The smell of birth......??? - Page 2

[YesandNo]

My dh commented on the smell, but he just said it was interesting and different. He didn't think it was bad.

Mine too. Then again, he mentioned it the NIGHT OF the birth and it would have been pretty tactless to complain about the smell at that point.

I had my parents and his parents in the birthing room about an hour after the delivery ....... even if there wasn't a specific "birth" smell, there were a whole lot of bloody cloths in that room. The thought crossed my mind that my guests probably noticed at least a tinge of odor. Probably a whole lot more than a tinge. But of course they didn't say anything.

To the OP: I wouldn't worry about photo-friendliness, just record the real experience you all are having, it'll be fine. Later you can laugh about it as a family.

[Jane]

Although I made the suggestion about Vick's under the nose - I don't think birth smells bad. Sometimes earthy, but not bad. But it's not uncommon to feel a little woozy or shaky from the adreneline near the time of the birth - if someone was sensitive to smells, it could get all wrapped up as a smell thing, IMO.

I have smelled one bad placenta - the mother had an infection. It smelled like the paper under a steak from the grocery store - all lactic acid-y and sour.

[seaheroine]

I remember really liking the smell...my baby was so warm and wet and just had this...aura...of warm, wet, scent. It was wonderful!

[gabysmom617]

Originally Posted by AlpineMama

Way TMI info here but perhaps is related... Sometimes I can tell when DH is about to have an orgasm because the taste of his mouth changes. Is that pheromones too?

I wanted to say something about that, but I was too to. Yeah, me too. There is a pungent "male" scent right before and after....

Originally Posted by seaheroine

I remember really liking the smell...my baby was so warm and wet and just had this...aura...of warm, wet, scent. It was wonderful!

Yes, I remember what the top of my baby's head smelt like before he got his first bath. Very mild/almost not there and sweet. But I think the smell of the actually birth process is different, from what I gather reading here, at least for some people...

[paquerette]

Can you open your windows? Maybe run a fan blowing out the window?

How about a little incense or EO burner, as long as it doesn't offend YOUR nose?

[balancedmama]

I notice birth smells a little - but more so if I haven't been in the birthing room the whole time and then I come in at the end, if that makes sense. Some births are more, err...fragrant than others. Usually a good EO like lavender or TTO work to help refresh the air IF the mama is okay with it. I second the option of having your DH put a scented oil right under his nose.

[CarolynnMarilynn]

And probably way too much info but on the same side of things, my own smell, particularly that of cervical secretions, smells awesome. Just fresh and clean, and earthy. I'm a bit weird though, because I think tangy underarms (women's) smell good too. And my kids' sweaty heads all smell different and unique. And then there is the smell of kid neck....mmmmm. And baby feet....

As a midwife I like the smell of birth: amniotic fluid, that odour of a birthing woman, the smell of a bit of blood (but that one makes my mind race a little when I smell it). Poop is poop, but vomit is really yucky for me. And the smell of earrings really gacks me out, too.

I love women, love being a woman, like being in service of women, like hanging out with women, so maybe women's smells just are comforting to me, in all their variety?

Ok - it's official. I've made myself look weird.

[Brown Lioness]

Wow, i must admit this makes me nervous as im a super smeller, but im supposing i won't care since i'll be the one in the "throws of labor".

I guess make a note to burn some incense (if mama can stand it).

[hanno]

Originally Posted by CarolynnMarilynn

Ok - it's official. I've made myself look weird.

You've made yourself sound like a really loving, lovely lady

[hillklinz]

well for me its my blood type. my mom is a OB nurse herself, and she told me that anytime she helps anyone with my same blood type it has the same "old blood" smell to it. so it wasnt so much my water breaking as it was the blood that evenutally came out, i felt bad for my husband cuz i'll admit i dont like the smell myself either and its my blood!

[hanno]

Originally Posted by hillklinz

well for me its my blood type. my mom is a OB nurse herself, and she told me that anytime she helps anyone with my same blood type it has the same "old blood" smell to it. so it wasnt so much my water breaking as it was the blood that evenutally came out, i felt bad for my husband cuz i'll admit i dont like the smell myself either and its my blood!

which type is that?

[MissyLissa]

I've also noticed in my work as a doula that laboring women have a distinct smell to their breath too. It gets stronger the closer to birth they get and it seems to be even stronger in the women who have had long labors. It's sort of like the breath you get when you haven't eaten in a while but it's different, I guess more earthy smelling than "bad breath" smell. I didn't notice my own birth smell when I had DS but DH said he smelled it for like a week! lol

[gabysmom617]

This thread is facinating to me.

Certain blood types smell different?

I still don't get the smell of blood. I don't. I've never smelt blood before, so that smell escapes me.

I know what having a period smells like.

But I DO love to smell my boy, he's 3 now... I've always liked to smell his feet, especially when he was little. : I guess that will change one day...but it hasn't changed yet.

[Belle]

Most of the time birth doesn't smell that bad. I have been to one birth as a doula that the amniotic fluid smelled very pungent. Most of the time its not that strong.

[chaoticzenmom]

My husband said that there was a smell at our waterbirth. I had a rag with lavendar essential oil on it that I would smell at the beginning of a contraction, so I didn't smell it. Apparently, the smell told the midwives that I was dehydrated (bad breath) and they kept giving me water. My husband also said that my body started to smell sweaty. All of this in a big tub of water. My other births, in hospital with epidural, etc. Didn't have the same smells. I guess I just worked harder during the last one.

Lisa

[*jeanine*]

Originally Posted by Brown Lioness

Wow, i must admit this makes me nervous as im a super smeller, but im supposing i won't care since i'll be the one in the "throws of labor".

i didn't smell the bad smell of dd1's birth. i didn't even know it was stinky until after dd2's non-stinky birth. dh didn't tell me dd1 stunk and he was scared about dd2's birth until *after* dd2 was born and it didn't stink. smart man.

[mommy777]

This is all so interesting. I never noticed a smell (I have only been at one birth)

[sweeetpea]

I definitely notice the birth smell. At one labor, I mentioned that the mama was probably getting close to pushing, and the nurse in the room said "yeah, she's got that smell". (I love that particular nurse, BTW, most of them would have looked at me cross-eyed).

One time, I was waiting at the school bus stop for my kids' bus, and talking with a very pregnant mom. I smelled "birth" surrounding her, and mentioned that I thought she'd go into labor soon. Turns out she was having light contractions at that moment, but didn't want to mention it. Had the baby that night.

[Synchro246]

Birth scent is so interesting. I like it.

If a woman eats asparagas before birth the amniotic fluid will often have that scent. I've smelled pizza amniotic fluid too. Weird stuff. The amniotic fluid is only one aspect of the smell though.

[mytwogirls]

Originally Posted by seaheroine

I remember really liking the smell...my baby was so warm and wet and just had this...aura...of warm, wet, scent. It was wonderful!

Mmmmm....yeah...I LOVE that smell!!!!!