41 Weeks. Water birth. Unmedicated. Birth Center. This was the plan. Everyone knows things never go to plan…

Allison was convinced that, because this was her first baby, she would go past her due date by at least a week- if not more. It was Saturday morning and Allison was 36 weeks and 6 days when I got the text message that they were planning an induction. I asked, “When?” Allison replied, “Right now.”

There was a lot of waiting. By the time I arrived at the hospital, Allison was receiving medication to manage her pre-eclampsia symptoms and jumpstart labor. It was not what anyone envisioned. Allison was already hooked up to so many monitors, IVs, and compression sleeves. She couldn’t walk around. Simply getting up to go to the bathroom was a task that required the help of Christopher and the nurses. Allison knew that her birth plan was changing by the minute.

By Saturday evening, labor was progressing slowly- no dilation and the medical staff were administering medication to aid in cervical ripening.

There was a lot of waiting. A lot of time to talk about some of the things they were most looking forward to about being a family of 3.

I returned home Sunday morning since there was not a lot of progress on Saturday night. When I returned to the hospital Sunday afternoon, we thought baby would make their appearance by the evening- Allison was 6 cm dilated and her contractions were feeling more uncomfortable!

By Sunday at 6:30 pm, Allison was still at 6 cm. The midwives informed Allison and Christopher that if there was no progress in the next 2 hours, then a C-section might be necessary. Nothing was going to plan. Allison was well prepared and asked all the right questions. She wants to deliver vaginally- that is the vision. Allison and the midwives immediately begin transitioning through different positions (limited by the amount of monitors, IVs, and devices hooked onto Allison). For the next hour, Allison is doing everything she can to get baby into optimal birthing position. Using movement and massage to encourage baby deeper into her pelvis.

Christopher and a midwife massage Allison to help baby descend.

At 7:40 pm Allison feels the need to push, but her Midwives encourage her to rest since she is not fully dilated and will need all her strength when it is time to push.

8 pm. Allison is asleep but wakes when the midwives enter and check her cervix. 8 cm! Everyone is excited- the movements are helping labor progress and we are getting close to meeting baby. Allison reminds her team that she wants immediate skin-to-skin with baby and would like to be the one to pull baby onto her chest when he is delivered.

8:25 pm. A rainbow outside the delivery room feels like a sign that baby is almost ready to make their appearance. Christopher changes into his birth outfit. Everyone is ready to meet baby.

A beautiful sign that baby will (hopefully) arrive soon!

For the next hour, Allison and Christopher rest. Allison will need her strength to push soon. The room is kept dark. Allison is doing everything in her control to have the birth she envisioned.

9:26 pm. Midwives check Allison. Complete dilation and +1 position- progress! Midwives perform an ultrasound to check baby’s position. Allison feels a lot of pressure, but no urge to push yet.

By 10 pm contractions are intensifying, and the midwives help Allison place peanut balls under her knees to imitate a squat position.

10:30 pm. Allison begins pushing. The urge to push is there and Allison begins recognizing her contractions and pushes with power. She is determined to deliver her baby the way she envisioned.

For the next hour, Allison moves through different positions and pushes with each contraction. She is learning how her body wants to birth her baby and she is giving all her strength to bring her baby into the world.

midwives check baby’s position and try to determine which way he is facing

“You’re doing amazing, sweetie!”

Christopher was by Allison’s side- giving her ice chips, sips of water, and reassurances.

Allison learned how to push and used her contractions to bring her baby closer to birth.

Allison tried many different positions to find what worked best for her.

Allison is a warrior. She is hooked up to many monitors and devices. This limits the positions she can be in during labor, but she is determined to meet her baby.

Chris admires Allison’s strength.

Allison pushed for hours. She is strong and she is giving all her energy to bring her baby Earthside.

Allison learned how to push with each contraction. She gives all her energy with each push. Contractions are only minutes apart.

11:30 pm. It’s been 36 hours since induction began. Allison’s been through hell to get to this point. She is ready to meet her baby. This is her moment. Everyone is here to support her. She is power and she is determined.

Between her contractions, Allison and Christopher discuss baby’s birth date. At this point, we are close to midnight and it is likely baby will arrive tomorrow, 6/6/22. Allison and Christopher also discuss what Allison’s post-labor meal will be. She is hungry-- she hasn’t had more than a popsicle and ice chips since she received the epidural hours beforehand. Allison says, “F—- the Diet Coke, I’m hungry!” and “I’m thinking about tater tots. How late is Sonic open?” Any mother in labor understands how Allison felt at that moment!

By 1 am Allison is ready to discuss vacuum delivery options. The doctor is called in for delivery and to evaluate whether the vacuum is the best way to deliver baby. Allison is power and Allison is strength. She is exhausted. She is hungry. She is doing everything to deliver her baby how she envisioned.

1:30 am. Allison is digging deep to push. She uses her contractions to give her strength to deliver her baby just as she envisioned.

2:20 am. It’s been nearly 4 hours of pushing. In the hospital setting, this is the point when a C-section is recommended. The vacuum can be used, but may not work and poses some risks to the baby if it is used and baby cannot be delivered. Allison and Christopher are heartbroken. We all are. This is not what Allison envisioned. Everyone knows things don’t ever go as planned, but the pain and heartache of things out of your control are real. We all step out of the room to give Allison and Christopher a moment alone to discuss all of their options.

2:30 am. Allison determines she will deliver her baby via C-section. She asks the doctor questions about the procedure- who will be in the room? Will baby be put on her chest immediately after delivery? She wants skin-to-skin immediately after delivery. She wants to hold her baby. She will breastfeed her baby. This C-section is on her terms. She is a mother and she knows what is best for her baby.

2:55 am. I adjust my camera settings and quickly show Christopher how to snap a photo with my camera. Allison is taken into the Operating Room with Christopher, Midwives, and a team of nurses.

Off to the O.R. and ready to finally meet their baby.

Edgar Hawk takes his first breath as he is delivered via C-section. Christopher snapped this photo in the operating room.

First family photo.

Allison and Chris soak up their newborn son. He is perfect.

While Allison and Christopher admire Edgar, the surgeons continue their work. Edgar was born about 10 minutes into the operation, but it takes about another 45 minutes to stitch up Allison.

8 lbs. 5 oz. of pure love and perfection.

3:14 am. Baby Edgar Hawk arrives at 3:14 am. He is 8 pounds 5 ounces and he is everything his parents ever dreamed of and more.

4 am. Allison, Christopher, and baby are back in the delivery room. Allison holds her baby to her breast. With a little encouragement from Allison and some guidance from the nurse, Baby Edgar latches. He is hungry. Allison is there to provide his nourishment and her voice soothes him to sleep.

The first latch.

Allison is a warrior mama. She brought her baby into this world with strength and love.

The long-awaited first sip of Diet Coke!

And then there were three…

By 5 am I’m packing up my camera. Allison is feeding her sleeping babe. Christopher is glowing with pride and looking at his wife with deep gratitude and admiration. Allison is sipping a Diet Coke and her face is flushed with love. In the end, it wasn’t what she envisioned, but it was on her terms.