Beautiful Precipitous Around-The-Town-Then-Homebirth

Read this Gringa's story (her words, not mind).

Immediate Breathing At Birth

Jenna, this one is for you.

I was recently at a birth where baby didn't pink up and start yollering right away. Now, someone who has been at a great number of births can start to tell when it is normal flaccidity that will ebb with a little attention and patience and when baby needs a little help starting up.

But, one of the main concerns I have is how this is managed at the hospital...

This babe was quite shell shocked from a rather severe case of shoulder dystocia and a little tired from the hard work he and mama had done. He was born with no tone, bad color, and no breathing. He was one of those babies that needed a little help. Doc gave him 40 seconds to become responsive and, with vigorous rubbing, sole thumping, and mama and daddy calling him earth bound, pronounced him 'needing more work' and clamped and cut the cord, whisked him away to a nearby table, and continued what they were already doing previously on mama's tummy.

Only now, his oxygen line was gone.

In this study, it is shown, in part, how the presence of oxygen, as well as decreased blood flow in the umbilical cord, help to stimulate a babies first breathe. The downside is, if you are worried about baby showing stimulated response, independent breathing, and coming 'earth side', WHY THE HECK WOULD YOU CUT OFF THEIR ONLY SOURCE OF OXYGEN in hopes that they will start respiration? It is exasperating an already possibly problematic situation.

They rubbed him down... coulda continued to do that while he was still attached. They thumped his heels... coulda continued doing that while he was still attached. They ran the oxygen under his nose... coulda done that while he was still attached.

As it was, he took his first breath, independently, about a minute and 45 seconds after he was born... 45 seconds after he was deprived of his oxygen source. seconds from being intubated. They were literally prepping the line to intubate him when he took his first shaky breath. He began crying lustily and everyone cheered, me included... but they could have avoided that emergently necessary first breath by leaving him attached. The placenta detached 30 minutes later.

I have seen homebirths where baby was born equally shell shocked and the midwife was equally diligent at getting babies first breath initiated... while leaving the cord intact. The difference is that one babe will have to be 'bagged' when the placenta detaches or umbilical cord stops pulsing (generally within 2-5 minutes) vs. baby having to be bagged within 1-2 minutes postpartum. Giving baby that extra cushion can be the difference between an 'emergency' and the emergent first breath.

Most homebirth midwives carry oxygen, the same as hospitals, but usually let nature, and baby, determine when they need to intervene, not before, which reduces risk by default.

.. sigh, I was planning on posting the birthstory of Tres this evening, but this is what you got instead. I have it written down on pen and paper (I know, what is that) and promise to get it up by week ending. I know Mama M and Daddy M are getting anxious to see it, and the pictures - BREATHTAKING (no pun intended).

Materni-Tea Time!

Date:	Saturday, February 6, 2010
Time:	1:30pm - 3:30pm
Location:	Taig Chiropractic
Street:	5510 Cascade rd SE suite 280
City/Town:	Grand Rapids, MI

Calling all expectant couples in the Grand Rapids area. You are invited to join us for an afternoon of fun and lots of good information. Sage Birth Co-Op will be holding a Materni-Tea, a time to meet our childbirth professionals: birth doulas, childbirth educators, and postpartum doulas, as well as learn of your options in the Grand Rapids Area.

You will hear all about birth doulas, what the difference is between hospital childbirth classes and independent childbirth education, and how postpartum doulas can make the transition to parenthood easier.

We will have teas, snacks, and goodie bags to hand out, as well as a short lesson on relaxation during pregnancy and birth.

Come for food, fun, and fellowship with other women at your stage it life!

Please RVSP if planning to attend by emailing me or visiting our co-op site, Sage Birth Co-Op

Childbirth in the News

There have been some wonderful articles on recent studies that are very encouraging that I wanted to pass on to the women in my life (both IRL and blogsphere) that are expecting babies soon.

One discusses the issue of nuchal cords during labor and birth. A nuchal cord is, by definition, when the umbilical cord wraps around tte baby's neck while in the womb.

The article states:

A new study backs up previous research showing that nuchal cord is not the
threat it's percieved to be.

The second article I would like to bring to your attention is entitled Eating During Labor Has No Ill Effects. According to the study cited in this article

Allowing a pregnant woman to eat during labor does not seem to have any impact
on the outcome of the infant or mother, and doesn't increase the risk of
vomiting, according to a new study.

This is exciting that they have documented what many of us already know! Combine that with the decrease in labor length (albiet small) in the group allowed to eat during labor, and our knowledge of the human body and it's need for fuel during strenuous activity, eating when hungry during labor and birth is a good thing.

This borderline hypoglycemic is so happy to see this archaic practice is getting the bad attention it deserves! Hopefully this means women no longer *have* to sneak their nourishment when opting for hospital births.

I am happy to say that I have also contacted local hospitals recently to see if they have updated their NPO ("non per oris" or nothing by mouth) policy and 3 out of 4 immediately said yes.

Finally, this article talks about the increase risk of cesarean section from inducing labor prematurely.

Again, this is not new news, but definitely exciting to see it get some good media coverage. My favorite part of the article is the last sentence (emphasis mine)

"Glantz advises that pregnant women and their doctors may be better off waiting
for spontaneous labor. "Try to reserve interventions for situations
where risk outweighs benefit". (and I assume he means risks of not intervening)

Now to see that in practice.... :-)

Grief

Those who follow me on Facebook will see that we lost my Uncle Ken early this morning, around 1:00am. He was found to have cancer in December and was gone last night. He fought hard, but his body couldn't take it.

We have had a great many losses in the last 3 years in our family. Through each grief, there are some things that stick with me. Grief, in our family, means the newborns being nursed at mamas breast while the little ones run between our feet. The women baking and cooking in the kitchen while whispered memories are shared and family stories are passed to the next generation. It means smiles, tears, laughter, and hurt; all mingled together and simmered over low to bring out the full, spicy, and filling aroma of fresh loss.

It means hope, and newly birthed healing. It means time and fragility. And most of all, it means family.

I am working to get back to you all on a regular basis, and have some posts planned very soon, please bear with me.

I Heard It On The L&D Floor

So, I heard the following in the halls of the L&D ward a few days ago,

"Ooops, I guess she was supposed to get the pitocin, wrong chart" and off rushed the nurse. That is more than just a little frightening to think that someone on that floor was given the wrong 'treatment' and the wrong chart was being reviewed.

I sent a little prayer up right then that it was not a serious mistake and that the mom and baby were fine.

Just one more reason for a continuous, active advocate to attend you during labor and birth, whether it is a doula, your sister, best friend, mom, or partner.

Yop!

I feel like the Who on Horton Hear's a Who - giving a yop to let you all know that I am here. I am simply where I have VERY limited internet access.

Thus, the loll.

I have a few blog posts coming up in the next few weeks, though. They will include:
Birth story of Tres
Variations in Presentation and Doula Tips
I Heard it on the L&D Floor
And a guest blogger

Let me know if you have any subjects that you would like me to post on and I will put them on my Honey Do list for the month of February. I look forward to hearing your requests/interests!