1 00:00:05,646 --> 00:00:07,006 Speaker 1: You're listening to a. 2 00:00:09,526 --> 00:00:10,685 Speaker 2: Mother and Me podcast. 3 00:00:11,006 --> 00:00:14,286 Speaker 1: Hi, it's Cassne Lukitch here, host of Diary of a Birth, 4 00:00:14,566 --> 00:00:17,925 Speaker 1: and this summer we've curated your delivery room playlist to 5 00:00:17,966 --> 00:00:21,526 Speaker 1: bring you even more unmissable birth stories. This summer, we're 6 00:00:21,566 --> 00:00:24,286 Speaker 1: bringing you our favorite episodes of Diary of a Birth 7 00:00:24,526 --> 00:00:27,926 Speaker 1: right here in your feet. That's your holiday listening sworded 8 00:00:28,366 --> 00:00:30,806 Speaker 1: And if you're looking for more to listen to, every 9 00:00:30,846 --> 00:00:34,205 Speaker 1: Mum and mea podcast is curating your summer listening right 10 00:00:34,246 --> 00:00:38,565 Speaker 1: across our network. From pop culture to beauty to powerful interviews, 11 00:00:38,726 --> 00:00:41,126 Speaker 1: there's something for everyone. Check out the link in the 12 00:00:41,126 --> 00:00:48,645 Speaker 1: show notes. Hi, I'm Cassennua Lukich and this is Diary 13 00:00:48,766 --> 00:00:52,046 Speaker 1: of a Birth. I had both my kids in hospital 14 00:00:52,165 --> 00:00:55,486 Speaker 1: with an epidural, and I'm very happy with my choice. 15 00:00:55,846 --> 00:00:59,445 Speaker 1: What I don't like is the discourse that's often involved 16 00:00:59,526 --> 00:01:02,766 Speaker 1: in a mother's right to choose how she gives birth. 17 00:01:03,326 --> 00:01:07,006 Speaker 1: You want an elective cesarean A may love that. You 18 00:01:07,046 --> 00:01:11,686 Speaker 1: want an unmedicated birth, that's absolutely incredible. Today's mom has 19 00:01:11,726 --> 00:01:15,406 Speaker 1: done just that, giving birth the way she wanted to. 20 00:01:15,926 --> 00:01:19,446 Speaker 1: What I wasn't expecting is her laughing her baby out. 21 00:01:21,446 --> 00:01:26,566 Speaker 2: I just felt this like overwhelming relief, kind of just 22 00:01:26,606 --> 00:01:28,606 Speaker 2: a rush over me, and I guess that sort of 23 00:01:28,646 --> 00:01:29,806 Speaker 2: translated as laughter. 24 00:01:30,286 --> 00:01:33,006 Speaker 1: I loved her calm approach to birth and was so 25 00:01:33,166 --> 00:01:37,406 Speaker 1: inspired it almost almost made me want to try an 26 00:01:37,486 --> 00:01:40,646 Speaker 1: unmedicated birth. So let's meet today's mum. 27 00:01:41,446 --> 00:01:43,446 Speaker 2: Hi am Minni, and this is the diary of my 28 00:01:43,486 --> 00:01:48,606 Speaker 2: birth with Charlie. 29 00:01:49,246 --> 00:01:52,766 Speaker 1: Charlie is your second and you had your first baby 30 00:01:53,006 --> 00:01:54,686 Speaker 1: in the UK. Yeah. 31 00:01:54,766 --> 00:01:57,206 Speaker 2: So I had my first daughter over in London while 32 00:01:57,246 --> 00:02:00,326 Speaker 2: we're living there for five years, at a really positive 33 00:02:00,486 --> 00:02:03,726 Speaker 2: unmedicated birth with her in a birth center in a 34 00:02:03,766 --> 00:02:07,526 Speaker 2: hospital there with her. When I was in early labor. 35 00:02:07,606 --> 00:02:10,486 Speaker 2: I had a really smooth early labor and I labored really. 36 00:02:10,286 --> 00:02:10,886 Speaker 1: Well at home. 37 00:02:11,645 --> 00:02:13,446 Speaker 2: When I got to the hospital, I was eight and 38 00:02:13,486 --> 00:02:17,645 Speaker 2: a half centimeters dilated. But the transition to the hospital, 39 00:02:17,726 --> 00:02:20,365 Speaker 2: I had a crazy taxi driver who was praying madly, 40 00:02:21,125 --> 00:02:24,725 Speaker 2: super stressful. Arriving at the hospital was really stressful and 41 00:02:24,805 --> 00:02:27,886 Speaker 2: it just sort of stalled my labor. My husband and 42 00:02:27,886 --> 00:02:29,206 Speaker 2: I sort of joked that we could have had the 43 00:02:29,206 --> 00:02:32,126 Speaker 2: baby at home. With my first baby. Going into my 44 00:02:32,206 --> 00:02:35,365 Speaker 2: second berth, I really didn't want that same experience of 45 00:02:35,405 --> 00:02:38,366 Speaker 2: stalling and kind of being quite stressed going into that 46 00:02:38,446 --> 00:02:42,166 Speaker 2: really key part of labor. So I started thinking about, well, 47 00:02:42,566 --> 00:02:45,326 Speaker 2: what birth environment would look good for me, and how 48 00:02:45,326 --> 00:02:47,446 Speaker 2: could I stop that from happening? What would look like 49 00:02:47,486 --> 00:02:51,005 Speaker 2: in environment where that wouldn't happen, And the more I 50 00:02:51,085 --> 00:02:54,046 Speaker 2: kind of thought about it, the environment that made sense 51 00:02:54,046 --> 00:02:57,925 Speaker 2: for me was home. So I started looking into how 52 00:02:57,965 --> 00:02:59,886 Speaker 2: I would have a home birth for my second daughter. 53 00:03:00,286 --> 00:03:04,085 Speaker 1: Falling pregnant with Charlie. Is that something that came up 54 00:03:04,326 --> 00:03:06,326 Speaker 1: immediately and you felt pregnant. 55 00:03:06,766 --> 00:03:10,126 Speaker 2: It took a lot of convincing with my husband. He 56 00:03:10,245 --> 00:03:12,845 Speaker 2: had a lot of sort of concerns and it was 57 00:03:12,925 --> 00:03:15,326 Speaker 2: quite worried about it. I had actually been born at 58 00:03:15,365 --> 00:03:18,245 Speaker 2: home myself, and I'd seen my brother and sister being 59 00:03:18,326 --> 00:03:21,805 Speaker 2: born at home. Over in the UK, quite a lot 60 00:03:21,846 --> 00:03:24,766 Speaker 2: of my friends had actually had homebirths because they're supported 61 00:03:24,805 --> 00:03:26,966 Speaker 2: by the government over there, so they're much more common. 62 00:03:27,726 --> 00:03:31,366 Speaker 2: So it didn't seem so bizarre and crazy to me. 63 00:03:32,125 --> 00:03:34,245 Speaker 2: So for me, I kind of approached it as a 64 00:03:34,245 --> 00:03:36,406 Speaker 2: bit of a research project. I spent a lot of 65 00:03:36,406 --> 00:03:40,766 Speaker 2: time online looking at home birth association websites, looking at 66 00:03:40,766 --> 00:03:44,526 Speaker 2: different midwives in my area. There didn't really seem to 67 00:03:44,566 --> 00:03:47,606 Speaker 2: be that many midwives, to be honest, who were independent 68 00:03:47,686 --> 00:03:51,326 Speaker 2: midwives who do homebirths. So I approached a few of 69 00:03:51,366 --> 00:03:54,246 Speaker 2: them straight away. I didn't really gel with some of them, 70 00:03:54,566 --> 00:03:57,686 Speaker 2: and then I found one who seemed quite good over 71 00:03:57,726 --> 00:03:59,725 Speaker 2: the phone when I spoke to her. I went and 72 00:03:59,806 --> 00:04:02,926 Speaker 2: visited her in person, armed with