Saturday, March 25, 2006
The Doula's Account
One of the great things about hiring a doula is getting their account of the birth. Since I still can't bring myself to write my version...this will have to do for now.
The Birth of Molly Flatters
As told by doulas Tania Dufault and Jennifer Ferleykos
On the day you were born the world was covered in a blanket of white snow. The sky was clear and the sun shone with all its might. Your mother had been having contractions since the day before but was doing well ignoring and coping with them. She went to a party that evening with your dad and their friends didn’t even notice that she was in labour. Your parents laughed about their little secret. Your dad went to sleep that night and your mom tried but she was up off and on. When your mom was awake she paced and cooked, paced and rocked and waited. I guess the pacing turned into a circling type of pacing which only worked well in the clockwise direction.
Your dad woke up around 5 am and came down to see your mother walking around and around in a big circle in the living room. Both your parents could see that these contractions were not going to stop. Your mom phoned me at 8am on February 27th to tell me that she was pretty sure she was in labour. She was still talking through contractions and coping well. The intensity of the contractions had definitely increased but your parents decided they would visit their doctor for your mom’s scheduled appointment at 11:30am. Your mom waited in the car while your dad went up and said to Dr. Oyebanji that his wife was in labour in the car and would stay there until she could be seen immediately. When Dr. Dr. Oyebanji examined your mom she said “I think it is going to be a couple more days.” Your mom just about lost it right there in the office. Quickly the doctor saw that her joke wasn’t very funny and told your mother the good news that she was already 4 cms dilated. The doctor told your mom that she could go home and come to the hospital in a couple of hours or stay at home as long as she wanted with the doula (that’s me) present.
Your mom was comfortable at home and I arrived around 1:20 pm to support your parents. Your mom and dad were slow dancing through contractions in the living room. Your mom was making a low moaning sound during contractions and coping well. It didn’t take long to get into a routine. Your dad gave your mom lots of hugs and verbal support. I massaged her back and did some counter pressure on her sacrum. We all went upstairs around two o’clock and your mom sat on the couch with a hot magic bag on her lower back and around her neck. Eventually, your mom started feeling tired and lay down on her side to rest. She lay on the couch and slept between contractions. She had a hot magic bag on her back to help with the back pain. We flipped your mom to the other side for a while. At 4:45pm she got up and went to the bathroom.
In the bathroom, your mom started a mantra and shaking her head from side to side. “Open, open, open....”, she repeated over and over. I had her try hanging from the door which only worked for one contraction and according to your mom was incredibly painful. She started pacing in the sunshine in your parents room. I encouraged her to try a squat which she did and got an incredibly shocked expression on her face while doing it. She got up and said that it hurt way too much. It was shortly after when she started saying, “Water, water, water....!!!”. Your dad hurried to her assistance with a glass of water but what your mom was telling us was that her water had broken. The time was now 5:15pm.
Contractions really picked up at this point. They were coming every 2 minutes and lasting at least 90 seconds. Your mom wasn’t really getting a break at all. My partner Jennifer arrived at 5:30pm to relieve me. Unfortunately, I had to teach a prenatal class and was going to miss all the fun. Your mom was holding us out at arms length and we couldn’t touch her because things were so intense. Jennifer and I helped your mother down the stairs and with a few moments of saying, “Dana look at me” she was able to concentrate enough to get ready to go to the hospital. It took a while to get to the car because your mom was having so many contractions. It was about 6:00pm when she was ready to go out the door. Your mother said she was scared of the car ride but with a few encouraging words she quickly refocused. I had to say goodbye as your mom slowly got into the car with Jennifer and your dad. I followed your parents’ car to the hospital and was able to give your dad thumbs up through the car window as they turned onto the hospital road. Jennifer was in the car with them and your dad was waving at me and grinning from ear to ear......Tania.
Your mom was nervous about how she would do in the car ride, but she was amazing. She kept her focus and stayed in the ‘zone’. When we got to the hospital at around 6:25pm, I helped your mom get up to the labor and delivery floor while your dad parked the car. The nurses gave your mom a delivery room right away since they could tell that she was really close to having her baby. They were right, because once they checked her, the nurse told her she could start pushing. Your mom tried a variety of different positions for pushing as she got used to the new sensations of what this was all about. Dr. Dr. Oyebanji was scheduled to end her shift at the hospital but because your mom liked Dr. Oyebanji so much, she decided she would stay for your birth. Dr. Oyebanji had a sense of humor just like your mom.
