Well, I have been an official doula at my first birth, and my goodness, what an introduction! The expression "baptism by fire" comes to mind. Literally every single thing that could happen, did, short of someone dying, pretty much. I don't want to reveal anything of a personal or detailed nature because there are obvious confidentiality issues, but the basic facts are that mom was induced, labor was prolonged, there was meconium in the water, the epidural had to be adjusted several times, Pitocin turned up and down, and mom was on oxygen the last half of labor.
She eventually did dilate fully but baby never engaged in the pelvis, even after four hours of painful but unproductive contractions. They finally gave up on laboring baby down and had her push anyways while they tried to manually pull baby down. They finally got baby into pelvis and used the vacuum for over an hour while Mom pushed with everything she had, but eventually a c section was performed, which I was allowed to watch.
Baby was extremely compromised at birth, and had to be resuscitated and put on a breathing tube. Mom also suffered minor surgical complications. Baby is currently in a children's hospital out of town, and the mom will join once she is recovered from her twenty six hour ordeal. And I? I am recovering too. I can honestly say that I did everything I knew to do, and that I believe I was a big emotional support to the family, especially after the c section, but I am obviously sad that the outcome was so interventive and that the baby wasn't healthy and able to stay with his mom. At least I can say that I've probably already gotten my hardest birth experience under my belt!
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6 comments:
Wow - that is quite the experience! That's too bad about the baby having to be moved :( I hope he's not in the NICU long!
Wow that is an intense first experience! I'm so glad you were there for that family during such a stressful birth!
That sounds like a nightmare :(
Congrats to mom for being so strong and to baby for fighting and hanging on. And especially for you for not running down the hall screaming (which is what I would have done)
My very first birth was a home birth where the baby was born not breathing. They had to call 911. It seriously scared the poo out of me.
it probably is your hardest birth. ;)
Oh my gosh! So scary! So exciting!
WOW. I'm sorry that was your first doula-ing experience but I'm SO GLAD for that family that they had you there for them.
My doula told me the births she's most needed at are the ones where things don't progress smoothly. Emotional support is so key.
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