Join me in welcoming Link Anthony into his parents' arms. Sidney made labor look like a walk in the park, and when it was time to push this petite young woman was a powerhouse and roared her baby out. Congratulations Sidney and Seth! It was a pleasure to work with you.
Rorie's Birth Story
This little guy just had his first birthday, so I thought it would be a good time to share the amazing story of his birth.
Amber was expecting her third child. With her previous births, she had elected to use pain medication but had had bad reactions, so this time she was determined to have a natural childbirth and let her body do what it was capable of doing without interventions.
Her husband was in the military and was stationed out of state, but Amber hoped and prayed that he would be granted a leave to come home for the birth. And as we were quickly approaching her due date, his leave was granted for ten days. So we prayed that her labor would hold off until he made it home, and it did! But then the days of his leave were passing by, and we still didn’t have a baby yet, so we prayed for labor to start, and we began trying a few natural methods to get labor going, but nothing was working. Amber reluctantly consented to an induction so that her husband could be present for the birth, but we were still hoping for labor to begin spontaneously. Her induction was scheduled for Sunday morning so she checked in the night before.
And from here on out, Amber tells the story in her own words:
“I went in to the hospital around 10 pm. I was scheduled to be induced the following morning. My OB wanted me to start the IV with Pitocin at 5am. I was a couple of days past my estimated due date. I had spent the last week trying natural induction methods and they didn’t seem to be working. I was only 1 cm dilated and maybe 20% effaced at that time. It didn’t seem as if I was close to natural labor at all.
When I was admitted to labor and delivery, I immediately asked the nurses if I could try induction with the foley bulb. My doula, Jamie, had me look into that as an alternative to Pitocin. After I read into it, I decided I wanted to try that first. Unfortunately, the doctor wanted to stick with the Pitocin in the morning so my request was denied. The nurses got my husband and I settled in a room and the nurse have me some melatonin to help me fall asleep. I fell asleep a little before midnight.
At 2am I woke up with some mild contractions. They were the first of any painful contractions I had felt throughout the pregnancy. I tried to fall back asleep but them at 2:30am I got out of bed to use the restroom. That was when I noticed I was losing my mucus plug. I started to get a little excited. I was hoping I would go into labor completely naturally. I called the nurse and told her that I was experiencing mild contractions and she came to monitor them.
At around 3am I noticed fluid leaking. My water was slowly breaking. The nurse had me on the monitor for about 30 min but I didn’t have any contractions at all during that time. I was a little discouraged but I asked for a birthing ball.
I bounced on the birthing ball for a while listening to praise music and praying. Soon I started experiencing more mild contractions. It was a little after 4 am. The nurse came and checked me around 4:30 because they wanted to start the Pitocin at 5am. I was dilated 2-3cm.
By 5am I was having painful contractions and they were getting regular about 5 minutes apart. I thought it might be a good idea to let Jamie know that I was going into labor. I told the nurses I did not want any Pitocin and I was sure my body was doing everything on its own. It was such a wonderful feeling to know that! My contractions became stronger and I became very nauseous. I began to throw up during and after every contraction. It made the contractions seem unbearable. I asked the nurse for something to help with the nausea. She gave me Zofran and it helped a bit. I tried laboring in different positions, including the birthing ball. I found that the only position I could tolerate my contraction in was standing, rocking side to side and leaning forward into my husband.
Jamie arrived to my room a little after 6am. I was still nauseous so she pinned a cotton swab with peppermint oil to my top, it helped and was refreshing. My contractions were very painful and Jamie helped my husband apply pressure to my lower back during them. It helped so much! Around that time the nurse checked me again and I was 4-5cm dilated. They put me back on the fetal monitor. My contractions became closer together. The baby’s heartbeat would drop with the contractions so the nurses had me try to labor in different positions. I tried lying on my side in the bed but it was too painful and felt very uncomfortable. I stood back up and next to me bed. The contractions were coming so quickly.
The doctor came in to check on me. I was in so much pain and I became very afraid. I didn’t think I could do it anymore. Jamie and my husband assured me I could. Jamie told me I was very close. Soon after that I felt an urge to push. The doctor began to put on her scrubs and gloves. I really had to push and I was still standing on the side of my bed. I was finally ready. It came so fast! The nurses raised my bed and the doctor sat on the floor. I felt so much pressure. The baby’s head was crowning. I continued squatting on the side of my bed andafter a couple of pushes he was out. He was born at 7:05 am. They had to cut his cord immediately because it was around his neck and then they gave him to me. I was still standing next to my bed. I held him to my chest, completely in shock. It was the best feeling. I smiled and laughed."
