My birth story is pretty wild.

It was an unplanned, unmedicated, uneventful, thank God, birth in the back of an ambulance.

As a labor and delivery nurse, I was in complete denial.

So he looks again, and he's like, "Yeah, you're crowning."

Motherhood is all-consuming Having babies, nursing, feeling the fear of loving someone that much Then there's this baby on your chest, and boom, your entire life has changed

It's a privilege of being your child's safest space and watching your heart walk around outside of your body

The truth is, I can be having the best time being a mom one minute, and then the next, I'm questioning all my life choices

I'm Lo Mansfield, your host of the Lo and Behold podcast, mama of four littles, former labor and postpartum RN, CLC, and your new best friend in the messy middle space of all the choices you are making in pregnancy, birth, and motherhood.

If there is one thing I know after years of delivering babies at the bedside, and then having, and now raising those four of my own, it is that there is no such thing as a best way to do any of this, and we're leaning into that truth here.

With a mix of real life and what the textbook says, expert insights, and practical applications, each week, we're making our way towards stories that we participate in, stories that we are honest about, and stories that are ours.

This is the Lo and Behold podcast.

Okay.

I have the most fun, fun for me to listen to, maybe not fun for her to experience, fun birth story for you guys today.

I'm so excited to get you into this conversation, so we're just gonna get right into it.

Sarah is back.

Gestational diabetes nurse is back.

She's in episode 16 with me, but we are going to hear her third birth story today.

She is fresh postpartum, so if you are listening present day, she just went through all of this.

I don't wanna give you any more details.

I'll just let her get into it and share the whole thing.

But like I said, you guys, this is a fun one Sarah, it is so good to have you back.

I want you to go ahead and introduce yourself, and when you do, kind of share who you are and what I mean when I say have you back, what you do, what we chatted about last time, and then we'll get into your birth story today.

Awesome.

Thank you so much for having me back, Lo.

I'm a big fan of your podcast, and I'm so glad you're my friend, because it's just so fun to talk, to chat with another nurse.

Like, you totally get my heart.

So my name is Sarah.

I am a labor and delivery nurse, a high-risk OB nurse, and I help mamas who have gestational diabetes navigate everything about gestational diabetes without confusion, without stress, so I could really help support you have a healthy baby, healthy pregnancy, smooth birth.

And I know it's so challenging, and the lack of care is so sad right now, but that's basically what I do in the online space.

And I am a mama of three boys.

I just had my third in May 17th, which is wild, so he's a little over two months now.

Thank God.

My birth story is pretty wild.

It was an unplanned, unmedicated, uneventful, thank God, birth in the back of an ambulance.

And- You told everybody right away we were gonna save it for the end.

I know.

I just wanted to throw that out there because it is-

It could actually for some people could be a bit of, like, a trigger warning or, hey, it sounds a little chaotic, honestly, ' I mean, yeah, when you said that's how it was, I immediately, I'm like, "I need to hear this story," 'cause typically they are, interesting stories.

Yeah.

For sure.

Especially

as a labor and delivery nurse, and especially if it's your third baby and you're not planning a home birth.

Yep.

Yep.

There's a lot of- Yeah … specialties in there.

But I think, I mean, we'll get into it obviously, but anyone who has a birth story like that is very likely running into a variety of things they did not expect, did not want, or did not plan for, whether or not you, you work in this field or, or you wanted even- Yeah

you know, an unmedicated birth, whatever it is.

And again, I wanna hear all of that from you.

I mean, this, this type of story is gonna shock all of us when we're going through it regardless, I think, of even- Yeah … what we were planning or wanting or envisioning.

So, I wanna mention really quickly, first of all, I sent someone in my neighborhood to you because she got an unexpected gestational diabetes diagnosis.

Wow.

And so I know you mentioned that's, like, who you are and what you do work-wise.

And then Sarah was on episode 16, so we're not gonna really get into her work and what she does.

But if y'all wanna listen to our episode together, that is, we talk kind of about more, we lean into more of what she said, helping you guys figure out how to do, you know, your pregnancies well and confidently and with less of that confusion that follows that gestational diabetes diagnosis.

And so that is episode 16 if you guys want to go ahead and listen to that as well, or you're running into that at some point in your own pregnancy, that's there too, and we can go ahead and we will link that in the show notes too.

But Sarah, if it's cool with you- I know we mentioned before we started, let's get into birth story.

We are gonna talk about birth story number three since there's a lot of details and interesting stuff in there.

But why don't you- Yeah … kind of set us up with where you're at after having your first two babies.

I know they were close together.

Like, what those looked like, what you loved, what you didn't love.

Like, so how that all kind of led you then to what you were hoping for for three.

So how did those first kind of birth one, two go?

Give us big, big picture overview.

Yeah, I love that, question because I was basically planning my third based on my history, and that's really funny because birth is unexpected, as we all know now.

So my first, I was actually 40 weeks, and my doctor sent me to MFM to do a ultrasound and do a non-stress test because af- when you're post dates, that's just typically the protocol, just to make sure baby's doing well, placenta's functioning well, all the things.

And so when I went to MFM, my fluid was actually low.

It was less than four, so that meant… And the non-stress test was not reactive, so baby wasn't really happy on the monitor, and basically based on that, they recommended induction.

So my first was actually an induction, which I really didn't want, but based on you know, that situation, as a nurse, I understood that this is the best situation for me and my baby.

I actually had a very positive induction story.

I was only one centimeter when we started.

I got two Cytotechs, like the oral pill, sorry, the oral drink, and I broke my water on my own on- using the birthing ball with a wireless monitoring, which was really nice, and I got an epidural at three centimeters, which I planned.

Not at three centimeters, but I planned to get an epidural, only because I worked in labor and delivery, and I knew, like, all the doctors, and I just felt comfortable, like, this is something that I planned and I knew I wanted.

So I got to choose my anesthesiologist, which was really nice, and it was just a really positive experience.

My mom is actually a labor and delivery nurse that works in the same hospital that I gave birth at, and she's, like, a night nurse, over 20 years of experience.

And so she was by my side, which was so nice 'cause I felt, you know, that, like, kinda doula, kinda, like, mom.

