Category: Birth

Your birthing experience.

MY FIRST BIRTH!!!

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Look at the beautiful mama!

Look at the beautiful mama!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME!!!  I just came back from my first birth this Christmas Eve, and it was the most perfect first birth ever!

Mama had a few hours of early labor, then things really got crankin’ around 1 pm.  She got down to the hospital at 3:30 pm and baby was born at 4:22!  We all arrived at the hospital at the same time, mom was checked and at 8 cm, then she got in the tub for only about 20 minutes.  It was just a few contractions in the tub when she started feeling tons of pressure and the urge to push, so we got out and she got on all fours on the bed.  The midwife had to step out to attend another birth so a resident that mama hadn’t met before came it.  She was wonderful!!  Basically she said, “You feel good in that position?  Ok, I can work with that!”  Two or three pushes and beautiful baby was born.

Mama did so terrific dealing with contractions.  She was joking in between and looked really relaxed.  When a contraction would hit she would just go limp, groan a bit, let it wash over her, and be totally in the moment.  I was so proud of her!  She did it naturally, just like she wanted (and she doubted to the end, but everyone else had faith!  she is so strong!).

It’s so funny, she said she couldn’t have done it without us (Lauren Williams and I) and I’m like, “Really??  Because you give birth like a rockstar!”  I know a doula doesn’t have to *do* something all the time, but I was only there under an hour before baby was born and I didn’t do too much.  Mom just totally rocked!

Mostly I feel privileged and honored to be a part of this day with them.

Merry Christmas All!

Amy

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VIDEO – Vacuum Extraction (WHO)

Here is a video put out by the World Health Organization regarding the practice of vacuum extraction versus forceps delivery.  This is commonly used when mom has an epidural and can’t push effectively, when the baby is presenting in a less than optimal position (ie not facing mom’s spine), and when the baby needs to be born immediately.

who-vacuum-e(Windows Media Player Required)

VIDEO – External Cephalic Version (WHO)

Here is an interesting video put out by the World Health Organization regarding the indications and counter-indications, as well as the procedure of external cephalic version (ECV).  ECV is where a skilled practitioner attempts to manuver a baby out of a breech presentation.  Enjoy!

who-why-breech-ecv

(Windows Media Player required)

VIDEO – Vaginal Breech (WHO)

Here is an absolutely fabulous video put out by the World Health Organization’s Reproductive Health department.  It details the indications and counter-indications for a vaginal breech birth, methods of birthing a breech vaginally (totally FASCINATING), as well as symphiostomy (when the head becomes entrapped and you cannot perform a c-section).

who-breech

(Windows Media Player Required)

NOTE:  In the United States, OB/GYNs typically aren’t trained in these techniques (despite detailed models that can train them) and usually just decide to do a c-section.  If this is not something you’re ok with, talk to your provider beforehand and/or consider transferring to a care provider skilled in vaginal breech (where indicated).  In Denver, Dr. Hall at Swedish has been known to do vaginal breech births.

Lyric’s Birth Story

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Here is the story of my second daughter’s birth.  I like to say that Haven made me a mother, which was about as earth shattering as you could get, but Lyric’s birth made me a doula and aspiring midwife.

Following a miscarriage in September of 07, my previous OB told me it was my fault because I was still breast-feeding.  I had already decided I wanted a water birth with the second and wanted to switch providers but this really sealed the deal.  I went looking for an affordable and more sympathetic (and less myth-based) approach.
Meeting the midwives at the Mountain Midwifery Birth Center I realized everything the midwifery model of care could offer.  They actually seemed like the LIKED their jobs and talking to moms about their pregnancy and whatever else was going on in their lives, unlike my OB.
My last pregnancy was good, but Lyric’s pregnancy was even better.  I felt fantastic, even right up until I went into labor.  Towards the end she was measuring a little small, so Cassie sent me for an ultrasound.  I was freaked out and the midwives were so great and supportive and listened to my fears (everything showed up fine).
I went into the office Wednesday, June 18 for my last prenatal appointment.  Tracy did my forty-week check and found me to be 2 cm and 70% effaced.  I was feeling totally overwhelmed and emotional and when I broke down and started bawling in the waiting room, Heather said, “I think you’ll have your baby really soon.”

