Mama Lions........

Today I was reminded that we women all have a "Mama Lion" in us. And "she" emerges as our precious little babe is first placed in our arms. Instinctively, we become the protector....and Daddy the Great Protector.....the strong "Papa Lion".

God has blessed us with our child and also, along with that blessing comes the ever-present responsibility of being the guardian, the watcher-over, the "Mama Lion". As our birthing mom said today, "As soon as my first little baby was placed in my arms, I remember thinking.....I could kill with my bare hands to protect her......". And we would. Or die trying.

Love, it's a great thing. Enormous Mama Love. Mama Lions proclaim! "This is my child, I will protect what God has so graciously given me....." For now.......Janet

Cesarean Sections......

This week we have had some trying times.......and have had two necessary c-sections. Really. With all the hype about the high rate of c-sections in our country, I must say that when you have a mom (or two) who really need to have that intervention to allow for the birth (safely, I might add) of their baby, you become grateful for a skilled surgeon, and a great anesthesiologist!

We were waiting for both of these first time moms to go into labor! Day after day, we all waited... we knew that there would be "the day" when either we would have to start the process or the baby would start the process. But it seemed for these moms endless waiting was in their future! We kept a close eye <;> on these babes and waited. they both were about 42 weeks.....yikes and no closer to birthing than when they were 38wks! Well, eventually both moms went into labor, ( one with a little help from us...) and neither were destined to birth from "below".

Our first mom labored so well at the birth center....she swayed, rocked her hips, breathed and did a great job....her baby just would not "come down" well enough to push hard on that cervix to dilate it fully. And she got tired.....it's hard work that labor business. So off we went to Kingwood hospital for some needed pain relief and to try alittle more power with Pitocin....we were really

committed to helping her get a vaginal birth. But after many hours it was evident that this little babe was not positioned right, she persisted and stayed "OP" and off to the OR mom went. Her prise came in the gift of a 7# 15 oz baby girl! Mom and baby are great and mom said to me "I would do it 10 times over to have this precious girl!" No bad outcome in my book.

Our other mom tried her best too, needed the power of pitocin to accomplish bringing down her baby and laboring that cervix open. However, after over 3 hours of hard pushing.....no baby, no descent, no birth. One thing I will never do is "force" a baby out that is trying to tell us "No can do"... you might get the head out, but where's the rest of the body....Shoulder dystocia is not a thing to laugh at.......Well, off to the OR we went and out came a strapping healthy screaming bulldog of a baby boy! 9#10 oz !!!! Mom and baby are doing well!!

So, yes sometimes c-sections are necessary, and they are not the evil worse thing in the world. I always say that as a midwife you have to "listen to your baby". They may not speak words that we can hear, but from their comfy, warm little space inside your belly they do and can communicate. You just have to be open to listening.....

So, for Polly and I this was our week of c-sections. But one thing we experienced, was the way the system worked for us all. Having privileges at the hospital helped everyone. We could be in "charge" of our moms and the transition from the birth center to the Labor unit was smooth and easy, with a bed waiting for our moms. And we get to see that we are not "in charge". sometimes fate and a higher plan is in order. We just have to try our very best, stay focused and maintain the highest of clinincal standards and always, I mean always keep our eyes on the "True North"........safety above all else and healthy mom, healthy baby, and beyond that there are no "Bad Outcomes". When mom is holding her precious little one, then we know we have done well and our job is done.

For now......Janet

Help, just when you need it.....

Have you ever had things happen that seem so perfect and really needed at the time? This week was an exceptionally hard week for Polly and I .....we love what we do but the trials of owning your own "new" business are really stressful and there are many times when I think, wow, Janet, how old will you be by the time the business is "successful"-translation- when we relax a bit and know the families are coming and we don't have to worry about it so.

Well, on Wed. am, we got an interesting proposal which may help the business this next year and behold, at lunchtime, a colleague and fellow birth center owner just happened to stop by.....exactly what we needed! She grabbed a chair and part of our lunch and proceeded to bring light to our rather dark week!

First, this person, I'll call her Kathy, was a true breath of fresh air and perspective! Tell it like it is, Kathy! It was good for me to see that a smart, funny, hardworking woman at 63 can keep the fire in the belly and keep helping women push their babies out! (I am only 54.....so,....I've got some great years ahead of me!) Plus it so was nice to witness her great attitude....

You know, it's just like pregnancy and preparing for your birth....most midwives have an emotionally, as well as physically, demanding job ( ever bent over our tub...? Yikes, my back!) We must be good to ourselves and make sure we work on our stamina and our emotional health...cause we can't help you if we don't help ourselves first.

I love flowers, they make me happy....I took these flower shots many years ago when I was chilling at a beautiful hotel in Arizona.....I added a shot of the hotel too....Someday I will go back....they had the best restaurant......yummy delicious food and wine.

For now, Janet