Busy Busy Busy

So for those wondering, no, I haven't forgotten about this blog =) I've just been running around like a chicken with its head cut off. I still have to make an entry for the last birth I attended which was over a month ago, so hopefully I'll do that soon. But first here's a recap of what's been happening:

I did my first official blood draw on a pregnant woman a few weeks ago. Infact, I did two different moms in one day. And! I did them perfectly. Just one stick, no bruising and even the moms said I did a great job. haha.

The very next day I did my first newborn screen test. Which sadly involves a heel prick and squeezing drops of blood onto a special paper for the test. Theodore and I got to know eachother before the test, and then his mother held and breastfed him during the test. Then after I was able to cuddle him again and appologize for pricking his foot. I like to think he forgave me.

On my birthday I went to a weekend long midwifery conference which was held at a retreat center in Occidental. It was a beautiful facility surrounded by redwoods. It totally felt like sixth grade camp, bunkbeds and all. Except instead of ghost stories there were birth stories =) I took a Neonatal Resuscitation course which was intense and amazing. The teacher empasized the tools and techniques for resuscitation, but also mixed in a lot about the process the baby is going through and suggestions on how to talk to, treat and respect the baby.

For example a lot of the time right as the baby comes out doctors and even midwives will begin to suction the baby's mouth and nose. Recent evidence-based research, and this teachers own experience, shows that in a normal birth a healthy 7lbs baby can clear its own throat and nose without assistance, and that by letting them do this they avoid oral aversions which can cause problems with breastfeeding later. That's just one example.

Another which was my favorite is her description of birth from the baby's perspective. Imagine that you have been inside one of those water therapy pools where they dim the lights and there is very little sound and its nice and warm. And you've been in there for a while just peaceful and relaxed. What you dont know is that just outside all of your friends are there waiting for you, and they've been cooking indian food all day. And they are really into aromatherapy so they have lots of scented candles lit. And on top of all that they are REALLY REALLY EXCITED TO MEET YOU! So the door opens and they help you out and they start touching you and kissing you and taking pictures with bright flashes and rubbing you dry with towels and you can imagine how overwhelming that can all be for the baby.

So she suggests to keep that in mind at births, and remember that the baby may need a minute to process all of this, ontop of all the physical stuff going on inside of them. Their lungs changing from fluid-filled to air filled, their kidneys, liver, bowels and stomach switching on for the first time in preparation of the first food going through the whole system. It was all really facinating.

Since I returned from the conference I've just been busy going to prenatal and postpartum appointments, fostering 3 new kittens, working on design stuff for Fine Design Group, trying to find time to study, helping 2 midwives i met at the conference create their own websites, being a supportive loving wife and keeping the house in order =) So yeah, busy busy busy =)

(ps Right now we have 1 mom due any second, and then 4 more that are due early to mid June. So more birth stories are soon to follow)