3 Doulas

Rememberance of Things Past

By Jenny Gillespie

 

Some of us have read Marcel Proust's Rememberance of Things Past.  For the author, the link to his childhood was the smell of baked "Madeleines"....

 

A pheromone (from Greek phero "to bear" + hormone from Greek "impetus") is a secreted or excreted chemical factor that triggers a social response in members of the same species.  Pheromones are chemicals capable of acting outside the body of the secreting individual to impact the behavior of the receiving individual.

Taken from Wikipedia

 

As a labor support doula and childbirth educator, one of the things I remind my moms and dads about is the importance of relaxation and deep breathing during labor. 

Well, I learned something recently while I was at a birth:  The importance of pheremones and the magic of smell.  This is what happened:

Mom had been in labor on and off for two days and, when we arrived at the hospital in the middle of the night, she had been experiencing contractions every 5-6 minutes or so.  The "slow deep" breathing had worked very well for her up until then.  When we were still home she rested, ate small meals, took a shower, and sat on the birth ball.  She had been inhaling deeply and slowly exhaling, moving and rocking. She was in a groove. 

Once she was admitted to Labor and Delivery, her contractions picked up.  She grabbed her husband and brought his face close to hers and said: " Breathe with me." As he moved in close, she buried her face in the crook of his neck, and began to breathe in deeply.  With every breath she took, I could see the tension releasing.  Every time she smelled her husband's skin, she was more at peace, more confident, more relaxed.  When each contraction subsided, she would slowly open her eyes, focus on us, and smile. "Wow" she would say, "That felt great!"  With each new contraction, she would reach for her husband and hug him tightly,  breathing in his smell.  Her labor continued, and with each contraction that passed, I would remind her she was one contraction closer to meeting her baby.

There is a rhythm and ritual that women work out during their labor and I witness this with every birth that I attend.  With this birth, the simple act of smelling her loved one made this mom feel safe, secure, and in control.  It was a beautiful sight.

 

 

We've Come a Long Way baby

By jenny Gillespie

Ok, so most of you reading this probably don't remember ever seeing the slogan for the Virginia Slims add campaign: "You've Come a Long Way Baby!".  Well that slogan comes to mind when I think of how far hospital births have come.... 

Gone are the days when newborns were whisked away from their mothers and taken to the nursery so that mom "can rest".  Babies would inevitably be brought back to mom with a tell tale milk mustache, and I am not talking breastmilk!  Twenty five years ago, the nurseries were packed with babies all lined up by the viewng window so that proud dads could show off baby to visiting family and friends.  Today the nurseries look deserted, they are quiet, why?  because baby is with mom, where she belongs.

Gone are the days...

Ok, I am jumping ahead of myself here, I want to go back a step to Labor and Delivery.

Twenty five years ago, when my first baby was born the delivery room was a very different place from what it is today.  A lot has changed since then, and as a doula for over ten years I welcome those changes..Things aren't perfect, but they are much better!

Some differences between then and now:

Then..If I"d hired a doula, the nurse would have told her to wait in the parent's lounge!  "It's too crowded in here! mom doesn't need you, I am here, I have done this for 30 years, she's in good hands"

Now.. "Oh I see you have a doula, hi there! let me show you where the ice machine is" (some things will never change).

Then..If I had given the nurse my birth preferences (typed up on my manual type writer), her response would have been :" Pffft, you don't need this, I KNOW exactly what you need, now hop into bed and be a good girl, I'll be right back with the enema..."

Now.. "Ok these are your preferences right?  Let's go over these together"

Then.. The nurse's response to my tentative attempt at bending the rules: "walk around, oh no no that is absolutely out of the question... a shower, well our delivery rooms don't have those, you should have taken one at home"

Now.. The response goes something like " Let's see how everything goes...Does dad have trunks?  We don't like seeing naked dads around here!  too scary!!"

Then.. The nurse takes baby and says: "I'll be right back with a clean, nice smelling baby!"

Now.."Congratulations Mommy, let's put this little one on your chest, skin to skin is the best thing for both of you"

Anyway the list goes on..But some things don't change... Check in tomorrow to find out what habits are hard to break!!

