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Birthing mom receiving labor support from her friend and baby's
father while working through contractions in transitional labor. This is her first pregnancy. |
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Birthing mom working through powerful contraction. |
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Position change to take pressure off her back,
relaxing during contraction. Water (amniotic bag) has already broke with spontaneous rupture.
Baby's head is very low in birth canal, just inside vaginal opening. |
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Baby's head beginning to crown. |
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Birth support helping mom to move up onto couch for birth.
Baby's head is showing with lots of hair. |
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The baby's head is crowning, lots of hair. |
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The midwife getting into position for perineal support and delivery, |
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Placing absorbent pads under the mom's behind to protect her couch
from fluids. |
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Perineal support while mom is breathing her baby out. |
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More perineal support and more pushing. |
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The baby's head is out. Checking for umbilical cord around neck.
Arm popped out as head emerged. |
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The baby is awake and aware with the delivery of the shoulders. |
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Baby girl (Maia) is born. It was approximately a 6 hour labor
from beginning to end. Maia weighed in at 8 lbs 4 oz. with a 9/9 Apgar score. |
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Getting warm towels to cover the baby and mom. Maia doing well. |
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Whew!! Is it really over?. |
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Maia settles down and mom is beginning to feel tired. |
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Contractions begin again to deliver the placenta. |
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Placental separation begins with some bleeding.
Clamping off umbilical cord. |
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The placenta has delivered with a gush of blood.
Placenta is intact and healthy looking. |
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Baby's father is cutting cord. |
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Repositioning the mother to initiate breastfeeding. |
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Working on getting Maia to breastfeed. |
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Maia doesn't appear to be hungry yet. She would rather look
around and take in her environment. |
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After getting the birthing mom to take a quick shower, breastfeeding was attempted again.
Midwife helping mom and baby to latch onto the breast. |
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Maia's first meal. Mother could almost immediately feel her
uterus clamp down with the breastfeeding. |
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Baby Maia is feeding and contented. Mom is clean, relaxed, and comfortable. |
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Father and daughter. |