Like, I just felt so comfortable, so loved.

My husband was there.

And we got to choose, like, the nurse that I had, and everything went so well, even though it was a vacuum delivery.

And I did have a prolonged decel, which the baby's heart rate went, went down for a couple minutes.

Even though all those things happened, it was just a positive experience, and I loved my epidural.

I know you do.

Um, yes.

So I was really happy.

The only thing was that with both my kids, like, my blood pressure would drop with epidural, which was expected, so they just kept giving me fluids and medications, which was a little annoying 'cause you do get swollen.

But that's the only bad side that I saw from epidural.

With my second, fast-forward 15 months later, I went to my doctor's office, my OB, for my 40-week checkup, and she s- checked me, and she said, "You're closed." So I was kind of disappointed.

I was like, "Oh, man," like, "my kids are 15 months apart.

I would think that I was a little more dilated." But we all know that means nothing.

True.

So I went home.

I started contracting, and my mom stayed with me.

My mom is an angel, thank God.

She stayed with me throughout the night.

So we thought, "Oh," like, "maybe I'm in active labor," right?

So she kind of dragged me to the hospital 'cause I was like, "I don't wanna go too early." But she was like, "I think you're more now." And so we got to the hospital.

I was actually two centimeters, which I was a little discouraged, but I knew I wanted an epidural.

And later, we learned that he was actually sunny-side up, so that's probably why I felt so much more pain.

So I ended up getting an epidural, and I was so comfortable, so happy.

My doctor went to her office.

It was like 5:00, 6:00 AM.

She's like, "I'll be back for you." I was like, "I'm not going anywhere." I was so happy, so comfortable, rested.

She came back, like, around 5:00, 3:00, 4:00-ish, broke my water.

We talked, chat a little bit.

She just gave me a drop of Pitocin, and I delivered, like, less than two hours later, and my baby was significantly, like, bigger.

He was, like, 8/3.

So it was a really positive birth experience.

Loved my epidural again.

This time, I w- I'm so Type A. So I was like, "Okay, I'm for sure gonna go past 40 weeks." So I planned everything accordingly.

I was like, "Okay, I'm gonna work up until my due date." My due date was Wednesday, May 20th.

I'll work Monday, I'll work Tuesday.

Because I work in MFM, it's not, like, strenuous labor.

I'm not, like, pushing stretchers or pushing with patients.

Like, my first, when I was pregnant with my first, I was w- still in labor and delivery, so I, like, stopped working at 30 weeks.

With this one I was like, you know, it's not.

Like, what, what am I gonna do at home?

Like, let me just work till the end.

It's fine.

And then on Sunday, that Sunday, I had a whole day planned because I was like, "That's my last day off." And then Wednesday I was gonna go into MFM, and I was for sure in my mind, I was like, "Oh, they'll send me in for an induction ' cause my fluid will be low or something.

And if they don't, probably Saturday night my doctor will induce me," not because she's, like, pro-induction, but I'll be, like, more 4- like, 40 weeks and something, and, like, probably the NST won't be reactive or whatever.

Like, most likely- I

love that you were telling yourself, like, all of- Yeah … this is a very specific story you were writing.

Yeah.

Yeah, like, and everybody was buying into my story.

Oh, yeah.

Like, my mom didn't take- I convinced- Yeah, my mom didn't take… Yeah, my mo- my mom didn't take off.

Everything, my husband was, like, buying into it.

And it's really funny, also, like, side note, we actually moved from my apartment to my house that I'm living at now when I was 36 weeks.

Mm-hmm.

So everyone was like, "You're gonna go into labor." And I was like- Right … "No," I was shrugging them off.

Like, "No way. I'm not gonna go into labor." Like, I go past dates, I go past dates.

And my, even my coworker, she was like, "Oh, you're gonna break your water," like, I broke my water the night I moved, and I was like, "Nah, I doubt it."

So, I mean, thank God, it, it was a lot, but thank God, like, nothing happened.

At my 38-week visit I was one centimeter, so, and my doctor was like, "Oh, you're only one," and I was like- I don't care because it doesn't mean anything, and I kind of, like, expected it.

So in my mind, I was like, "Okay, I'm for sure going post-dates."

And I even arranged, like, childcare on Wednesday 'cause I was like, okay, like, you know, as a mom, when you have other kids, it's so, like, stressful about going into labor.

Like, I understand why people do elective inductions now because at least you could, like, plan your childcare if, like, someone has to fly in or whatever.

So I was, like, planning everything out.

So the Sunday, that I delivered was a Sunday.

I was 39 weeks and four days, and I had a whole day planned.

I woke up early.

Can I just say- I- … it's so funny to me that you didn't think you might have a baby at 39 and four.

No.

Like, lots of people have babies at 39 and four.

I know.

I was in

denial.

And you're like, "No, I'm not going to." It's like, my head's like, "No, who would be surpri-…" Like, why are people- Yeah … surprised when they go into labor at 39 and four?

But obviously, based on

your history- B- because of my

history … which like you said

means nothing.

I know … and I was, and I was one centimeter-

In the doctor's office- Right … which means nothing.

But, like, based on my other two births, I was like, "Okay, like, I'm not, nothing's gonna happen," whatever.

Right.

Wrong, wrong, uh- No, I get it.

It just makes me laugh … wrong mentality.

I know.

I know.

Now I'm, now I'm laughing.

Yeah.

So the Sunday that I delivered, I had, like, a whole day planned.

I woke up early.

I went to get a full body wax 'cause I was like, "Let me just get that out of the way." I, not because you have to, just because I like it.

I mean, we're all women, and it's my doctor, and, like, I feel comfortable.

But I was like, "Something for me," you know?

And then after that, I went to do mani-pedi, so I was like, "Let me just get that out of the way before the baby comes."

After that, I went to do acupuncture.

I don't know how you feel about acupuncture, but I love acupuncture for labor, so I actually did it with both my kids.

But it's funny 'cause I did three sessions with both my kids before I delivered, and this time I only did one, so I don't know.

But-

Maybe that's the ch- less is more maybe.

Maybe.

I don't know.

Maybe.

Maybe.

