Finally sharing about the day Colin was born!

Timestamps

00:00 - Introducing Colin’s birth story and the weekend that led up to it
01:00 - Why the induction was scheduled around 37 weeks
02:00 - A calm morning with Connor before heading to daycare
03:00 - Boston rush hour versus the chaos of natural labor
04:00 - Checking in at the hospital and the first emotional moment with the OB team
05:00 - Crying when kindness hit harder than strength
06:00 - Why she chose to proceed with induction despite grief
07:00 - What “birth plan” meant in this context
08:00 - Wearing her dad’s Patriots hat and wanting an epidural ASAP
09:00 - Reflections on epidurals, pain, and her first labor with Connor
10:00 - Starting the induction and wanting to be a passenger this time
11:00 - Cytotec, Foley balloon, and contractions that got things moving
12:00 - Her husband points out they do not need to wait for pain before requesting the epidural
13:00 - Her outpatient OB’s unusual commitment to seeing her for every prenatal visit
14:00 - How thoughtful communication and data-driven care shaped the pregnancy
15:00 - Her OB’s support behind the scenes, including tumor board advocacy
16:00 - Brief Pitocin trial and the baby’s immediate reaction
17:00 - Watching TV, laughing, and keeping the room light during labor
18:00 - The surprise baby-name vote and the fun of not knowing the sex
19:00 - Checking the ICU schedule just in case birth complications sent her there
20:00 - Pressure builds and the team realizes the baby is crowning
21:00 - Waiting for the OB to arrive before pushing
22:00 - Colin is born and the room fills with tears and emotion
23:00 - Why pregnancy felt emotionally distant and uncertain
24:00 - Seeing the baby on ultrasound and struggling with chemo-related worry
25:00 - How not knowing the sex helped her stay detached and hopeful
26:00 - Colin arrives healthy, despite the cord being wrapped twice
27:00 - Naming Colin Robert and honoring her dad through the middle name
28:00 - Telling family the baby is a boy and heading to postpartum recovery
29:00 - Post-birth CT and MRI scans while still processing the cancer
30:00 - Crying in the MRI and the strain of high highs and low lows
31:00 - Why she does not believe grief and trauma can always be neatly processed
32:00 - Family meeting Colin and the reminder that life keeps moving
33:00 - Watching both boys grow and comparing first-time parenting to second-time parenting
34:00 - Colin’s bright, social personality and the sense that he brought light into the family
35:00 - Looking back on cancer during pregnancy as an unexpected blessing
36:00 - Closing gratitude for Colin, Connor, and the listeners

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