Post birth bleeding, Long labors

[DaiseyMama]

Okay lets talk about a healthy way of tackling childbirthing difficulties.

This is my last chance at a homebirth. After this if it does not go well for me I might be considered a "High Risk" girl and directed to a hospital situation for pregnancies. So I would REALLY like to learn some things to give me some help!

First birth..labored for about two days..got totally worn out (hadn't eaten healthy through last trimester)....was in HARD active labor quite a number of hours...pushed way over an hour...FINALLY had the baby...(8 pounder)

...but then midwife had to do the "human Clamp" thing on me as I began to bleed in a bad way...bleed bleed bleed...midwife called for us to pray..two shots of Pitocin (which I believed cause the jaundice in baby through milk) ...but was glad my life was spared.

2nd birth....labored like two days, although my pains got horribly active and HARD...they NEVER got consistent...had to guess when to push when my more than an hour of pushing came around. Midwife and two assistants ended up pushing on my tummy to help expel baby. 10 pounder...(hadn't eating healthy that time either)

Then the same thing with the bleeding. Bleed bleed bleed....a dose of pit....and then later a dose of methergene.

Hemhalt also..later......



So ladies....what I do for myself? The only thing I am doing/planning differently this time is that..diet has been so much better, but my weight is still not good. I gained to 180's with both pregnancies. I will be there this time , too. It comes off when I nurse...(my pre-pregnancy weight is usually at like 150s. I know the weight can't be an asset to my birthing.

What can I do about the bleeeeeeeeeding? Is there anything that can be done to encourage less than two day labors...and more than an hour of pushing? LOL Please God...Please? LOL

Midwife this time around is really neat-o. She is planning massage, water labor, pressure point stuff, and some stuff in the last six weeks for me to take. Like Pn6 but it's different she says.

Anything you could tell me concerning any of this...would be lovely.



Thanks for any tips....

In Jesus..

Kirstin

[stackeyha]

Don't know about the bleeding but while my labors haven't been as long as yours, mine are goofy too and I've had pit both times. Also our weight sounds to be about the same...but I tend to lose most of my pregnancy weight within that first water weight loss, you know the first 2 weeks or something...lost 30 pounds with Sarah and 38 with Becky.

A couple of years ago, I went to a good friend an chiropractor. He did some scans and an x-ray and found that I have a serious S curve in my lower back and where I should have a 45 degree arch in my neck I have a 22 degree arch. Together, talking through some things we kind of decided this crroked back could be part of my problem. I haven't been able to afford to get it fixed but I have had a titch of work done.

I don't know, but perhaps you have some of the same problems. A LOT of woment do, especially after a couple pregnancies and a couple nursing kids. Maybe you could talk to a chiro a bit and see if he can help at least with a few adjustments here and there. That's kind of what I'm doing...as I have pain or as I feel like something's not quite right...for instance I'm going in next week because the baby has dropped and is decidely pitched to the left which makes my left leg go to sleep...so I'm going to see if he can put my pelvis back in line.

I won't be able to tell you until late June whether the small amount of chiropractic that I've had helped with labor, but I can tell you now that it has helped with my pain tolerance throughout and I've only been adjusted about 3 times so far this pregnancy.

It's just a thought.

[Carmen]

A few questions first...

1) In both births, did you wait for the urge to push to push out the placenta on your own or did the midwife do a little tug tug to help it out?

2) Both of your labors were long. Were you mostly sedentary during labor or were you up and moving?

3) Did you never get the urge to push with you 2nd baby? If not, why did the midwives not want to wait for you to start feeling the urge to push rather than having you push prematurely?

4) How was your iron during pregnancies?
As far as weight gain goes...I don't think you have anything to worry about there. 30 lbs is not a lot! Oh my, most people I know have gained 40 or more . My cousin gained 80 (woulnd't reccommend that, that's for sure). As long as you are gaining it on healthy nourshing foods and not health-robbing junk foods.

There are some herbs such as red raspberry leaf and nettle which help tone and strengthen the uterus that may help.

[DaiseyMama]

Stack!!! Wow, I can't believe you brought this up. This might just be something big and true. I have noticable back problems. But have never taken the plunge to go to a Chiro. The interest has been there...just not the money. I've suffered bad back all through my teens and adulthood. I don't look weird with clothes on....but my bare back is visibly 'OFF" and if I bend over...you can see one whole side of my back is raised much higher than the other and the shoulders are totally whacky.

I making myself sound like a hunch back. Ha! Really you can't tell unless I'm bare. My back pains have been immense through this pregnancy.

This is something I will have to seriously look into. Thank you for bringing it up.


Carmen....Thanks for the well thought out questions.

1.) I believe with both births..the midwife did the tug tug thing and I didn't feel an urge to push out the placenta.

