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Posted by Carri:
For this birth I am planning on having all 3 of my children present. My oldest son was there at the last birth and loved it. He was so cute that he immediately asked where the placenta was after the baby was born (my doctor noted that he was clearly the son of a birth doula). People tend to worry about how kids handle birth, but I found bringing Caden in right as the baby was crowning was perfect. He saw me a bit while I was laboring, but found that he would rather color out in the hall. He loved seeing the baby right away and was able to cut the cord. My second oldest is very excited that he will have the honor of cutting the cord this time.
I do think it is important to talk to your kids about labor and birth. I talk to them about what sounds women make while they labor, and that sometimes we cry, but that it is all for a good reason. We watch the video of them when they were born and talk about it as well. I think telling them ways they can help - if they want to - is also empowering to them. This time around, I'm glad that they can come and go as they please and just be there when they want. They will have plenty of people around to help them and keep an eye on them, so it will all work out fine. I also think it is very important to stress that they do not have to be present at the birth if they don't feel comfortable. Making it a choice, rather than a rule, helps bring the stress level down. Overall I hope it is a great experience for them and one they will remember forever.
On a quick side note, I think wearing BINSI skirts during your birth helps avoid some of the awkwardness of having older boy children (and other family members) in the room. I'm thankful my little skirt will make everyone feel more comfortable most importantly me!
Showing posts with label Placenta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Placenta. Show all posts
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Birth Story - An Unexpected Home Birth
Posted by Carri:
My last doula client had her baby this weekend - and it was a wild story! They live a little more than an hour away from me, and because she was already 4+ centimeters, I knew it would be fast. However, when they called me I ran out the door as fast as I could, but was too late! Bummer because I love this couple so much, and it will be my last doula birth for a while. But I wasn't the only one that missed it - they never even made it to the car! I drove up to find an ambulance and fire truck outside - and was shocked. Apparently her water broke and the baby was born less than 45 minutes later. Her husband was brilliant in that he checked to make sure that the cord was not wrapped around the baby's neck, an when his wife asked him to pull the baby out, he told her to wait until her next contraction. This was their second baby, but I think that was amazing! They called 911 after the baby had been born and all was well.
***A little side note if this, or something else dealing with a lot of blood happens, the fire department and medics do NOT clean up afterward, so make sure to ask for some gloves before they leave ; )***
All in all it was a great birth and everyone was healthy and happy. Another good example of why birth is not a medical event, but a natural beautiful part of life.
This whole ordeal got me really thinking. I too have very fast births, and even though I'm having a home birth and everyone is close by..... what if? So I looked online for the basics on delivering a baby unassisted so my husband would be able to the best he could if faced with a similar situation. This came from Labor Basics on About.com
• Don't panic. Remaining calm can help you focus on the birth, even if you are alone.
• Call your doctor, midwife, or 9-1-1 if you are able. If you are in your car, pull over and put on your blinkers. No use killing everyone by driving wildly, you're much safer having the baby in the car while it's stopped.
• Remind mother to try to pant, or only push very gently with the contractions.
• As the baby's head becomes visible, place your hand on the head and provide it with support to keep it from popping out. Remind mother to try and pant during this part to help prevent tearing. If you're alone, simply place your hands over the baby's head as best as possible.
• Do not pull on the baby or it's head! You may gently guide the baby out.
• Gently stroke downward on the baby's nose to help expel the excess mucous and amniotic fluid.
• Place the baby skin-to-skin on mom, with the baby's head slightly lower than it's body (to help facilitate draining the mucous). Cover both of them with dry blankets or towels.
• Don't cut or pull on the umbilical cord.
• If the placenta is born place it next to the baby, again do not cut the cord. (I would add to put it in a ziplock bag or Tupperware container)
• Keep mom and baby safe until the practitioner arrives, or until help gets there. Or until you can get to the place of birth.
My last doula client had her baby this weekend - and it was a wild story! They live a little more than an hour away from me, and because she was already 4+ centimeters, I knew it would be fast. However, when they called me I ran out the door as fast as I could, but was too late! Bummer because I love this couple so much, and it will be my last doula birth for a while. But I wasn't the only one that missed it - they never even made it to the car! I drove up to find an ambulance and fire truck outside - and was shocked. Apparently her water broke and the baby was born less than 45 minutes later. Her husband was brilliant in that he checked to make sure that the cord was not wrapped around the baby's neck, an when his wife asked him to pull the baby out, he told her to wait until her next contraction. This was their second baby, but I think that was amazing! They called 911 after the baby had been born and all was well.
***A little side note if this, or something else dealing with a lot of blood happens, the fire department and medics do NOT clean up afterward, so make sure to ask for some gloves before they leave ; )***
All in all it was a great birth and everyone was healthy and happy. Another good example of why birth is not a medical event, but a natural beautiful part of life.
This whole ordeal got me really thinking. I too have very fast births, and even though I'm having a home birth and everyone is close by..... what if? So I looked online for the basics on delivering a baby unassisted so my husband would be able to the best he could if faced with a similar situation. This came from Labor Basics on About.com
• Don't panic. Remaining calm can help you focus on the birth, even if you are alone.
• Call your doctor, midwife, or 9-1-1 if you are able. If you are in your car, pull over and put on your blinkers. No use killing everyone by driving wildly, you're much safer having the baby in the car while it's stopped.
• Remind mother to try to pant, or only push very gently with the contractions.
