Tag Archives: birth

Home birth story of my little Rosebud

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What took me so long to write the birth story of Rosebud? Frankly I wasn’t quite sure how to approach it. If you all know me by now, you’d know I love to insert learning points in my writings. I imagine that if I were to write the story properly, it would turn out to be a 10 page article and risk boring you all to death, lol!

Here is the (hopefully) brief version:
(Some other things happened before this, like how I walked for 3 hours at Giant Supermarket the day before and later had the ‘show’ etc, but I shall cut to the chase and get to the point):

3am of that Sat, 22 June: Woken up by a ‘familiar’ sensation – a mild energy surge that vibrated through the whole body.

3.30am: Woke Mr DH up and told him this may be it, but still not quite sure. Sensations were very mild and random. It could still take days, I thought. Alerted Amelie (my midwife) anyway but told her not to come yet. Went back to bed to try and sleep it out. The surges of energy continued to come in irregular waves.

5am: The surges didn’t dissipate with rest, in fact I could feel ‘more’ of it (stronger, longer and more frequent) so decided to let Amelie know that she should probably come soon.

I was off the bed at this point. Mr DH moved the sleeping Abang H up from the mattress to our bed as I needed as much floor space as I could have. I moved everywhere in the room. I leaned standing on the edge of my dresser, leaned sitting on the edge of my bed, went on all 4s on propped pillows on the floor, leaned against Mr DH etc. I was also very aware of my deep and long breathings which relaxed me a lot (thanks to all the breathing practice sessions I did, Alhamdulillah). Intermittently, I visited the loo every once in a while as I felt this tremendous pressure akin to wanting to do a bowel movement – but it was not. Mostly I just sat on the toilet bowl for comfort.

5.40am: Amelie reached my house and brought her birth stool which I was initially confident I wouldn’t need. With Abang H’s labour, I was contented just being on my hands and knees; but with Rosebud, the feeling was all pelvic floor pressure. I couldn’t even sit on the birth ball as the pressure was too much. So the birth stool with the hole was just perfect!

6am: Even though the surges began to get closer and more frequent, the intensity was still pretty low. At one point, I remember thinking “Oh dear, at this rate, I’m going to make everybody wait the whole day!” My mum came in the room to ask me if everything was okay at one point and I confidently replied that it will still be some time (“Lama lagi, Mak”). My sister asked me if I wanted her to take pictures, but I shook my head confident that there was nothing interesting to capture at that point, lol! (Yes, am regretting that decision very much now ;p)

For all this while, my wonderful midwife provided amazing support simply by just watching over us from the sideline. She respectfully left Mr DH and me alone (my choice) while giving us the energy and confidence without having to say so much. Mr DH is deeply grateful for her confidence boosters which empowered him so. He was a superb birth partner!! Even though he had zero experience having missed Abang H’s birth, he was a natural. He knew where to massage, what to say and what to support and constantly reminded me to zikir. He was always there at the right time and the right place.

7.45am: That feeling of wanting to clear ‘something’ out came more intensely. I told Mr DH and Amelie that I would be more comfortable sitting on the toilet bowl for a while. Amelie said go ahead. Again, nothing came out of course, but the feeling suddenly got more and more intense, taking my breath away.

8am – 8.12am: A period of primal intensity which I would never forget. Time warped at that point. A second felt like an hour. I was so inwardly focused I could remember every bit of what happened within me but not around me. I remember clinging on to Mr DH for life and gripping his shoulders (we were both standing). He told me I could do it. I sensed his confidence, and could feel the energy that passed through me passed through him too. At that moment, I let go (Bismillahi tawakkaltu ‘alaAllah), and let my instincts take over. I breathed Rosebud down in about 3 big (and loud) breaths. I remember simultaneously thinking “I could really feel her slide downwards with every breath!” Then I somehow ended sitting on the birth stool which Amelie had brought into the toilet (did not consciously do this – time/space warp! Lol) while pausing (as noted by Amelie) my breath as Rosebud’s head crowned (again, this is an instinctive reflex to minimize perineal trauma, so I did not have a tear but just a graze). She came so quickly after that, before I could gather myself to catch her. She slid pass the birth stool into Amelie’s hands and was immediately placed on me. It was most surreal!

