Every birth story has beauty…and then some also have some fun and wildly fast moments that remind us of how birth is often portrayed in the movies! And that’s what happened when Miss Ryan made her appearance :) I was both doula and photographer for this family, and theirs is a birth story I still remember so vividly.

labor began with the choice of induction

This baby girl had flipped butt down (frank breech) around 38 weeks, which was incredibly frustrating for this family! This mama made a few appointments with a Webster-certified chiropractor and baby was in the correct position again at her 39 week appointment so the family opted to induce THEN, to avoid another flip in the wrong direction (and possible c-section because of it)!

Laura went into that induction in the evening already at 2cm dilated and induction started with a dose of cytotec. Since it was early on in the induction, I had encouraged the family (and me) to get as much sleep as possible, until labor really started and got to an uncomfortable point that indicated it was time to start moving, and so that's what we all did :)

Slow progress with strong contractions

I joined them at the hospital around 6am the next morning, and her recent cervical check told us she was 3cm (and had been for several hours), but labor was getting uncomfortable for her so we started moving and trying different comfort measures. She had brought a TENS unit that she really wanted to use, so we hooked it up on her back and she sat on the birth ball next to the bed bouncing and rolling her hips through contractions, while enjoying hip squeezes for some relief, too.

Around 9am she was checked again, and was about 3-4cm, so she then stood on the side of the bed with her swaying and leaning forward during contractions. Welllllll things intensified, and quick. I noticed the changes in her once she was standing for contractions - she got much more vocal during contractions, her focus was more intense, and she got hot (so we got a wet rag for her neck and face). I encouraged Lance to continue with hip squeezes while we increased the TENS unit, and Laura was humming and vocalizing a LOT through each contraction as I calmly encouraged her to remember to breathe and relax her body as much as possible.

Suddenly, things were happening!

Minutes later as she was standing there, her water broke and during a contraction and she grunted loudly while bearing down almost into a squat and I KNEW things were getting real! I asked her if she could try NOT pushing during the next contraction (because we didn't want her to push too early, since not even 30 minutes before she was only at 4cm). That next contraction came with a very primal grunt from her as she beared down yet again, and I knew that we were THERE!

I buzzed the nurse to come quickly, and told Laura she needed to get into the bed since there was no one yet in the room. We helped her onto the bed as best we could and she lay there on her side at an angle (her bottom was pointing OFF the bed), so I told Lance to stand right THERE, haha! As Laura climbed onto the bed and was horizontal, she lifted her top leg and baby's head was already out!!

The nurse then rushed in and saw the head, bounced in the hall and yelled "hurry I need some help in here!" (yes, just like in the movies, haha) and grabbed gloves and ran back into the hall for more people/supplies. I directed Lance to stand at the edge of the bed by her bottom because I knew this baby could fly out and my brain was like "he can catch her so baby doesn't fly onto the floor" but he was in shock and not really hearing me haha! I had actually put my camera down fully prepared to assist in catching baby as no nurse was in with us for a few moments, and then another nurse bolted into the room! This nurse looked at Laura on the bed, looked at the gloves on the wall, decided there was no time for gloves and lunged towards Laura, catching baby in her barehands as she came out (and I grabbed my camera quickly to get it all)! The fetal ejection reflex had completely kicked in and Laura barely had to push as baby just came into the world :)

The look of shock and joy on everyone's faces was just priceless, and we were all kind of giggling and catching our breath for a while afterwards as we all enjoyed hearing that baby girl crying!

That golden hour of bliss

As the shock wore off some, there was a sweet new baby girl to snuggle and get to know, so the parents did just that <3 They took turns holding her, looking at her, and then she latched and nursed like a champ within that first golden hour of life. These moments were so beautiful, and the joy, the love, and the relief of it all was such a beautiful thing!

Interested in learning more?

Each birth story is different, but each one changes me in such a special way. No matter how you choose or are able to birth - that time is sacred and oh so beautiful. I would be happy to share in every bit of it and show it to you in images that you will always cherish.

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