After days… and nights… of prodromal labor, fully dilated, this amazingly strong mama made the transfer from home to hospital to safely give birth to her baby.  She had the most dedicated, expert care of midwives that led them to make the team decision to change their birth plan because mom and baby needed it.  They continued to advocate for mom when medical intervention was necessary and joined a hospital staff with the common goal of a healthy, safe delivery.  Transfer is never a failure, it is the life guards waiting outside the pool ready to jump in and do their job when there is evidence that a birth needs intervention.  I wish everyone could see the kind of care given by midwives that safely brings babies into the world at home and makes the call at just the right time to go to the hospital – before it is a true emergency but not before it’s necessary.

I have never watched a mother giving birth and thought she was anything less than amazing, but this was a very special example of how extraordinary a mother can be.  The strength, courage and calm she showed during moments that could have been chaotic was something I will never forget.