 

 

What's Your Hospital's Cesarean Rate?

By Mandy Schutt

 

A recent study that took a look at the astronomical cesarean section rates in California came to a very un-shocking conclusion:

Women who give birth at non-profit hospitals have a significantly lower c-section rate.

I’m talking, in some cases, significantly lower.

For example, at Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center (a non-profit hospital) new moms had a 9% chance of having a cesarean. While a mom at Los Angeles Community Hospital had a 47% (yes, you read that right, forty-seven percent) chance of having a cesarean.

The study showed that some hospitals located very close to the other, so serving the same population, had drastically different cesarean rates depending on well, the amount of money they would make from performing a surgical birth.

As quoted by California Watch, Desirre Andrews, president of the International Cesarean Awareness Network, a nonprofit that would like to see C-sections only in cases of medical need said, "This data is compelling and strongly suggests, as many childbirth advocates currently suspect, that there may be a provable connection between profit and the cesarean rate," said

Wondering what the Cesarean rates are at your local hospital? Find out here.  

Okay, so let’s say that you just found out that your hospital and/or doctor have a higher c-section rate than you're comfortable with. (Remember to always make this one of your first questions when vetting obstetricians!)

What next?

You are not stuck! You have options- yes, even up until the actual birth of your child! Regardless of insurance issues, you have choices. Of course, it’s easier and more enjoyable if you change care providers early on but I’ve heard of mothers literally firing their OBs as they are giving birth! Your first step might be to:

-speak with your doula about your concerns and see what sort of local connections and resources she can offer to assist you

-contact your local ICAN chairperson, they will be happy to walk you through your options

-call your insurance and see if you can simply change care-providers (you would then seek out your ideal care provider and begin seeing them) a lot of times it’s just that easy!

Through the entire process of finding your ideal hospital and care provider, keep the following in mind:

The World Health Organization recommends that the cesarean rate in any country should not exceed 15%. If your hospital or care giver has a rate higher than this, it very well may be a red flag.

 Download your Southern CA Cesarean Primer here.

 

Homebirth As A Wedding...the price of having (or not having) the homebirth you want

By Mandy Schutt

This past week, I celebrated my ten year wedding anniversary and still think marrying my husband was one of the best choices I ever made! I’m crazy for the guy and somehow, he’s still crazy for me. Even after all this time, I remember the insane amounts of thought and research that went into our wedding…

 
The author, Mandy, and husband Griffin in 2000

My wedding dress was custom made by my aunt who is a seamstress. I designed it as a classic, elegant statement. It fit me perfectly, and very well should for all the dress fittings I stood through as my aunt laboriously trimmed, measured, hemmed, pinned, and stitched. The dress meant many trips around town for just the exact right lace and the perfect texture of silk. Hundreds of hours were spent bent over that long white gown as my aunt hand-embellished the bodice, sewed in the ribbing to the exact centimeter, and then if it wasn’t just perfect- she’d rip it out and do it all again.

And this, folks, was just the dress.

I could write pages about the number of churches and halls we walked through, the thousands of flower arrangements I scoured, the antique stores I visited to find the perfect vintage jewelry for my bridesmaids, the fittings at the tux shop, the trips to the bridal stores and beauty parlors, the consults with professionals, and of course, the daily trips to the gym to get INTO the dress! When “the” day came, my wedding was indeed lovely despite the fact that it was actually much less expensive than the average American wedding. It was held in a chapel, not a cathedral, and as beautiful as it was, many would still consider it a relatively humble affair.

I look back now and wish I had eloped...or at least toned it down a bit.

Why?

Oh, it’s not that I disliked the wedding; it’s just that it was so much tadoo for an outcome that would have been the same with or without all the pomp and circumstance.

With or without a wedding, I was getting my man.

All this reflection on my wedding made me realize more than ever, how flip-flopped our priorities are as American young ladies. We grow up and dream of the dress, the flowers; the ceremony of our wedding. But the ever-important ceremony of becoming mothers rarely crosses our minds until we see that pink line on a pregnancy test. Only then will most of us begin to envision what our birth will look like…and when we do,

“Eeeeek!”

most of us are terrified.

