Birth Observe #1

Image from: Attachments Catalog

Thursday, I went on two prenatals with my midwife. Both women are in their delivery window, 37 to 42 weeks gestational age (wga), and the grand mulipara has a history of going early (38 wga at most). For the mama that goes early we didn't even make a follow up appointment for her because we knew we'd be coming back any day now for her birth.

Around 9pm on Thursday night the midwife called me to let me know that our grand mulipara (5 or more births/paras) thinks that she's in labor. The midwife told me to hang tight. She was going to take a shower and call me back in an hour. At 11pm she called me again to let me know that she was on her way to check the mama. The mama recently thought she was in labor a few days prior and the midwife wanted to make sure that this was it before sending me on my way. At midnight my phone rings, "get here now, the baby will be born tonight!"

I get to the birth around 12:30am. The midwife lets me know what's going on and tells me that the mom is at 2cm. Shucks, I think to myself, I have to be at work at 8am I hope I don't miss my first birth as a student midwife.

During our prenatal visits the mama told us that she goes early and she goes fast. I was expecting fast but her labor/transition and birth were unbeliable. Around 12:40 am the mama was squirming in the birth tub as what appeared to be huge rushes washed over her. The midwife wanted to check her again so around 1am she did and she was 100% effaced and 8cm. A few more contractions and the mama had the urge push.

At 1:21 am on 1/21/2011 a beautiful baby girl was born. My first birth as a student midwife! From 2cm to birth in less than an hour! Amazing.

Precepting Day 1: Fundal Height

Thursday was my first day of official precepting. It was a great day. I love going to prenatals with my midwife. We spend the entire day talking about midwifery, birth and life. I though my day was long (ten hours) until my friend told me that she was gone for 25 hours! She left her house at 4:30am to drive to Tallahassee and didn't get home until 5:05 the next morning! She did, however, get to attend two births which is amazing!

During my first day I got to do a fundal height measurement. I was off by a couple of centimeters but I think it's because I didn't have the zero directly over the pubic bone. A lesson for next time.

According to Mayoclinic.com,
"Fundal height is the distance from the top of the uterus to the pubic bone measured in centimeters. Starting in the second trimester, fundal height usually matches closely to the number of weeks you've been pregnant. For example, if you're 27 weeks pregnant, your health care provider would expect your fundal height to be about 27 centimeters. However, the measurement has a wide range of normal findings."

Teresea

 A week ago today, Teresea Kirkman, died in the ICU at Tampa General Hospital. She had been battling Crohns disease and was recently diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver. She was only 47 years old.

I've known Teresea all my life. She and her husband, Jimmy, have been friends with my parents before I could remember. Jimmy and Teresea were those people that define love. The type of people that you see together and you know that there is such a thing as a "soul mate." It even sounds weird to say either of their names separately.

Teresea was buried Saturday, on their 28th wedding anniversary. Out of that love grew their daughter, Katrina. The memorial service was more beautiful than any one could have imagined. There were photos of her life on display in which her happiness radiated.

I cannot imagine the pain of losing a spouse or my mother. My longest relationship was a little over three years long. Hardly a drop in the bucket of the time Jimmy and Teresea spent together. I can only hope to have the type of love and companionship that they shared.

On death, Elisabeth Kubbler Ross wrote:

“Death is simply a shedding of the physical body like the butterfly shedding its cocoon.  It is a transition to a higher state of consciousness where you continue to perceive, to understand, to laugh, and to be able to grow.”

It is my belief and hope that Theresa is in that place, laughing and growing- beautifully waiting for us to join her.

Men and Birth

A friend on Facebook posted a link to this film, The Other Side of the Glass, which is about men and childbirth. It's a very powerful film that explores the often ignored role of the father in the birth of their babies. It's such an amazing right of passage, to be present at the birth of your children. My own father wasn't "allowed" in the room during my birth. It really saddens me that it missed such a huge event. Hopefully, more men will be honored and embraced at the birth of their children, especially after seeing the film!

Here is the link to the films website.
http://www.theothersideoftheglassthefilm.blogspot.com/

Screenings of the film will begin in the summer, starting on Father's Day.