This is Part 2 of my birth story series. If you missed Part 1, I shared about my first two hospital births and how home birth wasn’t even on my radar at the time. This post shares my next two births with switching through two different providers, and how my mentality began to really shift with prenatal care and delivery.
Finding a New Doctor After a Difficult Postpartum Experience
We still lived in northern Virginia when I became pregnant with Kateri, baby #3, but I was not heading back to the previous practice I had used for Samantha after the postpartum fiasco. I asked around and finally found a country doctor out in Warrenton, VA. It was a 50-minute drive to my appointments, but he was worth every mile.
A Doctor Who Listened and Cared
This practice was small—it was primarily just him in the office, with only one other doctor as a backup. I highly encourage this type of setup. At each visit, he would perform the usual checks—baby’s heartbeat, measuring my growing tummy, and blood pressure. Then, he would walk me back to his cozy office and take time to go over everything in detail with me.
He made sure he fully understood both my pregnancy and me. He took my medical history seriously, especially the fact that my last labor was quick, and he promised to do all he could to ensure this baby was born in the hospital.
(Really, at this point, I should have started thinking about home birth, but there was no one around me to even discuss the possibility. My friends at the time all had their babies in hospitals. I knew people gave birth at home, but it was still the furthest idea from my mind.)
Learning About My Body More During Pregnancy
Kateri’s pregnancy was the one where I learned that I begin to dilate very early—and then I sit on that dilation. Hello, prodromal labor. Again, this is something no one ever told me about. It feels like labor is beginning, it can even get intense, and then it stops.
I was still being told about textbook labor—where contractions start, progress, transition, and then baby arrives. I’ve had so many false alarms it’s embarrassing.
Even though the OB I had with Kateri was wonderful in many ways, he did not fully understand prodromal labor.
Admitted at 5 cm: Kateri’s Labor and Delivery
At 37 weeks (this time I was actually hoping for an early delivery), I kept having labor signs. When I went in for my appointment at 37 weeks and 5 days, I was 5 cm dilated.
He told me he was uncomfortable sending me home and admitted me to the hospital to break my water. Whether I was in full labor, I’m not quite sure—my body never clearly tells me it’s really time for baby until the last moments—but either way, Kateri was ready that day.
He broke my water around 10:30 a.m., and she was born shortly after noon.
Breaking the water brought on the most intense labor. I could not believe the intensity. But I was now on the natural-minded path—no epidural. The intensity was short-lived, and I was proud of myself for having another natural birth.
Looking back, I now know that breaking my water could have ended differently. What if she wasn’t ready? What if it was premature? My body—and Kateri—might not have responded well.
Yet, gratefully, her birth went smoothly, and Paul and I were so relieved to be in the hospital to welcome our baby.
(Can you see where this is leading…?)
Want more motherhood and family stories! Subscribe for free to have the newest posts delivered straight to your inbox!
Starting Over: New Doctor, New State, New Mindset
Between Kateri and my next baby, Theodore, we moved to Maryland. Living in northern VA was no longer working well for us, and with the rate these babies were coming, I needed to be closer to my mom.
We put a “For Sale” sign in the front yard and moved in with my parents (check out my Where We Found Home post).
The doctor I had with Kateri was now too far away, so once again, I needed to find a new doctor and hospital to have Theodore.
At this point, my mindset began to shift. I had experienced one epidural birth and two natural births. I knew I could do it naturally, and honestly, I didn’t want it any other way.
A Bad Experience and the Search for Something Better
In the process of finding where to deliver Theodore, I had a bad experience with a new practice. I had started to really suffer from varicose veins, and the doctor’s bedside manner wasn’t working for me. She had no empathy.
Also, the distance to her office was just too far. I knew this time it was time to find a midwife. Yes—a midwife in a hospital. I felt that, with a midwife, I could be truly listened to and still have a natural birth.
I found a midwife group, and Theodore’s birth was one of my favorites.
(If labor can even be a favorite? Well, the reward is so great, and the experience was just that good.)
Sitting on Dilation – Again
Again, I sat on dilation for a couple of weeks. At 38 weeks, I was 4 cm and still not in labor. I went in for an appointment, and the midwife on call checked me and said, “Oh, you are ready! Let’s sweep those membranes.”
Babies really should cook as long as possible, but at this point, I was in the mindset of just wanting to not be pregnant anymore. I was so tired. I agreed to have my membranes swept, hoping it would help things along.
Early Labor Signs and Heading to the Hospital
Those early labor signs started around noon. Paul and I went home briefly, but then I began having that nauseous labor feeling. We got the kids squared away at my parents’ house and headed to the hospital.
At that point, my contractions were 3–5 minutes apart. I was nervous to go in because I had already had a false alarm a few weeks earlier. But Paul finally convinced me that it was time.
No Need to Check—You’re in Labor
I went into triage still feeling hesitant, but then the midwife looked at me and said, “No need to check you—you’re in labor.” I was admitted around 3 p.m.
