I have a sewing/craft kit for long births. The couple seems
more relaxed about me being there for a long time when I
have something else to do. It takes pressure off mom to
perform and I get something else done. At one birth, I made
an entire quilt! (I have a lot of apprentices so we make
sure the mom has all the help she needs.)
-Lisa Hines L.M.
S.C.
====
I used to carry a plastic soup ladle for applying pressure
to the mom's back...your hands/fists can get so tired. I
discovered this at a birth where my hands could take no
more. I thought of an ice cream scoop and went to my
client's kitchen to find one and could only find a ladle. I
found that the long handle on the soup ladle worked so much
better. I used this again at my grandbaby's birth in April!
-Carla Hartley
====
-A couple of times I have arrived at a home visit to a
deeply jaundiced baby even though the mother had been
instructed to call me if she noticed the yellow increasing.
The problem seemed to be an inability, on a day to day
basis, to observe a creeping increase. To solve the problem
I printed a color sheet from my computer of jaundice-yellow
on a gradient fading from light to deep and inclusive of the
gradient expressed on an icterometer. When a baby is
jaundiced I can hand this strip of paper to the parents and
ask them to press and blanche the baby's nose then match the
shade on the paper to the baby's shade of jaundice. They can
mark that spot with a pencil and repeat on the following day
in similar light to readily compare any change on a day to
day basis.
-Maryl Smith
====
Here are a few unusual things I keep in my birth bag as a
doula: extra toothbrushes for client and family members, and
for inductions, I keep things on hand that require some
degree of ambulation and distraction: a face mask is my
favorite. Both mother and I will use it.
-Connie Sultana, CD(DONA), ICCE
===
Here are a few more birthkit items gleaned from Midwifery
Today's Tricks of the Trade books:
-A mechanic's mirror: perfect for allowing the birthing mom
to get a good look at her cervix.
-Clear eyeglasses to protect your eyes from splattered blood
or amniotic fluid-they look friendlier than protective
goggles.
-Walking shoes so you can take nice long walking breaks to
clear your head and wake up, and give the couple some
private time.
-Hydrogen peroxide--it takes blood out of anything (pour it
on, let it foam up, blot it out--don't rub!).
-Tea tree oil to relieve pain and soreness when suturing
perineal tears. It also helps perineal tissue recover and
prevents infection.
-A good-sized plastic tablecloth with a flannel back won't
slip around as Chux or other plastic sheeting will. The
flannel side is more comfortable than a Chux under the
mother, won't rip, has no seams that will leak, and covers a
large area. It won't bunch and tear. It washes well and can
be reused.
-A folding metal or paper fan. This small, simple tool can
provide real comfort to a hard-working woman, plus it can
give a nervous family member a useful job.
-A joke book. Even a forced smile releases endorphins, the
body's natural pain medicine. It may help to tell some good
jokes to a birthing mother, or even some not so good ones,
especially in early labor.
Reprinted from Midwifery Today E-News (Vol 2 Issue 28 July 12, 2000)
To subscribe to the E-News write: enews@midwiferytoday.com
For all other matters contact Midwifery Today:
PO Box 2672-940, Eugene OR 97402
541-344-7438, midwifery@aol.com, Midwifery Today
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