I love the champagne toast at the end!
My 1st child Tucker 4-7-2010
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Hospitals Make Progress in Eliminating Early Elective Deliveries
This is encouraging! http://www.leapfroggroup.org/news/leapfrog_news/4827337
Did you know that..." babies induced in early term (between 37 and 38 weeks) have a higher risk for: neonatal mortality and morbidity, including significant respiratory problems,and placement in NICUs." Mothers can suffer from hematoma, wound dehiscence, anemia, endometriosis, urinary tract infection, and sepsis."
Did you know that..." babies induced in early term (between 37 and 38 weeks) have a higher risk for: neonatal mortality and morbidity, including significant respiratory problems,and placement in NICUs." Mothers can suffer from hematoma, wound dehiscence, anemia, endometriosis, urinary tract infection, and sepsis."
Monday, February 27, 2012
More doctors are advocating for natural childbirth
C-Section rates fall for the first time in 10 years!!!To watch video, click the link below.
http://www.13wham.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=3286131
http://www.13wham.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=3286131
When things don't go as planned...
- Nicole and Randy
- Married with one daughter
- Chicago land area
Elisia's Birth Story:
At about 32 weeks we had a checkup and an ultrasound, pretty standard as I’m told. We discovered during this ultrasound that Elisia was frank breach. This is where their butt is in the pelvic opening and they’re basically folded up with their feet up by their head. We were alarmed but not too worried since the midwives said many babies will come out of that position on their own, but they wanted me to come in every week at this point just to check progress. From that point on I went in every week, and every week she was in the same position. I started to get more and more stressed. I knew that if she was Frank breech a C-section would most likely be preformed and this is the last thing I wanted.
The midwives gave me a whole list of things to do to get Elisia to flip, and we tried them ALL. I tried all sorts of stretches and “breech tilts” contorting my body in a way I didn’t think was possible as a third trimester pregnant women. I started swimming twice sometimes three times a week. I did massage, chiropractic work, hypnotherapy, and moxibustion. Despite all of these efforts along with copious amounts of prayer, Elisia was staying put. The midwives told me that if she didn’t turn by 37 weeks the last resort was trying an external version. 37 weeks came and we went to the hospital for the external. I was met by my midwife and an obstetrician. I was told this procedure was painful but thankfully I didn’t know how painful because I probably wouldn’t have gone through with it. The procedure is basically two people going on either sides of your baby and pushing as hard and as quickly as possible to turn her. Randy had to stand at the foot of the bed and hold my feet down and apply pressure to distract me from the pain. He said he was pressing so hard he thought I was going to start bleeding, but I didn’t feel it. The dr. and midwife tried two times and both times Elisia moved sideways but just popped back to her frank breech position. The pain was unbearable and traumatizing. My midwife later said to me that she has a hard time doing them, especially when they’re not successful. She just hates causing that much pain in a women and seeing the emotional trauma afterwards.
After the external Randy and I had to start coming to terms with having a C-section. This was so hard. It was difficult on so many levels. I wanted a natural birth so badly but I knew this was out of my control. From this point on I just prayed for peace and that God would help me trust in him. I prayed that I would at least go into labor so I could experience part of the labor process at least.
This prayer was answered on August 9th, 2011. For the past two months I had braxton hicks, “practice” contractions. A couple days before August 9th I had a couple periods of contractions that were close together. I thought I might be in early labor but didn’t think much of it. On August 9th I was feeling more uncomfortable and had a hard time walking, still though I was in denial and went about my day. I had a midwife appointment that I went to at 4p.m. As my midwife, Gail, started to wrap up our visit she asked if I wanted to be checked. I said, “What’s the point? I’m having a C-section.” haha I was really mad about it as you can tell. Gail said “ Won’t it be fun to just see? What if you’re 2 or 3 cm. dilated? That would be cool to know.” I agreed and after checking she said, “Wow, alright your 4 cm. dilated, with a bulging bag of waters, and I can feel the babies butt. I remember thinking, “ok what does that mean?” She proceeded to tell me that I could either wait it out at home or go to the hospital to have the C-section. She said that she predicted that things would move fast either way and since I had a bulging bag of waters it might be a good idea to go to the hospital. I called Randy and we discussed it and decided to meet at home and then go to the hospital.
The next 5 hours were the fastest I can ever remember. I remember feeling excited, nervous, unprepared, and joyful all at the same time. By the time we got the hospital and in the triage room I was 5 cm. I remember being so uncomfortable as they prepared me for the surgery. I was in the triage room for about two hours and I couldn’t move off the table which made labor a bit more painful. I remember asking several times if the catheter could come out. That was the most uncomfortable thing ever! By the time I was being wheeled off to have Elisia, I was 7cm. Randy told me that the nurses were freaking out, wondering where the Dr. was because they were afraid Elisia was going to come before the c-section.
The surgery room was cold and medical everything I didn’t want to experience while having my baby. During the whole process Randy and my midwife, Gail, stood by my side. It was so special having Randy there holding my hand and encouraging me throughout the birth. Best bonding experience ever! Gail was amazing. I kept asking her what was going on and she would explain everything in detail ( midwives rock!). As they took Elisia out Gail was describing exactly what was happening, “Ok they’re taking out her leg, her butt, there’s another leg…” Although the drugs numbed the pain I still felt pressure. As I gave birth to Elisia I felt her come out of my body. This was the strangest but most amazing feeling I’ve ever had. I started to hear her little cries and not 5 ft to my left they weighed and measured her. Gail quickly then brought her to me and we spent about 10 minutes just looking at each other. Gail held her close to my face and we snuggled while they stitched me up.
