I wasn't at a birth last night. So why didn't I sleep? Why did I get three hours of sleep? I was thinking and praying for one, two, three, four of the next mommies that I will be with when they give birth. They are amazing women. Each one with a story that makes me feel like a child sitting hand on chin waiting for the next story, the next chapter, the next word that she will speak. I want nothing more than for her to know she is strong. Okay I also want her to know she is healthy, her baby is healthy, her body that grew her baby's ears, eyes, hair, toe nails, that body knows how to birth her baby. Given the respect, the time, the nurturing it needs, it can do anything!
The Doula calling is a blessing...if you don't care about time, if you believe in magic and miracles; if you see the humor and the beauty in the mundane everyday things; and if you can be bored and not frustrated.
I've always acknowledged childbirth, birth in any form, as a miracle. Today, as I attend mostly births in hospitals, I am grateful for the miracle of a busy hospital, or a respectful nurse, so that mom is left to labor in peace and she is given the time this baby needs, the miracle when the nurses believe with us for a VBAC and the miracle of a good on-call doctor.
The magic is not that babies come out our vagina's. The magic is the transformation of a woman into a mommy, a man into a daddy, the world shifting as a perfect and smart new baby enters the room, enters our hearts; when Mom knows her hormonal cocktail is stewing, her baby is molding, her spirit is calm and her loved ones BELIEVE she can do this ~ perfectly ~ her way ~ making herstory.
If you care more about the way that a baby comes into the world, without regard for the time, care more for this new baby's birth day and this new mommy's labor than your own birthday dinner or that Christmas Eve brunch then you are a doula already. The premise of the Doula profession is that "The day a woman gives birth is a day she will never forget." Therefore we want to make it a positive, sweet memory. You know that this baby's birth is also a memory for him, a memory he'll carry in his psyche, on a cellular level, for life, subconsciously effecting his behaviors, decisions. You know that being born in peace and joy and safe calmness can effect not only the babies life but heal the mother or the father, even the stranger that is present, and your time is worth it ~ you are a doula. ♥
I will be present, in my feet, on this ground, on the planet, in my spirit today. And I will be present in the middle of the night, when the quietness wraps me like a blanket and I have time to send you loving thoughts and time to talk to my God. And I will be present when you call me in the middle of the night in labor...or just with a question.
I'm reminded of nights with nurslings, how I loved the one on one time in the semi dark, nursing. That 'present' still nurtures me today.
I hope to be present with you soon. I hope to spend face-to-face, one-on-one time with you soon.
Let's talk about what nurtures you.
Love you madly, Rosie
Showing posts with label labor support. Show all posts
Showing posts with label labor support. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Sometimes Everyone Needs A Doula
...or Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Every New Years Day I do a hike with my boyfriend, Craig. This year we decided to drive in the Rancho Bernardo neighborhood that spits us out onto a fireroad that leads to hills and large rock formations the southwest side of Lake Hodges. Our regular hike/walk is on two trails on the northeast side of the lake. I always have been intrigued by the steep hills 'across the water'. It's that hill where the mysterious lone house sits, between the I-15 and Del Dios Highway.
The path became boring so we headed up a ravine towards the rocks, towards the top of the hill. It was fun, steep but fun. We stopped often to appreciate the view (and catch our breath). The walk became a climb towards the top...foothold, handhold, foothold, etc. Then I realized I couldn't do the last bit, I was too tired. I was stuck high on a boulder with no way out! I could not go down and I could not go forward.
This realization was quickly followed by fear. "Call 911" ran through my head. Thank goodness I always carry my cell phone (even though we're often out of service area).
By now you are asking yourself, how does this story have anything to do with birth. Here we go : ) ...Labor is often explained as "picture yourself climbing a steep hill", at first you can chat and enjoy the scenery. After laboring (hiking) for awhile you need to concentrate on your breathing and stop for frequent drinks of water. After awhile longer you might be audibly breathing and complaining to your hiking, i mean, labor partner. Soon you learn that complaining doesn't help so you forge ahead and think about the finish line - meeting your baby! In labor some people sing about their favorite things (as in Mary Poppins ) or rock out with their Ipod. Some women just sway with the music. Still other women pray. That is what I did in my predicament on the rock. It's also often what I do at birth. I pray when I am with women that are birthing. I pray to Jesus. Other doula friends chant to their gods. Birth is a spiritual experience.