like a list of 73 00:04:02,966 --> 00:04:06,526 Speaker 2: a million questions from things like, you know, what are 74 00:04:06,526 --> 00:04:10,486 Speaker 2: your qualifications, how many births have you supported? What happens 75 00:04:10,526 --> 00:04:13,966 Speaker 2: if something goes wrong? All of the questions bombarded her 76 00:04:14,006 --> 00:04:17,966 Speaker 2: with those. The midwife I found was hugely experienced. She 77 00:04:18,086 --> 00:04:20,926 Speaker 2: had been a nurse, she had been a midwife in 78 00:04:20,966 --> 00:04:24,565 Speaker 2: the hospital system, and she'd also been an independent midwife 79 00:04:24,565 --> 00:04:28,005 Speaker 2: supported lots of mums for many, many, many years. So 80 00:04:28,005 --> 00:04:30,166 Speaker 2: there's sort of that rational part of it, But there's 81 00:04:30,206 --> 00:04:32,005 Speaker 2: also the emotional part of it. You know, this is 82 00:04:32,246 --> 00:04:34,966 Speaker 2: birth is such an intimate thing to go through and 83 00:04:35,806 --> 00:04:38,645 Speaker 2: you want to just one hundred percent trust this person 84 00:04:38,846 --> 00:04:40,965 Speaker 2: who you choose at the end of the day. And 85 00:04:41,005 --> 00:04:43,046 Speaker 2: I made sure she met my husband too, because he 86 00:04:43,086 --> 00:04:46,126 Speaker 2: had to feel comfortable because obviously birth support partners are 87 00:04:46,166 --> 00:04:48,486 Speaker 2: so key during a birth, but especially a home birth. 88 00:04:48,726 --> 00:04:50,806 Speaker 1: What was your pregnancy, Like, so you had a six 89 00:04:50,926 --> 00:04:54,046 Speaker 1: year old at home and were you ill? Did you 90 00:04:54,086 --> 00:04:55,446 Speaker 1: have any complications? 91 00:04:56,046 --> 00:04:59,446 Speaker 2: Obviously being pregnant second time around, having you know, six 92 00:04:59,565 --> 00:05:02,606 Speaker 2: isn't so little, but they're still quite dependent on you. 93 00:05:02,606 --> 00:05:05,046 Speaker 2: You know, it's much more tiring second time around, when 94 00:05:05,086 --> 00:05:07,926 Speaker 2: you're caring for someone as well as yourself and growing 95 00:05:07,926 --> 00:05:11,486 Speaker 2: a baby. But Poppy was just she couldn't have been 96 00:05:11,526 --> 00:05:15,445 Speaker 2: more excited. She was just absolutely over the room that 97 00:05:15,486 --> 00:05:18,126 Speaker 2: she was getting a brother or sister, and probably five 98 00:05:18,206 --> 00:05:20,606 Speaker 2: hundred times more excited that it was a girl as well, 99 00:05:20,686 --> 00:05:23,446 Speaker 2: so she's getting a sister. The plan was for her 100 00:05:23,565 --> 00:05:25,526 Speaker 2: to be there during my birth as well, and my 101 00:05:25,646 --> 00:05:29,166 Speaker 2: mum and my husband, and she was just so excited 102 00:05:29,366 --> 00:05:31,366 Speaker 2: that she could be part of that. So that was 103 00:05:31,366 --> 00:05:32,566 Speaker 2: a really lovely thing for her. 104 00:05:32,926 --> 00:05:35,246 Speaker 1: So tell me about going into labor. 105 00:05:35,806 --> 00:05:38,926 Speaker 2: My water's broke at about thirty nine weeks pregnant. I 106 00:05:38,966 --> 00:05:42,205 Speaker 2: was lying in bed one morning, sort of sat up 107 00:05:42,445 --> 00:05:44,845 Speaker 2: and just felt a bit of a gush of water. 108 00:05:45,126 --> 00:05:47,565 Speaker 2: Not a huge, kind of dramatic gush like the movies, 109 00:05:47,606 --> 00:05:50,406 Speaker 2: like you'd see when people's waters breaking in a film, 110 00:05:50,606 --> 00:05:52,566 Speaker 2: but I just sort of felt like i'd wet myself, 111 00:05:53,286 --> 00:05:55,686 Speaker 2: and I was actually really excited because I kind of 112 00:05:55,885 --> 00:05:57,885 Speaker 2: thought that it was my water's breaking and that that 113 00:05:57,885 --> 00:06:00,205 Speaker 2: would mean that my baby was going to be here soon. 114 00:06:00,246 --> 00:06:03,166 Speaker 2: So I was really excited, got up, went to the bathroom, 115 00:06:03,246 --> 00:06:06,486 Speaker 2: put the beautiful disposable Grannie undies on that you get 116 00:06:06,486 --> 00:06:10,645 Speaker 2: when you're pregnant, and called my midwife and she came 117 00:06:10,686 --> 00:06:13,885 Speaker 2: over a little bit later, and midwives just have an 118 00:06:13,926 --> 00:06:15,885 Speaker 2: amazing sense about these things, and she was like, Yep, 119 00:06:15,926 --> 00:06:19,405 Speaker 2: it's definitely your waters that have broken. I was really excited, 120 00:06:19,526 --> 00:06:22,686 Speaker 2: and my mum came around and my daughter was there, Poppy, 121 00:06:23,445 --> 00:06:25,726 Speaker 2: and we were sort of dancing to the birth soundtrack 122 00:06:25,765 --> 00:06:28,525 Speaker 2: that I'd made during my pregnancy, just to get those 123 00:06:28,606 --> 00:06:31,406 Speaker 2: kind of oxytocin kind of vibes happening that are really 124 00:06:31,445 --> 00:06:34,806 Speaker 2: good for helping labor sort of get along. The only 125 00:06:34,846 --> 00:06:37,005 Speaker 2: thing was that I probably was a little bit too 126 00:06:37,086 --> 00:06:40,166 Speaker 2: excited and probably should have chilled out a little bit more. 127 00:06:40,166 --> 00:06:43,005 Speaker 2: I probably tired myself out a little bit given how 128 00:06:43,046 --> 00:06:45,325 Speaker 2: long my birth. Kind of the days ended up being 129 00:06:45,646 --> 00:06:46,726 Speaker 2: for my birth. 130 00:06:46,646 --> 00:06:50,246 Speaker 1: So you were having sort of irregular contractions. 131 00:06:49,926 --> 00:06:52,526 Speaker 2: Quite light contractions on and off for a couple of days, 132 00:06:53,286 --> 00:06:54,926 Speaker 2: so it sort of seemed to be a bit of 133 00:06:54,966 --> 00:06:58,486 Speaker 2: a pattern. In the morning, I'd wake up and contractions 134 00:06:58,526 --> 00:07:00,486 Speaker 2: would be there, and I'd be all excited and stead 135 00:07:00,526 --> 00:07:03,126 Speaker 2: of just doing really gentle kind of movements as felt 136 00:07:03,206 --> 00:07:04,526 Speaker 2: kind of right around the house. 137 00:07:05,565 --> 00:07:06,405 Speaker 1: He was there with the. 138 00:07:06,765 --> 00:07:09,246 Speaker 2: Straw drink with electrolytes and it giving it to me. 139 00:07:09,445 --> 00:07:11,766 Speaker 2: She was such a massive help, and my mum was there. 