Madeline Rosemary Mann
A birth story from Mom and Dad, Ashia and Don Mann
When we first thought about the day that we would write Madeline’s birth story, we had already started loving her deeply. We never knew how deep a love could go until September 26, 2006. … twenty days after her most recent due date.
On the morning of Monday September 25th we went to Dr. Jurow’s office. We had been there several times this month, monitoring our “overdue” status. We had been to the hospital for non-stress tests to check on the fluid surrounding Madeline and to check on her heart rate. We had tried everything to bring on labor. No stone went unturned including crazy meals, physical touch, acupuncture, walking, stairs, relaxation techniques, bumpy car rides. But Madeline was not ready. She was so happy in mommy’s tummy.
That Monday, Dr. Jurow asserted that it was time for our induction. Even using the latest due date we had ever been given, she was two weeks overdue and there was concern that she might not be as healthy if we waited for her to emerge on her own. After all of the concerns were voiced, it was agreed that we would be at the hospital that afternoon for a dose of Misoprostil. Ashia was at 1cm and was so upset about the method he had chosen to ripen her cervix but decided that she had to put her trust in her doctor at this point.
We had a “challenging” discussion. Don did not feel he was able to comfort Ashia with this decision. A long phone call to Sandy Caldwell, our Doula, helped us understand that since we had chosen to follow the Dr.’s plan, we had to get behind that decision and feel empowered. We had choices still and we were choosing this induction. Now understanding her role as a Birth Warrior, and knowing that no matter what, we’d have a beautiful, healthy baby girl within a day or so, Ashia and Don made a few calls and packed up the car.
We grabbed lunch at our local Vietnamese spot (imperial rolls with bbq beef and vermicelli), for our last meal-out for a while, and we were on our way to Mills Peninsula Hospital! We began to get excited about meeting our daughter soon and had packed up in good spirits. It was time for the induction. So with excitement, power and the tiniest bit of apprehension we arrived at the waiting room of the hospital. Our tricky Dr sent us early. We had to wait for a bit in the waiting room since they were not expecting us until 6pm and it was 3:30 when we arrived.
By 4:15 we were in room 6 on the labor and delivery floor. We had great feelings entering this room as we imagined this would be the place we would finally meet our Madeline. Our nurse, Andra came in and got us nice and comfy. She explained the Miso would be inserted in tiny doses to soften the cervix. She was very helpful and reassured us by explaining how successful this medicine had been in her experience before.
Thinking this would take a while, we started our first movie (thinking there would be more) The movie was “She’s the Man”. It was horrible but kept our attention focused on something other than waiting for labor to start. Don began his blog adventure during this time and Ashia began planning her labor visualizations. At around 11pm Andra checked Ashia after her second dose of Miso and excitedly reported 3 centimeters and 60-70% effaced. Finally some progress! We then met Jodi who administered our third dose of Miso at about 1am. We knew we were in good hands. Andra told us she hand-picked a great nurse to take over for her and we all were excited that the next time Andra came to work, we’d have a baby to introduce her to!
During the next two hours, Ashia’s yucky crampy feeling revealed itself as contractions. Don would stand over by the monitors and watch as they crested so he could tell her that they were about to go away. We realized that the boring movie time our doctor had prepared us for had given way to labor. At around 1:45 am we were using our coping techniques. Ashia would grab Don’s hand when a contraction came on and would squeeze it and focus on his eyes while it crested. Just before 2am Ashia was laying in bed, and felt a pop and scurried to the restroom, unsure if this was amniotic water or not. The misoprostil had really begun to cause stronger contractions at this time and with a now empty tummy (thanks Jodi for the enema!) we realized what the pressure Ashia was feeling in her bottom was…a baby!
Coping for the next few hours with slowly increasing discomfort and warm fluids leaking out, we requested that Jodi check to see if Ashia’s water had broken. She used a simple litmus paper test and it instantly turned the characteristic dark blue. Yay! Active labor was soon to hit and in fact, did, somewhere between 4 and 5am. Jodi had been asking what Ashia’s pain scale was from 1-10 and it had been about a 4 or 5 for so long, it just started growing to about a 6. Don started helping Ashia use her breathing techniques- visualizing and staying relaxed.
