It's a phrase you'll never stop hearing in the world of birth: birth is just absolutely unpredictable.


After going in for an induction early morning, mom labored until around midnight before suggesting I come in. I arrived to a dimly lit room where mom was trying her best to get some sleep (a rarity in the midst of labor, but oh so needed.) Her husband sat on the small couch next to the bed, and her doula on a stool on the opposite side. It wasn't long after I arrived that the midwife came in with news that she didn't like what she was seeing concerning baby's heart-rate and if things didn't make a change soon mom wasn't going to be able to go for her VBAC after all. The doctor recommended placing an intrauterine pressure catheter (IUPC), which is a device placed into the amniotic space during labor in order to measure the strength of uterine contractions, as well as introduce some fluids. It wasn't long after mom agreed that she began to feel a sharp pain. Her doula quickly called in the doctor and they immediately prepared mom to take her back for an emergency c-section.


Due to the emergent nature of the situation, I was unfortunately not able to go back and capture the moment of birth for mom.


Dad and baby BOY (they had kept baby's gender a surprise until birth!) finally arrived back at the room while mom was still in the operating room. It would be 2 and a half more hours before she was finally wheeled back in and able to officially meet her newest love. While we waited, baby received his newborn exam, and dad gave him his first feeding- colostrum mom had meticulously collected in the weeks leading up to his birth.


While we were waiting we learned that mom had experienced one of the rare risks of VBACs - a uterine rupture! During a cesarean the surgeon normally has to cut through 7 layers of tissue before arriving at baby....however, in this particular situation, they reached baby after cutting through layer one! Astonishing, and absolutely terrifying.


This mom did more than birth a baby that morning. She braved a series of unknowns, and was walking not even 5 hours later.


She is a warrior.

A fighter.

A mother.

