58. Solo episode - Colin's birth story part 2

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 Support the show