03/26/2012::G3P4L1::
Today I woke early for the first day of spring quarter. I was about to leave for class when Delphine called around 8:20AM. She was calling to update me that one our in range mamas had called stating that she thought she was in labor. She felt she had been rushing and was having some back pains. "Today may be the day." I told her my schedule for the day: Class from 9-10 and 12-1. I reminded her to make sure she gave me time to get from class to my car, a 10 minute walk at best. I took the boys to school and then myself. I made it to my 9:10AM PHIL 120 class. Halfway through, Delphine called me again. I waited to answer because I knew we would be dismissed soon. We were introducing ourselves, so I listened to her message during a few of the other students intros. She told me that the mama was going to start timing her rushes and check back in an hour. When it came time for my introduction I told my fellow classmates that I was an apprenticing midwife and had a mama in labor and it was time for me to go. I wanted to leave a few minutes early to give me time to head to my professor and let them know that I would be missing our first day's class. I called Delphine to let her know what my plans were and that I was headed to get coffee and to her house next.
I made it to Delphine's house just as she was making it to her door. As I got inside she was organizing her birth bags and preparing to pack them into the car. I assisted while she finished a phone call. We climbed into her truck and drove towards the mama's house. She updated me as we drove. The husband had called Delphine back at 9:55AM and stated that it was definitely time and that they would like us to hurry. We arrived to their home by 10:15AM. Our first order of business was washing our hands and second was doing vitals on mama and baby. Rushes seemed to be progressing nicely and the mama was receptive to body work. Delphine is doing labor progress notes and I am with the mother. Her sacrum is rising in my hands and her hips are rocking under my firm, even pressure. Delphine grabs me some arnica and I gently rub it into the lower section of the mama's back. Arnica helps with soreness, bruises, and swelling. All something a mama can experience after the shifts and opening of labor and birth. The mama seems to be having very frequent rushes. She is calm, relaxed, and radiant. Her cheeks are flushed and she looks as if she is glowing. She maintains a hands and knees position, sometimes lowering her head at the end of a rush. Her body begins to quiver with some of the rushes. The energy is building and rushing through her. Her husband is supportive and loving. He is extremely attentive, it makes me smile to see partners connect during labor. Delphine asks if it would be okay to do a vaginal exam and the mama responds that she would LOVE that. We are contemplating filling the birth pool but as Delphine finishes her exam she states that there isn't time! She tells us that she needs to call the senior apprentice to see where she is. The mama asks if she can just lean on the birth pool and we all giggle together and tell her of course she can. Delphine jokes that she can even get in it if she wants to. Instead the father finds himself in the dry pool facing the mama who has assumed a forward lean/hands knees position in front of the pool. They hold hands, heads bowed together. I continue back pressure on the mama, her hands would find mine and ever so gently press on them, silently telling me that she needed more pressure.
The senior apprentice arrives and Delphine went to fill her in on the labor. During this time the mama put her hand down below and I thought maybe she was just feeling but she calmly said, "it burns." I dropped my head down knowing that this could be the ring of fire and there hanging was her bag of waters. it took me a second to realize what I was seeing but when I slowed my thoughts I took notice of the dark hair swirling in the water. I calmly asked the mama to place her other hand down there in case her baby came quickly and asked for Delphine to join us. "Delphine we need you." The senior apprentice came running in and asked if we should break the bag of waters.
Respect the water bag!
Delphine moved in and asked if we wanted to switch places but I was still supporting the mama, so I received a front seat witnessing this new life enter the world. A little face, little hand, and then a body. Wet, crying, pink. Her mother was the first to touch her and Delphine assisted her in receiving her own baby. The mama was exclaiming joy. Dad was crying. At one moment we were all enveloped in a circular embrace crying together. The senior apprentice prepared the bed and I grabbed the camera to capture some of their first minutes together. Taking pictures of this day is something that I will cherish forever. Their sweet baby, 7#10 ounces, 20 inches long born at 10:49AM, into her mother's hands. The baby had great apgars and made a smooth transition to life outside the womb. The mama called her care "gourmet."
All the usual post care: charting, paperwork, notes, vitals, laundry, cleaning up, newborn exam, food being served, smiles, and lots of love. Our work always seems so seamless, so smooth. I love feeding the new moms, to nourish her is a great joy!