But I do see, like, I feel like it really makes a difference, and there's so much, like, evidence based on that.

But anyways, I did… I squeezed in the acupuncture last minute.

I was like, "You know what? Let me just do it one time at least, but by Wednesday, if they induce me, at least I'll be, like, a little bit softer," you know, in my mind.

And so after the acupuncture, I actually, like, got up, and I was like, "Oh, I feel, like, some contractions. That's so interesting." But it was irregular.

I was like, " Whatever.

It's fine.

Maybe something, like, triggered something, but it'll go away.

Maybe I'm dehydrated." I was running around all day, you know?

M- mind you, my husband is with the kids in the park and trying to, like, distract them, my two boys, while I'm doing all my million errands.

So then I come home, and I- my in-laws came over to play with the kids, and I decided to make dinner.

So, so I was like, "Let me just make, like, a lot of food so that I have leftovers in case something happens, like, you know, we have food in the house," which again, as a mom, is, like, so stressful when you go, like when you go into labor.

And so I made… I'll never forget.

I made bolognese and s- fresh salad.

And then my kids, they were f- so tired.

So my husband's like, "Let's put them to sleep." So thank God, I, I remember thinking like, "Oh, my God.

We get to put them to sleep.

I'll eat dinner.

I'll take a shower.

I'll chill out in my bed.

Like, all is good."

And so, you know, when you have a bigger gap, it's so nice in terms of, like, bedtime.

And so, they went to sleep, like, around 7:30, and then we sat down to eat dinner.

And as I'm taking, like, my first bite and then my second bite, I feel a strong contraction.

And I remember, like, imagining, like, a balloon.

I don't know why, but I imagined a balloon, and I… Like, as the contraction was getting stronger, I'm thinking to myself, "Oh, wow, that's actually a strong contraction," and it's, like, squeezing a balloon and squeezing and squeezing.

And then I hear a pop, and then I feel, like, water gushing everywhere.

And I jump out of my chair, and I'm like, "Oh, my God, my water broke."

And it's so funny 'cause, like, it could be your 10th baby, and you could still be freaking out when you break your water, right?

And so my husband just starts laughing 'cause, like, everything was wet.

And it's so funny 'cause, like, as a nurse, y- you can never turn off your nurse brain, at least I feel.

So I right away- Yeah, I can't either Yeah, I right away look at the time and I'm like, "Okay, 7:45 clear.

SROM."

Good job.

Yeah.

The whole time I was doing that.

And so I'm like, "Oh my gosh," I was freaking out, and my husband's like, "I think you should stop eating." And I was like, "You know what?

You're right," 'cause it was-

Wait, why?

You know you need- So- You can eat during labor.

Yeah, I know.

I'm like, "Eat that pasta." I know, but like I remember, he remembered with my second one that I like threw up everywhere- You were throwing up

from the pain.

Yeah.

And I hate throwing up.

Yeah, who does?

And also it was kind of a heavier meal, like pasta with like ground meat- Yeah … and like vegetables, so I was like, "You're right, like I don't wanna… No." So, I stopped eating and I immediately panic because my mom was working that night, so I was like, "Oh man, she's working."

So I call her.

She's not answering the phone, and I'm like thinking, "Oh my God, she's in charge probably," 'cause she's usually in charge 'cause she's in, the most experienced at night.

So she finally calls me back and I'm like, "Oh my God, Mom, my water broke." She's like… She right away she has her charge nurse voice and she's like, "Don't panic.

I'm gonna let your doctor know.

I'll get a room ready for you.

It's pretty busy here, but I'll get a room ready for you, and just take a shower and head over." So I was like, "Okay, okay." And I start to, I'm in such denial, so I start to wash the dishes and like start to put everything away, and my husband's like watching me and he says, "Oh, I th- like how often are you contracting?"

'Cause I'm assuming that I started to look uncomfortable to him.

And I was like, "I don't know.

I'm just, it's fine.

I broke my water.

I'm going in.

Who cares?" And he was like, "No, like you seem like you're like contracting often.

Like are you timing them?" And I said, "No." And he said, "Okay, let me start timing them."

So I'm washing the dishes and he's timing them, and he's like, "I think you're contracting too often." He's like, "It's like every like six-ish minutes.

Like I think we have to start going to the hospital." He's like, "Just leave the dishes.

I'll do it later." So he's like, "Just hop in the shower." And then my grandmother really wanted to be part of my birth.

My grandma loves birth.

She loves anything to do with birth.

She used to work in the delivery room like as a CNA I, I'm assuming.

I don't know.

And, so she was like, "Just call her." So I call her, and she's, like, at her brother's house, and there's so much people in the background.

And at, at first I'm like, "I don't know."

And he's like, "Just tell her that we're going to the hospital." So I tell her, "Okay, like, I broke my water." She's like, "Oh my God, can your husband pick me up?

Like, I'm ready.

I'm coming." So I'm like, "Okay." So he tells me, my husband's, like, shoving me to the shower.

He's like, "Just go take a shower.

I'm gonna go pick up your grandma.

Five minutes, and get your… Just throw…" Like, basically my bag was packed, but he was like, "Just throw in, like, your last minute, like, your AirPods, whatever.

Like, I'm gonna come pick you, you know, take you to the hospital." Or actually, we were thinking maybe my father would come, and my grandma would go with me first, and then my husband will come, and he'll stay with the kids.

Like, that was what we were thinking.

So anyways, I'm like, "Okay, fine." So I go take a shower, and I, I, in the shower I'm, like, thinking to myself, "You know, the shower will probably, like, relax me and maybe the contractions will stop, or they'll ramp up.

Who knows?" So I come out of the shower, and I was like, "Okay, let me just put some makeup on, just so, like, I don't look so scary, like, I feel a little bit better.

Like, throw something quick," right?

So as I'm doing my makeup, I feel the contractions, and they're getting stronger, and to the point where I could not stand.

So I grab my birthing ball, and I sit on my birthing ball, and I just, like, breathe through it, and I feel so much pressure.

And I start, like, "Oh my God," like, "What does this mean?

It's fine.

Probably 'cause I broke my water I feel more pain.

