Revelations

It has been a while, and I'm not sure where this is all going. I have seen two or three law suits in the newspaper which included blog sites. I've given it lots of thought and am concerned that I too might be included in that category. I initially thought that blogging would be a great way to put some of my thoughts and frustration in order and perhaps get feedback if anyone in the world read them. Now I know that although it might be therapeutic for me, it also could be harmful. I feel that I have to limit my commentary. I'm still delivering babies, and for the most part still loving it.

Best Birth

I had the opportunity to be present for a wonderful home birth. This was the birth of my 4th grandchild. My daughter had asked me to "catch" . I was prepared to do whatever needed to be done and am well aware that "catching" is not the only thing that needs to happen as a baby is being born. I had no need to run the show. As it turned out I was able to hold my daughter in my arms as she birthed baby number 4 in a standing squat into the waiting hands of Alice my daughter's midwife. This was another girl. Now the count is 3 girls, 1 boy. It was a beautiful birth and everyone was present. The family experience was wonderful and there was truly a feeling of joy and thankfulness all around. Baby Leila Naomi is breastfeeding well and everyone is healthy and happy and doing great. How lucky I am to have such a beautiful, healthy family.

Worthwhile work

I did a post partum visit with a woman who had a very nice birth recently and it was number 4 baby. She had 3 previous deliveries with a physician. At our visit after the work was done we were just talking about life the universe and everything and the BirthMom said that she was so inspired by my obvious love of what I am doing that she was going to go back to school and take lots of different classes until she found something to do that she loves as much as I love doing midwifery. I was really honored and surprised. I do love doing true midwifery care. I love having good births. I was thrilled to be able to help her birth. I certainly hope she follows through. I find that when you love what you do, you never really "go to work".

Partnership: Relief and Challenges

I was a solo midwife for a long time. Then I got a partner (another midwife in my practice). I already had a lifemate in the form of a husband of 30+ years. Now, I'm sometimes not sure what to do about this partner thing. I'm thinking that I am not someone who plays well with others. I love the fact that I'm having every other weekend off and that I can actually take a vacation. That is wonderful. What sucks is that now my partner schedules inductions and does deliveries and runs the show her own way. She does do nice deliveries, and we really do have similar practice styles. Sometimes people that I have delivered before end up being in when she is on call and so she gets to make the decisions and help with their births. I don't like that sharing thing. I don't think that I could continue to be on call all the time, but I haven't adjusted to someone else making decisions about plan of care for people that I have taken care of during previous pregnancies or even thru most of the current pregnancy. I really like the time off. I really like the ability to have a drink (a beer, or a glass of wine) knowing that someone else is responsible Before she came, I just didn't drink because I couldn't take the chance on getting called in after having had alcohol. It is wonderful to have the increased freedom and time of my own. I just don't like sharing that much. Hmmm, I can't have it both ways... imagine that.

Everything comes out OK

Well the induction was a complete success and we got a 9 pound baby boy with a 14-1/2 inch head. All is well.

Induction and a rant

Have a mom coming in tomorrow morning at 5a.m. for induction. She has had an unstable lie for weeks. Sometimes vertex, sometimes breech. I saw her today and scanned her. Baby is vertex but definitely not engaged!!!! She is 40 weeks 4 days. So tomorrow we will start pitocin and see if we can drive that little head down into the pelvis so that we can get this baby birthed. I'll let you know how it all comes out.

On a completely different note. What follows is a rant: I continue to be amazed at what people think they deserve. I have a BirthMom who is a 2 pack a day smoker, who missed half of her appointments was on bed rest and of course didn't stay down and she is now all worried that there is something wrong with her baby. Go figure. She honestly believes that she didn't do anything during this pregnancy that could possibly hurt her baby. I am so frustrated with the I have no personal responsibilities and everyone else is to blame for whatever happens mentality. Rant completed.

Nice births but not without challenges

Last night I did a birth with a long time client. She came in at 3 cm and spent a good hour to hour and a half in the jacuzzi and got out of the tub at 7 cm dilated, 100% and zero station. She had an incredible urge to push. I encouraged her to push only as much as felt good for her body. She did this, but we didn't get much change. Her cervix had a fat anterior lip and the baby was occiput posterior (looking at BirthMom's abdomen instead of her back). I had BirthMom squat, kneel, lay on her side, finally I had her kneel with a ball supporting her upper body. The baby rotated and descended beautifully. I hardly had time to get on my gloves before the baby delivered. BirthMom was on her knees leaning over the ball. Dad helped deliver the baby and cut the cord. It was beautiful and it was a girl. The first one for several generations in that family. Everyone was thrilled. Got home well after midnight, grabbed a bite, read the paper and went to bed. Got called in this morning early for a labor. My birth today was almost exactly the same as the one last night except that BirthMom wouldn't push on her hands and knees so we rolled over and she delivered in a more traditional birth position. Instead of the father helping deliver, her sister helped deliver the baby and cut the cord. This one was a little girl as well. I also had a c-section today. It was a repeat. Last baby was breech. This one was vertex but had a 14-1/2 inch head. Sent 3 people home today. Spent most all of the day at the hospital. Got home about 6:30p.m. Nice dinner with my honey, and now some rest. Hopefully, I get to stay home tonight.