Embracing the Journey: A Mother's Special Rainbow Birth Story with Doula support

A very special birth story shared by Lauren, with a thank you to Mindful Birth Doula Tara for her mindful doula support.

A little background: in 2023 I had a stillbirth at 22 weeks. It shattered my world and deeply altered me in many ways. He was our first baby. And my plan for his labor and delivery was a Birth center, low intervention, and unmedicated. Well all of that got tipped on its head with his loss. I had to have an induced hospital birth, and elected to get an epidural that ended up failing. This experience lead me to be a lot stronger in upholding my desires for any future births. It pushed me to research more. And I also learned how much mental strength and fortitude is required for birth. It’s truly a wild ride. 

Fast forward 6 months: I got pregnant with our rainbow baby. For this birth I still had the same desires: unmedicated, birth center, and avoiding induction. But due to my history of loss I apparently was no longer a candidate to give birth at the birth center I wanted. I shifted gears and got into an OB’s office. After my 8 week pregnancy confirmation ultrasound I immediately started researching doulas. I knew if I still wanted to achieve an unmedicated, low intervention birth I needed someone in the hospital room that was on my side, an ally for me. Not the hospital’s “policies”. 

My many hours of google searching brought me to mindful birth doulas. I was super pleased about all the positive reviews, and loved reading other women’s birth stories on their blog. I quickly scheduled a call with Christine. We went over my desires for birth, my history, and what I was looking for in a doula. She was so kind and sweet. She gave condolences and shared empathy for my story of loss. After the discussion she said I would be paired with Tara for my birth. 

Tara is truly a gem. I relied on her a lot especially towards the end of my pregnancy. She was always sending me various podcasts to listen to, videos and tips on how to physically prep for birth and breastfeeding, etc. 

As i approached (and ultimately went a few days over) 40 weeks my OB started pushing against my desires for how I wanted birth to go. My baby was measuring “large” and at my 40 week ultrasound had recommended a C-section. I was shattered. I told my OB I would never consent to a C-section just based on the fact that my baby seemed big from an ultrasound. At the end I agreed to additional monitoring and an NST. And was told I was being scheduled for induction a few days later. I called Tara crying after that appointment. I just needed someone to listen to my concerns, as I didn’t feel heard or understood at all by my OB. 

Tara listened. And since we had a few days until I was scheduled for the induction she offered some things to try. Curb walking, the Miles Circuit, RESTING because I was so stressed, and a massage. I ended up doing all of the above! Tara connected me with a friend of hers that does “pregnancy induction massages” and I got myself booked the next day. The massage was fantastic, and I truly do think it helped me mentally and to physically get my body gently nudged towards labor. 

The day of the scheduled induction arrived. 

I decided that I wasn’t going to simply be induced for having a “large baby”. And called my OB office to get the orders changed to have an additional ultrasound and NST done before anything else. 

My husband and I got to the hospital on a Saturday afternoon for the NST/ultrasound. I had a feeling that I potentially wouldn’t be coming back home that day. So we packed everything we needed in the car prior to leaving. 

Once on the monitors for a few minutes I was told that my baby was having heart decelerations and that I was already having pretty good contractions. Due to heart decelerations and being overdue I was told I was being admitted and induced. 

Obviously I wanted to do whatever necessary to keep my baby safe. But I did feel like I got trapped a little bit into being induced. Thankfully, baby’s heart regulated after the nurses got me set up with an IV. And I was told that the decelerations were likely due to slight dehydration since baby normalized with the fluids.

Once I knew I was being admitted I texted Tara to let her know what was going on. Tara encouraged me to keep advocating for what I wanted while in the hospital even though my initial plan was being deviated from, and to keep her posted on how things progressed, and when I wanted her to come. 

Thankfully I got a really awesome nurse during admit. I expressed my desires to go unmedicated and that it was super important to me to be able to move around during labor. And I requested a wireless monitor. This nurse also asked if we had eaten dinner yet? We told her no. And she encouraged my husband to go get us dinner so I would have fuel for labor, while she got the doctor’s orders together for me. 

My husband and I enjoyed a quick dinner of chipotle. And the nurse came back in and got my Pitocin drip started. I expressed my concerns with pitocin and not wanting labor to be artificially too fast and strong, and the worries I had about it being too hard on my baby. This nurse let me know that typically pitocin is increased every 30 minutes, but I could advocate for myself and have it done slower, at every 60 minutes instead. 

Unfortunately I got admitted about 2 hours prior to shift change. So I didn’t have this nurse for very long, which I was sad about because I felt that she was really on my side and listened to what I had to say. The next nurse wasn’t as nice or accommodating, and I really had to advocate for myself a lot. 

I was started on Pitocin around 5 pm and by 8 pm or so I requested Tara come in as the contractions were getting super strong.

It felt like Tara showed up almost immediately after I texted her and I was so thankful! Contractions were getting super strong and difficult to work through. After being on Pitocin for only a few hours, I made my nurse shut it off. My body seemed to only need a little nudge to go into labor. And my contractions were coming very quick and consistently. 

Labor was making me really nauseous. So Tara set a washcloth with peppermint oil near my face which helped so much. She helped guide me into different positions to help keep baby moving down. And my favorite part: was rubbing my back and legs a lot because I kept getting these terrible muscle cramps during contractions. 

At one point I ended up laboring in the bathroom on the toilet, and ended up staying there for hours. It was where I was most comfortable, and it kept the nurse away from asking to check my cervix constantly. Tara set up little battery candles in the bathroom so could keep the big lights off. 

Towards the end of labor, when i was likely in transition, I was getting super grunty and feeling super pushy. Everyone in the room recognized this, but i was in denial that I could be close to having this baby. The nurse kept popping in and encouraging me to come to the bed to check me, and that I needed to come out if I was feeling pushy. But I kept lying and saying I wasn’t pushy even though I had several contractions where I couldn’t help but bear down through them. At this point I felt completely feral, I was so shocked at the noises leaving my body as I worked through contractions. My poor husband, I was gripping him so hard and basically yelling/groaning into his ear for hours on end. 

Eventually Tara and my husband were able to gently convince me to move out to the bed. Tara recognized by the way I was acting that baby was close to coming. Once out there the nurse checked me and I was 10 cm. I worked through some contractions while upright against the back of the bed, and the nurse had me do some pushes to see how close baby was. Sure enough - it was time! 

Immediately my room with filled with a bunch more nurses and the doctor came in. I was still in denial that I was anywhere near being done. My husband finally looked at me and goes “Babe, you’re almost done. They’re setting up the delivery table and the doctor is here! You’re so close”. 

And he was right - after about 45 minutes of pushing our baby girl arrived! She was 9 lbs! I was so relieved and thankful to be done with labor! I KNEW my body was capable of delivering her. And I was so proud of myself for doing it!

Our little E. 

Our rainbow baby 

After enduring the most unimaginable storm.

Our miracle girl. 

A tiny piece of heaven on earth. 

Making us Mom & Dad once more.

Our souls are forever changed by her existence. 

Never taking it for granted. 

Tara stayed with us for a few hours after delivery until I got moved to my postpartum room. 

She helped me get started with breastfeeding, and even helped me get cleaned up changed out of my delivery gown while my husband cuddled our new baby. 

I think a doula is an essential for birth. I was so grateful and thankful for Tara’s support throughout my pregnancy and delivery! In the moments I felt like I couldn’t keep going, her calm and encouraging presence kept me focused and moving!

Authored by Lauren, 2025