• As the baby's head becomes visible, place your hand on the head and provide it with support to keep it from popping out. Remind mother to try and pant during this part to help prevent tearing. If you're alone, simply place your hands over the baby's head as best as possible.
• Do not pull on the baby or it's head! You may gently guide the baby out.
• Gently stroke downward on the baby's nose to help expel the excess mucous and amniotic fluid.
• Place the baby skin-to-skin on mom, with the baby's head slightly lower than it's body (to help facilitate draining the mucous). Cover both of them with dry blankets or towels.
• Don't cut or pull on the umbilical cord.
• If the placenta is born place it next to the baby, again do not cut the cord. (I would add to put it in a ziplock bag or Tupperware container)
• Keep mom and baby safe until the practitioner arrives, or until help gets there. Or until you can get to the place of birth.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
The Middle Wife
Posted by Kim:
A friend sent this to me in an email and I thought it was so cute that I would share it with you!
The 'Middle Wife' by an Anonymous 2nd grade teacher
I've been teaching now for about fifteen years. I have two kids myself, but the best birth story I know is the one I saw in my own second grade classroom a few years back.
When I was a kid, I loved show-and-tell. So I always have a few sessions with my students. It helps them get over shyness and usually,show-and-tell is pretty tame. Kids bring in pet turtles, model airplanes, pictures of fish they catch, stuff like that. And I never, ever place any boundaries or limitations on them. If they want to lug it in to school and talk about it, they're welcome.
Well, one day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very outgoing kid, takes her turn and waddles up to the front of the class with a pillow stuffed under her sweater.
She holds up a snapshot of an infant. 'This is Luke, my baby brother, and I'm going to tell you about his birthday.'
'First, Mom and Dad made him as a symbol of their love, and then Dad put a seed in my Mom's stomach, and Luke grew in there. He ate for nine months through an umbrella cord.'
She's standing there with her hands on the pillow, and I'm trying not to laugh and wishing I had my camcorder with me. The kids are watching her in amazement.
'Then, about two Saturdays ago, my Mom starts saying and going, 'Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh!' Erica puts a hand behind her back and groans. 'She walked around the house for, like an hour, 'Oh, oh, oh!' (Now this kid is doing a hysterical duck walk and groaning.)
'My Dad called the middle wife. She delivers babies, but she doesn't have a sign on the car like the Domino's man. They got my Mom to lie down in bed like this.' (Then Erica lies down with her back against the wall.)
'And then, pop! My Mom had this bag of water she kept in there in case he got thirsty, and it just blew up and spilled all over the bed, like psshhheew!' ( This kid has her legs spread with her little hands miming water flowing away.. It was too much!)
'Then the middle wife starts saying 'push, push,' and 'breathe, breathe.They started counting, but never even got past ten. Then, all of a sudden, out comes my brother. He was covered in yucky stuff that they all said it was from Mom's play-center, (placenta) so there must be a lot of toys inside there. When he got out, the middle wife spanked him for crawling up in there.'
Then Erica stood up, took a big theatrical bow and returned to her seat.
I'm sure I applauded the loudest. Ever since then, when it's show-and-tell day, I bring my camcorder, just in case another ' Middle Wife' comes along.
A friend sent this to me in an email and I thought it was so cute that I would share it with you!
The 'Middle Wife' by an Anonymous 2nd grade teacher
I've been teaching now for about fifteen years. I have two kids myself, but the best birth story I know is the one I saw in my own second grade classroom a few years back.
When I was a kid, I loved show-and-tell. So I always have a few sessions with my students. It helps them get over shyness and usually,show-and-tell is pretty tame. Kids bring in pet turtles, model airplanes, pictures of fish they catch, stuff like that. And I never, ever place any boundaries or limitations on them. If they want to lug it in to school and talk about it, they're welcome.
Well, one day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very outgoing kid, takes her turn and waddles up to the front of the class with a pillow stuffed under her sweater.
She holds up a snapshot of an infant. 'This is Luke, my baby brother, and I'm going to tell you about his birthday.'
'First, Mom and Dad made him as a symbol of their love, and then Dad put a seed in my Mom's stomach, and Luke grew in there. He ate for nine months through an umbrella cord.'
She's standing there with her hands on the pillow, and I'm trying not to laugh and wishing I had my camcorder with me. The kids are watching her in amazement.
'Then, about two Saturdays ago, my Mom starts saying and going, 'Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh!' Erica puts a hand behind her back and groans. 'She walked around the house for, like an hour, 'Oh, oh, oh!' (Now this kid is doing a hysterical duck walk and groaning.)
'My Dad called the middle wife. She delivers babies, but she doesn't have a sign on the car like the Domino's man. They got my Mom to lie down in bed like this.' (Then Erica lies down with her back against the wall.)
'And then, pop! My Mom had this bag of water she kept in there in case he got thirsty, and it just blew up and spilled all over the bed, like psshhheew!' ( This kid has her legs spread with her little hands miming water flowing away.. It was too much!)
'Then the middle wife starts saying 'push, push,' and 'breathe, breathe.They started counting, but never even got past ten. Then, all of a sudden, out comes my brother. He was covered in yucky stuff that they all said it was from Mom's play-center, (placenta) so there must be a lot of toys inside there. When he got out, the middle wife spanked him for crawling up in there.'
Then Erica stood up, took a big theatrical bow and returned to her seat.
I'm sure I applauded the loudest. Ever since then, when it's show-and-tell day, I bring my camcorder, just in case another ' Middle Wife' comes along.
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