Towards the end of labor some women will do just what i did on my mountain hike, become fearful, give up, run out of energy. What now? Call 911? Nope. If you have a good labor coach or doula they will say the right things to help alleviate your fears. Once you calm down and relax your birthing muscles birth happens with a lot less pain. Sometimes you need more than a calm voice. My hiking partner (and life partner), Craig, had to use a stern voice with me. I was panicked. When he got through to me and I made the conscious decision to trust him. He lead me out of my dilemma, onto solid ground. I felt like kissing the ground!
One part of my experience that is common to laboring mommies is that I was 'In My Head', spinning worst case scenario, the 'what if' kind. What if I fall and twist my ankle or break my back or get head injury or die... See where my head took me? Spiraling out of control were my thoughts followed by my fears and my pain, powerlessness, and finally surrender. Ahhh sweet surrender (more on that below).
I usually am very comfortable climbing and hiking miles off the trail in unknown territory (Birth is unknown territory for many). But those spinning stories further paralysed me and my natural instincts and intuition went out the door. This commonly happens to women in childbirth. You may have heard your midwife or doula say, Let Your Monkey Do It. Ina May Gaskin wrote about letting your monkey do it in Spiritual Midwifery. Another way to say it is "Stay out of your brain" during labor. This is a challenge in a hospital full of strangers asking questions and technology beeping away. Birthing From Within training taught me a Non Focused Awareness practice that works great in many life's circumstances but especially labor. I was practicing NFA early on - staying in the moment - feeling the breeze, sun, sweat, listening to every sound and smelling the weeds, wildflowers...but in my panicked state I did not practice NFA on the hardest part of my hike. I needed a coach to talk me through each step back to safe ground. That is what a birth doula does.
So I surrendered to my hiking partner's directions and got myself to safety. I surrendered to the helplessness of my situtation. This is not a bad time to surrender. In our society surrender is a horrible thing. We need to be strong! right? Well sometimes folks we just need to let go. In Birth and on the Rock I let go. I remember when I was stuck for what seemed to be hours at 7 centimeters while having my last baby at home. My midwife said (oh so sweetly), "You appear to be thrashing, try to stay quietly still and let that energy go to the contraction" or something to that effect. In my brain I thought "F- - - YOU!" But in my body I trusted her and did exactly as directed. I went to complete or 10 centimeters instantly! And met my baby soon after.
On the rock, I was holding on to a ledge for dear life. My partner sternly told me to "let go" and "grab my hand". Are you kidding me! I brain thought, "No way am I letting go of this rock ledge". It was all I knew, it was solid. I had visions of me pulling Craig down the abyss with me. But in my body I did exactly as my trusted loving partner directed and landed on solid ground!
Its scary to let go. Be brave. Birth Blessings, Rosie
Picture above is the rock I got stuck on and here I am before the hard part of the hike.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Birth is such a special event! Include the people you love but don't forget the doula!
On the list of six Lamaze Healthy Birth Practices, Bring a loved one, friend, or doula for continuous support comes right after Let Labor Begin on It's Own and Walk, Move Around, and Change Positions Throughout Labor. Why is this so important? Why would you need to bring anyone else to your baby's birth when you will have your doctor there and a hospital or birth center full of helpers? right? Not so much. Read on.
I meet a lot of pregnant families in my work as a birth doula. I get a sense that the partners of some pregnant women don't want an audience watching as they attempt to "be all" for their woman - in a situation that is just as scary to them (and maybe more so) as it is for their birthing partner. Many couples feel that this intimate event should be shared only between the two of them. And I couldn't agree more! Not only is birth a very intimate event, labor progresses better and is more comfortable for the woman when she feels respected, safe and loved. So why would Lamaze's Bring a loved one, friend or doula for continuous support be so high on their list of healthy birth practices???
Because if you are going to a hospital you will not have privacy! You will have virtually no intimacy! Of course your Labor & Delivery nurse is probably a lovely person, she does L&D because she loves babies & mommies. But she/he is a person you've never met, a stranger. She may have had a bad day, she may have just come from a cesarean section, she may be at the end of her shift. Which means you'll be meeting another nurse...stranger. You will also meet the admin person who needs your forms and the person who draws your blood/places your heplock. The list goes on. Your nurse is also taking care of many laboring women. She's charting (typing into a computer screen) and usually too busy to sit a spell. Oh by the way, your doctor doesn't usually show up until it's time to catch a baby (you've been pushing awhile).
