Birth #0038

This story has been shared with the consent and permission of the birthing Momma.

Early in the morning, just one day before this momma's due date, I got a call from her saying that her bag of waters had broken and contractions were a bit spaced out. She said she wanted to try to go back to sleep for a little while. I agreed that was a good idea, and this momma said she would call to update when things started changing.

Just over two hours later, the father called to say that things seemed closer together now, contractions ranging between 3-7 minutes apart. This is always my cue that things are ramping-up for the momma-- when she has her partner call and talk with me because she is unable to. He told me she was wanting to go to the hospital soon, and that she was starting to mention the "D" word. When I asked for clarification, and he whispered into the phone, "drugs." She had tried being on her hands and knees, taking a bath, and having her partner do hip squeezes to help alleviate some back pain. He said they were waiting for a call back from the midwife. 

I asked to talk with this momma for a while. I do this so I can get a sense of what is happening and where things are at. A mother deep in labor land sounds and emotes differently than a mother still in early labor. She was in the middle of a contraction, breathing slowly and easily through her contractions, even moaning some. In between contractions, she told me that she had been starting to feel the urge to push. Then I could hear on the phone during contractions that she was making little grunts. I calmly suggested that it was sounding to me like it may be a good time to go to the hospital. Again, I spoke with the husband and partner, and he agreed that it seemed like a good time to go, and that they felt like they would be fine to make it there without my help as the sister of the birthing momma was with them and could help them load up their stuff and get to the hospital. I hurried to get out the door and meet them. 

Just four hours after the first call, I met them at the hospital and this momma was coping BEAUTIFULLY. Deep breathing, and sometimes moaning through contractions. Her husband and partner was right by her side, so affectionate, supportive and always whispering encouraging words into her ear. She was lying on her right side in bed so they could monitor the baby for a little bit. At this point they found out that water birth and delayed cord clamping may not be an option as there was some meconium present when the water broke. The birthing momma seemed okay with that.

The nurses stepped out of the room for a little bit and this momma really seemed to be starting to bear down during her contractions. The nurse was called back in and said the midwife was on her way up and would check her when she arrived. When she did arrive, she checked and said that she was 7-8cm dilated, and about 80% effaced, baby at 0 station. The midwife said that the cervix was swollen, and that as much as possible, she should try to breathe and avoid bearing down as much as possible.

She did great at that, despite the challenge it presented! She was using short little breaths, and also using "horsey lips" to help relax. We got some cold cloths to put on her neck and shoulders, as she was starting to feel very hot. The baby's heart rate was dipping a little bit with contractions. Now she tried being on her left side, and also hands and knees. The midwife thought that being on her hands and knees may help the baby to change positions, and also may help her urge to push. She tried hands and knees for a few contractions.

In just one more hour, the midwife rechecked her and she was 9.5 cm!! There was just a small lip of cervix left. She had this momma breathe through two more contractions, and told her she could start pushing. She said that baby was now at +2 station!

It was incredible to watch this new mother and father work together as a team. He was always near, always encouraging her, telling her that he loved her, reminding her how strong she was, keeping her cool with cold cloths, and stroking her hair, giving her kisses, helping her sit up and curl around so she could push as strong as she could.

The midwife and I took turns applying cold compresses on her hemorrhoids. The momma said this helped. The "grandma" (the birthing momma's mom) had arrived earlier, and would often come over and give her kisses and whisper words into her ear. Grandma always stayed close by and was video taping the birth, her sister was helping hold up her leg when it was time to push with a contraction. There was a whole team of people supporting and cheering this momma on!

Within the next hour, the baby's head was crowning. Everyone was so excited! The nurse called in the Neo-Natal specialist to be available just in case the baby was having trouble breathing because of the meconium. Very shortly, the whole baby was emerging (10:03am)! He gave a very LOUD cry, and could be placed on his momma's chest right away (had he not cried loudly, they would have had to immediately clamp the cord, and take him to see the Neo-Natal specialist at the warmer in the room). There were lots of tears of joy, and lots of laughter because the baby kept crying for so long. He was doing great, and everyone was thankful he was healthy, here, and safe!