Bonsie Birth Stories: Slumber Party at the Hospital

Katie described her labor and delivery as a slumber party she never wanted to leave. It was relaxing, fun, and her favorite people were all there. She even made a few new friends she will never forget.

On the evening of April 25, Katie and her boyfriend, Jared, arrived at the hospital for a scheduled induction. Katie met her nurses, was regularly given medication to soften her cervix, and was hooked up to a monitor so her nurses could keep an eye on her baby’s heart rate. She comfortably slept that evening in the hospital and woke up the next morning excited and ready to deliver her baby.

“Then 7:00 a.m. came and my doctor stopped by with the new day nurse. We quickly shot out of bed and brushed our teeth for the day—such a funny feeling to be ‘getting ready’ for a day of labor.”

With the help of Pitocin, contractions started softly and slowly. Because Katie had already decided to get an epidural, she was not anxious or concerned about discomfort.

“Originally I thought there was a certain window that you had to get ‘THE NEEDLE,’ but they continuously assured me I could get it whenever I was ready.”

When the contraction pain became almost continuous, Katie decided to get her epidural.

“The decision to get the epidural was meant to treat my anxiety about the pain, and that’s exactly what it did for me! It was my mother who told me, ‘You’ll feel a lot calmer.’ This advice is what stuck with me—not the worry of chickening out on the pain, but the overall experience being peaceful. I am so thankful for my decision. I didn’t want to feel ‘nothing’ as I birthed my baby, but I didn’t want to feel fear of intense pain when it was her time to enter the world. In the end, I felt it all, just enough pressure to know my baby girl was coming without being overwhelmed by fear of the pain I had heard about my whole life!”

Katie described the epidural as the most intense moment of her day, but her nurse, the anesthesiologist, and her boyfriend were supportive and proud of her.

“When we were done, Jared told me there is no way he could have gone through that, and how strong I was—he said I didn’t even squeeze his hand that hard! Those words gave me confidence for the rest of the day.”

After her epidural, Katie’s mom came to sit with her. Katie napped, got to know her nurse better, and laughed about all the different positions she had to move into throughout labor.

“It was exactly how it was supposed to be for my birthing day…peaceful.”

When Katie began to feel the urge to push, she was checked again, and her nurse, Jordan, confirmed that it was Go Time. 

Katie holds her daughter, skin to skin, right after delivery. 

“My hour-and-a-half or so pushing session with Jared and Nurse Jordan was so special and intimate. Between every push, we’d even all strike up a little conversation. I learned to push when I felt a contraction coming; it was simply just a pressure feeling, but not an ounce of pain! I realized I could still feel the whole moment, but got to keep a clear mind free from pain. I am so thankful.”

Katie’s baby got her shoulder stuck, but her doctor and three nurses were able to rotate her enough so that she was safely born.

“Then at 6:42 p.m. on April 26, there she was, my daughter, Winsley, placed on my chest with the most beautiful round face and body. I almost laughed in complete joy, relief, and shock that I had just delivered my baby! I wondered why I wasn’t crying in joy, but a giggle is what came out! Jared finally turned around to watch and cut the cord. Nurse Jordan grabbed his phone and started taking pictures—another act of hers I am so grateful for!”

Because Winsley inhaled too much fluid, her oxygen levels were dropping. The staff said that if they couldn’t get her oxygen levels to rise, she would have to go to the NICU.

“That’s when I heard the magic words, ‘Let’s try skin-to-skin,’ as if my body held the superpower to cure my daughter’s every need. I knew that’s what skin-to-skin did for babies, but it was that moment I felt the power, the absolute magic; my body built her, and my body will sustain her. It’s now that I realize my body grew her and will continue to grow her—physically and emotionally. She lay there on my chest, oxygen levels rising; it worked!”

That night, Jared and Katie stayed up late gushing over their baby girl.

“We were so in love. We laid down having ‘pillow talk,’ with Jared on his couch and Winsley and me in our respective hospital beds. There in the dark, Jared uttered the words that will stay in my heart for a lifetime… ‘Winsley is beautiful.’”

Katie and her daughter, Winsley 

During her interview with Bonsie, Katie shared that she often hesitates to tell her birth story because she feels guilty for how wonderful her experience was. That's exactly why we are thrilled to share it.

The more we share, read, and listen to birth stories, both joyful and challenging, the more we normalize the many ways birth can unfold. Understanding the full spectrum of birth experiences also empowers mothers to ask thoughtful questions, explore their options, and make informed decisions alongside their care team.

Birth is not a competition, but a common thread that connects all mothers. Every story has something to teach us, and every experience deserves to be heard with compassion and respect. We are honored to share Katie's story as part of the Bonsie Birth Stories series and hope it reminds mothers everywhere that they are stronger than they ever thought possible.