Shared Anxiety

A same-sex couple are just six weeks away from having their first child. Erin is pregnant through donor sperm. The couple has almost a twenty year age difference. They don't feel are typically treated differently. Although Erin is the one that is pregnant, Robin seems to be the one that is having the most anxiety. Dr. Park is thinking that the baby could possibly be a very big baby and a C-section may be the best option for them. Erin wants a vaginal birth, but Robin is worried about the risks of a vaginal birth, "I can live without the baby, but I can't live without Erin." She even has to be hospitalized because her anxiety becomes so bad, but she is released quickly. There are complications of having large babies vaginally and Dr. Park is worried about it. They decide to induce her two weeks before her due date. Now the roles seem to have reversed--Robin is calm and Erin is very nervous. She will be able to deliver vaginally, but Erin is running a fever so it becomes critical to get the baby out as soon as possible. Baby Liam is born! He was 8 lbs. 13 oz. so it was a little more than they were estimating. "It's really like everyone says, he plops out and you do just forget everything--you forget the last 38 weeks," says Erin. "He's our baby and I feel as biologically attached to him as if my genes were part of creating him. He's our son and I'm his mom. It feels like we made him and we did," says Robin.

Waiting and Wondering

Christia (34-years-old) is expecting her second child. Just by feeling her tummy, Dr. Bohn says, "I'm almost one hundred percent sure that baby's breech...even without using technology." Dr. Park calls Christia with some news--they believe the baby has Down's Syndrome. The couple handle the news very well. There is some sadness, but I also think they really rise to the occassion and accept and know they will welcome their new baby regardless. But after further tests, they discovered the baby didn't have it. Dr. Hill tells her that if she starts to experience regular contractions that she needs to come in for the C-section since the baby is breech. However, since Christia had her first by C-section she says she doesn't even know what contractiosn feel like! Once again, though, she will no longer experience the feelings of breech because they have scheduled a C-section date. As usual, the doctors always describe what is going on as they deliver her and even apologize for her "feeling a little tug." Baby Jonathon is born! After his birth, the doctors tie Christia's tubes. Baby Jonathon and Dr. Hill meet for the baby's five week check-up. Eight months later, Christia describes how it is having two kids. "Now I understand why people have a lot of kids because with each new child there's a completely new personality and a new person to get to know." Christia is a lawyer who works from home so often times she's working while taking care of the kids. She sometimes wonders what it's like to have a third child, though. "It's ironic having a tuboligation and then having these feelings that you didn't think you'd have." After the Down's Syndrome scare they feel that when they do see families who face certain challenges they can "silently understand."

Don't Look Back

As I watched the opening song for this episode I realized I've been missspelling (and mispronouncing) Dr. Bong's name--it is actually Dr. Bohn! From here out I will use her name correctly.

Second-time mom Irene (32-years-old) had a previous complicated pregnancy because of a parasitic twin who was not alive, but the live baby wasn't growing properly because of the other one. She had billary atresia and surgery to clear blocked bile ducts. Following this she had many more nearly fatal complications. "You go through life taking things for granted assuming that you're going to have healthy kids," she says. Her daughter will always have this condition and will need a liver transplant at some point in the future. Irene makes sure to stay informed on it. "Irene is an internet doctor...The doctors sometimes confuse her for being in the medical field" says her husband. This is her way of controlling it, explains Irene. She was hoping to avoid a C-section with this one, but she'll have to have one in the best interests of the baby. "Hi, welcome to the world!" says Dr. Hill as she welcomes baby Sophia.

Second-time mom Inga (37-year-old) is a divorced single-mom who never wanted anymore kids. But then she met someone and now they are pregnant. "I felt like the best gift I could give her was a sibling," says Inga of her 7-year-old daughter. Her boyfriend explains the plight of the men in pregnant, "We don't have any control and you just feel, 'I did this to you and I'm really a bad person cause I put you through this.'" She's at home and her contractions are 2-4 minutes apart so she heads to the hospital earlier than planned. They're on their way to the hospital during rush hour in LA. "Sterling, if I have this baby in the car and gonna just kill you!" An hour later they make it to the hospital. Her 7-year-old daughter is crying watching her mom in labor. Baby Isley is born after a C-section!

