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Expectant and Postpartum Moms
DOULA FOR BIG BABY?
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Anonymous
Your post suggests you didn't try these things. In which case, how could you possibly know? |
Anonymous
| For the record, the sonogram based estimate for my db was 10lb 5oz. Db was 8lbs 7oz. Delivered vaginally. |
Anonymous
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I am feeling bad for OP here - she needs doula recommendations. And a doula is a good idea at any rate.
I don't have any, or I would leave her a name. Anyone else? |
Anonymous
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I don't think that doula and epidural are mutually exclusive. I did a little bit of research on doulas and most at least claim to be supportive of whatever type of labor their client desires, including epidural/other pain management. I decided not to hire one, and ended up regretting that decision. My baby was malpositioned, and I ended up with a c-section, and sometimes I wonder whether having a doula would've resulted in a different outcome (I pushed for 2 hours, and it was obvious that she was stuck, yet neither the dr nor the nurses even thought about having me change positions).
Also, in regards to baby measurement - I was told I'd be having an 8+ pounder based on a late ultrasound, she ended up being 6 pounds, 14 ounces when born. Good luck! |
Anonymous
DONA is one of the most well-known certifying agencies for doulas. I used a DONA doula for my delivery (not in this area) so I would recommend that the OP check out www.dona.org. You can search for a doula nearby. Good luck! |
Anonymous
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Sarag Sragg is wonderful. She's a great doula and not new agey or too granola if that matters. My high risk MFM actually recommended her to me. Contact info Silver Spring, MD 20901 phone: (301) 681-6436
I think most women can give birth naturally to a big baby with the right support system. Totally agree that being mobile, and not laying in bed flat when you push makes a huge difference. Make sure that you ob and the obs in your practice (someone else may deliver you) will now object to you delivering in one of these positions. Some ob/gyns want their patients flat on their backs for easier access..doctor's ease not patient's or baby. I think problems occur when the baby is truly big..head and the mom gets an epidural which forces her to stay in bed and on her back. Ob/gyns see that most something like 90% of women giving birth in the hospital get an epidural. C-sections are much easier to do for the doctor and staff, more $$, and less risk from a legal standpoint. Now the reasons for the epidurals being so high is probably a combination of women wanting pain relief and women being pressured by hospital or doctor policy to stay in bed, do continuous monitoring, pitocin too early, and simply do not get support. I have absolutely no issue with women wanting an elective c-section or even induction, as long as they are at term not just 37 weeks. Its your right and choice, IMO. Its sad though that many women are not properly informed about inductions and c-sections. Its sad that some even many doctors do pressure women in these directions. The infamous ultrasound showing a big baby or failure to progress because you aren't dilating one cm an hour..which is not how it works anyway are the most abused reasons. But hey its not like they can chart ...doctor had dinner plans or didn't want to come back at 3 am for the c-section reason. Someone should pull data comparing how many c-sections for FTP occurred during the days hours especially late afternoon rather than the night and early before morning shofts occurred. It would be interesting to see the comparison of case severity leading to the c-section. |
Anonymous
You're right. I don't have a doula recommendation but I can recommend that in addition to a doula the OP see a chiropractor that specializes in prenatal care. They can make sure your hips are level and ready to open. I go to Dr. Sean Woods in Alexandria and recommend him but there are others if you search these lists. |
Anonymous
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OP - I would also recommend Ruth Carol at Belly Birth Services.
If neither doula is available, ask that they put your request up on the dona listserve to have any available doulas call you. Good luck! |
Anonymous
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I want to add that I think regardless of what type of birth you want, a doula will be good. I ended up in a c-section as my baby wouldn't budge after pushing for 2 hours. I met with my "doula" who will be helping when #2 comes and asked her how she would have handled this. She said there were other positions i could have probably tried. Basically, when i was in labor the nurse was pretty much filling out the c-section paperwork and not even suggesting any other ways of getting the baby to descend better. Makes me think my first c-section was unnecessary.
Anyway, my son was 9lbs 3 ounces when he was born. I don't think his size had anything to do with why he was born via c-section and not vaginally. I'm planning on a VBAC for #2 with a different care provider...I'm also seeing a chiropractor this time around to make sure my body is aligned the best it can be for the baby to be born. In regards to sonogram measurements - my sister was told her baby would be over 9 pounds at birth. Turned out her baby was only 6 pounds, 6 ounces... |
Anonymous
I'm not the PP but I had a big baby (nearly 10 pounds) and I did try all of those things -- for 3 days -- and hired a doula, took a natural birthing class, had a doctor who was very supportive of natural birth, read all the books, and I still ended up with an emergency C section. My advice to the OP is to do everything you can to have the birth that you want, but be prepared that not every birth is going to go as the mother would like. Try not to feel badly if you end up with more medical intervention than you want. I had a lot of guilt over how the birth turned out, but it helped me to remember that my birthing instructor admitted that she thinks about 20% of all births will need some sort of medical intervention (80% won't). In the end, I'm really glad I tried my best to have an unmedicated birth, and I'm really glad that I made the decision to have the necessary medical interventions because I happened to fall into that 20% that needed help. The funny thing is that it wasn't the baby's size that caused trouble, it was the position (granted because of the big size there was less wiggle room to help get into a better position). We're all here and healthy, and that's what matters most. I'd pass along my doula's contact info but I didn't give birth in the DC area. dona.org is a great place to search for doulas. You may also want to ask a birthing instructor for recommendations. |
Anonymous
| Heather Wilson is fabulous!! www heatherwilsondoula dot com |
Anonymous
Oh my god, please tell me you're not judging another woman for the way she gave birth. What a psycho you are. |
Anonymous
NP here. I didn't read it that way. I read it as her asking that poster not to overlay her experience and assumptions about it onto another woman's possibilities. |
Anonymous
Or a c-section. I had two. LOVED THEM. |
Anonymous
That was exactly what I meant by my post. The OP was asking for doula recommendations and a poster, who has no experience with doulas, squatting, etc., tells her none of it would help. And to the poster who had a c-section with a 10-pounder, I didn't mean to suggest these things are the answers for all births. But neither is an epidural or a c-section. And to tell a woman she can't birth the way she wants because you don't think you can, is crazy. |