(Waterbag broke a few moments before the head crowned. Mr DH was surprised that there was very little blood involved throughout)

After 8.12am: This deserves another long entry on its own really. In short, Amelie helped me to transfer myself to the mattress and I birthed the placenta about half an hour after that (8.50am). Rosebud’s cord was left unclamped for a good hour to let all the nutrients get to her. Amelie checked me for tears and retained membranes, then checked Rosebud, weighed her and made sure that her reflexes were in order. Alhamdulillah, everything was. Amelie left several hours later after feeling assured that both baby and I were doing well (upon Amelie’s advice, we brought Rosebud to have a proper check up with the peadiatrician only 2 days later, but that’s another lovely story I shall save for another day).

Oh, did I mention that Abang H slept throughout the whole experience and woke up to a happy Ibu cradling his new baby sister? As much as I had wanted him to share the experience, I was also glad that he missed it while still being near to us (same room). Amelie said that nature always has an explanation for when things happen, and I couldn’t agree more. Verily, Allah is indeed the Best of Planners!

So there you go, the not-so-brief version of Rosebud’s birth story. I’ve said so much, yet explained so little, really. I will continue to write learning points of my birth story to share, so keep reading this page! Meanwhile, here is a picture of my fantastic birth stool (picture courtesy of midwife Amelie – I totally forgot to take this photo when it was at home!)

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Unlearning some common beliefs about birth

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A traditional midwife uses a fetoscope to listen to the baby’s heartbeat
Pic courtesy of http://www.mcc.org

“Kenapa nak kena belajar dan ambil tahu tentang proses bersalin ni? Kan ni perkara fitrah, nenek moyang kita semua pun boleh buat…”

(Why do we need to learn and prepare about birth? Birth is natural and our ancestors could do it…)

Alhamdulillah if you have that thought in your mind! Positively it means that your mind is 50% prepped for birth, that you understand that this process is natural, and you are prepared to embrace what comes with it~!

However, understand that there is a lot of difference between the way our ancestors birthed and the ‘norm’ it is now… It was normal to birth at home then. It is not the norm now. It was normal to not have checks throughout pregnancy. It is not the norm now. It was normal to not be seen by the doctor. It is not the norm now. It was normal to receive your baby yourself (while the husband goes to look for a midwife). It is almost unthinkable now.

Point is, if a mother would like to have a natural and uninterrupted birth now, it would be more achievable if she learns to *unlearn* some things.

But first, the question: What happened along the way?

We have now been raised to believe that birth is safer in the hands of a trained medical professional (Well yes, for a highly risky pregnancy, but not for a healthy pregnancy, no). That is what we have been taught and now ingrained in our way of life. When it is time to birth, this thought, subconscious or not, will have an effect on our mental state during labour and birth.

Therefore, reading, preparing and studying about birth helps to undo some of those thoughts. Undo some practices and *unlearn* some beliefs.

Among some unlearning that we need to do:

1) Labour contractions are painful and have no purpose (They do have a purpose! To bring the baby down…)
2) Labour shouldn’t be long (A long labour is just a variation of normal)
3) We won’t be able to tolerate the pain (its definitely more painful if you have to lie down yes, but it shouldn’t be that way!)
4) We need to see a doctor to have a safe birth (doctors are trained for surgery. If you have a complication during pregnancy, then it is wise to get it checked by a doctor. If you don’t, then you’re better off seeing a midwife who is really the one who is trained in childbirth).
5) So many more!

Teach ourselves:
1) What every pregnant mum needs: good diet, exercise (lots of mobility during pregnancy), relaxation, good mental health, and have a good knowledge, info and guidance about birth from the right people.
2) Instead of spending on expensive monthly ultrasounds and doctor’s consultation fees, invest in a birth coach (doula), seeing a chiropractor, having a good yoga teacher and attending proper childbirth classes that teaches relaxation and breathing techniques (eg Hypnobirthing or Lamaze).
3) It is safe to birth in places other than the hospital (eg, birthing centre or home), and it is safe (and definitely more comfortable) to birth in another position other than lying down on your back.
4) Understand how birth works –  only then you will realise why contractions has a purpose, why breathing and relaxation techniques are important and why being mobile and upright helps!

A Saturday with Spinning Babies – easier childbirth with fetal positioning

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I had a tough month of March. It was a true test to my work as a doula, but at the same time it was also a gift. Alhamdulillah I am now fully recovered.

