SMC Online Doula Training – August 2026
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Birth Stories
Birth Stories
My birth story is about the challenges I went through to bring my second child, a son into the world. I was very young and I was not in a happy mental space at the time but yet I was determined to be the best mother to any child I was responsible to care for.
It was the year 1990 and I was in an unhealthy relationship mainly caring for myself and my unborn child. I made sure to attend all of my doctor visits and was excited and scared at the same time. One day I went to my weekly obstetrics appointment’ and I was sure the doctor was gonna have me admitted because as I remember the baby was sitting so low I could hardly walk and there was so much pressure I was feeling. But I left the clinic that day disappointed and I disbelieve that the doctor said “you got another 2 weeks to go.” I keep saying as I rode home on the bus he’s wrong this baby is gonna come in the next few hours.
As the bus rode on the freeway headed towards the downtown city for me to catch the connecting bus, I felt a gush of water. My water broke on the bus I was so frightened and nervous that the baby would come on the bus. Now that part was furthest from the truth. Once I got to the hospital and in active labor, my second baby took 23 and a half hours to come! I was exhausted but it was still a blessing.
- This discussion was modified 2 weeks, 2 days ago by
Toyia Kelly.
- This discussion was modified 2 weeks, 2 days ago by
- 2 Replies
Hi Toyia, thank you for sharing your story. I can’t even imagine my waters releasing on a BUS, let alone being alone to navigate pregnancy and birth. You are a warrior but shouldn’t have been forced to deal with all of those obstacles alone. I have so much respect and admiration for the courage and strength it took to make your way to the hospital. A whole 24 hours later to birth is crazy. I was in labor for 20 hours and it was a lot. Were you able to eat and drink during labor? I wonder if the labor and delivery room was a lot different in the 90s than it is now. I know now there are still so many restrictions on women eating and drinking during labor. Besides that, did you have a supportive doctor/midwife? Did the actual birth go okay? How many kids do you have now?
I am hoping that now you can experience a softer life and I hope you have community around you to uplift and support you. Thank you for sharing your story.
Wow! What an incredible birth story. Thank you for sharing. I am sorry that the doctor didn’t listen to you and you were sent home only for your water to break on the bus. I hope that there were at least kind strangers around. I am glad you and your baby made it safe despite laboring for so long.
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