You know, there's no more cushion around the baby." Like, I breathe through it.

It happens again.

Okay.

I

hate interrupting people during their stories.

but I, I'm just so curious since you had the epidural with both of your first two births- Yeah … and got it kind of early, I guess, if you're quantifying when to get it.

Do you feel like you could tell when you were at home in these contractions, where you're saying it got so intense, that you were experiencing something a lot, like, bigger or stronger than you had experienced prior?

Like, n- I guess nurse you, were you going, "Okay, this is… Like, I'm moving along. I think I'm probably farther than I think I am, 'cause this feels so different than it did when I was three centimeters and got the epidural."

So actually, it was the opposite.

In my mind, I was like, "Oh, I'm for sure one centimeter." I was in denial the whole time.

Like, the whole… Even in the ambulance, I was like, "I'm…" I kept saying, "I will be so embarrassed to come to the hospital in the ambulance with the stretcher and the guys and be one centimeter."

And it's so funny because- I

think that is a labor nurse thing, by the way.

Yes.

Yes Where we're, like, embarrassed if we screw it up, 'cause I'm the same, I'm the same way.

So that sounds very familiar to me, where I'm like- Yeah … "I'll be so embarrassed that I, like, just don't wanna go in because what if I'm wrong?"

So yeah.

Yeah.

I agree.

Because as a labor and delivery nurse, like, usually the patients that come with an ambulance screaming on the stretcher, and, um, and of course, like, my heart goes out to them, but, like, e- it's either they're closed or they're 10 centimeters.

Like, there's- Yeah, for sure … no in between.

And so in my mind, I was in complete denial.

So I, I… But I called my mom.

Thank God I called my mom because I, I… You know, she answered me, thank God, and I was like, "Mom, I feel rectal pressure." And something in my voice made her, like, realize that, no, this is very serious, even though I was in denial.

And if I would've never called her, or this happened during the day, like, thinking now, I probably would've had the baby at home because I was in such denial.

So my mom heard it in my voice that I w- sounded farther along, even though I was in denial.

And so she, thank God, had the wisdom to say, "You know what? We know a doula in the area, and the doula has a son who is a volunteer EMT." And she said, "Let me call her so that her son can drive you to the hospital." And in my mind, I was like, "Yeah, that's actually a great idea. Like, he can drive me in his car."

I don't know why I was in such denial.

I was like, "He's

a good man." That's kind of what it sounds like, like your mom saying, and like- Yeah … "I'll just call them," instead of calling 911.

It makes it sound like you're just calling a friend.

So I don't- Yeah … I can see why you were confused.

Yeah.

so she says, "Let me c- just call."

And I was like, "Okay." So, I then I call my husband, and I'm like, "Where are you?" And he hears it in my voice that, you know, she sounds more serious.

So he says, "No, I'm, I'm parking the car.

We're coming up.

I got your grandma.

We're coming up." So I said, "Okay, great." So I throw my makeup in my bag, and I come down the stairs.

And my… As I'm coming down, my grandmother is coming up, and she sees me, and I'm having a contraction, and I grab my birthing ball, and I'm literally like, I cannot… Whoa, I could not walk with the contraction.

Like, meaning, like, I felt like it was coming out, the baby.

Like, it was so much pressure, I had to sit.

I guess I was sitting to hold the baby in.

Maybe that's what it was.

But I literally had to sit on the birthing ball to breathe through it.

And my grandma saw me, and she says, "Why are you still home?

Like, we need to go." And as she's saying that, we hear sirens, and a bunch of guys come into my house, and I'm like, "What is happening?"

And so I get embarrassed.

And, the guys start asking me questions like, "Okay," like, "what's going on?" You know, "Are you in labor?

How many weeks are you?" And I'm answering them as a nurse. I'm like, "Oh, you know, this is my third baby, G4P2.

I had one miscarriage.

You know, positive blood type, B positive, negative history, negative GBS."

Like, I'm giving them report.

And- … and then they're like, "Okay." So funny.

Like, it, it was, it was hilarious.

And, I remember, like, my brain just, like, answering them automatically.

Like, I was on autopilot.

And so they say, "Okay, let's get let's get an ambulance." And I said, "No, I'm not getting an ambulance.

I thought you were gonna drive me to the hospital."

And he goes, "No." And then I s- have another contraction.

And I, like, I was like, "Guys, give me a minute." And I sit on the floor, and I'm like, "I have to sit." And they look at me and they're like, "Get in the truck.

You're getting on the stretcher." And I'm like, "No, no, no, no, no.

Let me finish my contraction.

I'm gonna walk."

So I remember the contraction is over, I grab my shoes and I put them on, and I literally walk to the ambulance, 'cause in my mind I'm like, "Oh, like this is so embarrassing. I'm one centimeter, like they're gonna put me on a stretcher? Come on." So I finally get into the ambulance and, they start asking me more questions.

And it's funny because they saw that I was so calm, I guess, so that they were like kinda joking around with me.

And I see like four guys, like one guy in front of me, a team leader.

Mind you, these are young, strappy like guys.

Of course

they are.

Like,

like n- no more than 40.

And like two guys on my right, two guys on my left, and my grandma disappears.

I don't know what's happening.

And I keep asking them like, "Where's my grandma?" And he's like, "Oh, she's in the front of the ambulance," 'cause there's no space, like it's pretty crowded.

So then he, the team leader, he says, " Okay, we're gonna cut off your underwear so we could see.

We're not gonna check you where…

We don't know how to check like vaginally, like what's your exam, but we're gonna just see like what's going on." And I was completely mortified.

I was like, "Oh, man." S- imagine I'm one centimeter and they're cutting my underwear like- … this is like crazy story, you know?

So

funny.

The whole time.

And so they- But they wouldn't know you were one centimeter, so that's good.

I know.

But my doctor would know.

Yes, they would.

So that's like literally the theme that I was thinking of.

And so they cut off my underwear, and he looks and he… And like I have to give it to them, like they really tried to like make m- me feel comfortable.

And he looks and he's like, "I don't see any crowning, so we're good."