We were all so happy that her prayers had been answered. Her husband was able to be present, and Amber had the beautiful, natural birth that she was hoping for. She did an amazing job as she coped with a very fast and intense labor, and her body did it all on its own, in the most perfect timing.
Congratulations Amber and William, and happy birthday Rorie!
Welcome Liam Connor!
Congratulations to Michelle and Collin on the birth of Liam Connor! This cute 9.5 lb, red-headed little Irish baby made his mama work 40 hours for him. What a warrior mama! I am so proud of her determination through it all! Thanks for letting me walk this journey with you.
Welcome Elan Able!
Join with Shelby and Tyler in welcoming Elan Able. This precious little guy was in such a hurry to meet his mommy and daddy that he came a few weeks early and barely waited for them to make it to the birth center. Although it was a rush, mommy got to have the peaceful waterbirth that she wanted at Birthwise Birthing Center. He is happy now that he is in his mommy's arms. And now that he is here, I am excited to also help Tyler and Shelby begin their Elimination Communication practice with Elan. Congratulations Shelby and Tyler!
Welcome Luna Kinsley!
I'd like to join Sara and Andy and big brother Caeden in welcoming Luna Kinsley! Sara and Andy did a great job in preparing for this birth so that they could have a better birth experience this time. And sure enough, this labor was very different. Sara had a fast, intense labor and arrived at the hospital just in time to push this little girl out, who was so anxious to meet her family. Even though it was a little crazy there at the end, Sara got the natural VBAC that the wanted, and Luna was welcomed into a loving arms. And now they are on the crazy adventure of having two under two. Congratulations Sara and Andy! It was a pleasure to work with you!
Congratulations Stephanie and Mike!
Stephanie and Mike celebrated the birth of their second child. They decided to let the gender be a surprise, so there was much shouting and celebration when their little BOY, Alexander Gene was announced to all the family. Little Alex weighed in 7 lbs 12 oz. and 20 1/2 inches long. Stephanie had a long and difficult labor but she stayed focused on her prize, and she had a beautiful and healing VBAC. She could hardly believe she had really pushed that baby out all on her own!
Every once in a while I get a chance to snap a photo just as mom looks at her baby for the first time. This is the expression of pure joy!
It was a joy to work with this family and be part of this joyful, healing birth. Congratulations Stephanie, Mike and big sister, Kaitlyn!
Welcome Elijah Charles!
Rebekah and Ryan welcomed their first child into the world, a boy, Elijah Charles at Austin Area Birthing Center South. This healthy boy weighed in at 8 lbs 4.5 oz and 21 inches long. His parents are overjoyed at his arrival. Rebekah's labor began with her water breaking 38 hours before the birth, so it was long and tiring but Rebekah did an amazing job coping. Fortunately she had a patient and wise midwife who helped Rebekah to follow her body's lead. Rebekah had been interested in birth, especially natural birth, since she was a little girl, and she got to have the beautiful and empowering natural birth that she had dreamed about for so long. It was such a pleasure to work with this sweet couple and help them on their journey to parenthood. Congratulations Rebekah and Ryan!
Welcome Luke Edward!
Congratulations to Abby and Danny as they welcomed their second child into their family, Luke Edward! Luke weighed in at 8 lbs. 4 oz. 20 3/4 inches long. Abby pressed through a long labor, managing her contractions with confidence in her body and herself. Just as she had wanted, she gave birth completely naturally, with no pain medications, and welcomed her baby with joy and love. She was supported by her loving husband, who believed in her and encouraged her each step of the way. And older sister Zoe, was enamored with her new little brother.
Happy Birthday Camilla!
Ilyse and Brandon welcomed their beautiful daughter, Camilla June on May 5, 2015. This lucky baby was born on her due date, 5/02 at 5:02 pm. Granddad joked that he was going to go play the lottery and bet on 502. Mom did a beautiful job coping with the intensity of labor using her relaxation techniques. She was doing so well we weren't always sure when a contraction came. We are all proud of her for achieving the natural birth she wanted. She was supported by her loving partner and her mother throughout her labor, and she was rewarded with a healthy and beautiful baby girl.
Congratulations Ilyse and Brandon! It was a pleasure to work with you.