Anyway, a couple of weeks ago, I attended a very useful workshop conducted by Gail Tully of Spininngbabies.com fame at Liverpool Women’s Hospital. In our doula community, we rely heavily on her website to help us in our work. Her website helps pregnant mothers deal with a misaligned/disproportioned reproductive system that may be causing pain or discomfort during pregnancy and birth. Pregnancy shouldn’t be uncomfortable and shouldn’t cause pain, numbness or soreness. If it does, then there is a good reason why the body is shouting for help. You will need to do something about it… and quickly too, or else it might have a possible unwanted outcome on how your labour works out later. Ideally, a good labour would mean gradual progress from less intense to more intense in a systematic manner. However, too many times do we hear of labours that stop halfway, or that the intensity doesn’t progress, etc. Her works also include useful positioning/exercises to help mothers have an easier and more comfortable labour/birth with help on how to get stalled labours going or how to help turn babies in a bad position back to a good one (which is what is causing labours to stall or be painful in the first place).


ImageMy main take away from this workshop is that I must understand and accept that mothers in the future will face a lot more challenges in their pregnancy and labour, and it is not their fault. Why is this so? It is due to the way we live our lives now. You’ve all probably heard of the saying “orang dulu-dulu senang je nak beranak” (“our ancestors birthed without problems”), and this is true, but it doesn’t mean that just because they had it easy, we would too. Now, we don’t work on our hands and knees, we seldom sit on the floor anymore, we slouch a lot, we sit in a motor vehicle to get us around, etc. There are so many other examples of how modern technology reduces our mobility and the need to stay upright and balanced (the 3 main recipes for an easier pregnancy and birth). All these habits may displace the optimal foetal positioning that would be ideal for a comfortable pregnancy & birth. Human beings are meant to be upright, mobile and balanced. Not sitting down on an office chair all day, only to go home sitting slouchily on bus or car seat. So what do we need to do? We need to do extra help for ourselves… from the start.. or even before we get pregnant! Thankfully, spinningbabies.com has all sorts of information that will suit everyone.

So the 3 principles of spinningbabies.com are:
1) Balance
2) Gravity
3) Movement

What do we balance? Not only the joints of the pelvis, but also the muscles, fascia and ligaments of the entire reproductive system. If your body is balanced, you should not feel pain/sore/numbness in one side.  Make your daily actions (eg: sitting, walking, using computer, sleeping, washing etc) as balanced as possible. If you tend to use more of your right muscles for instance, now is the time to work those left muscles too.
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Imagine an egg balanced on two elastic bands as in this picture. That egg is your uterus and the two elastic bands are your uterine muscles. Gail says in her website: “Sometimes the uterine ligaments are not equal on each side of the body. If one side has shortened ligaments the entire lower uterine segment can have a twist in it. This effect is not uncommon among women who twist to do their work (massage therapists, nurses, chiropractors, etc.) or who hold a child on one hip frequently. A twist in the cervical ligaments can put the lower uterine segment into a slight twist which reduces the room for the baby to have a good head-down position. The baby may remain breech, posterior, or come down asynclitic.”

Activities to help increase balance: Rebozo technique and the Forward-leaning inversion

When we have balance, having gravity and movement will now greatly help in foetal positioning or for labour progress. Gail mentions that exercises like yoga, walking, swimming, stretches, dancing, pelvic tilts will only work better after doing the balancing activities mentioned above.

If you are a pregnant mum or hoping to get pregnant in the future, I really urge you to have a look at the superb website spinningbabies.com. It will give you an insight on how babies spin/rotate and the mechanisms that take place in doing so. MasyaAllah how grand is Allah’s design!

Gail Tully also provides useful tips on how to help a breech baby turn head down, how to engage baby in labour, and lots more! It is so amazing what she has done all these years to help mothers have an easier pregnancy and birth. Alhamdulillah I am so blessed to have met her!

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Gail Tully & Doula Hanani


If you have any questions to ask me about this workshop, you can send me a message over at my Yaqyn Birth page. 🙂

Can doulas work remotely?

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If you hadn’t known yet, I am not living in Singapore at the moment. From Sept this year, to Sept next year (2012), I will be in a lovely place known as Leeds in the UK. DH is pursuing his studies at the Uni. of Leeds and brought me and DS along. 😀

Settling down had been easy, Alhamdulillah, thanks to our previous experience in Aus and NZ. This time round we’re wiser; we didn’t bring the whole house with us. I’ve made a lot of lovely friends, mostly Malaysian postgrads also from the university, and they have been very kind in helping us get the hang of things in Leeds.

