Birthing in Louisiana - Baby Olivia’s Birth Story
Disclaimer: The stories included in this project are to highlight many different stories, situations, locations, and birth experiences in the state of Louisiana. I have been given permission by the mothers to share. They do not reflect my own opinions, beliefs, and/or recommendations. There will be no trigger warnings. Read at your own risk. - Rebekah Blouin
Photo by Hannah Claire Co
At around 9 pm I received a call from Amy and she began by saying, "it's not an emergency, I'm fine!" She was 41 weeks and 1 day so I was expecting a call from her at any time, but this night I was at a baby shower an hour away from my home that I drove straight to after setting up for my son's birthday party the next morning.
"So, I'm having some discharge and some pressure, but it's not bad." After talking back and forth about everything and her insisting she was fine, I told her I would be to her house in 30 minutes because I suspected things may be a little bit more. I was thinking I would chat with her for a few minutes then I'd go home to rest a little bit, but would probably wake up to a call from her in the middle of the night.
Photo by Hannah Claire Co
When I arrived at 9:35, I was greeted by a momma that was still in great spirits, but was bending over every few minutes, breathing deep, and I could definitely tell things had escalated from our call a few minutes earlier. She was home alone with her daughter, so I encouraged her to take a bath to help her calm down and relax while I watched her almost 2 year old. I also started texting family members and friends that I would not be coming home that evening and the to-do list for the party the next day. I was going in between the bath to check on her and the living room to check on her daughter while we waited for her friend to arrive to take over. Within a few minutes, things got even more intense and she decided it was time to go to the hospital. She got out of the bathtub and slowly walked to her room. She made it to her bed and immediately laid down and stated she couldn't move. "She's coming!" she told me, “the baby is coming!”
Photo by Hannah Claire Co
By this point her friend had arrived to watch her first daughter and Momma asked for her to be taken outside. She said, “I can’t do this! I can’t have this baby here!” I asked her, “do you still want to go to the hospital?” “I can’t get up, I can’t move! Please call 911!” I tell her friend to throw some towels in the dryer to warm them up after telling her, “if you cannot move to go to the hospital, your baby is going to come here.” I call 911 as she asked and I quickly explain the situation to dispatch, but cannot answer all of their questions because I am taking care of momma. She asked me to see if baby was crowning so I walk to turn on the bathroom light and when I turned back around, baby’s head was out and she immediately started crying. In between the womb and the world and she was letting out a cry to reassure mom that she was okay. I put the phone down and run to momma’s side and tell her, “reach down and grab your baby! You can do it!” She reached down and pulled her baby to her chest and that is where she stayed.
I arrived at 9:35 and baby was out by 10:25.
The fire department arrived first, then the paramedics. She was transferred to the hospital for a quick hospital stay. Baby and Momma were perfect!
They are now home and doing wonderful!
Photo by Hannah Claire Co
I love to keep going back to this story, because God’s hand was all over it.
Amy and I met in November of 2022 at a women’s event. I had talked myself into going even though I knew NOONE but I knew that would not change if I didn’t get out there and meet other ladies. I sat in the car for about 5 minutes, talking to someone on the phone about how nervous I was, but how I was going to walk up to someone who was getting out of their car and ask if they wanted to hang out. I practiced and was finally ready… I get out of my car and look over to the right and hear, “are you here alone too?” I told her, “YES,” and she said, “want to walk up together?” That was the beginning of our friendship. We bonded because my son was born November 20, 2021 and her first daughter was born December 20, 2021. Here we are a year later and I’m attending the birth of her second daughter in November 2023.
I was not supposed to go decorate for my son’s party when I did, but had I not, I either would not have gotten everything set up in time or would not have made it to her house.
I was at a baby shower an hour from my home, but only 30 minutes from her home. If I had been at my house, I probably would not have made it to her home because she was not showing signs that things were moving that quickly. I would have taken my time to get ready and get in the car to get to her, because waters leaking and “slight pressure that comes and goes” do not normally mean pushing an hour later.
I had randomly brought my SUV to set up for the party and head to the baby shower. It had my “birth stuff” in it because my husband’s car (which is usually packed and ready to drive to a birth) had just been returned to us from a mechanic. I had been beating myself up for leaving my husband with both kids in the tiny Mazda 3, but if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have had my birth tools, extra clothes, etc.
Amy was induced with her first daughter and did not like the experience. She was really not wanting to repeat that. Even though she was seen as “high risk” because she was over 35, she was firm in her decision not to be induced, even after going past 40 weeks… Then 41 weeks… She was not sure if she would be able to give birth unmedicated because she doubted her ability to handle pain. God blessed her with the strength to deny induction and give birth at home, accidentally, after a precipitous labor.
There were multiple other things that God did through this experience that will remain private, but this was such an amazing birth that I am so honored to have been a part of. I’m thankful to have been able to stand beside a friend as she was one of the bravest people I’ve ever known.
Photo by Hannah Claire Co