An Empowering Pregnancy Journey

Sarai Howsden can’t explain the feeling she had when she saw that positive pregnancy test. 

Sarai and her husband, Parker, wanted a second child, but chose to work with an embryo adoption clinic to make it happen. Their daughter, Scarlette, was born in 2022 with nonketotic hyperglycinemia (NKH), a rare genetic disorder that causes developmental delays, seizures, and shortened life expectancy. The couple hadn’t known they were carriers of the condition until after Scarlette’s birth, so carrying an adopted embryo would eliminate the possibility of passing NKH on to them. 

Parker and Sarai had begun the adoption process, but while they waited to hear back from the agency, something told Sarai to take a pregnancy test. 

“When I saw those two lines [on the pregnancy test], I didn’t know what to feel,” Sarai, 26, says. “I just stared at the test because my mind couldn’t comprehend that we were going to do this again with the possibility of another child having the same diagnosis as Scarlette.”

But an appointment with certified nurse midwife Jessica Eakins at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital inspired Sarai to try a new approach with this pregnancy.

The support she never knew she needed

After learning she was pregnant and that her regular OB-GYN was on maternity leave, Sarai explored a midwife delivery.

Midwives embrace a natural approach to delivery, something that appealed to Sarai. They collaborate with expectant mothers to create pregnancy plans that encourage informed decision-making and minimize the need for inductions, cesarean sections, and other types of interventions. 

On top of that, Jessica’s bedside manner made Sarai feel more at ease. 

“I immediately loved her personality, energy, and overall attitude,” Sarai says. “I believe that you absolutely need more of relationship with someone that will be part of an incredibly important moment that is life changing.”

The delivery she envisioned

Sarai’s first pregnancy was textbook up until delivery. When Scarlette arrived, she was lethargic and struggled to breathe on her own, so her care team recommended transferring her from Missouri Baptist Sullivan to St. Louis Children’s Hospital for additional testing and specialized care. 

After six days of testing, Scarlette was diagnosed with NKH, a progressive, terminal disease.

Scarlette amazes me every day,” Sarai says. “She fights so hard for every little milestone, and she goes through a lot.”

Sarai shared these fears with Jessica and wanted to be prepared for anything with this pregnancy. 

“Every visit, I would tell her, ‘We will get through this, and I will be there with you every step of the way,’” Jessica says.

Sarai loved how hands-on Jessica was during the process while simultaneously encouraging her to create a birth plan that fit her needs and goals. Jessica encouraged Sarai to explore different birthing and laboring options so she’d be as comfortable as possible when delivery day arrived.

“She is part of every decision that you make, and she gives you all of the facts,” Sarai says. “Jessica curated a relationship with us before anything else, before she helped us make decisions.”

To prepare Sarai and put her at ease, Jessica ordered an amniocentesis, a prenatal examination that helps diagnose babies with any genetic disorders, birth defects, or other health issues. Jessica scheduled the test for the 17th week of Sarai’s pregnancy, planning to refer to her to a high-risk specialist at St. Louis Children’s if the baby tested positive for NKH. The results revealed that the baby was just a carrier of NKH, a relief for both Sarai and Parker. 

As Sarai’s pregnancy progressed, Jessica continued encouraging Sarai to choose her own path. When discussing delivery day plans, Jessica told Sarai to deliver from whatever position felt most comfortable—and she vowed to keep the baby’s sex a secret until the day they arrived. 

On March 28, 2025, Sarai delivered a healthy 8-pound baby girl named Adeline at Missouri Baptist Sullivan.

It was a pregnancy experience that was hard for Sarai to imagine when it began. But it was one that Jessica and the care team helped her realize.

“I could not tell you how much I recommend working with a midwife,” Sarai says. “Jessica is amazing. She put all my fears to rest and was exactly what I didn't know I needed.”

BJC HealthCare’s women and infant care specialists want you to have exceptional care at every moment of your pregnancy journey. From OB-GYNs to midwives to high-risk care providers, we are a maternity care partner that supports and guides you every step of the way.

Please visit Pregnancy and Childbirth to learn more.