A Long Labor Day

Some doula days are spent supporting laboring mamas and welcoming babies earth side. Others are spent scheduling appointments, sending emails and invoices, and organizing paperwork. Both are important, but one is obviously more exciting than the other. ;) Today, I figured I’d kick this blog off by sharing about a more exciting doula day in labor land.

This birth story is one of a first time mama who was several days “overdue.” (But we all know that “due dates” are really more like “guess dates,” so she was doing her best to be patient!) She was planning to give birth at a local New Braunfels birth center. We had met for two prenatal appointments during the pregnancy to plan and prepare for labor and she and her husband had been preparing for their labor and birth together. She had been having prodromal labor for several days on and off and was beginning to think baby boy might never make his appearance. Finally, on September 6, late in the evening, I got a call that her water had broken! Not yet having super consistent contractions, she checked in with her midwives and then decided to head to bed to see if she could get some rest before labor really got going. Early the next morning, which ironically was labor day, I got a call that she was awake and coping with contractions on her own while she let her husband sleep, since he had worked late the evening before, but could use some support. So I headed her way. When I got to the house, between 4-5am, contractions were strong, but inconsistent. We went for a walk to get some fresh air, watched some tv on the birth ball and eventually decided to try to get some more sleep. Everyone was able to rest for a few hours, with contractions on and off the whole time. 

Early that afternoon, contractions began to pick up in intensity but were still in an unpredictable pattern. They seemed to pick up in frequency when we walked, so we went for another walk around their wooded property, stopping to breath through contractions along the way on that hot Texas afternoon. Then we came inside to try a Miles Circuit (recommended by their midwife).

The Knee-Chest position felt ok, but the side-lying position was really difficult and brought on intense contractions and nausea for this mama. Sometimes the most uncomfortable position is the one that “works” to kickstart labor, because it can help baby rotate and settle into the pelvis. Once she got into the third position (asymmetrical leg position) on the birth ball, contractions began to really intensify and get into a strong, consistent pattern. Strong counter pressure during contractions kept her going, along with emotional support from her husband, but her mood changed drastically as baby descended into the pelvis and active labor progressed. We checked in with the midwife and decided it was time to head on to the birth center (about half an hour away). 

We arrived at the birth center around 5pm, got checked in and did some more walking, swaying, and slow dancing, all with counter pressure on her back and hips to help her cope with pain. Since she was having a lot of trouble keeping food and liquids down, the midwives recommended an IV for some hydration. She got the IV and was able to rest with her husband between contractions for a little while on the bed.

Finally around 9pm, she started to feel the urge to push. Trying several pushing positions, she finally landed on the birth stool as her favored spot to push. At 9:40pm, after close to 24 hours of labor, baby was caught by his amazing dad and passed up to mama’s waiting arms. They spent the next hour snuggling baby skin to skin and resting together as a family of 3, while the midwives checked everyone over and took care of the details. One of my favorite thing about working with this birth center is how they focus so much on family bonding and the “golden hour” (or more!) of skin to skin bonding time for mom and baby to get to know each other from the outside. Dad got skin to skin time with their sweet baby boy too and also got to cut the cord.

Another hour later, after baby had latched and breastfed successfully, had his newborn exam and was snuggled back in with mom and dad, and mom and dad (and doula and midwives!) were fed and ready for a nap, I headed home for a nap myself!
Every client’s birth story is so different, and that is one of the things I love about birth. Long or short, birth center or hospital, first baby or 5th baby, every family deserves to be supported in their birth choices. I’m so grateful to have been able to support this family’s first birth.

Happy, exhausted parents + nursing baby.