I had been laboring for over 12 hours naturally then I had Pitocin and an epidural. We bonded over our shared love of the Olympics, and Pam was there when I reach full dilation. She was a great coach when working with my husband. When it became evident that the safety and well-being of both myself and my baby were at risk and we had to move to a C-section, Pam was there every step of the way for support and encouragement. When I returned from the operating room I was still shaking like a leaf and Pam offered to hold the baby while my husband consoled me, so I could relax enough to bond with our new family. She was present at tough times, patient with questions, and compassionate with all of us. It was a tough moment to say goodbye when moving to postpartum, but she left us with a true appreciation for human empathy after a traumatic birth experience.