Flutters of Motherhood

Two women, Hena Skelton and Deleisha Collins, are students at the University of South Alabama (Go, Jags!) have written a booklet of poetry entitled, "flutters of Motherhood" as part of their studies.

For the next few Saturdays, I will post one of their poems. I hope you enjoy them.

Flutter of Motherhood

The first time

I felt the flutter

of a baby

zooming across

the inside of my

belly was an unforgettable

moment. She whirred

and spun, awakening

my pregnant

self to feelings

of nausea turning

immediately to exaltations

of the flutter

that I had

waited twenty weeks

to feel. She was there

tucked safely

and now she moved

inside to remind

me of life

and future motherhood.

Hena Skelton
©Hena Skelton 2009 All rights reserved

Hena Skelton is a senior at University of South Alabama majoring in English Literature. She is married and mother of six wonderful children, five girls and one boy.

Tag Team Delivery. . .

I can't remember a delivery ever happening quite like this before. I was part of a tag-team delivery!

Now I have had times before where I might have delivered the baby's head and the physician has come in and delivered the rest of the baby, but this time the physician wasn't here until the baby was out, crying and being dried off.

This is how it happened. This was not the first baby for this mother and as it turned out, her other babies were significantly bigger than this one, her first little girl. Her nurse, Mary, checked her and the mother was ready to start pushing. Mary called the doctor to let him know and she had the patient push for the first time.

She told me that the first push really wasn't that effective. Mary had then said something to the mother that was funny and the mother started laughing. As she did, the baby just started coming down. Mary called out to me and all of us came running. One nurse called the doctor, one grabbed a delivery table, I uncovered it and put on some gloves. The next contraction pushed out the baby's head with Mary doing the delivery. I handed her the bulb syringe to suction out the baby's mouth and nose.

She looked at me and asked, "Do you have on two gloves?"

"Yea, why?" Then I looked at her and noticed she only had a glove on her right hand. "Do you want to switch places?"

She answered, "Yea, I only have on one glove!"

So we swapped places beside the mother's bed.

I felt along the baby's neck and felt a loop of umbilical cord. I gently pulled it over the head (as one would pull a long necklace over their head) and then eased the shoulders out. The rest of the baby came out with no problem at all. I told the baby "Happy Birthday!" just as the physician came running through the door.

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"If you had waited just sixty seconds, I would have made it." he said.

I thought "Tell that to the baby!"

I clamped and cut the cord, while he was putting on a gown (a luxury I had not taken) and his gloves. One of his gloves tore, so by the time he donned the second pair of gloves, we were just about finished.

It was a odd delivery, these two nurses with 60+ years of baby experience between them, sharing a delivery. I'm pretty sure I've never done a tag-team delivery with a nurse before, but I guess there's a first time for everything!

The Wonder of It All

At work we have just received, through a partnership with a local university and the generosity of a donor to that university, a perinatal simulator doll. This doll, Noelle, is a life-sized model of a pregnant woman. She can do just about everything a real pregnant woman can do. She can deliver a baby, she can have placental previa, placenta abruption, post-partum hemorrhage, breech delivery, Cesarean Section, prolapsed cord. non-reassuring fetal heart tones. . .basically you name it, Noelle can simulate it.

For those of us who participate in the education of students, new employees and the re-certification of existing employees, Noelle is a dream come true. Our hospital had a "baby shower" welcoming Noelle and her baby counterpart, Pedi-Blue the other day. As part of that welcoming, professors from the College of Nursing were there and Nursing Students were encouraged to participate in some of Noelle's simulations. I stood back and watched as one tiny Nursing Student practiced delivering her first "baby".

Even in simulation with a plastic mother and baby, the design of birth is fascinating. In my head I was thinking through the mechanisms of labor the baby was going through and the steps the student needed to do in response.

Birth is a beautiful, awe-inspiring event. After thirty-one years and thousands of

Image by sean dreilinger via Flickr

babies, it still manages to bring a sense of wonder to my heart. Seeing a little head emerge, those arms and legs, those tiny fingers and toes come into the light of day. . .then hearing that cry for the first time. . .it is nothing short of miraculous.

How blessed I have been to be able to be a part of such miracle over and over again.

What NOT To Do While Pregnant. . .Part 3

We have been looking at things to avoid while pregnant. In this post, we are going to look at environmental chemicals that can pose a threat to the unborn baby.