2.)with both births...I was mostly up and moving. I got worn out and ended up taking a nap for an hour with both...but other than that I was mostly very mobile.

3.)First birth...I was scared and panicked out of my wits, an didn't know what urges were...and my midwife was telling my brain what to do and I just followed orders. LOL I fought the pain....instead of allowing the birth to come on me. So I guess she just decided when was the tiem for me to start pushing...I was so out of my mind I jsutdid whatever she said. I'd have climbed an electrical pole if she'd told me to. LOL

With the second birth...I never had an urge to push. I dont' know...they just told me to do it that way...I was unfortunately unprepared as to what I should *want* to be wanting to happen. This time, I have been readign more, and taking a courseto help prepare me for labor. I never got to attend any classes. Money issues.

That labor dragged and dragged and dragged out..and I think they were concerned I was exhausted. They suggested shutting down my labor with an herb...and seeing when it would all start again...but after all I had been through for a day and a half already...and the deep and painful progress that had been made..the thought of SHUTTING it down...horrified and freaked me out. So I said no way...I'm having this baby!!!!!

I guess maybe she was forcing it because of my persistence? But I never did have time-able contractions. There was internal progress ..but never contractions to gauge or urges to push with.....

Makes it sound like we forced labor. the labor wasthere...! It was real, active, big time labor..but those contractions just did ot get timeable.......ever....

So I guess once they felt the baby in it's"ready position..they just started saying push push push, and I did. he was my 10 pounder. Midwife said she nearly had to make the choice to break his arm?/shoulder? to help him come out.

Ironically enough...because of the primrose oil caps I inserted in the last couple of weeks...I never tore with either birth. LOL

4.) Well, I don't think my iron during those two particular pregnancies was wonderful. I took a prenatal..that's it. And My diet was aweful. Taco Bell, and Dr. Pepper all the time. That is embarrassig to admit.

This time I am doing way better! Taking herbal iron supplements, drinking lots of green drinks and Veggie blender smoothies, haven't been perfect but have cut WAY BACK on the junk. Any junk food has been very minimal.

5.) I didn't know about the nettle..but I have been taking RRLeaf Capsules and drinking the tea each day.

[Carmen]

DaiseyMama,
PLEASE do NOT let the midwife help your placenta out!!!! Especially with your history of bleeding. Tugging on the placenta can CAUSE excessive bleeding. There is no reason for a midwife (or OB) to do this. It basically boils down to them being impatient and not letting your body do what comes naturally. You may not start having more contractions or feel the urge to push out the placenta for a while after the baby is born...but that's okay!!! Some times it can take a woman's body up to a couple hours although it is most common for it to be sooner. I think it was about 20 to 30 minutes after my son was born before I delivered the placenta.

You mentioned being scared and panicked. Unresolved fears can and will inhibit labor. If your body is in the "fight or flight" mode your body will naturally try to keep the baby in until you feel more secure. This may have a lot to do with your long labors. If there was nothing physically inhibiting the birth (like bad positioning of baby), then I would seriously consider this and try to come to terms with these fears during your current pregnancy. I have found that educating myself on ALL aspects of labor and birth have helped to overcome the fears I had. There are many wonderful books that I would recommend. Also attending a childbirth class would be a great asset. If you can find a Birthworks class or a Birthing from Within class in your area I would highly recommend them.. Both of these classes deal a lot with the emotional aspects of childbirth, something that most other classes don't cover. Many instructors are more than willing to offer a reduced price based on need. You just have to ask.

As far as never having "timeable" contractions...I think this is more common than we are led to believe. It's very frustrating and disconcerting when you are in labor and expecting to have these textbook contractions and it doesnt' happen. My contractions with my daughter never became regular either. But they were strong and intense and very effective b/c she was born very quickly.

You really should discuss these issues with your current midwife, especially the third stage of labor (placenta delivery). See what her views are on the management of the third stage and let that be your guide on whether or not to find a new midwife. It is completely possible that your childbirth difficulties can be attributed to poor (or too much) management by your former midwives. I believe that a woman is best left alone to labor and birth with out someone instructing her on what to do and when. Your body knows instinctually what to do and will take over if given the opportunity. The problem is that many women are not given that opportunity and end up with problems because the attendant (midwife or doctor) tries to control what is a natural process.

I wish you the best!

Carmen

[DaiseyMama]

Gosh, such thorough information! Thank you.

Yes, This time I have been reading about birthing so much more, and my current midwife (different from the first two) had actually already mentioned the pulling on the placenta thing. She says she is in the let it get done naturally category. I just didn't realize at the time she was chatting about it...how extremely important that was. While I apreciated her discussion of doing things naturally...I jsut wasn't putting all my emphasis on it. It was something I'd kinda shrugged off. I just didn't know. I am fortunate in that, now, I'm finding out just how different this midwife is from my first two. So many of the things I keep seeing discussed here are things she's chatted with me about. Praise the Lord.

