Sam and Ben’s due date had moved so many times, I was sure the baby couldn’t even keep up with what was going on. Sam was experiencing gestational diabetes and her blood pressure had been high during her prenatal appointments. When I left to go to Washington for a week for my brother’s wedding I whispered to the universe, “Please – make that baby wait till I get back.” Ironically, no matter what Sam did to naturally induce her own labor, that baby sat tight. My family arrived back in Oregon Sunday afternoon and that night I went to bed early and proceeded to indulge in 12 hours of sleep. Monday morning I got the call that Sam and Ben were heading into the hospital to start induction. And thus starts Ada Kay’s hospital birth story at Kaiser Westside.
Images shared with permission from the family.
Induction felt pretty slow, that’s what Sam told me when I arrived. Her water was broken, received an epidural, then went from 3cm to fully dilated in 20 minutes. Even though I was 15 minutes away I still rushed to get there because I was sure Ada would be crowning the instant I pushed open the door. What I found in the room was pretty much the opposite. Sam was all smiles, not the moaning “sing my birth song” transition I was expecting. The room felt like the very definitely of chill, and then she took a nap, because she was comfortable.
Stacey the Certified Nurse Midwife checks in with Sam and sees where Ada is hanging out. The room is still so calm – Ben the dad literally says, “This is the most boring day of my life.” 🤣 He has been begging to go grab Chipotle and details how he could have gone and come back several times by now. But nowwwww he knows the second he leaves something new will happen, so he holds tight.
“Sam, are you ready to push?” “Yeah, that’d be great. I’m so ready to meet this baby.” If you knew Sam you’d be just as surprised as I was that she was literally the calmest energy at a birth that I’ve ever experienced. Usually she is sharp tongued, opinionated, and and has no qualms telling it like it is. She coached me in our prenatal consult that her first birth ended up with her yelling at the providers in the room. Her birth plan this time (printed out and displayed in the room) even said “I don’t like people, sorry, there’s no way around it.” Every person who read that thought she was joking because she was so jovial about everything.
Reaching down and realizing that HOLY CRAP THERE’S ACTUALLY A BABY THERE is pretty fkn incredible.
Happy BIRTH day Ada Kay, and welcome to the roller-coaster of life that starts with 2 people very very very very very happy to meet you 💜
Obligatory pruney-fresh-out-of-the-womb feets
On a scale of 1 to 10, Ben’s excitement for the arrival of his daughter is a 20 across the board.
“When I look at you,
I find it hard to believe
that the whole universe had not conspired
to bring you to life.
I cannot think of a more beautiful reason
for it all to exist
than for you in this day.” -Atticus
Sam smiles and the whole room lights up.
#Oxytocin and the #firstlatch, let the happy chemical wash over you like a tidal wave.
Hand in my hand and we promised to never let go.
“You felt familiar the moment I met you. A lovely sort of deja vu.” @beautaplin
It’s the oddest sensation to birth a brand new human and yet feel like they have always been a part of your life. The cosmos arranged this very second for your soul to recognize theirs.
Time for the placenta tour! Ben comes over intrigued while Sam is being stitched up and Sarah the CNM is more than happy to “show him around”. Did you get to see your baby’s placenta after giving birth? Would you (or did you) have it encapsulated? Share your experiences!
#skintoskin, not just for the birthing parent. Partners, get in there! Did you know that your kangaroo care helps improve a newborn’s quality of sleep? Say no more, whip off that shirt, and take a snoooooozer, you worked hard too.
Welcome to the world baby Ada ♥
Do you live in Oregon and would like to explore the opportunity of having your hospital birth story at Kaiser Westside
documented by Meg Ross Photography, a Portland Birth and Family Photographer?
I am happy to visit all hospitals, birth centers, and family homes to share birth space.
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As a fellow parent I understand how fleeting each milestone and memory can be, especially during labor.
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