Work-wise: my doula work from Singapore came with me to the UK and I’m very happy to announce that not one, not two, not three, but *four* of my mothers had a great birth experience with me as their ‘remote doula’. Watsapp is an amazing invention! Now, I had actually recommended them to get a different doula who can support them in Sg, but they reported that they had more confidence in me even though I’ll be far away. Alhamdulillah! *big smile* (I don’t recommend this though, for a guaranteed better experience, it is recommended that you get a doula in your country who can come to you and give you back massages and see you face to face, etc).

I told my mothers that “for every inch of confidence that you have in me, you must place the same amount of confidence in your birthing body and allow your baby to birth with zero or minimal medical intervention”. They listened and laboured in the comforts of their home with their DHs till the very last moments and spent just a short time in the hospital before they birthed! One first time mother was even ready to push as soon as she reached the hospital doors! SubhanaAllah, when they later told me their birth stories, I couldn’t help feeling their joy and almost feeling like I was there with them. But no, all the hard work and 100% credits go to the mother and her DH, for she had faith and confidence, and trusted her body to give birth exactly as she willed. All I did was to add that extra push of confidence to empower her. And Alhamdulillah, job done!

So you see, you *can* overcome your labour contractions at home yourself (or with DH) if you would learn to trust that Allah has designed your body for this amazing thing called childbirth. If you have had a healthy pregnancy, there is no need to panic when labour starts… you will be prepared… *breathe deep*…. and you will know how to take them in stride… *move your hips*… one contractions at a time… *visualise your baby coming down the birth canal*… and before you know it, your baby will be in your hands!

I’ve started a facebook page because I like to post links from other gentle birth sites, so please click ‘like’ and join me there. At the same time, I will also try to post updates here from time to time.

So what do you think? Can a remote doula work as effectively as a personal doula who comes to you? My honest opinion is she can’t, a ‘live’ doula can do so much more, ie: give you massages, give your DH a break, remind you to hydrate yourself, remind you to breathe, relax, loosen, to drink, to pee, etc. But if all you need is a little ‘push’ or confidence booster via watsapp, then I’ll always be here to help!

Warmly,
The Sg doula in UK

What Is A Doula and What Do Doulas Do?

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(article from Bellybelly.com.au. For the original article, click here)

The word ‘doula’ (pronounced ‘doo-la’) is a Greek word meaning ‘woman servant or caregiver’. More recently, it refers to someone who offers emotional and physical support to a woman and her partner before, during and after childbirth. A doula (also known as a birth attendant) believes in ‘mothering the mother’, enabling a woman to have the most satisfying experience that she can, from pregnancy and into motherhood. This type of support allows the whole family to relax and enjoy the experience too.

Despite doulas being fairly unheard of in Australia, they have been actively supporting women for a very long time and are fast growing in popularity, as a result of positive word of mouth and the need for increased support. In fact looking at google statistics recently, searches on the word ‘doula’ are at its highest yet from 2004 to 2011.

Doulas are trained and experienced in childbirth and are usually mothers themselves. They have a good knowledge and awareness of female physiology, but a Doula does not support the mother in a medical role – that is the job of the midwife or doctor. She works on the basis of keeping birth normal and empowering, and should the birth become complicated and require medical assistance, a doula will still remain by your side and help in any way she can. She also does not make decisions for those she supports, but she assists them through the decision making process and provides balanced information so the couple can make their own choices.

Many women consider doulas to be a must for those giving birth in a hospital, due to the modern medicalisation of birth – unnecessary inductions are skyrocketing and 1 in 3 babies are now born by caesarean section (and yes, one of those interventions readily results in the other – its no coincidence). In Australia, some hospitals have caesarean section rates as high as 50% or more. This is a terribly high statistic, well above World Health Organisation recommendations of 10-15% – which makes us amongst the highest in the world. Given the long term emotional and physical effects this can have on the mother, her partner and baby, a doula to me is like an ‘insurance policy’ – which can help protect you from a disempowering experience. With a doula, you know that someone is always on YOUR team, holding the space for you and your family.

A doula works in birth centres, private and public hospitals and at homebirths in conjunction with midwives – but never as the sole carer at birth. Birthing without a midwife or doctor present is known as free-birthing however BellyBelly recommends birth with at a qualified midwife or doctor.

There are two types of doulas, birth doulas and post-natal doulas, with many doulas performing both roles. The difference is that the role of the post-natal doula is to nurture the mother at home after childbirth. This may include further breastfeeding support, light home duties, massage, emotional and physical support for the mother and so on. Post-natal doulas are particularly in demand as support for new mothers has reduced in modern society. Needless to say, studies show that post-natal doulas make a huge impact on the well-being of mothers.

