Boy or Girl?!

9 years as a doula, and this is the 2nd birth I've attended where the parents didn't know the gender of the baby, and it made the big reveal pretty exciting!  

Mom was 6 days past her due date when her water broke as she was walking out of her weekly check up!  (I had a feeling the summer storm might get things going for her!  And she wasn't the only one.  L & D was packed!)  Her membranes ruptured at 11:30, and I arrived at 2:30.  Mom was coping great with her contractions.  She was swaying and rubbing her belly.  Her contractions were already TWO MINUTES APART!  I thought I just might be home in time to make my family dinner.... but I wasn't.  :)

Even though she was cranking out a little more than twice the amount of contractions as a typical woman would in early-active labor, dilation came a little slower than we had expected.  At 5:00 she was 4 cm, and at 7:00 she was 6 cm.  She was making progress though, and that's what matters.  This was baby #3.  Baby #1 was born cesarean, baby #2 was a vaginal delivery that was very long and complicated, so we were planning on baby #3 being a little more agreeable.  :) 

At 7:30 pm mom decided she was "done" and asked for an epidural.  She and dad had worked sooo hard.  He was extremely supportive, loving, encouraging, and affectionate.  

Mom stayed at 6 cm for a couple more hours, and wasn't able to find full relief with the epidural.  Her blood pressure also dropped, causing her to feel dizzy.  She also dealt with nausea and vomiting.  Not exactly the break she was hoping for.  But at 11:10 pm she was dilated to 9 cm and complete at 12:15 am.

She pushed for 3 hours with baby #2, and was really hoping to not have to push that long again.  This time it only took 14 minutes!

Dad was able to announce

"It's a BOY!"

It was so exciting to find out in that moment!

Gotta love the finger hold...

Both parents were thrilled to have another successful vaginal birth with NO pitocin!  

Baby Boy #3

Born July 17th, 12:41 am

7 pounds 12 oz.

20.5 inches long

He was so cute with his eyes open.

He had the CUTEST little chin quiver when he cried, so I couldn't resist capturing a short video of it.

A year late...

My 4th child just turned one!  I can't believe it!  As I have been thinking back on his birth, I remembered that I forgot to share our birth story on this blog.  So here is a link to read all about my last birth.

http://boisebigelow.blogspot.com/2012/06/birth-story-yes-i-am-granola.html

I have given birth 4 times, all without medical intervention.  But this last birth was my absolute favorite.  I feel I coped the best with this one.  I also loved having my two daughters there with me.  Everything was wonderful and perfect, and it will always be one of the greatest experiences of my life.  :)

My youngest child, Brandon.  Such a cute newborn in his daddy's trumpet case.

Come On, Eileen...

A couple years ago I supported this couple while they had their first child.  It was such a great birth.  I was only with them for about 5 hours, which is super short for a first birth, so I was prepared for a fast and furious birth with baby #2.  Mom had been contracting a lot for the past week or two, and I knew that once it really hit, it would move quickly.

We were all surprised that mom made it all the way to one day before her due date, considering the days of consistent contractions.  She went to her midwife appointment at 3:30 today and asked to have her membranes stripped.

Did you know that stripping the membranes can also break your water?  

Well, now you do.  And that's exactly what happened.  

When the rupture of membranes start the labor, it's not uncommon for it to take several hours for the contractions to really get going.  I was summoned at 6:00 pm, and arrived at 6:30.  Mom and dad were both excited and happy.  Mom's attitude was so positive (just like last time), it was hard to tell if she was really in active labor or not.

At 8:00 things were definitely becoming more intense.  I was using my ice roller up and down her back and hips during contractions, and that seemed to really do the trick.  She was checked, and dilated to almost 7 cm. 

From that moment on, things became very intense.  At 8:30 she started to feel the urge to push, and her midwife wasn't even on her way yet.  The nurse yelled out into the hallway that mom was delivering and she needed a doctor, NOW!  

Mom began pushing on her hands and knees.  Once the head was out, it was clear to see that there was shoulder dystocia (when the shoulders are larger than the head and do not deliver quickly).  Mom was rapidly turned onto her back , and within a minute this chunky girl was born.  

Eileen

Born June 18th, 2013

8:52 pm

9 pounds, 15 oz.

Mom is just too cute.  

Cesarean: Epidural: Natural.

I met this great couple years ago, when I was just starting my business in Boise.  I was so excited when they hired me to be their doula for their second birth, as their first birth was a cesarean.  I always plan for a long birth with a VBAC, so I was pretty shocked to only spend 6 hours with them when they had baby #2.  Today they had baby #3!  I had the privilege of supporting them again.  I knew it would be quick!

