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If you’re not near a pacifier or just prefer not to use them, but have a fussy baby who wants to suck but isn’t hungry… try using a (clean) pinkie finger to let your baby suck on - insert it with the pad of your finger towards the roof of the mouth. Generally baby will suck it in far enough that the tongue will rub on your flesh and not on your nail. This isn’t recommended if you have long nails of course. 
I dont’ have any pictures of my daughter online yet, but my mom does. So feel free to visit her blog here and see pictures of my new daughter!!
The birth went a little like this: Since Sunday evening I had been having strong contractions in the evening, but they were about 8-10 minutes apart and I didn’t notice any change with them. I did call my midwives to give them a heads up, but told them don’t get excited yet… I really dont’ feel I’m in labor. The contractions kept me up several times through the night, I had some bloody show, but everything dwindled down by early afternoon Monday. I called one of my midwives and told her, and she said she wouldn’t be surprised if things picked back up again in the evening because that is when I seem to have the most activitiy. She told me to enjoy being a mom of two for the next few hours, and she’ll see me later that night. I laughed and really didn’t feel I’d be seeing her again for at least a few days.
However, later Monday evening contractions picked up again. I stayed up with my husband until about 1:30 trying to decide if I should call my midwives or not. Contractions were strong, but still about 10 minutes apart. We decided to go to bed.
I woke up around 2am with REALLY strong contractions and decided to get up and be by myself for a little bit and decide if I should wake anyone. I really don’t like calling anyone and waking them up, so if I would have thought these contractions would have lasted until the morning I would have dealt with them all night just so I wouldn’t have to wake anyone! hehe.
About 2:30 labor turned very active pretty quick. I woke my husband and told him to call my mom and the midwives, it’s time. Contractions were about 3 minutes apart and I felt I was having smaller contractions in between the “main” ones. I was shaky and cold. I proceeded to just walk circles around my apartment. When I’m in active labor, I really just want to be on my own. I was so excited about having my husband get me through contractions, and even packed some things we could use for comfort measures but the only thing I’ve ever needed to get through labor was myself. No gadgets except a birth ball, and I’d probably be fine laboring alone beacuse I didn’t need support, backrubs (though I did take one of my midwives up on the offer for a short one), or anything.
Typical active labor for me is walking, or bouncing/rocking on a birth ball. I walk. And I walk, and I walk, and I walk. During active labor the only time I am still is when I am using the bathroom. This labor was different because the active part of it came on so suddenly and was so strong from the get go. After a while my water broke. I nearly made it to the toilet on time, but the initial gush hit the floor mere seconds before I sat. Unlike past labors, when my water broke this time I could literally feel the membranes coming through the cervix and breaking, and the gush of water coming through the birth canal. I never had a vaginal exam, so I don’t know how far dilated I was by this point. But we knew a baby was coming soon, as I was feeling the familiar pushy sensation and the intense tightening in my thighs.
I went into hands and knees to try and bring the baby around in a more favorable position and this is the part of labor I hated. I hit transition at this point and it was “hot and heavy”. There was no break between contractions to relax. They were one on top of another and they HURT. All I could do was bow my head in prayer asking God to take the pain away and bring this baby into the world. My midwife prayed over me also. Things became bearable again. I began feeling the baby inching down the birth canal with each contraction. I wasn’t yet feeling terribly pushy, but I started pushing lightly myself during contractions to see if I could move things along. And I guess it gave me something to do during that time. All I could do during transition was try to be absolutely still. One of my midwives held pressure over my tailbone and mentioned she could feel the baby through my back every time the baby inched further down. I vomited again and I believe the pressure from vomiting pushed the baby to the point where my body automatically started pushing, as I found myself pushing hard after this. Contractions spaced out a little more so I actually had time to talk, sip water and relax between pushes. This is the part of labor I actually LIKE because the pain of contractions can be completely erased as I push. There is the pain of crowning, but that seems like such a different kind of pain than labor pain. And that pain, too, can be controlled through hot compresses (which I’m told I became quite angry when whoever was holding the hot compress took it away to dunk it in the water again…).
My husband delivered our baby again, and announced the sex in the form of an introduction. “momma, meet Kaitlyn!” as he held her between my legs so I could grab her (I delivered on hands and knees, leaning over my couch again). Then I hear “I think!” because he had delivered her and handed her right to me, he didn’t have much of a chance to confirm that it was indeed a girl. LOL! I was oogling over her as my husband went to grab our daughter. She was sleeping through the whole process, and we did want her there for the birth but I didn’t want to wake her up for the birth. Something about waking up to a mom in pain, lots of blood and gooze didn’t sit right with me for her, however if she had already been up I would have been find having her there. Anyway, she was rushed out to the living room to see her new sister still covered in gooze, but adorable anyway. Alexis went to go get the baby a blankie in the correct color and stuck by my side as we cleaned her. I was helped to the couch to sit with her until the cord stopped pulsing. Then my daughter helped my husband cut the cord. Lexi watched as I delivered the placenta and watched me and one of my midwives poke around with it. The midwife examining the placenta took the time to explain to my daughter how the baby lived in there, showed her the umbilical cord and explained how it hooked the baby up to me to get food. THen after a while I got up, showered, and came back out to the couch for the newborn exam and an exam of my own.
