I'm starting to feel more like a real doula now. I had my 2nd birth this week and feel like it went well. Being on-call this time was not as emotionally challenging. There was some stress because my on-call time started during my last week of classes and included finals week and birthday party weekends for both girls. However, I had arrangements with another doula and my teachers, so I knew if it was meant to be, that I'd still make the birth. She ended up passing her due date and electing an induction, so in the end, I knew exacly when to show up at the hospital.
This was a marathon birth for me. I was at the hosptial for about 21 hours and had two 20-30 minute naps in the early morning hours. Her induction began at 8 a.m., (actually started around 10) and they asked me to arrive at noon. Baby was born at 7:22 a.m. the next morning. What I will remember from this birth was how easily this mom slipped into her labor rituals. She used both low tones and breathing in each contraction. She had been through Bradley Childbirth classes and I think it served her well. She did decide to get the epidural after 14 hours of Pitocin induced labor mostly because she was exhausted and really wanted rest. The other amazing thing to me was her progress in labor. She was induced with a balloon catheter and took 6 hours to reach 4 cm and about 60% effaced (the point where the balloon can be pulled out). She stayed at about the same numbers for the next 10 hours! I'm not exagerating, she was checked 10 hours after the balloon was removed she was 5 cm and 80% effaced. However, that was the turning point. 45 minutes later, she was 6-7 cm and 100% and baby was born 4 1/2 hours later. I think she was truely lucky that she was laboring during the night and baby was handling contractions without a hitch or at this particular hospital, I'm sure the dreaded "c-word" would have come up before her body caught up! But baby born vaginally without any instruments, tears or episiotomy!
So, I'm in a brief lull at the moment. I've got another 10 days or so before I start my next on-call period for my 3rd and final certifiying birth. This momma would love to go before her due date, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed also. So far, I haven't had any problems with the actual birth days, but I'd rather not have to miss my first day of classes in January if baby cooperates!
I'm about to do the write up on birth #2 so I will be ready to send in all the certifying documents as soon as I get #3 under my belt. I got an A in my principles of midwifery class last quarter. I'm gearing up for my Advanced Reproductive Dynamics course beginning in January. January also begins my final quarter of pre-RN clinicals. It is a leadership class. I know that there are a couple of labor and delivery openings, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for one of them. Otherwise, I should get some sort of high-risk maternity, postpartum, or other women's health floor to work on.
That's about it for this month. Merry Christmas to all! I should have another birthy update in January!