So the driver's driving, and they're still asking me questions, and they're like joking around and whatever.

then I have a contraction, and I'm like, "Okay, guys, no, I have to push." So then he looks and he's like, "Okay, I don't see crowning, so it's fine.

Just keep breathing." And the one guy on my left, he's like this big guy, and he goes, "You can squeeze my hand if you want to."

Don't worry.

Low, he lives four houses- Of course he does … on my block.

Like four houses ahead.

Like- Be like, "Hi." This is like… Yeah, like so funny, 'cause these are all volunteer, EMTs actually, so that's why they responded so fast.

They literally, like the team leader lived like a block away from me.

This guy lived like on my block.

My mom called that one guy.

Like this was t- maybe 20 guys on my block.

It was, I'm not even exaggerating.

They responded so fast, thank God.

And so, anyways, so then I have another contraction, and I'm like, "Guys, no, no, I have to push.

Like this is not a joke." And so he looks again, and he's like, "Yeah, you're crowning."

And he yells, the team leader yells, "Pull the truck over."

Hey friend, quick pause for just a second.

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Okay, let's get you back to the episode

And I'm, in, in my mind, I say, "Oh my God." You know that point of no return?

Like as a nurse, it just, like you see the doctor, something happens, like you're just like, "Oh," like things are about to get real.

Like I had the same feeling when the doctor pulled out the vacuum for my first one.

Like I saw the vacuum, I was like, "No, no," like this, I gotta give it all my all.

And so when he said that, I was like, I was, I got scared because I was like, "I don't know," like what if it's a shoulder?

Like what's, like what's gonna happen?

So I really pushed, like as hard as I could.

And then I hear him like say, "Can you hold your legs?"

And I was in so much pain.

I guess it was the fi- Like hold your legs back … the ring of fire.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And so I guess 'cause it was, like, the ring of fire, like, I felt so much, like, I could… I told him, "I physically can't. Like, I can't." I remember saying that.

And so the two guys on the one side hold my leg, the two guys on the other side hold my other leg, and he tells me, "You have to push."

And in my mind, I'm like, "Oh, my God," like, "what does he see?" So I pushed so hard.

After, I found out it was, like, a cord around the neck, so he probably was like, like, "We gotta get this baby out." Gotcha.

And so baby comes out.

33.

Yeah, everyone kept asking them, and even when we went to the hospital, like, all the nurses were asking, like, "What time is the birth?" The doctor was asking there.

It looked like a f- it was very interesting.

It was, like, a… You know those sterile drapes that they put the baby on?

So this was like, it looked like foil, and

later I learned that- Like a blanket, right?

Like some sort of heat blanket?

I know what you're talking about.

Yeah.

Later-

Like from TV shows.

Yeah, yeah.

Exactly, like from TV shows.

Mm-hmm.

And, like, later I learned that, like, it generates heat.

Mm-hmm.

Like, it keeps the baby warm, which I had no clue.

I never saw it before in the delivery room.

And so, and we, I never had a patient coming in… Actually, I had one patient that delivered in her bathtub by accident.

Mm. But that was the only time that I had a patient that delivered outside of the hospital, and I don't remember seeing that.

It was pretty cool.

So they put the baby on me, and of course baby is shocked.

As labor and delivery nurse, I even knew that.

Like, even though this happened, like, I was still like, "Oh." So the EMT, he says, " Don't worry.

Like, baby's not crying." Yeah. "But it's normal.

Like, we're gonna give the baby some time and just stimulate."

And I'm stimulating the baby as he's saying it.

Like, I'm rubbing my baby down to, you know, get my babies to, like, cough up any juices and, like, start to l- perk up.

And I say, "Don't worry, I know. Baby's shocked. It was a fast delivery, and baby's kind of pale." And then finally, like baby started crying, and baby's color got a little bit better, so I felt like more comfortable.

Like I f- as, and he was like, "Yeah, baby's doing better." Like he was trying to, you know, make me feel better, and I was like, "Yeah, yeah." And then I asked them, "Do you have a hat?" 'Cause they didn't have a hat.

And he says, "No." And I'm like, "Oh, okay." And then he says, "Did you pack a hat in the, in your bag?" I was like, "I actually did."

So he was like, "Okay, well ask your grandma to get a hat from the back." So she finds the… Sorry, my baby's in the background.

she finds the hat, and I put it on my baby, and now I feel like complete relief.

Like my baby's crying, my baby's h- okay.

Like the color looks good.

I kept like looking at my baby, and I was like in just shock.

And they actually were, got even more nervous, 'cause the placenta was still in.

And so they kept like checking, and they're like, "Are you o-" And, to see.

And I'm like, "Guys, it's okay.

The placenta won't come out right away." Like, "We have time." And, basically, like I closed my eyes just because I was so exhausted, and I was like in so much shock.

So they got scared, and they were like, "Mommy, mommy, are you okay?" And I'm like, "I am not." And they're like, "Don't pass out." Oh my gosh.

I'm like, "I am not passing out on you.

I am just so tired.

I promise you I will tell you if I'm passing out on you." And then, so then I, I kept saying, "Did you tell my grandma?"

Like, "Where's my grandma?" And he was like, "Oh, she knows.

There's actually a mirror, and she saw the whole thing."

Oh my gosh.

Which was-

From the seat.

Yeah.

That's crazy.

Yeah.

It's so crazy.

And so she called the whole world.

She called my mom.

She called my husband.

Of course she did.

Yeah.

And she like also, like when we got to the hospital, like side note, she like took a video of the whole thing of them moving me to the stretcher, like everything is out in the open, and she just like video-taping it for generations to come, you know?

That's

right.

Yeah.

She's the best.

But I'm, I was so glad that like even though like nobody was with me, and I was so scared, n- I mean, I, I wouldn't say I was so scared, but it's, it's different from my other two births.

Like I was surrounded by like people I love, and like my aunt came from Florida.

Like it was a really nice experience.

And so this time, like to have her in the front at least was I mean, in, in a way it was nice, but I, I wish, like, she was next to me, but, you know.

But anyways, so they asked me, "Do you wanna call your husband?" I said, "Yeah." So I called my hu- They gave me my phone and I called my husband, and he's like, "I'm so glad you're okay.

