A Lengthy Labor with Doula Care, Rooted in Faith (SWFL)

Every birth story is unique. At Mindful Birth Services, we're honored to support families throughout Southwest Florida with compassionate, experienced care. Saleena's story shares her experience of a 50-hour labor, unwavering faith, and the steady support she received as she welcomed her first baby into the world.

Before I was ever pregnant, I felt like the Lord was already preparing my heart for birth.

In 2023, I joined a church small group called Pain-Free Childbirth, based on the book by Nissa Andrews. I was single at the time and the youngest one there, which honestly made me feel a little out of place. But I knew God had prompted me to be there. That group changed me deeply. Through Scripture, testimony, and truth, so much of my fear around childbirth fell away. I started to believe with my whole heart that I could partner with God in pregnancy, labor, and postpartum—and that He would be with me through every bit of it.

Fast forward to February 3, 2026. I was 40 weeks pregnant, one day away from Piper Kate’s due date, when I started feeling tiny cramps during a moms group at church. At first, I brushed them off and thought maybe they were just “poopy cramps,” haha. But later that evening, while I was in the kitchen cooking and cleaning, it suddenly hit me: these are contractions. I remember telling Rhett, and everything started to feel so real.

That night, after seeing bright red blood and realizing my body was truly beginning the process, I felt both excitement and panic. Labor was starting. Our baby girl was on her way.

The next couple of days were slow, emotional, and intense all at once. Rhett stayed by my side, my mom brought food, and our doula came to support us at home. I barely slept. Contractions kept building, wave after wave, and while I wouldn’t describe them as painful, they were deeply intense. I had to go inward. I had to stay focused. I had to keep surrendering.

One of the most powerful moments of labor happened in our kitchen. I was in the middle of a deep contraction and asked Rhett to play Yeshua. As soon as it started, I just broke. I wept uncontrollably. I felt the presence of the Lord so strongly that I couldn’t even hold it together. It was overwhelming in the most beautiful way. I still don’t know how to fully put it into words. I just knew He was with me.

By the time my midwife arrived, I was already 6 centimeters dilated, though no one could really tell because I was so quiet and locked in. I spent most of labor with my eyes closed, swaying, squatting, breathing, and just trying to stay fully present. I didn’t have much to say. I was in another place mentally—so focused, so prayerful, so determined.

What I didn’t know then was just how long the road would be. Labor lasted over 50 hours, and I pushed for 3 of those hours. As labor stretched on, I started to hit a wall. My body was exhausted. Emotionally, I felt so worn down. Then came the moment I had dreaded most: the possibility of having to transfer to the hospital if the baby didn’t move down soon. 

I cried. I felt disappointed, scared, and honestly shaken. I remember crying out to the Lord in frustration, reminding Him of what I believed He had promised me. For a moment, fear came rushing in and all the worst-case scenarios tried to take over. I felt weak. I felt overwhelmed. I felt the weight of how long this had all been.

But in that same moment, I knew I had a choice. I could partner with fear, or I could partner with God.

So I prayed again. I gathered myself. I went back to the position that felt strongest, and I pushed with everything I had left.

Within just a few big pushes, everything changed. Suddenly there was major progress, then her head, then one final push—and Piper Kate came flying out so fast that my midwife had to catch her mid-air.

The second they placed her on my chest, I was overwhelmed. Relief. Gratitude. Joy. Shock. Love. All of it hit me at once. Rhett and I just stared at her, completely undone. I kept saying, “Oh honey, oh honey,” because I couldn’t believe she was finally here.

Looking back, this birth was beautiful, stretching, exhausting, emotional, and sacred all at once. It brought me to the end of myself in so many ways, but it also showed me the nearness of the Lord in a way I will never forget.

Our sweet Piper Kate is here, and I’ll carry this story in my heart forever.

Authored by first time mom, Saleena

Congratulations on behalf of the Mindful Birth Doula team!

Are you interested in learning about doula care for your birth? Schedule your Intake Call with our office today!