A couple weeks before we had discussed out C-section birth plan with the midwives. This plan included Randy taking Elisia to be weighed, measured, etc. while I was being stitched back up. So after Elisia and I had some time together Randy took her to the nursery. This is one of the most special aspects of having a C-section. Randy got to spend the better part of 45 minutes with Elisia. The first 45 minutes of her life. I know that they bonded during that time and it was so meaningful for Randy to be there with her. As I came into the recovery room Randy & Gail brought Elisia to me so I could nurse her for the first time. I remember being so adamant that they don’t give her a bath because I wanted to have that experience of the “newborn” smell and to have as much benefits as if I had her vaginally. I was so glad Randy made sure they didn’t, I will never forget how she smelled, as strange as that sounds, since I was a little out of it from the drugs that smell is a great anchor for my first memories with her.
Although Elisia’s birth wasn’t what I planned it was still beautiful. I can’t believe it’s already been four months and already look back to that day was nostalgia. God was so present during that time and taught me a lot about trust and faith. I am a bit of a control freak and this was something that I couldn’t control. I had to trust in God and deal with my pride, there was no way around it. God is good and Elisia is such a blessing in our lives and when she grows up I can’t wait to share this story with her."
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Is a home birth right for you?
Great website that explains why a home birth may or may not be for you.
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/homebirth.html
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/homebirth.html
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Hillary and Ben's Home Birth Story
A friend's birth story of her 1st child:
- Hillary and Ben
- Married with 2 children
- From the Chicago area
Phoenix's Birth Story:
I was 6 days late and wasn't miserable, more just excited to have my little bundle arrive. I remember it feeling like Christmas was
going to happen any day now but I just didn't know when. I decided I was going to walk the baby out and that’s exactly what I did. I walked with Faith (my sister in law) for maybe an hour…which for a prego lady is a lot and then later went to the mall and walked a little with Ben. I had some minor contractions that day but it was more like “is that a Braxton Hicks or was that gas?” HA! I also thought I may have lost my mucus plug but again, wasn't too sure. Needless to say, I wasn't too convinced that I would be having a baby the next day!
Ben and I went to bed late that night, maybe around 11:30 - 11:45 PM. Somewhere between then and 12:30 AM my water broke. I remember putting a pad on and trying to go back to bed because it was just a slow trickle. That didn't last long and I had Ben call the midwife. She was actually at the hospital with a friend of mine who was suffering from preeclampsia so the midwife sent over her Nurse Midwife. I think it was maybe 1:30 or so when she arrived and by then my contractions where about 5 minutes apart. She checked me and I was 6 centimeters dilated so I decided I would walk around our apartment and let gravity do its job. I remember thinking at one point that I had probably walked a few miles by the time I stopped walking.
We also called my sister, Allison, and she came over just before the NM got there. She was our photographer and my source of amusement. I was so happy to have her there.
I think the midwife was finally able to get to our place by 2:30 AM and set up stuff in the bathroom so that she would be ready as soon as the baby was ready. After that I tried getting into the tub but that made the contractions feel worse so I got out and kept walking. Any time I had a contraction I would stop and brace myself on something and rock from side to side. Sometimes I would rest in Ben’s arms and just let him hold and console me and other times I would stare at two things on my mantel. One was a dying flower and to me it represented a dying to myself that would happen as I became a mother. The other was a small statue from Africa of a man’s face and that represented the wisdom that God would give me. It’s funny to think about it now, but at the time it was a very emotional experience to look at them and think of those things.
Finally at 3:45 AM God, baby and I were ready to bring her into the world. (I’m tearing up as I write this). I got into the tub and pushed with all I had every time there was a contraction. At one point I was feeling a lot of pain and frustration and screamed REALLY loudly and I was sure the neighbors herd me and were going to call the cops. HA! Thankfully they didn't. After 25 minutes of pushing her little head came out and I remember just holding it with one hand in the water and marveling. I have a beautiful picture that Al took of her little head with my hand on it. I love it! Within 5 more minutes she was born (keep in mind these are all approximate times). My beautiful little gift from heaven, my darling baby girl, Phoenix Eileen Start was born at 4:15 AM on Saturday, November 14th, 2009.
I LOVED the water birth. The cleanup was so minimal and my body was nice and stretchy because of the water. Phoenix scored a 9 on her Apgar and would have been a 10 if she wasn’t SO blue. I never did ask why she was like that. I didn't realize it until days later when I saw Al’s pictures. I think if I had realized it at the time I might have been worried. “Thank you Lord, for blinding my eyes so that I could relax and enjoy my baby”.
The NM showed me how to nurse which is a disaster of a story that I will not include in here and then after a while I went and laid down in my own bed while Al held Phoenix and Ben called his family. I slept for about 30 minutes and it was SO nice to not be disturbed by any one and to be in my own room. It was also nice to know that Phoenix was being held by her auntie and was happy and content.
The next days went by like a whirl wind and though it was just 6.5 months ago, it feels like a lot of time has gone by. God has given me such a wonderful little gift and I’m so thankful to have the privilege of raising one of His children for as long as He wills that I keep her. My prayer is and always will be that I will teach her all that I can about Him and that she will come to know, love, and serve Him from an early age and on through all the days of her life. Thank you Jesus for my precious gift, I will hold her up to you with open hands!
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