Epidural Yes or No

UPDATE: This is something I wrote 12/01/2013 but it is just a great recap of how I was feeling then about getting empowered with information. I don't want any woman I know to have to go through what I went through without being informed.

Epidural Yes or No

The day an epidural became important to me was a day I will never forget. I was given an induction after finding out my 39 week old son was no longer with us.

I have decided I will no longer have things put into my body without doing to research on it, how about you?

photo credit: mjldas

The things they don't tell you...

Why didn't mine work?

It was a day I will never forget and I day I felt disappointment, misinformed and confused. After hearing the devastating news and trying to cope with that. I was informed it is now time to make some important decisions. How and when would I be having my stillborn son?

My labor was started via IV Pitocin and time. The goal of my labor nurses and OB was for me to be as comfortable as possible as to not aggravate the already morning mood. Being that I was already so far along my body did soon kick into gear and contractions were coming very regularly. After having felt some intense rushes I had requested an epidural they had recommended to me previously. Anesthesiologist came in and did his" what I thought at the moment was magic" and went on about his way. Feeling maybe a slight moment of relief I noticed nothing had really changed. I was feeling every single contraction and nothing was different.

Now when I had heard about epidurals before my moment of need. I never heard of people feeling all the contractions. I heard it would just knock ladies right out. What was wrong with me? So after moments of the nurses trying to calm me down and not knowing what else to say or do. I was given a shot of morphine. Really?! I will never do that again. I felt like on a roller coaster, it was crazy. After that wore off again, I felt every rush like none other but thank goodness my son was on his way and after his birth my mind was else where. But fast forwarding on through life I was having another child and requested another "mind blowing epidural" still not educating myself on the first flop.

I was having another son. I couldn't be more happier; as you could image. The induction was started once again via IV Pitocin and time. I waited until I was 4 to 5 cm dilated before I requested the epi. Once again this method of pain relieve did not work. What is going on I thought as I was brought back to my first experience wondering what is wrong with me. I asked the Anesthesiologist why is this not working and as he sat next to my bed, feet kicked up and reading a paper. He said to me " you have the max dose, you are just going to have to deal with it." Deal with it?! I couldn't believe this man (no longer a physician in my eyes) said this to me. I pleaded with the nurses to help me with my pain as I was getting very close to having my little guy I needed something maybe even some coaching but another nurse just told me "shut up." I thought ok something is wrong here, they deal with women in labor all the time. Even if I was being a drama queen which I don't think I was why were they talking to me like this. I said to them, "this epidural is not working is there something else you can give me or help me some how?" I was just ignored and thank God that is when my family started to step up. And help me out. I was checked because apparently I was transitioning right about that time that I started to plead with people. Baby once again was ready to arrive.

Why didn't this medication work on me like it was supposed to work on everyone I know? Well come to find out after doing some of my own research and talking to other ladies I found out. Epidurals don't work on everyone and I happen to be a part of that group. Then come to find out that some of the issues I was having postpartum was actually related to having those epidurals administered into my body. Back pain, pins and needles sensations, base of neck headaches and the list can go on.

I was thankful to have had my then two children one living and one that had passed on but I would have liked to have been more educated on the medications I was being given. Whenever I heard about epidurals I heard about all the bonuses and never any of the possible negatives. And talking to me world sisters this is a common trend.

So the next two lovely babies I had naturally and in the most beautiful, empowering and calm way. Nothing like when I was in the hospitals and after having both of them I did not experience the lingering pain and sensations I had. However to confirm my feelings about epidurals. I recently had another adorable little lady and we had a bit of a complication with her and I was forcefully persuaded after the issue was resolved to have an epidural. Now, I am having some of the most annoying back pain, pins and needles and infrequent headaches. Again?!

Where are the true health care liaisons between hospital workers and patients? Where is the literature that has layman terms for the average american to connect with?-Mercedes Snyder

Peanut Ball

Photo credits: http://www.maternalfocus.com/

Recently I started a new job and I am so excited about it, because it is still working along the lines of my passion. Also they are really working with me understanding that I am a Doula and that I run a community pregnancy group in Williston, North Dakota.

As I am being trained I am noticing that they don't have any peanut balls which I have known to work wonders for mommies that are confined to the bed. Whether it be because they have an epidural, they are tired from laboring hard or just prefer to lay down. I told my manager about this and she told me to look up some information that she could present to the physicians that work the floor. I took this on full force!

Becoming a Midwife I think requires more than just caring for mommies and baby during birth but also looking out for their best interest and helping others to do so as well. As an advocare for natural and positive experiences to birth. I was excited that she said to look up what I could find. Kudos to awesome managers you know who you are. 😉 Well...

