On Jan. 2, Marco Rogers and Aniyia Williams of San Francisco welcomed a little girl. As many parents do, they shared photos of their new bundle of joy on social media -- along with the incredible story of Rogers delivering his own child.
Rogers, an engineering manager at Clover Health, kicked off the account of the home birth on Jan. 7, telling his more than 7,000 Twitter followers about how his daughter, Noemi Rose Rogers, was born at home. He also noted the hospital the couple planned on going to, Kaiser Permanente in San Francisco, and what they had discussed before the birth.
I've got about 10-15 minutes before she wakes up. So it's time to tell the story of how I delivered my own baby girl.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
She was born in our house. In our bed. Just me and @operaqueenie. With my father in law also there in the house. No, this was NOT planned.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
So let me start by saying Aniyia was pretty apprehensive about labor. Understandable of course. But she was looking for ways to prepare.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
She was open to getting the drugs if things got too bad, but she really wanted to have a natural birth.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
Kaiser is totally down with supporting that. And they recommend that you labor at home for most of the process.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
Aniyia learned about hypnobirthing. Essentially meditation and relaxation techniques for managing pain and anxiety of natural birth.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
Then he began describing the moment Williams started having contractions.
So early Saturday morning, my wife wakes up with contractions. This is about 5 days early. But that wasn't entirely unexpected.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
We had this app called Full Term. It lets you time your contractions and keeps track of their intensity and the time in between.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
The app asks you to rate your contractions. 1 Very mild 2 Mild 3 Moderate 4 Strong 5 Very strong This is relevant. So keep it in mind.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
All this time she's handling it like a champ. Breathing through it. Using her birthing ball. I'm massaging and encouraging.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
I want to stress that this follows everything we've been told by Kaiser up to this point. We're not worried about heading to the hospital.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
They said first child labor could be up to 24 hours. We called them once and they said "you're doing great. Stay at home".
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
Then Strong contractions. Number 4 on the scale. I remember because it was the first time a sound involuntarily escaped my wife's mouth.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
The contractions were lasting about 1 to 1.5 minutes. And they were about 5-6 minutes apart.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
We call Kaiser again. Tell them she's having pretty strong contractions and they're 5 minutes apart. (Get an app to keep track. Seriously.)
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
"We usually like to wait until they're 2-3 minutes apart. That signals active labor is approaching." Oh? Do tell.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
I'm a little worried. But we still think we have time. It's only been about 10-11 hours. Plus my wife is still hanging in there.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
So Kaiser says give it an hour or 2. But @operaqueenie is looking for ways to actively manage the pain. So we decide to put her in the bath.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
This is where things got serious.
So the contractions are legit now. I remember the last one she had before the tub was the first time she actually exclaimed. "Jesus Christ".
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
But we get her in the tub. And for the first few minutes, it seems to be helping. She's leaning back and breathing a little easier.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
And then it happened. All of a sudden my wife says she felt "a pop and a gush". Her water had broken.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
So at this point, we know it's going down. Kaiser says if the water breaks, call immediately. We need to get the hospital STAT.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
Rogers mentioned earlier that his father-in-law happened to be at the house the same day Williams gave birth. Together, they tried to get ready to take her to the hospital.
I start gathering the stuff. We've got the "go bag" ready. I tell my father in law who had tried to lay down and rest. "We're going. Now."
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
I have him put the stuff in the car (ProTip: we should've done this earlier in the day). I head back to collect the love of my life.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
Me: "We gotta go babe" Her: "I can't make it." Me: "Yes we will. We have to. Let's do this." Her: "Oh my god. I'm getting the urge to push."
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
I have to get her dried off, dressed, and into the car. And then a 20 minute drive to Kaiser across town. OHSHITOHSHITOHSHITOHSHIT.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
We're at the garage. I'm mentally preparing for the wild drive across town with her screaming in the back. Like the movies right y'all?
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
My wife stops. She's wailing. "I can't. I'm gonna have this baby right now. I can feel the head." She starts to *sit down in our foyer*.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
OH MY GOD YOU CAN'T DO THAT STOP PUSHING WE CAN MAKE IT WHAT DO I DO?