International Day of the Midwife
It is International Day of the Midwife so I would like to take a moment to send my appreciation to all the midwives out there who are working tirelessly to normalize birth. I love midwives. I loved giving birth with midwives and I love working with midwives as a doula. When I first chose to give birth at a freestanding birth center, I don't think I had a whole lot of expectations about what midwifery care would look like, I just knew I wanted a natural, non-hospital birth. But I soon realized the care I received there (and this was a big, busy birth center) was different than any doctor's office I had been at. My care was so personal and individualized. I was always given options and expected to take the lead in my decisions. There was never a sense of "well this is just the way we do things." I got to know each of the midwives and they got to know me, and after my last postpartum visit, I began to miss my time there (Who ever misses going to the doctor?) And at my births, I felt wonderfully supported, encouraged, and lovingly cared for. It is because of their care that I eventually chose to become a doula, and perhaps one day, I'll journey down the midwifery path myself.
I think this chart about the midwifery model of care sums it up well.
The Midwife Model of Care
Definition of Birth
- Birth is a social event, a normal part of a woman's life.
- Birth is the work of the woman and her family.
- The woman is a person experiencing a life-transforming event.
Birthing Environment
- Home or other familiar surroundings.
- Informal system of care.
Philosophy and Practice
- See birth as a holistic process.
- Shared decision-making between caregivers and birthing woman.
- No class distinction between birthing women and caregivers.
- Equal relationship.
- Information shared with an attitude of personal caring.
- Longer, more in-depth prenatal visits.
- Often strong emotional support.
- Familiar language and imagery used.
- Awareness of spiritual significance of birth.
- Believes in integrity of birth, uses technology if appropriate and proven.
If you have a low-risk pregnancy, consider choosing midwifery care for your pregnancy and birth, whether you choose a hospital or out-of-hospital birth.
The Medical Model of Care
Definition of Birth
- Childbirth is a potentially pathological process.
- Birth is the work of doctors, nurses, midwives and other experts.
- The woman is a patient.
Birthing Environment
- Hospital, unfamiliar territory to the woman.
- Bureaucratic, hierarchical system of care.
Philosophy and Practice
- Trained to focus on the medical aspects of birth.
- "Professional" care that is authoritarian.
- Often a class distinction between obstetrician and patients.
- Dominant-subordinate relationship.
- Information about health, disease and degree of risk not shared with the patient adequately.
- Brief, depersonalized care.
- Little emotional support.
- Use of medical language.
- Spiritual aspects of birth are ignored or treated as embarrassing.
- Values technology, often without proof that it improves birth outcome.
World Doula Week
There is no better way to celebrate World Doula Week than by booking your free consultation!
Doulas Lower Cesareans By 60-80%!
Exciting new research has come out about the amazing benefits of having a doula. We have long known that having a trained doula present at birth leads to many beneficial outcomes, such as less use of pain medication, less use of Pitocin to induce or augment labor, greater number of spontaneous vaginal deliveries and fewer assisted deliveries and cesareans, better success with breastfeeding, and higher satisfaction with the birth experience. Previously, results have shown about a 30% reduction in cesarean rates with a doula present, but the newest research more than doubles these findings. This research is presented in American Journal of Managed Care in August 2014. Their study surveyed over 2400 women who noted whether they had received doula care, wanted doula care but did not receive it, and those who did not have and did not want/didn't know about doulas. Only 6% used a doula but their outcomes in reducing number of cesareans were substantially higher; in the other groups the rates of cesarean deliveries were consistent with the national average around 30%. They found that women who utilized a trained doula showed a reduction in medically-necessary cesareans by 60% (which includes such things as breech presentation, placenta problems, fetal distress, and maternal health conditions) and as much as 80% in non-medically necessary cesareans (which includes such reasons as a prior cesarean, long labor, being past the due date, provider's fear of a big baby or narrow pelvis, or mother's fear of labor/birth)! In their words, "Doula support was associated with a nearly 60% reduction in odds of cesarean delivery and 80% lower odds of nonindicated cesarean delivery, compared with not having doula support." Based on these findings, the writers acknowledge the great benefit of having a doula present for continuous labor support. Not only does it lead to better outcomes and higher satisfaction, but it is a worthwhile financial benefit. Cesarean births cost on average $10,000 more than vaginal births, so the cost of hiring a doula is well worth the investment. They suggest that insurance companies should recognize the potential cost-savings that is rendered from using a doula and should start covering doula services. See the full article here.
How exactly does a doula help lower your risk of needing a cesarean delivery? Stay tuned for Part II.
If you are interested in lowering your risk of needing a cesarean, please invest in a qualified doula. Book your consultation with Empowered Birthing today.
Happy Valentine's Day!
If you have any surprises, I have openings in November!
Doula Babies, Continued
I just got this picture in . . . oh the adorable squishiness of this little baby! He's in that great 4 month old chunky phase where you just have to squeeze them all the time. And mom is rocking awesome back carry with a woven wrap.