Sure enough, that Wed I went into early labor, waking all throughout the night with contractions.  They got much more regular at 9 am, from 2-5 minutes apart for three hours.  At 12:30 we decided to head down to the Birthing Center since we live a bit far.  We dropped off our stuff and headed to a nearby park to walk around outside.  I think this turned out to be not the best idea since I couldn’t really get inside myself and settle into the Birth Center.
We returned at 4:30 where they checked me and found I was 2 cm, 70% effaced…exactly the same as yesterday!  I was so frustrated!  I didn’t mind a longer, slower, labor as long as it seemed to be doing something!  Cassie and Tracy were awesome at talking me through my frustration, Tracy saying her last birth took three days to get there!  Tiffany also helped me regain control by saying my baby might just need a little extra time to get used to the idea of being on the outside.  They almost sent me home to a bath and glass of wine, but I really didn’t want to spend an hour in the car (contractions in the car are awful!) and I wasn’t sure when to come back since contractions were pretty close together anyway.  They decided to give me two hours to see how I would progress.

I calmed myself down, refused to look at the clock, and went inside myself.  After two hours Cassie checked me and I was at 4 cm so they decided to let me stay!  I spent some time on the toilet where my water broke, a high tear that didn’t continually leak fluid.  Two of my good friends came, including my friend who was a doula and was amazing at helping me with my breathing and rubbing my back!  Contractions started getting really strong, along with bloody show and more of the mucous plug was lost.

I spent my time going through transition in the tub, which was great and made the contractions much more round.  I was always a little worried I wouldn’t have a break if I did it naturally since I had had an epidural with Haven and it really helped my long labor by giving me a rest.  Magically my body seemed to know this and contractions slowed down to 7-8 minutes after I had gone through transition.  I even started to fall asleep in the water between contractions!  My body was naturally preparing me to push.

I was checked and found to be sort of stuck at 9.5 cm with a little “lip” of cervix left.  After sixteen hours at the Birthing Center, I really wanted to be done, so Tracy said I could try and push past it if I wanted to.  I tried but it was hard, like pushing into a hammock where the baby kept bouncing back.  Cassie ended up helping break the bag of water around her head which felt AMAZING, like her head was suddenly half as big.  Then she helped hold the lip of cervix back while I pushed.
At first I couldn’t tell what was a productive push and what wasn’t and I was losing all my energy out my voice.  Tracy gave me a great pep talk to help me learn the right way, then I became much more productive.  Twenty minutes of pushing and she was out!  My daughter Haven watched as I brought her out of the water and then she and Kyle joined me in the birth tub.  As soon as she came out of the water Haven said, “It’s a baby sister!”  Even to this day she likes to tell the story.  She says “Uterus squeeeeze the baby out and the baby came out Mommy’s yoni in the water and nurse and get all dry dry.  That was hard work for Mommy, Mommy did a good job, good job Mommy!”  Haven was totally thrilled with her new baby sister and held her even before Daddy!  We got out of the bed and spent time cuddling as a family on the bed.
After a long time, Kyle and the nurses did all the weighing and checking while I took a luxurious, relaxing herbal bath.  It felt wonderful!  We stayed for a while, then packed up to go home…at 4 am!  It was nice to be in our own bed after such a long night.  The nurses and midwives needed a break too because with the full moon and Summer Solstice brought six new babies…IN 24 HOURS!
The recovery went really really well, much better than after Haven’s birth.  I think I was able to be aware of what my body was doing so much more without the epidural and not rush my body into a place it wasn’t ready to go.  As a result I had only one tiny tear that felt fine after a day or so.
Haven’s birth was good, but Lyric’s birth was phenomenal.  I never thought I could be so nurtured and supported in the process.  The midwives and nurses were all fabulous and Kyle and I both enjoyed the intimate atmosphere.  We loved having Haven there to watch the birth.  I can think of no greater responsibility than teaching our children (especially our daughters) that birth is a normal, natural part of life and nothing to be feared.  It was all I could have hoped for and more.

birth-145Lyric Hana Brynn
Lyric:  because she loves being sung to
Hana:  meaning “flower” in Korean, her placenta is buried under a flowering linden tree
Brynn:  meaning “little drop of water” for my little water birth baby

June 20, 2008
12:23 am
7 lb 3 oz
20 in

View Haven’s Birth

In the tub

In the tub

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She's born!

She's born!

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Proud Daddy

Proud Daddy

7 lb, 3 oz

7 lb, 3 oz

So happy

So happy

Our family with my good doula friend Rebekkah

Our family with my good doula friend Rebekkah

VIDEO – Baby born in the Caul

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Here is an amazing video of a baby born “in the caul.”  Basically this means that the bag of waters never breaks and the baby emerges in a sac of water.  It’s amazing!

