Update on this post.
I have had many births on the same day.
It seems that I have had months when I have had up to 4 births per day.
They were all short labors, but of course they were all far away from each other.
One time, it was my 5th in less than 36 hrs,
my client lived a block away and she woke up needing to push. I ran to her house with my bag, ok, once I got there I realized I had my pajamas on !!!
After the birth, the parents laughed and teased me about it. They had a lovely very fast labor and birth.
Not a long story.
About 25 years ago, I had 2 VERY different births outcomes.
Earlier in the day I "caught" a full term 4lb baby boy, later I went to another house to catch another baby boy: he was 14lbs !
Similar births, wonderful births, one I caught with one hand, the other I felt like I needed a crane !
I have a (yes, old) video of the first one.
The only difference in these births was
the smaller perfectly formed baby was born to a family of people in several generations were less than 5'2 and all had small babies.
The other family of the bigger baby were all over 6'4.
I felt like that baby and I were the smallest in the house
What a day.
I think I walked around with a silly grin on my face.
Have a silly day!
Saturday, 30 April 2011
Sunday, 17 April 2011
Odd things
Births can bring many interesting situations.
I had a 48 yr old mom Gravid 18 Para 12. Had had all her other babies @ the hosp, never a problem, no complaints. A good friend of hers suggested she come and see me and that she might like a birth center birth. She became my client.
She was great to get along with and had a huge span of childrens ages.
She goes into labor on time, birth was pretty normal.
Out comes this little( 5lbs) baby girl who had to be stimulated, but came around quickly. I kept looking at this child and thinking she looked "different", but the newborn exam was normal. Her color looked odd. She looked like this old, old book paper, that old weak yellow, tan color. But parents thought she was perfect. She nursed fine. I sent them home cause I couldn't think of a reason to send the baby to a doc. Mom brought her in for her baby checkups and I noticed baby had that same color and she didn't have much weight gain. I was seeing this baby every wk, Mom insitsted baby was fine. I did ask mom to take baby to her pediatrician. Came back next wk and said he told her everything was fine, but mom did notice baby also wasn't gaining much. Finally I told mom, "somethings really wrong ,please take her back to the doc". Again all they did was suggest mom supplement with some formula.
I was ok with that becasue this baby did not look ok. I saw the mom again and baby still wasn't gaining any weight. I called her several days later ( by now mom was getting worried.) and talked to her about this. About a week later mom left a message at the clinic that they were at a Denver hosp. I called back and mom told me they still weren't sure what was wrong. Several days later she called and said they discovered the baby had " giant idopathic red blood cells- the baby had a liver disorder. ! How bizarre ! I had sent her records to the Neonatologist and spoke to her at length about moms care and baby's care. Mom had had a water birth and the doc said she always wondered about those births, I explained why and how and she says" that makes sense"
Anyway, she commended that she was pleased that I pushed the mom to persue investingating babys health issue. She found no contrubuting factors of mom under my care- in fact she said even the hospital was having a hard time figuring out that there was even a problem other that the odd color and no weight gain. She also later told me that there was nothing that could have been tested for or done differently even if it was a hosp birth, and that because there was no real stress on this baby in labor and at the birth, her liver didn't get even more stressed out. She suggested that perhaps it was the best thing that little girl was born out of the hospital. Mom had never had any type of liver problems or disorders or any illnesses in pregnancy, the docs didn't even know how this could have happened.
I'd say that's odd.
See you later
I had a 48 yr old mom Gravid 18 Para 12. Had had all her other babies @ the hosp, never a problem, no complaints. A good friend of hers suggested she come and see me and that she might like a birth center birth. She became my client.
She was great to get along with and had a huge span of childrens ages.
She goes into labor on time, birth was pretty normal.
