Birth Stories (from a nurse's perspective)

 As a nurse who's worked Labor and Delivery for many years, you would probably think that birth has become "routine" for me. It's true, I have witnessed many births- in hospitals, birthing centers, and at home, but I am happy to say it has never become routine. It will always be a miraculous event of which I am privelaged to attend. It is unfortunate that I cannot remember each and every birth I have been present for, but I can say that each has affected me in it's own way. There are those births, however, that stand out in my mind.

I decided to write this page, not only as a way to convey these experiences to parents-to-be and care providers, in the hope that each of you gains something from these stories, but as my personal journal to remind myself, during those rough times, why I have chosen to work in this difficult, yet highly rewarding field. No names are included, of course.

 

May 2003:  I wrote this page in 1998 while still a Labor and Delivery nurse.  In this last year I have been privileged to attend births in a new role, as a (student) nurse-midwife.  I am humbled and honored by the women who have given me the opportunity to be with them in this manner.  There are many stories that I wish to tell.  These births have been incredible experiences for me, and an integral part of a deep transition.  For this reason, I wish to take time to internalize these events and take care in writing them for public view.  This is why there are not yet stories of my actual "catches".  As with babies, they will come with time and patience.  


A "rash" of OP's (a tale of 4 births)

A memorable homebirth

17, but stronger and braver than most

A birth near and dear to my heart

Many more stories to come, as I get the time to write them

A "rash" of OP's

For some reason, I recently have had a rash of OP births (babies who come down the birth canal looking up instead of down- generally making labor longer, more painful, and at higher risk for cesarean/forceps/vacuum). The first one occured at a midwife delivery. It was her 3rd baby and we all wondered why it was taking her so long to push out the baby. She pushed for a little over an hour, in many different positions. To my amazement she pushed her large baby into this world looking straight up! What an amazing feat she accomplished.

My second birth was with an obstetrician, her second baby. She labored in the jacuzzi, walked around, rested in bed, etc. All at once she hollered her back hurt. Her husband and I tried to rub it, but she was really hurting. I suggested she get on her hands and knees to take the pressure off of her back (also a good way to turn an OP baby). She did and said she felt better. She had her head and shoulders resting on a birth ball, and her husband and I rubbed her back. She labored like that for quite awhile- a few nurses had come in and given me strange looks, but the mother-to-be was more comfortable. She eventually delivered her baby OA (facing down, the best position in which to be born), without an epidural. She and her husband thanked me profusely for my help, and she told me she was proud of what she had done.

My third OP was also a midwife delivery. First baby, she pushed for an hour to an hour and half (not bad really). She too pushed in many different positions. When the time came for the baby to be born the midwife decided an episiotomy was necessary (something she does EXTREMELY rarely). When she told the mother she thought she should do that, the mother's response was "I trust your judgement completely". This amazed me, because, it was the first time I had ever heard it said in a birthing room! What a wonderful feeling both women must have had- the mother to be able to completely trust her caregiver to do what is right, and the midwife to know this woman felt that highly of her!

My fourth OP was with an obstetrician. The mother got an epidural before I got there, and had a long, slow labor. She was finally completely dilated, and pushed as hard as she could for an hour and a half. She really worked hard, but no matter what she did, could not get her baby out. Her doctor first tried a vacuum, but when that did not work, assisted the baby out with forceps, after cutting an episiotomy. This baby was also born looking up. She very nearly had a cesarean, and all because she couldn't push her baby out like the other women had. I sure hope I'm done with OP's for awhile!

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A memorable homebirth

The most memorable homebirth I attended was of a woman having her second child. We were at her mother's home, and when I arrived, she was dilated 5 centimeters. It was late and her 4 year old daughter was tired. I watched her read a bed time story to her daughter, then put her to bed. Throughout her labor we walked around her mothers home. It was quiet and comfortable. She showed me pictures on the wall of her family, and the "nicknacks" her family had collected, and made over the years. Each one had meaning and memories and we both enjoyed her telling me about them. The baby was born on the floor in the bedroom. The mother was on her hands and knees, and as the baby's head was coming out the mother started crying and yelled, "I love my baby, I love my baby so much!" I will never ever forget this. I have heard many things yelled by a woman at this point in labor, but never that! What a moving experience!

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17, but stronger and braver than most

A 17-year-old girl came to the hospital to be induced for her first baby. Her doctor told her the baby was "too big", needed to be induced, and was unlikely to be born vaginally. The girl diasgreed, and wanted a natural, vaginal birth. She was induced for 2 days. Each time her doctor came in he said things like "looks like this baby's too big", and "I don't think this is going to happen". But she insisted and persisted. She went through a long, uncomfortable induction. Her mother was one of the best "untrained" doulas I have ever met. This girl had wonderful support, worked hard, and proved her doctor wrong. She easily pushed out her greater than 8 pound baby with no medicine or epidural. Even though I was not there for this girl's delivery, she will always stand out in my mind as a strong, brave and powerful woman. Her doctor and I both learned a lot from her.

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A birth near and dear to my heart

The most amazing birth I've ever attended, was one I attended as a visitor and not a nurse- the birth of my godson. I'm not going to give too many details about it, for obvious reasons, but I did want to write a little about it. The experience gave me interesting insight into how visitors and family feel at a birth, and I will never forget the emotions I experienced that night. Feeling helpless while my dear friend was in pain, the nervous anticipation for the birth, the fear, the joy, the excitement- what a rollercoaster! A beautiful child came into the world that night- I will never forget it.

I will also never forget how wonderful her obstetrician was. I really feel it's important to say that, because I hope he realizes what an amazing impact he had on the mother, and I hope all care providers understand what an opportunity they have to make a difference. He was so kind, so gentle with her. He helped her self-confidence throughout the pregnancy, and gave her wonderful opportunities during the birth to bond with her baby. He let the mom be the "hero", and she and I will always appreciate him for that.

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