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
My wife is the only one with clarity. "Call 911. Get the What to Expect book. There's a section on emergency delivery."
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
Where's this book? *Fuck. This is happening.* Where did I put the book? *Fuck. I don't know if I can do this.* WHERE THE HELL IS THIS BOOK?!
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
I finally lay my hands on What to Expect When You're Expecting. It's been a godsend through pregnancy. I think it's about to save me again.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
In a word. Nope.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
I go back upstairs. I've got the book in hand. I'm flipping through finding the section on emergency delivery.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
I walk into our bedroom. My wife is on all fours. I can see the top of my baby's head. I don't have time to read shit.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
I rush over. No idea what to do. She says "it's happening". I don't even have the mental capacity to think "no shit".
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
Now I'm talking my wife through it. "I can see her head babe. But she's gotta come out. You gotta push."
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
"I can't. I can't push. Can you grab her? Can you reach in and get her?" OHSHITOHSHITOHSHITOHSHITOHSHIT
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
Y'all. I can't really describe what it's like to try to do that. To try to reach in with your hands and pull a baby out of a vagina.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
I can't do it. I was so afraid that I would hurt her or my wife. Probably both. She feels so fragile. I can't. But I have to. What do I do?
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
Then it became a moot point. A fresh contraction starts. Wailing. Pushing. And Noemi Rose Rogers pops right out into my hands.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
I've got her. She's in my hands. My baby was just born. In our bed. In our house.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
Rogers then realized 911 had been on speaker phone during the birth.
Right then is when my tunnel vision broke. I realized my father in law was on speaker phone with 911. They were "talking me through it".
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
The only thing I actually remembered this woman say was right at that moment. "You have to hold her tight. She's going to be slippery."
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
For the record, that is indeed true. Brand new humans are very slippery.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
She's still in my hands. Still. Eyes closed. Flashback: "Oh fuck, she's blue. She can't breathe!"
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
The 911 dispatcher is still talking to me. I realize she's asking "is she crying?". She is not.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
I shift her a little. Move her into my harms. I bouncer her a little. I try to pat her back. I need her to cry, yell, burp, spit, SOMETHING.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
She spits out some fluid. She wriggles just a little. And then she lets out one sharp, clear yelp. And breathes.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
She has just been through the most intense ordeal. And she's just like her momma. A trooper. Breathing. Handling it.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
And that's when the EMTs decide to show up. Yeah come on in I guess. But we good here.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
Finally, Rogers shared a photo of little Noemi.
Okay, y'all can relax. That's it. That's how my wife and I brought our child into this world together. In our bed. pic.twitter.com/XawXA9nMTA
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
After Rogers finished his account, Williams, who is the CEO of the startup Tinsel, tweeted about the birth from her point of view, detailing the moments right after she delivered her daughter.
...I'm terrified we won't be able to keep her alive before help comes. I get turned around (I'm shaky and umbilical cord was still there)...
— Aniyia (@operaqueenie) January 8, 2016
And just as that happens I hear the sirens outside from the EMTs arriving and at moment felt like everything would be ok.
— Aniyia (@operaqueenie) January 8, 2016
The rest is history. EMTs help us with the cord, placenta delivery, take us immediately to the hospital. Bedroom looks like a murder scene.
— Aniyia (@operaqueenie) January 8, 2016
We get to Kaiser and L&D is all OMG YOU DID WHAT?! We just talked to you like an hour ago and you showed up with a baby!
— Aniyia (@operaqueenie) January 8, 2016
The incredible story has gotten a lot of attention on Twitter as well as from the couple's family and friends.
"Most people keep saying that it's moved them to tears," Williams told The Huffington Post. "It's an awesome story that we'll have to tell Noe when she's older!"
And if you're wondering what happened to that "What To Expect When You're Expecting" book:
One last thing. The What To Expect book did sort of come in handy. The EMTs assisted me in cutting the cord. And we used it as the surface.
— Marco Rogers (@polotek) January 8, 2016
Congrats, Marco and Aniyia!
H/T BuzzFeed
Also on HuffPost:
Creative Pregnancy Announcements
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.