These type of interruptions play havoc on the hormones of labor and the flow of contractions, slowing down labor, not to mention making mom more uncomfortable. I was raised on a farm and even then was fascinated by birth. I tried to watch the farm animals give birth. Guess what!? They never give birth while being watched. Animals wait for quiet, dark, uninterrupted moments before birthing. WE ARE ANIMALS TOO. A partner, friend or doula can help you remember what tribe you belong to. They can turn down the lights, turn on your music and make your birth place a more familiar environment.
The advantages of having a experienced labor support person, or doula are many and are documented. First, a doula is someone who you interview, hand select (there are many good ones out there) a few months before you're due date. She will meet with you a few times and be available by phone to answer any non-medical questions and just give lots of TLC, emotional support, and encouragement to your whole family (yes, even the nervous partner). Some clients have selected me because their toddler liked me. Others hired me because the animals seemed so calm when I came in. Whatever your need, you can find a doula to address that specifically. The best part is that your doula is NOT A STRANGER anymore! When you go into labor she will join you at home and you can get into a birth day party groove together. She will be as invisible or as hands on as you like. Then when you move to your birth place she is right there helping you integrate into your new surroundings and protecting you from unnecessary rituals and hospital rigmarole. She honors the significance of your partners role as your lover, co-parent, and best friend. Your doula will gently guide your partner in ways of massage, counter pressure, soft affirmations, etc. One key advantage that I find as a doula is that moms often cannot relax when they know their loved ones are tired, hungry, or worried. Your doula is there is give your partner a bathroom break, a dinner break, or reassure him (and you) how wonderful you are doing!
Postpartum - After your baby is in your arms your doula will snap some great family photos, help baby breastfeed and make sure the new mommy and daddy are fed. Your doula will probably visit you after you get home. I love this visit. I might get to burp the baby! We share about baby's birth day and I present a birth story by the doula. I don't often share those stories here on my blog but Kendra let me share Cole's birth story. Here it is just as an example.
Women's bodies know how to birth. We were born with a uterus and great intuition. From the beginning of time women have gathered around the birthing woman, supporting, protecting and celebrating her. In those days all young women were familiar with the birth process and honored it for what it is - a natural occurrence. I call birth a simple miracle. Today technology can be a help but also a hindrance. Take along a witness, a women friend, a doula, one that is not a medical person but someone that will listen with her heart, encourage with her words, a familiar face who honors the work of birth.
I meet a lot of pregnant families in my work as a birth doula. I get a sense that the partners of some pregnant women don't want an audience watching as they attempt to "be all" for their woman - in a situation that is just as scary to them (and maybe more so) as it is for their birthing partner. Many couples feel that this intimate event should be shared only between the two of them. And I couldn't agree more! Not only is birth a very intimate event, labor progresses better and is more comfortable for the woman when she feels respected, safe and loved. So why would Lamaze's Bring a loved one, friend or doula for continuous support be so high on their list of healthy birth practices???
Because if you are going to a hospital you will not have privacy! You will have virtually no intimacy! Of course your Labor & Delivery nurse is probably a lovely person, she does L&D because she loves babies & mommies. But she/he is a person you've never met, a stranger. She may have had a bad day, she may have just come from a cesarean section, she may be at the end of her shift. Which means you'll be meeting another nurse...stranger. You will also meet the admin person who needs your forms and the person who draws your blood/places your heplock. The list goes on. Your nurse is also taking care of many laboring women. She's charting (typing into a computer screen) and usually too busy to sit a spell. Oh by the way, your doctor doesn't usually show up until it's time to catch a baby (you've been pushing awhile).
These type of interruptions play havoc on the hormones of labor and the flow of contractions, slowing down labor, not to mention making mom more uncomfortable. I was raised on a farm and even then was fascinated by birth. I tried to watch the farm animals give birth. Guess what!? They never give birth while being watched. Animals wait for quiet, dark, uninterrupted moments before birthing. WE ARE ANIMALS TOO. A partner, friend or doula can help you remember what tribe you belong to. They can turn down the lights, turn on your music and make your birth place a more familiar environment.
