Our friend, Jen, is a labor and delivery nurse at Spectrum, and when I was pregnant she also happened to be working on her doula certification. We asked her to be a part of Arie’s birth, and it turned out to be more important then we could have imagined. This is Arie’s birth story from her perspective. (Also, I made a video for Arie’s bday and it’s at the bottom of this post)

–    I remember the day clearly in Encounter Church when we were talking within a circle of women in the worship space. You asked if I would be your doula for your labor and birth. You were smiling. I was happy that you wanted to include me in this wonderful part of your life story.

You and Eric have had a special place in my heart for the past two years-plus. Perhaps it started when our family watched that episode of “House Hunters” featuring the cast, Eric and Chelsea Westra. You both are unique and loved deeply by God. He has written a one-of-a-kind story through your lives.

I cherished walking beside you amongst hundreds of others during the cancer/chemo journey.   How lovely that I also get to walk beside your birth preparation and welcoming a child.

When you learned that Eric needed surgery and that it would be timed around the birth of your child, I pray that God would give you enough “home time” as a family of 3. How hard it must be to trust His perfect timing. Finally, you set up an induction. I am concerned but trust that this was right. Some inductions are done too soon or the woman is in the hospital for days before she gives birth. I trust that this is what God wants. You are obedient to Him.

You settle into your hospital room (3417) the evening of September 8. You are wearing your cute black nightgown and look radiant! Eric has his bag of “stuff” all over the windowsill, and you are ready. You say how nervous you are, and I keep praying for peace for you. Tami is your nurse who laughs about your “mock” birth plan while you giggle and cannot keep a straight face. She gets your induction started and places that Cytotec “bomb” around 10:30PM.     You have a few contractions on the monitor already around that time but you barely notice them. I leave around 11:00PM and am not expecting to hear back from you until the mid-morning. I am planning to arrive at the hospital at 8AM for a meeting and will check in with you and Eric.

I receive a funny text from you at 11:45PM though, “Could you pick up some sort of air freshener for the bathroom? Eric can’t bring himself to go in there…too many hospital smell memories…”

OK (I smile) – I will add a stop at Walgreen’s on the way into the hospital in the morning!!! (he he…)

Your next text says, “I’m not allowed to take off my monitor for the night- contractions are too close together. Bummer!!”   Mmmm…what was happening in your body?

You and Eric have some time alone together. From Eric’s words, it sounded like labor hit pretty hard and fast. You use the birthing ball and the jacuzzi tub for some relief.

I receive a text from Eric at 3:18AM much to my surprise as it says, “Hey Jen, it’s Eric. Chelsea is having sudden and painful contractions. She’s asked for an epidural. 1.5 dilated.” WHOA!   At 3:20AM I text back, “I will head on in.” I keep thinking, this is the real thing, and this is CRAZY FAST! I text Eric once more at 3:22AM, “Tell her to be strong and breathe! If she can have the epidural, go for it!”

I drive on the quiet highways of 131 just praying for you the whole way. I am disappointed that I wasn’t there for you during that time during your labor. I know Eric is with you and he is supporting you well, but I know that you are going through hard labor

In the labor and delivery unit, it is loud and busy. I cannot immediately go into your room because Dr. Schenk was giving you your epidural. Melanie is your nurse, and she is helping you through the epidural.  You are shaking and breathing hard and l see just how active your labor is.

It is around 4:00AM. You are calming down. Soon you smile again and your face is peaceful. About 30 minutes after the epidural, Melanie checks your dilation, and you are 7 cm 100% effaced and 0 station! I think I stood up and said, “Holy shit!” The three of us are so surprised and now know why your contractions were so fierce! Baby Westra is coming soon, so the room is now dark and we sleep. Eric is lying on the Dad’s couch and is trying to get comfortable. He keeps shifting. I am sitting in the recliner that squeaks when you move the wrong way. I sit quietly with a blanket over me with one eye open. You are sleeping. Or at least trying to sleep, but you continue to look peaceful.

Although it is dark and quiet, I hear alarms outside your room. At one point the HUGS (baby alarm) system goes off and you and Eric both look at me, awake. I quietly reassure you that you are OK. At 630AM Melanie empties your bladder and checks your cervix again: you are 9cm/100% effaced/0 station!   We all try to sleep a little bit more as we prepare for this baby’s birth.

Sometime shortly after 7AM, Dr. Steensma arrives. She is very bright and alert, and her energy wakes us up. Eric begins moving his bed back up into a couch. Dr. Steensma says that she did not believe Dr. Dood when he said how far along in labor you were through the night. It is true though! She checks you at 7:30AM and breaks your water and you are completely dilated, 100% effaced! She encourages you to get a little more rest and allow your baby to “labor down” or naturally descend so you can start pushing in a little while.

Sheryl Offringa is your day nurse and she is training a nurse named Michelle. Sheryl knows Eric’s parents and has also been praying for you and Eric for the past few years. You are dear to her heart as well. She and Michelle set up the room for delivery and step out of the room for a while to let you rest some more. At one point, Eric heads to Qdoba for breakfast burritos (I did not know that Qdoba served breakfast!). He brings back burritos for himself and me (& I feel a bit odd eating burritos while you sleep). We also drink some coffee. Your birth team is warming up.

