Labour Question

[rebecca]

HI there,

I am a little confused and also concerned in regards to some things that I have read in another thread...I have read that due to baby heart rate slowing down and also other issues during labour, midwives and doctors made the decision to perform C-Sections...luckily for mothers and babies as the cord was around the babies neck on more than 1 occassion,and if had the baby naturally oxygen could have been cut off from the baby altogether (due to the position of the cord)
As I am hoping to have our little son naturally, at the public hospital via a birth centre..and hopefully a water birth..I am a little concerned as to how this will be picked up..being that I have only had 1 ultrasound and I understand at the birth centre, baby is monitored by a hand monitor...how will they know if the cord is around my little son's neck?? This is one of my biggest fears...that he will not survive the birth...or will have oxygen cut off for a short time which may cause permanent damage....

Any advice will be appreciated...I will also be talking with the midwives at the clinic about this...however as they have just brought in a new team, I can not see the birth centre midwives until end of January...just using the STOMP program until then. (PS I am due 1 March 2005)

Thanks
Bec & Peanut

[Eleni's Mum]

Hi Bec,

Generally speaking, your progress in labour will be the sign to watch. If things aren't progressing at a 'normal' rate (your midwife will know this) they will generally have a longer listen to both you and your baby's heart rate. Also the way you are coping is a great way to monitor things.

The hand monitors can be used in the water and will actually pick up the baby's heart rate clearly enough to know if something is wrong or if it needs a closer listen.

Don't worry, just concentrate on the beautiful end result!

[mamafelix]

Hi Rebecca

please don't worry!!
I had Felix in a tub, with a midwife who had a hand held monitor too- it was a fantastic experience! It's my understanding that the only difference that someone in a convential birthing suite would experience is being hooked up to a belt type monitor which is attached to a machine. This machine measures the strength of each contraction and also the babies heart rate. As far as I know, it's not a normal practice to give ultrasounds during labour- usually a cord around the neck is picked up once the babies head has left the cervix or more usually after it's out of the mother's body.

Your midwife will be able to montior your babies heartbeat just as effectively with the hand held monitor, and it's a lot less restrictive. She will also keep an eye on your contractions and all the other cues your body gives. If there is even the slightest possibility of something going wrong they will transfer you to the delivery suite of the main hospital.

I would suggest that you sit down and have a good chat with the midwives at your centre and try and overcome any fears you might have. The most common reason for problems in labour is maternal anxiety- really you have nothing to fear but fear itself.
Have you come across many positive waterbirth stories yet? There are a heap (including mine...) at www.forums.naturalparenting.com.au


hth

[xkwzit]

Hi Rebecca

I also was concerned before having my first baby about "the cord around the neck", but now after my two babies, I can think a bit more rationally about it. I know its natural to be a bit freaked out about something wrapped around your baby's neck, but try not to let it get to you. The normal practice is to check baby's neck after the head is delivered, then if there is a cord, they'll get you to stop pushing, slip a finger under the cord and pull it over the baby's head to free the neck. If they can free the cord that way, there wouldn't be any constriction around the baby's neck due to the cord. And hey, the cord stretches far enough for a doctor to place the baby on your chest after delivery, its really very long! :p

Cheers

[rebecca]

Thanks again everyone for easing my concern and fears...I think that it best that i just see how it all goes and whatever is meant to be will be....

I will check into that website too..thanks mamafelix.

Not long until Christmas....only 8 more sleeps.....

Have a great day everyone

Bec & peanut

[kerrie]

Hi Bec,
Are you having your baby @ the St George BC in sydney?....just curious, I used to work there.....fabulous BC!!!!!
Re the cord/ heart beat etc
I've attended heaps of waterbirths (and dry land births for that matter) where babies have been born with the cord arround their little necks. In my experience it has never caused a problem. Generally cords are long and loose enough for babies to be born through the cord without it causing any concern. It is not my practice to (although I know quite a few midwives and lots of obs do) routienly check for cord after the babies head is born...mainly because (a) women (in my experience) find that very uncomfortable and (b) theres no need to if you know what to look for...by this I mean that after the babies head is born it then restitutes (turns a bit) and then usually with the next contraction the babies boby is born.....in the absence of any of these normal signs of progress I would check for cord.
When I said the cords are most often loose enough for the babies to be born through them I meant just that. If your having a water birth, and your baby has cord loosly arround the neck, after your baby comes out under the water your mw will give him or her a quick "twist" to unravel the cord (takes about a second) before he or she comes to the surface. If you have a dry land birth its a little more like unravelling the cord from the neck/the shoulders before mum can take baby onto her belly.
Very occasionally babies have very short cords or they have the cord arround the neck very tightly. In these cases you would expect to pick up an abnormal heart beat, or after the babys head is born it would "turtle neck" (suck back in) in both cases the midwife will pick it up and act appropiatly. With the turtle neck sign your midwife would most likely check for cord, pull the plug then clamp and cut and unravel the babies cord so as to "free" it up bor the baby to be born (this all happens very quickly and apart from being uncomfortable for the mum is usually not a big drama for bub).....and if your midwife picks up an abnormal heart beat she will monitor you more frequently with the doppler and if there is a problem she would most likely suggest you get out of the bath and transfer to delivery suite for closer monitoring.
One more thing I would like to mention about slow heart rates is that it is a very normal sign for your babies heart beat to slowdown a little bit ,just before he or she is about to be born......in this situation its a good thing and an indication that your long awaited babe isnt far from your arms!
Hope this helps,
Kerrie ;)

[rebecca]

Thanks a million Kerrie...( she says as feelings of relief and anxiety lift from her body). I am planning on delivery at St George Hospital Birth Centre...just got accepted in a couple of weeks ago, as they were full and have now brought on a new team of midwives...only problem being I will not get to meet them until end of Jan when they start the clinic up...in the meantime I keep going through my gp and STOMP (outreach program).

Thanks again

Bec & Peanut

[kerrie]

Pleasure Rebecca:)
I never knew this forum was national, I thought I was only "chatting" with women from Qld!
St George is a fabulous woman centered maternity hospital with lots of different models of care for women to choose from.....oh how I wish Brisbane women had access to a wider variety of models of care...Here's hoping the maternity services review (currently in progress up here) will bring change our way.
I look forward to sharing your journey and reading your birth story (though a little way off yet) with delight!
Im off to Landsbourough this Friday evening to meet up with my friend and midwife to view, what is sure to be, a beautiful collection of birth/waterbirths on video. Can't wait!
Kerrie :)

[rebecca]

Funny you mention the QLD thing, I noticed that alot of mum's on here are from QLD and was starting to think that I may be the only one from Sydney. I suppose you really do not know how good you have something until it is not available to you. I did not realise the extent of the issues that mothers and fathers experience in QLD with availability of care and hospitals etc...not until I came onto this forum that is...

It is good to be informed...and I am thankful for the opportunities that I have in Sydney...

Have fun tomorrow...

Bec & Peanut