Her Hands
The lovely midwife who attended Albert’s birth wrote a really funny post over at Earth Hearth about what she carries for birth "emergencies".
The post made me laugh because number one, I remember being fanned during labor, and seriously, I don’t know if I could have held out without that relief. We had turned the heat high when I started pushing, because we all assumed the the baby would arrive soon. Sooner became later, and so I had some serious work to do while being seriously HOT. Between the fan, icy washcloths, and gatorade, I survived. I hate being hot. Hate it.
Number two, I remember asking a similar question at one of my prenatal appointments. I switched care around 32 weeks, and this was particular appointment was probably the third time I had seen M. I asked whether or not she had a "neonatal transport unit" in case of emergencies. I’m not really sure what that is, but someone had asked me that question, so I asked it of her. She didn’t know what it was either (I don’t think such a thing exists) and then said that her neonatal transport unit was *this* and formed her arms into a cradle shape as if she was holding a baby. She laughed really hard after that. She did go on to tell me about some of the equipment they carried like oxygen, a "space blanket" (which she had not had to use in a very long time), etc. But every once in awhile, she would giggle, make the cradle sign, and say "neonatal transport unit".
It cracks me up every time I think about it.
What does she really carry for emergencies? What is the most important thing a midwife has for emergencies (in my opinion)?
Her hands. It was her hands that helped me push. It was her hands that pushed hair out of my face. It was her hands that gave me strength. It was her hands that brought me gatorade. Her hands that helped me wash up afterwards when I was too weak to stand in the shower.
And what was it that she used to help free Albert from shoulder dystocia?
Not forceps. Not a vacuum. Not a caesarean section.
Her hands.
Period.
I think those hands might just rival the fan for #1.
So, so beautiful.
And the “NTU” cradle sign story had me LMAO! I’m gonna have her do that next time I see her.
Comment by Leigh — November 15, 2007 @ 5:19 pm
M’s hands and her trust in “her” women ARE truly all she needs. i remember at Sula’s birth i asked her to check me. we both thought i was half-way there. she had just ’stopped’ by to see me as she was driving past my area when we called her. her assistants weren’t there with her ‘kit’ yet. when she checked me i was much farther along (still never asked how dilated but i think almost there). of course all was smooth, her kit came about 1/2 hour before Sula came and nothing in it was needed.
afterward, she told me in only the way M can (not her exact words but imagine): ya know, i really wanted my kit there but then i listened to my heart and i knew i had everything i needed for Sula’s birth: my hands.”
love.
m
Comment by marybeth — November 15, 2007 @ 7:30 pm