Some women don’t react like this though. They manage to get their hands on some more substantial reads like, “Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth”, “Your Best Birth”, or “The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth”. They gather information from research that has no hidden agenda. They may even hire a doula. These women want something more than freedom of decision-making in their pregnancy- they want the sort of birth they know deep inside, that they are capable of and that actually entails making a whole lot of decision making!

It is more often than one would expect, when a mother like this mentions to me, “You know, what I really want is a home birth. But…my insurance won’t cover it.”

My heart sinks.

It’s not that you have to have a home birth to have a beautiful birth, but if a woman truly WANTS a homebirth and understands what that entails, without a doubt she will have expectations about her birth that are not met in a hospital setting.

I’d like to pause for a moment to point out that many western women would happily spend money on a wedding and never question its monetary value, but when the idea of spending money for a birth is raised, there is much more pause.

We are raised knowing that our wedding day is:

...one of the best days of our lives,

    ...the beginning of a new life with another human being

        ...symbolic of a deep and meaningful love and commitment

            ...to be celebrated and commemorated in a meaningful manner.

Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t that exactly what our birth days are supposed to be as well?

I understand why it happens. Birth isn’t really something we grow up anticipating spending money on. It’s not like a wedding, or a car, or a home (actually it’s far more important!). Most of us envision giving birth in a hospital- after all that’s where most of us were born and it is certainly where all the Hollywood babies we’ve been watching on T.V.get born! It’s not a culturally accepted idea to have to pay for our births. We don’t plan on it.

Now, I don’t want to get into the politics and business aspects of why home birth is not covered on most insurance policies. That’s a whole other deal. What I do want to do is to simply present the question that I ended up asking myself when I was considering my impending birth day:

“Why did I feel so comfortable spending money on a wedding ceremony that was pleasant, yet unnecessary but I am questioning the out of pocket expenses for a home birth?”

Having a baby and the manner in which I did it, far outshone the importance of a white gown and flowers to me. There were certain aspects of my birth that I wanted done my way. I knew that I’d have to either fight for or surrender these preferences in a hospital setting. I just wasn’t okay with that. Unlike marriage, where I would have gotten my man through a courtroom ceremony or a traditional wedding, the process of my baby’s arrival was actually very significant to me.

Not having a home birth was never an option for me. I wouldn’t let it be.  Paying for it was hard; we worked out a payment plan with the midwife, my husband and I worked a ton of hours, and we lived in a 300 square foot apartment until the month before I gave birth. We made a way for it to happen. Now, it would be incredibly naïve of me to think that it was this simple for everyone. I certainly understand that even as tight as finances were for us, we weren’t poor and we were both employed. This is why I love the idea of a new non-profit that offers home birth scholarships to those who truly cannot afford them.

There are many things moms can do to make their home birth a reality despite tight finances. If you are questioning home birth and if it is worth the out of pocket expenses, I cannot encourage you enough to at least look into your options. You don’t have to commit ahead of time, but my guess is that once you start speaking with midwives, looking at their care plans, realizing that your prenatal appointments are generally 45-60 minutes long (Yes! There IS that much to talk about during pregnancy!!), that you will have continuous care, and that your newborn will be tended to in the comfort and convenience of your home in those first few weeks of life, you will begin to truly understand the value of your dollars.

After having a home birth, I will never be able to “go back” to my childhood idea of birthing in a hospital. I was tended to by the most generous, kind, and thoughtful birthing team. In all seriousness, the care I received was so wonderfully humbling- and the postpartum attention that was given to every detail of my healing and wholeness as well as that of my child, far exceeeds anything a hospital would ever be able to logistically provide. I also totally understand that home birth is not the right choice for everyone and many women prefer to birth in a hospital. That’s great, and I will continue to support these women, but for me, home birth was the right choice.

I imagine that if I am blessed enough to give birth a second time, there will be even more financial sacrifices made to make a home birth happen. I don’t care; I’ll do it. I’ll beg, borrow, trade, research, negotiate, and barter if I have to! In fact, I’ve created a long list of all the items I would sell in order to get money to pay for it- my wedding dress is one of them.

