Happy Birthday Carter Cole | Baptist Hospital Pensacola

Nicole and Justin went into Baptist Hospital Pensacola at 2:30 am for their induction. Nicole was already 2cm dilated and 60% effaced. She wanted to labor without pain relief and did for a long time…with no progress and horribly painful contractions from the Pitocin.

For 10 hours Nicole endured. My girl, nurse Catherine, and I had her walking and bouncing and peanut balling until she decided she could go no further without some relief and asked for an epidural. By the time the epidural was in, she’d only gained half a centimeter. A big womp-womp moment to be sure. But I told her the epidural would probably speed things up…and boy did it!

Just two hours later she was 4cm dilated 70% effaced.

I had her stay on the peanut ball, alternating legs to keep baby rotating down and just a few hours later she was complete and ready to push. Baby girl, Carter Cole made her way into the world with the longest cord I’ve ever seen and the BEST just born facial expressions.

Don’t you just love how happy Nicole looks the whole time? And how about Justin’s epic yawn at the end there! I died.

Here are a few more of my favorites that didn’t quite make the slideshow.

Nicole drinking broth, while Justin enjoyed a juicy burger… Hand expressing colostrum because Nicole planned to exclusively pump (this was really amazing to watch)… Nicole Facetiming her besties because they weren’t allowed in the hospital thanks to COVID… And CC’s priceless faces.

What do you think about your birth photographer also being your doula? Is that a huge bonus for you because you would not have hired a doula otherwise? Or do you anticipate needing a more hands on doula? Click here to read more about how I incorporate doula services into my packages and whether or not I’m the right support person for you.