From: mike@isgtec.com (Mike Sellers)
Newsgroups: misc.kids
Subject: Re: Easy birth story (in our case, storIES)
Date: 26 Sep 92 17:29:02 GMT
Organization: ISG Technologies Inc., Mississauga Ontario

In article <!t8nyd=.sue@netcom.com> sue@netcom.com (Sue Miller) writes:
> In article <92266.175718LIBEMC@BYUVM.BITNET> <LIBEMC@BYUVM.BITNET> writes:
> >In regards to pushing down on the uterus by the nurses after birth.
> >I did not expect that part of the process, and boy did it hurt!  
> 
> I can see it now - I'll be in the supermarket or in a meeting at
> work, and plop! my uterus will fall on the floor.  Guess I'll have
> to sue.  :-)

Actually there is a condition called a "prolapsed uterus" that resembles
this... but I think it generally requires a bunch of kids and zero muscle
tone.  

> Seriously - perhaps uterine massage is only indicated after a
> multiple-birth gestation or on second+ pregnancies?

The way it was explained to us on kids 2-5 (they didn't tell us on #1
of course!), if the uterus does not contract fully and quickly, it can
cause blood and/or placenta to remain in the uterus, possibly causing
a life-threatening staph infection (the uterus is basically open to the
internal abdominal cavity).  Even worse, in some cases a woman can 
hemorrage (sp?) _very_ quickly if the uterus is not contracting correctly.
As others have said though, massaging yourself is a lot better than 
waiting for the nurses to do it!

As for our stories, I guess I should let my wife tell them (if I can get
her to use Emacs!), but we have been fortunate so I'll tell a little:

Our first child was born in a traditional hospital, long labor, epidural,
not a great experience. 

After that, my wife learned a self-hypnosis technique pioneered by my
father back in the '60s called autogenic training so that she wouldn't
need an epidural in the future -- she hated it.  It helps that my voice 
is like my dad's, as I'm able to help her through labor by staying relaxed.
She stays very relaxed through the whole labor, basically looking like
she's sleeping or dozing.  She's quite aware, but the pain doesn't get
away from her.  We're a good team, too.  At some point, she generally 
announces that it's time to push, which we're all pretty well aware of
having watched the monitor graphs and such.  Still, it's surprised some
of the nurses that she was ready since she looked so relaxed the rest 
of the time.  

Our next two were born in a birthing clinic, a wonderful experience.
We were relaxed, not hurried, and were in comfortable (yet safe) surroundings.
On #3 her labor threatened to stop, so they invited us to get into the hot
tub for a while -- this was about 3am and her water hadn't broken yet.
On this baby we did have a scare because the cord was wrapped around his
neck, but we were able to cut it quickly (yes, I helped).

#4 was in a quasi-hospital situation, in a single labor-delivery room
with a large comfortable bed.  Never again, my wife said, would she labor
in one room and deliver in another.  That's just medieval.  No problems 
here, either: a good pregnancy, not too long of a labor, and a quick 
delivery.

#5 went like clockwork, as you might expect :-), right up until the time
the baby was born.  She was born with the cord wrapped firmly around her
neck two or three times.  I was all set to help slip her shoulders out
and cut the cord, but the midwife stepped in and quickly (between contractions)
cut the cord.  Blood sprayed everywhere, our little one was blue, and they
had to act fast to make sure everything was okay.  She pinked up pretty 
quick, and gave me that first baby-gaze not too long after.  Then we all
took a nap. :-)

All in all, a wonderful set of experiences: Don't miss it!

--
              Mike Sellers      User Interface Team Leader
           mike@isgtec.com      ISG Technologies, Toronto, Canada
              "Actum ne agas" -- Do not do what has been done.
                         Furare tantum ab Optimis
Newsgroups: misc.kids