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Amy's Birth Stories
(Baby Ian and Baby Jacob)
By Amy (amyputnam)
I
hope you enjoy these fantastic birth stories from Amy. Having a
more "natural" birth can be a challenge for a diabetic
mom. Amy is a stay-at-home mom and a doula herself. She got the
benefits of "modern medicine" as well as utilizing a doula.
Ian
born February 5, 2002
Jacob born January 29, 2004
Ian's Birth
Story
We conceived
Ian on the third month of trying. We were very excited and my diabetes
was in control--or so I thought. We had to move when I was nine
weeks pregnant. I had to switch all my doctors. I found a doctor
through my insurance.
Our first appointment
at one week was a disaster. I met the doctor and told him I was
a doula and would be looking for a doula for my birth. He proceeded
to tell me how horrible doulas and midwives were and how they caused
all sorts of deaths!
He also told
me how much I would love how "high-tech" he was and that
he'd induce me at 37 or 38 weeks. I was floored. Needless to say
we left and never returned.
We took another
shot at a doctor our insurance covered and were lucky to find a
good one. She referred me to an endocrinologist. I was stunned by
how thorough he was. I had never been so closely monitored before.
I saw him weekly and changed to sliding insulin scales, multiple
shots a day, and carb counting. My diabetes was now more in control
than I had ever been.
My pregnancy
progressed normally. My doctor was fine with me going to full term,
but we never made it that far. At 36 weeks my water broke at 3:30
am on Feb. 5, 2002.
I called the
hospital and they said to come to the hospital. We next called my
doula, who suggested waiting at home until she got there, which
would take a little over an hour. I'm so glad we stayed at home.
I went downstairs
and washed the dishes since I really didn't want any dirty dishes
when I came home with a new baby. We finished packing our bags and
by then our doula arrived. I was feeling fine and having contractions
every 5-7 minutes, but was able to talk through them and was still
laughing.
After the doula
arrived, my husband took a shower. When he was done, I wanted to
shower. However, once in the shower, it didn't feel right. I quickly
washed my hair and got out. I then tried the birth ball and every
position in the book, but just couldn't get comfortable.
I went downstairs
to find my doula's apprentice had made muffins and some meals for
us to freeze. My doula quickly suggested we leave for the hospital
when I said I felt sick. I tested by sugar and it was fine.
It only took
a few minutes to get to the hospital, but they were the worst few
minutes. I didn't know it then, but realized afterwards that I experienced
transition in the car.
We arrived
at the hospital and the nurses were poking around with papers, etc.,
and left the room. After a few minutes I kept asking when they would
check me because I had to push. This got them moving. I was complete
and +1 station.
My doctor was
out of town so I had another doctor come in. He really annoyed me.
He stood at the end of the bed with his arms crossed just watching
me push. In hindsight, we realized he was annoyed that I would not
use directed pushing, no IV, and no episiotomy. I also requested
the cord not be clamped until it stopped pulsing--which he didn't
honor.
After 2-1/2
hours of pushing on and off, Ian Dean was born at 10:20 am, --only
seven hours after my water broke. He was 6 lbs. 9oz, 18-1/2 in.
long.
He was doing
great, but did have low blood sugar. We ended up having to supplement
for 3 days and had to use a Biliblanket meter (for jaundice).
Due to being
preterm he had trouble nursing so we pumped and finger fed him for
four weeks. He finally caught on and happily nursed for 22 months.
I had no pain
meds before, during, or after the birth. I had a skid mark tear,
but otherwise felt great! I couldn't have asked for a better birth.
My doula was a great help also!
Jacob's
Birth Story
We conceived
Jacob on the second month of trying. By this time I was on an insulin
pump and under great control.
The pregnancy progressed normally. I had a little more trouble keeping
the blood sugars down during this pregnancy, but I also gained a
lot more weight.
My doctor was
okay with letting me go to term, but at 37 weeks my blood pressure
was rising and I had protein in my urine. My doctor was going to
have me see her in two days. If my blood pressure wasn't down by
then, I would be induced. I asked her to strip my membranes.
That night,
January 29, 2004, at 12:30, my water broke. Contractions started
right away. We called my sister to watch Ian and also called my
doula.
My doula arrived
in a little over an hour. I was doing great--feeling the contractions
but they were not painful. My sister arrived about half an hour
later. By this time the contractions were getting strong.
We decided
to leave for the hospital. My sister went upstairs to get Ian up
(he was at the birth) while my husband and I got in the car. When
we were on the road, and following our doula, when I realized I
had to push...BAD.
My husband
sped up to 90 mph and we raced to the hospital. I was screaming
and panting the whole way. When we arrived a few minutes later they
immediately checked me and I was complete, +1, and involuntarily
pushing.
They made me
pant and blow through contractions for 25 minutes until the doctor
arrived. That was hell!
When the doctor
walked in I immediately started to push. Three pushes later, Jacob
Dean was born at 4:13 am, less than four hours after my water broke.
He was 7 lbs. 13 oz, and 19 inches long.
This time my
normal doctor waited for the cord to stop pulsing before clamping
it. I had no tears and Jacob began nursing immediately. He had a
low blood sugar, but only had to be supplemented once and then he
stabilized.
We went home
less than 30 hours after he was born. He also needed a Biliblanket
meter, which we used for 5 days.
Again, my doula
had been great and I had no interventions. I didn't even feel like
I had given birth since I was not at all sore anywhere!
I would love
to have a homebirth for my next, but no midwife will take on a diabetic.
However, at the speed my labors go, it may be a homebirth anyway!
Amy
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Diabetes
and pregnancy, fertility issues, gestational diabetes, parenting, 
