Where my path is going....

As you may have guessed, I love my job! I love helping women through this amazing time in their lives..their whole family in fact. As much as I love helping women get the desired hospital births they want, it is tough sometimes. Medical staff just don't really generally know how to handle natural birth. The don't understand that if you just keep an eye on things and don't interfere, that things will typically turn out best. They are in such a hurry! So this leads me to Midwifery. I have been offered an apprenticeship with Kathy Mitchell and will be starting in June. I am just so stinking excited to someday be one more person in Columbus that families can come to when they want to have their baby in their own safe environment. I will still doula for families, just not as many as I once was doing. I have come to this conclusion in part because I have helped so many women labor beautifully at home, to then transfer to the hospital to give birth, and the staff just cannot keep their hands off! This in turn causes more tears, more blood, and just not what women deserve! So with that said, wish me lots of luck!!!

A Beautiful Labor, A Tough Decision

I was attending my clients birth last week, Wednesday evening Catie and I went about 11pm. Mom was doing beautiful, scene was right, nice music playing, grandma to be come in shortly thereafter, dad is filling the aqua doula up. about 4 hours later, we called the midwife, contractions were 3 min apart lasting about a minute. When she got to the home about 1 1/2 hours later, mama was 6-7cm. She decided to get in the pool which was really nice. I have never seen a mother and daughter work so amazing together. They were just awesome. We had candles lit, music playing, the water, the support, everything was just beautiful. Mom labors a few more hours and the midwife notices that the baby was ROT. Mama is changing positions and baby ends up posterior, not what we wanted. Her water eventually broke and there was mild meconium. Baby was doing great though. Mama's back was really hurting her. We all took turns massaging her back, supporting her, coming up with new ideas on how to get baby turned around again, so he would come down, and she would have the urge to push. No such luck. After many hours, at least 3 1/2 of that, the midwife asked her what she wanted to do. She said go to the hospital. So we scurry around to gather what we needed to transfer in. Get to the hospital and in the car she was finally feeling pushy. Staff checked her and she was plus 2 station. BABY HAD MOVED!!!!! To be quite honest, the staff was terrible, really inconsiderate of the laboring mama and her support team. Nevertheless, mama pushed her baby out shortly after we got there. Mom and baby were both great. I am really sad she didn't get the birth she dreamed of but I am so very happy that she is smiling and has her baby in her arms. This will go up there with one the most emotional births I have attended. I learned a lot though...especially if baby is OP walk down the stairs and into a car, drive around the block a couple times and get back home. Might just do the trick! :)

On a roll:)

I just got back from a another really great birth! Client was "due" the 5th of April. Yesterday morning she called at 6am, having contractions every 15 min. Kept in contact throughout the day, we all went to bed somewhat early thank goodness! Then dad called about 1am, said ctx were every 6 min or so and they were ready for me. Got there by 2am and mom was on hands and knees doing great. She was TIRED though. So we eventually went upstairs to their bdrm. so she could maybe rest more comfortably and still be on hands and knees in bed. In btwn ctx, she would nod off, and they were 6-5-3-4-2-3-6 etc.....min apart..never very consistent. Water had not broken. We were all tired, mom had tried a bath, eaten small amounts of toast, crackers, kept hydrated with water/gatorade, mom had shower. Eventually I asked her if she was feeling any pressure? She said no. Next ctx, pressure. So I tried my new trick for checking cervix w/o internal exam. Seemed if I was doing it right, she was complete, but had no idea if I was really doing it right. Soon there after, she said said she thought she would like to go. So, we did and guess what! She was complete! Bag still intact. She showed no usual signs of transition, was smiling and laughing in btwn. So mom started pushing, bulging bag, could see babies head in bag..way cool! Baby and mom worked awesome together. I am so amazed!

The next step......

I knew my 30's were going to be great.....a big decade for me! I was recently offered an opportunity to apprentice a midwife. She and I have worked together before and have a couple of births coming up. So starting in June, I will begin. I am pretty sure I've decided to go through Ancient Art of Midwifery Institute. So by the time I'm about 34 I will be a midwife! I am going to be a CPM...which stands for Certified Professional Midwife, and will not be working in hospitals, rather caring for women who choose to homebirth. Time to really start saving my pennies:) I will still be doula-ing, just not as much. Hospital birthers are the women who really need a doula in my opinion. Not that it isn't benefitial for a homebirthing woman, just in the hospital setting, you have to really stand up for your birth. At home, you are already getting what you want out of your birth experience. I believe in women birthing in their own way, on their own time. I love helping a women embrace her labor and birth, rather than fear it. I feel that by becoming a midwife, I will eventually be able to take care of the whole women from start to finish, and really give her a satisfying experience. I am also really excited about treating pregnancy holistically, fasinating really. So that is my news.

I've got one hospital birth any second now, and 2 homebirths very soon! I think they will all go fantastically. I'll post when they happen! Cheers!

Nicest Hospital Birth

I had a couple that were due in the middle of the month, started some labor signs Friday, was contracting a bit more early Sat morning, and by about 10am she was ready for me. I got there about 11am and things were moving right along! She was really great through the whole thing. About 3 we went on to Grant where she was about 7cm. The staff there was the greatest I've worked with. From the minute we got there, they were so friendly and whatever she wanted to do, she was able to do, without the bat of an eye. They were given complete respect and she was able to get in the room with the labor pool, so that was a plus too:) She was checked and 8cm, Dr. Morris came in soon after that, popped her head in to introduce herself, said we were doing great and left us to labor. She was also wonderful. Baby was born at 7:19pm, gorgeous little girl, Ava. Afterwards, the doc asked me for my business cards and said how nice it was to work with me.....what a great day!

Birth As We Know It

Ellen has now put out a 10 min trailer to the movie that everyone that will be experiencing childbirth at some point should see. Here is the link....http://www.birthasweknowit.com/10_minute_promo.html. You can actually download the whole movie too. Life is GREAT! My HBAC girl is doing great, has gotten the first few days of breastfeeding out of the way and sounds great...looks fantastic too:) Another client of mine has switched to homebirth now too. It is so great that when presented with real choices, how open the windows become for some. I've got another client that will have her baby anytime now, will be a great birth! I cannot wait for them to meet their new bundle. My best friends home visit with the midwife is scheduled and will be on her way! I am just not worried at all about any of the upcoming births. I feel as though all involved have been educated in one way or another and will all be able to make informed choices. I could use a nanny, but other than that, life couldn't be more perfect! YEAH:)