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Twin Home Birth Story! :)
- May 27, 2008 at 2:47 PM
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- Comments (15) Total Views (1114) Everyone can see this journal post.
I attended a twin birth on Friday. I was very excited about this, because it was my first home birth since November. The added bonus was that the twin mom, A, and I had gotten to know each other through prenatal visits. She and I would sit and chat, and have the longest visits together. I enjoyed it tremendously. She and her husband were so excited to have these babies at home, and she was ready. A was so cute about everything, and continued to work out at the gym....even on Friday morning in early labor. Hehe. Apparently she got some memorable looks and questions. Ahh the power of being able to freak people out. LOL
She gave me permission to post my view of the birth story, along with pictures. She's an awesome lady!
Anyway, I got a "heads up" call from A on Friday morning, and it was perfect. I was able to take a shower, get my gear into the car, and make arrangements for the kids. Before long, she called back and said that the contractions were coming every 5 minutes or so, and that she'd like me to come. I packed the kids up, dropped them off with Grandma, and headed over. When I got there, A was in great spirits, and was just ready and excited. I LOVE seeing mamas like this in labor. So joyful and anxious to see the babies that have been growing and moving in the womb. She put on her favorite music, ate some VERY yummy corn chowder that her mom made for her, and danced with her husband. This is one of my favorite pictures from them during labor:
They danced, laughed, hugged, kissed...and just enjoyed this labor. It was awesome to witness. She had a period where things started slowing down a bit, and so I suggested that the labor "party" might have something to do with it. She had mom over, MIL, and MIL's sister....along with me, her dh, and her son...in a 1 bedroom apartment. She decided that it might help to have some go home, and so gently asked for some space. MIL and MIL's sister went home, and wouldn't you know it - just about 10 minutes later her labor *really* picked up. She was a madwoman at one point, trucking up and down her stairs from her apt. to their backyard. She was on a mission! I wish I had gotten a picture of that. She was doing acrobatics by stretching with one foot all the way up on her dresser. Yeah, try THAT at almost 39 weeks with *twins*. I'm telling you, she wasn't your average woman in labor! :)
Things got serious, and Brenda arrived ( the midwife in charge, and the mw who attended my HBAC with Megan ) just in time. Labor picked up more, and before long A was sitting on the toilet and started with those grunty pushes. Brenda went in and checked, and the first baby was right there. A got onto the bathroom floor, and just moments later, Miss Ava Bean was born. They didn't know the sex of the babies ahead of time. They already have a sweet "baby" ( he's 2 ) boy, and were absolutely elated that at least one of the twins was a girl. This is also grandma's first granddaughter. ; ) She was thrilled. Baby girl did beautifully, and was such a peanut. Mom rested for a few minutes, and then the contractions started coming back. She wanted to get up, so we helped her up. She went into the bedroom and started leaning over the bed, but still standing.
I got behind her, to rub her back, and was excited when Brenda reminded me what to do with a breech baby ( she was a known breech ). She was going to let me catch! I was thrilled. I had asked her if I could do this, because I want to be able to serve women who have breech babies. Anything I can do to help keep a mom away from a c-section, I would like to strive to do it. Anyway, I was excited about this. I got into position to catch, as she was pushing with these contractions. For whatever reason, I had forgotten that the amniotic sac was still in tact with the second baby, and didn't remember as I was a foot away from her behind. All of a sudden, with a mighty push, I was blasted with amniotic fluid. Yep, in my face, my hair, and soaking my clothes. LOL Dad was holding a video camera ( that I just found out on Sunday didn't catch any of this, as he thought it did. ) and laughing quite hard at what had just happened, but then asked if I needed anything. I asked for a towel. :) It stunned me for a moment, but then I laughed as I was drying off. What an experience. Apparently now I am fully initiated into midwifery. Haha.
Shortly after the water burst, the second baby's bum started emerging. I saw that it was another little girl, and smiled as it came slowly out. I didn't say anything, I was waiting for dad to see and announce it. The bum emerged more, and then the feet and legs came with it. She was a complete breech. Interestingly, she didn't pass any meconium like most breech babies do. She was out to her head, and mom had a small break in between contractions. I was starting to get worried, because the baby's body was very pale, and growing more pale by the second. Brenda told A that it was time to get this baby's head out now, and with a great push, she did.