The Promise Of A Doula

1. You cannot hurt my feelings in labour
2. I won’t lie to you in labour
3. I will do everything in my power so you do not suffer
4. I will help you to feel safe
5. I cannot speak for you; but I will make sure that you have a voice and I will make sure you are heard

What Are The Proven Benefits Of A Doula?

A recent review of many studies from around the world have concluded that a doula’s support is more effective than hospital staff, friends or family. You can read the review here.

Studies consistently demonstrate very impressive benefits for the mother, father and baby, including:

  • 50% less caesarean sections
  • Reduction in the use of forceps by 40%
  • 60% less requests for epidurals
  • 40% reduction in the use of synthetic oxytocin for inductions or augmentations
  • 30% reduction in use of pain medication
  • 25% reduction in labour length
  • Increased rates of breastfeeding at 6 weeks post-partum (51% vs 29%)
  • Higher self-esteem (74% vs 59%), less anxiety (28% vs 40%) and less depression (10% vs 23%) at 6 weeks post-partum

These are not misprints! The benefits are significant. Most of the women in the studies were accompanied by male partners, however study results show that women who had the support of a male partner and a doula fared best, for example, the caesarean rate of women supported by both a male partner and a doula was significantly lower (15.4%) than the caesarean rate for women supported only by their partners (24.4%). The studies also clearly show the positive benefits of doula support occur regardless of a woman’s economic status or whether or not they were privately insured. Its simply about having the right support with you at birth.

What About The Woman’s Partner – Does a Doula Replace Them?

According to the studies (and from personal observations in births I have attended) rather than reducing a partner’s participation in the birth process, a doula’s support complements and reinforces their role. Partners feel more enthusiastic and that their contribution to the labour and birth was meaningful and helpful. I often find when partners have a visual on how to support a woman i.e. watching me support her, they feel more confident and relaxing having seen some ideas to try themselves. In the studies, not only did partners report higher levels of satisfaction after the birth, but mothers reported feeling more satisfied with their partners role at birth too.

What Will My Ob/Hospital/Midwife Say If I Have a Doula?

More obstetricians and midwives are becoming aware of the doula as they become more popular; most are very supportive or are not bothered by a doula – in fact obstetricians and doulas rarely cross paths. If they do, it’s often for a very short time, during the birth.

In a recent birth I attended, a student midwife told me that they were currently doing a unit on birth support in her studies, and she was very impressed about the benefits and outcomes achieved with women who have doulas.

There is the occasional story I hear about some obstetricians not wanting a woman to have a doula present, however ultimately it is your own choice and decision as to the level of care you receive. An obstetrician is not present for you throughout most of the labour, only if you need intervention or to catch the baby (if they make it!). So continuous support from a known carer is crucial while you labour – because what happens during the labour can affect the outcome. It also is very telling about the sort of care you may receive at the birth if your Obstetrician is not open to you looking for ways to help reduce your chances of interventions. If your doctor is not supportive of you making choices, decisions and avoiding intervention, you may end up feel unsupported and disempowered in labour.

What Training Do Doulas Receive?

In Australia, there are several ways a Doula can train, through courses conducted by very experienced Doulas – some of which are also midwives, doctors and educators. Again, this is not medical training – doulas are trained in professional birth support. As part of a doula’s training, she may be required to read certain materials, attend several births (as an unpaid trainee), write assignments/reports, attend birth education classes and other requirements. If you are interested in becoming a Doula, see our BellyBelly article, Doula Training In Australia. (Doulahanani: In Singapore, you can train as a doula with Foutrimesters or Parentlink)

What Do Couples Think of Doulas?

Check out this short video on YouTube featuring couples talking about doulas:

Here are a few short testimonials from Australian couples who have used professional birth support:

“A very special thank-you… You made such a difference at the birth for us both, encouraging me when it all seemed too hard and helped me achieve the birth that has given our little girl the best start in life. Thanks for sharing this special time with us. I hope our paths cross again. You are a beautiful person with much to give the world.” — Catherine & Jason

“Thank-you for helping us achieve a wonderful birth experience. I felt safe and far more relaxed knowing I had the right support. Everything went exactly as I wished for with minimum intervention and stress¦ I feel sooooo grateful that we had such a great outcome. I am sure it is even helping me get through these difficult first months. I now know I CAN get through anything with determination, knowledge and support! — Meredith & Chris

“Wow I’m still in shock when I think about that long labour and the fantastic result – it was sooo worth it. I truly know that I couldn’t have done it without you – that is a fact. You are amazing and are truly made for the job – I really can’t thank you enough.” — Bronte & Michael – 2006

References and Recommended Reading

1. Klaus M, Kennell J, Berkowitz G, Klaus P. Maternal assistance in support and labor: Father, nurse, midwife, or doula. Clin Cons Obstet and Gyn 1992; 4:211-17.

