Most shocking thing that's happened at a birth?

Tiffany · 10-06-2005, 12:22 PM

What was the most shocking thing you've seen happen at a birth? I thought this might be an interesting question because so many different things happen during a birth.

I've been fortunate enough to not witness anything too shocking or odd.

Once, a client of mine called to tell me her water broke, no labor, but that she would meet me at the hospital and I said I'd be there in an hour. When I got to the hospital, she was being stitched up because she had the baby 15 minutes prior! A nurse caught her babe.

Actually this kind of shocked me too.. I was at a yoga class with a client (I met her through the class) and she was overdue. So during the class I did what I now call my "inducing belly rub" and no joke.. she called me an hour after the class in labor! I supported her at home for another hour, and she had the baby at the hospital another hour after that! Nuts!!

So, anything weird or shocking??

raspberrymoondoula · 10-06-2005, 02:52 PM

i had a client whos doctor broke her water without asking, and attached an internal moniter without giving her the chance to say boo about it. i guess tis not so shocking that kind of shit happens all the time, but being one of my first few births it surprised me the disregard for her wishes.

~Tranquility~Doula · 10-06-2005, 03:47 PM

When my first client and I arrived at the hospital she had already been pushing a little in the car and no one believed us when we got to the admission desk. Then we she got into a room and found her to be complete they were all surprised.

When her doc arrived and she was finally "allowed" to start pushing they wanted to put her legs in the strirrups and she was screaming for them not to and she kicked the doc in the face( hee hee). They continued to disrespect her in this manner the rest of the delivery by screaming at her to push, that she wasn't doing it right, etc. Then after the baby was born, mom was stitched up and everyone left us alone.
I was pretty traumatized at that birth and even thought that maybe being a doula wasn't for me afterall. But I ended up talking to a doula friend and she assured me that it wouldn't be like that every time. And it isn't.

10-06-2005, 07:55 PM

Good Day ladies!
has any one ever seen a uterine inversion?? I have only witnessed this twice in my career, once being the other day. It's a definite emergency and there's no time to prepare anyone for how the uterus is put back in place again but it is so barbarick (can't spell). Anyone know of a nicer more pleasant way to handle this?? Just checking

kelley piasecki · 10-06-2005, 08:00 PM

At one of my births, the mom became complete and the doctor wasn't there yet, as he was finishing up his patients. (keep in mind that his office is attached to the hospital)......Well, ANYWAYS, the nurses told her NOT to push yet (she didn't feel the urge as she had an epidural), and was instructed not to push until he got there, which was about 20-25 minutes later. I could have died that they were making her and her baby WAIT for the stinkin' doctor. There WAS a resident there who could have delivered.

Kim Trower · 10-07-2005, 05:53 PM

I have seen a true knot in the cord, that was pretty cool. I have seen 2 retained placentas, 1 shoulder dystocia (midwife had BOTH hands inside and mom did not tear at all with all that and big baby), I have caught 1 babe (in the hospital), and helped a dad catch his babe (that was really cool). As for treatment, 1 really horrendous one. My client wanted to be naked and the nurses were just appalled. I mean how offensive to see a naked woman in labor right (gag)...anyway, she refused to put anything on, they kept telling her how men were on this floor and it might embarass them...in which I replied then maybe they shouldn't be working on this floor. Well, finally this old hag nurse was called in as if they needed back up, yelled at her some more, she did not give in and this nurse threw the hospital gown on her and stormed out of the room. We all had a good laugh about it though...can you imagine such an ordeal...geez.

tlcdoula · 10-07-2005, 08:39 PM

You know, that is so sad Kim. It breaks my heart to hear stories like that. I just don't understand why a woman in labor needs to be badgered so much especially if she is in "her" room. I could see if she was skipping down the halls stark naked, but I am assuming she stayed in her room, right?

raspberrymoondoula · 10-07-2005, 10:25 PM

that happened to my momma who the evil doc broke her water without asking, she wanted to be naked as well and the nurse just freaked out and kept trying to put towels over her. what the hell? really if you cant stand the sight of a naked woman you shouldn't work in L&D!

~Tranquility~Doula · 10-07-2005, 10:35 PM

And why is everyone so worried about the mother wearing her own clothes? I don't see what the big deal is if a mom wants to wear her own frickin shirt. I would think if there was a true emergency all they would have to do is cut the thing off if it posed a problem.

Kalamazoo Doula · 10-08-2005, 02:55 AM

I think it simiply comes down to the lack of thinking out side the box! These nurses can't handle change, or anything NEW. You would think that someone who has studied anatomy in such depth as a person does to become a nurse, that they would be comfortable with the human body!

tlcdoula · 10-11-2005, 03:37 PM

Okay so this happened last Thursday at a cesarean birth. The baby was breach and the doc had pulled baby's legs and bottom out of mom and before she pulled the baby's head out she had the anesthisiologist drop the curtain, and he lifted mom's head up so that she could watch the baby being pulled from her body and they immediately placed baby on mom's chest (not bare) for a few seconds and then they took the baby away and raised the curtain again. Mom was able to announce the sex, and kiss her baby several times before they took her away.

Kalamazoo Doula · 10-13-2005, 06:57 PM

Very awesome experience for that momma!

10-22-2005, 01:07 AM

Geeze!!!!

Okay, what is the BIG deal about someone wanting to wear their own shirt or be naked during L&D...

I hated wearing that stupid gown, those things feel like I'm being choked. I'm sorry but if ya can't handle seeing a woman nude then you are in the wrong profession. If the woman is comfortable then that is what should matter. I've experienced one very good delivery with my son & a HORRID one with my daughter.

Reading these from all of you, it's the fear of the unknown that scare people & some just don't like to think "Outside The Box". I might have to bite my tongue a lot.

Stacie · 10-24-2005, 04:32 PM

My first baby had a true knot in his cord -- it's a good thing I didn't know cause I might have freaked out, lol.

With my second baby I kept feeling twisted in the gown and finally the nurse or my midwife asked, "Do you want to tak it off?" The thought had not even occurred to me. I was naked, and I liked it

.

I think the weirdest thing I have seen was when a mom was geting stitched up and the midwife whispered to me "That's her cervix." It was right there hanging out of her vagina! I thought, that doesn't look normal! I did not say anything to the mom, but to the midwife (whom I know fairly well) I said, quietly, "Is that okay?" She assured me it would go back to it's rightful place. Sure enough a while later it was gone!

Not the most interesting, but something I had never seen before!

Tiffany · 10-24-2005, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stacie

I think the weirdest thing I have seen was when a mom was geting stitched up and the midwife whispered to me "That's her cervix." It was right there hanging out of her vagina! I thought, that doesn't look normal! I did not say anything to the mom, but to the midwife (whom I know fairly well) I said, quietly, "Is that okay?" She assured me it would go back to it's rightful place. Sure enough a while later it was gone!

That is also something I never knew, and is quite shocking to me! Thanks for sharing... I surely would have been concerned to see something like that.