I am happy to announce the labor and delivery were completely uncomplicated. Baby is nursing fine and is healthy and happy. And momma has no complaints either! No tears, barely bleeding anymore, no soreness at all or any discomfort. I am ready to jump back into the swing of life, but I am trying to hold back just a little because I know how important it is to just sit and recover. However… There is only so much sitting I can do with two other young children at home. My husband decided to slice his finger down to the bone the evening of the birth and went to the hospital for stitches, so he’s been kind of unable to do much in terms of helping me and he, too, has been in a lot of pain. I thank the good Lord for the beautiful birth and the amazing recovery (best yet!) and am excited to get back into the swing of things full time and experience the crazy life of mom to 3 kids under the age of 3.5!
I’ll write up a birth story when I have a minute, but just wanted to let you know our beautiful DAUGHTER arrived at 5:38 AM. Kaitlyn Rose is her name. She is 7 lb 6 oz, 19 3/4 in. long and nursing like a champ. She was born without any complications in the comfort of our home and right into daddy’s hands. Thank you Lord for another beautiful homebirth and a healthy baby!!! I’ll post pictures soon, but right now I have a little peanut trying to eat her hands. Off to nurse!
The Monroe Breastfeeding Collaborative Invites You To A Special Event August 22, 2007 at the Monroe County Health Dept. 5-7pm.
Giveaways, prizes, snacks and more. Children are welcome. Moms, share your stories and celebrate all the love and hard work you put into your most important job - being a Mom!
One of my midwives stopped by my home today to check the baby’s position. Lately, baby has been hanging out posterior, and my midwives were concerned, so one of them stopped out this morning to see if there was any way we could encourage the baby to move. But, thankfully, the baby has moved. Baby is engaged (I feel like I waddle like a penguin!) and I have been having a lot of braxton hicks contractions and a lot of cramping.
I’ll be 37 weeks on Saturday. There’s no rush to hurry the baby of course, but my midwife told me she thought I would go early (maybe even this weekend) and really wanted to make sure the baby wasn’t posterior!
My husband and I got all of the linens and things sanitized today. I’ve picked out two girl and boy sleepers and onesies for after birth pictures, then a few gender neutral sleepers to get us through the first few days after birth if my husband doesn’t have a chance to get the correct gender’s clothing box of newborn clothes out of the closet.
We’ve chosen names also. Caitlyn Rose if it’s a girl, Zachariah William if it’s a boy. I’ve got all of the gender neutral clothing out, socks, onesies and hats in the basket (we use hanging fruit baskets to organize our kids socks and things… works really well!). Diapers are ready to go also. I’ve picked out my “comfort” items and have them ready if I want them, but last time I was content just getting through contractions on my own. I never used anything other than a birth ball, and one of my midwives rubbed my back sometimes. I hopped in the shower towards the end but wasn’t in there long before feeling pushy.
Today my husband and I showed the kids birth videos again to help prepare them. I wanted them to watch them with my husband present, so they know daddy is ok with the process and so daddy could reinforce what i’ve been teaching them as far as what birth is like and what to expect. My daughter gets so excited any time she sees a birth
I’m very excited for the upcoming birth. I like labor, I even like birth, and I love that first moment of seeing our new baby. This time it will be so different not knowing if it’s a boy or a girl! Talk about motivation to get through the rough stuff! I can’t wait! As usual, I am going to be the first to touch the baby as its crowning, if I’m in a suitable position I’ll help my husbad deliver. If I’m not, my husband delivers (with one of my midwives watching incase she’s needed), and he’ll be announcing the sex before passing the baby to me.
Anyway, I’m going to take my cramping and contracting self for a warm bath to try and relax. Labor could happen tomorrow, or I could be waiting for a few more weeks. We’ll never know - but I do know when it happens, I’m ready!!
I thought this was adorable and had to share.
My daughter is 3. My plan is to have them present through labor and birth providing they are comfortable with that (my son is 18 mos). We’ve been preparing them for labor and birth throughout the pregnancy, and the both of them have watched enough birth videos from the childbirth classes I teach from my home, my daughter can actually tell you how a baby is born including delivery of the placenta (and will demonstrate it with the baby/placenta/cord/uterus model I have, much to my husbands dismay).
Anyway - she keeps telling us when the baby is born, it’s her job to get the baby her first blankie and a toy, after the baby is all cleaned up (cuz the baby is going to come out all messy, you know!). She keeps going through the basket of infant toys I’ve set out to decide which toy she wants to give the baby. She hasn’t decided which one yet. LOL!
