When you wake up to learn that your client is in labor…and that her contractions are coming every 2-3 minutes…you don’t delay! (Especially when she’s having her second baby.) As soon as I got the text message from my client, Sydney, I got up, got dressed, and made sure my bags were ready to go.

Her midwife, Shari, texted me shortly after and let me know that along with strong contractions…her water had also just broke. I knew I needed to move really quickly at that point!

I’ve been hearing this question a lot lately in local Denver birth groups. There are so many families who want a low-intervention birth in the hospital…and they know that working with a midwife is one of the best ways to achieve their goal. I also know that many folks need to give birth in the hospital due to specific medical conditions. Not everyone can (or should) give birth at home or at a free-standing birth center. Hospital-based midwives are so important because they can support folks that might risk out of the community birth model of care.

Sarah also births rather quickly or efficiently. It was no different this time around. I arrived and we were still able to chat in between contractions, but I think we could all tell that her baby was close. And sure enough…within about 20 minutes of my arrival, we all KNEW baby was coming very soon. Her midwife was Dia Ingalls - who I adore - and the house was full of laughter, sisters, cousins, children, warm food, and complete awe and wonder as Sarah so gracefully eased her baby into the world.