Two in a row!

We had two moms deliver last week. One on friday and one on saturday. Both were water births with baby girls and lovely chinese mommas. =)

Friday's went great. Mom's water broke around 3am. Labor picked up soon after and they headed over to the birth center. They live in Sacramento so it was a good 2 hour drive at least. Judi called me around 7am saying that they had arrived and that it was still a bit early, but to be prepared to come around 12. I decided to head out a bit earlier and got a call from Judi while I was on BART. She said I should get there as soon as i could, things had picked up. Luckily I was just 2 stations away at that point.

When I walked in Judi was fervently setting up the tub and mom and dad were in the front exam room laboring hard. Gradually they made their way over to the birth room and she got into the tub. I had never seen a first time mom in active labor be so relaxed. She literally melted and floated in the water. Her partner was right at her side supporting and helping remind her to drink to stay hydrated.

As usually the warm water slowed things down a bit, so we had C change position a few times and eventually squat and stand swaying for a few contractions. It definitely did the trick and her contractions picked up again. Baby was doing great the whole time. Good strong heart tones. =) Soon it was time to start pushing and she worked so hard to bring her little girl down and out. Emmi was born at 1:59pm. Beautiful, pink and a bit early at 37 weeks and 3 days.

On Saturday I came in to help out with a "Mother and Baby Care" class that Judi was teaching from 2-5pm. Around 3pm we got a call from H who was 41 weeks and 6 days. Once moms hit 42 weeks they aren't allowed to birth at the center and have to go their back up hospital instead. So over the last few days H had been working with Judi to naturally induce labor using herbs, castor oil and membrane stripping. This was H's second baby, so we just had to get labor kicked in and her body would take care of the rest.

Apparently the castor oil had worked, because she was having contractions every 4-5 min for about a minute long since 1pm. Judi said for her to come in at 5pm as planned to see if she had dilated some more. When Judi checked her she was 6-7cm with a bulging back of waters. Both Judi and H decided to go for broke and do a full on "natural" induction and break her water. Normally most midwives try to avoid breaking waters as it can cause issues if the baby isn't positioned right or not ready. But in H's case, she was well past due, already dilated and having contractions, and baby's position was perfect. And luckily in her case, it totally worked.

Labor got stronger and stronger. And we helped her deal with her fears. Her first labor had lasted 52 hours and ended in a transport with an epidural. So she had never felt the full strength of contractions before. We decided to welcome them as friends and helpers with a positive mind set. As they became stronger she needed some more help and Judi guided her through each contraction chanting "OOOooopppppeeeeennnnn" with her to help visualize her cervix opening.

Soon after she got into the tub with her partner supporting her and the water was very comforting. Eventually her "open" chants became less fluid and more grunty, usually meaning that the pushing stage was beginning. She began to push with each contraction and slowly her daughter came closer and closer. We could she her little head full of dark hair and H put her hand down to help ease the head out herself and then pick up her daughter as she was born.

Both were very sweet births. Totally normal with no resuscitation or abnormal bleeding. Just pure birth, and bliss and love.

In December there are 15 moms due. Some are bound to spill over into November like friday's birth. And some are likely to last into January. Simon and I are going away from dec 25th till Jan 3rd. So I'm going to miss some births. But I'm hoping to catch most of them =) I'm up to 5 births at the center, but I'm only counting 3 as official because i was there from beginning to end. And that makes a 17 total since March.

I've decided not to take the second apprenticeship and just do Tuesdays and Thursdays at the center. That way I can focus on finishing my modules. I really want to finish them by spring of 2010, take the NARM exam and then go traveling with Simon for 6 months. I know I can do it. I just need lots of coffee to help focus =)