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!

Birth #0026

This story has been shared with the written consent of the birthing momma:


This family was expecting their second baby, and after needing pitocin to augment their labor the first time around, it was a major goal to completely avoid pitocin this time, if at all possible. This momma wanted to be able to experience the natural ebb and flow of labor without medically induced intense contractions to get in the way of her coping.



One morning, I recieved a call from this mom, saying her water had broken around 4am, and she had been having contractions every 8-10 minutes, but they had slowed a little now. Shortly, they decided to head to the hospital to possibly start antibiotics (being GBS positive, and hoping to do a waterbirth) and also to do more walking to get things going. Later that afternoon, I was updated by this mom who said they had conducted a few tests on the amniotic fluid, which came back negative. This allowed them to go home and gave them more time to get the contractions to start on their own. They were quite relieved about this.


Later that night, the father texted me to say that contractions were coming steadily every 8-10 minutes. I had completely expected to get a call in the middle of the night, but did not hear anything. It was one of those light sleep kind of nights that doulas have when they are excitedly awaiting going to a birth. : ) In the morning, I was updated that the contractions had stayed steady throughout the night. They were planning to take their daughter to school, and then go walking the skyways (a fabulous idea for the wintertime in MN), do some stairs, and try to get things closer together. During walking, contractions became  5-6 minutes apart, but spaced out a little after. This momma spoke with her midwife-- considering whether or not she should go into the hospital. The midwife offered that she could go into the clinic to have her dilation checked there. Then she could know how much she had progressed so far. I really encouraged this mom to remember to tune into her body and that she would know the right time to go to the hospital.


This mother and father decided to stay home longer, try the bath tub, and also try getting a little rest. After trying the water, she got frustrated with her bath tub as it was not big enough to really get comfortable in. At this point, they asked that I come to join them. When I arrived, this momma was laboring beautifully on the toilet, with her husband pressing into her back as she slowly moaned through each contraction. She seemed to be doing great; overall in good spirits. I was able to observe for a while some of the things they were doing together to cope that were working really well for them: listening to relaxing music, him brushing her hair, stroking and cuddling, and listening to a relaxation cd. This mom was a strong tower through each one. 


In the early evening, her husband left to pick up their daughter from school to bring her to a friend's house. I was glad to be there to support this mom when her husband was needing to tend to their daughter momentarily. While he was gone, this mom mainly rested on the couch in the darkness, talking with me between contractions about the relief that their daughter could go be at a friends, family that is far away, and not dwelling on any negative thoughts during labor. During a contraction, I pressed into her lower back and would "shake the apple tree" to allow her to relax and let her bottom open up more.

Now contractions were coming every couple minutes. Her husband just arrived back from taking care of their daughter. He decided to call and check in with the midwife. I quickly put some dinner in the microwave for this dad who was saying he was "pretty hungry." When I went to check in with this momma, she was squatting down in the bathroom saying things were pretty intense. She said she was ready to go in to the hospital now. Her husband quickly rounded up all of the bags, while I helped this mom get ready to head out the door. Before her husband could finish his dinner, we were off.


The birthing mom rode in the front passenger seat on her side with one leg up on the dash so that she could be in a side lying squat. The father and I later talked about how we both had thought the contractions may slow down once in the car, but they just kept on coming! Both parents also later told me about how they were both thinking on the drive there, "Why didn't we pick a closer hospital!?" And this momma reminded herself--"...Because we love the nurses and we love the midwives!" 

We arrived at the emergency room entrance just shy of two hours after her husband had come home from taking their daughter to school. The birthing couple was escorted up to Labor and Delivery via wheelchair and hospital personnel. I parked their car and got up to labor and delivery with some of their bags several minutes later. They started getting this momma checked in, and informed her another water birth had just taken place and it didn't seem likely that they would be able to finish cleaning it out and fill it before the baby would arrive. The nurse had just started to monitor the baby's heart rate, when the birthing mom began saying she was feeling an urge to push. The nurse checked her and she was COMPLETE! and told her she could begin pushing whenever she was ready.

