The only thing predictable about birth is that it is unpredictable. And being in labor for 6 days was definitely not something that Irma predicted when she planned for the birth of her first baby!

But she continued on, day after day, trusting in God’s timing. After days of powerful contractions and not yet progressing past 4cm, she and her husband made the decision to transfer from a planned home birth to hospital care.

With an epidural, pitocin, and lots of position changes as suggested by her birth team, she progressed overnight and met her sweet boy the next morning!

Whitney encouraged Irma to continue incorporating movement and position changes into her labor, even with the epidural. She and the nurses helped her into a side-lying release position, to help open the brim of the pelvis.

As the sun rose, Irma was at 9.5 centimeters with a cervical lip. She pushed for a little while, as midwife Whitney tried to reduce the cervix. After a little while of pushing, Irma went back into a sitting position, so that some rest and gravity would help continue to bring her baby down.

Irma: Everyone was in so much anticipation, after 6 days of labor, we were all ready!

La Drake: I prayed over her, that the Lord would continue to give her strength. I also held her hand so she could squeeze.

He was born covered in meconium, which was a total surprise because there had been no evidence of it at all through her labor, even though her water had been broken the day before. But he was crying and active, and Irma could her him from across the room.

Once everything settled down, Irma and Xavier tried breastfeeding for the first time with the help of their nurse.

La Drake: She’s an amazing woman, the amount of pressure, pain, and stress she went through to have our baby was such a sight to see. I’m so thankful to have her as my wife, and mother of our son.

Irma: Women don’t get enough recognition for the work we do. I’ve been in the Navy ten years, but nothing compares to having a baby. This was the hardest, most honored achievement in my book.