The birth story of Saga Lumi.
Saga Lumi. Born December 20, 2024 at Logan Health Birth Center – Whitefish.
Emma is a girl mama to Freja and now her second daughter, Saga Lumi. I had the honor of supporting her as both her doula and birth photographer. And what a memorable day it was, it was the first time I had two clients give birth on the same day!
Just 45 minutes after another doula client gave birth at Logan Health in Kalispell, I received a text from Emma’s husband, Blake. They were in triage at the Birth Center at Logan Health in Whitefish, and their doctor was recommending breaking her waters. The doctor thought things might move quickly once they did.
I asked if they could hold off until I arrived, and thankfully, they waited. I got there about 40 minutes later and felt so relieved. And as it turned out, there was no rush—Saga took her time, and the whole birth unfolded in such a peaceful, unrushed way. Swedish folk music played softly in the background. The room felt calm and cozy.
Here is Emma’s story, in her own words:
"I was induced one day before my due date..."
“It was just before the holidays, on December 20. I was expecting to deliver after my due date since my first daughter arrived three days past hers. But due to my blood pressure being a bit high, the doctor strongly recommended induction.
I really didn’t want to get induced, but my gut told me it was the right decision in the end.”
She arrived at the hospital at 7 a.m., and after a long wait in triage, they started pitocin.
“I was expecting to feel strong contractions from it, but nothing really happened.
When I had my daughter six years ago, my contractions were strong and intense. I expected it to be similar this time. It wasn’t.”
Emma got an epidural before they broke her water, but it only worked on one side.
“I then had a new epidural, and they broke my water. Once that was done, things happened pretty quickly.
My contractions weren’t painful, but I could still feel them moving through my body. It was a nice feeling. I could feel my baby moving downwards and my body working, but there was no intense pain. It was completely different from my first delivery.”
She focused on relaxing—essential oils, dim lighting, and string lights helped set the tone.
“I kept the delivery room dark and cozy. Kristen added some string lights that made the space super relaxing.”
Coming to terms with induction
“In the beginning, I was disappointed that I was being induced. I was hoping for a birth with as few interventions as possible. And I knew that once you get induced, more interventions typically follow.
But once my water broke, I felt more relaxed. I came to terms with my decision to accept the induction. The whole delivery was very calm, and I could definitely enjoy it so much more than my first time.”
Feeling informed and empowered
“I’m an academic, so I read a lot… I consumed everything from research articles to listening to podcasts. I recommend the Evidence-Based Birth podcast!
I wanted to be informed, and it made me feel empowered to make decisions and question standard practices. I’m super interested in how the medical system has evolved and the why behind recommendations and interventions.”
Working with a doula
“I worked with Kristen, my doula! She was the support I needed. She shared information when I asked for it, helped me put together a birth plan I felt confident in, and guided me through a bunch of decisions.
Even though I’ve given birth before and worked with a doula before, I still learned so much this time. I needed her!”
The moment she arrived
After Emma’s water broke, she quickly progressed.
“I got fully dilated in about an hour or so, and pushed for like 20 minutes before baby Saga was born!
It was such a cool feeling. Since I had no pain due to the epidural, I could really focus on the feeling of my daughter moving down. It was the most incredible feeling of my life. I felt so strong, present, and excited!”
“I was so happy to finally see her! She looked at me with her big dark eyes and she was so alert!! I instantly just wanted to hug and have her close.”
Welcoming baby sister
“I felt happiness. I was glad it was over. I had spent nine months waiting for it to happen and I felt excited to finally start life as a mom of two daughters.
My husband and daughter were excited, especially big sister. When she got to meet her baby sister, she was overwhelmed with emotions, and I could see her eyes watering. She is so very proud of her baby sister!”
The emotions on big sisters face!
Zoomed in, My sister is here!
Thank you, Emma.
Thank you, Emma and Blake, for trusting me to support your family and tell your story. Saga’s birth was a beautiful, grounded, and powerful day. It was a joy to witness your calm confidence and deep love. Welcome to the world, sweet Saga Lumi.
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