It’s 6:15 in the morning on Sunday October 13th when Shawn texts “labor has definitely started”…we talk on the phone for a bit so I can hear a few contractions.  Erin is cheery but it’s very clear she has been putting in work through the night! Already she is vocal during her surges but maintaining calm and control.  I arrive less than an hour later and find her kneeling on the floor next to the couch in between contractions.  Once one starts to build she pops up to a stand and leans over the couch.  Shawn takes his position behind her, applying pressure right where she needs it and she remains still accepting the pressure he provides.  Always learning she wants to make sure she’s doing things right or if she could be doing things better.  I assure her with all certainty that she most definitely is doing all the right things, the right way!  Contractions laying down are too intense and uncomfortable to tolerate but she’s still energized enough to stay upright.  I find out she’s been up laboring on her own since 2 in the morning.  Around 7: 57 Erin has three contractions where her energy shifts and what was working before to distract and pacify her body is no longer enough.  She suddenly  needs stronger counter-pressure and a tad more affirmation to stay present and ride it out.  Soon after, we decided to call Family Beginnings to let them know she would be coming in soon.  At this point she is having a hard time supporting herself and is feeling sensations a lot in her low belly and thighs. She really wanted to try something new.  She was looking forward to a shower but didn’t want to get too comfortable at home then have to leave when things ramp up more, so we started making progress to head into the hospital instead.  As Shawn took care of Remington, packing last minute items in bags and making preparations to leave,  Erin tried out a few positions in the car but ultimately chose to ride behind Shawn facing forward with the seat reclined a bit.  I drove behind them the whole way to the hospital with my eyes on the back seat looking for any signs of poor coping or losing control, I was so eager to hear how the car ride was for her, and Shawn!  We arrived around 8:48 and she hops out of the car like a woman NOT in active labor, smiling and says ‘it wasn’t that bad’.  They are taken to triage and told there was no room in Family Beginnings but the nurses could work towards discharging someone within an hour if they find Erin to be progressing quickly enough (oh she totally is).  At 9:04 she is starting to shake and has bloody show, the nurses says she’s already dilated 6-7 centimeters.  We alll celebrate-woo hoo!  While waiting out a room in Family Beginnings she contemplates how long she can cope like this, without the water she was so looking forward to for some relief or at least distraction.  Around this time she decides she just wants to take a room in labor & delivery instead of waiting any longer, she is assured it would still have a shower and the opportunity to fill up an inflatable birthing pool in about twenty minutes.  The nurses whisper that they aren’t sure she’ll still be in labor that long.  In a moment things change as she has two elevated blood pressure readings on her last few minutes of the standard twenty minutes of monitoring.  At this point Erin is clearly in transition and they are requiring so much of her to calm down, lie down and relax for a repeat reading.  Shawn advocated for a manual reading taken by the nurses instead of automatic and helped her remove her sweatshirt for better accuracy.   Shawn is there to calm her, you can tell she trusts him speaking for her as she does not skip a beat getting into the best rhythm she can while rocking her surges in a suboptimal location and never once complaining.  She was still filled with poise and grace, always kind and respectful to staff.  With contractions coming every two minutes, everything feels at its peak when her blood pressure comes down slightly but a moment later the nurse reports the doctor on call is ready to call this pre-eclampsia and initiate standard treatments.  All at once everything changes as they rule out Family Beginnings and any form of water support because of needing closer monitoring and are suggesting she start magnesium sulfate. Once again Papa Bear is there to question the validity of the diagnosis and the side effects of the meds they are suggesting all the while Erin is being taken to room #2017.  She desperately needs to be in a more permanent space without commotion for this next phase of labor.  It’s here at 9:45, all three of us scrunched into the bathroom with Erin on the toilet that Shawn and the nurses are hashing out details and all the options are laid out more clearly.  Both nurses seem supportive of  more information in the form of urine testing or blood work before preeclampsia is formally diagnosed and magnesium sulfate is started.  Erin does not break her concentration and her resolve stays focused on each sensation she’s feeling as she gets closer to meeting her baby.  We even had to switch rooms because the heat would not stop pouring in but she walked herself (!) holding Shawns hand, slowly and steadily to room 2018.  Once there the nurse checks her again at 10:08 and gladly reports Erin is 9 cm dilated +1.  Erin is trying to find a new system of coping now, leaning over the bed in the middle of another meeting-of-the-minds, this time between Dr Nagy and Shawn.  He assertively affirms the work Erin is doing and the desire to let her do it without conflict or disturbance but the doctor is persistent an intervention must take place.  She feels Erin will deliver before labs get back so Shawn agrees to the oral medication to lower her blood pressure quickly but still wants to pursue the labs. Shawns hands never leave Erins hips, anticipating when she may need him.  Even her critiques are sweet and kind when modifications are needed.  She tells him “you’re doing great Shawn”. By 10:21 the IV is in place, blood is drawn and sent off to the lab.  Erin was so patient as the nurse struggled to get the IV in perfect placement in between surges, she stayed so still and calm during the strongest contractions. It’s 10:31 and Erin is trying to utilize the bed, a nurse is present and helping her with creative positioning.  