First-time mom-to-be 29-year-old Michelle and her husband have always wanted kids. She is a fourth-year medical student right now. "The best part about being pregnant is feeling him move. It's amazing!" she says. Because she knows so much about these things they often make her more nervous and anxious about things that could go wrong. She's going into OB/GYN and is currently applying for school. "If you love it, it doesn't feel like a job really," says Dr. Park when Michelle questions her about having gone into OB/GYN. Dr. Hill texted Dr. Bohn to see if she wanted to deliver Michelle and she goes in even though she's not on call because she wants to deliver her. Baby Nicholas is born!

Dr. Bohn finds out she is pregnant! Both her and her husband are very nervous and cautious about it because of "what happened before." I'm not sure what this was but I would assume a miscarriage. In this episode they show the doctors just hanging out with one another and "just being moms for a day" letting their kids play together. They discuss Dr. Bohn's pregnancy and have good news about it. Dr. Hill says she's "cautiously optimistic" for Dr. Bohn. The doctors describe the show. "We're like a lot of OB practices except for one thing: we decided to let a TV crew follow us around." They say they are the same as they are if there were no camera--"It really is reality," says Dr. Hill.

Home Edition (Kristianne & Ingrid)

This is another home edition episode. Ingrid is 31-years-old third-time mom. She has dangerously high blood pressure and Dr. Park explains the risks to her. Some of the complications of severe pre-eclampsia are seizures and strokes in the mom and for the baby it can cause growth retardation or restriction. Dr. Park was on her way to the hospital with her 19-month old when she got a call so she turned around and brought her son back home to go see Ingrid about alarming test results in danger of liver failure, possibly even a fatal seizure. She'll have to have the baby early and Dr. Park describes it as "saying happy birthday a little early." They bring Dr. Bong in to assist Dr. Park with the surgery. "When we operate together it's almost like dancing. You don't even have to say anything the other person knows what you need to see and what you need to do." The baby will be almost 6 weeks pre-mature. "Happy birthday, honey!" the doctors exlcaim as they take baby Siria out. Now at 11 months, she's a very healthy baby. They've decided now that she won't be able to have any more kids because of risks to her health and the baby's health.

Kristianne is a 22-year-old third-time mom. Strangely enough, for each of her pregnancies she has been on some form of birth control--the pills for the first two and the patch for the third. "I don't think that my age has anything to do with my mothering skills. I think it's who you are as a person and how you take things and how you handle them," Kristianne says. "I'm always in awe of my patients who are quite young and having children," says Dr. Park. Kristianne had wanted to be induced on Friday the 13th because she thinks it'll be good luck, but Dr. Park is a little more traditionally superstitious and says she doesn't induce people for those days. In the past she's had very quick labors and delivers and the same goes here. She is in very good spirits. Even as she's pushing, Kristianne is laughing with the nurses. Baby Lucas is born! Kristianne says she never planned on having three kids at her age, but says she wouldn't change it for the world. The father thinks it's easier being young parents because he can be active with the kids. They want 2 or 3 more in the future! "We love kids and I love being pregnant!" she says.

Home Edition (Jennifer)