Then, I witnessed something else for the first time. The placenta came out *with* the baby, in a big "plop" on the floor. This was a bit scary to me, because I know what that usually means. I watched as the baby lie limp and unresponsive on the floor. What I didn't notice was that Brenda had her fingers over her heart, and knew that she had a strong heartbeat. It took some stimulation and a few blows of air from Brenda, for the baby to begin pinking up and taking some good breaths. I really just don't like births that end up with a slow-going baby, but it gives me experience to know what to do when I am the sole one responsible for a birth.
Miss Sage Antoinette was doing just fine, and did better as mom scooped her up and started talking to her. A was in awe of her two beautiful baby girls.
A's mom and I talked a bit after the birth, and it came up that the babies would have been taken to the NICU if she had birthed in the hospital. Ava Bean ended up weighing 4lbs 14ozs, and then with Sage having the start she did ( although she was 6lbs 5 ozs ) she would have been taken as well. They wouldn't have had mama's voice or breast...they would have been in an isolette, no doubt with some "equipment" of some sort. Thankfully though, mama chose to birth at home. :) She did such an awesome job, and totally rocked through labor. She's a force to be reckoned with, that's for sure!!
I had the joy of doing a post partum visit with them on Sunday, and everything is going quite well. The girls are nursing wonderfully and full of personality, especially Miss Sage. She makes the funniest faces. She is also the one that would play hide and seek with me during PNVs, when trying to find her heartbeat. She and I go way back. ; )
Anyhow, since I have permission, here are some pictures of the beautiful baby girls. The water photos are of mom taking a bath with them after the birth. Notice how calm they are in the water with mama.
She gave me permission to post my view of the birth story, along with pictures. She's an awesome lady!
Anyway, I got a "heads up" call from A on Friday morning, and it was perfect. I was able to take a shower, get my gear into the car, and make arrangements for the kids. Before long, she called back and said that the contractions were coming every 5 minutes or so, and that she'd like me to come. I packed the kids up, dropped them off with Grandma, and headed over. When I got there, A was in great spirits, and was just ready and excited. I LOVE seeing mamas like this in labor. So joyful and anxious to see the babies that have been growing and moving in the womb. She put on her favorite music, ate some VERY yummy corn chowder that her mom made for her, and danced with her husband. This is one of my favorite pictures from them during labor:
They danced, laughed, hugged, kissed...and just enjoyed this labor. It was awesome to witness. She had a period where things started slowing down a bit, and so I suggested that the labor "party" might have something to do with it. She had mom over, MIL, and MIL's sister....along with me, her dh, and her son...in a 1 bedroom apartment. She decided that it might help to have some go home, and so gently asked for some space. MIL and MIL's sister went home, and wouldn't you know it - just about 10 minutes later her labor *really* picked up. She was a madwoman at one point, trucking up and down her stairs from her apt. to their backyard. She was on a mission! I wish I had gotten a picture of that. She was doing acrobatics by stretching with one foot all the way up on her dresser. Yeah, try THAT at almost 39 weeks with *twins*. I'm telling you, she wasn't your average woman in labor! :)
Things got serious, and Brenda arrived ( the midwife in charge, and the mw who attended my HBAC with Megan ) just in time. Labor picked up more, and before long A was sitting on the toilet and started with those grunty pushes. Brenda went in and checked, and the first baby was right there. A got onto the bathroom floor, and just moments later, Miss Ava Bean was born. They didn't know the sex of the babies ahead of time. They already have a sweet "baby" ( he's 2 ) boy, and were absolutely elated that at least one of the twins was a girl. This is also grandma's first granddaughter. ; ) She was thrilled. Baby girl did beautifully, and was such a peanut. Mom rested for a few minutes, and then the contractions started coming back. She wanted to get up, so we helped her up. She went into the bedroom and started leaning over the bed, but still standing.