WORKPLACE PRODUCTS -- SOLVENTS

Some household cleaning products contain solvents, which are chemicals that dissolve other substances. Common solvents include degreasers, paint thinners and varnish removers. Women who are exposed to solvents during the first trimester of pregnancy are more likely than unexposed women to have a baby with a major birth defect, such as spina bifida (and open spine), clubfoot, heart defects or deafness.

Products with solvents may include those used in processing photographs, or used for arts and crafts, used for silk-screen printing, graphic design and printing industry.

If you must come in contact with these chemicals in your workplace, make sure the area is well-ventilated, wear appropriate protective equipment and never eat or drink in the work area.

HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS -- CLEANING PRODUCTS

Household cleaning products may contain solvents. Oven cleaners may fit into this

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category. Read the label carefully to see if the product is safe for use during pregnancy.

Products containing ammonia or chlorine are not likely to harm the unborn baby, although the odors they produce may cause nausea in a pregnant woman. Always open doors and windows when using the products and wear rubber gloves. Never mix ammonia and chlorine because the combination produces toxic fumes that are dangerous for anyone, pregnant or not.

HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS -- PESTICIDES

Whenever possible, pregnant women should avoid pesticides. All pesticides are to some degree poisonous. Some studies indicate that exposure to pesticides increases the risk of miscarriage and preterm labor, but the level of exposure must be high. Some pesticides have weak, estrogen-like qualities called endocrine disrupters that some suspect may affect development of the fetus's reproductive system.

METALS -- LEAD

Lead poses a risk for everyone, but those at greatest risk are young children and unborn babies. Exposure to high levels of lead can contribute to miscarriage, preterm delivery and developmental delays in the infant. Women living in older homes may face more exposure due to deteriorating lead-based paint. Approximately 80% of homes built before 1978 were painted with lead-based paint. If the paint is not peeling or crumbling, there is little risk. Sanding or scraping the paint, however, produces lead dust. Therefore, lead-based paint should only be removed by professionals using the proper safety precautions.

Some art materials, such as oil paints, ceramic glazes and stained glass materials contain lead. A woman should use lead-free alternatives while pregnant and breastfeeding.

METALS - MERCURY

Pregnant women can become exposed to mercury by eating contaminated fish. The mercury accumulates in the fatty tissues of the fish and the highest levels of mercury is found in large fish that eat other fish, such as swordfish and sharks.

If you have any question about an item in your environment and its safety to you and your baby, the best thing is to avoid the item and ask your health care provider for guidance.

What NOT To Do While Pregnant. . .Part 2

Congratulations! You are pregnant!

Most women either already know, or receive a great deal of information of the things they should do to maintain a healthy pregnancy and help their baby grow

Image by Ivan Makarov via Flickr

well and healthy, too.

We have been looking at some of the things to avoid while pregnant. Some of these may seem obvious, but I have learned in 30+ years of obstetrics, some patients will think it everything is OK that has not been specifically spelled out as harmful to them or their baby.

Last time we looked at what we shouldn't do regarding our pets. Today we will look at substances we can take into our bodies which can affect our babies.


I am always amazed at women who continue to smoke (or drink alcohol or use drugs, for that matter) during pregnancy. It is estimated that 25% of American women smoke during their childbearing years. Most of these women would be appalled if someone were to pour a shot of liquor into their baby's bottle, or put a lit cigarette up to the newborns mouth and nose. Yet, drinking and smoking during pregnancy is still considered acceptable by so many portions of our society. Let's look at these, and some substances you might not think about, and how they affect a pregnancy.

SMOKING

The plain and simple truth of it is that smoking harms your baby. When you smoke, carbon monozide attaches to your hemoglobin molecules in place of the oxygen that would normally attach there. That is oxygen your baby's body doesn't receive.

Smoking damages blood vessels which carry blood and nutrients to your baby through the placenta. Baby's who can't receive enough nutrients and oxygen will grow to be smaller at birth.

The nicotine and carbon monoxide found in cigarette smoke has been associated with many pregnancy complications such as:

• Low Birth Weight Babies
• Preterm Delivery
• Premature Rupture of Membranes
• Placental abnormalities
• Increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

Women who smoke during pregnancy are 3.5 times ore likely to delivery a baby that is les than 5.5 pounds at birth. These babies often do not function as well as normal weight newborns. Pregnant smokes are 2.5 more likely to have preterm labor than non-smokers.