You wake up from sleeping and Sheryl and Michelle are checking to see if your baby has descended low enough to start pushing. It is between 9-10:00AM. You say you have a strong headache. You state, “I feel like I have the flu”. Your blood pressure is significantly higher: it was 150/90s which was much higher than in the night. Sheryl locked eyes with me, and I know she is concerned. She calls Dr. Steensma and they order some bloodwork. You do not feel well at all. You are nauseated and keep your eyes squinted because of your headache. You also develop this mysterious pain in your upper right abdomen. You are no longer resting well and something is happening. I do not recall time any longer as Eric and I are solely focused on you. We desperately try to comfort you.

The blood test confirms that your liver enzymes are elevated and your platelets dropped in half. You are having all the classic symptoms of a form of preeclampsia called HELPP syndrome: headache, liver pain, high blood pressure, and your changes in your lab work. Dr. Steensma orders a magnesium drip to start to prevent you from having a seizure. Sheryl gives you Zofran for your nausea.

Sometime shortly after 10:00AM, Dr. Steensma and Sheryl tell you that it is time to have your baby. Your blood pressure has lowered since the magnesium drip started and your liver pain is subsiding. You still feel twinges of it but we see that burden lifted some. You push strongly and confidently. Despite what is happening to your body, your focus and strength is strong. You push on your side and curled on your back. Sheryl begins holding a bath towel with you and plays “tug of war” with you as she pulls and you push. You are working very very hard!

The next 3 ½ hours are a blur. You are pushing strongly the entire time. You keep making progress. When Dr. Steensma checks on you a few times, the baby’s head is lower each time. The baby’s heartbeat is strong. I wonder how you have the strength you own with all the medications and strange things happening to your body.

Near 2:00PM you are getting very tired. I cannot believe how focused and strong you are. You are lying on your left side with a washcloth on your face and Eric is right beside you. You state, “I cannot do this anymore.” You are tearful. Everybody knows in the room that you are not a quitter. You are telling us that you physically used everything up. Dr. Steensma is in the room and tells you and Eric that you need to make a decision. She can help deliver your baby with a vacuum or she can help you birth your baby via a C-section. Eric states to use the vacuum and you agree. When he asks me, I trust Dr. Steensma’s skill with the vacuum. She knows baby is so close to being born.

Within 5 minutes the room is a flurry of people and the lights are on. Sheryl and Michelle (your nurses) are in there. Melanie is now charge nurse and she is back in the room. The neonatal team is there for your baby since babies born via vacuum need a little extra care after delivery.

It is time to meet your baby! Dr. Steensma puts the vacuum on the baby’s head and you PUSH!!! She does this 2-3 times more until at 2:23PM a baby arrives into the world!! Eric looks down at his child and announces that you and he have a BOY! This sweet baby boy is beautiful, but he is not crying. He is met by open arms of the awaiting neonatal team. You close your eyes and appear sleeping. Eric is right next to your side and is torn between staying by you and going over to your baby. He loves you so…he stays by you and looks over at his son.   I try to run between you and your baby so I can see what is going on so I can tell you (& take pictures!).

This sweet boy is 6 pounds and 13 ounces and 21 inches long. He needed some help breathing within his first five minutes of life, but by 5 minutes his APGAR score is 8. He is breathing, crying, and his eyes are open. I notice his cute little face and nose. Sheryl says “He looks like a Westra.” Eric is still closely by your side.

During this time you are very tired. Dr. Steensma puts some stitches in and tells you your bottom is going to be sore. She is concerned about you as you are exhausted. You bleed a little more than normal. She gives you some more of that Cytotec, but this time in your mouth. Yuck. It is to prevent more blood loss. You are barely awake to swallow the pills.

After they place ice on your bottom, cover you with warm blankets, and bring you little Arie, you are with your baby. You are shaking uncontrollably. Eric knows how badly you want your baby skin to skin, but it is hard to do right now. Eric spends almost an hour in the recliner with Arie skin to skin: Dad and son. Arie is calm, quiet, and alert. You sleep. You shake. You are pale. You are loved. You are LOVED! By your husband, by your son, by your GOD, and by your doula.

I leave around 5:30PM and kiss your forehead. I tell you how I do not want to go, but Eric tells me it is OK to go home. He is going to help you breastfeed and put Arie on your chest. I tell you how dear you are and that I know God has all this in His hands.

As I leave, I see your nurse Sheryl crying at the desk. She is overwhelmed. I am certain that you and Eric are overwhelmed too. A beautiful pregnancy, a smooth induction, quick/short labor, followed by HELPP syndrome? What?? Why God? Why them God? Isn’t Eric’s cancer enough of a challenge? Can’t they just have a “normal” recovery??

There are amazing miracles embedded in your story. I am sure that you can testify to God’s love and care for you. Your induction was timed exactly for when you and Arie needed it. God sent you a very experienced nurse who picked up on your HELPP syndrome symptoms immediately. You received your epidural BEFORE your platelets dropped. If you waited, it may have been dangerous to administer your epidural with lower platelets. You had your baby vaginally! A C-section may have been harder. Your baby is not only CUTE, he is safe and he is HERE and your SON!

Witnessing your son’s birth is such a gift to me, and I thank you so much for inviting me to be a part of it. May your cherish his story and the God who authored it.