I got behind her, to rub her back, and was excited when Brenda reminded me what to do with a breech baby ( she was a known breech ). She was going to let me catch! I was thrilled. I had asked her if I could do this, because I want to be able to serve women who have breech babies. Anything I can do to help keep a mom away from a c-section, I would like to strive to do it. Anyway, I was excited about this. I got into position to catch, as she was pushing with these contractions. For whatever reason, I had forgotten that the amniotic sac was still in tact with the second baby, and didn't remember as I was a foot away from her behind. All of a sudden, with a mighty push, I was blasted with amniotic fluid. Yep, in my face, my hair, and soaking my clothes. LOL Dad was holding a video camera ( that I just found out on Sunday didn't catch any of this, as he thought it did. ) and laughing quite hard at what had just happened, but then asked if I needed anything. I asked for a towel. :) It stunned me for a moment, but then I laughed as I was drying off. What an experience. Apparently now I am fully initiated into midwifery. Haha.
Shortly after the water burst, the second baby's bum started emerging. I saw that it was another little girl, and smiled as it came slowly out. I didn't say anything, I was waiting for dad to see and announce it. The bum emerged more, and then the feet and legs came with it. She was a complete breech. Interestingly, she didn't pass any meconium like most breech babies do. She was out to her head, and mom had a small break in between contractions. I was starting to get worried, because the baby's body was very pale, and growing more pale by the second. Brenda told A that it was time to get this baby's head out now, and with a great push, she did.
Then, I witnessed something else for the first time. The placenta came out *with* the baby, in a big "plop" on the floor. This was a bit scary to me, because I know what that usually means. I watched as the baby lie limp and unresponsive on the floor. What I didn't notice was that Brenda had her fingers over her heart, and knew that she had a strong heartbeat. It took some stimulation and a few blows of air from Brenda, for the baby to begin pinking up and taking some good breaths. I really just don't like births that end up with a slow-going baby, but it gives me experience to know what to do when I am the sole one responsible for a birth.
Miss Sage Antoinette was doing just fine, and did better as mom scooped her up and started talking to her. A was in awe of her two beautiful baby girls.
A's mom and I talked a bit after the birth, and it came up that the babies would have been taken to the NICU if she had birthed in the hospital. Ava Bean ended up weighing 4lbs 14ozs, and then with Sage having the start she did ( although she was 6lbs 5 ozs ) she would have been taken as well. They wouldn't have had mama's voice or breast...they would have been in an isolette, no doubt with some "equipment" of some sort. Thankfully though, mama chose to birth at home. :) She did such an awesome job, and totally rocked through labor. She's a force to be reckoned with, that's for sure!!
I had the joy of doing a post partum visit with them on Sunday, and everything is going quite well. The girls are nursing wonderfully and full of personality, especially Miss Sage. She makes the funniest faces. She is also the one that would play hide and seek with me during PNVs, when trying to find her heartbeat. She and I go way back. ; )
Anyhow, since I have permission, here are some pictures of the beautiful baby girls. The water photos are of mom taking a bath with them after the birth. Notice how calm they are in the water with mama.
Comments:
May. 27, 2008 at 3:06 PM
Wow, that's awesome. Thank you for sharing! Such a beautiful story. Now "Lighning Crashes" by Live is playing in my head (from "the placenta falls to the floor" line).
May. 27, 2008 at 3:44 PM
Wow! Thanks for sharing! The pic of you with the girls must have been from your follow-up visit as you don't look all amnioface LOL. What a great experience for you! Not the amnio shower necessarily...but the whole shebang!
May. 27, 2008 at 4:30 PM
Great story...I have to admit I am a little envious. Thank you for sharing it and congrats to the parents!
May. 27, 2008 at 5:42 PM
What a beutiful story! haha love the amnio part!
May. 27, 2008 at 7:01 PM
wow, what a story! I had twins c-section, and i couldnt imagine having a home birth with them, wow... thats just amazing!
May. 27, 2008 at 11:11 PM
What I beautiful story I wasnt even aware that not all twins and LBW babies needed a NICU stay. The proof is in the pudding as they say.
May. 27, 2008 at 11:52 PM
CONGRADS!! TO THE PARENTS AND YOU
May. 28, 2008 at 10:15 AM
Congrats!! How exciting for everyone! Beautiful story!
May. 28, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Rock -on! I got to assist two midwives last March with a twin homebirth ~ boys they both weighed
7.5lbs - it was an awesome experience. The first one was breech.
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This Pennsylvania mom of a 12-year-old girl wishes her daughter's father was still alive to see his little girl all grown up now.
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