*Client stories*

Rachel here: Nicole wrote this birth story herself, in her own words. She generously agreed to let me share her Birmingham, Alabama gestational diabetes birth story here on the blog. I love handing the mic over to my clients, because nobody tells it quite like the mama who lived it. Below, you’ll find Nicole’s account of welcoming her daughter into the world after a long and winding labor.

A Birmingham Gestational Diabetes Birth Story: Preparing for Birth with Confidence

I came into this pregnancy wanting to feel prepared, not just for delivery day, but for whatever unexpected turns labor might take. My husband, Riley, and I took Rachel’s childbirth education classes together. We leaned into evidence-based birth education from the very start. This mattered even more once I was also navigating gestational diabetes. Rachel and I spent a lot of time prenatally talking about how to manage my gestational diabetes, and I’m proud to say I kept it in check with diet and exercise the whole pregnancy.

One thing that really impressed the other students in our class was that we decided not to learn our baby’s gender until after the birth. We had an envelope on our refrigerator that stayed sealed the entire pregnancy. Nobody could believe the amount of willpower we had!

By 38 weeks, Riley and I were trying all the tricks to get labor to start: membrane sweeps, Miles Circuit, spicy foods, you name it.

The first two sweeps brought some cramping but no real progress. At my 40-week appointment, another sweep left me sore. However, that evening Riley talked me into a mile run. I finished in 10:25, which felt pretty good at 40 weeks pregnant, sore adductors and all!

The Day Labor and the Birth Story Began

Labor started the next morning, the day after my due date, while I was at work at UAB. What began as mild, irregular contractions slowly built through the morning until they were coming every ten minutes or so. True to form, I finished out my workday before calling my mom, Riley, and my birth doula, Rachel, to let them know it was time to head in and get checked. My coworker walked me over to Labor and Delivery himself, carrying my bags the whole way.

Early Labor at Home: Resting and Birth Doula Support by Text

At my first check, I was 2 centimeters. My provider did a membrane sweep, and we agreed to reassess in two hours. When there wasn’t much change, Riley and I decided to go home and let labor build naturally rather than staying and watching the clock. From our classes, I know that this is often exactly what to expect during labor in the early stages. After I drove myself home we had pizza and broccoli for dinner. I can’t help but get my veggies in even when I’m in labor, I guess. I worked through the Miles Circuit while contractions intensified, texting Rachel updates the whole time.

Rachel recommended I prioritize rest, eat a good dinner, and settle in with Riley for a feel-good movie to help get my oxytocin flowing. (Homeland was maybe not the most relaxing choice in hindsight). I took a shower to wash my hair before heading to the hospital, contracting the entire time. By the time contractions were strong enough that I nearly got sick, Riley called Rachel to say we were heading to the hospital and asked her to meet us there. I counted eight contractions in the car on the way there, which is never anyone’s favorite place to labor.

Back at the Hospital: Birth Doula Support and Comfort Measures in Birmingham, AL

I was admitted to the MEU (UAB’s triage unit for labor) around 10 PM, still at 2 centimeters. However, this time I decided to stay. We got the TENS unit going for the intense back pressure I was feeling, which I used for hours. My parents arrived right at midnight, just in time for my next check. I was 4 centimeters, so I was admitted to Labor and Delivery.

This is where the real work of labor and birth support began. I used the TENS unit and a labor comb, deep breathing, and worked through position after position with Rachel’s guidance. My contractions were lasting two to three minutes each, which was excruciating. Every time I was asked to lie back for monitoring, the contractions hit hardest, so staying upright and moving was important.

Once in the L&D room, the wireless monitoring wouldn’t cooperate after several attempts. Rachel advocated for intermittent monitoring instead of continuous. This allowed me to keep moving and use the tools that were working for me. I labored for several hours in a modified hands-and-knees position using an inflatable CUB birth stool, which is still my favorite comfort tool of the whole labor.

Facing the Unexpected: Gestational Diabetes, Meconium, and an Epidural

To my annoyance, a blood sugar check came back higher than the hospital’s cutoff. This meant an insulin drip and continuous monitoring, both of which I had hoped to avoid. Looking back, this is exactly the kind of moment birth doula support exists for.

At 6 centimeters, after more than a day without real sleep for anyone in the room, my contractions were brutal, two to three minutes long with no real break. My water was broken, and while it was initially clear, meconium was found shortly after. The doctor explained that this meant continuous monitoring was now necessary. I tried to handle the shift in my birth plan the way I handled most of the surprises that day: with flexibility and grace, even when it wasn’t what I had hoped for.

