As I write this, I'm praying like crazy. Brianna left the house around 11 p.m. last night to help out her friend, who was having a home birth. Dad would be there, as would a midwife and Brianna. Her friend had been having contractions all day, they were finally pretty close together come late evening, and Brianna left her job at the hospital early in order to head over to her friend's house about the same time the midwife was scheduled to arrive.

This is the second friend who has asked Brianna to be there when their baby is born. Dad was at the first one, too. Brianna's not a birthing professional; she's a phlebotomist who draws blood and works in the lab at the hospital. But she's a top-notch friend, and these gals wanted her alongside at one of the biggest moments of their lives.

I had no qualms about her being at the first. The second, the one taking place right now, had me worried from the get-go because her friend had chosen to have a home birth. And because I'm a paranoid person who reads too many horror stories of things that don't happen often ... but are horrific for the small percentage of folks they do happen to.

I'm not a huge fan of the medical industry, have certainly had my share of doubts and lack of confidence in doctors who have treated me and my loved ones. But I still think that a hospital is the place to have a baby -- because you just never know what can go wrong. Hospitals have the staff and the equipment to handle life-threatening situations. I realize that a lot of people don't agree with me.

Because of my fear of what could go wrong, when I came across the following video online, I asked Brianna to watch it, to please discuss it with her friend -- without freaking her out -- and to keep it in mind during the birth process just in case anything were to come up that made it seem like a trip to the hospital would be the best course of action. Brianna watched it and mentioned it to her friend.

And something did come up. At 5:30 this morning, Brianna sent me a text: "Not gone well. Taking her to (the hospital). Call later." I was sleeping when the text came through; I got it about 30 minutes ago. A prayer for mom and baby has been running non-stop in my head ever since. There's really nothing more I can do but wait for Brianna's call.

Here is the video. Yeah, the media hype things up. I get that. But I still think it's an important video, an important topic -- and I hope the outcome for Brianna's friend is far better than the one highlighted in this clip.

(SORRY! VIDEO LOST IN BLOG REDESIGN)

Update: Brianna just called from the hospital. Mom is exhausted and has very reluctantly decided to have an epidural in hopes it'll get the process moving. The baby's vitals seem to be fine. I'll keep you posted. And I'll keep on praying.

Update

on 2009-10-20 19:48 by Lisa Carpenter

HAPPY ENDING: Just after 12:30 p.m. MST, a precious little girl arrived safe and sound, with nothing more than a blue foot as evidence of the trauma she'd gone through! Mom and baby (and Dad!) are relieved and resting. Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers you sent their way.