A Client Birth Story - Welcoming Audrey!
The following birth story has been written by a client of The Nurturing Company and paired with images taken by Brianna Trammell.
Preceding her birth, there was a period over the holidays of just hoping she’d come before I had to go back to work. I wasn’t sure, at that point, how I could return. I was tired, sore, and just so ready for her to be here. After the long weekend following New Years, I went back to work -resigned to the fact that since I was a first time mom I would be going longer than her due date.
I worked that Monday (1/4/2026), really feeling my 39 weeks. When I drove home that night, after a busy 10hr shift, I was so sore and decided to take a bath. My little sister, Elsie Mae, who was staying with us while we prepared for baby girl’s arrival - helped me clean the bathtub while my husband, Adam, made us some hot dogs (per my request). After a relaxing bath where we watched my dad and brother stream a game they were playing, we had a pretty normal evening. I packed lunches for the next day of work and went to bed.
Around 2:30am (Tuesday 1/5/2026), I got up to go pee, as had become pretty normal during the late stages of pregnancy. I attempted to go back to sleep, but started feeling kind of crampy in my stomach. I figured that I just had to pass a bowel movement so begrudgingly hauled myself out of bed again and headed to the bathroom. It was not too productive of a trip so I returned to bed - hoping to get at least a few more hours of sleep before I had to wake and get ready for the day. In the haze of half-sleep, it occurred to me that the “cramps” kept coming and going and that they had noticeable peaks. At this point, I had disturbed Adam with all my shuffling about, and I was relieved to not be alone in all my swirling thoughts and “what-ifs.” I let him know that I was going back to the bathroom and that I was going to download a contraction timer, just for fun, as I was pretty sure I was having contractions. The timer pretty quickly determined that we should be heading to the hospital, or in our case, the birth center. We contacted both our midwives and our doula to let them know that things were starting, and then we hunkered down to labor as long as I could at home. I took a shower and washed my hair because I had no clue when I would get to do that again. By 6am I was out in the living room on the birth ball while Adam made me some breakfast, and I let work know that I wouldn’t be coming in. Elsie Mae was sitting with me in the living room while I tried to stay as hydrated and comfortable as possible. Adam brought me my eggs and toast, which I ate and then promptly threw up. I ended up just sipping on protein shakes, yogurt drinks, and applesauce for the remainder of labor.
At 9am, our doula Bri arrived, and within 15 minutes, I’d already had 3 separate contractions. We let the midwives know that it seemed like active labor. From here on out, I had definitely lost track of time. I know that we labored for a little longer at home and ended up rotating between the couch and the toilet (I would spend the bulk of labor on the toilet - dilation station) before heading to the birth center. I was pretty insistent about being there as I didn’t want to make the trip when I was any more uncomfortable. When we got to the birth center, our midwife Katie checked my and baby’s vitals, then labor continued. We tried some different positions, and at some point, I got in the shower. I ended up relaxing so much that the contractions started spacing out, and labor seemed to start stalling a little. It was decided that I should get out of the shower and we should head home to try to restart labor in a space that was more familiar. I was pretty upset and discouraged by this, as I’d been laboring what felt like forever (12-ish hours).
At home, we went back into our bedroom, shut the curtains, and we all tried to rest some for a good chunk of time. I really couldn’t get comfortable lying down, and this all is a blur.
I genuinely cannot remember what time we decided to head back to the birth center. However, we made it, and I slipped back into a rotation between the toilet and leaning over the peanut ball on the bed. Adam sat on the floor by me while I labored on the toilet. In between contractions, he would offer me my water and little applesauce or yogurt pouches. He’s the only reason I ate or drank anything the entire labor.
On the bed, Adam and Bri supported me with counter-pressure and back rubs. My midwives, Katie and Brenna, would routinely check my and baby’s vitals and, at my request, had performed several cervical checks. I found her strong heartbeat and the little bits of dilation progress to be quite encouraging. At some point, I made it to 8ish cm or something, and my waters were bulging. I never expected my water to break without help, but around midnight, we heard what sounded like a huge water balloon being popped, followed by a gush of warm liquid. I felt a distinct sense of relief before the next contraction started.
Now we figured it was truly go time. Maggie, another midwife, arrived. Our vitals were checked again, and the birthing tub was filled. Stepping into the water was the most relaxed and comfortable I’d been in the last 20 hours, and I was so tired by this time that I would fall asleep (snoring and all) between contractions while Adam and Bri held and encouraged me. I truly believe that over the next hour or so, my body was gathering what energy it could in order to bring baby girl into this world. I was anxious for her to get here and so tired. I kept asking when I could be done. Our doula, Bri, started to say that I would feel my body take over, and before she could even finish her sentence, I could feel my body almost coiling up and bearing down involuntarily. Try as I might to keep my voice low, the pain was causing me to cry out. In my efforts to keep it lower, I ended up letting out a very primal and guttural sound.
I pushed for about an hour. I was given a labor comb at some point and used that during my contractions (I noticed marks left by the comb in my palm even up to a week after birth).
