01/18/2026
✨May 22’nd 2026✨
This is baby Prairie’s birth story!
“May 21st - I had a midwife appointment with Allison. I was 40 weeks + 4 days and nearing the time I'd be uncomfortable going past (bc I have history of bigger babies lol) At this point, I had been experiencing prodromal labor on and off for 3 weeks and have been 4-5 cm dilated for 3 weeks. We agreed my body could have just needed a nudge so she performed a membrane sweep. She advised me to "go home and meditate, cuddle with my husband naked, and crawl around in on my hands and knees"
The rest of the day I had Braxton hicks and lost more of the "mucous plug". But I didn't think much of it because I had been having that already for 3 weeks. Baby girl kept me awake most of the night head butting me. the pelvic pressure was insane
May 22nd @ 4 AM - I will spare the details but I was pretty sure my water was leaking. There was a decent amount in bed, but I was so unsure because I was dry after that. I went and laid on the couch for 2 1/2 more hours to see if contractions would start and I could call the midwife. Nothing happened (I actually stopped cramping) I still called the midwife (Sarah) around 6:30 AM. She wanted me to get active and check back at noon. She said it did sound like a leak so I should come in at 12:30 PM and receive antibiotics just in case (I was
GBS +)
I was so unsure but also super excited because this possibly meant my body was doing it on its own! The midwives were discussing AROM with me (breaking my water with a hook) things happening on their own gave me peace.
7 AM - we had a slow morning. got the kids up, made breakfast and picked up the house for the thousandth time.
10 AM - we drop the boys off to my parents and run errands to keep my mind off of labor.
11-12 PM - we end up at Bass Pro (also advised by my midwife Allison) apparently they swear by bass pro working miracles for putting moms in active labor.
At this point I was getting discouraged. I thought maybe I had some more leakage and more Braxton hicks. But it didn't even feel intense like the prodromal labor I had been experiencing before. Uncomfy but not painful.
12 PM - we call the midwife (Sarah) as planned but can't get ahold of her because she is held up delivering at the hospital. We finally get a hold of a nurse. She says we can come in just in case to see if my water is *actually broken* and get antibiotics.
We have time so we decide to get Chick-fil-A before we head in…
12:20 ISH - I'm telling you, the second we get a "my pleasure" at Chick-fil-A and pull out of the drive-thru, I hear and feel a "pop" and several gushes of water and immediately have to brace myself for a contraction that is 7/10 pain. My husband is simultaneously eating his fries, trying to stuff a sweatshirt under my butt and has the steering wheel with his knees
We get to the birthing center a little after 12:30. A nurse greets us and she can immediately tell I am in full blown labor. Contrary to the calm phone call I had with her minutes before telling me to mosey on over. Sarah was still held up at a hospital, luckily Allison happened to be around!
At first it was hectic. I kind of start to panic internally for a second. How did things go from feeling nothing to 7/10 pain? Tanner is getting all our bags in, food in, and checking on me. After he gets my playlist and diffuser going, and hands me my labor comb I am calm.
Allison walks in and I tell her we just came from bass pro.
I think everyone was slightly confused because I had just been on the phone with them just MINUTES before not laboring/contracting. & now I am moaning through contractions and my pants are soaked all the way down to my feet.
She checks me and I'm still at 5 cm. I don't even care at this point because I know the pain is so intense, things must be happening. I ask to not be checked again.
1 PM - I text my photographer Lindsay that things are getting wild and it's probably time to head over to the birth center. She was minutes away and had been prepared for weeks. She showed up shortly after.
For the next hour or so, I'm in my own labor world. Talking very little in between contractions, but mostly concentrating on staying relaxed. Tanner is offering me electrolytes in between. Holding onto him and being close to him helped me get through each surge. The surges seem like they are on top of the other with very little breaks in between.
Around 2 PM ish - I start having contractions that send me into a different dimension lol. I had like 2 or 3 and then look at Tanner half crying and half demanding "I need the bath!" I'll never forget the look on his face hahaha.
He looked concerned and got the nurse quickly. I was worried that I was getting in the bath too soon & I started doubting myself. Can I actually do this?
Shortly after the nurse helps me get in the bath. I get immediate relief and it seems like the contractions get a bit further apart. Giving me maybe a 2 minute break? I know immediately that I must be in transition because it felt like it was just me in the room. Me, my body, God
I, and my baby. Truly felt like an out of body experience and the Holy Spirit was so present in every inch of the room. I do remember managing to ask my husband to change the music to "Christian Hypnobirthing" instead of worship music.
Through these contractions I have to keep my groans low and animalistic. I don't care what I sound likr e or look like
Tanner is offering me water, putting cold rags on my head, holding my hand, and rubbing my chest. I wouldn't recall this, but there is a video of the entire thing. Thanks to our photographer!
He looks at me like he wishes he could jump in my body and take the pain for me. I do remember glancing at him a few times and he had tears in his eyes. I can count on one hand how many times I've seen my husband cry in 8 years.
He said he just felt helpless in that moment, but he was everything I needed.
2:20 PM - I said "I feel like she's coming" I felt her descending down my pelvis. I didn't really have an urge to push yet. But after I said this, the midwife came in.
The next few contractions my body starts pushing on its own. I remember asking "can I push?!?" Because I was still unsure that I was just minutes away from delivery. They were like "well yeah girl go for it?!?" It was wildly different than my hospital births. The midwife and the nurse sat by watching and just holding space, letting my body do the work. Not questioning whether it was time or gaslighting me. Not asking to check my cervix to make sure. Not telling me how or when to push.
2:45 - i hear "feel your baby's head mama". she's crowning. The pressure was so intense. For a short second I do feel like I'm about to lose control. Everyone reminds me to breathe and pant through the burning. Allison says "it's burning it's stretching but everything is safe" The time until the next contraction felt like an eternity. I wanted to push her out.
The next contraction, I'm panting and hear "almost to forehead" pant, pant little push. pant pant, little push.
Next contraction I hear "ok the head is out" that gave me the motivation for one push and it feels like she flies out. Next thing I know, she's on my chest. But the cord is so short we have to keep her kinda lower.
After that it's a blur so I'm happy to have a video. Prairie took a minute to cry but they assured me she was fine and didn't realize she was out of water yet. She was still attached to the placenta.
Her color looked good. They said she had lots of vernix too! They just told me to keep rubbing her.
Besides a few suction once or twice nobody but Tanner and I touched her for a few minutes.
Nothing like Quincy's birth where dad was kinda pushed to the side and everyone is crowding around me. “