2. The Doula Advantage, Rachel Gurevich, Prima Publishing 2003

3. The Doula Book, Marshall H. Klaus, M.D., John H. Kennell, M.D., and Phyllis H. Klaus, C.S.W., M.F.T. Da Capo Press, 2002

4. Sosa R, Kennell J, Klaus M, Robertson S, Urrutia J. The effect of a supportive companion on perinatal problems, length of labor, and mother-infant interaction. N Engl J Med 1980; 303(11):597-600.

Kelly Winder is a birth attendant (aka doula), the creator of BellyBelly and mum to two beautiful children. Become a fan of BellyBelly on Facebook or add Kelly as a friend (frequently adding articles and stories). You can also follow BellyBelly on Twitter.

Disclaimer: Doulahanani did not write this article. This article is from bellybelly.com.au

Waterbirthing suite @ NUH

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As promised, here are pictures of room 12 in NUH, the only room there with a tub for waterbirth.

Rightfully I’m not sure if I’m allowed to upload these pics up, but I believe this will help to publicise their waterbirth suite, so should be okay right? Will take them down when NUH contacts me! 🙂

The waterbirth tub

Room 12 - The room with the waterbirth facilities

View of tub from bed

Risks of early induction

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During a recent meet with a potential client, I was told that her doctor had given her a choice to be induced on the 11th of January 2011, so the baby can have a ‘nice’ birthdate of 11/01/11 about a week short of her EDD. Needless to say I was taken aback (but didn’t show my reaction of course). Shocked also because she talked so casually about it and seemed to be considering that offer.

Now, I am not judging any mothers who opted for induction. I have had several mothers myself who were either induced or labour augmented because they were overdue or had other high risk medical reasons. That is a different thing. What I am saddened about is when doctors make early induction offers to mothers who have had a good and healthy pregnancy, and make it sound as if it is the most natural thing to do. Now remember that these first time mothers know no better because their doctors don’t really discuss the medical risks that entail an induction.

So Bismillah, for my community’s sake, here’s why you should try to avoid an early induction as much as you can help it…

– You might think that there’s no difference between birthing a baby at 39 weeks and 40 weeks (especially when you’re so tired by that time and all you want is to get the baby out!), but just an extra week of baby being in the uterus can make a significant impact on baby’s lung and brain capacity. Now don’t you want the best headstart for your baby?

– Last few weeks of pregnancy are most critical to baby’s lung and brain development. Some complications that may arise for elective deliveries between 37-39 weeks include among others: increased NICU admissions, increased feeding problems (difficult to establish breastfeeding) and increased respiratory distress.

– I’d like to touch on pitocin (synthetic oxytocin) – the drug they give you to induce contractions – but that would take another whole blog entry. Briefly put, this articifial hormone, while it mimics your own, is very different from naturally produced oxytocin from your body because it does not cross your blood-brain barrier. Why is this important? When a contraction gets intense, natural oxytocin crosses your blood-brain barrier so another ‘pain-relieving’ hormone known as endorphins (also known as happy hormones) can be released as your body’s natural pain-killers. But with pitocin, you don’t get this same dose of endorphins to counter the pain and intensity, so most of the time, the mother will want an epidural~

InsyaAllah we will discuss about epidural soon! Comments are most welcome 🙂

The Power of A Prayer

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I was at a birth that had a labour taking more than 36hrs long (I was with the mother for a good 16hrs+). Things were slow to pick up even at the hospital and the baby didn’t want to go into the optimal birthing position (occipital anterior) no matter what position we tried her in. The possibility of a c-sect was looming not too far away. As a last resort, I encouraged the father to sit close to his wife’s belly and recite every prayer (du’a) he could think of.

Not too long after, things suddenly picked up and there was hope for a normal birth. The medical staff called it a sudden ‘twist of fate’. I chose to see it as the power of a prayer. This image of the loving father softly whispering to the mother’s belly coaxing his child to come out will forever be etched on my mind.