The advantages of having a experienced labor support person, or doula are many and are documented. First, a doula is someone who you interview, hand select (there are many good ones out there) a few months before you're due date. She will meet with you a few times and be available by phone to answer any non-medical questions and just give lots of TLC, emotional support, and encouragement to your whole family (yes, even the nervous partner). Some clients have selected me because their toddler liked me. Others hired me because the animals seemed so calm when I came in. Whatever your need, you can find a doula to address that specifically. The best part is that your doula is NOT A STRANGER anymore! When you go into labor she will join you at home and you can get into a birth day party groove together. She will be as invisible or as hands on as you like. Then when you move to your birth place she is right there helping you integrate into your new surroundings and protecting you from unnecessary rituals and hospital rigmarole. She honors the significance of your partners role as your lover, co-parent, and best friend. Your doula will gently guide your partner in ways of massage, counter pressure, soft affirmations, etc. One key advantage that I find as a doula is that moms often cannot relax when they know their loved ones are tired, hungry, or worried. Your doula is there is give your partner a bathroom break, a dinner break, or reassure him (and you) how wonderful you are doing!
Postpartum - After your baby is in your arms your doula will snap some great family photos, help baby breastfeed and make sure the new mommy and daddy are fed. Your doula will probably visit you after you get home. I love this visit. I might get to burp the baby! We share about baby's birth day and I present a birth story by the doula. I don't often share those stories here on my blog but Kendra let me share Cole's birth story. Here it is just as an example.
Women's bodies know how to birth. We were born with a uterus and great intuition. From the beginning of time women have gathered around the birthing woman, supporting, protecting and celebrating her. In those days all young women were familiar with the birth process and honored it for what it is - a natural occurrence. I call birth a simple miracle. Today technology can be a help but also a hindrance. Take along a witness, a women friend, a doula, one that is not a medical person but someone that will listen with her heart, encourage with her words, a familiar face who honors the work of birth.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Technology in Childbirth - A Fathers Day to Remember
What type of technology is safe for childbirth? If you know me, you know that I question even vaginal exams. Less technology usually means better experience for moms and better outcome for moms and babies. So how could I have recently been swayed into the world of technology!? Yup, its true. Here's how it happened.
I've been the doula twice for this family. Mom and I are more than doula and client, we are friends. Her pregnancy passes uneventfully. We exchange a few emails. She is due end of June but has late babies. I start getting text on my cell phone and we meet for lunch late May. I get more text and I visit the family first week in June. It is a lovely Sunday for a prenatal meeting and lunch with the family. I realize from our face-to-face time that Mom is way-to-busy to have a baby. We talk about going on early maternity leave from work. Then we exchanged more text about slowing down and taking her leave. I learn on facebook and texting that she will go on leave - YAY! Maternity leave starts June 11.
June 13...text reads, "today might be the day, backache, braxton hicks, natural cleansing...". Then, "breaking out the smart water just in case". The cell phone texts start to pick up. Often many times a day we are texting back and forth. Mom experiences a lot of prelabor, one time it turned out to be the flu. Then just when we thought it was real labor her little ones get really sick and labor stops. After all, Mom is needed to clean up barf and pick up meds and make runs to pediatrician. Again, no time to have a baby! Argh.
After June 18th appointment with OBGYN text reads, "...80% effaced, bulging bag of water, lost mucos plug..."
We text some more. One night I sleep through a text that says, "contractions went from 10 to 5 to 3 minutes apart, can't sleep..." I call and get a real live person. "Please call me if it's the real thing...texting is great but please call me when you are in labor."
On Saturday, June 20, Mom gets some bloody show and CALLS me to ask if she should go to Fathers Day barbecue. "Yeah" unless you are too tired. The great thing about family barbecues are that the little ones will be loved, fed and entertained and then tired when they get home. Bloody show does not mean a woman is in labor, it's yet another sign that labor is close. Mom texts me when they are home from bbq, "Home now. Putting boys to bed. Getting hard to walk thru contraction. Hoping quiet and tub will get it going. Stronger but don't last long. Getting a little closer than earlier." Then, "More bloody show". I expected to get a call in the middle of the night. I kept my cell on loud and close to me. Then on Fathers Day, June 21 at 6:37AM I get A TEXT! "Getting really tired of this. I'm in pain and tired...starting to cry." All I read is "cry". I text her back, "I'll be right there". She texts me back, "OK".
