Birth in a Pandemic

Lena in her home the evening before her scheduled labor induction on April 11, 2020. The COVID-19 outbreak is characterized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization one month before the birth of her first child.

Lena is induced shortly after an 8am CST arrival at Methodist Women’s Hospital in Omaha, Ne. She is allowed one guest in the labor and delivery room. Her partner Will is present. I am virtually documenting the birthing process via Zoom.  

After a full day of active labor, Lena begins the process for a Cesarean delivery. 

Within 30 minutes of entering the operating room, Desi Matteo is born at 10:50pm CST in Omaha, Nebraska.