When we started to see a bit of your head emerging, everyone got excited to see that things were getting really close. The doctor turned around to make a phone call and the nurse was charting some stuff down and your dad I were supporting your mom in her efforts to birth you. Normally babies take about 10-30 minutes to be born at this point, but you decided to make an entrance!! All of a sudden ~ there was your whole head! I called the doctor right away and encouraged your mom to take short ‘huffing’ breathes to slow down your entrance. The only panic in the room was the doctor and nurse trying to quickly get gloves on! While this was happening, you and your mom slowly birthed you.
It was beautiful to watch. There you were lying on the bed while the doctor was still fighting to get her gloves on. I told your mom to open her eyes and look down so she could see you. I gently took her hand and told her to go ahead and touch her baby. It was wonderful to watch your mom be the first one to touch you. I’m pretty sure your dad also touched your foot that was sticking up in the air. Usually, the doctors and nurses touch the babies first, so I think it was fantastic that you were touched first by those who love you.
Through tears of joy, your parents pulled you up onto your mother’s chest and held you as they welcomed you into this world. I grabbed their camera and started taking some pictures for you to reflect on as you grow up. Your dad’s mom (your Grandma) was at the hospital and came in for a quick peak to meet you and wish you and your parents well before she went home.
After spending some really great skin to skin time with your mom, (including breastfeeding) she had to leave you for a short time to go into the operating room to get some stitches as a result of your quick birth. You and your dad had some special cuddling time while your mom was busy.
When we returned to the room, Tania had also returned from her class teaching. We all took a few moments to reflect on your birth and watched you get weighed. It was then time for your doulas to leave. It is very special to be a part of someone’s birth, however, I will always remember your birth and how beautiful it was to watch your unassisted entry into this world.…Jennifer.
Molly Rose Corkey Flatters
Born on February 27th, 2006
At 7:27pm
Weighing 6lbs 8ozs
The Birth of Molly Flatters
As told by doulas Tania Dufault and Jennifer Ferleykos
On the day you were born the world was covered in a blanket of white snow. The sky was clear and the sun shone with all its might. Your mother had been having contractions since the day before but was doing well ignoring and coping with them. She went to a party that evening with your dad and their friends didn’t even notice that she was in labour. Your parents laughed about their little secret. Your dad went to sleep that night and your mom tried but she was up off and on. When your mom was awake she paced and cooked, paced and rocked and waited. I guess the pacing turned into a circling type of pacing which only worked well in the clockwise direction.
Your dad woke up around 5 am and came down to see your mother walking around and around in a big circle in the living room. Both your parents could see that these contractions were not going to stop. Your mom phoned me at 8am on February 27th to tell me that she was pretty sure she was in labour. She was still talking through contractions and coping well. The intensity of the contractions had definitely increased but your parents decided they would visit their doctor for your mom’s scheduled appointment at 11:30am. Your mom waited in the car while your dad went up and said to Dr. Oyebanji that his wife was in labour in the car and would stay there until she could be seen immediately. When Dr. Dr. Oyebanji examined your mom she said “I think it is going to be a couple more days.” Your mom just about lost it right there in the office. Quickly the doctor saw that her joke wasn’t very funny and told your mother the good news that she was already 4 cms dilated. The doctor told your mom that she could go home and come to the hospital in a couple of hours or stay at home as long as she wanted with the doula (that’s me) present.
Your mom was comfortable at home and I arrived around 1:20 pm to support your parents. Your mom and dad were slow dancing through contractions in the living room. Your mom was making a low moaning sound during contractions and coping well. It didn’t take long to get into a routine. Your dad gave your mom lots of hugs and verbal support. I massaged her back and did some counter pressure on her sacrum. We all went upstairs around two o’clock and your mom sat on the couch with a hot magic bag on her lower back and around her neck. Eventually, your mom started feeling tired and lay down on her side to rest. She lay on the couch and slept between contractions. She had a hot magic bag on her back to help with the back pain. We flipped your mom to the other side for a while. At 4:45pm she got up and went to the bathroom.