This episode of "Deliver Me" is called a Home Edition episode because it focuses on one story, Jennifer. She's a 34-year-old second-time mom who is a professional casting director that does not like being pregnant. "The physical strain on your body is overwhelming," Jennifer said. She also really struggles with being away from her job as it's very difficult to be pregnant and away in a business that is all about keeping your name out there. Dr. Bong was concerned with Jennifer's exercising habits (spinnergy). After a particularly hard workout the baby didn't kick for two days. "My body's not mine for nine months. I have to think of somebody else." Dr. Bong, "You can't be a hundred percent at your job and a hundred percent as a mom at the same time. It's not possible." "That's difficult...I feel very guilty," said Jennifer. "I hate being pregnant. I can't stand it." Dr. Bong says she appreciates the fact that Jennifer is honest with her about these things. She seems so excited to have the baby, but moreso for the fact of not being pregnant anymore than having the actual baby be born. I've noticed on a couple instances that when the doctors come in just for a quick check-in on the mother well before delivery they are often dressed just in street clothes, which always surprises me. For example, Dr. Bong comes in wearing flower earrings, a spaghetti strap tank top, capri jeans and flip-flops. Baby Faye is born! It was Dr. Bong's 11th anniversary and she had to cancel her dinner plans with her husband! She promised Jennifer she'd deliver her baby and she's a woman of her word. "That's the life of an OB/GYN!" she says. At a six-week post-partem appointment Dr. Bong asks Jennifer if she's happy to which she replies, "I'm happy she's out of me." She talks about the depression she's had since the birth, which Dr. Bong encourages so she can treat her. Jennifer talks about the moment relief of having her family completed immediately after the birth, "It's finally done!" The father in this episode is wonderful and Jennifer expresses her gratitude for him. "Motherhood is probably the most complex word in the English language because it is everything--it's cook, it's teacher, it's the mean principal with the ruler in their hand, but it's the most joy you can get out of your life, I think" says Jennifer at the end of the episode.

Rhythm of Life (2 episodes in 1): Part 2

Amy has a heart condition (an arhythmia) and is getting ready to deliver. The three doctors discuss all together. They seem like friends even though they're discussing business matters, such as the patients. They are very personal and try to relate to the patients. Dr. Bong, "I couldn't even imagine having a debrillator in your chest and being pregnant..." Because of an oddly placed placenta, the baby isn't getting adequate nutrition and they must deliver early.
Dr. Hill encouraged her, telling her she could get pregnant if she and her husband desired. Dr. Hill recommended that she have a C-section. She is so nice when she talks to her patients. Dr. Hill jokes with Amy's husband about his protective hospital attire, "You look like you're going to take out hazardous waste or something later! I don't know why we do that to the guys--it's so not nice!" She describes what they're doing when it may cause pain and even apologizes for it! Dr. Hill is so happy to see the baby when she comes out, "She's adorable!" she exclaims. Carly is born! She had no issues in terms of her heart arrhytmia.

Gabriela is a 16-year-old patient. The doctors are so cheerful when they discuss the patients. Dr. Bong is her doctor. "I thought pregnancy would be kind of easy, but now I know it's not," says Gabriela. She makes Gabriela feel very comfortable and explains things in easy-to-understand terms. Dr. Bong expresses she was disappointed to learn Gabriela was pregnant because since she's been seeing her since she was 13 and felt Gabriela had access to care and could've come in and she didn't. She's been hospitalized four times over the course of her pregnancies because of problems. The baby is breech so a choice must be made. Her boyfriend has been extremely supportive. She decides to opt for a C-section. Dr. Bong tells her if she starts to have contractions she needs to go to the hospital right away for the C-section and says she'll come in even if she's not on-call. Baby Alexander is born! Dr. Bong expresses her pride in Gabriela in how well she handled it!

The doctors go to an event called Milk and Bookies, an even to teach children how to give. They get to catch up with some of their old favorite patients. They really know their patients and care about them.

Rhythm of Life (2 episodes in 1): Part 1

The opening song: 3 doctors, 3 friends, 3 mothers, 1 practice--Dr. Allison Hill (dark hair) , Dr. Yvonne Bong (blonde) , Dr. Alane Park (Asian)

Twenty-eight-year-old, first time mom, Rosala, had a large ovarian cyst on her left ovary. Three months after the surgery to remove it, it's time to deliver her baby girl. Dr. Hill is very coaxing and helpful--"Don't freak out, you can do this--this is totally normal." Baby Maya is born! She's only 4 lbs. 11 oz. so she has to spend time in NICU.

Justine (32) at 36 weeks, two older boys and a third boy on the way. No complications in first two pregnancies, but this time she was put on bed rest after some premature contractions developed. Three weeks early, Justine's water breaks. Dr. Park is her doctor. While she's in labor, an earthquake begins, but all is well after it passes. Dr. Park is surprised about this! "I should've done this from the get-go," said Justine. Baby Daxton is born!