Your grandma already called me." I was like, "Great." And he was like, "Actually, like, I was watching you on the ph-" You know how you could see somebody's location on Find My, your iPhone?

Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

So he was like, "I was actually watching your phone and I saw that they pulled over." And I was like, "Oh man, I hope she's not gonna deliver in the ambulance."

Yeah, that's so crazy.

So.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And actually, it's really funny 'cause, like, a week before he told me that one of his friend's, their wife delivered at home by accident.

Oh.

And he told me, like, over dinner.

Oh.

And I was like, "Ha ha ha, that's actually so funny.

Like, that's nice.

You know?

Look, lucky her, she had a nice delivery."

Like, as a joke.

Right.

But like, I never thought it would happen to me, you know?

Mm-hmm.

So, like, I guess he, like, kind of had, like, "Oh," like, "That could happen." Like, he thought that, so when the iPhone, when my iPhone stopped, he, like, assumed that that's what happened.

So yeah.

So then they tell me, "Okay, ETA to the hospital is 20 minutes."

Because they actually were doing me a favor, thank God.

Like, they were taking me to the hospital that I was gonna deliver at, and not, like, the, like, the nearest hospital.

The closest one.

Yeah, that is really nice.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Like, they kn- like, 'cause my moms told them, like, "Oh, I'm delivering in this certain hospital," so that was really nice.

But they were like, "ETA is 20 minutes," so, like, that's awesome.

So you never would've made it.

Is that- No … how long the commute from your house was, like, 25 minutes or so?

Like, if- So- … you guys had just gone and not stopped, how long would it take you to get from your house to hospital?

So, yeah, it depends on the time.

Like, when I was working in labor and delivery, I can get there in, like, 10 minutes with no traffic.

But that night was insane traffic.

Like, everyone told me, like, it was horrible traffic.

So with the ambulance it was 20 minutes.

Like, I would say 25 minutes, 'cause I delivered two minutes into the dr- the drive, and I was also- Just right away

getting a push back.

Okay.

Yeah, I was getting the… I was like, "I'm not getting on the truck." Like, I wasted some time too.

But yeah, I would have never made it.

And actually, like, thank God, 'cause my mom initially was like, "Okay," like, "maybe Dad can drive you with Grandma." Or, actually no, she was, like, saying, like, maybe, yeah, maybe, like, your brother could drive you, and then your husband could come later after, when your dad comes home, like, that way your husband can go to the hospital.

We were trying to figure it out.

And thank God I didn't do that, because I, I would have messed up their car, and they would have not known what to do for me.

That's okay.

Yeah, like, it all, it all, like, really, like, thank God it was, it was really a miracle, like the way it played out.

So yeah.

So, like, ETA was 20 minutes.

I was like, that's awesome, 'cause, like, we're, we basically finished here.

but I

knew- Was your placenta still in?

Like, they were willing to drive and wait for the placenta to deliver.

It wasn't like-

Yeah … it had to come out.

They were speeding up.

Yeah.

Yeah.

They were speeding up.

They were getting nervous about the placenta being in, but I was like, "Guys, it's okay.

We have time." Like, you know?

I was calming them down.

And finally we get to the ER, like, they gunned it.

And they tell me, "Okay, we're gonna go through the ER." And I was like, can we not go through the ER?

Because, only because, you know, I still have the placenta, and I, need to be repaired, and it's…

No.

I don't wanna go through the ER." So they were like, "I'm sorry," like, "Unfortunately," like, "that's our protocol." Sorry.

"That's our protocol.

We have to go through the ER because, you know, you're a patient coming in." So I was like, "Listen," like, "my doctor's not gonna be happy." Like, "I need to go to labor and delivery."

And, they were like, "I'm sorry." I was like, "Okay, I'm, I'm warning you." So finally we get to the ER, and they open the, the doors, and my doctor's standing right there- … waiting for me.

She's like, "Give her to me." Yeah, give her to… Like, legit.

That's awesome.

Exactly.

And yeah.

And so they take me out, they give her a report, like, "Okay, this is what happened," whatever.

And she was like, "Okay, let's go to labor and delivery." And he was like, "I'm sorry," like, "We have to go through the ER." And she was, like, not happy.

So we go through the ER, and there's a team of people standing there, like 10-plus people, with my mom in front as a charge nurse, holding equipment.

And I realized they called a code OB, which basically, like, it's just a name for, like, every hospital's different, but it's just a name that they call, for, like, a team to come and assess a mom or a baby or both if they're coming into the hospital, like, if, if something is emergent, like, whether they're delivering in the- you know, they delivered at home or they deli- they're coming in active labor to the ER, like, you know, in the car or, like, something is going on.

It's just, a team of people just to make sure, like, all hands are on deck in case something were to happen And so I'm, like, getting mortified because I just need to- Well,

were you like, "We're fine. Everybody go away please."

Yes.

Like, just put me in a room.

Yes.

Yes, I was like, "I'm fine. I just need to be repaired."

Yeah, exactly.

'Cause I, I knew I was gonna have a laceration.

I mean, I had- Yeah … I had it with both my kids, but, like, I knew it's probably gonna be, like, a little bit more or whatever.

So I was like, "Let me just, you know, like, everyone, we're all good.

Like, no need to, like, call code OB." And so, my doctor, and the, I see the ER, like, doctors and nurses, like, starting to approach the EMT, and my doctor goes, "No, we're taking her to labor and delivery," and she starts pushing the stretcher with the guys, and we all, like, go to labor and delivery.

We go in the elevator, and she looks at me, my doctor, and she says, "Are you okay?" And I'm like, "Yeah.

Thank God." And she's like, you know, as a joke she… Well, it's true, but, uh, like, trying to make me feel better, she goes, "At least you didn't have a C-section.

Like, this is better, right?" And I was like, "Yeah.

Thank God," you know?

So we get to labor and delivery, and we're passing, like, the nurses' station, and I see a bunch of, like, my coworkers and, like, doctors, and they're all like, "Hi, Sarah." Like, "How are you?

Congratulations." And I'm like, "Thanks, guys." Like, I was so embarrassed, and they take me to a room, and there was tons of people in the room only because, like, they just wanna make sure, like, you know, they don't know what's going on.