We were due for a dose of Pitocin at this time to regulate and strengthen contractions. Jodi said that Ashia’s contractions were not strong enough because Ashia was still walking around and making phone calls, etc. We were getting somewhat anxious about the Pitocin. Our fear was that the pitocin would only lead to further interventions and that the contractions would become too strong and last too long and lead to a plea for an epidural. However, we were armed with a list of questions in order to prevent unnecessary procedures and to stay involved in decisions regarding our birth story, that our Doula friends and Birthing from Within had imparted to us. Don asked if we could postpone the pitocin and asked what harm could befall us if we waited. Jodi listened to our perspective and offered to wait a while and check our progress first.
We were 6 cm and 90% effaced at 6am! Jodi announced that we had progressed nicely and could put off the need for any Pitocin for now. Don nervously called Sandy, our Doula, unsure of when we’d need her but also feeling that he could not wait any longer. Ashia’s pain coping was reaching its limit for this level of discomfort and Don was out of tricks. We both realize now that this telephone call was crucial to the outcome of our Birth Story. Don felt at that time that there was nothing else he could do to comfort Ashia and bring her through this part of labor and Ashia was feeling as if the medication was beginning to sound really good to her! We needed our Doula!
Sandy sounded surprised and excited upon learning the news and said she’d be at the hospital right away. A few minutes later we met our next nurse, Teresa. Ashia was so happy to hear her Irish brogue! She prepared to check Ashia’s vitals but no sooner had she gotten the equipment ready, Sandy breezed in and whisked the tired and weary Ashia into a hot shower. Teresa dutifully followed with waterproof monitoring equipment and everyone was soon wet. Sandy directed Don to gather the ipod and speakers we had brought to help Ashia through Transition. Happy to have a great coach by his side, Don whipped out the Jack Johnson- Curious George album and rolled up his pant legs to join Ashia with the birth ball in the shower.
During this part of Transition, the pain was now strong and Ashia felt comforted by hot water on her back and legs. Don responded immediately, however when a contraction came on and Ashia quickly alerted him that the water was not helpful anymore. Between contractions, Ashia and Don sang songs together to the amusement of Sandy and Teresa. This was just about the time when the sunrise was at its brightest and it felt like a whole new day was being born. There was pain but also a feeling of peace and hope that our baby was coming to us naturally and perfectly.
Over the next few hours, getting through transition was a challenge but we worked well as a team. We moved back to the birth ball leaning on the bed and Don and Sandy helped with hip compression and counter-pressure. Breathing techniques changed and Ashia began to visualize blowing huge ocean waves away with each breath. Ashia was keeping cool by crunching a few ice chips between contractions. Sandy worked hard to keep Ashia relaxed and at about 8am the room began to smell of the light lavender oil Sandy set out. It calmed us all and helped us gently slide towards the next phase. Focusing on Sandy’s eyes, breathing and rocking her pelvis back and forth on the bed while moving on the birth ball, Ashia coped with the next hour. Sandy encouraged Don at this point to rejuvenate with a bite to eat. It had been about 36 hours since we had slept and almost 14 since we had eaten. Teresa provided a snack for Don which was just the fuel he needed to gear up for the final stage of labor which was about to arrive.
During the final hour or more, Ashia’s strength was dwindling a bit. Now exhausted and dozing between contractions she was awoken by the peak of each one. With her confidence fading she started asking about possible medication options. A few times Ashia said “I can’t do this”. Sandy, Don and Teresa took turns with the simple reply “You are doing it”. This was just the right thing to hear, although at the time, a dreamy haze of Fentinol in her IV was calling to her. Sandy told Ashia that if the urge to push was overwhelming, she could push just a little. This advice helped ease the pain at the peak of each contraction. This was a clue to Teresa that the time to push was upon us. With this, the Dr. was called.
When Dr. Quinn-Chen arrived, she said that because contractions were irregular, she would go back to her office and should be called later. At that point, Ashia and Don put their game faces on and decided they did not want to wait. Madeline must have gotten in on the plan too because within twenty minutes, Teresa was calling the doctor back!