For many women, epidurals are the pain relief of choice during labor and birth. Unfortunately, many women are led to believe that they are completely safe, work effectively every time, and are nothing to worry about. Many women and sometimes doctors claim they enhance the labor and birthing process and make for a happy, memorable event for the parents. Some women decide early in their pregnancy that they want an epidural as soon as they go into labor. It seems to be a growing trend that women “shouldn’t have to” experience pain during labor.
While epidurals are used nearly routinely in most hospital environments, they are not without their side effects to mom and baby, nor are they something to be worry-free about. I am very surprised by the frequency of doctors claiming they are safe while there is evidence documenting the opposite. The more I teach and follow up with my students and talk with pregnant women who are not students but have questions, the more frequently I run into women who have had short term or long term problems as a result of their epidurals, or their labor was effected in such a way from the epidural that a cesarean section or instrumental delivery had to be done.
I’d like to start blogging about epidurals, doing little parts at a time. I think it makes for easier reading instead of putting everything out there at once. This is something women need to know about, and need to educate themselves from a variety of sources. There are a variety of ways to reduce pain during labor – both medical and non-medical – and each is capable of enhancing your labor and birth experience, while still making for happy memories.
Epidurals DO have their place in labor and delivery, and I will get into that. But first I’d like to start off with what an epidural is and how it’s used, so we’re all familiar with it before I go into more detail.
Stay tuned…
http://breastcrawl.org/video.htm This video explains benefits of breastfeeding soon after birth, and shows a baby latching on to the breast without help.
Mid August is coming up quick! And considering I am considered “term” at 37 weeks, this baby could be here before we know it!
I ordered my birth kit from In His Hands birth supply, my midwives have their kit contents listed with the owner so I just had to order the kit my midwives had already set up. My next prenatal appointment is next week, and then I’m nearly positive the next one after that is the home appointment… Everyone who will be at the birth needs to be at this appointment, I have my prenatal appt. in my home, and my cupboards are raided to make sure I’m eating healthy (I am!) and plans for the birth are laid out.
It’s time I start getting my own birth supplies ready! The towels, wash cloths and bedsheets need to be santized. I have to gather up a few onesies and sleepers for the baby, and get some cloth diapers and covers ready. I need to gather my “after birth” clothing, and misc. supplies for labor and birth. I want to make sure I have ingredients on hand for laboraide and make a list of the items I’d like to snack on and drink during labor. I’d love to have a big meal frozen and ready to heat up to feed everyone who is here during the birth. My husband always treats me to whatever I want to eat after I give birth (last time I wanted roast beef sandwiches, so my husband made an Arby’s run while my dad stopped out to meet his newest grandchild and watched my daughter so I could relax), but last time I didn’t have a meal for my poor midwives, mother or friend and they had been there since 9pm the night before! What was I thinking!!
I am thankful that this pregnancy has gone by so slowly. It really has. I’ve had time to enjoy this pregnancy. The last two seemed to go by so quick!
Many babies - about 60% of full term and about 80% premature - develop jaundice. This is the end result of too much bilirubin in the baby’s system and the liver is not able to break it down effectively when they’re born. The yellowing of the skin is due to the bilirubin being absorbed and the circulatory system carries the excess to all the body tissues.
No on really knows why some babies develop jaundice and others don’t. It seems to be a pretty common occurance! Babies tend to have a higher chance of jaundice when there are medicines used during labor such as pitocin and epidurals, infection, hemorrhage, too much acid in the body and Rh incompatibilities.
For most babies, regular feedings and exposure to sunlight is all the treatment a baby will need. If you are breastfeeding, your pediatrician will likely suggest you feed your baby formula in the early days to help “flush out” the bilirubin. Avoid formula if at all possible especially during the early days and weeks. Jaundice babies need to eat often to assist removal of the bilirubin - and breastmilk will digest faster than formula, leaving baby ready for more. Breastmilk is also the gentlest on your baby’s digestive system, and of course superior nutiriton compaired to formula. Your baby needs those antibodies and the other live properties of breastmilk that formula lacks.
If your baby develops jaundice within 24 hrs. of birth, it may be pathologic in nature, requiring treatment. If your baby develops jaundice during the first few weeks of birth, it may be breastmilk jaundice from a substance in mothers milk that interfers with bilirubin metabolism. It is still safe to breastfeed in most cases! This will usually dissapear in a week or two.
Physiologic jaundice (as mentioned above from an immature liver) and breastmilk jaundice usually require no actual treatment other than frequent feedings and exposure to sunlight.
Babies may have daily blood draws to measure the bilirubin level to make sure it doesn’t get too high. If your baby does require treatment, typically babies undergo phototherapy, which is exposure to flourescent lights. Some hospitals have fiberoptic phototherapy blankets which enable the baby to be held and fed while still undergoing treatment. These blankets can even be taken home so your baby doesn’t have to stay at the hospital (under certain circumstances). In severe cases, newborns may need a blood transfusion.
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