back. She much preferred the cold to the pressure! Her oldest came upstairs to check on things and immediately noticed her mom’s discontent with having to wait to get in the tub. She recommended they sing a song while they waited, and The Grand Old Duke of York was the song of choice. So, we sang it twice (or maybe it was three times) and the tub was ready!

Photo Credit: Ely Mac Photography

Wild horses couldn’t keep Gabriella away as she hiked her leg over the side and submerged herself in the warm water. As I remember it she sighed with great relief! (But I might be making that part up.) Gabriella leaned back against the side of the tub and breathe calmly through contractions. Her cervix was likely completely gone, or nearly so, and she provided her own perineal support as her baby boy descended into her birth canal. She spoke to him, encouraging his continued descent, telling him she could feel him, and how excited she was that he was coming. She even told everyone assembled that she could feel him moving down.

Photo Credit: Ely Mac Photography

Michael remained by Gabriella’s side and was also tending some to their oldest, who had questions here and there. She left for lunch after a few minutes, and Gabriella hunkered down into the tub as her body moved through transition to second stage. We continued to place our hands on her, my cold hands on her back, Michael’s hand on her so she knew he was close. Her midwife reached in to listen to baby from time to time, but mostly sat and were present and unobtrusive. Gabriella lay back and felt her baby just inside knowing her was coming in a few short minutes.

Photo Credit: Ely Mac Photography

Gabriella rolled off her back onto her hands and knees. Her water broke soon after that at 11:32, and her baby boy moved down quickly to birth. You might not have known he was coming out if you didn’t see the midwife lean in closer behind Gabriella and her hands disappear below the water. Then Tobias emerged from the water’s surface and was passed right into his mother’s hands. He was born at 11:35 am on Good Friday, April 15, 2022. It was a very fitting birthday for this devout Catholic family.

Photo Credit: Ely Mac Photography

Gabriella and Michael looked upon their son and greeted him with kisses and soft touches. “Bubby is going to be so happy. He got his wish for a baby brother!” After a few minutes had passed, we helped Gabriella out of the tub up onto her bed. She didn’t want to get out of the water and the climb onto the bed was the tallest it had ever been with a baby in her arms and the weariness of birth.

Photo Credit: Ely Mac Photography

She birthed the placenta shortly after that and Tobias latched in time. Gabriella and Michael lay in their bed and let the moment sit between them. And a few minutes later their oldest came upstairs to discover what had transpired as she ate her lunch. She was excited to bear the good news to the others downstairs that baby was born, and it was a boy! A short time later the rest of the little people wandered upstairs to meet and welcomed their newest sibling with kisses and questions. It was a beautiful sight to see this entire family on the bed together.

Photo Credit: Ely Mac Photography

Tobias Ryan weighed 6 lb. 15 oz. and measured 20.5 in. long. Soon after his birth, Crystal came upstairs to share with Gabriella, that during a walk with the children, they prayed for a healthy pregnancy, and big brother prayed that he was grateful for a baby boy! He seemed to know already that it was a boy, so the announcement was particularly exciting for him.

Photo Credit: Ely Mac Photography

We lingered to make sure Gabriella got some food to eat and was recovering well. By the time I had left she was already showered and ready for the day. Her agenda should have been cleared of everything but snuggling her baby, but somehow, I suspected she would do some mothering tasks for her other littles in there too. It was a beautiful birth though. A birth surrounded in loving supportive women. And In the end, we all made it in enough time to serve Gabriella. I think her midwife said it well when she said, “Perhaps you had to face your worse fear to know you could do it.” And that she did.

Photo Credit: Ely Mac Photography

When I first met Kaitlyn, I was struck by her bright blue eyes. They are windows to the soul, so they say, and if that’s the case, then Kaitlyn showed me a heart full of love and excitement for the upcoming birth of their daughter. Bobby struck me as a quieter steadfast counter to Kaitlyn’s effervescent and talkative nature. But his unfailing love for his girls was clear. Kaitlyn admitted reservations with her providers at our initial meeting and left our interview intent on making a switch. And it wasn’t long afterward she had aligned herself with a practice that was more in keeping with her idea of birth. There was a big exhale from all of us when that happened.

The pre-induction picture

The timing couldn’t have been better either since Kaitlyn’s baby had shown some concerns on ultrasound that would almost definitely result in an induction. Kaitlyn and Bobby advocated for as much time to go into spontaneous labor and as little intervention as possible should induction become the plan. And with open communication and good preparation, they were ready for whatever little Malia’s journey earthside would bring. Kaitlyn did not completely escape the induction possibility, however. But she did manage to put off the induction day to a point that felt more comfortable to her. With regular non-stress tests in the last week or two, both parents and providers were reassured.

But at a 40-week NST and ultrasound, there were lower fluid levels detected. All other signs of baby’s well-being were there, but since she had reached the 40-week mark, there was more potential for risks to baby, considering the preexisting conditions discovered at 20-weeks. Kaitlyn was a strong advocate for herself, however, and she declined the induction recommended that day and instead, maintained the original induction plan for the next day. It also ensured the provider who attended her birth was one who would encourage and support her. Kaitlyn wanted to feel strong and independent as she became a mother, and she walked into her induction feeling confident and excited.

