11/16/2011::G1P2::
Wow, not even a week later and another birth! It's 2AM and I hear on the other end of the line, "It's time to come over, Tiffany is on her way from Lancaster." I whisper to Matt, grab a snack, and I'm out the door. I get to Delphine's before the mama or the senior apprentice. Delphine and I chat and laugh easily. We are both in our pajamas. Close to 30 minutes later the mama arrives and I walk out to greet her and walk her up the hill. She smiles, excited that she will soon meet her baby. The mama had brought her sister with her, well actually her sister brought the mama. We went inside and chatted, mama used the restroom, and when she was ready I got a set of vitals. The senior apprentice arrived, with chocolate and we continued to giggle about our all girl PJ party sleepover. After awhile Delphine went to sleep so that she would be rested for the birth and the senior apprentice and I sat with the mama and her sister. We enjoyed the sleepy voice of Norah Jones in a candle lit room and shared stories. Time seemed to slow down. I watched and observed the rhythm and method of taking vitals during a woman's labor.
As the dark of the night rolled around, we were feeling sleepy. The senior apprentice and myself retreated to the office so the mama and her sister could rest. The senior apprentice showed me images of the pipe line explosion and we talked about the end of the world, which was a pretty heavy subject at 4AM! Feeling pretty sleepy I disappeared into the kitchen to sleep in a zero gravity chair. It was surprisingly very comfortable! I rested for about an hour but was having a difficult time actually falling asleep, so I decided to eat a snack. I talked with the senior apprentice some more and rested again this time sleeping until dawn. The sky was lavender and it looked cold outside. I hadn't been awake long when Delphine woke and came out to check on everyone. She recommended we do another set of vitals since it had been awhile due to mom sleeping and she suggested that I do them. Delphine made coffee! The smell alone helped me to clear my head. Mom and baby were good- I relayed info to the senior apprentice and she charted my results. The mamas contractions were coming about every 5 minutes but they didn't appear to be too strong yet as she was talking to us during many of them. We casually chatted and ate breakfast together.
Around 11AM Delphine recommended that the mama take a walk outside, thinking that the fresh air and change of pace would be good. The mama also began taking homeopathic Caulophyllum and Cimicifuga. While the mama and her sister walked we talked about her labor, looked at the labor notes, and did a lot of joking. I was having a lot of fun! When the mama returned from her walk she reported a few contractions that made her stop and she felt that the homepathics were definitely helping to make her contractions more intense. From this point on the mama eased into active labor. We began filling the pool. It seems filling the pool can be a daunting task. It seemed to take at least 30-40 minutes before the pool was ready. Clearly there is some timing involved to ensure that a mama actually has time to make it into the water. The senior apprentice and I brought pans of hot water from the stove to bring the temperature up to 100 degrees. The mama sighed when she entered the water. I remember its comfort well. I took fetal heart tones and watched the senior apprentice chart. I felt compelled to touch the mama but was feeling apprehensive to do so. Touch was very comforting to me in all three of my labors and I felt that she would be receptive. I didn't know who or how to ask. I didn't want to upset anyone. I eventually just began placing my hands on the small of her back. She felt warm, pliable. Delphine brought me arnica salve and I kept my hands applying firm pressure and circular massages. I noticed that a woman forms a heart while doing this body work. We are beautiful creatures! This was my second birth and it had become my longest birth. Twelve hours in and it didn't seem imminent yet.
The next few hours were spent doing hip presses for the mama through her contractions. Talk about arm strength! At some point the mama had to pee and we helped her get out of the pool. We soon heard Delphine's voice sound hurried, asking for us to bring in the birth trays and some pads. It seemed this baby may be ready! During this time I'm not sure what happened. I don't know where the fear came from but I could see it on the mama's face and I witnessed Delphine, with no words, gently touch the mama on the leg and say it ALL. The mama's expression changed instantly, she looked serene and determined. She wanted to go to the living room, which made perfect sense seeing as they were in the bathroom! We moved to the living room, set up pads and equipment and the mama began to push with her rushes. She was on her hands and knees and she worked so effortlessly. Shortly after her first few pushes her daughter began to crown. The senior apprentice and Delphine were side by side. The mama's water released, clear fluids. As the baby starts to slide out the senior apprentice begins to receive the baby. It was her first catch! Baby comes out immediately followed by a huge gush of meconium stained amniotic fluid. I call time. Delphine and the senior apprentice are both holding the baby. I get the mama up on the couch and they pass the baby to her. As the mama is holding her she asks us a question that doesn't make sense and Delphine springs into action. We cut the baby's cord and get the mama up to release her placenta. Within minutes after the release of her placenta she begins to regain color in her face. Delphine said blood was filling up in her uterus because the placenta was in the way. I get handed the baby who is grunting. I had never heard a baby make this noise before. Delphine and the senior apprentice are helping the mama and Delphine asks me to check the baby's blood sugar. Immediately my heart stats racing and adrenaline is flooding my body! At that moment I understood the importance of adrenaline. I will never forget how to do this test! Here is this tiny, warm baby, and I hold her tiny foot. Heat is radiating out from my core and my face is flushing. My hands acts quickly, poking her soft fleshy heel. He blood sugar is 65. She is ok! Mom is ok too! We get mom cleaned up and encourage her to nurse her baby. I begin cleaning up and removing the dirty chux pads. Delphine, the senior apprentice, and I step out into the kitchen to talk. The meconium was a surprise to us all! I help out in any way that I can. I get the mama a fruit, cheese, and cracker plate complete with juice. I help her to the restroom and back. I observed the senior apprentice doing a newborn exam. It was neat to watch her and Delphine work together. They are a great team and I am so happy to be working with them!
