The Veterinarian Doula

If you work in a hospital as a midwife or obstetrician, you may be expected to ‘get the baby out’ within 60 seconds of the birth of the head. There can be an expectation that the baby be born within the space of one contraction.

I have personally been mentored by private midwives and have only watched physiological births at home to learn how to sit with birth, so for a long time I assumed that everyone just waited for the second contraction for the shoulders to be born… turns out, many midwives and obstetricians will put their hands on the babies head to try and put traction/pressure on the babies head to bring the shoulders out within the same contraction.

One of the concerns is that if the shoulders aren’t born soon after the head, that they must be stuck and that the baby is experiencing a shoulder dystocia…but that can’t be true, because most of the births I attend follow a two-step method where we just wait for the second contraction for the shoulders and all those babies didn’t have a shoulder dystocia

There is research on this (of course) and Zhang et al in 2017 did a randomised controlled clinical trial to compare a one-step method with a two-step method.

The control group had the one-step method where the clinician used their hands to speed up the birth of the shoulders, the study group had a two-step approach where the clinician just allowed the baby to be born over 2 contractions

The two-step group had ZERO incidence of shoulder dystocia and no increase in neonatal asphyxia compared to the one-step group. The one step group had 4 shoulder dystocia incidents.

The two-step approach allows physiological birth to unfold, acknowledges the cardinal movements of the baby through the pelvis and allows the time for the shoulders to get into position before they are born to allow for a less complicated birth.

By speeding up and trying to manually manipulate the baby out if it’s mother we interrupt the babies manoeuvres through the pelvis and potentially create incidences of shoulder dystocia.

It’s here and I’m excited! The first ever book just for veterinary professionals covering pregnancy and postpartum. Emily Singler, VMD wrote the book on motherhood in vet med for all of us who spent hours and hours googling ”radiation” “anesthesia” toxoplasmosis” “back pain” “contractions at work” “bed rest” “short term disability insurance” “maternity leave” “planning fertility treatments around work schedules” “daycare that stays open past 6pm” “can you bring a toddler with a fever to work with you?” “what to do if you forget your pump parts” and more.

Don't get me wrong, I like a pretty nursery, but we have the priority all wrong. Prepare to be a parent, not to collect things for a baby. Babies don't need much at all. They need parents.

That nursery looked so good before the baby was born and did absolutely nothing for me after birth.

It's not about the nursery.
It's all about the support.

Instead of making a baby registry to help you acquire a bunch of baby stuff, make a registry to get the support you deserve. Head to BeHerVillage.com to start your registry and shop for your support!

🤦‍♀️ why is this so normal?

This week's video is up! The topic is childbirth education classes, why they matter and why independent is far superior to hospital. Sweet pic of couple practicing a "labor dance" for attention.

Unfortunately I find this is very accurate. The Postpartum University Podcast and Nurture Neuroscience are both great follows, btw.

Newsletter went out today! I know it’s a weird day and time for it. 🤷‍♀️
So check your email for this month’s updates and musings.
Big upcoming news… looking at a couple of live learning opportunities. Book club? Postpartum Planning live course? Yes!

This week's Q&A is up. We are talking 3rd trimester ultrasounds, pros and cons, what you need to know before you go.

Oops. Somehow missed posting this one inside the group. Fear-Tension-Pain vs Relaxation-Sensation Cycles. From class Sunday.

The Fear-Tension-Pain cycle vs the Calm-Relaxation-Sensation cycle. From class on Sunday.