Let your feet do the talking

My Birth Experiences as a Doula

Naire
This was my first birth and unfortunately the mum was told her baby was small therefore required an induction. I got to the hospital as she was being booked in and they started her with the hormones.

After the 2nd dose things started to move and her body decided to go into natural labour therefore not requiring any futher medical intervention.
After 5.5 hours of active labour Naire was born (5lbs 12oz) and the mother needed no pain relief, apart from reflexology, and no stitches were required.

Charles
Charlie's mum was overdue and nothing was happening naturally. After she was booked into hospital I came to be with her and her partner. The doctor decided to start the induction process that morning. However, after 2 hormone tablets nothing was happening and the mum was getting exceptionally tired.

A joint decision by the parents and the medical staff was made for a C-Section. The dad really did not want to go into the theatre so I went with the mum and dad waited for Charlie in the delivery room. The photo was taken by dad when I brought Charlie out from the theatre room.

Charlie was born at a very healthy 10lbs. We made the best of a long experience and mum, dad and Charlie are all doing well at home.

Amy
Amy's mum wanted a home birth for her first baby. I got a call once her waters had broken but there were no signs of contractions. During the day the contractions started to come and a Tens machine was used to tolerate the pain. The contractions came through the night and into the following day when they tailed off.

Due to risk of infection the hospital wanted mum to go in and be induced. As this is a very painful procedure an epidural was administered and the hormone drip was started. At 11:55pm, on her due date, baby Amy was born happy and healthy.

Mirna
This birth was to be a hospital birth but was not quite as we intended. Mum went 14 days overdue and they decided to induce her with a Syntocin drip. Due to contraction coming on very strong mum had a epidural to help cope with the pain. After progressing very slowly the baby decided it had better make an appearance and the 2nd stage went exceeding quickly. However, no stitiches were required and Mirna was born at 7.2lbs and 50 cms long.

Isabella
Isabella's mum wanted a home delivery for the birth of her 2nd child. however, this was not to be as her waters broke with little in the way of contractions.
After 4 Pintocin tablets, couple of reflexology sessions and the threat of a Syntocin drip her body decided to do things naturally.
I was called at 1210 and got there just in time to move her to the labour ward. By 0235 baby Isabella was born with a healthly weight of 7.5lbs. No drugs were used - only the use of a Tens machine and hard work.
I had the task of collecting Cord Blood which was a huge responsibility but all went according to plan.
The only issue was her big sister wanted a brother but there is little a Doula can do about the laws of nature!!