Open communication during an induction is key since it can take days for the entire process to unfold. Kaitlyn and Bobby knew the signs to watch for and would keep me posted once the contractions required Kaitlyn’s complete focus and were at the 5-1-1 interval or closer. Kaitlyn was in good spirits, and she gushed over how amazing every single nurse was. I was thrilled for her and had every hope that would such excellent support her induction would unfold beautifully, and she would emerge on the other side as a confident and capable mother.

The induction began with a balloon. Kaitlyn declined the midwife’s recommendation of using Pitocin right away. Her cervix was already 90% effaced (an excellent start!), 1 cm dilated, and her baby was at -2 station. Kaitlyn’s body responded intensely to the balloon. In fact, she was so uncomfortable an hour or so later, that she vomited. They found some medicine to help and the hope

At 1:30 am, the balloon was out, and Kaitlyn was dilated an impressive 4.5 cm. It didn’t hurt that her cervix was already so thin. We were hopeful she would not need too much of a kickstart to get labor going. In fact, her body continued to contract without Pitocin. Her contractions escalated and she was laboring in the shower by 3:30 am to find some relief.

But it was in the shower that Kaitlyn asked for an epidural. Bobby was ready to help her get it because it was a real struggle for him to see the woman he loved in such pain. He asked Kaitlyn if he should get the nurse, and she said, “No, call Amara!” As Kaitlyn explained it later, she knew she truly didn’t want an epidural but trusted I would be able to talk her into better positions to help combat the pain and help her body progress to birth. She just knew it was time to have me there. Kaitlyn’s nurse helped make it happen too, since thankfully, I was just down the hall with another client who had just given birth.

Kaitlyn was dilated 6-7 cm when she got out of the shower and was feeling a lot of pressure and she breathed and vocalized through each surge. Kaitlyn took her doctor up on her offer to break her water to keep the momentum going.

In the midst of her discomfort, she recognized in her heart she still truly desired a medication-free birth. Kaitlyn sat upon the bed and leaned into the squat bar. She did standing lunges with Bobby to help drive her baby’s head upon her dilating cervix. In one particularly sweet moment, Kaitlyn kissed Bobby and whispered, “I love you,” as she recovered between contractions. It almost made me tear up to see this young woman maintain her focus on the reason she was doing the hard work. And Bobby held her in his arms, knowing if he couldn’t save or protect his wife from the pain, he could embrace her through it.

After doing several cycles of standing lunges, Kaitlyn returned to lay on her side in bed for a “break”. The peanut ball was placed between her legs for her comfort. The baby’s heart rate displayed some head compression (aka a heart rate dip through the peaks of contractions), that had us thinking she’d be bearing down soon. In fact, she even did a practice push at 5:30 am, but since her cervix did not slide back, she continued to labor down.

She was pushing headlong within thirty minutes though, and by 6:18 am we could even see her baby’s head. Kaitlyn’s resolve did not waver when she pushed. If anything, it got stronger for she knew it was the final bit of labor before holding her baby. We updated her on what we saw, encouraging her that each push was bringing her baby forth. Bobby continued to offer regular sips of water to keep Kaitlyn hydrated in the mouth. (IV fluids help but the mouth gets dry!)

Timing is everything, and Kaitlyn’s friend, who also happened to be a doula in training, showed up with enough time to attend the birth. And due to lifting of COVID visitor restrictions, Kaitlyn’s mother was also able to be present for the birth. It was a nice bonus to have women who loved and believed in Kaitlyn to be present beside her during her birth into mother.

Kaitlyn pushed with her knees together to open her pelvis, and we continued to offer ideas for different pushing positions to help her baby navigate her way out. Kaitlyn requested a mirror and that gave her a visual on her baby’s head! She pushed with gusto and her midwife got suited up barely 5 minutes after the mirror was in position. And just 3 minutes after that, Kaitlyn pushed her baby girl into the world at 7:32 am on April 8, 2022! She had the cord wrapped around her neck twice, and was in the OP position, a further testament to the moxie Kaitlyn had!

Her nurses remained past shift to see her birth through, and her beloved midwife came on shift just in time to catch. Every single step of this induction was paved in earnest by Kaitlyn and her wishes for her baby. She was open with her providers and expressed her feelings and preferences. And everything came together to make it happen.

“I’m so proud of myself!” she gushed soon after meeting her daughter. And we all echoed that sentiment with a resounding, “You should be!” Then she looked over at Bobby, her rock, her partner, and said, “I couldn’t do it without you.” In his silent way, he returned her love in a look as his eyes rested on both of his girls.  

Malia was latched for her first nursing session at 8:20 am and it wasn’t long before Kaitllyn’s loving family came in to meet their newest addition. It was a precious encounter to witness, and included her 12-year-old brother, now uncle, who said, “This is the best start to spring break ever!” I gathered my things and left after that. I knew that even happy go lucky, energetic Kaitlyn would eventually crave the silence that would facilitate a good nap. But I was so proud of her and gave her a hug before I stepped out. She had her baby in her arms, her husband by her side, and the world at her feet. Yes, Kaitlyn emerged from her birth strong, independent, and capable, as she had hoped. She was a mother.