Sometimes We Have To Pivot

Y’all already know what it is.
I’ll do my best to keep it brief.

We didn’t have a lot of time to get to know each other; maybe a week and a half, two at most. But that doesn’t change my support; it just speeds up what I call the pregnancy dating stage. You know, getting to know her in her support language.

We met and scheduled sessions, but on the day of her labor prep session, she got the call: they wanted to induce that night.

Ok, let’s pause.

Now y’all know I never have a problem with a change of plans; that’s just the nature of this work. But this one was wild.

I headed back home and gave her a moment to process what she’d just been told. I knew she needed space not just for herself, but with her husband, to cry, to pray, to grieve the shift from the spontaneous birth she’d envisioned.

When I called her 30 minutes later, I told her the same thing I tell every mama in that moment: pray and trust your gut.

At that point, I was following her lead while staying available to answer questions and offer insight where I could.

She decided to go in.
It was a Tuesday night when it all began and none of us could’ve prepared for the marathon ahead.

She labored and labored, riding the waves like a pro. I’m not exaggerating. She was eating contractions like snacks. I was, and still am, so impressed.

One of my favorite moments was hugging her as she melted her body weight into me; she was most relaxed then.

But her progress wasn’t consistent.
We tried every position possible to help baby settle into the pelvis, but she wouldn’t budge. Her contractions intensified, but the progress didn’t match the uterine effort.

After using my entire arsenal, I knew something deeper was going on; something was keeping baby from descending.

After the midwife and OB discussed options, we regrouped.
By that point, she’d had an epidural and her membranes had been ruptured’ everything meant to “move things along.”

My perspective was this:

“We can push it to the limit or acknowledge that you’ve done everything. You’ve been on Pitocin for over 24 hours beyond the typical max, you’ve tried every position imaginable, and your uterus is working overtime. I’m concerned that even if we reach pushing, you, your baby, and your uterus will be exhausted. That increases the risk for complications.”

I wasn’t willing to see her face an even bigger issue like uterine rupture or fetal distress, so when the c-section option came up, it made sense.

She agreed, and the plan went forward.
I waited (well… hid) in the lobby as long as I could, but eventually the front desk staff told me I couldn’t stay. Weird energy, but I digress.

Normally, I stay until the procedure is done to make sure mama and baby are both okay. I always leave belly births wondering if there’s anything more I could’ve done, but in this case, we truly tried everything that’s tried and true.

And come to find out, this sweet baby girl was tangled up in her umbilical cord. That’s what kept her from coming down.

Sometimes, things are simply beyond our control. We have to pivot.
It’s never the desire, and it’s always an emotional acceptance, but we do what we must.

To this mama:
It was such a pleasure meeting and supporting you. Thank you for letting me hug you, do hip squeezes, and offer comfort through the process. I’m so proud of you for surrendering and trusting God. Even if it doesn’t feel like it right now, you did beautifully.

I’m always here. 💜🤍🩵

✌🏾 & 💜,

Aeryka