Metal sign displaying Women's Pavilion text on gray wall.
Medical equipment and monitors beside a hospital bed in a dimly lit patient room.
A hospital room scene with medical care being provided at the bedside.
Healthcare providers attending to a patient in a hospital room with string lights on the wall.
Modern hospital room interior with medical monitors and equipment mounted on wooden cabinets.
Long hospital hallway with metal doors and a medical professional walking in the distance.
Newborn wrapped in white blanket lying in hospital bassinet.
Close-up of newborn's head resting on white hospital bedding.
Newborn receiving medical attention shortly after birth in hospital setting.
A newborn baby crying in black and white hospital setting.
Medical equipment display screen showing vital signs and baby monitoring data.
Healthcare provider performing initial newborn assessment in hospital setting.
Medical professional measures newborn baby with measuring tape during initial health assessment.
Healthcare worker in blue gloves examines newborn infant during post-birth checkup.
Newborn baby crying during medical examination with healthcare provider in blue gloves.
Medical professional wearing gloves examines a tiny newborn foot.
Close-up of tiny newborn feet and toes on medical examination table.
Close-up view of newborn baby feet during medical examination on white surface.
Newborn wearing striped hat rests against soft background.
Peaceful sleeping newborn wearing a knit cap in black and white.
Newborn in grey hat lying on brown surface during quiet moment.
Medical supplies and tools arranged on white cloth for newborn care.
Healthcare provider conducts medical examination of newborn with stethoscope.
Newborn receives medical checkup while lying on examination table.
Medical staff examining newborn baby in hospital blanket.
Healthcare worker attending to equipment in hospital nursery.
Close-up of hands holding medical device and swaddled infant.
Administering medicine to newborn baby in dim lighting.
A newborn baby being fed with a small dropper or syringe while swaddled in a striped blanket.
Close-up of hands gently cradling a newborn's head.
Close-up of a medical dropper on a blue and white striped hospital blanket.
Medical staff examining a newborn baby under hospital lighting.
Healthcare providers attending to a newborn baby in a hospital setting.
Medical team providing care to a newborn baby in a hospital room.
Medical professional examining infant footprints with red lighting.
Medical staff performing newborn health examination with stethoscope.
Newborn wearing hospital bracelet and cap rests peacefully.
Hospital birth certificate with baby footprints visible on medical paperwork.
Patient resting in hospital bed after delivery.
Tender moment during post-delivery care in a hospital room.
Intimate hospital moment after childbirth with soft lighting.
A newborn baby wrapped in white fabric being cradled in a hospital room shortly after birth.
A newborn infant receiving skin-to-skin contact in a medical setting.
A tender moment in a hospital room as a newborn receives care and bonding time.
Hospital room moment captured as someone takes photos of a newborn with a smartphone.
A peaceful moment of bonding with a newborn baby in a hospital setting.
Close-up view of a newborn baby during skin-to-skin contact in the hospital.
A gentle moment as a newborn baby rests during early bonding time.
Medical staff attending to a newborn baby in a hospital delivery room.
A touching moment shared with a newborn baby in a hospital recovery room.
An intimate hospital room scene showing a precious moment with a newborn baby.
Medical staff member holds phone while attending to patient in hospital room with teal mug.
Healthcare worker in navy blue uniform caring for newborn baby in hospital setting.
Medical professional taking photos during first moments after birth in hospital room.
Hospital room scene showing family members bonding with newborn after delivery.
Young child gazes lovingly at swaddled newborn baby wrapped in brown blanket.
Healthcare worker in blue uniform interacts with young child holding newborn in turquoise chair.
Overhead view of siblings first meeting in hospital room with teal chair.
Child sits cross-legged in teal armchair holding swaddled newborn.
Sleeping newborn with hospital bracelet wrapped in brown muslin blanket.
Close-up of tiny newborn foot against brown muslin blanket.
A newborn baby with hospital identification bracelet is cradled gently in a hospital setting.
Tiny newborn baby feet peek out from under a soft brown blanket.
Close-up of a baby's foot with hospital ID bracelet being gently held.
A hospital room scene showing family gathered around a bed with medical supplies visible.
Hospital room scene with people resting in chairs and beds near a window.
A newborn baby rests skin-to-skin in the hospital shortly after birth.
Close-up of a newborn baby with vernix still visible resting on a blanket.
Fresh newborn baby rests against a brown blanket in a hospital bed.
Newborn with hospital bracelet rests against brown fabric showing the back of their head.
A hospital room scene showing a relaxed moment with a newborn baby.
A tender moment shared between loved ones in a hospital room.
An emotional scene in a hospital room with visitors.
A nurturing moment with a newborn wrapped in a brown blanket.
A child looks out a hospital window with a leather bag nearby.
A peaceful newborn baby sleeping while wearing a hospital bracelet.
A sleeping newborn wearing a hospital bracelet and wrapped in warm blankets.
A hospital room scene with patient in bed wearing a medical gown during recovery.
An intimate moment in a hospital room as a person in blue holds a swaddled newborn.
A quiet moment in a hospital room with a swaddled newborn in a teal reclining chair.
View through doorway of hospital room with patient in medical gown.
Hospital hallway scene with medical staff and patient near doorway.
Tender family moment in hospital room with swaddled newborn in teal chair.
Intimate family bonding moment with swaddled newborn in hospital room.
An emotional birthing scene in a hospital room.
Gentle moment with swaddled newborn in hospital room chair.
Close-up view of swaddled newborn in soft brown blanket during hospital stay.
Patient sitting in hospital room chair during treatment or consultation with medical staff.
Hospital room interior with sunlit window and medical equipment.
Hello name tags and medical paperwork spread out on a cork board surface.
Medical staff preparing equipment and supplies in hospital room setting.
Medical staff attending to a newborn in a hospital delivery room.
Newborn baby in brown outfit receiving medical care with IV line visible.
Baby wearing brown clothing resting on white hospital bedding.
An emotional moment during a hospital delivery.
Baby in brown outfit being held against polka dot hospital gown.
Medical equipment and care being provided to an infant in a hospital setting.
Sleeping newborn wrapped in brown knit clothing against neutral background.
Sunlit hospital room with medical equipment and baby bed visible.
Close-up view of baby's head wearing brown knit cap in natural lighting.
Newborn wearing brown onesie with 'Freshly Baked' text in hospital bassinet.
Close-up view of tiny hands and brown knit fabric in hospital setting.
Hospital bassinet reflection in dark lighting showing newborn in brown clothing.
Natural light streaming through window onto hospital nursery scene.
Sleeping newborn wearing white knit cap and brown outfit in bassinet.
Hospital bassinet with 'Hello' text visible on brown newborn clothing.
Close-up of a sleeping baby wearing a cozy brown hooded sweater.
Close-up detail of tiny fingers and brown knit fabric texture.
Tiny delicate fingers resting gently against a brown knitted fabric.
Overhead view of newborn in brown onesie with text in hospital bassinet.
Side view of hospital bassinet with soft lighting and brown tones.
A black and white close-up photograph of tiny baby feet resting on textured bedding.
Peaceful sleeping infant close-up showing soft skin and peaceful expression.
Dark atmospheric photo of hospital bassinet with sleeping newborn.
Sleeping baby in hooded sweater with hand near mouth.
Serene close-up of sleeping infant in brown knit hoodie.
Peaceful sleeping baby with gentle smile wearing brown hooded sweater.
Close-up of tiny baby foot against brown textured fabric.
Peaceful sleeping infant in cozy knit hoodie.