OK Ladies, need your help again

Jackie7183 · 08-30-2006, 11:15 PM

Ok, so I definitely learned my lesson. Don't tell a mom I think we should go to the hospital, wait for her to say that it is time.

I did this last Tuesday as the mom was showing signs of transition. My mistake, I think her body was totally ready and when she got to the hospital, she stoped contracting and her cervix closed back up. She has still not delivered. I think now she is holding back mentally. Her body is definitely ready and is trying to push out baby, but her mind will not let go. So tomorrow I am going to her house and will be doing a light massage, and I will be talking with her about her anxieties. I also wanted to do some visualization with her, her cervix opening and all that. What do you ladies suggest? Do you have any particular ways of saying that she should imagine her cervix opening but saying it in a more creative way, like analogies and things like that? Please give me some tips as this girl really wants a natural birth and the drs are talking about inducing next week if she doesnt progress. Thanks in Advance!!

Tiffany · 08-30-2006, 11:50 PM

If I were her doula, I'd do my inducing belly rub.

tlcdoula · 08-30-2006, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiffany

If I were her doula, I'd do my inducing belly rub.

Okay Tiff - explain that one

DL · 08-31-2006, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiffany

If I were her doula, I'd do my inducing belly rub.

There's that mysterious inducing belly rub again! I've heard you mention it several times in the past, but I've never seen you explain it. I would LOVE to know more about it!

....not so subtle *hint, hint*

Tiffany · 08-31-2006, 01:09 AM

I have had 2/3 mamas have babies within 48 hours of doing it, and the third mom went into labor 48 hours after and delivered on the third day. I explained it to someone on here, must have been in a PM. I need to get to bed but I will post tomorrow!

1stimestar · 08-31-2006, 01:34 AM

Don't feel too bad Jackie. I'm very experienced but this last momma was soooo tricky lol. She was a VBAC. She had been contracting all day Friday and we chatted on the phone several times throughout the day. By about 10 pm she said she was about ready for me to come over so over I went. I got there and contractions were about 5 minutes apart. In about 2 hours they were 2-3 minutes apart. She had told me she didn't feel the need to wait till the last minute but so far said she was not ready to go. All of a sudden we had ALL the signs of transition. Ok, time to go said I. She was gbs+ and had planned on getting there in time for abx too. I so did NOT want to bring her in at 10 as I did my previous client. I didn't want to get a reputation of waiting too long lol. We get to the hospital and she is at 3 cm!!!! Shoot! Ctx slowed way down. I asked if she wanted to go back home but she said she felt more comfortable at hospital as her parents were staying with her till baby was born and she didn't want to wake them up. So she labored all night and all the next day and finally got to 10. Baby was still really high. She pushed for 3 hours and baby did not budge in the least. We tried every thing but standing her on her head. Baby was just not going anywhere. His position was perfect per doctor. Doctor gave her the option of pushing longer as baby looked great. At that time, she decided to go for a c-section. Afterwards and the next day she said she felt great about her birth. She felt supported, no one tried to bully her. She made all the best choices she could. Her previous birth was so different. Baby was only 7 lbs 12 oz so I am thinking he might have had a short cord or something. Anyways, even experienced doulas and experienced moms can be tricked when the body gives signals that are not usually shown till later.

douladot · 08-31-2006, 06:38 AM

This post reminded me of my last client and something I wanted to ask about --- She was also trying for a VBAC. I had met with her twice prenatally. We hit it off great each meeting and had several phone calls that were open and honest (about what she needed from me, etc) and I was very comfortable with her and her husband. She wanted me to meet her at her house when she was in labor and labor most of the time at home. She checked in with me during the day when she thought she was in labor (having contractions anywhere from 10-15 min apart). Finally, about 10-11 that night I got a call from her that her contractions were about 5 min apart. Since she was about 30 min away I got ready and went over there. When I got there her contractions were about 4-5 min apart. She was excited and handling them well. She needed the rice sock on her back continuously. Not long after I got there she called her doc and told them she was 4-5 min apart and they told her to come on in. Well -- (I'm trying to make this short -- tee hee)-- we drove separately and by the time we got to the hospital I was convinced she was in transition (another lesson I learned -- NEVER tell a mom that!!!!). She had the shakes bad, they were about 3-4 minutes apart and lasting about 60-90 seconds---well - by the time she got a room and got checked she was NOT DILATED----not even 1 cm!!!! I was astonished. I did not let her see that however...I just told her that sometimes women will dilate fast after a certain point and not to worry. When she was finally allowed to get up and get in the shower ---BAM -- her water broke and that is when I knew it would go quickly from that time on. She dilated about 1 cm every half hour and toward the end it was 1 cm every 15 minutes!! She had a successful unmedicated VBAC!! When we had first gotten there the doc was like and I quote "girl, if this is the beginning of labor, how are you going to tolerate it later?" --I was

!! When he left she was saying -- okay why don't I just have another c-section??? He had discouraged her that quickly that fast. I knew if I could just get them out of the room and get her walking and in the shower she would dilate and she DID!!! Anyway -- I guess my question is this(finally, hee hee) -- could she have been dilated at home and then gotten to the hospital and closed up??? I had read about this but was wondering when I was actually in the situation. Or could it be that she really wasn't dilated and she just went fast? In any regard -- I was amazed by it all and was thrilled she got to show that staff what she could do!!

Sorry this was so long!!

earthgirl · 08-31-2006, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jackie7183

. What do you ladies suggest? Do you have any particular ways of saying that she should imagine her cervix opening but saying it in a more creative way, like analogies and things like that? Please give me some tips as this girl really wants a natural birth and the drs are talking about inducing next week if she doesnt progress. Thanks in Advance!!

A lot of people use the lotus or flower blooming. Me personally, when I was in labor imagined a grapefruit, b/c that's what they used in CBE. A grapefruit is 10 cm. Now, I went from 6-10 in 20 minutes, but I was also in the tub. Goodluck!

tb1234 · 09-13-2006, 04:58 PM

I like how they describe it in the Bradley book about pulling a sweatshirt over your head, and thats how the uterus works. I could totally visualize at that point.

I think I read somehwere about using castor oil as the lubricant for a belly massage as well. I am looking forward to the description of the belly massage.

BornToBirth · 09-21-2006, 12:53 AM

I use the image of a rose bud opening .

Gentlebirthmama · 09-21-2006, 09:29 AM

How many weeks is your client? How dilated was she? What position is the cervix in: posterior or anterior? What station is the baby?

There are so many variables that need to be in place for labor to truly happen.
One sure fire way to bring on ctx is to massage belly low around pubic bone with warm castor oil, then make a warm pack of castor oil, lay down low over belly, wrap a warm towel on top of that, and do some relaxation with mom.

But I would be cautious about using this if the baby is at a - station, the cervix is posterior and not very effaced. This all means that mom's body is not ready for labor and although ctx could be brought on, it could mean a long, hard labor for both mom and baby.

Remind her to practice relaxation every day, to think about her baby being in an optimal position, and to know that her baby will be born when the time is right.
And remind her that she can say no to the induction.

Let us know how it goes.

fearlessbirth · 09-21-2006, 09:33 AM

I tell my mamas (and it might sound weird but for some reason they've like it and it's worked for them) to breathe in for their baby and 'out' through their cervix. (Obviously, not literally, but I think them visualizing opening with each exhale is helpful)