 
 Mandy & Griffin welcoming thier daughter to the world, moments after her birth in 2009

Affording a Homebirth

By Mandy Schutt

Some women dream of a homebirth but when they realize that insurance won't cover all/some of the costs involved, stop considering it as a serious option. I urge every women to seek out the birth of her dreams, if that involves birthing at home, don't let insurance companies stand in your way!

 
This amazing art by: Richard Wilkinson

There are many things moms can do to make their home birth a reality despite tight finances. Here are some ideas to consider:

-contact several midwives and ask about payment plans

- inquire about fees they may offer on a sliding scale or part-trade options

-many midwives accept payment via credit card (though I am not an advocate of depbt, I do know some clever folks who have opened particular cards that offer 0% interest and just used the card for their births and then closed the account)

-some midwives accept government subsidized medical programs, like Medi-Cal in California

-check and double check that your insurance truly won’t cover homebirth, there are several insurance providers who cover a certain percentage of the costs

-keep in mind that home birth can be itemized on your taxes

-if you want a doula and a home birth but can’t afford both, contact a local doula or doula training agency/organization, most of the time there is a certifying doula who will do a low or no cost birth to gain more home birth experience (doulas love attending home births!)

-if you have hired a doula, she may be able to connect you to some midwives in your area that take lower cost births- search around your city's birth community and snoop around midwifery schools- don't be afraid to ask for help!

-check out the non-profit, Normalizing Homebirth; they are in the process of offering scholarships to women who cannot pay for a homebirth but would like one.

Hypnosis For Childbirth Q&A, Part I

By Mandy Schutt

I teach Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis.

I don’t have crystals hanging from my rearview mirror.

I’ve never had my palm read.

I don’t wear patchouli.

I’m not any good at yoga and I don’t even have a Buddha statue in my garden.

So, what’s an average girl like me doing teaching hypnosis techniques?

Isn’t that stuff for the mystical, aura-reading, granola, slightly “out there” types?

I used to think so, until I met my first Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis instructors; she was wearing a button up polo shirt, drove a minivan, and was the mother of three adorable little boys. Some might even mistake her for a soccer mom, certainly not the type of woman who would subscribe to something as extreme as hypnosis!

After a few minutes of hearing her talk about Hypnobabies, I realized that I’d had it all wrong. Hypnosis wasn’t as crazy as I’d thought, in fact it sort of made sense- especially as a tool to use during childbirth. Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis provides birthing moms with about a gazillion ways to make their birth better and it really just starts with hypnosis.  

I had a lot of questions about the hows and whys and whats of hypnosis. Turns out, my questions were actually pretty commonly asked. Now, as a Hypnobabies instructor, I answer these questions all the time- especially from doubting daddies. Without fail, there is always a dad who comes to Class 1, who is there, “to support my wife” and that’s about it. I love- and I mean LOVE- skeptical fathers in my class. Why?

1. Duh, they show their character by agreeing to go to a class with their wife (even though the sound of three hours, once a week sounds like torture!) out of pure support. A guy who does that must really love his partner!

 2. I know that in a matter of a week or two (sometimes within mere hours) “Doubting Daddy” will

become “Positive Papa” as he sees for himself how beneficial hypnosis is to his wife and child, and how informative the classes are for birth partners and expecting mothers alike! By the end of the series, moms AND dads are sad to go, the classes have been educational, reassuring, exciting, and a great place to socialize and swap positive pregnancy stories!

It’s rewarding to see this transformation as an instructor! I welcome skeptics, for I was once one myself!

 
If you're hypno-curious (especially if you are a doubting daddy!), take a look at a few of the commonly asked questions. I may just take the words right out of your questioning little mouth! But if not, be sure to send your inquiries to the email address below. 

Q: Isn’t hypnosis when someone control’s your mind?

A: an absolute and emphatic, “No!” to this one! All hypnosis is self hypnosis. You are able to pull yourself out of hypnosis at any time and if you never want to enter it you simply don’t. No matter what a hypnotherapist or script-reader of any sort says or reads- you are in complete control! No one can make you do or say anything that you don’t want to while in hypnosis.

Q: If that’s true, why did I see a man squawking like a chicken at the hypnosis show last year at the fair?

