There are outrageous decisions made for pregnant women and their unborn babies. Francis, at 39wks. pregnancy, and who had been scanned weekly throughout her pregnancy, was told by her Obstetrician at her weekly checkup that her baby was very large, but not to worry because he had a gap in his surgery list that very morning and could book her in for a Caesarean NOW! She was not allowed to go home but she was ‘allowed’ to ring her husband so he could come in. She was booked into a private hospital in Sydney and it was 2 days before Easter. The epidural went horribly wrong and she found she had no feeling from the neck down. Her baby weighed 3.6kgs.! It seems there is absolutely no accountability for these Obstetricians and the decisions they make. There was no valid medical reason for this Caesarean. Francis wanted a normal birth but felt totally disempowered. Hiring a doula would have provided some accountability. A doula would have empowered her to question and challenge this decision. She would have been her advocate and her support. Yet another unnecessary Caesarean – when will this stop?
Private hospital
The announcement of a brand new 5 star private maternity hospital in Melbourne is a very sad reflection of where maternity services are headed. Fear based pregnancy and birthing is what they will offer – for a fee! There is a serious lack of knowledge about normal pregnancy and birth among the medical profession. Free standing birth centres, where Midwives can practise independently, provide continuity of care together with other alternative services that pregnant women may benefit from, e.g. chiropractic, acupuncture, naturopathic, to name but a few, is where precious funding should be directed. At Birth Right we aim to empower all women to take charge of their pregnancy, labour, birthing and baby. Don’t hand over your power to anyone! Be informed and you will look forward to your day of birthing and meeting your baby.
Happy Birthing,
Susan
HypnoBirthing
Just got back from a beautiful hypnobirth. This was a very peaceful birth as Tracey worked with her body and her baby, breathing her baby gently down the birth path. I am still in awe of how calm and alert these babies are – wide eyed and looking for his mum, who scooped him up out of the water into her arms. The only hands on this baby were his mum’s and later his dad – just as it should be. Tracey says thank heavens for HypnoBirthing! Every pregnant woman should have this experience. What a great start in life she has given her baby.
Caesarean rates
Surprise! surprise! the caesarean rates are continuing to climb. With the continuing portrayal in the media of fear based birthing, no wonder! For all those pregnant women out there who have any anxieties around birthing then please book in to our HypnoBirthing class. This will change your mind, attitude and you will leave feeling empowered and looking forward to your birthing experience and welcoming your baby. Birth is simple and beautiful, it’s about getting the right education.
Breech birth
Wow! this is an amazing story from one of our Birth Right doulas who supported a woman who birthed her breech baby, vaginally! without any medical intervention. Unheard of today! Amy feels proud and empowered, being supported by her wonderful doula Beck, and an obstetrician with a refreshing approach to breech birth. For the last couple of decades all breech babies have been born via caesarean section, as obstetricians practise more and more fear based medicine. There is hope yet that we may be able to reduce the incredibly high caesarean rates. Any other vaginal breech birth stories??
Birth Doulas
Many caregivers tell women they don’t need a doula. It is important to remember that this is the woman’s choice and no-one should be interfering with that decision. I supported Joanne for her first birth in a hospital. She was now pregnant with her second and wanted that same support. I was delighted when she told me half way through her pregnancy that she had decided to have a homebirth. I checked with her to see if she still wanted doula support. “Of course, I see it as such a different relationship. You know me really well and I need that emotional support and advocacy. I feel safe knowing you are there, you are my rock. I see the midwife as looking out for me medically.” Thank heavens for women like Joanne, she got it! She went on to have a beautiful waterbirth at home with her partner, midwife and doula working in harmony. She felt totally safe. Check out our website for more info. on doulas.
Waterbirth at Home
Jane was 42 weeks gestation when she went into labour with her first baby and her membranes released with thick meconium. This followed a week of pre-labour. Jane’s dream of a waterbirth in the birth centre went out the window. Jane was strong, focused and determined to have a normal birth, and with doula and partner support she birthed beautifully in the delivery suite. For this 2nd birth she chose to birth at home, after much discussion with her ‘doctor’ husband, who was very supportive and committed.
None of us were expecting this labour at just under 38 weeks. She phoned at 10p.m. one Fri. night. She had been experiencing gentle surges most of the afternoon. The trainee doula and I met the homebirth midwife over at Jane’s. Their 3yr. old daughter was asleep. Jane was on a mat on the floor, leaning into a bean bag and using her slow breathing techniques that she had learned in HypnoBirthing®. The only lighting was lots of candles. It was quiet, apart from the sound of raindrops on the iron roof. Jane was pleased to see us. I asked Pete where the blow-up pool was? They had not had time to blow it up for a practice run and nor had he got the electric pump organised. “It’s just not going to work” said Pete.
I knew how much Jane wanted a waterbirth for this baby, so the midwife, trainee doula and myself dragged the pool out, and Pete’s bicycle pump! and away we went. Pumping and pumping, taking it in turns as it was very tiring while Jane quietly managed her surges in the corner of the room on the bean bag. At this stage she was not the focus – pumping was definitely the main agenda. Once we had started, we were determined to finish. I don’t think Pete had much faith in the bicycle pump, and it was a very slow process, but I knew that waterbirth was what Jane wanted. It took about 2hrs. of pumping and then about another hour to fill the bath. There was also no connection for the tap, so Pete had secured the hose to the tap with lots of electrical tape, which of course squirted everywhere!
Finally Jane was able to hop into the bath at about 4.30a.m. The 3 of us fell on the lounge, exhausted from pumping, and dozed intermittently. About an hour later, with the only sound of raindrops, Jane whispered that the baby’s head was born and as we moved gently towards the bath, the remainder of baby wriggled into the warm water. Pete was in the bath with her and received the baby, bringing him up into Jane’s arms. He was beautiful, alert and very calm. Even though I was very tired, this birth, like many others I have attended, re-energise me and show, once again, how magnificent women are, in the right environment and with the right support. Everyone present totally trusted birth. I was so pleased that a trainee doula had the opportunity to be a part of and witness the simplicity of birth. It is always such a privilege to be invited to share this amazing experience.
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