140 00:07:12,406 --> 00:07:15,126 Speaker 2: The contractions would start each morning, but they'd sort of 141 00:07:15,126 --> 00:07:17,686 Speaker 2: peter out each evening. That sort of happened for a 142 00:07:17,686 --> 00:07:20,886 Speaker 2: couple of days. Once your waters have broken, there is 143 00:07:20,926 --> 00:07:23,086 Speaker 2: a risk of infection after a sort of a number 144 00:07:23,126 --> 00:07:26,286 Speaker 2: of days if labor hasn't progressed and you don't stort 145 00:07:26,286 --> 00:07:28,965 Speaker 2: of go into labor. So I had been having iv 146 00:07:29,606 --> 00:07:32,806 Speaker 2: antibiotics because I tested positive for group B STRAP, so 147 00:07:32,846 --> 00:07:36,166 Speaker 2: that was sort of a bit of comfort. But yeah, 148 00:07:36,166 --> 00:07:38,446 Speaker 2: I had a discussion with my midwife and there's this 149 00:07:38,526 --> 00:07:41,566 Speaker 2: great tool that I used called the brain tool. So 150 00:07:41,926 --> 00:07:45,206 Speaker 2: the different acronyms of the bee stands for benefits and 151 00:07:45,286 --> 00:07:48,045 Speaker 2: it's risks. What if you did nothing, what would happen? 152 00:07:48,806 --> 00:07:52,526 Speaker 2: So use that tool with her. And I hadn't had 153 00:07:52,566 --> 00:07:56,646 Speaker 2: any vaginal examinations. My entire pregnancy with her. But at 154 00:07:56,646 --> 00:07:58,886 Speaker 2: that point she said to me, would you like me 155 00:07:58,926 --> 00:08:02,006 Speaker 2: to do an examination just to see how far diaded 156 00:08:02,046 --> 00:08:03,405 Speaker 2: you are and we can kind of use that in 157 00:08:03,446 --> 00:08:08,126 Speaker 2: the decision making process. I agreed to that. She looked 158 00:08:08,166 --> 00:08:12,326 Speaker 2: at me and I could tell straight away it wasn't good. 159 00:08:12,886 --> 00:08:14,726 Speaker 2: I think she said something like, I'm so sorry you're 160 00:08:14,766 --> 00:08:22,206 Speaker 2: two centimeters dilated, and my heart just sank, absolutely devastated. 161 00:08:22,486 --> 00:08:24,406 Speaker 2: I kind of knew that that was the case because 162 00:08:24,406 --> 00:08:26,766 Speaker 2: it was so stop start coming up. 163 00:08:26,966 --> 00:08:32,165 Speaker 1: How many used celebrities avoiding the perhaps as inspiration for labor. 164 00:08:36,406 --> 00:08:39,286 Speaker 2: And at that point she said, you know, it's up 165 00:08:39,326 --> 00:08:42,646 Speaker 2: to you the whole pregnancy. I felt so supported and 166 00:08:42,886 --> 00:08:44,846 Speaker 2: like I was able to make decisions at the whole 167 00:08:44,846 --> 00:08:47,886 Speaker 2: point along the way, which was fantastic. She said, you know, 168 00:08:48,165 --> 00:08:50,526 Speaker 2: if you want, you know, we can keep trying and 169 00:08:50,566 --> 00:08:54,285 Speaker 2: sort of seeing what happens. Or I have a partnership 170 00:08:54,326 --> 00:08:57,326 Speaker 2: with an obstrucian at a private hospital an hour away 171 00:08:57,326 --> 00:09:00,325 Speaker 2: from my house. Was quite away. We could see if 172 00:09:00,326 --> 00:09:03,326 Speaker 2: they'll take you in there as a private patient, and 173 00:09:03,366 --> 00:09:05,846 Speaker 2: she said they've got birth pools there. You know, we 174 00:09:05,886 --> 00:09:08,405 Speaker 2: could still do that and we could have an induction 175 00:09:08,886 --> 00:09:12,366 Speaker 2: to help move things along. So I spent quite a 176 00:09:12,366 --> 00:09:14,686 Speaker 2: bit of time talking about it with her, with my 177 00:09:14,806 --> 00:09:19,006 Speaker 2: husband and my mom as well, and I decided that 178 00:09:19,006 --> 00:09:20,606 Speaker 2: that's what I was going to do. I was so 179 00:09:20,926 --> 00:09:24,686 Speaker 2: determined to have like as less interventions as possible in 180 00:09:24,686 --> 00:09:27,366 Speaker 2: my birth, and I just really didn't want to have 181 00:09:27,405 --> 00:09:30,325 Speaker 2: a cesarean. That was at that point my main goal. 182 00:09:30,806 --> 00:09:34,285 Speaker 1: So the one hour drive to the hospital, you're obviously 183 00:09:34,285 --> 00:09:37,286 Speaker 1: feeling a little bit disappointed because it's not the birth 184 00:09:37,285 --> 00:09:40,246 Speaker 1: that you had planned, but you know, after two days 185 00:09:40,246 --> 00:09:42,846 Speaker 1: in labor and a broken waters, you kind of had 186 00:09:42,846 --> 00:09:45,806 Speaker 1: decided that that's probably what was safest and best for you. 187 00:09:46,165 --> 00:09:49,246 Speaker 2: I think probably the hardest thing was because my mum 188 00:09:49,366 --> 00:09:52,286 Speaker 2: and my daughter Poppy had wanted to be part of 189 00:09:52,285 --> 00:09:54,126 Speaker 2: the birth. Poppy ran up to me as I was 190 00:09:54,165 --> 00:09:56,526 Speaker 2: getting into the car to go, and she was just 191 00:09:56,686 --> 00:09:59,246 Speaker 2: crying and she was so sad, and you know, she's sick, 192 00:09:59,366 --> 00:10:02,446 Speaker 2: and she didn't really understand what was happening. So there 193 00:10:02,486 --> 00:10:05,246 Speaker 2: was all that emotion as well of the disappointment and 194 00:10:05,646 --> 00:10:08,326 Speaker 2: her tears, and yeah, I just as much as possible, 195 00:10:08,486 --> 00:10:10,886 Speaker 2: just really on that drive, I just closed my eyes. 196 00:10:10,926 --> 00:10:13,766 Speaker 2: I didn't talk to my husband. I put my headphones in, 197 00:10:14,206 --> 00:10:17,086 Speaker 2: I listened to just really relaxing music, and I had 198 00:10:17,086 --> 00:10:19,526 Speaker 2: my sunglasses on, so, you know, trying to sort of 199 00:10:19,526 --> 00:10:22,566 Speaker 2: stay in my labor zone as much as possible and 200 00:10:22,686 --> 00:10:24,966 Speaker 2: just really tried to like focus on my breathing. I 201 00:10:25,006 --> 00:10:27,646 Speaker 2: was still having really mild contractions at that point. So 202 00:10:27,926 --> 00:10:30,685 Speaker 2: for me, with both my births, breathing has been the 203 00:10:30,766 --> 00:10:33,926 Speaker 2: key that's got me through all the contractions and anything 204 00:10:33,926 --> 00:10:34,686 Speaker 2: else that's going on. 205 00:10:34,926 --> 00:10:35,966 Speaker 1: You're a better woman than me. 206 00:10:36,086 --> 00:10:36,126 Speaker 2: Me. 207 00:10:37,606 --> 00:10:39,326 Speaker 1: Breathing never really helped me much. 208 00:10:40,566 --> 00:10:42,926 Speaker 2: Oh look, it's different for everyone, but yeah, it was 209 00:10:42,926 --> 00:10:45,886 Speaker 2: really really important in my births. So I arrived at 210 00:10:45,886 --> 00:10:48,526 Speaker 2: the hospital and one of the things that I had 211 00:10:48,526 --> 00:10:50,726 Speaker 2: read about and i'd tried to do, so I really 212 00:10:50,726 --> 00:10:53,246 Speaker 2: didn't want that kind of interruption to my birth again 213 00:10:53,326 --> 00:10:56,166 Speaker 2: like happened the first time. So I read about this 214 00:10:56,206 --> 00:10:57,966 Speaker 2: brilliant thing which I tried to do, which was to 215 00:10:58,045 --> 00:11:01,086 Speaker 2: dress like a celebrity, avoiding the preparazzi, to just really 216 00:11:01,165 --> 00:11:04,046 Speaker 2: try and stain your zone. So I had my sunglasses on, 217 00:11:04,285 --> 00:11:06,766 Speaker 2: I had my sort of like clothes pulled up over 218 00:11:06,806 --> 00:11:09,646 Speaker 2: my head and headphones in so no one could talk 219 00:11:09,686 --> 00:11:12,006 Speaker 2: to me. And all of that kind of thing, which 220 00:11:12,006 --> 00:11:15,166 Speaker 2: I think really helped. So I arrived at the hospital, 221 00:11:15,486 --> 00:11:18,206 Speaker 2: I had my own birth suite with a birth pull 222 00:11:18,206 --> 00:11:20,165 Speaker 2: in there. I was really fortunate that they had one 223 00:11:20,206 --> 00:11:24,766 Speaker 2: available at the time. My midwife was there another support 224 00:11:24,806 --> 00:11:27,246 Speaker 2: midwife as well, like a backup midwife, because you need 225 00:11:27,246 --> 00:11:29,326 Speaker 2: the two there for a home birth, so she came 226 00:11:29,366 --> 00:11:33,206 Speaker 2: in as well, and they put the drip into me. 227 00:11:33,726 --> 00:11:37,766 Speaker 2: I basically just sat there, just really closed my eyes. 228 00:11:37,766 --> 00:11:41,326 Speaker 2: I didn't talk to anybody, listening to the hypnobirthing tracks 229 00:11:41,405 --> 00:11:44,566 Speaker 2: on my headphones, and just sort of really gently moved 230 00:11:44,606 --> 00:11:46,806 Speaker 2: around in my berth ball. I never got on the 231 00:11:46,846 --> 00:11:50,565 Speaker 2: bed in the room apart from afterwards to breastfeed my 232 00:11:50,646 --> 00:11:54,006 Speaker 2: daughter after the birth. So when things kind of ramped 233 00:11:54,086 --> 00:11:59,165 Speaker 2: up with their synthetic oxytocin drip, I sort of leant 234 00:11:59,206 --> 00:12:01,766 Speaker 2: on the bed, just sort of gently sort of moved 235 00:12:01,806 --> 00:12:05,326 Speaker 2: around the room, leant on a wall, cuddled into my husband, 236 00:12:05,686 --> 00:12:08,606 Speaker 2: like rocking my hips, moving because that really helped me 237 00:12:08,686 --> 00:12:11,086 Speaker 2: with birth before. So I tried to do that again 238 00:12:11,126 --> 00:12:14,045 Speaker 2: this time, and I really last time with my first 239 00:12:14,045 --> 00:12:16,806 Speaker 2: berth had gone into it like a labor land, like 240 00:12:16,846 --> 00:12:19,446 Speaker 2: I just felt like I was on another planet quite high, 241 00:12:19,846 --> 00:12:21,486 Speaker 2: didn't really feel like I was actually in the room. 242 00:12:22,126 --> 00:12:25,766 Speaker 2: But with Charlie's birth, not having that natural hormones going 243 00:12:25,806 --> 00:12:28,086 Speaker 2: through me in the natural pain relief, I felt really 244 00:12:28,165 --> 00:12:30,766 Speaker 2: in the room and very aware of what was going on. 245 00:12:31,646 --> 00:12:35,926 Speaker 2: And when the contractions really started ramping up, I think 246 00:12:36,006 --> 00:12:38,445 Speaker 2: they kind of felt like it being hit by lightning, 247 00:12:38,526 --> 00:12:41,806 Speaker 2: is how I describe it. They were so intense and 248 00:12:41,966 --> 00:12:44,046 Speaker 2: just bam, bam bam, one after the other. 249 00:12:44,405 --> 00:12:46,046 Speaker 1: And were you in the pool at this point? You 250 00:12:46,086 --> 00:12:46,846 Speaker 1: were in the bath. 251 00:12:47,366 --> 00:12:49,806 Speaker 2: I only got into the pool right towards the end, 252 00:12:50,126 --> 00:12:52,045 Speaker 2: so my midwife she could sort of see I was 253 00:12:52,045 --> 00:12:54,846 Speaker 2: sort of going through transition a bit like shaky, and 254 00:12:54,926 --> 00:12:58,006 Speaker 2: she was like, okay, that's right before pushing stage. So 255 00:12:58,126 --> 00:13:00,925 Speaker 2: she encouraged me to go the toilet and then hop 256 00:13:00,926 --> 00:13:03,766 Speaker 2: into the birth pool for that final kind of stage 257 00:13:03,766 --> 00:13:04,246 Speaker 2: of labor. 258 00:13:04,646 --> 00:13:07,285 Speaker 1: The big hook for me when you sent in your 259 00:13:07,326 --> 00:13:11,405 Speaker 1: story was that you laughed your baby out. The obviously 260 00:13:11,446 --> 00:13:14,286 Speaker 1: are the happy hormones that you get during labor, but 261 00:13:14,966 --> 00:13:18,646 Speaker 1: it is generally considered to be an extremely difficult time, 262 00:13:18,726 --> 00:13:22,086 Speaker 1: So laughing during that time, yeah. Can you tell us 263 00:13:22,126 --> 00:13:25,206 Speaker 1: a little bit about your mindset and where that sort 264 00:13:25,206 --> 00:13:27,445 Speaker 1: of overwhelming laughter came from. 265 00:13:27,846 --> 00:13:30,926 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, so it does sound quite crazy. Actually, I 266 00:13:30,966 --> 00:13:32,966 Speaker 2: hadn't really thought about the fact that I'd laughed my 267 00:13:33,006 --> 00:13:35,646 Speaker 2: baby out until I was at a picnic sort of 268 00:13:35,646 --> 00:13:37,766 Speaker 2: a couple of weeks after my birth with all the 269 00:13:37,846 --> 00:13:41,006 Speaker 2: mums of the independent midwife that I used, and she 270 00:13:41,045 --> 00:13:42,886 Speaker 2: introduced me to the other mums and said, this is 271 00:13:42,926 --> 00:13:45,006 Speaker 2: the mum who laughed her baby out, and I thought, 272 00:13:45,366 --> 00:13:48,685 Speaker 2: oh my god, yeah I did. But you hadn't really 273 00:13:48,686 --> 00:13:50,846 Speaker 2: thought about it until that point when she described it 274 00:13:50,926 --> 00:13:55,046 Speaker 2: like that. So how it happened was I got into 275 00:13:55,086 --> 00:13:58,806 Speaker 2: that birth pool. The warm water was just game changing. 276 00:13:58,966 --> 00:14:01,405 Speaker 2: It was such a relief and felt so wonderful. 277 00:14:01,846 --> 00:14:02,565 Speaker 1: So when I was in. 278 00:14:02,526 --> 00:14:06,606 Speaker 2: The birthpool, I felt my daughter dropped down kind of 279 00:14:06,646 --> 00:14:08,526 Speaker 2: into my pelverse at that point where you kind of 280 00:14:08,566 --> 00:14:10,206 Speaker 2: feel like you need to get the toilet and you 281 00:14:10,285 --> 00:14:13,086 Speaker 2: know that that's kind of things are happening. It's pushing stage. 