Within just a couple of pushes, the baby was crowning. The midwife asked the father if he would still like to help catch the baby (as they had said they would like to do in their birth preferences). He said that he would. Soon, only about 20 minutes after we had pulled up to the hospital, the baby was emerging! Later this mom shared with me that it felt so good to her to push her baby out. The proud father was able to take his new daughter and help to place her up onto her momma's tummy. The nurse suctioned out the baby's mouth a little, and she let out a little cry. She was pink, and healthy. Everyone was so happy to meet this little girl!


In talking with this mom later about not being able to have a waterbirth as she had hoped, she said that she was okay with it, because she was very happy that she was able to birth apart from interventions. I was so proud of her for doing so! 


Like I always say, momma's are so strong. They really, truly are. Don't let anyone ever tell you anything different.

Birth #0028

This story has been shared with the consent of the birthing momma.

I had the privelege of attend this mother's third birth, and I also had the privelege of attending her second birth (see also birth #003). Lately I have had the opportunity to doula with a mother for a second time. This has been a great honor, and it has been amazing to see how each mother has gained power and strength from the previous birth. With each one she seems more sure of herself, and her ability to do it. Let me share a little secret with you, each mother has this power with her from the start, it sometimes takes time to discover this about herself. BELIEVE in your power to birth your baby. You can do it. Women do it around the world everyday. Without drugs. And have healthy happy babies. : )

Anyway... off of my soap box. Back to this lovely birth story.

I was called by this momma around 2am, a day before her due date. She was apologizing for waking me up, and was telling me that she was unsure if she was "really in labor." She explained that she had been having some back labor since earlier in the evening, and that she was continuing to have contractions now about 10-15 minutes apart. She seemed to be easily talking to me through them, and felt like she couldn't go back to sleep, but she felt bad waking up her husband or calling her family who would be coming from 2 hours away to try to make it to the birth. I reminded her the importance of listening to her body, and that it didn't bother me to be woken up, and that I was sure her family and her husband wouldn't mind either. Because of this mother's relatively fast labor last time, they had resolved to try to make it to the hospital a little earlier this time, just to make sure they would make it in plenty of time. I encouraged her to try some hands and knees position, and maybe even take a bath if it would help her to relax a little, but that above all she should listen to her body about the best time to leave for the hospital. I told her I would be ready for her call. I then laid back down and tried to go back to sleep, but by that point my adrenaline was really going. When she called back about 30 minutes later, I was relieved. She said,"We're going to the hospital now!" I said, "Okay, are they closer together?" She managed to blurt out, "We just want to go in!" I said, "K, meet you there!" and headed out the door shortly.

I arrived at the hospital within 30 minutes. Momma was in the room, smiling and laughing with the nurses. I greeted everyone with a smile, but inside I was worried that she went to the hospital a little too soon, since it didn't appear that labor was that intense yet. The momma giggled and said to me, "Did you hear that I am ready to get into the birthing tub?"  "No," I said, relieved, but still in a little disbelief.  She was open to 9cm. We continued talking and the mom expressed to me that she could hardly believe that she was "really" ready to push soon, since she felt it was so easy. Even as we were talking, she would stop for a contraction, remaining totally relaxed, and breathing easily through the most intense parts of her labor. This momma was a pro at relaxing. Maybe it was because it was her third baby. But maybe, a little more importantly, she could trust her that her body knew just how to birth this baby, and that she only needed to be open to receiving her baby.

The midwife came into the room to see if she would want her bag of waters released. It was at this point that I got a little nervous. What if the first nurse had been wrong? Surely she can't be complete-- she is COMPLETELY and totally relaxed. I don't know why I would have ever second guessed. She checked her cervix again, saying, "Oh, I guess there is a little lip left, but you are a good 9 and half centimeters!" Of course, I could hear myself coaching myself, Its her oxytocin and her endorphins that are helping her relax, and even laugh right through to the end of labor. "If you want," the midwife continued, "You can just let the bag release on it's own in the tub?" The birthing mother agreed, and all headed down to the birthing tub room, where she eased herself into the water and said, "Aah... that feels nice."

