Jac
Hello World
Introducing Luciana Louise Foley
Born on the 03/04/2021
When I think of Jac, I smile instantly. First impressions – a pretty, feminine, softly spoken young woman who is interested in food, nutrition, and yoga. She is about to add to her repertoire - a fearless, not to be messed with educated Birthing Goddess.
Jac’s husband has 4 children and together this will be their first baby. Jac also has the most amazingly supportive and always glamorous mother Moira who is part of the awesome foursome that makes up Jac’s birth team.
Whenever we caught up, Jac and Moira always had lots of laughs. They both embraced all the information I had to share with them. Jac had a great start in preparing her body for birth with her yoga background and she also incorporated the spinning babies and optimal positioning techniques into her daily routine.
Jac does have some medical conditions that ensured her having to work hard with her care providers, to avoid being labeled as a high-risk pregnancy. As Jac was a public patient she did find herself continually having to explain herself re her conditions and relay the information from her specialist. This was mentally and emotionally draining for Jac at times. Due to COVID restrictions she could not take any of us with her for moral support. But in her little pocket rocket stead she continued to press on and push to birth her baby the way she knew was healthy, safe, and right for her.
Childbirth is an experience in a woman’s life that holds the power to transform her forever. Passing through these powerful gates-in her own way-remembering all the generations of women who walk with her …. she is never alone. -Susanne Arms
At 38 weeks and 1 day baby Foley gave us a sign she was on the move
Jac’s Birth Story
02.04.2021 - Like all good stories start… Its dark and 4.44am on Easter Friday morning. Jac wakes to her waters breaking. When Jac contacts me very shortly after, she is experiencing period cramps and feeling a bit shaky.
7am - Jac and Josh head to the LGH to be checked out. Baby is very happy and doing great. They recommend that if she isn’t in labour by tomorrow that she should come back in, start antibiotics and agree to be induced. In hindsight, if they knew Jac, they would have known that she would safely make her own informed decisions and they don’t always align with hospital standard procedures!
2pm - Jac’s surges are inconsistent, but they are building in intensity. They are strong enough now that she would like me to come and support her at their home.
12pm - 2pm – I am welcomed by three smiling faces, Jac, Moira and Josh. Jac, is wrapped in a glorious peachy pink fluffy dressing gown, glowing rosy cheeks and her beautiful soft curls falling around her face. Jac has found her rhythm and is moving and breathing beautifully through each sensation, lovingly supported by both her husband and her mum. Birth is all about celebrating – I set about creating a warm environment with fairy lights and aromatherapy in the diffuser. This couple are already sorted in the music department - their favourite songs playing softly in the background.
I warm up some heat packs to provide comfort for Jac and blow up my birth cub (the best labour tool ever). We enjoy snacks and engage in our spinning babies exercises to make sure she can create as much balance in her body and space as we need to help this little girl navigate her way earthside. Jac labours in optimal labouring positions: standing, moving around, and resting over the birth cub. We make sure Jac is snacking and keeping hydrated. We use soft touch and positive words of encouragement.
I perform some acupressure on Jac with clary sage essential oil to encourage consistency and strength of sensations. Meanwhile, Josh lovingly strokes Jac’s head and face, reminding her of how amazing she is doing. Jac is surrounded by our fairly lights of love and laughter. [I have just taken a breath here as I am smiling.] Jac’s husband, Josh, makes me want to hold my hand to my heart. This oxytocin-boosting, loving young husband has the skills of an experienced doula. I meant it when I said, “if he wants to give up his day job as an artist that birth work may be his next calling,” It probably won’t pay as well, I joke, as Josh is a very talented and successful Artist in Tasmania – he has already found his calling. This young man has all the right words and comfort measures nailed.
Connection is everything. To see the power of love and intimate connection working so fluidly and effortlessly together with a couple is so heartwarming in these most important hours of her life. Jac feels completely loved, cherished and supported.
Jac is blessed. Moira is the bubble of joy in this party of four. So positive and effervescent. “It’s wonderful” in Moira’s words, to see her much loved and adored only daughter feel emotionally and physically supported to birth her baby with love and confidence.
2pm - I suggest a specific spinning babies’ technique to really encourage baby Foley to find the right position and get this labour going with some more consistency. We all move into the baby’s room, and I support Jac through 10 lifts and tucks. Without fail, this technique (touch wood) always works. If baby just needs some space to reposition his or her head to descend deeper into the pelvis this is the one to do. Bingo! We are away…
4.15pm – Jac’s sensations have strength and rhythm. We are all supporting and encouraging her. Birthing women need encouragement to trust their bodies and be the star of their own show xx Only with trust, faith and support can the women allow her birth experience to enlighten and empower her.
5.40pm – Josh accompanies Jac into the shower. I know we are well on our way as Moira and I can hear Jac roaring in the shower.
6.60pm - Jac has been working and breathing through strong regular contractions. Jac feels she is ready to head to the LGH. I call to let them know we are on our way. I am hopeful that they may let the three of us continue to support Jac, as Moira is an intensive care nurse at the LGH and we have all worked so fluidly and beautifully together supporting her to get this far. Sadly, they won’t allow all three of us together, but we can rotate if we choose too.
