There really are no words for how awesome this birth experience was on every level. But I’ll throw a few hundred out trying (as is my way).
First let’s chat about Megan. I have known this mama since elementary school! Even though we ran in different circles for the majority of our lives, we occupied the same small town sphere. Through the craziness that is social media, we reunited on Facebook a few years ago. We have been able to watch each other’s families grow and celebrate milestones. But our relationship has been restricted to just that – social media – until recently that is.
Megan is a nursing student and birth enthusiast. When she isn’t creating insanely cute children of her own (this little one is in very good company), she enjoys viewing birth footage and birth photography. So when she was expecting this time, our mutual passion for birth stories put us squarely in each other’s paths for the first time in many years. The only glitch being that Megan and her husband, Nate, were still back in our home town. 4 hours away. Boo! But as fate would have it, they moved before her due date and decided to deliver at University of Colorado Hospital Anshutz. Yay!
Their decision to have a University of Colorado Hospital birth was great for more reasons than just proximity to me. It turns out the facility and care providers there are absolutely outstanding. She got all the comfort of a birthing center with the peace of mind that comes with having a medical team on hand. I was floored by the level of autonomy she was allowed in her birthing decisions at a hospital. A team of 4 was basically dedicated to her care all day but they did so with complete respect for her instincts and wishes. The result was a serene, hypnosis-guided labor and a very unique birth.
Megan had mentioned ahead of time that Nate was a very big part of her labors when push came to shove. (Pun only a little intended.) And indeed he stepped in to physically and mentally hold her up in a way that clearly inspired everyone in the room. We all just watched them in awe as he assured her that she was very close now – she was. (And we all tried not to laugh when she replied, “You don’t know that…”) The man cracking jokes upon my arrival when she needed levity was now her rock during the hardest part of her labor. He left her only when he knew it was time. The midwife stepped in to deliver the baby with Megan standing beside the bed! She was able to help catch her own baby and bring him to her view. The actual birth was fast, intense, and one of the most beautiful acts of female strength I could imagine.
Baby Titus was now earthside. But he was having a hard time catching his breath. Before we knew it, 3 women in scrubs became 8. After giving us all a scare, Titus was handed back to mom for his first latch and cuddle time. But the family only got a few minutes with him before his oxygen saturation began to fall again. Despite all efforts to keep Titus close to mom and dad, the decision was made to move him to the NICU to see if he was able to pull out of it during the normal transition time.
At this point came the second most profound moment of the day. Tired from days of contractions, empty stomach, and having just given birth; Megan went into mom mode. Normally women are completely transformed and energized when the hours of labor turn into a beautiful child in their arms. It’s remarkable the night and day difference in our demeanor. But this was even bigger. Within minutes of Titus heading down to the NICU, she was walking down the hall to see him. After spending months in each other’s constant company, the first moments apart are even harder when the distance is measured in floors and not inches. But despite a dramatic first few hours, he left the hospital the next day like he’d never had a care in the world!
Megan’s last birth was over within 2 minutes of her water being broken! Needless to say, the staff at the teaching hospital took a strong interest in her. You can also imagine how scared I was when she contacted me to say that it was go time and they were breaking her water within the hour. (Cue panic attack and not-so-legal highway speeds.) I was quite relieved when I walked in and Megan and Nate were casually chatting.
The southern exposure of the labor suite provided dream lighting during Megan’s daytime labor. Could she BE any more stunning?
Megan’s birth team came in to check her prior to breaking her waters. Unfortunately, the daytime Midwife did not feel that she was at a safe stage to do so. While this abundance of caution is ultimately appreciated, the change in plans was a little shocking to everyone who mentally prepared for it to be go time.
The waiting game commenced. At this point Megan had been in early labor for days and was eager to meet her baby. So she literally got on the ball and agreed to start a low dose of Pitocin that would grow slowly over time.
Soon Megan’s demeanor became much more consistent with transition. At 3:00, Megan’s waters were ruptured and we sat with bated breath to see if this birth would be a repeat of her previous one. (Spoiler alert…not so much.)
Around this time, Megan was clearly in transition. Even if Titus wasn’t going to make an uncommonly stealthy entrance, the wait was soon to be over. Nate and Megan have been in labor together several times before and he knew it wouldn’t be long. He really doubled down on his coaching and comforting of Megan. The Hypnobabies soundtrack gave them cues to ride out the “pressure waves”. I was in awe of their love and teamwork.
Even though Megan was reluctant to believe us all, her “most difficult labor” seemed to an outsider to be remarkably serene. She labored with strength and focus. In the lulls there was meditative stillness. During one such lull I got a shot that I feel sums up Nate and Megan’s incredible connection and the stunning beauty of motherhood. During these intense moments in life, everything else fades away and the entire world seems to shrink down to the immediate – the tiny space between these two people.
Shortly after the sun went down, Megan stood up beside the bed. She was so calm that I didn’t realize what was happening. I stepped aside to check my flash batteries and take a bite of food. When I stepped back into place, Nate had moved aside. Moments later, the midwife was delivering Titus. She helped Megan catch him and bring him to her chest. Titus’s birth was unique and remarkable for different reasons than any of us expected.
Thank you Megan, Nate, and Titus for letting me be part of your birth story. I don’t think I will ever tire of being present for a miracle, but this one was particularly special.
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