Out comes this little( 5lbs) baby girl who had to be stimulated, but came around quickly. I kept looking at this child and thinking she looked "different", but the newborn exam was normal. Her color looked odd. She looked like this old, old book paper, that old weak yellow, tan color. But parents thought she was perfect. She nursed fine. I sent them home cause I couldn't think of a reason to send the baby to a doc. Mom brought her in for her baby checkups and I noticed baby had that same color and she didn't have much weight gain. I was seeing this baby every wk, Mom insitsted baby was fine. I did ask mom to take baby to her pediatrician. Came back next wk and said he told her everything was fine, but mom did notice baby also wasn't gaining much. Finally I told mom, "somethings really wrong ,please take her back to the doc". Again all they did was suggest mom supplement with some formula.
I was ok with that becasue this baby did not look ok. I saw the mom again and baby still wasn't gaining any weight. I called her several days later ( by now mom was getting worried.) and talked to her about this. About a week later mom left a message at the clinic that they were at a Denver hosp. I called back and mom told me they still weren't sure what was wrong. Several days later she called and said they discovered the baby had " giant idopathic red blood cells- the baby had a liver disorder. ! How bizarre ! I had sent her records to the Neonatologist and spoke to her at length about moms care and baby's care. Mom had had a water birth and the doc said she always wondered about those births, I explained why and how and she says" that makes sense"
Anyway, she commended that she was pleased that I pushed the mom to persue investingating babys health issue. She found no contrubuting factors of mom under my care- in fact she said even the hospital was having a hard time figuring out that there was even a problem other that the odd color and no weight gain. She also later told me that there was nothing that could have been tested for or done differently even if it was a hosp birth, and that because there was no real stress on this baby in labor and at the birth, her liver didn't get even more stressed out. She suggested that perhaps it was the best thing that little girl was born out of the hospital. Mom had never had any type of liver problems or disorders or any illnesses in pregnancy, the docs didn't even know how this could have happened.
I'd say that's odd.
See you later
TWINS ,Yes- it can be done at home
Ok, I promised some older births that I have done.
My first set of twins came as quite the surprise. I had done quite a few other babies for this couple, so it didn't surprise me when they called again. They had 7 children already.
Everything was going well until about 30 wks gest. She claimed she was feeling more movement with this one, but then recanted and said "well maybe not", she wasn't measuring all that much different than her other babies. But her previous babies were 9 to 10lbs. When I palpated her belly I could only feel one, and could only find one heartbeat. I asked her several times over the rest of her pregnancy if she wanted a sonogram and she kept saying no. She had sonos in her other pregnancies.
She did require more rest but we put it up to that this was her 8th pregnancy/birth.
She went into labor as usual. She doesn't have long labors, as she took my Uterine Toner that I sell. I don't remember being there for very long before she got to 10 cm. She didn't feel like pushing, so we just hung around, while she walked and her husband, her and I talked. I think some of the kids were in the living room also. About an hour later I said "Mary, why don't we go into the bedroom and try a push or two. She agreed, however this time she wanted to squat for the birth. We got the floor ready. She squatted and pushed and about 10 minutes later out come this perfect little girl. A bit smaller than her others, but again, we weren't really paying that much attention. We got her up on the edge of the bed to wait for the placenta and she got to love on this new one. I and my student got them settled and I went in to the bathroom to take off my gloves and wash up. About 5 minutes later, my student said "Ahhh, Sherri I think you need to come back in here!" I came back in to the bedroom and saw a bag of water coming out of Mary and I though "What the heck?"
I broke the bag with my fingers and saw a little head ! I start to chuckle but I can't form the words and I said "Mary, I need you to squat again" She said curiously "ok" and she squatted. Oh, by the way we had cut the cut a few minutes before on the first baby. I'm kind of underneath her and she says "Sherri why am I squatting?" I tell her "cause there's another baby" and she kinda laughs, her husband is blown away. And I asked her to push, out comes another little girl ! We are all just awe struck but laughing. The girls were 17 minutes apart.
When it came to the placenta : it looked like 2 placentas with another placenta like looking thing all fused together. When I inspected it, the only thing that separated them was a membrane. Two cords and 2 placentas fused into one very big placenta. Very curious. Both girls weighed about 7 lbs each. Turns out the girls are identical mirror twins. Quite rare as I understand.