7.45pm - Jac, Josh and I settle into labour ward. The Obstetrician is onto us before we even have time to really settle in with the talk of vaginal exams and antibiotics. My Birthing Goddess politely but firmly has her piece to say and declines both. We hand the OB Jac’s birth plan, and after that we don’t see them again. Jac’s wishes are no Obstetricians unless there is a medical need. Thus, the Ob sends her messages respectfully through the midwives. Our midwife Jane checks over mum and baby and they are both doing just fine.
It is cold in our room but Jac is working so hard that she can’t even feel the chill in the air. At her request we have the windows open to allow the fresh air in. Jac’s senses are all heightened, she can’t stand the smell of the hospital cleaning products.
8.39pm - The day has been long and Jac is leaning over the birth cub on the bed, with her divine pink fluffy eye mask on. Jac’s labouring wishes are to create a homebirth type atmosphere with minimal people in the room. No unnecessary distractions or talking. This Birthing Goddess is the driver of her own labour and knows exactly what she needs to keep focussed. The gas is giving Jac something to focus on as she breaths deeply and steadily. I Chugg her legs to relax her pelvic floor muscles and Josh rubs her back.
A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform. Jac knows that all she has been working towards has bought her here and that she has everything in her that she needs. My birthing goddess soldiers on, as the waves get stronger, holding on and breathing through every sensation. Each one brings her one step closer to meeting her baby daughter.
8.39pm – Jac declines a vaginal exam at this time. She knows that her cervix is not a crystal ball. She also recognises that if the dilation number doesn’t match how she is feeling, it has the power to change her mindset and her focus. Our supportive midwives agree.
9.35pm - Jac’s blood pressure is a little high. She is roaring and thumping the birth cub at the intensity that is called labour. Just as a woman’s heart knows how to pump and fill her lungs with air, so too does her body know how to work with her mind to keep control of each sensation. They build in intensity 1-2 minutes apart, yet the power of her sensations is not stronger than Jac, they are Jac.
10.16pm – Jac changes to a position on all fours while Josh performs some rebozo sifting to provide comfort.
10.39pm - We need a change of scenery. Fortunately, as Jac has chosen intermittent monitoring, she has the freedom of movement and can use the shower and the bath. Moira swaps with Josh for 20 min and Jac enjoys a warm shower and chat with her mum.
10.55pm – Jac agrees to a vaginal exam to see how her labour is progressing. This information is for the midwives only, and we all agree that the rest of us won’t know the result unless there is an issue that may require us to make some changes to our birth plan.
Jac’s Intuition is stronger than ever. She will take her feelings into consideration when making decisions.
The bath is filled, the warmth and the weightlessness are a welcome comfort as these sensations just keep building in intensity. I set up the room with fairy lights, diffuser, and soft music. I feel this would be a special time for Jac and Josh to be alone as Josh is going to immerse himself into the bath with Jac, continuing to support her with soft touch and positive words of encouragement as needed.
This is a beautiful part of Jac’s birth story. As she shares with me after her birth, that this time in the bath was a very spiritual and peaceful experience for her. Undisturbed birth can transcend a woman out of her body and take her to safe and wonderful shores. Jac was able to completely submit her mind and body as she immersed herself into the warm depths of the bath and Josh’s safe arms. Her mind was free to take her out of her body. Closing her eyes, Jac had visions of herself as a baby. She could see her young stepson, Odie, gently taking her hand and leading her down a path of light and love. She felt the presence and comfort of her beloved cats, Joney and Mitchel, who have been her constant companions for many years. Jac connected and asked for strength and love from her beloved granny who had passed away. As Jac opened her eyes, the door opened, she could see her grandmother standing in the doorway. As she blinked and readjusted her focus her granny’s face had faded away and her midwife Janet was smiling at her.
“We must understand that childbirth is fundamentally a spiritual, as well as a physical achievement. The birth of a child is the ultimate perfection of human love.”- Dr Grantley Dick-Read.
1.15am 3.4.2021 - Jac makes her way out of the bath and back to her room. She is feeling very tired and her strong sensations have been close together and relentless for many hours. We discuss some other pain management options with our midwife and Jac decides that a morphine injection may take the edge off the pain, enabling her to lay down and rest. The morphine injection does turn out to be the right choice for Jac, and she can lay in the dark on her side with a peanut ball between her legs, re-focus and reset her mind to continue this journey, however long it takes.
Josh is so very gifted with his words. He knows just the right quotes as well as the perfect amount of touch to be the best support he can be to his wife.
4.26am - Jac agrees to another Vaginal exam as the morphine is wearing off and she would like the option to choose another dose.
Jac and her baby are progressing well, but still a way off from being at the stage to birth her baby. It is deemed safe for Jac to have another injection of morphine.
6.28am – Jac’s sensations are now causing her to have what we call a crisis of confidence. Jac randomly asks for an epidural (Reflecting back on this request, Jac shared with me that she knew the baby was coming and that she wouldn’t be having an epidural). The anesthetists did come and speak with Jac and advise her against the epidural due to her medical condition with bleeding. He must have gone away and thought about it as he came back in to say she could have a spinal. Too late! as at 6.50am, Jac was 10cm and her baby girl was on her way.