Most of the world has traditionally thought this phenomenon to be a good omen.  Some of the lore includes:

  • The baby will be destined for greatness
  • The child will never drown
  • The child will be psychic
  • The child will be able to travel and never tire
  • A sailor or ship that posses the caul will never drown or sink
  • Protection against infertility and evil forces
  • Intelligence
  • If twins are born in caul that means they are marked by an angel and their souls are shielded

Red Raspberry Leaf Tea Story

Many women and midwives swear by red raspberry leaf tea during pregnancy.  Here is information on the benefits of drinking the tea during pregnancy, though as always please consult your provider before taking any herbs:

This is from Rodale’s Encyclopedia of Natural Home Remedies:

The Raspberry Leaf Tea Story

Tea made from raspberry leaves is the best-known herbal aid in pregnancy. Rather than go into all the traditional lore about this herb, we present the following lengthy account, because it is both contemporaneous and highly specific.

“My mother was born and raised in Scotland, coming to America at the age of 26. Whenever a member of her family became ill or had a health problem, her mother had consulted an herbalist or herb doctor. As a result of this, I was treated with herbs as a child.
“Mother had always told me that red raspberry leaf tea would prevent miscarriage and was excellent for pregnancy and childbirth. When I became pregnant, I immediately sent for some raspberry leaf tea and began taking one cup of it each day, made from one teaspoon of dried leaves added to one cup of boiling water and steeped for 15 minutes. I had a very normal pregnancy. Then I went into labor, I truly expected to have an easy labor and delivery because I had faithfully taken the tea. While it is true that I did not have a complicated or extremely difficult time, it was not by any means easy. The tea had not lived up to my expectations.

“It was not until sometimes after the birth of my daughter that I read a book my mother had brought with her from Scotland entitled Dragged to Light by W.H. Box of Plymouth, England. In it I found the secret of just how to take the tea so it would truly work wonders during labor and delivery. Box said, ‘On one ounce of raspberry leaves pour one pint of boiling water, cover and let steep for 30 minutes. Strain, and when the time for delivery is approaching drink the whole as hot as possible.’

“There were a number of testimonials in the book written by women who had used this herb. Several took the strong solution over a period of time before going into labor. They were instructed in that case to take a wine glass full three times a day. They had ‘only two stiff pains and it was all over’ or ‘no after pains and very slight before.’ They never made it out of the house. Box’s instructions were, ‘But those who take the tea considerably before the time should not leave the house when the time is approaching as many mothers are delivered almost suddenly when at their work, to the great vexation of doctors and nurses.’

“When I became pregnant again I was determined to try it that way. I still took a cup a day as I had before. but this time when I went into labor I made a strong solution of it as I had read in the book. I put it in a container and took it to the hospital with me. I wasn’t sure how quickly it would work and I didn’t want to have the baby in the car. I didn’t think they’d allow me to drink it in the hospital so I drank half of it in the parking lot. I was afraid to drink all of it as it was so strong and I didn’t personally know anyone who had taken it this strong before. I had been having strong contractions but by the time I registered and was taken up to the labor room the contractions were so mild I hardly felt them. Upon examination they said I was ready to deliver and would not even give me an enema. In the delivery room I was quite comfortable and hardly felt anything. One hour after entering the hospital my son was born.

“In the recovery room there were several other young women who had just given birth also. They were moaning and groaning. I couldn’t imagine what they were making a fuss about as I felt like I could have gotten up and gone home. I had always read and heard about women getting after-pains with a second child. I never had even one. This was also the testimony of a number of women who were treated with the tea by Box.

“Later I thought I would have had an easy time anyway since it was my second child. I was anxious for someone else to try it.  A friend of mine was expecting a baby in a few weeks and she had been taking a cup of the tea daily and was also going to take the strong solution when she went into labor. She had had two previous pregnancies and both times nearly miscarried and had to take drugs and be in bed a good deal of the time. Both deliveries were extremely difficult. When she became pregnant this time she began spotting and it looked like she would have to go through the same kind of trouble she had before. Having used an herb I had given her for another problem, with success, she asked if there was an herb for this problem and I recommended raspberry leaf tea.

“She started taking it and the spotting stopped immediately and she had a normal pregnancy, much to the amazement of her family who remembered her difficulties in the past. When she went into labor she took the tea as I had and told me she had only 25 minutes of hard labor before her baby was born.

“I have told a number of women about this amazing herb through the years, but no one else seemed interested enough to try it. However, 1978 my daughter became pregnant and she was very much interested in having an easy delivery. She took the tea each day and had a normal pregnancy. She, too, took the strong solution of the tea with her to the hospital and also being a little wary drank only half of it. When the doctor examined her, it was late in the evening. He said the baby wouldn’t be born until six o’clock in the the morning so he went home. She was having hard contractions at this time and I was very disappointed and felt the tea hadn’t worked. An hour and a half later we recieved a call from our son-in-law saying we had a little grandson. The tea started working and the doctor had no sooner reached his home when he had to turn around and come right back to the hospital. My daughter said the next time she is going to drink all of the tea.”