282 00:14:13,606 --> 00:14:16,006 Speaker 2: I was so determined this time around. I tore it 283 00:14:16,006 --> 00:14:18,366 Speaker 2: a little bit in my first birth. I was really 284 00:14:18,405 --> 00:14:21,566 Speaker 2: determined that that didn't happen again. This time. I researched 285 00:14:21,606 --> 00:14:23,846 Speaker 2: like mad to make sure I kind of understood all 286 00:14:23,886 --> 00:14:25,926 Speaker 2: the things I could do, and so one of them 287 00:14:26,046 --> 00:14:28,126 Speaker 2: was sort of pushing when you felt the urge to 288 00:14:28,206 --> 00:14:30,806 Speaker 2: do it, not doing that kind of movie purple like 289 00:14:30,846 --> 00:14:34,205 Speaker 2: gritting your teeth, kind of pushing and moving around kind 290 00:14:34,206 --> 00:14:36,886 Speaker 2: of as you felt like in more kind of upright positions. 291 00:14:36,926 --> 00:14:39,606 Speaker 2: So I kind of moved into the pool sort of 292 00:14:39,646 --> 00:14:42,806 Speaker 2: like sitting squatting kind of thing. And while I was 293 00:14:42,806 --> 00:14:45,366 Speaker 2: doing all of this stuff, my midwife, when Charlie was 294 00:14:45,406 --> 00:14:48,886 Speaker 2: in my belly, poppy name to my bump, Charlie. It 295 00:14:48,926 --> 00:14:51,046 Speaker 2: was never meant to be her birth name, but it 296 00:14:51,126 --> 00:14:52,806 Speaker 2: kind of just was what we used at that time 297 00:14:52,806 --> 00:14:55,286 Speaker 2: and obviously ended up being her real name. So my 298 00:14:55,286 --> 00:14:58,206 Speaker 2: midwife was there and she's like, as I was pushing, 299 00:14:58,326 --> 00:15:01,766 Speaker 2: and she said to me, Charlie's coming. You know you're 300 00:15:01,766 --> 00:15:06,566 Speaker 2: going to meet Charlie soon. And I just felt this 301 00:15:07,286 --> 00:15:11,246 Speaker 2: like overwhelming relief kind of just rush over me. And 302 00:15:11,286 --> 00:15:14,686 Speaker 2: I guess that sort of translated is laughter. It just 303 00:15:14,806 --> 00:15:17,205 Speaker 2: was so happy that like I didn't have a cesarean, 304 00:15:17,806 --> 00:15:20,566 Speaker 2: that my baby was actually coming, like, you know, because 305 00:15:20,566 --> 00:15:23,726 Speaker 2: I've been in this stop start labors for like two days, 306 00:15:23,766 --> 00:15:26,366 Speaker 2: and I think I was so tired and just the 307 00:15:26,406 --> 00:15:29,966 Speaker 2: contractions with being induced were so intense, and yeah, I 308 00:15:30,006 --> 00:15:33,406 Speaker 2: think just this this wave of just like relief rushed 309 00:15:33,406 --> 00:15:37,366 Speaker 2: over me, and yeah, I just burst out laughing, and 310 00:15:37,926 --> 00:15:39,726 Speaker 2: while I was pushing, it was all it was all 311 00:15:39,766 --> 00:15:42,566 Speaker 2: a bit crazy. One of the things I'd read about 312 00:15:42,606 --> 00:15:45,126 Speaker 2: to help not tearing was reaching down between your legs 313 00:15:45,126 --> 00:15:47,526 Speaker 2: and seat of just like really gently guiding your baby 314 00:15:47,526 --> 00:15:50,766 Speaker 2: out so they didn't rush out. So yeah, I reached 315 00:15:50,846 --> 00:15:53,806 Speaker 2: down and made sure she didn't rush out, and yeah, 316 00:15:53,846 --> 00:15:56,446 Speaker 2: with each push, I was sort of laughing, and yeah, 317 00:15:56,646 --> 00:15:59,526 Speaker 2: just obviously it was really really hard work. Won't downplay 318 00:15:59,526 --> 00:16:01,806 Speaker 2: that at all, but yeah, I just felt so happy, 319 00:16:02,206 --> 00:16:05,926 Speaker 2: so relieved, and yeah, just so excited to fly, Like 320 00:16:05,966 --> 00:16:08,166 Speaker 2: I could feel her in my hands, that she was 321 00:16:08,206 --> 00:16:09,366 Speaker 2: here and she was coming. 322 00:16:09,686 --> 00:16:11,646 Speaker 1: Yeah, and your husband caught the baby. 323 00:16:12,046 --> 00:16:15,086 Speaker 2: He did. Yeah, it was such such a wonderful thing. 324 00:16:15,246 --> 00:16:17,246 Speaker 2: He was so thrilled to be able to do that. 325 00:16:17,486 --> 00:16:20,246 Speaker 2: He leant down into the water and really gently pulled 326 00:16:20,286 --> 00:16:21,886 Speaker 2: her up and pulled her onto my chest. 327 00:16:22,326 --> 00:16:26,006 Speaker 1: And you have this really beautiful tone. You're clearly a 328 00:16:26,246 --> 00:16:29,726 Speaker 1: really calm, beautiful person. All the people that I've met 329 00:16:29,766 --> 00:16:33,326 Speaker 1: that have had like home births or unmedicated birth. There 330 00:16:33,406 --> 00:16:36,966 Speaker 1: is this certain energy to them, and as someone who's 331 00:16:37,046 --> 00:16:42,246 Speaker 1: very highly strong, that is so beautiful to me. You know, 332 00:16:42,406 --> 00:16:45,846 Speaker 1: to be able to step outside of yourself and just 333 00:16:46,046 --> 00:16:49,846 Speaker 1: almost relinquished control and allow your body to do what 334 00:16:49,886 --> 00:16:52,566 Speaker 1: it needs to do is really take my hat off 335 00:16:52,566 --> 00:16:54,846 Speaker 1: to it. Not that there's anything wrong with other births. 336 00:16:54,886 --> 00:16:57,686 Speaker 1: I just I think it's a really it's an energy thing. 337 00:16:57,766 --> 00:17:01,126 Speaker 1: It's a mindset thing, and when people are able to 338 00:17:01,206 --> 00:17:04,086 Speaker 1: relinquish control like that, I find it quite inspiring. 339 00:17:04,646 --> 00:17:05,485 Speaker 2: Oh thank you. 340 00:17:05,886 --> 00:17:09,725 Speaker 1: Yeah, So bub comes out, she's on your chest. I've 341 00:17:09,766 --> 00:17:11,806 Speaker 1: always wondered when they come out in the water, if 342 00:17:11,806 --> 00:17:15,846 Speaker 1: there's obviously they're still breathing through their umbilical cord, but 343 00:17:16,246 --> 00:17:18,006 Speaker 1: do they come out with their eyes open? Are they 344 00:17:18,126 --> 00:17:19,446 Speaker 1: like what does that look like? 345 00:17:20,086 --> 00:17:22,006 Speaker 2: So they don't breathe when they're under the water. They 346 00:17:22,046 --> 00:17:23,726 Speaker 2: take their first kind of breath when they come out 347 00:17:23,766 --> 00:17:26,166 Speaker 2: out of the water. My husband sort of pulled her 348 00:17:26,206 --> 00:17:27,806 Speaker 2: and we put her on my chest and I sort 349 00:17:27,806 --> 00:17:30,646 Speaker 2: of sat back. And it's quite common when babies are 350 00:17:30,686 --> 00:17:32,686 Speaker 2: born in the water that they take a few sort 351 00:17:32,686 --> 00:17:35,246 Speaker 2: of seconds to sort of start breathing. So she did 352 00:17:35,326 --> 00:17:37,846 Speaker 2: need a little bit of oxygen help, which is pretty common, 353 00:17:37,886 --> 00:17:39,846 Speaker 2: and I knew you to expect that, so I wasn't 354 00:17:40,046 --> 00:17:43,806 Speaker 2: too alarmed. So she shook a little minute, a few seconds, 355 00:17:43,846 --> 00:17:45,486 Speaker 2: which felt when you're a mum and you just had 356 00:17:45,486 --> 00:17:47,446 Speaker 2: a baby, it feels like a long time until they 357 00:17:47,526 --> 00:17:49,726 Speaker 2: start having that first breath. But she took a little 358 00:17:49,726 --> 00:17:52,446 Speaker 2: minute to do that and then let out a big cry, 359 00:17:52,486 --> 00:17:56,366 Speaker 2: and you kind of like everything's good, and yeah, then 360 00:17:56,486 --> 00:17:58,926 Speaker 2: we really carefully got up out of the birth pool 361 00:17:59,126 --> 00:18:01,926 Speaker 2: and moved across into the hospital bed, and yeah, that 362 00:18:02,006 --> 00:18:03,646 Speaker 2: was the first time I'd actually used the bed when 363 00:18:04,046 --> 00:18:07,046 Speaker 2: during my whole labor. But yeah, I sat back and 364 00:18:07,086 --> 00:18:10,046 Speaker 2: I bought a really nice little blanket from home, so 365 00:18:10,126 --> 00:18:12,526 Speaker 2: it felt all familiar and nice, and yeah, I had 366 00:18:12,526 --> 00:18:16,326 Speaker 2: the first kind of breastfeed, and then we were back 367 00:18:16,326 --> 00:18:20,646 Speaker 2: home that night. So the whole labor was fast and furious. 