Smoking affects not only the baby, but the placenta as well, increasing the likelihood of placental abruption (a premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall). Placenta previa is also more common in smokers. Both of these conditions can be life-threatening to the mother and baby and can result in blood loss and hemorrhaging.

Quitting smoking (hopefully before you become pregnant) during pregnancy is one of the greatest things you can do for your health and the health of your baby. Contact your health care provider for a referral to smoking cessation classes. Most hospitals offer these classes free of charge. Here are some other resources;

• smokefree.gov
• 1-800-Quit-Now
• The National Tobacco Cessation Collaborative
• The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Kicking the habit is never easy, but when the goal is a healthy newborn and a healthy mother, the incentive is great to help most women to stick with a smoking cessation program throughout the course of their pregnancy. But don't start back once the baby is here: second hand smoke is a major risk factor for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome!

ALCOHOL

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause both physical and mental birth defects. FAS, or fetal alcohol syndrome is one of the most common causes of mental retardation.

No one knows exactly how much alcohol lead to birth defects. THERE IS NO DEFINED "SAFE LIMIT". The level can vary from woman to woman. THERE IS ALSO NO SAFE TIME TO DRINK DURING PREGNANCY. The best thing to do for your baby is to avoid alcohol while pregnant, this means avoiding beer, wine, liquor and wine coolers.

Children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome may have:

• Abnormal facial features
• Small head size
• Low body weight
• Poor coordination
• Difficulty paying attention
• Poor memory
• Learning disabilities
• Speech and language delays
  
• Intellectual disability or low IQ
• Poor reasoning and judgment skills
• Vision or hearing problems

Fortunately, FAS is 100% preventalbe. Do NOT drink while you are pregnant. The alcohol passes across the placenta to your growing baby. I always like to say, if you wouldn't put in in the baby's bottle, don't put it in your mouth while you're pregnant.

ILLEGAL DRUGS

Illegal drugs, and even some over-the-counter and prescription drugs can hurt your baby. The drugs cross the placenta and enter the baby's bloodstream. Some can lead to birth defects while others can cause your baby to be born too small or very sick. Babies can be born with addictions to the drug and begin withdrawal shortly after birth. These babies often cry more than the average baby, tremble, and have trouble sleeping. Other symptoms of withdrawal from illegal drugs may include: irritability, convulsions, diarrhea, fever, feeding difficulties and sleep abnormalities.


Cocaineand/or Methaphetaine use during the early part of pregnancy increases the risks of miscarriage. Use of either drug in the second and third trimesters increases the risks of premature labor and placental abruption.

Babies born to mothers who have used herion have a higher risk of having intracranial hemorrhage (bleeding in the brain), low blood sugar and premature birth.

No illegal drug is safe for your baby. Contact your health care provider, be honest about any and all drugs you are taking and ask how to manage any medical problems or conditions you may have while seeking treatment for addiction.

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

There is often the belief that if a drug is prescribed, it must be safe. There are many drugs that are considered safe for use in pregnancy. There are others, however, that should not be used, or only used when absolutely necessary.

Some drugs if taken in the early weeks of pregnancy can be especially harmful to your baby. These may include:

• Accutane (used to treat acne)
• Soriatane (used to treat psoriasis)
• Thalomid (used to treat multiple myeloma, leprosy and some complications of AIDS

Some drugs used to treat high blood pressure in the mother, such as Captoril and Enalopril, should never be taken during pregnancy as they can damage the baby's kidneys and contribute to birth defects.

It is important to discuss all medications you take with your physician or health care provider. The FDA classifies prescription drugs to show which medications are safe to use in pregnancy and which have more risks to the baby. Your physician can help you understand these classifications and how it impacts your pregnancy.

BEING SAFE WITH PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

There are some ways to be as safe as possible with prescription drugs to help ensure your baby's health:

• Be sure to never take someone else's prescription medication
• Take your own prescription medication according to the label directions
• Never take more than the amount ordered by your health care provider
• Never take medication with alcohol or narcotics
• Make sure you ask your health care provider or pharmacist questions about the medication before you get home

Remember, your baby cannot protect or care for itself. He or she is relying on your protection from the harmful substances in the world. Do everything you can to give your baby the very best start possible.