By 5 p.m., I had another beautiful baby boy in my arms.
Theodore’s labor progressed so quickly, and transition was so short, that the midwife didn’t even have time to get her glove on—she caught Theodore with one hand.
After Theodore’s birth, Paul and I were both very nervous. What if, with future babies, we didn’t make it to the hospital in time?
A Disappointing Change of Plans
When I became pregnant with baby #5, Adelaide, I was so excited to return to the same practice where I had delivered Theodore. But alas, due to an ownership change and they would not accept our health share, I could not have Adelaide there.
Much to my dismay, I ended up switching to a different practice—at 30 weeks.
A Physically Draining Pregnancy
Adelaide’s pregnancy was tough.
They claimed she was measuring small, and I had weekly ultrasounds as a result. I also suffered severely with varicose veins, to the point where my energy felt completely zapped by 10 a.m.
Low Fluid and the Induction Decision
At 37 weeks and 3 days, I went in for an ultrasound. The sonographer told me that my amniotic fluid was low. I was already 4 cm dilated, and they said I needed to be induced.
They told me, “Just a whiff of Pitocin, and this baby will come.” And honestly, I was so miserable at that point that I was willing to do anything to not be pregnant anymore.
Induction Regret and a Long Labor
Yet, I did regret that decision. That “whiff” of Pitocin turned into a very long labor—nothing like the fast, natural births I had before.
Induced Labor and False Hope
They induced me around 10 a.m., and I thought, Great—this should be quick, and I can be done.
Really, this is what I get for trying to push the situation forward.
Pitocin is cruel. It mimics labor and forces contractions—but they’re so intense. With each one, it felt like I must be in transition. That’s what I thought… but hours passed, and when they checked me, I had only progressed one more centimeter.
I was distraught—yelling at Paul that the stupid medicine was giving me false labor.
What made it worse was that I had barely eaten breakfast because I rushed out of the house. And, of course, the hospital had a no food for laboring women policy—another poor practice.
I could feel my energy draining with each contraction.
Making the Hard Decision: Getting the Epidural
Even though I didn’t want an epidural, and had gone without one in previous births, I eventually gave in—on the advice of my sister—and got it around 8:30 p.m.
I was crying and so upset. Why couldn’t I do it without the epidural this time around?
However, once I got the epidural, everything progressed quickly.
It allowed my body to finally relax, and Adelaide was born shortly after 9:30 p.m.
The Pitocin Dilemma
Pitocin is such a double-edged sword. It can move things along—but it can also do the opposite.
If I ever needed to be induced again, I wouldn’t even try natural labor alongside Pitocin. At this point, I realized: No wonder so many women end up with C-sections.
No food for hours, and Pitocin pushing intense labor—I couldn’t believe the exhaustion. That’s ultimately why I chose the epidural. I knew if I didn’t, I’d likely end up in surgery because my energy was dangerously low.
Wait, My Fluid Was Fine?
When Adelaide was born, the nurses said, “Oh, your fluid looks great.”
I was extremely frustrated, to say the least.
After a 12-hour induced labor, it seemed I could have waited a little longer for her to come—or at the very least, had my fluid levels monitored again.
These options were not clearly presented to me. If I had known how quickly things could have gone south, I would have made different choices.
Rethinking Hospital Births
When I had to switch doctors during Adelaide’s pregnancy, I briefly considered transferring to a birth center. But I told myself, Hospitals are there for a reason.
Yet after Adelaide’s birth, it was clear: I was done with the hospital scene.
I wanted more freedom. I wanted informed consent. I wanted to be trusted to make the decisions that were right for me and my baby.
Adelaide was very healthy, thank goodness, – and no matter how birth does go, that is the most important – a healthy baby and mama. Sometimes that birth plan needs to change and it is for the better. And sometimes, we don’t know the reason why things did not go according to plan, but God always has a plan, and we trust in Him. I am so thankful and blessed all of my children have arrived extremely healthy and without complications.
Birth stories are fascinating—they are the moments children are born into this world and begin the life God has prepared for them.
The next two birth stories? Let’s just say—they gave us a run for our money.
💖 Want to see more behind-the-scenes of our big, wild family life? Come connect with me on my socials —I love sharing the real, unfiltered moments of motherhood there.
📬 If you’ve enjoyed this birth story and want to follow along with more of our family’s journey, homeschooling tips, and real-life lessons, subscribe for free! You’ll get new posts straight to your inbox.
🎤 Every birth story is unique—and sharing mine has opened doors to connect with other moms, families, and communities. If you’re looking for a fun, honest, and relatable speaker for your event, I’d love to join you. Check out my speaker page and let’s connect on LinkedIn!
You may also enjoy reading:
Gratefully Wild Home 
Leave a reply to Road to Home Birth: Hospital Beginnings – Gratefully Wild Home Cancel reply