Doula Babies
I always love to get pics of my doula babies from time to time and see how they're growing up. Here are a couple of darling little boys. First is little Iggy, born in August 2014. Isn't he a handsome little guy!
And here is Hudson at his first birthday in December. Isn't that an adorable little pout! He's such a busy little toddler.
If you have updates of your little ones, send them in. I love to keep track of my doula babies!
The Year in Review
Happy New Year! As I step out into this new year, I am thankful for all that 2014 brought to me It has been an exciting year as I have just completed my first year as a birth doula and launched my business, Empowered Birthing Professional Doula Service. As always, it is an honor to be allowed to be part of each family's birth team and present in the sacred moments of new life. I have enjoyed getting to know each family that I have worked with, and I have learned immensely from each birth that I have attended. To each and every family, I thank you.
The highlights of last year have been many. It has been my pleasure to serve thirteen families as they welcomed their newest additions into their hearts and arms. I have served in three birth centers and five hospitals in the Austin area, and have been able to witness a variety kinds of births, natural, medically managed, cesarean, and VBAC. In July, I submitted my credentials and applied for my certification with DONA, and in October I received word that I am a certified birth doula. During the summer I also received training through Stillbirthday in order to become a birth and bereavement doula. This was an intense training that has prepared me to serve in births during all trimesters and all outcomes. I have just submitted my final projects and should receive my certification shortly. I have also begun working on my credentials as a certified EC coach with Go Diaper Free. I hope to begin offering classes and private consultations for families wishing to practice Elimination Communication (aka infant potty training) with their babies. If you or anyone you know is interested in this service, please send them my way. I have also started a cloth diaper and baby carrier rental library that will be available for clients to try out different items before they make their own purchases. It has been a year full of learning and I am excited about the new services that I will be able to offer families.
I look forward to serving many new families in the coming year. I hope to build on these successes and branch out even more in the coming year. Come check out what's happening here at Empowered Birthing! And bring on 2015!
Welcoming Katherine Prairie Sky
I am pleased to announce the birth of Katherine Prairie Sky to proud parents Dave and Hilary. Katherine was born on November 23 at 2:29 am at St. David's North Austin Medical Center, and weighed a mere 5 lbs 11 ounces. Although Hilary needed to be induced a little sooner than baby wanted, she continued with her plan for as natural a birth as possible and labored without pain medication for the whole time. She showed exceptional strength and determination and did a great job of advocating for herself each time a decision about her care needed to be made. Dave was a great support throughout and coached her through her contractions and had unwavering faith in his wife's ability to give birth naturally. Congratulations Hilary and Dave! You did a great job and you have a beautiful baby girl!
Welcoming Gideon
We would like to announce the birth of baby Gideon, born to Chris and Sondra on October 28, 7:48 pm at St. David's North Austin Medical Center. He weighed in at 8 lbs 14 ounces and 21 inches long. Sondra began her labor at home throughout the night and then moved on to Austin Area Birthing Center where she continued to labor naturally she had planned and did a great job with the support of her husband Chris. Eventually it became necessary to transfer to the hospital and to have a cesarean birth, but she was still able to walk into the operating room on her own two feet. What an empowered mama! I am so proud of her strength, courage, and resilience throughout the whole labor and birth.
Happy Thanksgiving!
It is a day to count your blessings and give thanks for the good things in your life. So I would like to begin by stating how grateful I am that I have stumbled upon this new career of mine. A little over three years ago I didn't know what a doula was. I was on a totally different career path, so I am thankful for all of the people who have helped me get where I am today.
I am thankful for the exceptional care that I received from the midwives at Austin Area Birthing Center during both by pregnancies and births. Through their compassionate and empowering care that allowed me to have the natural birth that I dreamed set me on the path to discovering my own calling to birth work.
I am thankful to my sister-in-law whose casual suggestion made me consider becoming a doula, before beginning on the path to midwifery. Good luck on your own doula journey!
I am thankful to my trainers, mentors, and colleagues, both in person and in the online community who have taught me so much and inspired me in this journey.
I am thankful for my husband who has supported me in this new endeavor and who has taken up all of the household duties, including caring for my two little ones, when I am called at a moment's notice and am gone for many hours at a time.
Lastly, but certainly not least, I am thankful to all the families who have invited me to share with them the sacred space of the birth of their babies. Especially those first few who trusted me even though I had little experience yet, I am especially grateful for your confidence in me. It has been my pleasure pleasure to support over a dozen gracious couples, and each unique birth has taught me so much.
Thank you all! And happy Thanksgiving!