I asked my community of Midwives for help and for anyone that had knowlegde of the Peanut Ball and being Midwives and Student Midwives they jumped at the chance to help me, thanks ladies!

I was referred to two articles Peanut Balls of Labor-A Valuable Tool for Promoting Progress and The Peanut Ball And Its Effect On Laboring Women. They are both great articles that really hit on why the Peanut Ball works miracles for mommies. The articles both hit on how there are two main positions that seem to have the greatest amount of effectiveness, which are:

1)Side-Lying or Semi-Prone with the upper leg lifted over the snug laying ball.

2)Semi Reclined Position with one leg over the ball and the other off to the side.

Of course there are other variations however these ones seem to be the most effective with promise. In these two articles they even gave numbers such as the first stage of labor is 90 minutes shorter, second stage is 23 minutes shorter in length and cesarean were lowered by 13%. And other great stats such as, less use of vaccum and forcep extraction. I think these are great stats! Then I came across a video that a hospital nurse did and it is a quick little demonstration that is think is a great visual.

Peanut Ball Demo

I am just so excited about this and excited to be teaching about this in my Childbirth Classes and using with my Doula clients. Thanks for reading!

ttfn

Resources:

 Peanut Balls of Labor-A Valuable Tool for Promoting Progress
http://www.scienceandsensibility.org/peanut-balls-for-labor/

The Peanut Ball And Its Effect On Laboring Women
http://www.cappa.net/documents/Articles/Peanut%20Ball.pdf

Unassisted Birth

Unassisted childbirth (UC) refers to the process of intentionally giving birth without the assistance of a medical or professional birth attendant. It is also known as freebirth, DIY (do-it-yourself) birth, unhindered birth, and unassisted home birth.

As defined by Wikipedia.

I am feeling so torn about this term unassisted birth. In a general sense ok yes, so there is no trained individual assisting at the birth. But I feel in places where this term is invited is due to the lack of choices women are given, where ever they reside. In the state of North Dakota (ND) due to the out of date laws they have women who are told what to do instead of given freedom of choice with multiple options. Since living in ND I have come across multiple women that are either planning a home unassisted birth or had one. It seems to be a common thread here, that they felt they were not listened to by medical professionals and/or was unable to get trained help outside of hospital. I feel like women feel a bit neglected and instead of feeling not safe and unappreciated in the hospital they create a birth place of safety and comfort at home and know that if they need a place for emergencies they have their local ER. Also with how tricky the laws are in North Dakota Midwives that would usually supply this service out of their homes are few and far between. Leaving some women in this position to freebirth because they are not able to get the trained professional to their home.

Not sure when the bow will break but I can see change on the horizon when women and families can plan for a birth with more comfortable choices or avenues where lives do not have to be in "harms way." I'm glad other states are paving the way in birth choices and we have other countries that give us guidance of how birth can be. But until we can do more for women the term should not be "Unassisted Birth" it should be "No-Choice Birth."

Self Discovery

I have been on this voyage of self and I am finding things all the time, it is quite interesting. I have been talking to a brother from Congo and he has been enligthening me about all the misconceptions I have had about or surrounding Africa. He makes me want to jump a plane and go right now. I think I have figured out the langauge that I am going to teach myself and my family. Looks like it is going to be Swahili. I am thinking that once I finish with my Midwifery, if the Lord says the same I will visit with my family and stay for a while. I have always felt like I don't really have a culture and have been on this journey of finding myself and still am.

I have already been out of the country a few times and each time felt more at home. I think it is time to progress and visit the mother land. And since my husbands culture is on the way stop in there as well and learn and gather for my children. I love that my children are multicultured but I want to make sure that know both cultures and be proud of each.

I think being a Midwife is it very important that you know yourself and are comfortable with what you find about yourself. I am so grateful to be going on this transformation. I am not sure if I was going through this if I would be fully going through this journey in life. God has me meeting the right people and having different challenges come up for me to test my self-knowledge and self-worth.

Currently I am only taking one class and I am getting mentally ready to take on more this coming quarter. But all this leads to knowing my power and the abilities that God has placed on my life. And this has also been very humbling for me as well. I find myself thinking about the word Midwife and what it really means. I know I am to be the help and understanding what being the help really means. That's heavy! Just to think that one day I will be the watchful help for many mothers and babies. I feel like in one way I already am but not quite to the capacity I will be at in the future.

I recently had the privilege of meeting the main Midwife on the west side of North Dakota and wow, I love her calm and peaceful demeanor  and how she explained that God gave her the ministry of being a Midwife. That is how I feel, I feel called but I also feel like I am not worthy. Why would God call someone like me to care for women and babies in such a delicate time of life? I guess this is where finding myself more and more comes in. Can't wait to find more and put it towards my education and passion.