Any way, the parents were very glad we didn't have a sonogram.
I went around with a silly grin for about a month. She breastfeed those babies for about a year. They were now a family of 9 children in a matter of a few hours. I was so proud of her.
Soon to come other twins and a surprise set of triplets born in the water.
My first set of twins came as quite the surprise. I had done quite a few other babies for this couple, so it didn't surprise me when they called again. They had 7 children already.
Everything was going well until about 30 wks gest. She claimed she was feeling more movement with this one, but then recanted and said "well maybe not", she wasn't measuring all that much different than her other babies. But her previous babies were 9 to 10lbs. When I palpated her belly I could only feel one, and could only find one heartbeat. I asked her several times over the rest of her pregnancy if she wanted a sonogram and she kept saying no. She had sonos in her other pregnancies.
She did require more rest but we put it up to that this was her 8th pregnancy/birth.
She went into labor as usual. She doesn't have long labors, as she took my Uterine Toner that I sell. I don't remember being there for very long before she got to 10 cm. She didn't feel like pushing, so we just hung around, while she walked and her husband, her and I talked. I think some of the kids were in the living room also. About an hour later I said "Mary, why don't we go into the bedroom and try a push or two. She agreed, however this time she wanted to squat for the birth. We got the floor ready. She squatted and pushed and about 10 minutes later out come this perfect little girl. A bit smaller than her others, but again, we weren't really paying that much attention. We got her up on the edge of the bed to wait for the placenta and she got to love on this new one. I and my student got them settled and I went in to the bathroom to take off my gloves and wash up. About 5 minutes later, my student said "Ahhh, Sherri I think you need to come back in here!" I came back in to the bedroom and saw a bag of water coming out of Mary and I though "What the heck?"
I broke the bag with my fingers and saw a little head ! I start to chuckle but I can't form the words and I said "Mary, I need you to squat again" She said curiously "ok" and she squatted. Oh, by the way we had cut the cut a few minutes before on the first baby. I'm kind of underneath her and she says "Sherri why am I squatting?" I tell her "cause there's another baby" and she kinda laughs, her husband is blown away. And I asked her to push, out comes another little girl ! We are all just awe struck but laughing. The girls were 17 minutes apart.
When it came to the placenta : it looked like 2 placentas with another placenta like looking thing all fused together. When I inspected it, the only thing that separated them was a membrane. Two cords and 2 placentas fused into one very big placenta. Very curious. Both girls weighed about 7 lbs each. Turns out the girls are identical mirror twins. Quite rare as I understand.
Any way, the parents were very glad we didn't have a sonogram.
I went around with a silly grin for about a month. She breastfeed those babies for about a year. They were now a family of 9 children in a matter of a few hours. I was so proud of her.
Soon to come other twins and a surprise set of triplets born in the water.
My 2nd BREECH- 30 years AGO.
A young professional couple in their 30's came to our clinic for prenatal care in the early 1980's. After dealing with her tremendous nausea and vomiting was helped a great deal with Homeopathic remedies, her pregnancy went as normal as can be. Lovely couple, looking forward to their new child birthing at home.
She calls me one night and said she was sure she was in labor, described it and indeed I agreed to come quickly as it should like she was already close to transition. It was very cold and snowy that night in Anchorage.
I went over and she was sitting on the toilet. Her water bag had just broke right before I got there. As dad and I were setting up the room, in a very loud voice my client asked "Is it normal to have black stuff coming out of my vagina?" as was showing me the toilet paper with Black poop !
What does that mean, girls and boys?
Yes, frank breech baby.
This was my 2nd one by myself.
I had let them know I had only done 1 other breech and that was a surprise hospital birth, the surprise was I caught the baby with just mom and dad in the room. That baby had just slid right out.
