Ally
Georgie May Brouwer
Welcome to the world
Born on the 5th of September 2020
Let choice whisper in your ear and love murmur in your heart.
Be ready.
Here comes life. – Laura Stavoe Harm
When I first met Ally, I instantly felt drawn to her bubbly personality.
Ally and her husband Lyndon were expecting their first baby and were feeling a bit anxious about not knowing a lot about labour and birth. There was also that niggly feeling inside Ally that she may feel pressured to be induced unnecessarily due to being diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
After hiring me as her doula, our next step was to make sure Ally was with the right care provider program that aligned with what she was hoping to achieve, relative to a low medical intervention pregnancy and birth. We established that the midwifery group practice was the right fit for Ally, and she felt confident and happy with this model of care.
Ally and I worked together, yet, she also worked diligently by herself. She made the choice to educate herself and build her confidence so she could trust and have faith in her ability to have informed conversations with her care providers and to understand how amazing her birthing body really was. When you change your outlook on birth and recognise the power you gain through knowledge and support, the possibilities become endless.
When the conversation did arise surrounding “induction” at 38-39 weeks, Ally was able to be the driver of her own birth and make her own informed decisions with her care providers, particularly in relation to safely declining an induction and feeling positive to continue her pregnancy for as long as mum and baby were well.
3.9.2020
At 40+3 weeks, baby was doing great, but Ally’s blood pressure was high and not stabilizing. Ally agreed to being admitted and having cervidil gel inserted to see if labour could be persuaded - to start, as it seemed, the right path considering her health.
4.9.2020
After two rounds of the gel at around 6am Ally’s waters break, and it is game on.
When I arrive at the LGH around 8am, Ally is in her normal, happy spirits. Lyndon and the tens machine are doing a great job of supporting Ally through the waves of labour that are coming around every 4min.
Ally knows that any kind of induction can mean a longer labour due to your body having to play catch up. However, Ally doesn’t mind how long it takes as she is ready to meet her baby. Ally looks this challenge in the eye and gives it a wink! Declining any further interventions at this stage, Ally’s spirits are high! As she works with her hormones, moving with the early stages of labour, she feels confident that her body can take it from here. Plus, we have all the comfort measures and tools in the toolbox to make sure she stays calm and as comfortable as possible. The midwives read Ally’s birth plan and are respectful and happy to support her to birth her baby her way.
Due to Ally’s blood pressure, we do need to stay in the hospital during the early stages through to the birth of baby Brouwer. We create a warm and comfortable space with the lights dimmed, clary sage in the diffuser and a playlist of labour songs playing softly in the background (the midwives even comment that our room feels and smells like a day spa )
By about 1pm the sensations are coming around every 2min and Ally is doing famously, working with gravity, using the tens machine and frequently changing positions. Lyndon and I keep Ally hydrated and use heat and massage amongst other techniques for comfort. I have to say, I have never seen anyone move their hips quiet like Ally: “Ally, the way you move in sync with your body is amazing.”
Lyndon and I continue to hold a safe and calm place for Ally to ride with each sensation, one wave at time - ticking them off in our minds as we go. Spinning babies gets a bit of run around 2.30pm just to ensure we are creating balance in Ally’s body and space for baby Brouwer to tuck his or her head and descend. We do know that baby has turned into a favorable anterior position.
At 5pm, a cervical exam confirms that Ally is 2cm dilated and her cervix has softened and is thinning out. Ally is still in early labour. Courage, faith, and patience together with Ally’s beautiful smile will sustain her as she meets her labour wholeheartedly. Ally knows her cervix is not a crystal ball. I am so proud of you Ally xxx you’ve got this.
Some nitrous oxide gas and a warm shower are a nice distraction as Ally has been working hard all day and is starting to feel tired. At 7.45pm, Ally is moved from the labour ward to the maternity ward as she isn’t considered to be in active labour. Due to COVID19, the visiting hours in the maternity ward are limited to 9pm, which means that Lyndon and I can’t stay with her. It is extremely hard for Lyndon to leave Ally. Honestly, its heartbreaking to leave a woman in labour by herself with only a tens machine for company. Ally, again, your spirit amazes me. Smiling, she informs us that she will be just fine - encouraging us to go and get some rest. Ally is always making sure everyone is taken care of, even in labour!
Ally has been given a sedative to hopefully allow her to have a rest, too. Of course, this doesn’t really do anything but make her a little drowsy.
At 2.15am on the 5.9.2020, Lyndon and I have been called back to the LGH as Ally is now in active labour and has been moved back to labour ward.
I am a warrior woman! I will meet labor wholeheartedly. May I know all the strength of my powerful body, may my thoughts remain clear and focused, and may my spirit join effortlessly with the power of my birth. Nurturer and sustainer of life: Grant my child safe passage into the world. May my baby be born strong, healthy and alert. - Unknown
We recreate our calm environment and get back to work supporting Ally as she soldiers on with those captivating dancing hips of hers, moving more than ever to jiggle this little baby down.