In the bathroom, your mom started a mantra and shaking her head from side to side. “Open, open, open....”, she repeated over and over. I had her try hanging from the door which only worked for one contraction and according to your mom was incredibly painful. She started pacing in the sunshine in your parents room. I encouraged her to try a squat which she did and got an incredibly shocked expression on her face while doing it. She got up and said that it hurt way too much. It was shortly after when she started saying, “Water, water, water....!!!”. Your dad hurried to her assistance with a glass of water but what your mom was telling us was that her water had broken. The time was now 5:15pm.
Contractions really picked up at this point. They were coming every 2 minutes and lasting at least 90 seconds. Your mom wasn’t really getting a break at all. My partner Jennifer arrived at 5:30pm to relieve me. Unfortunately, I had to teach a prenatal class and was going to miss all the fun. Your mom was holding us out at arms length and we couldn’t touch her because things were so intense. Jennifer and I helped your mother down the stairs and with a few moments of saying, “Dana look at me” she was able to concentrate enough to get ready to go to the hospital. It took a while to get to the car because your mom was having so many contractions. It was about 6:00pm when she was ready to go out the door. Your mother said she was scared of the car ride but with a few encouraging words she quickly refocused. I had to say goodbye as your mom slowly got into the car with Jennifer and your dad. I followed your parents’ car to the hospital and was able to give your dad thumbs up through the car window as they turned onto the hospital road. Jennifer was in the car with them and your dad was waving at me and grinning from ear to ear......Tania.
Your mom was nervous about how she would do in the car ride, but she was amazing. She kept her focus and stayed in the ‘zone’. When we got to the hospital at around 6:25pm, I helped your mom get up to the labor and delivery floor while your dad parked the car. The nurses gave your mom a delivery room right away since they could tell that she was really close to having her baby. They were right, because once they checked her, the nurse told her she could start pushing. Your mom tried a variety of different positions for pushing as she got used to the new sensations of what this was all about. Dr. Dr. Oyebanji was scheduled to end her shift at the hospital but because your mom liked Dr. Oyebanji so much, she decided she would stay for your birth. Dr. Oyebanji had a sense of humor just like your mom.
When we started to see a bit of your head emerging, everyone got excited to see that things were getting really close. The doctor turned around to make a phone call and the nurse was charting some stuff down and your dad I were supporting your mom in her efforts to birth you. Normally babies take about 10-30 minutes to be born at this point, but you decided to make an entrance!! All of a sudden ~ there was your whole head! I called the doctor right away and encouraged your mom to take short ‘huffing’ breathes to slow down your entrance. The only panic in the room was the doctor and nurse trying to quickly get gloves on! While this was happening, you and your mom slowly birthed you.
It was beautiful to watch. There you were lying on the bed while the doctor was still fighting to get her gloves on. I told your mom to open her eyes and look down so she could see you. I gently took her hand and told her to go ahead and touch her baby. It was wonderful to watch your mom be the first one to touch you. I’m pretty sure your dad also touched your foot that was sticking up in the air. Usually, the doctors and nurses touch the babies first, so I think it was fantastic that you were touched first by those who love you.
Through tears of joy, your parents pulled you up onto your mother’s chest and held you as they welcomed you into this world. I grabbed their camera and started taking some pictures for you to reflect on as you grow up. Your dad’s mom (your Grandma) was at the hospital and came in for a quick peak to meet you and wish you and your parents well before she went home.
After spending some really great skin to skin time with your mom, (including breastfeeding) she had to leave you for a short time to go into the operating room to get some stitches as a result of your quick birth. You and your dad had some special cuddling time while your mom was busy.
When we returned to the room, Tania had also returned from her class teaching. We all took a few moments to reflect on your birth and watched you get weighed. It was then time for your doulas to leave. It is very special to be a part of someone’s birth, however, I will always remember your birth and how beautiful it was to watch your unassisted entry into this world.…Jennifer.
Molly Rose Corkey Flatters
Born on February 27th, 2006
At 7:27pm
Weighing 6lbs 8ozs
# posted by Dana Corkey @ 2:25 PM 