368 00:18:20,806 --> 00:18:25,286 Speaker 2: It was one hour from start to finish, and so 369 00:18:25,366 --> 00:18:28,486 Speaker 2: we went in a sort of lunchtime, and then we 370 00:18:28,686 --> 00:18:32,166 Speaker 2: left I think just before dinner time, but we were 371 00:18:32,206 --> 00:18:34,926 Speaker 2: ready to go about like an hour after she was born, 372 00:18:34,966 --> 00:18:37,006 Speaker 2: which just took a while to track down a doctor 373 00:18:37,006 --> 00:18:39,486 Speaker 2: who'd sign us out, because obviously they're really busy. 374 00:18:39,446 --> 00:18:43,246 Speaker 1: So Poppy was obviously waiting for you at home. What 375 00:18:43,366 --> 00:18:46,006 Speaker 1: was her reaction when she finally met Charlie. 376 00:18:46,366 --> 00:18:49,726 Speaker 2: Actually, she had quite a funny reaction because you know, 377 00:18:49,726 --> 00:18:52,086 Speaker 2: obviously we'd told her, we knew we were having another girl, 378 00:18:52,166 --> 00:18:53,886 Speaker 2: and so she was really excited to have a sister. 379 00:18:54,046 --> 00:18:57,566 Speaker 2: And her first reaction, Charlie was born with a lot 380 00:18:57,566 --> 00:18:59,766 Speaker 2: of hair, so black hair. She looked quite like a 381 00:18:59,766 --> 00:19:02,486 Speaker 2: bit older than she was because of that. In her 382 00:19:02,526 --> 00:19:05,966 Speaker 2: six year old mind, her first reaction was, it's a boy, 383 00:19:06,046 --> 00:19:10,446 Speaker 2: you said about having a girl. She was a little 384 00:19:10,486 --> 00:19:13,486 Speaker 2: bit disappointed. Actually, I don't know if she expected her 385 00:19:13,486 --> 00:19:15,446 Speaker 2: to come out with long plats or something. 386 00:19:15,806 --> 00:19:18,526 Speaker 1: If you could do it again, would you change anything 387 00:19:18,606 --> 00:19:21,486 Speaker 1: about the way would you change any of those decisions. 388 00:19:21,766 --> 00:19:24,006 Speaker 2: I'm really happy with the way it turned out. I think, 389 00:19:24,406 --> 00:19:26,926 Speaker 2: you know, telling someone that story, you might sort of think, 390 00:19:26,966 --> 00:19:29,766 Speaker 2: well that maybe it doesn't sound so great. But for 391 00:19:29,886 --> 00:19:32,326 Speaker 2: me it was such a positive birth. Yeah, it was 392 00:19:32,366 --> 00:19:34,646 Speaker 2: one of the best moments of my life, like giving 393 00:19:34,646 --> 00:19:37,486 Speaker 2: birth to my girls. I wouldn't change it at all. 394 00:19:37,806 --> 00:19:40,286 Speaker 2: I think that for me, the reason it was a 395 00:19:40,286 --> 00:19:43,406 Speaker 2: really positive birth, despite I call it my plan B birth. 396 00:19:43,966 --> 00:19:46,526 Speaker 2: For me it was really positive and I think, you know, 397 00:19:47,046 --> 00:19:49,406 Speaker 2: all the research around it kind of rings true for me, 398 00:19:49,726 --> 00:19:52,406 Speaker 2: and that is that a positive birth isn't how you 399 00:19:52,486 --> 00:19:55,206 Speaker 2: birth or where you birth, It's about how you feel 400 00:19:55,246 --> 00:19:59,406 Speaker 2: about your birth. So for me, I felt so supported 401 00:19:59,526 --> 00:20:03,606 Speaker 2: by my amazing independent midwife throughout the whole process, and 402 00:20:03,646 --> 00:20:06,126 Speaker 2: my husband and my mom and my daughter. In those 403 00:20:06,166 --> 00:20:09,726 Speaker 2: early labor stages. I felt so informed going into it 404 00:20:09,806 --> 00:20:13,126 Speaker 2: about all my different options I had, and I felt 405 00:20:13,206 --> 00:20:15,606 Speaker 2: like I made the decision to be induced. It didn't 406 00:20:15,646 --> 00:20:18,126 Speaker 2: happen to me, and I really weighed up all those 407 00:20:18,166 --> 00:20:21,806 Speaker 2: pros and cons. I felt like just on top of 408 00:20:21,806 --> 00:20:24,126 Speaker 2: the world after my birth. I was. It was just 409 00:20:24,126 --> 00:20:27,526 Speaker 2: an amazing experience. So for me, that was such a 410 00:20:27,526 --> 00:20:28,246 Speaker 2: positive thing. 411 00:20:28,606 --> 00:20:32,566 Speaker 1: Yeah, I've got a cousin who talks about how she 412 00:20:32,646 --> 00:20:34,926 Speaker 1: actually really loves giving birth because she's like, it's like 413 00:20:34,926 --> 00:20:37,206 Speaker 1: a high. And I've never heard anyone describe it like 414 00:20:37,246 --> 00:20:41,086 Speaker 1: that until you, because you were like, it's almost like addictive. 415 00:20:41,646 --> 00:20:44,166 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's such a high. I think when I had 416 00:20:44,206 --> 00:20:46,766 Speaker 2: my first birth, that was definitely more of a high. 417 00:20:46,806 --> 00:20:49,206 Speaker 2: For a longer amount of time, Like I went into 418 00:20:49,206 --> 00:20:52,366 Speaker 2: that labor land, it was like being on another planet 419 00:20:52,646 --> 00:20:56,246 Speaker 2: this time around, because it was a synthetic, obviously induced birth, 420 00:20:56,446 --> 00:20:59,686 Speaker 2: synthetic hormon going through me. I didn't feel it through 421 00:20:59,726 --> 00:21:03,126 Speaker 2: the birth, but during that pushing stage and I was 422 00:21:03,166 --> 00:21:05,246 Speaker 2: just feeling so relieved and so happy. I felt it then, 423 00:21:05,326 --> 00:21:07,446 Speaker 2: And then I think it was with Charlie's birth. It 424 00:21:07,486 --> 00:21:10,086 Speaker 2: was after the birth. I just felt such a high, 425 00:21:10,806 --> 00:21:13,526 Speaker 2: so in love with my baby, so proud of myself 426 00:21:13,686 --> 00:21:17,406 Speaker 2: for not having the cesarean that I didn't want, and yeah, 427 00:21:17,606 --> 00:21:20,726 Speaker 2: just so full of all the love hormones. And I 428 00:21:20,766 --> 00:21:22,206 Speaker 2: say to a lot of people, I kind of felt 429 00:21:22,206 --> 00:21:25,965 Speaker 2: like like a goop covered superwoman, Like I walked out 430 00:21:26,006 --> 00:21:28,886 Speaker 2: of that hospital carrying her my baby in the little 431 00:21:28,926 --> 00:21:31,206 Speaker 2: bassinet thing for my husband and come pick us up. 432 00:21:31,446 --> 00:21:33,086 Speaker 2: I kind of felt like, you know, people should be 433 00:21:33,126 --> 00:21:37,326 Speaker 2: like popping champagne and confetti and fireworks, like I just 434 00:21:37,366 --> 00:21:38,246 Speaker 2: had a baby. 435 00:21:38,926 --> 00:21:41,966 Speaker 1: That's the whole point of his podcast is to celebrate 436 00:21:42,206 --> 00:21:45,366 Speaker 1: the way that women give birth, like it is incredible, 437 00:21:45,446 --> 00:21:48,406 Speaker 1: like the fact that we grow these tiny little humans 438 00:21:48,646 --> 00:21:54,166 Speaker 1: from a speck to arms, legs, brains, like kidney's, lungs. 