01/30/2026
I recently doulaed for a first-time family whose birth story led them to the OR.
It wasn’t something they had wanted or planned. After 12+ hours with a relatively unchanged cervix at the end of a 48-hour labor, and with their baby beginning to show signs of being uncomfortable, a decision was made.
As a mother, she began walking backward in her mind, wondering what she did wrong or what she could have done differently. At the same time, my doula brain was also retracing our steps. Had we exhausted all options? Were there places we could have taken a different path?
In the end, their baby (9 lb 15.3 oz) was born vigorous, went to mom for skin-to-skin, nursed right away, and made it clear that’s exactly where he intended to stay.
I will never say that a 10 lb baby cannot be born vaginally, I’ve witnessed it many times over the years. What I will say is that larger babies can require a bit more preparation, patience, and finesse to navigate through the pelvis, especially without the cushion of amniotic fluid to assist with movement and rotation. Even when we have the best plans, birth will continue to teach us.
So… what did this family experience?
✓ Gestating past 41 weeks
✓ Labor beginning slowly at home
✓ Membranes releasing on their own at home
✓ Laboring together at home
✓ Intermittent monitoring at the hospital vs continuous
✓ Minimal vaginal exams — a total of three in almost 24 hours
✓ Pumping for the first time
✓ Showering during labor
✓ No continuous IV fluids or medications
✓ Walking outside the L&D unit for fresh air
✓ Snacking and drinking during labor
✓ A fantastic birth team — incredible nightshift and dayshift nurses and supportive midwifery care
Hospital birth can look like this.
With the right team in place, families can have freedom of movement, autonomy, informed choice, and feel empowered in their decisions — even when birth takes an unexpected turn.
Birth isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence, adaptability, and support.
If you experienced an unexpected cesarean, are you feeling at peace with your birth? Was your cesarean urgent or emergent? What do you feel may have contributed to the shift in your birth plan?
*My photo from an unrelated birth as I was solely focused on being a full time doula.
