In order to be a well rounded individual I need to let off steam after each exciting thing that happens, a debrief if you like. And something extremely exciting has happened.
I met a lovely lady we will call Lilly and her husband called Tiger. They were expecting baby number four and it was set to be fairly straight forward, the other three were pretty simple.
I got a phone call from Lilly late thursday saying that she had gone into the hospital for a routine scan (she was 41 weeks) and they discovered she had very low level of waters and so was being kept in for monitoring. I didn't know if I should stay home or if I should go and be with her, but as it was her mum was with the other three kids and Tiger was with her until the end of visiting time. The next day I went to join the two of them.
After two inductions of labour my wonderful lady started having established proper contractions but due to being induced she had to be on the monitor for about an hour. When the midwife took it off and Lilly could move about she was much happier. At around 9pm I told Lilly I was going to have a bit of a break while she had her waters broken. She was in established labour by this point and I kind of felt a bit like a spare part because Tiger was so in tune with her needs. I guess a Doulas role involves realising when she is not needed.
So, I went downstairs and had something to eat. When I got back up there an hour or so later Lilly and Tiger had a fantastic baby boy, she had had a natural third stage (as apposed to managed) and started breast feeding beautifully.
I am so glad I wasn't there, Tiger and Lilly are a very strong couple and having this baby, even though it was number four, has made them so much closer. I think even if I was an experienced doula I would have still left when I did, perhaps before.
On the whole, I feel it was a very positive experience!
xxx over and out xxx