Reflecting back to a previous notion, “our cervix is not a crystal ball.” Jac’s labour at this stage has progressed a lot more rapidly than the medical team had predicted.
I chose this quote as it corresponds with the events that took place in the two hours and 10 min that were to follow: “It is said that women in labour leave their bodies... they travel to the stars to collect the souls of their babies. And return to this world together.”
My birthing goddess wanted the room to be pitch black. No speaking. Complete silence. She asked our midwife to ‘shhh’ as she tried to speak. ‘Shhh…shhhh’ she said again. Janet explained she needed to share some information about pushing with her. Jac came out of her birthing zone and expressed to Janet that she did not need any coaching to birth her baby as her own research, her intuition and the trust she now had in her body was going to be her guiding light. We all did whisper now and then. But we couldn’t escape from Jac hearing us. We were in no terms told to ‘shhh.’ We all giggled silently as we smiled at each other.
Again, Jac shared with me later that her body just knew exactly how to move and slightly adjust to accommodate her baby as she descended through the birth canal. Her yoga came in handy as she knew exactly how she needed to breath and push with the peak of her sensations and to stay focussed. Focussed, my word she was. Our physical support in keeping Jac on her side holding up her leg and our caring and respectful presence was all that was needed. My iPhone came in handy as a torch for Janet to be able to access the progress.
Witnessing a baby make their final descend into the world takes your breath away. What an honour. I felt like a star encompassed by twinkling lights should be lighting the pathway of baby Foley’s debut earthside. After all, this is the portal delivering new life into the world. A small torch and my iPhone had to suffice.
I am still in awe when I reminisce on what was to happen next. For two hours and 10 minutes, Jac never spoke, transcending into her sacred birthplace. Jac was focused, drawing from her knowledge of how far she had come and having faith at just how far she could go. A healthy little girl finally made her spectacular and calm debut. As soon as her daughter was brought up into her arms, a smiling and joyful newborn mother was also born. Jac instantly sat up, came alive and started smiling and singing to her beautiful newborn daughter, telling her how beautiful she was and how happy she was to meet her. Jac asked to Josh to join in with welcoming their precious baby into the world with their special song. Jac was glowing and smiling from ear to ear. Her rosy cheeks and tussled brown hair framing her face, high levels of oxytocin flowing through her body. Her little, little cherub kept close and lovingly held in her arms.
Around 15 min later, Jac had a physiological placenta release. Her placenta came out easily. Unfortunately, what was to follow was a lot of blood loss, a postpartum hemorrhage. A team of medical assistance was needed and Syntocinon injections and an IV drip administered to stop the flow of blood. Jac became very weak at this point. This little pocket rocket was still in charge of her own birth and was letting the obstetrician know who was and who was not to treat her, insert IV lines, take her blood, or administer drugs.
We passed the baby to Josh at this time, for some skin-to-skin time with his new daughter as Jac was too weak and not feeling great at this point. Baby Foley was getting a little upset as Dad didn’t have the goods of “colostrum.”
I stayed by Jac’s side when I was able to, stroking her face and keeping her updated on her baby and Josh. Once the bleeding was under control and Jac gained some colour back in her face she again started to be the driver. Asking for the Syntocinon drip to be removed as it was making her feel unwell and shaky. The Obstetrician was not keen to accommodate Jac’s request. Jac said to me “I know my own body, and this is making me sick.” It was agreed that it would be removed and if her bleeding started up again then the Syntocinon would be reinstated. Within minutes of its removal Jac started to feel a whole lot better. The bleeding, thankfully, stayed under control.
Again, my savvy little Birthing Goddess was making her own informed decisions, declining stitches for a second-degree tear. The obstetrician was very forth coming in wanting to change Jac’s mind. Again, Jac stayed firm in what her own research had shown and what aligned with what felt right for her. I asked her if she was sure with what she had chosen and she assured me she was. Also reminding me I was the one that shared the evidence research from Dr Rachel Reed with her. A funny moment – As I had to go back and remind myself of the research paper.
We can never predict how a birth will unfold. Jac’s positive and empowering birth was dampened down by the stress and concern for her health and wellbeing from the postpartum hemorrhage.
Healing from the trauma associated with the postpartum hemorrhage is something Jac will need support with to come to terms and accept what unfolded after her daughter’s birth. In the long term I hope it never overshadows the supportive and beautiful birth that Jac was able to achieve. Birthing her baby with love, faith, trust, and confidence. Just like the song by Frank Sinatra – “I did it my way.”
I feel very teary as I listen to this song. I am so proud of you Jaclyn Foley xxxxx My beautiful little savvy birthing pocket rocket Goddess, I’m so happy our paths have crossed, and my heart just sang seeing you birth Luciana Louise Foley your way. Thank you for trusting in me and inviting me along to be part of your special birth story All my love,
Krista xxxx
FRANK SINATRA I DID IT MY WAY - YouTube