439 00:21:54,206 --> 00:21:56,926 Speaker 1: Like whenever I was having a bad day or yelling 440 00:21:56,966 --> 00:21:59,006 Speaker 1: at my husband i'd go, you know, I grew a 441 00:21:59,086 --> 00:22:05,806 Speaker 1: brain today, so leave me alone. So it's incredible. Should 442 00:22:05,846 --> 00:22:06,806 Speaker 1: be proud of yourself. 443 00:22:07,286 --> 00:22:09,806 Speaker 2: Yeah, thank you, Yeah, I think you. That's it. Like 444 00:22:09,846 --> 00:22:11,846 Speaker 2: it's so important for people to know that it kind 445 00:22:11,886 --> 00:22:14,326 Speaker 2: of doesn't matter. Yeah, like how are your birth? You 446 00:22:14,366 --> 00:22:16,366 Speaker 2: can still have a positive birth even if it's not 447 00:22:16,486 --> 00:22:18,286 Speaker 2: kind of your plan a birth. 448 00:22:25,766 --> 00:22:28,086 Speaker 1: Here at Diary of a Birth, we want to ensure 449 00:22:28,206 --> 00:22:31,686 Speaker 1: you have all the information. And today we have obstecution 450 00:22:31,886 --> 00:22:36,806 Speaker 1: and gynecologist, doctor Bronwyn Devine to answer our burning medical questions. 451 00:22:37,366 --> 00:22:40,526 Speaker 1: So what is group B strap and why do we 452 00:22:40,566 --> 00:22:42,046 Speaker 1: test for it in the last trimester? 453 00:22:42,486 --> 00:22:42,566 Speaker 2: So? 454 00:22:42,686 --> 00:22:46,246 Speaker 3: Group B strip is a bacterium that colonizes the genital 455 00:22:46,646 --> 00:22:51,046 Speaker 3: tract and the gastrointestinal tract of about one in four women. 456 00:22:51,886 --> 00:22:55,846 Speaker 3: And because it's a colonizer, it doesn't usually cause a 457 00:22:55,886 --> 00:22:59,046 Speaker 3: problem while it's there. Just like we have a microbiome 458 00:22:59,126 --> 00:23:01,846 Speaker 3: in our gastro intestinal tract, in our gut, we have 459 00:23:01,886 --> 00:23:05,686 Speaker 3: a microbiome in the vagina as well. We live with bacteria. 460 00:23:05,806 --> 00:23:08,286 Speaker 3: They live in our bodies. Most of them have very 461 00:23:08,526 --> 00:23:12,366 Speaker 3: important roles, some of them don't. GBS or group B 462 00:23:12,486 --> 00:23:15,286 Speaker 3: strep is a bacterium that in about one in four 463 00:23:15,326 --> 00:23:19,526 Speaker 3: women is present. It doesn't usually cause any symptoms, it 464 00:23:19,566 --> 00:23:23,406 Speaker 3: doesn't usually cause any pathology, but if it is present 465 00:23:23,726 --> 00:23:26,606 Speaker 3: around the time that someone is going to go into labor, 466 00:23:27,126 --> 00:23:30,806 Speaker 3: there is a chance that that bacterium can get into 467 00:23:30,886 --> 00:23:34,326 Speaker 3: the bloodstream or into the lungs or even the around 468 00:23:34,366 --> 00:23:38,846 Speaker 3: the brain membranes of a newborn baby and cause a 469 00:23:38,886 --> 00:23:42,566 Speaker 3: condition known as early onset group BE strip, which can 470 00:23:42,646 --> 00:23:48,206 Speaker 3: cause septicemia, pneumonia, or meningitis in a newborn baby. Now, 471 00:23:48,246 --> 00:23:51,366 Speaker 3: the chance of that happening is pretty small, but if 472 00:23:51,406 --> 00:23:54,766 Speaker 3: it does happen, it can be really serious for the bove. 473 00:23:55,126 --> 00:23:57,846 Speaker 3: There's also a later onset type of group B strep 474 00:23:58,126 --> 00:24:00,886 Speaker 3: infection in babies that can occur as well. But the 475 00:24:00,926 --> 00:24:03,406 Speaker 3: thing that we worry about is early onset group B strip. 476 00:24:03,726 --> 00:24:06,446 Speaker 3: If group B strip is present in the woman's birth 477 00:24:06,486 --> 00:24:10,646 Speaker 3: canal or around the anus and rectum around the time 478 00:24:10,686 --> 00:24:13,686 Speaker 3: that she's going to go into labor. So we do 479 00:24:13,806 --> 00:24:17,926 Speaker 3: screen for it routinely. Well. We offer screening to pregnant 480 00:24:17,926 --> 00:24:20,806 Speaker 3: people when they come along. We suggest that somewhere between 481 00:24:20,806 --> 00:24:23,406 Speaker 3: about thirty five and thirty seven weeks, they have a 482 00:24:23,566 --> 00:24:26,966 Speaker 3: very simple little swab done just the lower vaginal tract 483 00:24:27,046 --> 00:24:30,326 Speaker 3: doesn't require a speculum like a smear. It just requires 484 00:24:30,366 --> 00:24:32,326 Speaker 3: a little swab just at the opening and then a 485 00:24:32,366 --> 00:24:35,846 Speaker 3: little bit down the peraneal skin towards the anus, and 486 00:24:35,926 --> 00:24:37,806 Speaker 3: then that's sent away and tells us if group B 487 00:24:37,926 --> 00:24:40,766 Speaker 3: strip is present. And then if it is present, when 488 00:24:40,766 --> 00:24:44,246 Speaker 3: that person comes in in labor, they get some intravenous antibiotics. 