I've had the privildege of knowing her through delivering my best friend's two births (last two of five)...and I know her to be a "let things happen Naturally" type of midwife. I guess I just wasn't understanding or valuing the greatness of this. I thought it all had to do more with things like herbs and diet and excercise. Learning so much here!

Just out of curiosity...if you don't have to go to much trouble....can you give us a "reading list" of books you recommend for preparing for birth. The classes sound good , too. I'll look and see about it. Would they think it's funny to see a woman start a class in her last month and a half of a pregnancy??? LOL

Thank you thank you for your helpfulness. It's so nice to have a place to come to and learn so much...

-Daisey

[Joy2BMommy]

Wanted to also add that chlorella is supposed to be a great help with blood count, iron and bleeding during labor. If I remember right, you're already taking this, did you take it with your other pregnancies? If not that may be a help.

Also, I'm a big believer in Red Raspberry Leaf tea for helping to tone the uterus. I noticed a big difference in my labors once I began using it compared to the ones without. I started using it again recently because I had a very heavy menstual flow. I drank a cup every day in between my last two cycles. My blood flow was half of what it had been the month before (I know because I used the Diva cup and actually measured it). During pregnancy, I drink a cup when I think about it during the first trimester, try to drink a cup daily during the second and then towards the last month or so I try to remember to drink it twice/day. It may be worth checking in to!

I do believe that there's something to they whole birth fear cycle thing. I've heard "Childbirth without Fear" is an excellent read - it may help you. I haven't read it as I had the other material already - but it might be helpful to try to read is as well.

HTH,
Debbi

[DaiseyMama]

Yes, Yes!!! I AM taking the Chlorella....thansk for the BOOST about that. I really get to forgetting the multitude of things it benefits.

And also, thanks for the boost about the RRL tea. I have been slacking this last two weeks on that....but I've had a bout a cup or so and some caps of it everyday throughout this pregnancy. No I didn't take it in my last two. So, it's an exciting prospect that this might make a big difference. I will drink some tonight, NOW...since you've got me excited about it again...LOL...and keep being diligent with it in these last 13 or so weeks. Time is counting down!!!

I am "doing my reading". ;D One of my biggest challenges with it is just to make myself sit down and read!!!

Thanks so much....I love these chats.....!

-Daisey

[Carmen]

Kristin, I'm so sorry I didn't get back to you. Some how I missed your question about books.

Since we are in the process of moving right now I can't go to my bookshelf and name off all my favorites, but I'll do the best I can from memory...

The Birth Book by William and Martha Sears

Natural Childbirth the Bradley way by Susan Hutchinson(?) --even if you're not planning a "bradley birth" this is a GREAT resource for birth related questions. Very detailed descriptions of all the processes going on in labor.

Anything by the author Henci Goer. She is a tireless researcher and has written many great books on childbirth.

Also anything by Sheila Kitzinger. She has one particular book called Homebirth (I think) that I found to be a good resource in preparing for my homebirth.

Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin

These are my personal favorites. There are many other good ones that I can't think of right now off the top of my head. I'll let you know if they come to mind.

[DaiseyMama]

Thank you!! It's a big job to move!! I hope all your moving goes extremely smooth! Midwife says I'm measuring 33 weeks instead of 30. So MAYBE i'll go a little early. Not Banking on it...just a bit of hope there. LOL

[stackeyha]

33 cm at 30 weeks...don't count on early...but you may be having a bigger baby ;D

With both Sarah and Becky I measured big...Sarah I was 4 cm over at delivery at 40 weeks...Becky I was 8 cm over at deliver at 38 weeks...they were 9lbs 3 oz and 9lbs 8oz respectively.

But it doesn't necessarily mean that either...sometimes just the position of the baby and the placenta make the fundus seem to stretch to a higher position.

I'm measuring RIGHT ON TARGET!!! I'm praying that means I've got a smaller baby in there...but whatever!!! I'd love to go a little early of course, but I've been having so many contractions the last few days that I'm REALLY hoping not to go too early...if you know what I mean. Well I'm 35 weeks today...so 2 to go to be considered term...not too long.

[mythreedaughters]

I will tell briefly about my story before reading the other posts.

I have five children, the first was induced because of blood pressure and I bled quite a lot. The second just gas and bled, but not as much blood, maybe because of my history? Lots of clots.

The third, same story, not a very long labour. Not so much blood and clots etc. they may have managed it.

Fourth and fifth babies, nothing, same kind of labours. It was great to shower without the drip.