We discuss the pros and cons, true informed consent, warning them of my lack of experience with breech. Parents and I pray about it. They decided to go ahead with the home birth. I call my back up doc give him the info, he said politically he needed to tell me not to do it and to transport- I explained that I thought she was going quickly and wasn't sure we would get there. I had brought one assistant who had never attended a breech birth, so I called an RN who has said she attended many breech births in huts in Viet Nam in the 1970's as I thought she would be able to help me. She only lived a block away and she got there quickly.
All was going well, mom was dilating quickly. and quickly got the 10 and was begging to push but I was taught to check cervix and make sure it was all gone before "allowing mom to push" I brought her bottom to the end of the bed.
His body started out as anterior and quickly rotated to complete posterior and I never saw this in the "text books" so I knew he had to turn. I gently rotated him to anterior position. Now I realized his arms were above his head, I waited for them to come out, but everything slowed down, all I could think of was to reach above his head, one arm was twisted behind his head, but ended up sweeping them across his chest one at a time to bring out his little arms to his waist. Wow, I thought ok any time he's just going to fly out.
I did at some point gave her a large episiotomy, mediolateral that required a hosp repair, it did give me more room to maneuver my hand but did nothing to bring him out. I let him dangle with hands off until again he was not moving out any further, He came out to his mouth and I realized his head was coming out asynclitic-off centered. All I could think was to get o2 on him so I had my assistant place the tube by his nose mouth. Now, all of a sudden I realized his head did not flex downward with his chin pointed downward on his chest. So he was trying to come out with his head not coming down correctly. I had a thought that popped into my head, either I read it somewhere or what, I asked her to hang on one more time as I was going to place 2 fingers in her rectum. She just wanted her baby out to make sure he was ok.
As I place my fingers I could feel his forehead coming out wrong, so I flexed his forehead downward so his chin now repositioned to his chest, I felt it release the trapping of his head and out he came.
I gave him a few seconds and knew he was stunned, he had a great heartbeat as he did through out the labor. I gave him a puff with the bag resuscitator and he got a big lung full of oxygen and cried. Mom and dad grabbed for him and cried with joy and anticipation.
I felt weary but joyous that he finally came out and looked great. His body was nice and pink but his head was pale white. The RN now started freaking out, saying something was wrong with him, and the fact his legs were folder up above his head. She quietly called the EMT's when she went into the other room.
By the time they got there the baby was nursing well, so parents refused a transport.
The RN continued to freak out, and mom started bleeding heavily as she forgot her own self and all her thought were on her baby,because the Rn had totally scared her. for her and the "baby". I told her I thought baby was just fine, but perhaps the RN knew something I wasn't aware of. I used everything to stop her heavy bleeding but as her lips now started to get pale, I told them I thought a transport was needed, as she was going to need an extensive repair. I apologized for having invited the RN, thinking she was going to be of help but instead in some ways showed me she didn't know much about breeches and said I thought she was fine we just needed extra help. That was the first time I transported for a PP hemorrhage.
We went in and I was greeted by my least favorite OB, He was an older German Dr with a heavy accent. He was quite scary, and bullied everyone. He asked me what happened and why did we stay home. I told him the truth. He lightened up and said well, lets see about her repair. He looked at baby and the color of his head and said" his head was fine, it had gotten squeezed and it would soon get pink. He got a Pediatrician to check him out.
Mom did end up loosing quite a bit of blood and was required to stay in the hospital for several days. I knew she was upset that we ended up in the hospital, so she allowed me to do minimal care for them. Both her and the baby's dad later thanked me for doing so much, they just couldn't get over being so scared by the RN. I was so sad, as I knew they might regret having a breech at home at that time. This boy is now a man and he should be about 30 now.
I almost stopped being a Midwife because of this birth. There was so many lies that came out through the hospital personnel, thus going through the community. I did much praying and re- evaluating the way I practiced.
Do I think all breeches are safe at home? No. Do I think all Midwives should be doing breeches? No. I think you have to have a strong trust that birth usually works just fine, women have unbelievable strength and that we should be ready for everything that could happen. For most of us that do attend breeches have chosen to do so, learning extra skills and are ready to do anything that is needed to have a safe birth. Know to transport when things aren't working, if you have the time. In my experiences breech labors are quite quick.
