Unmedicated Birth at Texas Children's Pavilion for Women with Midwives

Being that it was their third baby, Mom wanted the opportunity to experience giving birth without an epidural. Although she would be delivering in the same hospital as her two other babes, she knew that she wanted a provider that would give her the opportunity to follow through with going unmedicated. So, for this pregnancy she switched from her usual OB to the Midwife Group at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women. Like her other 3 babies, the gender would be a surprise.

On a Friday evening around 7:30 pm, while I was at a high school football game, I saw Mom’s name flash across my screen. It was a sign that she must have gone into labor as most of my clients text me their updates, but call when labor has started. I was surprised as I wasn’t expecting this to happen for at least 5-7 days. Sure enough, her water had spontaneously ruptured. We knew things would move fast, so I was on edge about when contractions would actually begin.

By 8:30, contractions were here, but not quite at the intensity yet. By 9:30 they were heading to the hospital.

I arrived and met them in triage. Mom was having intense contractions, but not super close together. We moved down to her labor and delivery room and was quickly met by Kendra, her midwife. The walk down to her room intensified her contractions and brought them closer together. They put baby on the monitors and after tracking for a short while, they moved mom into the tub in order to provide some relief from the contractions.

It was just what Mom needed. With Taylor Swift’s new album playing in the background, we all watched her as she worked her way to meeting her baby. She labored beautifully and peacefully. Even talking and telling stories between contractions. Kendra, her mom, Cole Deelah (her doula) and I all patiently watched her until she started feeling tingling in her thighs during one contraction. Next contraction, she was noticing the build of pressure from baby’s descent. By the third contraction I was seeing a bulging bag emerging.

We quickly got her out of the tub and into the bed and watched as she worked her baby out. Once baby’s head and shoulders were out, Kendra guided Mom’s hands down to grab and bring her baby out and into her arms.

My favorite things are the looks she gave her husband and mom. Filled with pride as if saying “look what I just did.” Just 6 short hours of her water breaking.

Happy birthday sweet Briar!