Sitting on the ball is not working for her; she has preferred to be upright this whole labor.  She gets situated leaning over the ball which is resting on top of the bed when I start hearing small grunts, I assure her and Shawn this is so good but baby still has some descending to do on their own before it’s ‘go time’.  Erin conserves her energy by not pushing with the urges but allows the grunts to come and go.  At 10:46 she says out loud to herself  “this is the hardest part and I can do it!” 🙂 She is kneeling, leaning over the back of the bed which is elevated but Shawn is kneeling behind her fully supporting her hips and back.  11:10 she knows what’s coming deep down and she says she’s scared, her grunts start sounding a bit higher and less deep.  We talk about the fear of the unknown and acknowledge it’s okay to be afraid but she is safe and doing amazingly.  I can sense she needs things to move quicker than they are because the in-between is creating doubt in her mind so I pray God would continue to strengthen her for the work that still needs done and have her water break so she can meet her baby as soon as possible.  Erin takes a brave walk to the bathroom at 11:54 where she hunkers down on the toilet for another meeting with Shawn and I.  She’s feeling defeated and thinks she can’t do it, we see a lot of blood at this time and I assure her she’s so close and her body is doing exactly what it needs to do but she wants to be done and has the idea that this final phase is taking longer than it should.  We talk about having the doctor break her water and ultimately she feels like it’s the right choice for her, she’s ready for the next step!  At 11:59 her water has been officially broken and it’s clear with some blood.  Within a few contractions she is recognizing the difference in power behind these new surges.  By 12:14 p.m she starts pushing involuntarily, this gets the staff’s attention and they decide to stay and observe from here on out.  It takes determination in practicing and encouragement for her to find her groove.  Everybody is weighing in on tips and positions, she’s still graceful and patient trying it all- leaning over the back of the bed, lying on her side, exaggerated runners lunge.  The atmosphere is casual, there’s no pressure from the staff or expectations yet but it doesn’t protect Erin from feelings of exasperation at her progress.  Everyone is pumping her up but it still doesn’t feel right to her.  We continue with the affirmations and encouragement to use each contraction to its fullest and push right through the discomfort but she’s noticeably scared. By 1:04 her hips are aching and burning, really limiting her positions.  The nurses apply heat packs that take the edge off and Shawn and I try to hold her legs to better support her but she is not wanting to push.  The doctor had her flip from right to left side as Baby had a few not ideal heart tones at the very end.  Ultimately Dr Nagy  was very patient about it and with this new position and the ability to straighten her bottom leg more naturally we are all of a sudden seeing babies hair as they are closer to crowning.  It looks to be a ponytail-worth of hair and we joke about it being an indication that baby is a girl.  Nurse Susan writes down our guesses on gender and weight on the white board.  Shawn is right next to Dr Nagy with the first view of his baby’s head crowning! Once he tells Erin that she is really motivated.  Next she finds extra energy and strength where she was close to empty before, she bears down quietly and does what needs done to meet her baby.  From my view I can see a perfect squishy face with chubby cheeks trying to emerge and meet us! At 2:14 in the afternoon Baby is born, Dad helps Dr Nagy with her final descent and places her on moms belly.  The nurses ask Dad if it’s a boy or a girl but Dad is still shocked, he takes a minute then looks more intently and announces it’s a GIRL!  She has a short cord so she hangs out on Moms belly for a while longer to let her cord stop pulsating.  The doctor is eager to birth the placenta while Erin is still reeling from her birth experience and newness of having a baby (!) she endures lots of massage on her belly and gentle tugging of the cord.  After the placenta is delivered Erin feels so much relief!  She only had a second degree tear that needed stitching but it was all complete by 2:48. In order for Mom to get a better look at her new Baby and get her propped up for the first feed the nurses sit the head of the bed up, but it’s too fast and next thing Mom is sweaty and her blood pressure drops to 60/40.  Susan is quick to intervene and starts mom on a bag of fluids via her iv.  Shortly after that’s initiated Mom perks up and has the best peanut butter and jelly of her life.  All the while looking on as Dad gets some skin-to-skin time with his brand new Daughter.  Mom finally gets to take in the full view of Daddy and Daughter together for the first time.  She tears up realizing her miracle is finally here. The  afterpains are really intense for Mom.   Though she’s not bleeding too much Susan is concerned again because her uterus isn’t feeling firm as it was before.  She tries to get mom to urinate and even goes as far as using a catheter to help her do so but it does not positively affect her uterus so they start pitocin to strengthen her contractions and help her uterus shrink to slow bleeding.  Moms blood pressure is rising again from the labor like contractions that are coming with the pitocin, she’s getting very uncomfortable but also so sleepy she just wants to rest but can’t so Susan gives her some medicine to help her pain-a muscle relaxer called Robaxin.  Now Mom can rest comfortably from all the hard work she just completed. Susan applies heat packs to her belly before she finally leaves the new little family alone for the first time. Sweet relief.  I leave too, Mom sleeping peacefully in bed as Dad snuggles his baby girl in the chair next to her.  All is calm, all is right.  Praising God for His protection and blessing over Erin’s pregnancy and birth all the way home ❤