One More Reason to Facebook

In that process called labor, mental distractions are the friend of a new mother to be.  Sometimes women will use the focal point of an ultrasound picture of their unborn, a photo or computer shot of the children at home, meditation, praise music, repeat scriptures or songs in their mind, or play games.

At a recent induction of labor for medical reasons, I was privileged to witness my patient sitting up in the rocking chair, calm and smiling while using her Eee PC to communicate about her day in labor with family and friends on her facebook page.  While attached to a Pitocin drip to stimulate labor contractions and external fetal monitoring to watch the baby's response to labor, the rocking chair and Eee PC activities took her outside of the walls of the labor and delivery suite.  Although she was planning to have an epidural and presently was dilated to 4cm and 90% effaced, the preparatory time of fluid bolus with Ringer's Lactate to help prevent the occasional hypotension (drop in blood pressure) following an epidural were being spent rocking and communicating.  Just one more reason to facebook, I say!

Once the epidural was in place, mom and dad could rest a little and mom could comfortably "labor down" as the baby maneuvered down the birth canal and the cervix released its hold on the baby's head.

Feeling some pressure and discomfort, mom was checked again, found to be 10 dilated ,and the room and radiant warmer were prepared for the new life.  Just two pushes later (not the norm), a beautiful dark haired baby was welcomed into the world.  At 9lb 1oz, we were reassured that the right decision had been made to deliver this sweet child.

As for Eee PCs and facebook...You guessed it...the proud mom and dad had their first family photo going out to friends and family before midnight.

What a great time to be alive, enjoy the profession of Nurse-Midwife, witness the miracle of birth and the blessings of sharing that miracle with others.  Welcome baby girl!

"I will praise thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made..." Psalm 139:16.