They don't know how my bleeding is.

They don't know what's going on with the baby, so we, there was, like, a few nurses with the baby.

They took the baby to the warmer just to make sure baby was fine.

Then the guys helped me move from the stretcher to the bed, and you know, like, all the nurses were, like, around me.

They actually put in a IV in me the ambulance.

unfortunately it was in the AC, like, in the elbow, and b- like, whatever.

But they did put an IV, for me.

So as soon as they got me on the bed I turned to my mom and I was like, "Can you please get me Toradol?" Which is, like, IV Motrin.

I was like, "I need something.

I need something," ' cause I know, like, she's gonna repair me now, and, and it was just a lot.

So my mom's like, "Yeah, of course," so sh- they gave me IV, Toradol, and my doctor was like, "Okay," like, "you have a laceration.

We're gonna…" Actually first she waited t- till the placenta came out, so thank God the placenta came out on its own, like, you know, which w- I told the guys, "It's gonna come out."

Like, "It's fine. It's all good." And then she repaired me.

I actually had a second-degree, so it was the same as my, first two, so thank God.

But she did say, like she, when she saw me, she was like, "Honestly, like, it looks like uncontrolled, like you had uncontrolled pushing." Mm-hmm.

Like, it looked like, I guess, like, more, like, irregular, like, more, like, not so uniform, I guess.

Which unfortunately happens when you don't have, like, controlled pushing, and but it wasn't, like, a third or fourth degree, which is actually a really good thing, God.

And yeah, so she repaired me.

I have to say the repair was not fun, even though I got the lidocaine.

It was definitely stinging, but it w- it wasn't as bad as when she checked for clots.

And I don't know if you remember, but that is, like, the worst pain, and she… They always warn you, like, "Okay, this is gonna hurt," but I'm telling you, that was worse than the actual delivery, and it was so painful that, like, it took my breath away.

Like, I couldn't even scream.

Like, it was so painful.

And it's not-

Was

she

manually checking?

I'm a- I'm gonna ask you to clarify in case people are like, "What are you talking about?" Was it, like- Yeah … fundal massage from the outside, or you're saying, like- Both … a manual check internally?

Both.

Okay.

Yeah, both.

And they only do it because they're concerned that if they l- if there's clots still there, it can cause a hemorrhage, so they, they…

It's really for your benefit when… If they do that.

They don't always do that, like, as Lo knows.

But it's something that if they feel like it's, gonna s- prevent any kind of complications like a hemorrhage, they do do that.

So she said, like, "You did have a clot," probably because the placenta was sitting there for a little bit.

But you know, thank God nothing, nothing serious.

But that was honestly the worst part.

And yeah, after that, you know, they clean you up, and you get to hold your baby, and it was just… Everybody was shocked.

Everybody was shocked.

My doctor was shocked.

Like, nobody imagined that.

All the nurses were like…

I remember one of the nurses was a, is a male nurse, and he asked me, like, "Would you do it again unmedicated?" Which I'm sure you were gonna ask me too, right?

and so my answer to that is I would get an epidural next time.

Only because I-

I

feel

like

that whole experience though is not, you know, it's not- It's not typical

planned for.

It's not gradual.

Like, I could very well see someone saying, "I don't wanna do it like that again, but maybe I would do it without a epidural if it looked more, let's say, quote unquote, 'normal.'" Right?

So I don't even know that you can answer that because most people are not gonna choose- even if you want a unmedicated birth, I did, I'm not gonna choose to have a baby in the back of a ambulance.

Like, that- Yeah … I would never want that.

And so then I'd be like, "Well, no." The… if, if you're asking if I wanna do this again, no, I don't wanna do this again.

So yeah.

Yeah, no.

No, they were asking more like what's the difference between- Mm-hmm

an epidural and, like, unmedicated.

Like, they- Right … wanted to know, like, how, how I felt, like, would I do it again, and honestly, like, it is nice not to get an epidural only because my blood pressure- Yeah … dropped and, like, I remember with my second one, I will never forget, like, thank God my mom was in the room only because my blood pressure did drop, and so I felt so dizzy, and I don't think I had it in me to press the call button.

So thank God she was there because I was like, "Mom," I couldn't even talk.

I was like… And she pr- and she immediately pressed the blood pressure and, 'cause she's a labor and delivery nurse, and then it was low, and she called, like, the anesthesiologist to come and he gave me Ephedrine, which is the medication to just raise your blood pressure.

It's a common side effect of the epidural, but it could be prevented with fluids, like giving you fluids before.

But yeah, i- I mean, that's the only thing that, would, like, I didn't like about the epidural.

I know a lot of people have, like, really bad, they feel really bad from the epidural, like, in terms of, like, you know, they, they wanna move more or, like, they say that they have pain, back pain after.

I never had any of that.

But that's the only thing that, was nice that I didn't get millions of bags of fluid.

Yeah.

'Cause that's kind of annoying when you're, like, swollen postpartum, you know?

Yeah.

But, yeah, I would get an epidural again.

Good to know.

Okay.

Check.

One question I did have, and I think I actually asked you this- Yeah

kind of briefly after I heard what happened, was just that question of precipitous labor like you had.

Yeah.

Very much a precipitous birth, is a lot of times the fast birth like that can feel pretty traumatic, right?

Because your brain has not caught up to what your body has done.

Mm-hmm.

And so there's just a lot of processing, some people even grieving because they wanted a certain experience and didn't get it.

Did you or do you, have you felt any of that stuff, or has it more or less- Mm-hmm … been like, "It's just a crazy story, and we did it, and, we're all good"?

Yeah, I mean, definitely I agree because in my mind, like I said, I was planning like, "Oh, I'll be induced, and my mom will be there, and my aunt- Right

will come from Florida again." And like, I just had such a positive experience both times, and I loved how I was surrounded by people that I love and trust.

And it, and obviously it gets like the oxytocin flowing, and it just like a very, like… And my aunt made a video for me with my second baby, so like I can always watch it, you know?

And, and it's just so sweet.

And so this time I wasn't surrounded by anyone that I loved.

