Kaosarat Aina and her husband Ibrahim Odugbemi had plenty of reasons to be nervous as their son’s due date grew closer: They’re first-time parents. The couple is from Nigeria and navigating the very different and complex United States health care system. Pregnancy and birth can also be a dangerous time, particularly in Indiana, which boasts one of the nation’s highest maternal mortality rates.
Aina had a birth plan: She wanted an unmedicated, vaginal birth with a midwife. But Aina’s cervix didn’t dilate as expected during labor. After about 20 hours, she was only two centimeters dilated. During the first stage of labor, which in the best-case scenario is hours shorter, the cervix dilates up to 10 centimeters.
Instead of waiting for her labor to progress at home, Aina got to the hospital and stayed there because her baby’s heartbeat was fluctuating.
“It looked like baby was not tolerating the contractions so well, so [he] had to be under close monitoring,” Aina said. “It was shocking and heartbreaking.”
Aina was comforted by her doula, Kristi Pietz. Pietz is not a medical provider; she’s trained to work with clients during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum. Doulas provide support and advocate for their client’s medical care preferences in the delivery room.
Pietz had led the couple through childbirth education classes in the months prior and was with them through Aina’s 48-hour labor and delivery. In the delivery room, Aina said Pietz made the birth feel collaborative....
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