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!
Showing posts with label normal birth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label normal birth. Show all posts
4.9.12
22.2.12
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.
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.
6.12.11
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:)
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