It was a beautiful birth! After breakfast (made by Dad on Fathers Day) we walked 2.5 miles. Labor changed, contractions were getting longer. Mom got into her big deep tub (like she always does). Dad took the boys to aunties house and got home just in time to drive mom to hospital. She arrived there at 12:30PM completely dilated. Baby was born at 12:57PM.
My favorite part? Hmmm well that's a hard question.
1)Our walk where we talked about everything under the sun (literally). That's how babys position came up. Mom remembered that he had his hands by his face in the Ultrasound! We discussed how to juggle his nuchal hand out of the way and mom started walking with one foot on curb and one foot on street. We'd done some rebozo before our walk, which may have helped. On the way home from our hike I stopped the car at the bottom of the driveway where we could have a quiet moment of prayer.
2)Getting to the hospital and just being a witness to the miracle of birth. Dad and mom's love for each other and for their baby filled the room, maybe the world. They didn't need a doula, except to text her once in awhile : )
And that is how the technology of cell phone texting became an acceptable childbirth tool for me.
P.S. Mom later told me that she didn't think she was in real labor Sunday morning. When I texted her I was coming she thought, "How nice Rosie is coming to visit". Dad later told me that he didn't think she would've had the baby that day if I hadn't come. They just needed a little encouragement to let go, and have confidence in the process. A few doula tricks of the trade may have helped but we think it was prayer that helped mom relax most.
I've been the doula twice for this family. Mom and I are more than doula and client, we are friends. Her pregnancy passes uneventfully. We exchange a few emails. She is due end of June but has late babies. I start getting text on my cell phone and we meet for lunch late May. I get more text and I visit the family first week in June. It is a lovely Sunday for a prenatal meeting and lunch with the family. I realize from our face-to-face time that Mom is way-to-busy to have a baby. We talk about going on early maternity leave from work. Then we exchanged more text about slowing down and taking her leave. I learn on facebook and texting that she will go on leave - YAY! Maternity leave starts June 11.
June 13...text reads, "today might be the day, backache, braxton hicks, natural cleansing...". Then, "breaking out the smart water just in case". The cell phone texts start to pick up. Often many times a day we are texting back and forth. Mom experiences a lot of prelabor, one time it turned out to be the flu. Then just when we thought it was real labor her little ones get really sick and labor stops. After all, Mom is needed to clean up barf and pick up meds and make runs to pediatrician. Again, no time to have a baby! Argh.
After June 18th appointment with OBGYN text reads, "...80% effaced, bulging bag of water, lost mucos plug..."
We text some more. One night I sleep through a text that says, "contractions went from 10 to 5 to 3 minutes apart, can't sleep..." I call and get a real live person. "Please call me if it's the real thing...texting is great but please call me when you are in labor."
On Saturday, June 20, Mom gets some bloody show and CALLS me to ask if she should go to Fathers Day barbecue. "Yeah" unless you are too tired. The great thing about family barbecues are that the little ones will be loved, fed and entertained and then tired when they get home. Bloody show does not mean a woman is in labor, it's yet another sign that labor is close. Mom texts me when they are home from bbq, "Home now. Putting boys to bed. Getting hard to walk thru contraction. Hoping quiet and tub will get it going. Stronger but don't last long. Getting a little closer than earlier." Then, "More bloody show". I expected to get a call in the middle of the night. I kept my cell on loud and close to me. Then on Fathers Day, June 21 at 6:37AM I get A TEXT! "Getting really tired of this. I'm in pain and tired...starting to cry." All I read is "cry". I text her back, "I'll be right there". She texts me back, "OK".
It was a beautiful birth! After breakfast (made by Dad on Fathers Day) we walked 2.5 miles. Labor changed, contractions were getting longer. Mom got into her big deep tub (like she always does). Dad took the boys to aunties house and got home just in time to drive mom to hospital. She arrived there at 12:30PM completely dilated. Baby was born at 12:57PM.
My favorite part? Hmmm well that's a hard question.
1)Our walk where we talked about everything under the sun (literally). That's how babys position came up. Mom remembered that he had his hands by his face in the Ultrasound! We discussed how to juggle his nuchal hand out of the way and mom started walking with one foot on curb and one foot on street. We'd done some rebozo before our walk, which may have helped. On the way home from our hike I stopped the car at the bottom of the driveway where we could have a quiet moment of prayer.