At 4.25am, mum and baby are doing great. Though baby has been changing positions a lot through labour. You could say this little baby is a spinning baby and going the long way around in descending through the pelvis. Ally is feeling pressure in her bottom now and a second exam informs us that Ally is 7cm dilated. We know all the songs on our playlist off by heart by now. We have also been having lots of guesses on if this little baby is a girl or a boy. The ring test I performed for a bit of fun during Ally’s pregnancy confirmed its a “Boy”, but I’m now having my doubts.
6.50am: Still jiggling those hips using up-right positions, the peanut ball and the birth cub to help baby descend. Ally powers on with the unconditional love and support of Lyndon and I. Lyndon has also chosen some positive affirmation cards to keep Ally in a positive and trusting mind frame. Pressure is continuing to build in Ally’s bottom and squatting positions seem to feel good during sensations.
8am: We have another midwife shift change. Geraldine from the midwifery group practice has arrived to support us. Geraldine performs a cervical check and her call is: Ally isn’t 7cm, but 5cm and her cervix has started to swell thanks to baby’s head not being in the best of positions.
In giving birth may we find that we give birth to new possibilities within ourselves. - Mula & John Kabat-Zinn
Ally has a hit a bit of a roadblock. It’s time for some decision making - this includes a detour from her original birth plan. The beauty of a birth plan is that you have become informed on all your options and are prepared to take alternative paths if needed. Roadblocks are only bumps in the road. There are ways to go over them, around them and continue on happily with a plan B.
The medical toolbox may just come in handy now to assist Ally and her baby. Ally has been in Labour for a long time. Her hormones and positive outlook have kept her focussed and alert. An epidural has now presented itself to have a benefit. Ally can rest, her blood pressure will drop thanks to that being a side effect of epidurals and it may help to relax her pelvic floor and reduce the swelling of her cervix. It’s a plan. We also know that our baby has turned into a posterior position …Cheeky little monkey. The Obstetrician would also like permission to administer some Syntocinon to allow extra pressure on baby’s head to encourage baby to tuck his or her chin and turn anterior. We discuss this option and agree it may now have some benefits.
The epidural has left Ally with sensations in her legs and she has all the sensations of feeling the urge to push as well. Refraining from pushing until she is ready to birth her baby will be Ally’s biggest challenge. For the swelling to subside she needs to resist the urges to push with her body, as her cervix needs to thin and dilate to 10cm. This is where your mind is truly tested, putting all of its energy into staying focused and strong. Wherever the mind goes, the body follows.
Ally is now at her most powerful and her most vulnerable. But any woman that has birthed with the determination of Ally understands that we are stronger than we know. We continue to use the peanut ball between Ally’s legs at intervals and rub her legs to help relax her pelvic floor.
3.40pm: Ally is now 7cm. and the swelling of her cervix has subsided. This information is such a positive, as Ally is on her way to meeting her baby.
Somewhere between 4pm and 7 pm Lyndon and I take turns having a cat nap on the pull-out chair in our room.
Our play list has been on repeat for many hours. Lyndon will have a full repertoire of songs that he now knows all the words to .This may come in handy when comforting their new baby in the weeks and months ahead.
At 7pm, Ally is 9cm dilated. We can see the finish line coming up. Baby has turned and seems pretty happy most of the time. We have had some beautiful and supportive midwives through Ally’s marathon labour event and it’s nice to have Geraldine back to assist Isabelle who has done a wonderful job of caring for Ally, too. We are all so happy that very soon a new little soul is going to grace us all with his or her presence and steal our hearts away. This is what we came here for. All your sweat, tears, determination and faith are about to be rewarded with the gift of a new life. Go collect the soul of your baby, Ally, and bring your baby earth side.
8.45pm and 10cm dilated, Ally can finally work with her body. A birthing goddess in her glory. We all encourage Ally. She takes the reins and taps into her own birthing power for one last time. She let go of the outer world and began to find the inner rhythm and connection with the energy of birth. Baby Brouwer was going to make mummy work hard right to the end, but this mummy was up for the challenge. “We have a secret in our culture, and it is not that birth is painful. It’s that women are strong “Laura Stavoe Harm.
At 9.40pm, a beautiful healthy baby girl finally graced us with her presence. Little Miss Georgie May, we have been patiently waiting for you, and you are defiantly worth the wait xxx
Ally, you took my breath away. You’re one amazing young woman and I am so happy and proud of you. Georgie May has two wonderful parents that will love and treasure her for always. Thank you for trusting me to be yours and Lyndon’s guide as you ventured into the unknown and unpredictable waters of labour and birth. You nailed it Ally xxxx Now the real fun begins! I look forward to spending some time caring for you while you rest, recover from your birth and get to know your gorgeous little girl.
Love Krista xxx
“Just as there is no warning for childbirth, there is no preparation for the sight of a first child. There should be a song for women to sing at this moment, or a prayer to recite. But perhaps there is none because there are no words strong enough to name that moment”. -Anita Diamant