There’s something uniquely poetic about a “bonus baby.” The one you didn’t plan. The one you thought closed a chapter — and then gently (or not so gently) re-opened it.
On this episode of the MamasteFit Podcast, Roxanne shared the highly anticipated birth story of baby Harvey — her fourth baby, her surprise, her (maybe) final pregnancy. And if there’s one thing this birth proved, it’s this:
Harvey was always going to arrive exactly how and when he wanted.
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The Final Weeks: Ready… and Not Ready
Going into this pregnancy, Joan had been “the last baby.” Roxanne and her husband had fully processed the shift from childbearing to child-rearing. They were complete.
And then the universe said, Actually… one more.
By 37 weeks, Roxanne was physically feeling pretty good. Some pubic bone discomfort in the mornings, sure — that classic “first steps out of bed” pelvis protest — but overall? Strong. Capable. Moving well.
Mentally? That was a different story.
The final weeks of pregnancy carry a strange mix of emotions:
Soaking in the last kicks.
Knowing you’ll never feel this again.
Simultaneously being very ready to not be pregnant anymore.
She was excited. She was sentimental. She was done.
And of course, prodromal labor entered the chat.
Prodromal Labor & Social Media Commentary
Around 39 weeks, contractions would start… and stop. Start… and stop. Some nights required the TENS unit just to get back to sleep. They’d wrap from her back into her belly — promising — and then fizzle.
Meanwhile, the internet had opinions.
Some messages said:
“Stop posting. That’s why labor isn’t starting.”
Others criticized birth-prep content at 36–37 weeks:
“Why would you want your baby born that early?”
Here’s the truth: sharing our lives has always been part of MamasteFit. Community, humor, and transparency are woven into the platform. And honestly? The updates gave Roxanne something to do between 37 and 40+ weeks.
Because what else are you doing at that point besides waiting?
The Plot Twist: The Disney Marathon
Now here’s where the tension builds.
Gina had signed up months earlier for the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend — before Roxanne even knew she was pregnant. The races were January 8–11.
Roxanne’s due date? January 7.
The plan:
Hope the baby comes early.
Or hope he stays put until Gina returns.
Reasonable, right?
Except Harvey had other ideas.
On January 7 (her due date), contractions started. They were consistent. They wrapped around. They felt promising.
The whole team rallied:
Walks
Nipple stimulation
Acupuncture
Membrane sweep
Manifesting with Olympic-level intensity
But when her cervix was checked?
1 cm. Thick. Not effaced.
And in that moment, Roxanne knew.
This baby wasn’t coming before Gina’s 4:00 a.m. departure.
There were tears. Tub sobbing. Daughter sobbing. Sister sobbing.
And then Gina boarded a plane to Florida.
The Marathon & The Messages
While Gina was running 13.1 and then 26.2 miles through Disney, Roxanne was still very pregnant — providing live updates during the race.
Sunday night came and went.
Then at 12:30 a.m. Monday morning:
A gush of fluid.
“Did I just pee myself?”
Nitrazine paper (midwife perks) didn’t clearly confirm ruptured membranes. But 20 minutes later…
Contraction.
Five minutes later…
Another.
Within 30 minutes, they were 5–7 minutes apart.
Roxanne texted Gina:
“I either just peed myself or my water broke haha.”
Gina was asleep.
The Spiral: 2:00 a.m. Decisions
By 2:12 a.m., Roxanne texted:
“I don’t think you’re going to make it. They’re not stopping.”
Still no response.
She debated:
Do I call my midwife?
Do I wake everyone up again?
Do I check flights from Orlando?
Yes — she was literally on Expedia at 2:30 a.m. looking for emergency flights from Florida to North Carolina.
The earliest arrival would have been 7:00 a.m.
Spoiler: It wouldn’t have been soon enough.
After an hour and a half of steady contractions — intensifying with walking — she finally called her midwife.
“Okay, call me back in an hour or sooner.”
Within 30 minutes, the tone shifted.
She needed to vocalize through contractions — something she hadn’t needed in previous births.
That instinct told her everything.
She called again.
“Please come.”
The Support Team Arrives
By 5:30 a.m., her midwife and assistant arrived. Her mom was there. Brittany (backup doula and photographer) was there.
Her daughter Joan even woke up and sweetly offered water and hugs between contractions.
Roxanne cycled through comfort tools:
Heating pad (eventually turned on correctly after holding the power button down!)
Shower
Rebozo-tied heating blanket
She moved instinctively.
And then she got into the tub.
The Mermaid Pose & Active Labor
Once in the birth pool, she found her magic position — what she calls “mermaid pose.”
Think:
Belly angled down
Big front-body stretch
Asymmetry
Deep hip opening
It felt incredible.
Eyes closed. Fully internal. Vocalizing through contractions. Classic active labor energy.
At one point someone mentioned reheating the water.
Roxanne thought:
“I could totally get out.”
Two minutes later?
Transition energy.
She was not getting out of that tub.
The Fast Finish
From the time contractions began at 1:20 a.m. to baby in arms, this labor moved quickly — much faster than her previous births.
And Gina?
Still in Florida.
By the time Gina landed in North Carolina that night, Harvey had already made his entrance.
The Emotional Layer
This birth carried more emotion than expected.
Not because it was complicated — it wasn’t.
Not because it wasn’t empowering — it absolutely was.
But because birth, especially a possibly final birth, holds layers:
Letting go.
Surrendering control.
Accepting that even when you “know” birth… it still writes its own story.
Harvey chose his timing.
He stretched his mom through prodromal labor.
He waited until the marathon was complete.
He arrived swiftly and decisively.
Bonus baby energy through and through.
What This Birth Reminds Us
You can’t manifest labor on your timeline.
Even birth professionals spiral at 2:30 a.m.
Support matters — and sometimes it looks different than you planned.
Fourth babies don’t always follow the script.
And maybe most importantly:
You can feel disappointment and empowerment at the same time.
Harvey’s birth wasn’t the one they planned around.
It wasn’t the one Gina attended.
It wasn’t perfectly timed.
But it was strong.
It was supported.
It was deeply hers.
And that’s enough.
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