Earth Babies Blog

Was such an unbelievable experience, I had thought that as a doula I did not want to do births and only post-natal care but I think I may have found an addiction. WOW

Mom has been in pre-labour for over a week, I had been to see her in last week where she was convinced baby would come that night but I could see she was not actually in labour. Shame they did not know when she conceived so according to what they thought she went 17 days overdue but since baby, placenta etc was all strong and healthy they gave the benefit of the doubt to them being wrong about the dates. I could totally understand where she was in that you so desperately want the baby to be born that you are convinced labour has started even when it has not.

On Sunday early morning she gave me a call at about 2 am to say she was definitely in labour contractions being 4 minutes apart but she would let me know when I should come. The midwife had also let me know that if nothing happened they would have to induce Sunday 8.30am as the mom was getting very tired and worn down in the wait. So I headed over at about 7, she was very focused on having baby that day. Labour was still not really established, contractions had eased off again. Midwife did an internal and to the poor moms disappointment she had only dilated 1cm the whole week – she was now 4cm dilated and baby was not engaged against the cervix. She had thought she would be closer to 8 by then. She did not want to induce as she very much wanted a natural labour so the midwife agreed to allow till that afternoon. We stayed with her a while, encouraged her moving about, walking stairs etc to try get baby down ad advance the labour. I left at about 11 to give them (mom & dad) a chance to nap as they were both so tired after being up half the night (and many more before).

I headed back at 2 as the midwife was again going to consider applying gel to cervix. mom said her contractions were strong and regular.
We got her moving and walking again contractions were strong and regular so we didn’t think any intervention at the time was necessary. By 4 there was still no progress in terms of dilation but Mom though still strong was starting to physically tire so midwife gave her the options of gel on the cervix to help soften it or breaking her water which would mean baby would put more direct pressure on the cervix and the contractions would come on stronger – she opted for breaking of water. They did this at 4.30pm – she was by this time only 6cm .

She is such a strong woman her active labour lasted 4 long hours of really intense contractions we helped her through each one by applying counter pressure on her lower back. Her husband was fantastic, he was by her side the whole way encouraging her, applying pressure and helping soothe her.

She had only wanted to get into the water in the pushing stage but she started tiring and becoming overwhelmed by the contractions so we encouraged her in to labour there a while which gave immediate visible relief. At 8 the midwife again checked at moms request if baby was descending and was worried to see she was only 8cm dilated, her cervix had thinned on one side but the upper side was still thick – turned out baby had his head tilted slightly up – not tucked in chin to chest.
Midwives were starting to worry that they would need to transfer mom to the hospital so they decided to give it a last try to get baby to move so he could come out. Dad sent out an sms to their ‘prayer warriors’ to pray babies head down, midwives got mom to put one foot up on a low stool and do lunges which worked like a dream immediately mom could feel baby moving down she did this a few times and then we moved her back to the pool she had a few very intense contractions, midwife helped the lip of the cervix over babies head so he could move properly into the birthing canal, we encouraged mom to push with every contractions. She worked so hard to get her baby born, it was unbelievable witnessing her strength and faith at work in getting baby out.
At 8.50 after lots of hard, tiring and forceful pushing little Gabriel emerged. Beautiful, still with some vernix and quite tired. He lay quietly in mommy’s arms and mommy who just seconds before had looked exhausted and totally drained suddenly looked beautiful, totally illuminated, excited and full of energy. They stayed together for a short while but midwife could not leave baby too long as he was tired and they needed to check he was okay and get him warmed up (I don’t think mom minded so much as she was tired too and just wanted to finish up so she could climb in bed with her baby). Baby was wrapped up tight and given to Dad while mom birthed the placenta. They then went off to the room for the midwife to check on Mom and I got busy, tidying up their space to try return it to ‘pre birth’ state leaving them to spend their time together as a family without interruptions.

I made sure they were settled, had something to drink and then headed home at 10.30 – was a very long day but an unbelievable one.

don’t know baby’s details except that he weighed 3.88kg’s as I kept to the background once I was no longer needed. Name is Gabriel meaning God’s strength (which was her mantra through the labour). We knew ahead of time he was a little baby boy.

Personally the experience was empowering, it was like reliving Rafe’s birth and to actually witness that I DID that – I have new respect for myself.

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