Today I woke early for the first day of spring quarter. I was about to leave for class when Delphine called around 8:20AM. She was calling to update me that one our in range mamas had called stating that she thought she was in labor. She felt she had been rushing and was having some back pains. "Today may be the day." I told her my schedule for the day: Class from 9-10 and 12-1. I reminded her to make sure she gave me time to get from class to my car, a 10 minute walk at best. I took the boys to school and then myself. I made it to my 9:10AM PHIL 120 class. Halfway through, Delphine called me again. I waited to answer because I knew we would be dismissed soon. We were introducing ourselves, so I listened to her message during a few of the other students intros. She told me that the mama was going to start timing her rushes and check back in an hour. When it came time for my introduction I told my fellow classmates that I was an apprenticing midwife and had a mama in labor and it was time for me to go. I wanted to leave a few minutes early to give me time to head to my professor and let them know that I would be missing our first day's class. I called Delphine to let her know what my plans were and that I was headed to get coffee and to her house next.
I made it to Delphine's house just as she was making it to her door. As I got inside she was organizing her birth bags and preparing to pack them into the car. I assisted while she finished a phone call. We climbed into her truck and drove towards the mama's house. She updated me as we drove. The husband had called Delphine back at 9:55AM and stated that it was definitely time and that they would like us to hurry. We arrived to their home by 10:15AM. Our first order of business was washing our hands and second was doing vitals on mama and baby. Rushes seemed to be progressing nicely and the mama was receptive to body work. Delphine is doing labor progress notes and I am with the mother. Her sacrum is rising in my hands and her hips are rocking under my firm, even pressure. Delphine grabs me some arnica and I gently rub it into the lower section of the mama's back. Arnica helps with soreness, bruises, and swelling. All something a mama can experience after the shifts and opening of labor and birth. The mama seems to be having very frequent rushes. She is calm, relaxed, and radiant. Her cheeks are flushed and she looks as if she is glowing. She maintains a hands and knees position, sometimes lowering her head at the end of a rush. Her body begins to quiver with some of the rushes. The energy is building and rushing through her. Her husband is supportive and loving. He is extremely attentive, it makes me smile to see partners connect during labor. Delphine asks if it would be okay to do a vaginal exam and the mama responds that she would LOVE that. We are contemplating filling the birth pool but as Delphine finishes her exam she states that there isn't time! She tells us that she needs to call the senior apprentice to see where she is. The mama asks if she can just lean on the birth pool and we all giggle together and tell her of course she can. Delphine jokes that she can even get in it if she wants to. Instead the father finds himself in the dry pool facing the mama who has assumed a forward lean/hands knees position in front of the pool. They hold hands, heads bowed together. I continue back pressure on the mama, her hands would find mine and ever so gently press on them, silently telling me that she needed more pressure.
The senior apprentice arrives and Delphine went to fill her in on the labor. During this time the mama put her hand down below and I thought maybe she was just feeling but she calmly said, "it burns." I dropped my head down knowing that this could be the ring of fire and there hanging was her bag of waters. it took me a second to realize what I was seeing but when I slowed my thoughts I took notice of the dark hair swirling in the water. I calmly asked the mama to place her other hand down there in case her baby came quickly and asked for Delphine to join us. "Delphine we need you." The senior apprentice came running in and asked if we should break the bag of waters.
Respect the water bag!
Delphine moved in and asked if we wanted to switch places but I was still supporting the mama, so I received a front seat witnessing this new life enter the world. A little face, little hand, and then a body. Wet, crying, pink. Her mother was the first to touch her and Delphine assisted her in receiving her own baby. The mama was exclaiming joy. Dad was crying. At one moment we were all enveloped in a circular embrace crying together. The senior apprentice prepared the bed and I grabbed the camera to capture some of their first minutes together. Taking pictures of this day is something that I will cherish forever. Their sweet baby, 7#10 ounces, 20 inches long born at 10:49AM, into her mother's hands. The baby had great apgars and made a smooth transition to life outside the womb. The mama called her care "gourmet."
All the usual post care: charting, paperwork, notes, vitals, laundry, cleaning up, newborn exam, food being served, smiles, and lots of love. Our work always seems so seamless, so smooth. I love feeding the new moms, to nourish her is a great joy!