Soon I could tell the mother was feeling all eyes on her, and that this was her time to shine, even though she wasn't quite having a strong urge to push yet. I tried my best to normalize the environment for her. Trying to calm the space, so that no one was really in a hurry. There was no rush, afterall. We talked about how their "baby" (the little girl from birth #003 ) had been up all night, despite her usual ability to be such a good sleeper. She had climbed into bed with her momma, laying awake with her, touching her face and her belly. She knew. No one else knew that her baby sister would be coming even before her due date. But she knew. What a special memory for this family!

Soon, the momma began feeling the urge to push. The midwife coached her to allow her baby to slowly come down, so that all of her tissues could gradually stretch out, and so that she could hopefully avoid significant tearing. With just 2 pushes, the head was crowning, and with one more, the baby gracefully slid out into the water, between this momma's legs. She gently scooped up the baby, and leaned back, holding her closely to her chest and gently cooing, "Hi baby... Hi baby. Hi Elsie." It was another little girl. Dad and mom sat close, gazing into baby's eyes. Just taking each other in. It was a beautiful moment.

I loved being with this family again. What a testimony that birth can be easy, and pleasureable when you allow it to happen! This mother later told me that she feels like it wouldn't be fair for her to promote natural birth when her births had been so easy. But I disagree completely. She trusted her body and strength to be able to do it. And she did. That is nothing to be ashamed of.

Perineal compresses

You may have heard a doula, midwife, or friend talk about the use of warm compresses during the pushing stage. There are several benefits to using a warm compress during pushing. A warm compress (which can simply be a washcloth that has been soaked in clean warm water) can help to soften the tissues in the perineal area. This is the area of skin stretching between the vaginal opening and the anal opening. Another benefit to this is that sometimes a mother appreciates some counter pressure during the pushing stage as this may help to direct her to focus pushing where the pressure is applied, as well as to alleviate some of the pressure the baby's head is applying to the perineum. In addition, a warm compress may feel comforting as the mother's tissues begin to gently stretch and prepare for her baby to be birthed.

Most importantly, for those women hoping to avoid an episiotomy (an incision made to the perineal area to make space for the baby to be born) or to reduce tearing, warm compresses have been shown to effectively reduce the use of episiotomy and tearing. There have been several studies done which show that simply using a warm compress can help to reduce both of these for women. Another great tool to reduce tearing is to practice perineal massage in the time leading up to the birth. (I will post instructions for this another day!)

Here is a great recipe for making ginger compresses. This smells lovely, and has some great herbal benefits as well.  (found at herbmentor.com)

1.Chop 1 ounce of ginger root (or measure out one ounce of dried root) and place in saucepan with 1 pint of water.


2.Bring water to a boil. Turn heat down to low and simmer covered for about 20 minutes until the water is reduced by 1/2.

3.Soak a cloth in the warm tea for 5 - 10 minutes.

4. Place soaked cloth directly on affected area of the body.

5.Place a towel on top of the cloth, then a hot water bottle or heating pad on the towel.

6.Cover the whole pile with a blanket or large towel.

7.Rest with the fomentation, or compress, on for 20 minutes allowing the heat to penetrate into the area.

8.Repeat as needed to ease and heal discomfort.

Picture from:http://dailyfitnessmagz.com/2011/01/ginger-nutrition-facts/

Sources: http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/755502, http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/755502, herbmentor.com

Amazing Elephant Birth

Birth is instinctual. It works best that way. Watch this amazing video (shared by Ina May Gaskin at her recent Birth Matters talk at the University of Minnesota)-- this mother knows just what to do. She doesn't need anyone to help her. She knew just how to help her little baby. If only all women could feel so empowered! This is a great example of letting your primal instincts take over. What if all women allowed themselves to do that during labor?

 Ina May noted how interesting it is that the momma elephant keeps her mouth open during the pushing so as to allow herself to open and her baby to easily slide out. Keep a nice, soft, open mouth during your birthing time! It will help you to have an easier and more peaceful birthing experience:)