This American Life 864: Chicago Hope
55 snips
Jul 20, 2025 
This week features Susan Burton, a longtime producer and editor, alongside labor and delivery nurses Mindy Figueroa and Clara Hochhauser, who’s also a patient delivering twins. They discuss the emotional journey of childbirth, navigating unexpected complications like Clara's emergency C-section, where anesthesia fails. Heather Nixon, head of obstetric anesthesia, confronts the harsh reality of pain management in surgeries, advocating for systemic changes to improve patient care. Their stories blend heartbreak and hope, revealing the intimate challenges in the world of childbirth.
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Mindy's Passion for Labor Jobs
- Mindy loves working in labor and delivery and particularly likes managing blood during births.
- She meticulously watches every birth and C-section, drawn by the intimacy and adrenaline of the work.
Clara's Unexpected Pregnancy
- Clara Hochhauser never planned to have children but got pregnant with twins at age 40 through IVF.
- She feared delivering in the OR and sought a vaginal delivery despite medical risks.
Mindy's Birth Photography Side-Hustle
- Mindy also has a hobby of photographing births, including cesareans, capturing intimate moments for her colleagues.
- She adapts her photography based on how graphic her subjects want the images to be.