Re: [ozmidwifery] A wonderfully successful vbac birth this morning

[susan cudlipp]

Yes it is a shame - still, small victories are better than none. I, and some of my colleagues have challenged the concept of offering elective C/S as a public hospital, but as I've said -the answer given is "informed choice" It was very apparent that one dr's view of "informed choice" was different to another's, fortunately the one there at the time did not support unecessary surgery, others would have. It seems to me that the need is to educate them young. Had a 35 yo primip in clinic yesterday who was just delightful, and she said loads of people were assuming that she was having a C/S "because of her age" I told her to tell them not to be ageist and that she had great "childbearing hips" and was a very healthy woman who did not need surgery to birth.  Added that my last birth at 38yrs was the best of the lot.   Sad sad sad. Sue ----- Original Message ----- From: Denise Hynd To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Friday, April 01, 2005 6:47 AM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] A wonderfully successful vbac birth this morning Sue   Well done   What  a shame you could not suggest a tub of water in a soothing low lit room?? Sounds like she might have done the whole deal under her own endorphins.   I suspect she did not know about her endorphins or that they are as powerfull as an epidural with no need for a forceps and worries about the epidural effects getting and staying in the baby or herself for a long time ??   On cold mornings like this I still know where my epidural went Denise Hynd   "Let us support one another, not just in philosophy but in action, for the sake of freedom for all women to choose exactly how and by whom, if by anyone, our bodies will be handled."   — Linda Hes ----- Original Message ----- From: susan cudlipp To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2005 10:54 PM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] A wonderfully successful vbac birth this morning I have to add a 'success' story here. Last week we had a woman arrive in labour at 38 weeks. she had booked from the start for an elective caesar - no medical reason, just had heard too many horror stories from relatives and friends and had decided not to go there! Hubby was totally into the idea of C/S too "all the stars have them"  ( personally I think he just wanted his play equipment undamaged!!)  I mentioned that the 'stars' also have botox and boob jobs but that didn't necessarily make it a good thing. Anyway, to cut a long story short, the obs on duty was not the one who had agreed to her request at booking, and was not impressed at the prospect of doing a C/S at night on a public holiday, for no good reason.  I encouraged this and together we discussed the pro's and con's (mainly cons) of a C/S.  She was just having backache at this stage and no-one had done a VE. She asked if she could have an epidural, so I said , well how about having it, then seeing how the labour goes, if it doesn't go well then you can revert to plan A?  Fine, as long as she was not going to have pain, says she, hubby still not convinced but beginning to see that major abdominal surgery might not be such a great thing after all. After the epidural was working I did a ve - guess what - 7cms and head at +2 - all with just backache!! I told her how great she was doing and that she had obviously underestimated her own capabilities, stressed that the labour was going as well as a first labour possibly could be and that it would really be a shame to perform surgery when her body was doing it all so beautifully. I went home praying that it wouldn't all go 'pear shaped' as they had had such a mind set not to go the vaginal route. She birthed a few hours later and we had a good chat next day, she thanked me for encouraging her to try, said it was nowhere near as bad as she had feared.  I praised her for making such a big leap at the last minute.  she did have a gentle wrigleys forceps lift out due to probably not pushing effectively 2' to epidural, but at least it was a vaginal birth, and intact peri.  She even went as far as to say that next time she might not even want an epidural!! - I told her that she would certainly have pushed bub out by herself if she hadn't had one. So, not a perfect birth perhaps, but a great leap of faith for one woman who had been scared into choosing elective C/S, and a much better result for her and her baby, (hubby was OK too in the end :-) Sue   ----- Original Message ----- From: Julie Clarke To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2005 6:23 AM Subject: RE: [ozmidwifery] A wonderfully successful vbac birth this morning Hi Katrina Having just read your question this morning I have had a little chuckle as I remember the couple of moments, firstly when he was rubbing her back too enthusiastically during a contraction – she had actually asked for a back rub and he was doing a great job just didn’t think to stop when the next contraction came – he wasn’t watching her face so he didn’t realize – she let out a little growl and he was shocked Then the next time was with the face washer – her face and cheeks were very hot so we had a lovely wet cool washer but I think he squashed her nose or blocked it with the washer and that caused a reaction too. It was very heartwarming though when I saw the look on his face as the lovely midwife helped him to catch his new little baby girl I had the camera and gave a couple of quick clicks so I hope I got that shot for him. He was exceptional afterwards as he supported mum and bub throughout the first breastfeed. He is a totally involved dad. Warm hug Julie   Julie Clarke CBE Independent Childbirth and Parenting Educator HypnoBirthing (R) Practitioner ACE Grad Dip Supervisor NACE Advanced Educator and Trainer NACE National Journal Editor Transition into Parenthood Sessions 9 Withybrook Place Sylvania NSW 2224 Telephone  9544 6441 Mobile: 0401 2655 30 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] visit Julie's website: www.transitionintoparenthood.com.au   From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ceri & Katrina Sent: Wednesday, 30 March 2005 7:59 PM To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] A wonderfully successful vbac birth this morning   hi just a question.. Why did the dad get into trouble??? just curious thats all katrina :-) On 30/03/2005, at 6:21 AM, Julie Clarke wrote: Hi I have just come in the door from supporting at another wonderful birth, which was a successful vbac. The woman had made a well informed choice to aim for a vbac and not a repeat cesar, however she experienced the usual normal anxiety of anyone having a vaginal birth compounded with lack of confidence because she didn’t get there last time. Well we worked through those issues slowly and gently, over an hour and a half she pushed her baby into the world – a gorgeous baby girl with a lovely head of dark curly hair. The midwife was lovely, gentle, positive, calm, quiet and unobtrusive. The dad was great and got into trouble a couple of times – I felt sorry for him – he was crestfallen because he was trying to do his best. The woman was so pleased with herself at having achieved what she wanted to achieve a natural active birth with no drugs, no intervention and a fine healthy baby. She didn’t have any colostrum after the cesar and was worried – but after this normal birth we got the baby on and the baby looked very contented and relaxed as I left. And I have come home with another big smile on my face satisfied in the knowledge that when a woman puts her mind to it and no one stands in her way she can do anything can’t she? A great experience to start the day.   Warm hug to all Julie   Julie Clarke CBE Independent Childbirth and Parenting Educator HypnoBirthing (R) Practitioner ACE Grad Dip Supervisor NACE Advanced Educator and Trainer NACE National Journal Editor Transition into Parenthood Sessions 9 Withybrook Place Sylvania NSW 2224 Telephone  9544 6441 Mobile: 0401 2655 30 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] visit Julie's website: www.transitionintoparenthood.com.au