Things rarely go as planned at births. While I am an advocate for making a birth plan (I work for a company that focuses on childbirth plans and education!), it’s always with the caveat that anything could change at any moment. The “plan” is usually meant to help in moments of uncertainty — when someone in labor is offered an epidural or a doctor suggests a C-section, for example. While the plan doesn’t “control” the situation, it does provide some stability, and that’s important when things feel a little chaotic!
Deylinn’s birth was just such an occasion. She was a mom with a plan. After a lot of thought, she decided on a water birth in the comfort of her home, and she worked hard to get there. Simba (Deylinn’s husband) stood by her every step of the way. In fact, I don’t think I saw him leave her side once. They worked through contractions together, but labor dragged on… and on… and on. As Deylinn continued to labor, she was fortunate to have a supportive group of people around her including her midwife from My Sister’s Keeper. Everyone knew her plan, but they also knew when to help her decide on a different course of action.
After a while, Deylinn was exhausted and just needed rest. Kennasha was able to help Deylinn transfer to the hospital with Dr. Cummings. Dr. Cummings has worked with Kennasha a lot in the past, and she knew that he would be open and supportive of Deylinn throughout the rest of the labor process. The rest she received at the hospital was exactly what Deylinn needed. To me, that’s the beauty of having a supportive birth team. Even when you have a plan, sometimes something else is best in the moment.
Deylinn gave birth to a beautiful 10 pound baby girl. Shortly after she was born she ended up needing a little help with breathing, but after a few hours in the NICU Deylinn and Simba were finally able to spend some time getting to know their precious girl.