But I am a firm believer that most breeches can turn out just great out of the hospital. Do I think there should be a breech experienced person there to help? you bet! Do I do breeches now? Yes, but the parents are very well educated about the possibilities. I have done frank breech, complete breeches, a knee presentation about 60 miles from a hospital-that was a complete surprise. and many footlings some presenting in twins. Several 2nd babies turning complete transverse, and required maneuvering then to footling, All of these breech baby's have come out successfully and none of these mothers or baby's needed to be transported for problems.
My mom was a footling breech at home in 1933, with an old country doc on a kitchen table in Michigan.
Beginning my Travelling Midwifery
Well, I'm moving to Oregon in 3 wks for good.
I already took most of my clinic and home things up there already, but still have another small load to take up there. Glad I am getting away from New Mexico.They say they are midwifery friendly but they are not !
One of my new adventures is I will be doing traveling Midwifery to other areas for women who don't have midwives in their area or who want VBAC's in non supportive areas.
I already took most of my clinic and home things up there already, but still have another small load to take up there. Glad I am getting away from New Mexico.They say they are midwifery friendly but they are not !
One of my new adventures is I will be doing traveling Midwifery to other areas for women who don't have midwives in their area or who want VBAC's in non supportive areas.
Traveling Midwife
Ok, I am now a traveling midwife, and I love it. I'll probably do this for at least several yrs. This way I can offer midwifery home births for people who don't have supportive midwives in their area for their births.
I flew to Bermuda on May 13 and I landed on a very beautiful island. There are no midwives there as it is illegal. The minute I landed I felt right at home like I've lived there forever.
Last winter I had been hired by a couple who wanted a home birth. Their first child was born in Canada, a transported home birth to the hospital for meconium staining. They were fine with it, but this time they wanted to try for a home birth again. I got to know the couple well as well as her family, as I was living upstairs with her mom and dad. So by the time she gave birth, it definitely was the whole family who organized the home birth. I was so grateful that Mom and I talked about not being attached to the experience of the birth, in other words she let go of all of her worries, wishes and was willing to just let the birth happen without allowing her brain take over or worry she might not get a home birth. It would be what it was.
She stayed at 3cm to 5cm for about a wk or so. She woke up in the am knowing something was going on. They got their son together to go of with Granny B for the day.
Real active labor started@ 10 am. I checked her and she was 7cm 100%. She was in good humor but you could tell where her brain was. Dad was excited, and I'm excited for the both of them. Her last birth had been about 6 hrs total- but for some reason as I'm watching her, it seemed as though something was off with this birth. She got in the birth tub, only to have her contractions slow and almost stop after about 1/2 hr in tub. I had her get back out and things started picking up. I checked her again and she was 9cm, and feeling pushy. But after 1/2 hr to 45 mins her contractions slowed to nothing. I gave her a homeopathic to get her going again. It kind of did something but not much. She got out of tub again, and was walking with her husband. She labored for awhile and all pushing urge went away. I checked her one more time, because now I suspect a head malposition, and indeed it was confirmed that she was now 7 cm and baby was coming down asynclitic. Baby was trying to come out with the right side of it's head, and it wasn't working. So, mom and dad and I talked about what was going on, baby sounded great so I started to try to reposition baby's head. Now, gals, it's not pain free with almost a full hand in you with a head down there also, but you can cope with it fairly easy and it's better than a vacuum birth or c/section. At this point we are on the tile floor, of course with all of our paper padding. Mom, dad and I are all entwined with our legs to birth this baby-so we all felt like we birthed this baby. Baby was trying to help me, but just as I got the head position right, it would turn right back to the old position. Mom now has her head under the bed, and I burst into laughter at the picture of the three of us. Mom keep up her energy and after an hr of pushing finally the head is crowning, I grabbed dad's hand and placed it on the head as it emerged, so gently. The head came out, and rotated and mom was ready with open arms. This couple greeted their newborn son, in dim lights on the floor in a cave like room, it was perfect, it was holy.