Audrey’s actual birth was so quick. I was determined to get her here. Brenna had been supporting me with counter-pressure as Audrey got closer and closer. As soon as Brenna told me that they could see her little head of hair peeking through, I was more motivated than ever. I leaned into the contractions until I felt the ring of fire, and Audrey’s head was not going back in. I put my hands down to feel her head and support my body. I decided that I wanted her here now, so I pushed with the next contraction, and her head was born. What followed was sweet relief. With the next push, she shot out of me. Adam and Brenna caught her and brought her up into my arms.
She’s here and absolutely perfect!
What followed was a beautiful half hour of us admiring this cheesy little girl and her full head of hair. She was a bit slow to cry or clear her lungs - but she eventually did so without needing a rescue breath.
However, while we were enjoying finally being able to hold her in our arms, my placenta was still happy to hang out right where it was. Katie had me move to the bed where Adam cut the now limp and white umbilical cord. What followed was even more of a blur. I was riding a high and couldn't be happier, but I was aware of the quickly escalating situation. Katie and Brenna attempted to tug and work my placenta out of me gently, and I received a shot of Pitocin. When it became apparent that it still was not coming, we passed Audrey to Adam for some skin-to-skin, and I got into a squat to try and birth the placenta. Nothing. Katie attempted a manual removal twice, and it still wouldn't budge, but the amount of blood and clots on the bed was extremely concerning. Katie made the call to transfer me to the hospital. While all of this was happening, Bri noticed that Audrey’s color was starting to look a little dusky again, and she called Maggie over. She was not getting enough oxygen, and the call for another ambulance was made.
Audrey started rooting around, so we latched her to my breast while we waited for the ambulance to arrive and tried to start her on some oxygen. When the fire department arrived, they put her on oxygen, and she started regaining color immediately, which was reassuring. The ambulance arrived, and it was arranged for Audrey and I to ride together. We ended up sitting in the ambulance for a hot minute while we waited for the other ambulance to arrive. A kind EMT named Donovan started my IV while Audrey was transitioned onto their oxygen system. The second ambulance arrived, and Audrey’s Angel left her ride to join us in ours.
After a quick and bumpy ride to the hospital, we were wheeled through hallways and elevators into a room where a team was waiting for me, and one was waiting for Audrey. Audrey’s team got her stabilized and took her up to the special care nursery. My team introduced themselves to me while IV’s were being placed, and I was letting them know everything that had happened. What followed was another blur of gas, a final manual removal of my placenta, and one final cry of pain. I ended up choosing to get put under general anesthesia for a D&C to ensure that the rest of my shredded placenta was removed. It was like 6am at this point, and I was exhausted.
I woke up with a lovely nurse named Kim who was monitoring me after the operation. Adam had been waiting for me to wake up with Audrey in the nursery. He joined me, and we all chatted together for a while until Adam’s parents arrived after driving from 2 hours away. He went to meet them and take them to meet their granddaughter. After being observed for 2 hours, I was cleared, and Adam returned, so they wheeled me down to my recovery room. Finally, I was able to go down and see Audrey, who was on the CPAP machine because she had fluid in her lungs, an antibiotic, and a glucose IV. Over the next few days, we all recovered. I pumped every 2-3 hours in order to encourage my milk to come in. Audrey was off the CPAP machine within 24 hours. I was latching her every 3 hours, then giving her whatever colostrum I managed to produce, and finally offering donor milk. Hospital time is weird. Sleep was light and frequently interrupted.
By Thursday afternoon, they were feeling good about both of us being able to go home. Adam’s parents returned for another visit with Elsie Mae, and they brought us Chick-fil-A (so good). We incrementally transitioned Audrey to formula, as my milk had still not come in, and we needed to ensure she’d be able to eat when we returned home. After about 24 hours at home doing the triple feeding, our midwife, Jen, came for a home visit and let us know that it would be fine to stop triple feeding as my milk had come in and Audrey was thriving. Everything slipped into place as we figured out breastfeeding and sleeping arrangements.
While I truly feel so positive about this entire experience, I recognize that it was probably the most traumatic thing to have happened to me in my life. It took me a little while to actually work myself up to sitting down and writing it out. While this story didn't read how I'd imagined it would, it had the ending I'd prayed for. Adam and I safe at home with our precious baby girl.
I had the amazing, unmedicated labor and empowering birth that I wanted at the birth center - and also the unplanned but attentive care we needed postpartum at the hospital.
Adam and I are so thankful for everyone who was a part of Audrey's Birth Story. Words can't capture it.
We are thankful for all the amazing midwives and student midwives at West Michigan Midwifery. Never once did we worry for the safety of myself or Audrey under their care.
We are thankful for Bri and Randi from The Nurturing Company: Photography & Doula Services. Their support during pregnancy, birth, and after as we've stepped into parenthood has been more than we ever could have hoped for. (Also. All of the amazing pictures for our memories?? So excited to show Audrey someday.)
We are thankful for all the doctors and nurses (and everyone else) who cared for us during our unexpected stay at the hospital.
We are also so very thankful for everyone who supported us as we transitioned back home and into our new normal - family and friends.
I am so thankful for my husband, Adam, who has been by my side through everything and is truly the best birth partner I could have asked for. I am so excited to see you grow as you step into fatherhood.
And I am thankful to God, who guided this all and gave us the honor of being her parents.
