Welcome back to Part 2 of my pregnancy journey as a travel nurse! In Part 1, I shared how I managed prenatal care while traveling between nursing contracts. Now, I’m diving into the most intense part of the journey: labor and delivery.
From planning to go home before my due date to navigating hospital delays and delivering via an emergency C-section, this part of my story is filled with unpredictability, emotion, and ultimately—joy. Whether you’re a travel nurse, a first-time mom, or just curious about giving birth after working on the road, I hope my experience gives you insight and encouragement.
💼 Preparing for Labor While Wrapping Up a Contract
My plan was to return home six weeks before my due date—just in time to enjoy Thanksgiving, nest a little, and rest before our December baby arrived. Before finishing my final contract, I had all of my medical records sent from my previous OB-GYN to my hometown provider. Or so I thought…
Unfortunately, there was a hiccup with the transfer. The records never arrived properly, so I ended up hand-carrying a printed copy home and personally delivering them to the new OB’s office.
🚫 When Your OB-GYN Has No Availability
Once I dropped off the records, I was told something no pregnant person wants to hear:
“We’re fully booked. You won’t be able to get an appointment until your due date.”
They recommended I simply come into the hospital when I went into labor. It was not ideal—and definitely nerve-wracking—but I reminded myself that I’d had a healthy, complication-free pregnancy so far. Still, it was tough not having prenatal care in those final weeks.
🧪 Trying to Induce Labor (and Getting a Little Creative)
As my due date neared, I tried every trick in the book to naturally induce labor. Nothing worked. With no provider visits for over six weeks and no signs of labor, I grew anxious.
Eventually, I went to the hospital reporting pelvic and lower back pain—which was true, but I emphasized the discomfort in hopes of being evaluated (and maybe getting labor started). Baby was fine, no contractions were showing, and they were about to send me home…
…until they offered me an elective induction. You bet I took them up on it! I wasn’t leaving without a baby.
🕰️ Labor Induction: The Long, Unpredictable Road
They started with Misoprostol, and I began contracting—but my cervix still wasn’t dilating.
Next came Pitocin, but only for a few hours. It made my contractions stronger, but still: no progress.
Then came Cervidil—and WOW, my contractions were through the roof. I told my nurse there was no way I could tolerate another round of Pitocin without some help. Around 5:00 a.m., she asked if I wanted an epidural, and I said, “YES, please!”
💉 Epidural Relief—and an Unexpected Turn
Once the epidural kicked in, I felt like a new woman. I was finally comfortable—even though I was still just 1 cm dilated.
But then, baby started showing heart rate decelerations. Despite multiple position changes, he wasn’t tolerating contractions. The team told me a C-section might be needed if things didn’t improve. I figured we had hours before that decision would be made.
I called my husband, who was still at home with the dogs, just to give him a heads-up.
Ten minutes later, they were wheeling me into the OR.
👶 Emergency C-Section and a Safe Delivery
At 7:22 a.m. on December 15, 2023, I gave birth to our beautiful son via emergency C-section. He was healthy, perfect, and didn’t need any special interventions.
We later found out that the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck, which explained why his heart rate kept dropping. We got him out just in time—and I’m forever grateful for that decision.
💡 What I Learned From My Birth Experience
No matter how much you plan, birth is unpredictable. Especially as a travel nurse, you have to stay flexible and advocate for yourself when things don’t go as expected.
I know some people are disappointed when they end up needing a C-section—but for me, the safety of my baby and myself came first.
Here’s what I want you to take away:
- Be flexible with your birth plan.
- Advocate for your needs—even if that means pushing for earlier care or pain relief.
- Stay informed, but trust your care team.
- And most importantly, trust your instincts.
💬 Your Turn: Let’s Connect
Have you experienced labor far from home? Navigated a delivery that didn’t go as planned?
Share your story in the comments—I’d love to hear from other travel nurses and mamas on the move.
👉 Stay tuned for Part 3, where I’ll dive into postpartum recovery and what it’s like returning to nursing after birth.