This is why I'm a midwife.
Side line- several nights before the birth, I had a dream that our wonderful doula was not at the birth and that it would only be the three of us. I told mom, and we just thought about it. The day of the birth the doula came over, all excited at being at another home birth. After being there for 15 minutes, she got a call from a couple who were birthing at the hospital. We told her we were fine and that the other couple really needed her. The dream came true.
with much love, sherri
I flew to Bermuda on May 13 and I landed on a very beautiful island. There are no midwives there as it is illegal. The minute I landed I felt right at home like I've lived there forever.
Last winter I had been hired by a couple who wanted a home birth. Their first child was born in Canada, a transported home birth to the hospital for meconium staining. They were fine with it, but this time they wanted to try for a home birth again. I got to know the couple well as well as her family, as I was living upstairs with her mom and dad. So by the time she gave birth, it definitely was the whole family who organized the home birth. I was so grateful that Mom and I talked about not being attached to the experience of the birth, in other words she let go of all of her worries, wishes and was willing to just let the birth happen without allowing her brain take over or worry she might not get a home birth. It would be what it was.
She stayed at 3cm to 5cm for about a wk or so. She woke up in the am knowing something was going on. They got their son together to go of with Granny B for the day.
Real active labor started@ 10 am. I checked her and she was 7cm 100%. She was in good humor but you could tell where her brain was. Dad was excited, and I'm excited for the both of them. Her last birth had been about 6 hrs total- but for some reason as I'm watching her, it seemed as though something was off with this birth. She got in the birth tub, only to have her contractions slow and almost stop after about 1/2 hr in tub. I had her get back out and things started picking up. I checked her again and she was 9cm, and feeling pushy. But after 1/2 hr to 45 mins her contractions slowed to nothing. I gave her a homeopathic to get her going again. It kind of did something but not much. She got out of tub again, and was walking with her husband. She labored for awhile and all pushing urge went away. I checked her one more time, because now I suspect a head malposition, and indeed it was confirmed that she was now 7 cm and baby was coming down asynclitic. Baby was trying to come out with the right side of it's head, and it wasn't working. So, mom and dad and I talked about what was going on, baby sounded great so I started to try to reposition baby's head. Now, gals, it's not pain free with almost a full hand in you with a head down there also, but you can cope with it fairly easy and it's better than a vacuum birth or c/section. At this point we are on the tile floor, of course with all of our paper padding. Mom, dad and I are all entwined with our legs to birth this baby-so we all felt like we birthed this baby. Baby was trying to help me, but just as I got the head position right, it would turn right back to the old position. Mom now has her head under the bed, and I burst into laughter at the picture of the three of us. Mom keep up her energy and after an hr of pushing finally the head is crowning, I grabbed dad's hand and placed it on the head as it emerged, so gently. The head came out, and rotated and mom was ready with open arms. This couple greeted their newborn son, in dim lights on the floor in a cave like room, it was perfect, it was holy.
This is why I'm a midwife.
Side line- several nights before the birth, I had a dream that our wonderful doula was not at the birth and that it would only be the three of us. I told mom, and we just thought about it. The day of the birth the doula came over, all excited at being at another home birth. After being there for 15 minutes, she got a call from a couple who were birthing at the hospital. We told her we were fine and that the other couple really needed her. The dream came true.
with much love, sherri
the 2nd Birth in Bermuda
Thanks for reading the birth I just posted.
But here's another.
The Doula that I spoke about in the last birth, got together the next day just to hang out at a park together. She got a call from her next doula birth. It was to be a hospital birth and they wanted to know when they should go to the hospital as she was having some contractions The mom had a question- she had herpes for many yrs and she wanted someone to come to her home to look and see if there was an outbreak. Doula said well, I just happen to be hanging out with a midwife. Do you want to talk with her? The mom and I talked and she asked if I could come and look. No problem, because if she had an outbreak she feared she would end up with a c/sec.
