Two Babies and Blisfully Beautiful

This week a set of twins were born at home in the water. This mother was full of trust in her body and her babies. The team of midwives, working together to one , stay out of her way and the other to watch over the well being of mom and babies. A beautiful labor, a sweet and simple birth with power and conviction. They were scooped up, loved abundantly by mom, dad and family, Mom took to two like she had done this many times before. This picture is of her and her babies, next to each other at 30 hours old. They were calm and gentle babies who had marinated in a loving mothers hormones.

Women share their excitement and their well being with their babies both during pregnancy, birth and breast feeding. When a mother believes in this process then her babies do to. Her birth is smooth and straight forward. And her mothering is too. Twins can be smooth and straight forward in the same way that a singleton can. Yes there is important issues to watch over during the prenatal time , birth and post partum. When the babies are growing well, moms BP is good, she births after 37 weeks, and the presenting baby is head down, each baby has it's own amnion, then the rest is usually good. There must be trust on the mothers and the midwives part.  It is wise for a midwife to have at least one other midwife and experience assistant there if not two. You have three people to watch over so you need three skilled care providers, just in case each needs attention. You need two complete set ups for babies and that includes two O2 tanks and resusitation set ups and everyone is certified in NRP.  It is best if one of the midwives has already done a breech birth and that all have reviewed breech.

Twins and breeches are a variation of normal. So long as your know what is normal for each and what the condraindications are for each. The one of importance is skill level of the midwife. The other is the babies as mentioned above.

Remember that two babies bring a large site of placenta so bleeding is an important element to watch. After birth cramps are much worse for most multips for good reason. Then there is the work of breast feeding two and the demands that time is on a mother. If she has had babies before especially at home, things will go well. It is important to watch their weight and help mom to be aware that often one baby may be more of an aggressive asker and the other may not. She will learn to know her babies and know what their temperment is. Keeping track of pees and poops helps. The other help is someone to take care of the mother. To be sure she eats and drinks and her time demands may challenger her to be able to.

So when that opportunity comes to you as a student or as a midwife. Follow with another midwife who has gone before you. Let your community know you want to take on a set of twins and would they support you and follow with you. That way you have all the insight of your community to help you. After you have done a handful you will get more familiar with it.

Size is not what it is all about

HBAC with celebration

Gotta love those feet

A mothers love is full and heartfelt

Some babies are big and some are small. Some moms are big women and some are small. But what if there is a big baby and a small mom? What about a mom who is having a HBAC? What about a mothers love for her baby and the will to birth well. Birth is designed to work even if know one was there. So why are we there then. Because sometimes there is a need for the skills a midwife knows and must use  to keep everyone safe. But some midwives can be NEEDED at births too much. Becoming a midwife means you understand what to do and when to do it. Your best births are when you are needed most as good clean up and assesment of normal. But when those births come that need your skills and your wisdom, use it wisely. Make good decisions and always remember to support the mother in her wisdom and her progress. Your words are powerful at birth. I saw a twins birth on a DVD recently and the midwife said to the mother " your at 8 cm you go stuck at 6 cm last time".  Can you guess what happened next? She was stuck at 8cm for 8 hours. Use your words carefully women.

Some are just meant to be big

Some labors are slow and some are fast. What makes them that way is dependant on the woman, her hormones, her babies position and her emotions. When a labor is slow and there is lots of help with repositioning the head with doola hoolas and with homeopathy and walking. Patience and perseverance of the mother is what works. " I am not a quiter" she says. Does that mean we as midwives support her in continuing at home? Yes if all is well and baby is happy and mom is still got energy. When all is said and done and the baby is born lusty and well with a nucal hand, it is then that you know the woman was right, she was determined to succeed and when she says she needs to get up and move, believe her. It is her body and baby that she is listening too.

My mom and me worked good together.

Sometimes you have to help a woman know when the path will not lead her to her best goal. That is where you are her guide to trusting the process that this birth is leading. The more you expect the best the more often the best will happen. Instill that in the women you work with. And remember the oxytocin works best if you keep the women inside herself and quiet.  Babies come out.