Ada's Story Part Two: Labor and Birth {Graphic photos of breech vaginal birth}

I have been incredibly lucky to be part of Ada's journey. Ashley and Andy are amazing parents. They not only have patience, creativity, and passion in everyday parenting, they take on challenges with grace and comedic relief.

They have allowed me to share their whole experience from finding a new provider who can support a breech birth, versions (see Part One), to their labor and delivery. The pictures shown are both beautiful and graphic in showing a breech birth up close and personal.

Ashley's water broke around 6pm on Wednesday evening. Her previous labors started the same way with contractions following a few hours later. So we all headed to the hospital because it was an hour away and she wanted to get comfortable before labor really started.

I arrived around 9pm and we were all pretty excitable. Ashley's wonderful midwife Kate instructed us all to sleep so we could be rested for when she really needed our support.

The next morning was the time to get active in trying to encourage some contractions. Lots of walking, yoga, squats, nipple stimulation, resting, red raspberry leaf tea, more walking. We tried the rebozo, the miles curcuit, and more walking. All of these things several times and nothing seemed to get things moving.

After nearly 27 hours after her water had broken they decided to encourage some contractions by starting with the very lowest dose of pitocin. It really did the trick and she labored beautifully.

She told us she was in transition. She laid down to rest. The birthing stool was set up. That's where she said she would like to push her baby out. And soon she was ready. "I have to push." She got right up out of bed and onto the stool to push.

Again, the next photos are of a graphic vaginal birth.

Labor is hard. But it is beautiful and worth every second. The strength of this family is amazing. I am so honored to have been part of their journey.