Just letting everyone know the SA birth happened early (SROM) and labour
started quite well, mum seemed great. BUT... it quickly became very full
on
and I couldn't believe it was exactly what I had read about.
Huge learning curve and I am kicking myself for not realizing sooner that
it
was going downhill in a textbook SA style. She was transitional at 1-2cms
plus a posterior bub, was throwing up, shakes, wanting out, good contrax
etc
but that cervix wasn't moving fast enough. After lots of hard work she got
to 9cms but ended up with a Caesar, it had been two days, we'd all had no
sleep and she and bubs were exhausted and going downhill. She was getting
a
fever, blood in urine, I think traces of proteins / keytones, just
everything you can imagine apart from fetal distress was thrown out. She
just didn't like the feeling of pressure (baby) and wanted to block it all
out. Epi didn't help. VE's were a nightmare and of course given it was
going
the way it was they wanted to do several. During the caesar I was allowed
to
come in with her (first one I actually had seen, I found it quite
disturbing
but of course didn't say so!) and she found it extremely difficult as she
had surgery to correct damage from rape. I could tell that she was having
major issues and tried to get her visualising and using lots of
reassurance
but she wasn't there with me... but as soon as bubs was born and she was
out
of there she was completely fine.
We have lots of debriefing to do I think, so will be interesting... so
much
happened and we all did so much hard work, but it just wasn't meant to be.
Came home to two sick kids (hubby makes 3) and didn't get much sleep while
hubby slept, so I am still a bit of a wreck and catching up on things. I
should be sleeping now, but I am so behind with BB and T4T that people are
getting irate with me. *sigh* So thanks all for your support, I can't wait
til my copy of 'When Survivors Give Birth' arrive and hopefully next time
I
can be a bit more prepared and experienced. It was the longest, most
tiring
and difficult birth I have been to yet. But special at the same time.
Best Regards,
Kelly Zantey
Creator, BellyBelly.com.au
Gentle Solutions From Conception to Parenthood
BellyBelly Birth Support - http://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth-support
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Kelly @
BellyBelly
Sent: Friday, 14 April 2006 2:05 PM
To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au
Subject: RE: [ozmidwifery] Birth & Sexual Assault
Thanks for your emails everyone! I was going to email some of you
personally
but been a bit flat out and meeting lots of women this week wanting
support
which is great. Some feedback on this woman though...
I have a feeling the SA is going to play up in the birth in some way. When
I
arrived to greet her, she quickly held out her had to shake, I don't know
if
she didn't know how to greet me or was worried about other contact (i.e.
kiss/hug) but also I felt while she was very happy for me to be there, she
kept her distance physically. Also I think I might have mentioned this but
she said she attended a pregnancy group (Rhea's) and only went to one as
she
felt too 'exposed'. She has not attended pre-natal classes and wants our
next visit to be about what the birth will be like - I am a little worried
about this as I can of course tell her about normal birth but I am not a
birth educator and am not completely sure which direction to be heading
down, especially given her background. She didn't bring up the SA until I
did towards the end, and said that she feels her mother's death 6 years
ago
is more the issue and feels very raw. So both of these things could be
something we'll need to work on, I just don't know how to approach it...
any
tips appreciated!!! Thanks!
Best Regards,
Kelly Zantey
Creator, BellyBelly.com.au
Gentle Solutions From Conception to Parenthood
BellyBelly Birth Support - http://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth-support
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Janet Fraser
Sent: Thursday, 13 April 2006 11:32 AM
To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Birth & Sexual Assault
Yes yes yes! To what Abby said! My first experience of rape was from an
obstetrician and I'm so not alone with that.
J
----- Original Message -----
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au>
Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 12:18 AM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Birth & Sexual Assault
Hi Kelly,
You can contact Natalie Dash [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Nat has supported quite a few women with an abusive history.
I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but it is important to
recognise that some women experience sexual abuse for the first time while
birthing. ie. an ob or midwife demands to do a VE while the woman is
adimantly opposed or an episiotomy is performed while a woman and her
partner are saying "NO!" or, as in with my first birth, being held down by
a
midwife and ob while he shoved his hand inside me and made rude remarks
how
I was not cooperating!
More and more sexual assault is happening in birthing units and it needs
t
be addressed. 'NO MEANS NO' no matter what your proffession. Just because
it's in a hospital or because it's an OB, doesn't mean it's okay.
I would like to read more about this but am heading away for a week. I'll
look forward to catching up with others advice when I get back.
Love Abby
> Kelly @ BellyBelly <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Just wondering if anyone has any tips on working with women who have
> been
> involved with sexual assault? Loaded birth - she also lost her mother
> recently - so trying to get lots of tips and suggestions. she's feeling
> fearful of interventions and is due soon. The hospital recommended she
> get
> extra support so she contacted me.
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Kelly Zantey
> Creator, <http://www.bellybelly.com.au/> BellyBelly.com.au
> Gentle Solutions From Conception to Parenthood
> <http://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth-support>
> <http://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth-support> BellyBelly Birth Support -
> http://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth-support
>
>
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Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.