It's a Girl!

Just seen my first baby being born, a hugely messy experience from what I could tell.

Did not actually mind all the goop though, as we had been called to the birthing centre because the the labour had developed complications.

Basically there was muconium in the amniotic space, which means that the fetus has been in some distress and has a reduced oxygen level, this causes the fetus to relax it's bowls and quite simply has a poo whilst still in the uterus. This can cause complications in it's self let alone the primary reason that it was in distress in the first place.

This would have meant a rapid transfer from the birthing centre to the hospital, with mother 7cm dilated and delivery imminent! Oh and me in the back attending!!!!

Luckily the Mother delivered the baby fine on her own and with some vigorous rubbing and oxygenation, we got our first cry. Smiles all round.

Just about to pack up and leave, when they noticed the Mother was still bleeding heavily. Now not sure from the cuts they had to make or from the Uterine wall (Post partum hemorrhage).

Could we hang around and cannulate the Mother to hang some fluids?

Neither of us could, so we called for another crew who had a Paramedic on board. They arrived and we all waited nervously as the senior midwife, stitched the Mother back up and gave her some drugs to make the uterus contract one final time, thus hopefully stopping the bleeding.

Did not really want to drag a new Mum away from the new baby to rush her, hemorrhaging to the hospital if we could help it!

Sweating enough that morning and we had only just started. Those birthing centres are seriously warm. I know you come into this world with no clothes and it may need to be warm for that reason but surely they could have some ready for baby, as the rest of us are dressed for a winters day!!

Great start to the day to see a new life come into this world, will make up for the fact we may see an old one go out, later this afternoon.