2)Getting to the hospital and just being a witness to the miracle of birth. Dad and mom's love for each other and for their baby filled the room, maybe the world. They didn't need a doula, except to text her once in awhile : )
And that is how the technology of cell phone texting became an acceptable childbirth tool for me.
P.S. Mom later told me that she didn't think she was in real labor Sunday morning. When I texted her I was coming she thought, "How nice Rosie is coming to visit". Dad later told me that he didn't think she would've had the baby that day if I hadn't come. They just needed a little encouragement to let go, and have confidence in the process. A few doula tricks of the trade may have helped but we think it was prayer that helped mom relax most.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
I laughed out loud
such truth!
like a cool breeze
what about you?
what turns you on
takes your breath away
I wish that for you today.
For me today it was reading the comment that Mama K made on Jan Trittan's blog.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Birth Story by the Doula (with permission)
Cole McCall was born at 5:34AM on Friday, October 24, 2008 weighing 10 lbs. 13 oz.
Every baby brings into the world hope, joy, a child like trust, unconditional love….and a tale. We all have a birth story. Cole is no different. Then again, every story is oh so very different! Every baby, every couple, every woman’s labor is “oh so different!” That really translates into “Oh So Special”. Mommy, Kendra was ‘Oh So Amazing’ as I witness her strength and determination in labor land. Her husband, Brad, was ‘Oh So Amazing ‘as he was by her side every moment. This strong man being gentle and loving, listening and waiting with great respect for the birth process and the woman he loves. Both our L&D nurses, Eva and Anna were wonderful. Kendra’s doctor was kind and patient and supported mom’s wishes 100%.
I was blessed to be present and witness this special day! I was the doula. I met Kendra and Brad a couple of months earlier. Kendra and I planned on going on a ‘girls only’ walk Thursday afternoon, October 23rd. My phone rang on that Thursday morning at 4:45AM! Kendra had been awake having early contractions. I arrived at the house at 6AM. Kendra was having contractions every 5 minutes. By 9am she had gracefully adjusted to stronger serious face contractions. She had regular snacks of cereal or an apple. She was making regular trips to the bathroom and drinking lots of water. Midmorning Kendra and Brad went on a walk around the neighborhood to get fresh air and fresh perspective. When she returned she sat on the birth ball behind the couch trying to watch Return of the Jedi. We talked about her favorite childhood memories of watching and re-watching the Star Wars Series. Then Kendra said something funny. She said, “This is boring”. I knew by the end of the day, she would be rocked by very ‘exciting’ contractions so I made a mental note to remind her of this funny statement. After she said that she had even stronger contractions and opted to labor in a warm bath. Kendra then moved into the open knees chest position and then went to bed where labor gave her a short break and she napped. Then bam! The contractions changed again, coming about every 3-4 minutes. Kendra was ready to go to the hospital. I remember the registration desk person kept calling L&D saying, “she’s active, every 3 minutes”. Kendra left a little pool of amniotic fluid for housekeeping to mop up. In triage at approximately 2PM Kendra was estimated to be 3 centimeters dilated.
By 6PM Kendra was dilated to 5cms. And by 9PM Kendra was 8-9cms. She got into the shower, sat on the birth ball, walked, rocked and did everything she could think of to help move her baby down. It worked. Baby Cole was now so low on his Mommy’s cervix that Kendra had a huge urge to push. That was even more difficult than just working through contractions by breathing! She had to blow, blow, blow through each contraction to prevent her cervix from swelling (at this point Kendra stayed in the side lying position in bed). Kendra’s contractions were about 3 minutes long and double peaking now. At midnight, Anna helped a little bit of cervical lip over baby’s head. Now Kendra was fully dilated and could push in earnest! Kendra pushed for four hours.
