Peter McDonald

She couldn't get hold of her partner, and although the Mathinis were adopting her baby, she'd only met them once. The person she knew best in the room was Tara Lee, who was supposed to be her doula. Even during the birth of a baby, Tara Lee stole the spotlight. Stephanie, who says almost nothing in these recordings, seems in the shadows, alone, almost as if she wasn't there.

She couldn't get hold of her partner, and although the Mathinis were adopting her baby, she'd only met them once. The person she knew best in the room was Tara Lee, who was supposed to be her doula. Even during the birth of a baby, Tara Lee stole the spotlight. Stephanie, who says almost nothing in these recordings, seems in the shadows, alone, almost as if she wasn't there.

As the Matheny sat anxiously in the room, trying not to say the wrong thing, Teresa said Tara Lee leaned over to her.

As the Matheny sat anxiously in the room, trying not to say the wrong thing, Teresa said Tara Lee leaned over to her.

As the Matheny sat anxiously in the room, trying not to say the wrong thing, Teresa said Tara Lee leaned over to her.

Teresa just nodded. The two attorneys, Talia and Tanya, had told the Mathenys not to give Tara Lee any more money. Hours passed. Around 7 p.m., Tara Lee said Stephanie probably wouldn't deliver until the middle of the night. She encouraged them to go get some sleep and promised she'd call when Stephanie was close. Mike and Teresa went to a nearby restaurant to wait it out.

Teresa just nodded. The two attorneys, Talia and Tanya, had told the Mathenys not to give Tara Lee any more money. Hours passed. Around 7 p.m., Tara Lee said Stephanie probably wouldn't deliver until the middle of the night. She encouraged them to go get some sleep and promised she'd call when Stephanie was close. Mike and Teresa went to a nearby restaurant to wait it out.

Teresa just nodded. The two attorneys, Talia and Tanya, had told the Mathenys not to give Tara Lee any more money. Hours passed. Around 7 p.m., Tara Lee said Stephanie probably wouldn't deliver until the middle of the night. She encouraged them to go get some sleep and promised she'd call when Stephanie was close. Mike and Teresa went to a nearby restaurant to wait it out.

And it was a good thing they didn't go back to their Airbnb to take a nap. Because an hour later, Tara Lee texted to say it was happening. The Mathinis paid their bill and rushed back to the hospital. They ran up to the delivery room and found Stephanie sobbing. He'd been born. They'd missed it. The birth father was on his way. And you don't see Tara empathizing with the birth mother?

And it was a good thing they didn't go back to their Airbnb to take a nap. Because an hour later, Tara Lee texted to say it was happening. The Mathinis paid their bill and rushed back to the hospital. They ran up to the delivery room and found Stephanie sobbing. He'd been born. They'd missed it. The birth father was on his way. And you don't see Tara empathizing with the birth mother?

And it was a good thing they didn't go back to their Airbnb to take a nap. Because an hour later, Tara Lee texted to say it was happening. The Mathinis paid their bill and rushed back to the hospital. They ran up to the delivery room and found Stephanie sobbing. He'd been born. They'd missed it. The birth father was on his way. And you don't see Tara empathizing with the birth mother?

They went into the NICU and for the first time saw their son.

They went into the NICU and for the first time saw their son.

They went into the NICU and for the first time saw their son.

Mike reached in and touched him.

Mike reached in and touched him.

Mike reached in and touched him.

Their son's Ballard score was just 34 weeks, meaning Stephanie was right about her due date. She delivered early. The Mathinis didn't want to leave their son alone. They worried that if they stepped away, something might happen. They told me they just had a gut feeling about it.

Their son's Ballard score was just 34 weeks, meaning Stephanie was right about her due date. She delivered early. The Mathinis didn't want to leave their son alone. They worried that if they stepped away, something might happen. They told me they just had a gut feeling about it.

Their son's Ballard score was just 34 weeks, meaning Stephanie was right about her due date. She delivered early. The Mathinis didn't want to leave their son alone. They worried that if they stepped away, something might happen. They told me they just had a gut feeling about it.