A: These types of hypnosis shows are funny for people to watch, but there is a reason why many of the audience do not go up on stage- they don’t want to. The individuals who are doing all the silly things on stage actually want to be up there. You may also see that throughout many of these shows, someone who initially was game for participation but becomes uncomfortable mid-way through, and they are gently escorted off of the stage.

Q: Isn’t hypnosis against the rules of many religions including Christianity?

A: Hypnosis is not mind-control, nor is it a means to alter the mind. Hypnosis is simply a state of mind that we are in many times a day- while we are driving, watching television, or reading the newspaper. Here are two articles written by Christians addressing this question.

Q: Doesn’t hypnosis remove a birthing mother from the process of her child coming into the world?

A: Quite the contrary! Hypnosis actually encourages the mother to connect deeply with her body and baby in order to facilitate a more comfortable birth. Mothers who use hypnosis are aware of the birthing waves that are moving their babies down and out, however many mothers translate these sensations as pressure, a squeeze, or even a warm hug. It’s not that the actual process has changed during these mothers’ births, but they approach the “pain” (I hesitate to use that word, as some do not experience pain at all during their births) from a different mindset.

Q: If a mother is in a trance when her baby is born, is she able to deeply bond with her newborn after the birth?

A: Absolutely. Since the process of birthing hypnosis places great emphasis upon mother-infant bonding, when the baby finally arrives and is gazing into its mother’s eyes the bonding that takes place is ecstatically wonderful. Indeed, the mother already knows her child so well that this face-to-face meeting is extremely meaningful. In Hypnobabies we teach new parents a lot about how to care for their newborn in the earliest moments of life outside of the womb. Hypnobabies has even added a birthing “stage” to their curriculum called, “Baby Kindness”.

Q: What does hypnosis feel like?

A: Hypnosis feels different for everyone. Because we are all so unique in the way we learn and take life in, there is not just one way to explain the feeling of hypnosis, though almost all of my students have, at one point, used the adjective, “relaxed”. In Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis, we place a lot of emphasis on relaxation since the body is better able to birth in a relaxed state. There is no right or wrong, better or worse in hypnosis. While one mother may be able to experience her hypnosis scripts in a very tactile manner, another may see, or envision the script. All learning types will benefit from the calm that relaxation can bring them!

More Q&A to come!

I’d love to get some questions from readers too…no patchouli required. Email me at: mandyschutt@yahoo.com

The Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis website is a fantastic resource for the hypno-curious and covers topics ranging from how to find a local Hypnobabies class, if Hypnosis is in any way related to religion (it’s not!), how you can learn to walk, talk, and birth while remaining in hypnosis, and lots of other great stuff!

Hypnosis, Pleasure, and Pain- My Personal Story

By Mandy Schutt 

 “So, when you used hypnosis to birth your daughter, you didn’t have any pain?”

That’s one of the first questions I am asked when I share that I used hypnosis to prepare my mind and body for birthing.

However, the program that I used: Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis, is careful to stress that their program is not all about achieving a pain-free birth. Sure, there are many women who are fully capable of birthing painlessly (I’ve seen it!). Most western women, however, move into their birth so amped up to go through labor’s agony that they defeat their chances of a painless birth before contractions have even started. Tension caused by fearful expectations cause the body to birth more slowly and painfully. Knowing this, we can easily understand that the more relaxed we are throughout pregnancy and birth, the less pain we feel during our birthing time.

Personally, I did not have a pain-free experience for most of my birth. I can however, tell you what hypnosis DID do for me: Mandy's birth, "It's a girl!" Not to be published elsewhere without permission from author.
 

-Allowed me to address my birthing fears head-on and deal with them before I was giving birth so that my birthing time was a joyful versus a fearful event

  

-Reminded me every day that I was capable of birthing and mothering my precious baby

  

-Provided wonderful bonding time between my baby, my husband, and myself for months before my child’s arrival

  

-Prompted me to take time out for myself amidst life’s business. During the last few months of my pregnancy I was working, traveling, bought a house (a fixer at that!), and doing all the other baby-prep stuff. I was so relieved to have an “excuse” to escape it all for a few minutes a day!