We got there about a 1/2 later. There was no outbreak and her contractions were every 2 minutes and appeared to be strong. Mom asked if I could check her so they could get ready to go to the hospital. She was 3 cm. As I talked to her the contractions slowed way down, and I suggested that she try Benadryl to relax her for some sleep. I've seen this lots of times. As we left the benadryl had worked and she was realxing. We left and the doula stated that she was just a call away, and we had to run and errand for me and she was taking me home.
No sooner did we run the errand ( 30-45 minutes later), the dad called and said the contractions had started again and she was in the tub. I told Sophia, lets go back and see what's going on, and if she needed to go to the hospital with them, I would catch a bus home. We get there and I hear the sounds, I knew that sound, she's wanting to push ! Sophia had several items in her doula kit, gloves one cord clamp and several underpads. OK folks. I explained what was going on, and they were probably not going to make it to the hospital. The couple talked it over, and it didn't take much for them to say we're going to stay here and have the baby, if you've here with us. We called a doc who would bring me some items- ok we're going for it. After pushing in many positions mom finally found squatting with her husband and Sophia supporting her gave birth to a 9lb 5 oz baby boy. The doc had hung out in the living room and came in a few minutes later. Baby needed to be rubbed up as he was a bit stunned. He started to cry and I gave him Ant. tart ( homeopathic) and his lungs started clearing up.
Mom and dad were blown away, laughing, cooing to baby, and grinning like fools. It was great ! Mom told me later, that being from England she wanted a home birth, but because there were no midwives in Bermuda she was resigned to go to the hosptial. Dad flat out was not expecting a home birth.
They both loved it, and will now give birth at home to all their future babies. 2 birth in 24 hrs
This moms labor was about 3 hrs. Have fun today someone is being born right now.
This birth was published in Midwifery Today Magazine
But here's another.
The Doula that I spoke about in the last birth, got together the next day just to hang out at a park together. She got a call from her next doula birth. It was to be a hospital birth and they wanted to know when they should go to the hospital as she was having some contractions The mom had a question- she had herpes for many yrs and she wanted someone to come to her home to look and see if there was an outbreak. Doula said well, I just happen to be hanging out with a midwife. Do you want to talk with her? The mom and I talked and she asked if I could come and look. No problem, because if she had an outbreak she feared she would end up with a c/sec.We got there about a 1/2 later. There was no outbreak and her contractions were every 2 minutes and appeared to be strong. Mom asked if I could check her so they could get ready to go to the hospital. She was 3 cm. As I talked to her the contractions slowed way down, and I suggested that she try Benadryl to relax her for some sleep. I've seen this lots of times. As we left the benadryl had worked and she was realxing. We left and the doula stated that she was just a call away, and we had to run and errand for me and she was taking me home.
No sooner did we run the errand ( 30-45 minutes later), the dad called and said the contractions had started again and she was in the tub. I told Sophia, lets go back and see what's going on, and if she needed to go to the hospital with them, I would catch a bus home. We get there and I hear the sounds, I knew that sound, she's wanting to push ! Sophia had several items in her doula kit, gloves one cord clamp and several underpads. OK folks. I explained what was going on, and they were probably not going to make it to the hospital. The couple talked it over, and it didn't take much for them to say we're going to stay here and have the baby, if you've here with us. We called a doc who would bring me some items- ok we're going for it. After pushing in many positions mom finally found squatting with her husband and Sophia supporting her gave birth to a 9lb 5 oz baby boy. The doc had hung out in the living room and came in a few minutes later. Baby needed to be rubbed up as he was a bit stunned. He started to cry and I gave him Ant. tart ( homeopathic) and his lungs started clearing up.
Mom and dad were blown away, laughing, cooing to baby, and grinning like fools. It was great ! Mom told me later, that being from England she wanted a home birth, but because there were no midwives in Bermuda she was resigned to go to the hosptial. Dad flat out was not expecting a home birth.
They both loved it, and will now give birth at home to all their future babies. 2 birth in 24 hrs
This moms labor was about 3 hrs. Have fun today someone is being born right now.
This birth was published in Midwifery Today Magazine
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