Birth Stories

S04:E04 - Episode 4

Chris and her husband Mike are expecting a child in four weeks. With the birth of the baby, they will have four children under the age of six. Chris a public health nurse specializing in pre and post-natal care is working right up to her due date. She and Mike have opted for less stress and money over the rat race to maintain a balanced home for their family. In keeping with her alternative views, Erika invites some of her closest friends to partake in a Navaho ritual, which celebrates a pregnant woman's journey from childhood to motherhood. Chris, who is a close friend of Erika's, attends. The guests make symbolic necklaces and offer each other words of support. Eighteen year old Nicole gets ready for the big day. She packs her bag for the hospital and nervously waits for her labor to start. When her contractions begin, she heads for her neighbor's apartment to shield her younger sisters from her pain. Once at the hospital, Nicole endures labor without the aid of painkillers. Her fear of needles is greater than the fear of what lies ahead. When it's finally time to push, Nicole is so exhausted from the pain that she cries for her mother who is at home with her sisters. With the help of the hospital staff and the support of her boyfriend and neighbor, Nicole gives birth to a healthy baby boy.