I mean, my grandma was in the front, thank God.

But you know, it's just, it's kind of robbing me of that.

But at the same time I'm very grateful because I know like it could've been worse, it could've been something really scary.

And the fact that it happened very fast, I feel contributed to me being in denial because in my mind I was like, " Oh, I'm probably gonna get to the hospital two centimeters like last time with my second." And so I was completely ignoring all the things, and I think that's why it's so important to have a support system that's actually, not just that they love you and they're there for you, but that they recognize, "No, I think you're in active labor."

And thank God that my mom and my husband recognized that because I don't know what would've happened.

I imagine like I broke my water driving, and I would've been like, "Oh, it's fine," you know?

Or if imagine I would've stayed home or went, went, went in the car with my brother or my dad, like it would've been a different story.

And so I think those are the two things that you mentioned, like it just, it's kind of robbing you of what you envisioned.

And but birth is so unpredictable, and it's, it's nice to know that you just have to let go and kind of just go with it, because it is beautiful at the end of the day.

And y- and all births are beautiful, but yeah, it's just something wild.

It, it, it was.

It's a fun story.

Loved hearing it.

Yeah.

You're such a, a teacher and an educator.

I feel like everyone just got all these mini lessons about different topics like Ephedrine or Toradol or whatever.

Yeah.

And right here at the end, though, I mean, it's such a, a, a decent- Way to say, "Hey, this is why, like, being educated or having a care team that's educated is so valuable," because it is

it is unpredictable.

Like, you could not be more educated- and your birth still surprised you.

Like, you still needed people to come around you.

You still needed your own knowledge to rely on, and so it's just such a good picture, I think, of when this kind of stuff happens to the most educated of us.

Mm.

You know, I think it's just so valuable to say, "I'm so grateful for my education or for that of my mom, or you know, what my husband," whoever, because it really shows, 'cause you, 'cause you, you need it.

You needed it, right?

Yeah.

And so I think that probably was for you a really big difference between that being a really terrifying, traumatic experience, and that being one that certainly you lost some stuff, like you're talking about, right?

But also that you could walk away from and still be able to say, "But it also was beautiful.

Like, I felt safe, or I felt Let's say, I don't wanna say comfortable, like labor's not comfortable, but that you felt-

Yeah

… Lo: good in the midst and you felt, yeah, kind of covered in the midst of it, and I think a lot of that is just because you have, you know, so much knowledge and education to kinda walk with you.

Yeah.

Yeah, for sure.

Yeah, I agree.

It's so important to get education, because you don't know what's gonna happen, and, like, at least you know, like, if A happens then B will happen.

And, like, even with the epidural, like, if you know, like, okay, with the epidural what steps will happen, or if you don't get an epidural, like, if you don't know how to breathe or can cope, like some people, like, like me, like, "Oh, I'm gonna get an epidural," but, like, what happens if you don't have time to get an epidural?

Like, do you know how to breathe?

Do you know what to do?

And in my mind, I, I really, at the end, I was just like, "Okay, just you need to focus on your breathing, because you're not getting an epidural." Yeah.

Yeah.

And it's so funny-

It's all you got.

Yeah, it's all you got.

And it's so funny, because I asked my grandma after, I mean, like we always talk about it, like every time I call her she always tells me, like, "I'm still thinking about your birth."

' Cause it, it was, it really was something.

Like, she's been at so many births.

Like, she'll go to, like, a cousin's birth, like, for fun.

Like, she loves it.

And so I remember asking her, "Did I scream?" Oh.

Like, "How was I in the ambulance? Like, w- like, was I coping? Like, I, I just wanna know." Like, 'cause I remember I felt like I was out of body, you know?

And she told me, "No, you actually didn't scream. Like, you were listening, you were… I s- I heard you, like, breathing, and, like, you were really, like, trying your best." And that's all you can really do when you get educated.

Like, at least you know, like, you have everything in you, the tools to navigate all this.

And it's just really hilarious when she ex- like describes how, like, I was like, "Oh, a baby's coming," you know?

Like, I was totally, like, just going with it.

Just going with it.

Sometimes that is part of birth, isn't it?

Yeah.

Well, thank you, Sarah, for sharing all that with me.

It was, truly it was, like, so fun to hear, especially 'cause most of us won't have…

It won't look that way, right?

And so it's like a little- a door into a scenario that most of us will never experience, right?

Yeah.

So thank you for sharing that.

Will you remind all of us where we can find you, also professionally for the work you mentioned that you do when you start, if someone wanted to chat with you about your birth or reach out to you for the work you do, where can they find you?

Awesome.

Thank you again, Laurel.

This was so much fun.

You guys can find me at gestationaldiabetesnurse on Instagram.

I have tons of tips and tricks for navigating gestational diabetes and, like, you know, fasting blood sugar guides, all the things to navigate what's going on at your doctor's office, how to interpret your blood sugars, how to have a healthy baby, hopefully, and a smooth birth.

Learn from me.

That's perfect.

Yeah.

Okay, and then if you remember this, I ask everybody this before they go.

What is one thing in your life that is bringing you a ton of joy?

And we're probably all gonna guess the answer, but go ahead.

I love that question.

Honestly, I'll be honest.

This, this baby and this postpartum is bringing me tons of joy.

I was so scared for this postpartum.

I was like, "Oh my God, I hate postpartum. I'm not looking forward to it." But I have to say, like, there's something about a third baby that you just, you enjoy it more.

You enjoy the cuddles more.

Like, even now, my baby's a little bit, not happy with me, but I'm happy to hold him, only because I know it's gonna be so short, and I don't want him to get older.

But it's, it's bringing me so much joy to be with my baby.

Your third time mom-ness is showing up because you've been recording and taking care of him, and you haven't even blinked.

You haven't looked anxious.

So it's a real thing, what you're talking about.

I just got to watch it happen during this interview.

Yeah.

Well, thank you again for coming.

Thank you for fitting it in 'cause you are a busy mom, I know.

And I, yeah, I'm just looking forward to sharing this one.

I think it's gonna be fun for a lot of people to listen to, so thanks.

Thank you again.

Thank you so much for listening to the Lo and Behold podcast.

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