Wow, not even a week later and another birth! It's 2AM and I hear on the other end of the line, "It's time to come over, Tiffany is on her way from Lancaster." I whisper to Matt, grab a snack, and I'm out the door. I get to Delphine's before the mama or the senior apprentice. Delphine and I chat and laugh easily. We are both in our pajamas. Close to 30 minutes later the mama arrives and I walk out to greet her and walk her up the hill. She smiles, excited that she will soon meet her baby. The mama had brought her sister with her, well actually her sister brought the mama. We went inside and chatted, mama used the restroom, and when she was ready I got a set of vitals. The senior apprentice arrived, with chocolate and we continued to giggle about our all girl PJ party sleepover. After awhile Delphine went to sleep so that she would be rested for the birth and the senior apprentice and I sat with the mama and her sister. We enjoyed the sleepy voice of Norah Jones in a candle lit room and shared stories. Time seemed to slow down. I watched and observed the rhythm and method of taking vitals during a woman's labor.
As the dark of the night rolled around, we were feeling sleepy. The senior apprentice and myself retreated to the office so the mama and her sister could rest. The senior apprentice showed me images of the pipe line explosion and we talked about the end of the world, which was a pretty heavy subject at 4AM! Feeling pretty sleepy I disappeared into the kitchen to sleep in a zero gravity chair. It was surprisingly very comfortable! I rested for about an hour but was having a difficult time actually falling asleep, so I decided to eat a snack. I talked with the senior apprentice some more and rested again this time sleeping until dawn. The sky was lavender and it looked cold outside. I hadn't been awake long when Delphine woke and came out to check on everyone. She recommended we do another set of vitals since it had been awhile due to mom sleeping and she suggested that I do them. Delphine made coffee! The smell alone helped me to clear my head. Mom and baby were good- I relayed info to the senior apprentice and she charted my results. The mamas contractions were coming about every 5 minutes but they didn't appear to be too strong yet as she was talking to us during many of them. We casually chatted and ate breakfast together.
Around 11AM Delphine recommended that the mama take a walk outside, thinking that the fresh air and change of pace would be good. The mama also began taking homeopathic Caulophyllum and Cimicifuga. While the mama and her sister walked we talked about her labor, looked at the labor notes, and did a lot of joking. I was having a lot of fun! When the mama returned from her walk she reported a few contractions that made her stop and she felt that the homepathics were definitely helping to make her contractions more intense. From this point on the mama eased into active labor. We began filling the pool. It seems filling the pool can be a daunting task. It seemed to take at least 30-40 minutes before the pool was ready. Clearly there is some timing involved to ensure that a mama actually has time to make it into the water. The senior apprentice and I brought pans of hot water from the stove to bring the temperature up to 100 degrees. The mama sighed when she entered the water. I remember its comfort well. I took fetal heart tones and watched the senior apprentice chart. I felt compelled to touch the mama but was feeling apprehensive to do so. Touch was very comforting to me in all three of my labors and I felt that she would be receptive. I didn't know who or how to ask. I didn't want to upset anyone. I eventually just began placing my hands on the small of her back. She felt warm, pliable. Delphine brought me arnica salve and I kept my hands applying firm pressure and circular massages. I noticed that a woman forms a heart while doing this body work. We are beautiful creatures! This was my second birth and it had become my longest birth. Twelve hours in and it didn't seem imminent yet.
The next few hours were spent doing hip presses for the mama through her contractions. Talk about arm strength! At some point the mama had to pee and we helped her get out of the pool. We soon heard Delphine's voice sound hurried, asking for us to bring in the birth trays and some pads. It seemed this baby may be ready! During this time I'm not sure what happened. I don't know where the fear came from but I could see it on the mama's face and I witnessed Delphine, with no words, gently touch the mama on the leg and say it ALL. The mama's expression changed instantly, she looked serene and determined. She wanted to go to the living room, which made perfect sense seeing as they were in the bathroom! We moved to the living room, set up pads and equipment and the mama began to push with her rushes. She was on her hands and knees and she worked so effortlessly. Shortly after her first few pushes her daughter began to crown. The senior apprentice and Delphine were side by side. The mama's water released, clear fluids. As the baby starts to slide out the senior apprentice begins to receive the baby. It was her first catch! Baby comes out immediately followed by a huge gush of meconium stained amniotic fluid. I call time. Delphine and the senior apprentice are both holding the baby. I get the mama up on the couch and they pass the baby to her. As the mama is holding her she asks us a question that doesn't make sense and Delphine springs into action. We cut the baby's cord and get the mama up to release her placenta. Within minutes after the release of her placenta she begins to regain color in her face. Delphine said blood was filling up in her uterus because the placenta was in the way. I get handed the baby who is grunting. I had never heard a baby make this noise before. Delphine and the senior apprentice are helping the mama and Delphine asks me to check the baby's blood sugar. Immediately my heart stats racing and adrenaline is flooding my body! At that moment I understood the importance of adrenaline. I will never forget how to do this test! Here is this tiny, warm baby, and I hold her tiny foot. Heat is radiating out from my core and my face is flushing. My hands acts quickly, poking her soft fleshy heel. He blood sugar is 65. She is ok! Mom is ok too! We get mom cleaned up and encourage her to nurse her baby. I begin cleaning up and removing the dirty chux pads. Delphine, the senior apprentice, and I step out into the kitchen to talk. The meconium was a surprise to us all! I help out in any way that I can. I get the mama a fruit, cheese, and cracker plate complete with juice. I help her to the restroom and back. I observed the senior apprentice doing a newborn exam. It was neat to watch her and Delphine work together. They are a great team and I am so happy to be working with them!