Curiosity question for Pregnant doulas who attend births

DL · 12-29-2006, 09:03 PM

I'm not

and do not expect to ever be again, but I am just curious to know something:

Because of how my body reacts when I'm attending a birth and anywhere near starting my period (cramps and, often times, the start of AF), I'm just wondering how pheromones affect pregnant doulas, if at all? Do you ever feel ctx's start up, even just a little? If so....is it more noticeable later in pregnancy than earlier?

I've often heard that some of the cramping during mentruation are actually ctx's of the uterus in order to expell blood and lining. I'm telling you, I can get menstrual cramps so badly that I often think that if I were to be pregnant with that level of reaction, that I'm thinking it would probably throw me into labor! So....what have you found your experiences to be?

Ceci · 12-29-2006, 10:13 PM

Hmmm....interesting question. I am only 10 weeks along and have been to 3 births since I found out I was pregnant and had spotting at all three, but that also just seems to be happening more w/ this pregnancy. Anyway, would love to hear responses from other doulas that are further along.

Jilian · 12-29-2006, 10:31 PM

It's funny you ask this because I posted something about this on mothering after attending my last birth, I'll copy and paste it here.

I've been at a birth for the past 24 + hours and it was quite an experience. I could actually feel the vibrations of her contractions in my own uterus while she labored, it only happened when I was very close to her. My baby kicked harder than I've ever felt him/her kick during these vibrations. It was really cool! It got to the point that before a contraction would start I would feel a vibration and know that it was coming, then when the contraction peaked my baby would kick several times and it felt like my own uterus was vibrating.

Maybe my baby wants to be a doula too. Has anyone else been around a laboring woman while pregnant and felt this?

MamaAshley · 12-29-2006, 10:32 PM

Interesting question, i'd love to know what everyone had gone through!

DL · 12-29-2006, 11:01 PM

Thanks so much for sharing that, Jilian! Your experience actually sounds pretty neat!

If you don't mind sharing again, I would be interested to hear how any future births affect you while you're pregnant.

Lindsay · 12-30-2006, 12:14 AM

I noticed more contractions and a super-active baby as well.

Jilian · 12-30-2006, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doula Lori

Thanks so much for sharing that, Jilian! Your experience actually sounds pretty neat!

If you don't mind sharing again, I would be interested to hear how any future births affect you while you're pregnant.

Sure, I'll update after my sister's birth. It should be within the next month.

RosyDoula · 12-30-2006, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doula Lori

Because of how my body reacts when I'm attending a birth and anywhere near starting my period (cramps and, often times, the start of AF), I'm just wondering how pheromones affect pregnant doulas, if at all? Do you ever feel ctx's start up, even just a little? If so....is it more noticeable later in pregnancy than earlier?

I am 7 months now

, and I remember in our earlier discussion on this forum about alot of doulas starting their periods during births, but I was told I guess I feel subconsciously I am "dominant"

and they don't seem to affect me. During my periods I don't get cramps, so maybe I am just different.

I will be at a birth in late January, so I will let you know what my body does. As for the last birth I attended in late August when I was not very far along, I didn't really notice a difference in my uterus, but it may have been too early to tell.

DL · 12-30-2006, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RosyDoula

I will be at a birth in late January, so I will let you know what my body does. As for the last birth I attended in late August when I was not very far along, I didn't really notice a difference in my uterus, but it may have been too early to tell.

Thanks for being so willing to share! Since I'm not pregnant, I don't know why I'm so curious about this aspect of attending births; but nevertheless, I'm just so fascinated!

naturalbirther · 12-30-2006, 02:38 PM

Ok, this terrifies me!

Since I have a history of pre-term contrax and even pre-term labor, this makes me wonder if maybe I should not attend births after a certain part of my pregnancy! I have a birth coming up in mid-March and I will be 4 mos. I went into pre-term labor at 24w with dd, thought they were able to stop my contractions and I was put on strict bedrest. I was able to get up and around in my 8th and into my 9th month, but I was down from about 5 mos on with my son....hmmm...I am VERY curious! I guess on the up-side, I will already be on the L&D floor is something should start up!

lol
Ash

Lindsay · 12-30-2006, 04:09 PM

I know for me, I have had a large number of very strong contractions (BH-type) from about 20 weeks on with each of of my children (my MW with my 2nd child was surprised at their strength). I have a rather--erm, efficient, uterus (my second labor was less than 3.5 hours from first contraction to placenta), and it's just par for the course for me. I noticed them more during this birth, but they did end when the birth ended. I'm a sympathetic person in general, and it makes sense to me that my body works this way as well.

mothermedoula · 12-31-2006, 08:50 PM

The last birth I attended was when I was about 12 weeks pregnant. I didn't feel any cramping, but I made sure to eat and stay hydrated. Luckily, it was a homebirth so i had no trouble staying comfortable and supporting the mom.
I'm now 31 weeks and am attending another homebirth this coming month. I have read that it in traditional societies women who are expecting should not attend births, but I don't feel it's harmful. In fact I think it's kind of sweet.
I'll have to let you know in the next weeks how it goes.
Liz

DL · 12-31-2006, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mothermedoula

I have read that it in traditional societies women who are expecting should not attend births, but I don't feel it's harmful. In fact I think it's kind of sweet.

At the last hospital birth I did, my client's L/D nurse was 7 months pregnant with her first.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mothermedoula

I'll have to let you know in the next weeks how it goes.

Thanks!

DoulaCindy · 09-28-2008, 02:18 PM

I doula-ed through 2 pregnancies. With my last baby, I had a client that gave birth about 2 weeks before my due date. I did not notice any contractions at all. I did not notice many Braxton Hicks with my last two pregnancies any way, though. LOL Someone said her uterus was very efficient....mine is not. Always have trouble getting it to clamp down and stop bleeding afterwards.

Anyway, the only thing I remember of significance, is that I had to remember NOT to push! I find myself almost pushing with them! The biggest challenges doing a birth for me while pregnant are 1) having to eat on my time schedule and 2) the smells of birth bother my pregnant nose!

Tiffany Hensley-Cummings · 09-28-2008, 05:05 PM

I had a lot of Cntx at the last birth I attended which was at about 26wks. My uterus has been very active during this pregnancy so I wasn't surprised. I have more when I'm active and don't get a lot of sleep so that had something to do with it but I could also feel my body reacting to the situation.