The nice doc came in and told mom that most of the time he only lets mom’s push for three hours but in respect for Kendra’s birth plan he was willing to wait. Baby was doing fine (heart rate was great). But doc recommended either vacuum, forceps or cesarean delivery. Kendra was way way past exhausted. She knew something was holding Cole back and she needed a little help. She also knew she did not need a cesarean. So upon doc’s recommendation Kendra accepted some help via forceps. She was advised to get an epidural since the forceps include an episiotomy and it could be a painful procedure. Another reason they wanted her to have an epidural in place was in case forceps were not successful then they would do a cesarean. Brad and I put on our moon suits and waited to join Kendra in OR. Brad has such good daddy bear instincts. He was verbally questioning protocol and openly upset that they had Kendra in OR and we were just outside the doors and they would not let us in! It has never made any sense to me and always angers me too. It was good to have someone that saw it my way. Brad was ready to storm that OR!!! I’ve felt like that myself before. I even felt like that when Kendra and Brad were in triage for such a long time and I’m not even the husband/daddy/family. Soon we were all together again. Daddy was holding mommy’s hand. Then in the most quiet, quick and graceful way, Cole made his entrance and was placed on his mommy’s chest! I was so overcome that I didn’t get my usual photo of daddy’s reaction. But we were all so grateful! I think mostly we were all so amazed at how BIG Cole was! As he was being born it was like in slow motion, more baby, more baby, and even more baby. The nurses, anesthesiologist, and doc were all amazed.
In retrospect, Kendra had longer contractions (not for such long hours- just long in duration), the three minute ones lasted more hours (than is usual) and that is just what her body needed to do to birth her big baby boy. She didn’t look at the clock or complain once. She did one contraction at a time and used visualization. She visualized her baby in her arms. She visualized many other things that only she can share with you. All the time knowing, knowing when the contraction was over there would be rest. Knowing that when her baby was in her arms labor would be over. That moment arrived labor was over. “Women’s bodies don’t grow babies bigger than they can birth” had always been one of my mottos. Kendra is a wonderful example. She herself weighed 10lbs. 12 oz. at birth. Brad was a big baby too! They knew they could have big babies. Their mothers birthed them vaginally and they were confident - the baton was passed.
Welcome to baby Cole! Welcome to the world! God bless you always! Love, Rosie Peterson
Monday, October 13, 2008
from MarketWatch - USA (The Wall Street Journal)
"...Overused Maternity Practices
The report shows maternity care is one more example of what's wrong with American health care. We're paying too much and getting the worst results in the developed world because of unneeded care," said Reforming States Group Vice Chair, State Senator Charles Scott of Wyoming. "The main causes are that providers earn more from unneeded care while fear of malpractice litigation encourages the same unneeded care. If we can implement the recommendations of this report, we can both reduce costs and improve the care our mothers and babies get...
Underused Maternity Practices
The analysis also found underuse of many effective practices with few or no known adverse effects. These practices include continuous support throughout labor (such as that provided by a doula), numerous measures that increase comfort and facilitate labor progress, upright and side-lying positions for giving birth, delayed cord clamping, and early skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby. More frequent use of these beneficial forms of care would lead to improved outcomes for many mothers and babies. Best available evidence also supports providing access to vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) for most women with a previous cesarean, but such access has fallen off sharply in recent years, despite demand from women, and more than nine out of ten women with previous cesareans now have repeat cesareans."
The analysis also found underuse of many effective practices with few or no known adverse effects. These practices include continuous support throughout labor (such as that provided by a doula), numerous measures that increase comfort and facilitate labor progress, upright and side-lying positions for giving birth, delayed cord clamping, and early skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby. More frequent use of these beneficial forms of care would lead to improved outcomes for many mothers and babies. Best available evidence also supports providing access to vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) for most women with a previous cesarean, but such access has fallen off sharply in recent years, despite demand from women, and more than nine out of ten women with previous cesareans now have repeat cesareans."
-Rosie
Monday, June 02, 2008
Doula Support During Labor Reduces Cesarean Rates And Epidurals
ScienceDaily (May 29, 2008) — During labor, the continued presence of a doula – an experienced non-medical female companion who provides continuous labor support – has significant beneficial effects for middle- and upper-class women in childbirth, even when they have their male partner or other family member with them, according to a new study in the journal Birth.
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1523-536X.2008.00221.x
ScienceDaily (May 29, 2008) — During labor, the continued presence of a doula – an experienced non-medical female companion who provides continuous labor support – has significant beneficial effects for middle- and upper-class women in childbirth, even when they have their male partner or other family member with them, according to a new study in the journal Birth.
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1523-536X.2008.00221.x
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