By around 7 centimeters, I was exhausted and no longer able to tolerate the contractions. I tried IV pain medication without much relief. Eventually, my team and I decided an epidural would let my body finally rest. Rachel reminded me that every intervention is still a choice, something to accept or decline based on what you need in the moment. I leaned on that guidance throughout the day. The epidural gave me enough relief to rest while still allowing me to move into hands and knees and kneeling positions in bed.

Working to Pick Up a Slowed Labor

Labor slowed after the epidural, and pitocin was recommended to help contractions pick back up. This was the moment I felt the most afraid. I worried this was the start of a cascade of interventions I hadn’t wanted. Rachel and I talked through it together, remembering that each dose adjustment was still my decision to make. After our conversation, I chose to move forward. Rachel also suggested that Riley lie beside me while I rested, which was a great oxytocin-boosting sweet moment between us and a wonderful memory from my birth.

A stubborn anterior lip of my cervix held on even as I reached 9 centimeters. Alarmingly, some of the positions we tried to resolve it caused the baby’s heart rate to dip. Suddenly the room filled with people, I was repositioned quickly, and I received a shot to help the baby’s heart rate recover. It worked, but not without real fear and tears in that room before the relief and gratitude set in. Moments like these are exactly why continuous, steady support matters so much during unpredictable labor and delivery.

Reaching 10 Centimeters and Pushing with Confidence: Completing the Birth Story

After more than 24 hours in labor, I finally reached 10 centimeters. I had originally hoped to labor down, but with the epidural and the long road already behind me, I was ready to push.

Rachel’s note: laboring down refers to the practice of waiting to feel the urge to push, even after the cervix is fully dilated.

I had once pictured birthing standing up, but with the epidural, I needed to stay in bed to push. However, I was able to work through a lot of different pushing positions. Another cool thing was my nurse pointed out a reflective ceiling tile that let me watch my own body work. Between that and a mirror, I got to see it all. It was one of the most incredible parts of the whole experience, watching my body do exactly what it was made to do. Longer contractions meant more pushes per wave, and I pushed for three hours that felt like forty-five minutes. Tug of war position became my favorite for full-body engagement. At one point, I was able to reach down and feel my baby’s head crowning, something Rachel encouraged me to try. That was such a grounding, powerful moment!

With a playlist called “Have a Great Day” filling the room and a revolving door of hospital staff checking in because of the meconium, it felt like a party. Then Rowan Elizabeth arrived. Because of the meconium, the pediatric team was there to make sure she was healthy. Once Rowan was born, Riley got to cut the cord and announce we had a girl.

And then, I FINALLY got a real PB&J, chips, and a Gatorade… GOODBYE DIABETES!

Listen to Nicole’s “Have a Great Day” birth playlist here!

Healing After a Long Labor with Support from an Experienced Birth Doula

My birth did not go according to my original plan, and yet I came through it with a story I’m proud of. I tried to stay flexible, accepting, patient, inquisitive, and honest through every twist. I have to credit Riley, my parents, and my care team for helping me get there. Having Rachel as my birth doula meant I got to prepare for birth with confidence months in advance, and I felt her steady presence in that delivery room the whole time, even when the unexpected showed up again and again.

I am forever grateful to her for the prep work during pregnancy, and her quiet but steady presence in the delivery room.

🌸 Posted with permission from Nicole 🌸

Considering Birth Doula Support in Birmingham, Alabama?

Rachel here again: Nicole’s birth story is a beautiful reminder that birth rarely follows the script. In fact, that is exactly why having experienced, evidence-based birth doula support matters. Whether you’re managing gestational diabetes, feeling anxiety about labor and delivery, or simply want someone in your corner who can help you understand your options as they come up, that is what I am here for.

If you’re a Birmingham, Alabama family preparing for your own gestational diabetes birth story, or wondering what postpartum doula support or newborn care education might look like for you, I would love to talk with you. I offer a free consultation for every family I work with, no matter where you are in your pregnancy.

Know someone who needs this kind of support? Please feel free to share this story with them. 

Want to read more inspiring client stories?

• Read Catherine’s empowered VBAC (twice!) story
• Read Annamarie’s story of doula support for single moms
• Read Ella’s first time home birth story
• Read Claire’s peaceful Cesarean birth story