Dr Quinn Chen commented that Nora Jones, now playing on the ipod, was just what she listened to when she had her own baby. We took that as a good sign. When it was time to push, Don requested that Ashia push on her side to prevent a tear and work with gravity. Teresa told us this would be fine but that the baby would be delivered with mom on her back. We conceded to this and took position. Between 9:30 and 10:30am contractions were 9 minutes apart. Sometimes they would crest and immediately crest again. Ashia tried to use these “double” contractions to get the baby down as far as possible. In between, Ashia could fall asleep with the only caveat- someone had to hold the weight of her whole leg for her. Don, Sandy and Teresa took turns. Ashia would wake up, be helped to grab her own leg and push.
This final stage was incredible. With each push, Ashia could feel Madeline moving down through her body. Incredibly, with the little strength and energy she had, she pushed the baby’s head down far enough for the team to announce to Don that his baby had lots of hair. This news excited mom and dad and geared us up for the final hour.
At this time, Dr Quinn-Chen said she would administer Pitocin to increase the rate and strength of the contractions. Don again employed his questioning skills (with his eyes) and she casually offered that since we were “all natural” we might try nipple stimulation. Sandy explained how to do this and within minutes Don was able to control her contractions using a gentle stroking motion.
Contractions came every 4 minutes and were very strong!
Ashia felt Madeline’s head approaching her pelvic bone with the good pushes and after about six of these, her head was through. Dr. Quinn-Chen told Ashia that she would feel a burning sensation soon and to push towards it. Doing so, the baby’s head was crowning and Don could see her head. He described it later as a triangle with rough edges and was shocked when she was born with a perfectly round head. What a miracle, the way a baby’s head is so malleable to fit through the birth canal. Dr. Quinn-Chen applied mineral oil and massaged Ashia’s perineum thoroughly, to prevent tearing. One more push and Madeline’s head was out! The Dr told Ashia she could take a break. She was explaining that Madeline’s hand was by her face as she was crowning which is what made it more difficult to get her out.
Deciding not to rest, because the urge to push the rest of her baby’s body out was too strong, Ashia used the next small contraction to its fullest and pushed out her shoulders as well. Within seconds Madeline’s whole body was feeling the warm morning sun and Don and Ashia were crying tears of joy.
The team got ready to repair a small tear that Ashia earned with that last push and realized that in an effort to keep her comfortable the night before, Andra had put an extra mattress pad on the bed and they could not get the stirrups out. Once Teresa and Sandy had helped solve that problem, our doctor was able to push on Ashia’s belly to get the placenta out and begin stitching.
Who would have noticed any of this however, as there was an amazing new little girl in the world, on Ashia’s chest, yawning, crying and opening her beautiful blue eyes. Instantly calmed with her skin touching mommy’s those gentle tears Madeline had shed were soon gone and Madeline caught her first glimpse of the world- Mommy and Daddy shedding tears of their own. Her tiny hands curled around her mom and dad’s fingers and within minutes Sandy was helping her to latch on and begin nursing. The room was so quiet and serene then, filled with the sound of gentle sucking.
Our doctor finished delivering the fully intact placenta and Teresa and Sandy commented on how healthy Madeline looked. No vernix, clear fluid, strong baby (9 and 9 APGAR scores), complete placenta etc. She did not appear with any of the characteristic overdue traits. Teresa postponed all newborn procedures and gave us an hour of time together to celebrate our new family member. By 1pm Madeline was weighed, bathed, had her vitamin K shot and arithromiacin was applied to her eyes.
Don, Ashia and Madeline snuggled up together and looked around at the world with new eyes, eternally grateful for the support and help of family, friends and that incredible birth team. Every nurse that we met, Sandy, our Doctors and each other; what a perfect dream. And now we have a wonderful baby girl and a love for each other so much stronger for the journey.
Madeline Rosemary Mann was born at 11:41am at
Mills Peninsula Hospital in Burlingame, CA
She was a whopping 20.25 inches long
and weighed-in at 8lbs and 15.4 ounces.
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