2025 Birth Statistics
Births by Month
January: 5
February: 1
March: 2
April: 2
May: 3
June: 0 (time off)
July: 3
August: 6
September: 2
October: 2
November: 2
December: 0 (time off)
Birth Settings
I supported a total of 28 births across the following settings:
Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center: 24 births
Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital: 1 birth
Providence Memorial Hospital: 1 birth
Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center: 1 birth
Home birth: 1 birth
Of the clients I supported, 4 planned home births. Of those, 3 transferred to a hospital either before or during labor in order to access medical resources not available in the home setting.
Mode of Birth & Special Circumstances
Planned cesarean births: 2 clients (no labor)
Twin vaginal birth: 1
VBAC: 1
Precipitous births (under 3 hours): 3, 2 multips and 1 primip
Labor Onset and Interventions
Spontaneous labor: 21 clients
Of these, 12 labors were augmented with artificial rupture of membranes and/or Pitocin
Medically indicated inductions: 5 clients
The most common indication was gestational hypertension developing after 36 weeks
Cesarean Birth Rate
Two clients ultimately chose elective cesarean births. While both initially planned vaginal births, evolving considerations related to their health and their babies’ health led them to feel that cesarean birth was the best option for them. These were not absolute contraindications to vaginal birth, but deeply personal risk assessments.
Overall cesarean rate (including elective cesareans): 21.4%
Cesarean rate excluding elective cesareans: 15.4%
Both rates are significantly lower than national and California state averages. When elective cesareans are excluded, the rate falls within the World Health Organization’s recommended range of 10–15%, which is associated with optimal maternal and neonatal outcomes. Evidence shows that cesarean rates above this range do not confer additional population-level benefit.
I highlight this statistic because doula support is associated with a reduced risk of cesarean birth. I never discourage medically necessary, planned, or desired cesareans. Cesarean birth can be a lifesaving surgery; however, it also carries meaningful risks and should be pursued when the risks of vaginal birth outweigh the risks of surgery. For some individuals, those risks may be emotional, psychological, or otherwise non-medical.
Practice Note:
Each person and family assesses risk differently. I believe there is no single “right” way to give birth, only the way that feels safest and most supportive for the birthing person. A cesarean birth does not preclude having a positive, empowering birth experience.
Parity
Primiparous clients (first birth): 17
Multiparous clients: 11
8 had given birth once previously
3 had given birth twice previously
Planned vs. Actual Pain Management (Vaginal Births)
Out of 26 clients who planned vaginal births:
Planned unmedicated birth: 19
Achieved unmedicated birth: 10
Unplanned epidural: 9 (most commonly due to long labors)
Planned epidural: 7
Comfort Measures Used During Labor
Shower or tub: 16 clients
Nitrous oxide (N₂O): 14
TENS unit: 5
Sterile water injections: 2
Labor Length Averages
Primiparous clients:
Average total labor length: 24 hours
Average pushing stage: 109 minutes
Multiparous clients:
Average total labor length: 6.9 hours
Average pushing stage: 19 minutes
Midwifery Care
19 of 22 vaginal births were attended by midwives as the primary care provider (thank you Kaiser SR midwives!)
Complications
Postpartum hemorrhage: 7
Shoulder dystocia: 1
Chorioamnionitis: 4
Average gestational age (all births, total)
≈ 39w4d
Average gestational age (spontaneous labors only)
≈ 39w5d weeks
Average gestational age (P0 only)
≈ 39w4d
Average gestational age (P1 and P2 combined)
≈ 39w4d
The average weight of a baby was 7lbs 13oz
The smallest baby was one of the twins: 4lbs 12oz
The biggest baby was 9lbs 14oz
