Doulas, how do you handle marathon births? - Page 2

[momto9kidlets]

Originally Posted by Lobeebee 

These tips are awesome -- I *am* wondering how you accomplish no 6? It seems impossible to me! After almost every birth, afterward I'm all sore. I usually end up in all kind of funky positions. What about when they are in the tub, especially? (and need hip squeezes?) Or on all 4s?  If they are laboring instinctively I find they get in funky positions?   The best I hope for usually is the woman has a willing and strong partner to help me with the back labor/support.

You have the dad do it :o)  I completely agree - I always try to save my body, and I also will not start something that I know I cannot sustain.  For example, I do not do the double hip squeeze.  I know my hands and wrists cannot take it so I won't do it. I will show the birth partner and if there isn't one there then I use something else.  

[kcparker]

You can use a rebozo for hip squeezes if mom sits in a chair and has it wrapped behind/around her hips - you can cross the ends and pull so your left hand pulls the side coming from her left, your right pulls the side coming from her right. You can also press one side while dad presses the other if she's on hand and knees, or switch frequently with the dad. Also, if mom is in the tub, have dad get in with her.

[Lobeebee]

 I should look into a  rebozo for sure.

I feel bad not doing the pressure a lot b/c it seems to make such a  diff. for so many of them, however when I think about it and read your suggestions/own ways of handling this  -- I do need to figure out a  way to offer relief without killing my body. I do encourage them to get into other positions but sometimes it's just like yeah right and I'm stuck with "PRESSURE PLEASE!!" with mama in some position that's difficult on me (like some dinky little tub or shower stall or low *something* or other --even the bed is often awkward --unless it's at a hospital, for which I am grateful for their adjustable beds).  I should learn ways to verbally encourage positions in such a way I don't feel I am interfering with mama's instincts.

. I also think I do need to start a consistent strength workout, especially upper body!  Thanks for these reminders re preserving the body. Maybe I will try to get in little "back pressure tutorials" for mama's other support people, before the birth...so often it seems like the lady's partner is *not* too effective at hip squeezes (or even simple pressure, like "no honey too hard!/low/high etc etc!" Then partner ends up comforting mom in some other way and I'm doing the pressure. :/

I  get stuck with it a a lot! I think I *will* start these little tutorials before labors.

[kcparker]

Re: so often it seems like the lady's partner is *not* too effective at hip squeezes (or even simple pressure, like "no honey too hard!/low/high etc etc!"

It's funny how often that happens, even with tutorials. I sort of wonder if women have an instinctive connection with other laboring women that men take longer to click in with. I hardly ever have moms correct what I am doing, but they often tell dad to move his hands, use more or less pressure, or even say, "Just let HER do it!" I am still puzzling over why that seems to be the case.

[noahs.mom06]

Originally Posted by kcparker 

Re: so often it seems like the lady's partner is *not* too effective at hip squeezes (or even simple pressure, like "no honey too hard!/low/high etc etc!"

It's funny how often that happens, even with tutorials. I sort of wonder if women have an instinctive connection with other laboring women that men take longer to click in with. I hardly ever have moms correct what I am doing, but they often tell dad to move his hands, use more or less pressure, or even say, "Just let HER do it!" I am still puzzling over why that seems to be the case.

That was me- I needed a constant double hip squeeze when I was laboring with my daughter, and the nurse showed DH *exactly* how to do it, and he just couldn't do it like she did!

I have found that I can even put the dad's hands right where mine go, and push on his hands like I'd be pushing if I was doing it, and it still doesn't work. I don't know why it is either, but since it happened to me, it's at least a little easier to understand...