Homebirth 8-29-09-part 2

Comment

Comment by Birth Videos on January 3, 2011 at 7:27pm

Yes her support system could have helped more too.

Comment by Tiara Kealohi Tynamengha on January 3, 2011 at 7:24pm

All I have to say is I feel bad for the poor mommy!

Comment by Birth Videos on July 10, 2010 at 2:11pm

I'm sure squatting would have really helped her, but it might have been a situation where they asked her a few times "do you want us to help you squat?" and she said no. A lot of times when you're in labor you plan to do a certain thing but when the moment arrives you suddenly find you don't want to. Surprisingly some women end up birthing on their backs at home when half the point of having a homebirth was to be able to be more free in their birth positions!

Comment by Marci For Birth Choice on July 9, 2010 at 4:12am

Isn't the position she's in the equivalent of lying on her back in a hospital bed?!? If she were squatting, wouldn't gravity help her push the baby out? It just seems like she's pushing uphill....I would think having more mobility would've been one of the advantages of a homebirth, no?

Comment by wu peiyun on July 9, 2010 at 3:48am

why there's no one helping her get the baby out? this position is not good for her

Comment by Birth Videos on October 5, 2009 at 4:53pm

I think her husband or whoever said that was just trying to be helpful about keeping her legs nice and open. It helps to keep the legs spread to create the largest opening possible for the head. Clearly she was having trouble holding her legs and keeping them apart, at that point a father holding one leg back and a friend holding the other would have helped her feel like her legs were nice and stable and supported. But in terms of the midwife, I agree she wasn't reading mommies clues. What's interesting is often in labor a mother feels like she doesn't know what she needs to do to feel better. Even if you ask a woman pushing, what do you need or what should I do to help you? The answer is often, "I don't know!" A good midwife could suggest getting on her knees, and if mommy says, I don't know, then gently help her get onto all fours anyway, or perhaps even gently suggest getting out of the pool for a moment and help her up. Sometimes mommies just need to be guided toward what to do and that helps them find what feels better, even if outwardly they are not able to verbalize what they need.

Comment by RMK on October 5, 2009 at 8:42am

This midwife needs an INTERVENTION. How many physical and verbal cues does it take to realize that this poor mama is not comfortable in this position? I wonder what the mothers perspective was when watching the video post birth. Did you hear the comment from the male about not closing your legs? so infuriating. Beautiful Mama, Beautiful Baby, wish I could say the same for their support network.

Comment by Birth Videos on October 3, 2009 at 6:55am

I almost think the water was making her feel too bouyant, she seemed to have a hard time feeling like she was grounded and had something to brace herself against. That's why she kept sort of writhing around in the water. I think it might have been nice if they suggested she get out of the water and maybe get on her knees holding onto her husbands shoulders. That might have helped make her feel like she was bracing against something and could push better. Poor mama.

Comment by Liz Nightingale on October 3, 2009 at 12:13am

Why didn't the midwives help that baby be belly to belly with his mum by lifting her shirt? Why did they turn the baby away from her !!!!
AAAAAAAAAAAAArrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggghhh _ I despair

Comment by Liz Nightingale on October 3, 2009 at 12:11am

I wonder why the midwives don't suggest a change of position, maybe to all fours or kneeling up. Many women progress smoothly who alter their positions in second stage. It might help her to know that "It is supposed to feel this way".
What are all those unnecessary people doing in the room. Poor woman - having to "perform" for them!
I feel so sorry for the birthing mother. It is hard for her to "know" what to do instinctively if so many others are "telling" her.
At crowning why is no one helping her with breathing blowing horse-lips panting etc?
Was tachycardic waiting for this babe myself....:(