  

-Provided an in-depth and complete childbirth education course. Yes, I was a professional birth doula already but the Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis program taught me even more!

 

-Really got me excited for my birthing time! I didn’t view labor as a means to an end, I looked at it as a metamorphosis; a wonderful event that would change my life forever and bring me closer in touch to the woman that I am.

 

-Allowed me to feel comfortable and beautiful through my whole pregnancy and birthing.

 

-Pain-free pushing. I pushed for about an hour and a half and while I did exert great effort, there truly was no pain during pushes nor did I ever experience the ring of fire. My daughter’s head came out along with one of her little fists (“nuchal hand” is the technical term for this, though I prefer to call it the “Superwoman Pose”) and even with this uneven, extra stretching I felt no pain.

 

 

Who knows how much longer or more intense my birth would have been had I not used hypnosis. I remember my mind pulling to its forefront specific lines and affirmations from the hypnosis scripts that I had practiced, “I accept whatever my birthing time brings me.” was the one that presented itself to me again and again. Acceptance. That could have quite possibly been the biggest benefit to using hypnosis throughout my birthing.

 

Cool article! I’d like to read more about the Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis classes Mandy teaches.

FInally Here!...

By Jenny Gillespie

Didn't have time to post yesterday.

Ok so this is what happened on Tuesday and Wednesday.

After a night of mild contractions, labor picked up on Tuesday morning.

10:30 am: Contractions every 6-8 minutes.  Mom coping well

12:30 am: Contractions increasing in intensity and more bloody show

2:00 pm: We return to the hospital.  Mom put on the monitor, ultrasound shows plenty of fluid and placenta functioning well.  Baby's face very clear, an amazing sight.

2:30 pm: Mom's cervix check reveals she is 3 cm dilated.  We are told to walk around downstairs and come back in a couple of hours. Mom is so disappointed she cries.  We leave L and D and go downstairs.

2:30-6:15 pm:  We get a salad, some water, bring the birthing ball and sit outside.  It's a beautiful afternoon, the cafeteria is busy.  Mom sits and slowly rotates on the ball.  Contractions every 4 minutes. Strangers walk up and ask us:"Are you Ok?" "we're Ok, Thanks" I respond. Mom smiles.  We talk, and talk and talk. Mom begins to cry, and a floodgate of emotions opens up.  We hug, and I tell her how amazing she is.

6:15 pm:  Mom wants to go back up and if no progression has occurred she wants to go home.

6:15-7:30 pm: Mom is being monitored.  She is sleepy and dozes off between contractions.  Doctor enter the room and says they will check her.  She is 4 cm.  Baby is moving a lot.  Mom is baffled.  She is overwhelmed.  She wants to stay... She is admitted.

7:30-11:00 pm: Contractions continue every 5 minutes or so, mom is exhausted, but we breathe through them.  Soft music is playing in the background, and nurse T. quietly comes in and out.

3:00 am:  Mom is exhausted and contractions are off the hook. She has worked so long and so hard that she needs a break.  She wants the epidural. 

6:15 am:  Dr S. enters the room to check mom's cervix.  After checking she tells up mom is 90% effaced, baby is -2 and cervix still 3.  She suggests artificial rupturing of membranes.  We discuss it, and mom agrees.

9:15 am:  They have left us alone... until now and return to say they want to check mom.  She is 4 cm and baby at 0 station.  There is progress!  Dr tells us baby is tolerating labor very well, and they will leave us be and check again in about 4 hours...

1:30 pm: 8cm! 0 Station.  I feel like crying.  There is a little meconium in the fluid that has come out.  The nurse C. tells us that mom may not be able to bond immediately after the baby is delivered as pediatricians need to check baby right after birth.

4:30 pm:  Mom says she can feel strong contractions and a lot of pressure.  Anesthesia comes in and gives her a bolus in her IV. Doctor checks mom and she is 10 cm. Baby +1.  She wants to wait a little longer before mom starts pushing.

5:40 pm:  Mom can't hold back.  She feels a lot of pressure and nurse C. tells her to push each time she feels the pressure.