489 00:24:44,846 --> 00:24:47,406 Speaker 3: And also if they rupture their membranes prior to the 490 00:24:47,406 --> 00:24:50,966 Speaker 3: onset of labor, we often get their labor going rather 491 00:24:51,006 --> 00:24:55,086 Speaker 3: than waiting. Now, there's a number of people who don't 492 00:24:55,126 --> 00:24:58,886 Speaker 3: believe in taking antibiotics in labor, and so they either say, look, 493 00:24:58,886 --> 00:25:01,606 Speaker 3: I don't want to have group B STREP screening done. 494 00:25:01,686 --> 00:25:05,206 Speaker 3: I understand the risks, but I also appreciate that the 495 00:25:05,246 --> 00:25:08,766 Speaker 3: risk of severe disease is fairly low. And you know, 496 00:25:08,846 --> 00:25:11,566 Speaker 3: prior to the screening program, plenty of people would have 497 00:25:11,566 --> 00:25:13,966 Speaker 3: had group B strip and would have had no complications 498 00:25:13,966 --> 00:25:16,606 Speaker 3: at all. And then there are some people who say, 499 00:25:17,006 --> 00:25:19,725 Speaker 3: even if I do have group B strip present, I 500 00:25:19,806 --> 00:25:22,246 Speaker 3: still don't want to have antibodics in labor. I'll consider 501 00:25:22,286 --> 00:25:24,446 Speaker 3: it if there are other risk factors, like I develop 502 00:25:24,486 --> 00:25:28,046 Speaker 3: a fever or there's some other problem, But I don't 503 00:25:28,086 --> 00:25:31,606 Speaker 3: want routinely to be given antibiotics in labor. And part 504 00:25:31,606 --> 00:25:35,206 Speaker 3: of our work as l professionals is to respect people's choices, 505 00:25:35,326 --> 00:25:37,686 Speaker 3: so we can counsel them and say, look, this is 506 00:25:37,726 --> 00:25:40,686 Speaker 3: the reason we do it. We'd recommend it, but at 507 00:25:40,686 --> 00:25:42,286 Speaker 3: the end of the day, if people decide they don't 508 00:25:42,286 --> 00:25:44,126 Speaker 3: want to have treatment for it or don't want to 509 00:25:44,126 --> 00:25:47,646 Speaker 3: have prophylaxis for it, then we go along with that. 510 00:25:48,206 --> 00:25:50,326 Speaker 1: And if you want a water birth, what are some 511 00:25:50,366 --> 00:25:52,806 Speaker 1: of the things you need to know going into it. 512 00:25:52,966 --> 00:25:55,766 Speaker 3: Definitely increasing in popularity and there are certainly more and 513 00:25:55,846 --> 00:25:59,726 Speaker 3: more birthing units that are offering water births essentially for 514 00:25:59,846 --> 00:26:04,686 Speaker 3: low risk patients. So if someone has really high blood 515 00:26:04,726 --> 00:26:09,486 Speaker 3: pressure or unstable diabetes, or a really small, skinny little 516 00:26:09,526 --> 00:26:12,806 Speaker 3: baby that's not growing well and would require monitoring and 517 00:26:12,926 --> 00:26:17,566 Speaker 3: labor sort of fairly continuous monitoring and labor, or has 518 00:26:17,766 --> 00:26:21,086 Speaker 3: other risk factors that sort of mean that their birth 519 00:26:21,166 --> 00:26:24,246 Speaker 3: wouldn't be classed as a low intervention or a low 520 00:26:24,326 --> 00:26:27,166 Speaker 3: risk birth, then water birth may not be something they 521 00:26:27,166 --> 00:26:29,486 Speaker 3: can choose. But for a lot of women whose pregnancy 522 00:26:29,486 --> 00:26:33,766 Speaker 3: is uncomplicated, and too labor. Well, a water birth can 523 00:26:33,806 --> 00:26:37,606 Speaker 3: be a really wonderful thing for women, so lovely form 524 00:26:37,646 --> 00:26:39,006 Speaker 3: of pain or left to be in a hot bath 525 00:26:39,086 --> 00:26:40,766 Speaker 3: or a nice warm bath if you think, you know, 526 00:26:40,806 --> 00:26:44,086 Speaker 3: if you've got back pain or sore muscles after a 527 00:26:44,086 --> 00:26:46,166 Speaker 3: workout or something like that, you know, relaxing in a 528 00:26:46,246 --> 00:26:49,886 Speaker 3: nice bath is really pleasant. As well as that, it's 529 00:26:49,966 --> 00:26:55,126 Speaker 3: quite relaxing, and it's often quite a low stress birth 530 00:26:55,366 --> 00:26:58,686 Speaker 3: because the midwives of the birth attendants tend to be 531 00:26:58,806 --> 00:27:02,166 Speaker 3: very hands off, so they're not up in your grills 532 00:27:02,166 --> 00:27:04,366 Speaker 3: sort of examining you all the time, or not that 533 00:27:04,366 --> 00:27:07,566 Speaker 3: that necessarily happens for people who don't have a water berth, 534 00:27:07,646 --> 00:27:12,205 Speaker 3: but it is very much a low touch approach. We 535 00:27:12,246 --> 00:27:14,486 Speaker 3: don't want to overstimulate the baby because we don't want 536 00:27:14,526 --> 00:27:16,566 Speaker 3: the baby to be born into the water and gasp 537 00:27:16,646 --> 00:27:19,486 Speaker 3: and inhale a lot of the water. So we want 538 00:27:19,526 --> 00:27:21,486 Speaker 3: things to be nice and relaxed and calm as the 539 00:27:21,486 --> 00:27:25,886 Speaker 3: baby's born. And there is also this sort of belief 540 00:27:25,926 --> 00:27:28,806 Speaker 3: that the baby's in liquid because it's in the amniotic 541 00:27:28,846 --> 00:27:32,566 Speaker 3: fluid and then comes out into liquid, and that it's 542 00:27:32,606 --> 00:27:37,366 Speaker 3: sort of a less frightening or confronting passage into the world. 543 00:27:38,006 --> 00:27:40,566 Speaker 3: So for all those reasons, the fact that it's often 544 00:27:40,686 --> 00:27:43,646 Speaker 3: a very low risk approach for women who are deemed 545 00:27:43,726 --> 00:27:47,566 Speaker 3: low risk, no touch, so it's very calm and relaxing, 546 00:27:47,726 --> 00:27:50,406 Speaker 3: but also the warm water is very calm and relaxing, 547 00:27:50,806 --> 00:27:54,646 Speaker 3: and as well as that, we take seriously protecting the 548 00:27:54,726 --> 00:27:57,766 Speaker 3: skin around the vagina and the perineum, the perannal skin 549 00:27:58,446 --> 00:28:02,486 Speaker 3: so that people don't develop severe tears. And in order 550 00:28:02,566 --> 00:28:05,406 Speaker 3: to protect that tissue, we do a lot of warm 551 00:28:05,526 --> 00:28:09,446 Speaker 3: compresses on women who are laboring. The bath or the 552 00:28:09,486 --> 00:28:12,926 Speaker 3: warm water of the bath provides its own natural warm compress, 553 00:28:13,006 --> 00:28:16,366 Speaker 3: so it's supposed to be an effective way of protecting 554 00:28:16,406 --> 00:28:20,246 Speaker 3: the perennial skin so that women can birth naturally and 555 00:28:20,326 --> 00:28:24,486 Speaker 3: without a lot of intervention. But also we've been very 556 00:28:24,526 --> 00:28:27,966 Speaker 3: protective towards their pissues, which is important. 557 00:28:31,966 --> 00:28:34,606 Speaker 1: Diary of a Birth was hosted by me Casenular Kitch 558 00:28:34,606 --> 00:28:38,126 Speaker 1: with expert input from doctor Bronwin Divine. If you have 559 00:28:38,166 --> 00:28:41,366 Speaker 1: a birth story, we'd love to hear from you. Details 560 00:28:41,366 --> 00:28:44,806 Speaker 1: are in the show notes. This episode was produced by 561 00:28:44,926 --> 00:28:49,406 Speaker 1: Tina Mattilov and myself Cassenula Kitch, with audio production by 562 00:28:49,566 --> 00:29:00,806 Speaker 1: Leah porges Mamma Mia acknowledges the traditional owners of the land. 563 00:29:00,886 --> 00:29:04,286 Speaker 1: We have recorded this podcast on the Gatagul people of 564 00:29:04,326 --> 00:29:07,806 Speaker 1: the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their elders 565 00:29:07,886 --> 00:29:11,726 Speaker 1: past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal 566 00:29:11,806 --> 00:29:13,486 Speaker 1: and torrest Rate islander cultures.