Mom had an OB appointment this morning, and felt fine before she got there.  She found out she was already dilated to almost 5 cm!  And by the time she got home from her appointment, she was feeling it, and quickly headed to the hospital.  She arrived at 11:30, and I got there at noon.  She was 6 cm, and coping great with her contractions.

After about 20 minutes I could tell things were really starting to intensify for her.  She asked for some IV pain meds, but never got them because she progressed too quickly!  She breathed deeply and vocalized to get through her contractions.  She was amazing!  By the time the orders came in for her pain meds, she was dilated to 9 cm and it was too late.  

Mom received an epidural with #2, and has now experienced every type of birth.

#1 Cesarean

#2 Successful VBAC with epidural

#3 Successful VBAC, all natural

She can now relate to every woman out there!

Vivian.

Born March 26th, 1:11 pm

7 pounds, 14.5 ounces

Look at those squishy cheeks and pretty lips!  What a beauty.

Dad works out of town, for several weeks at a time.  Everyone was so glad that he came home yesterday, and was able to be here for the birth!  

And the best news is he has TWO MONTHS OFF to stay home with his wife and 3 beautiful daughters.  I have a feeling they are all going to love these 2 months all together.

Too cute!

I think 71 minutes after my arrival is a new record!  

Congratulations to a great family!

New Class Schedule

Happily, I am coming out of my post-baby fog quicker than I had anticipated.  :)  So I have decided to offer a class before the new year.  This class will be held in my home, and you will need to call me directly if you would like to attend.  Here is my class schedule for the next 6 months.  Hope to see you soon!

Upcoming Dates :

Wednesday, November 28th.  7 to 10 pm

(This class will be held in my home.  

Call 376-3917 to register.)

Tuesday, February 5th

St. Als, 6-9 pm

Tuesday, March 26th

St. Als, 6-9 pm

Tuesday. May 13th

St. Als, 6-9 pm

Rapid Transit

Almost 3 years ago I had the honor of supporting this couple with their first child.  

(Click here to read that post)

Their first birth was long, and discouraging at times.  I really wondered what we were all in for today!  I knew she was being induced this morning.  She was dilated 2 cm last week at her appointment, and when she arrived at the hospital this morning she was 4 cm!  So things already started out way ahead of last time.

At about 10:20, mom started to feel pain with the contractions, and at 10:55 she decided to have her water broken.  This made the contractions become much more intense very quickly.  She stayed in the bed and I massaged her feet.

Like most laboring women, this mom felt hot often.  Here her husband fans her with my fancy, dollar store fan.  :)  I use it more than any other tool!  Mom was also nauseous, and since she threw up several times with baby #1, we were prepared.  But after the peppermint essential oil filled the air, the feeling passed.  Woohoo!  

Mom was having alot of "extra-curricular" pain in her hips, back and legs. This was caused from the baby's head pressing on her low back.  To ease this, I filled up an empty rolling pin with ice water, and rubbed it up and down her back.  Double bonus, it helped keep her cool too.  The hands and knees position also helped.

Mom was checked again at 1:20 and was 5 cm.  I could tell that both mom and dad were hoping for more progress.  It was looking like maybe this birth was going to take as long as the first one afterall.  At 1:30 mom decided to get an epidural, and at 2:00 she decided to nap.

At 3:12 the nurse came in to check mom, and she was COMPLETE!  

Hello fast!

Then at 3:25, Luke Andrew rapidly entered the world!

7 pounds 4 oz

19 1/2 inches long

This cutie pie did not want to cry.  But because he came out so quickly and had heart decels during the birth, he was taken to the NICU for a short time.  

I still can't believe how quickly this little guy made his grand entrance.  What a difference from last time!  Once he came back from the NICU, he nursed like a champ.

Congratulations!  It was a wonderful birth, and I was so happy to be there.

Where Have I Been?

Instead of attending births, I have been preparing for my own birth.  :)

I was fortunate to spend a sunny evening with Brittany Hobbs.  She captured my pregnancy beautifully!  We had such a great time.  And don't you just LOVE the belly poking through the branches?  (Below)

Brittany is wife, mother, Radio DJ, photographer, and Postpartum Doula in Training!  

To see all my photos, head to her website:

http://brittanyhobbsphotography.com/

And be sure to check back here in June to see shots of my newest little guy!