6:00 pm:  Mom is exhausted and says she can't do this.  We whisper to her that she is strong and that she is powerful and that she will meet her baby very soon.  We bring out the squat bar and attach it to the bed.  We put a sheet around the top and with each contraction, mom pulls herself up and with each push, her baby comes down more.

7:21 pm:  Baby is born! Just over 8 pounds and gorgeous. Months ago, mom had predicted her baby would be born today, the 28th of July, not on the 22nd.  

Still waiting...

By Jenny Gillespie

Mom is now 5 days past her estimated due date... She has been in early labor since the weekend. 

Yesterday, Monday she began experiencing mild contractions every five minutes or so beginning around 4 am.

All morning she was dozing on and off between contractions. She was staying hydrated, going to the bathroom and sitting on the birthing ball.

11:00 am: Mom went to the bathroom and noted a little bloody show

12:50 pm: Contractions picked up a little and became more challenging...

1:45 pm:  Mom called me and said she really needed some help with comfort measures.

2:30 pm:  I arrived at her house and her contractions were consistent, stronger and occurring every 4-5 minutes or so.  She was uncomfortable about the amount of bloody show, called her caregiver who suggested going to the hospital to get checked.

3:00 pm:  We were on our way to the hospital.

4:15 pm:  We arrived at the hospital's Labor and Delivery floor.

4:30 pm: We were taken to a triage room where mom was told to change into a gown, leave a urine sample and get into the bed.

4:45-6:00 pm:  Mom and baby were monitored.  Baby doing beautifully! and mom's contractions showing up like peaks on the strip.  An attending physician examined mom and told her she was 80% effaced, 2 cm dilated and baby was at -3 station.  We were reassured that the bloody show was normal, and told we should go back home.  

6:30-8:30 pm: Mom and I had a bite of dinner and a laugh...

10:00 pm:  I drove mom back home, where she took a shower and decided to try and get some sleep...

Let's see what today brings...

 

 

Still waiting...

By Jenny Gillespie

Ok so mom is now 4 days past her due date...The birth story unfolds:

Saturday:

In the morning, mom began experiencing contractions that were irregular every 30 minutes down to about 10 minutes.  I was on the phone with her most of the day.  She napped, ate, drank water (see importance of hydration) went to the bathroom.. 

10:00 pm: After spending most of the day texting and talking on the phone, it was time for me to go and give mom support.  I arrived at her house about 45 minutes later and we stayed inside for about an hour. Contractions every 10 or so minutes, mom was tired, uncomfortable and experiencing back pain and pelvic pressure.  

11:10 pm: We decided to take advantage of the cool night and went for a short 20 minute walk.  Contractions spaced  out a little.  Baby moving a lot! We went to the store and bought some more water.  Went back home and assessed the situation.  We both agreed that I should go home and get some rest.

1:00 am: Contractions mild and spacing out.  We decided I should go home and rest and mom should sleep also.

2:00 am: Last text. Mom relaxing going to sleep.

Sunday: 

7:00 am: Fairly uneventful night, we both got some sleep.  Contractions returned and again were every 10-8 minutes apart.  Mom was doing well, and was fine without me there.

10:40 am:  Encouraged mom to take another nap.

12:12 pm:  Mom who was napping woke up to 2 contractions 9 minutes apart with a little bloody show.  I told her that reddish/brownish bloody show is normal. Mom wanted to know why her contractions weren't getting stronger or closer.  I told her this was still early and ok.

1:30 pm:  Mom nervous about bloody show and insisted on going to hospital to get checked.  Getting checked can take a while, it's not as if you can go into the hospital and run up to Labor and Delivery and say :"Hi I would like to get checked" It can be a long process, as mom and baby need to be assessed.  Mom is monitored, baby is monitored, information is logged into mom's chart.

3:50 pm: Almost 2 1/2 hours after arriving at the hospital, mom gets checked and is 2 cm dilated and 60% effaced yay!, the bloody show is normal.

7:30 pm: 6 hours after going to get checked, mom is encouraged to go home.

10:19 pm:  Mom goes to bed for the night.  Contractions are still all over the place and mild-ish

Monday:

6:50 am:  Mom still hanging in there.  Contractions  a little stronger and longer....

Let's see what today brings!