Dear List, I am a lay member of the list.
Last Wednesday I supported my SIL and brother (SIL also happens to be my best pal) in labour with their first baby. I guess I'm hoping to de-brief a bit here. Cate had a good preconception preparation, a healthy pregnancy and wonderful preparation for birth attending Lina Clarke's Active Birth workshop in about September-ish. Cate was induced by amniotomy last Wed. morning due to postdates, and laboured under her own steam beautifully, and without pharmacological interference, to feeling pushy at around 4pm. Baby was posterior - there was no back labour. Pushing was yielding no appearance - or advancement after around an hour, and upon examination baby described as in deep transverse arrest. We then had Cate labouring in a variety of different positions, pelvic rocking, moving legs etc. to maximise space in pelvis, but to not enough avail. Doc tried moving with a vacuum and after around 4-5 contractions (now around 6.15pm) offered that her options were Keillands forceps (although he mentioned they don't do those anymore) or a caesar. Beautiful baby Audrey (9lb 10 oz - Apgars 9 & 10) born by C-sect at 7.42pm. I guess I just wonder if the amniotomy contributed to her positioning? If there was anything else we could have tried at the time? It seemed to be demonstrated quite well to me that given the circumstances of the moment she was not coming out without assistance, but just wondered what some of your thoughts might be. I was annoyed that doc mentioned forceps as an option that apparently wasn't a viable one (or he considered an irresponsible one - he therefore shouldn't have mentioned??) Mum and babe are home today - and despite obviously delays in contact, surgical trauma to mother etc., babe has begun to put on weight. Mother also handling caesar really well (at least for now). Jo Slamen -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
