As you near the end of your pregnancy, the fear of giving
birth in some strange place will likely enter your mind. Most of the time, we're afraid of our water breaking at work, at a meeting or during a formal
event. However, there are some
situations we find ourselves saying, "I really hope I don't go into labor while
I'm here." Unfortunately, these fears came to life for some women.
On a Shrimp Boat.
Being afraid of going into labor in an office setting seems mild compared to
giving birth at work when your job is on a shrimp boat. The chef on Ed Kiesel’s
boat went into labor while they were 30 miles out at sea; delivering a breech
baby with the cord wrapped around his neck. The baby is fine, thanks to
Kiesel’s CPR skills, a package of fresh paper towels, first aid kit and net of
twine.
On Fifth Avenue.
Imagine being stuck in traffic in New York City when you go into labor. That’s
what happened to Elizabeth Brew, who was pregnant with twins. She gave birth
with her legs sticking out of her SUV, as hospital staff blocked off traffic. The
baby girl was born on Fifth Avenue and her twin brother arrived shortly before
making it to the hospital.
In a Tree. No,
this mother wasn’t a hardcore advocate of natural birth. Carolina Chirindza was
in a tree for four days trying to escape flood waters in Mozambique when she
went into labor. A medic was lowered into the tree where Rositha was born above
crocodile-infested waters.
On a Plane.
There’s a reason doctors and airlines don’t want you to fly past 28 weeks, but that’s
no guarantee that you won’t go into labor on a plane anyway. Nicola Delemere
was 25 weeks along and 30,000 feet in the air when she went into labor. The
baby was born somewhere over Germany. Despite being 1 lb 1 oz, the little
preemie survived after a flight supervisor was able to resuscitate him.
In a Helicopter.
Natasha Watahomigie lives in a remote village at the bottom of the Grand
Canyon, where she naturally went into labor. The only way out of the village is
by horseback or helicopter. Needless to say, she didn’t take the horse. Of
course, she isn’t the first person in her family to give birth in a helicopter
– her sister did it 11 years prior!
Have you heard of any
other strange locations women have given birth?
Four amazing childbirth stories from 2009 [SFGate]
A new study featured in the Environmental Science and
Pollution Research journal suggests that exposure to radiation in the womb may influence
a baby's sex. Reviewing male-to-female ratios around the world in relation to
nuclear events, researchers found that areas exposed to high levels of
radiation had a higher male-to-female birth rate.
The study out of Germany is one of the few to reveal significant
hereditary effects on children of parents who are exposed to radiation. Previous
research has suggested that men exposed to radiation tend to produce more male
offspring and women, more females. However,
the findings do not determine if the different ratio is due to the births of
fewer girls or more boys.
Scientists compared the sex ratios of babies born in Europe directly
following Chernobyl, to sex ratios of babies born in the United States during
the same period. The elevated number of male babies born in Europe was significant.
The researchers discovered a similar increase in Germany and Switzerland among
populations living within 22 miles of nuclear facilities. The sex ratios in the
United States and Europe also saw an increase in male babies between 1964 and
1973, just after the Partial Test Ban Treaty in 1963, which pushed widespread
nuclear weapon testing underground.
This new research leaves a lot of questions unanswered, but helps
further our understanding of the effects of nuclear radiation on unborn
babies.
How do you feel about
nuclear power?
Nuclear Radiation Affects Sex of Babies, Study Suggests [ScienceDaily]
The human sex odds at birth after the atmospheric atomic
bomb tests, after Chernobyl, and in the vicinity of nuclear facilities [SpringerLink]
Chances are that when your baby arrives you will make it to
the hospital or have a midwife come to your aid with plenty of time to spare. However, in the event that the baby is coming out with no medical professional in sight, you'll want to know a few things about delivering a baby.
Keep your
cool. Your partner has a lot to deal with from the moment labor starts. Be
sure to be supportive and stay calm.
Time the
contractions. The best indicator for when the baby is coming is the timing of
the contractions. When they are less than two minutes apart the baby is going
to arrive quickly.
Get help.
Even though you may feel ready to deliver the baby by yourself, you should
still call for medical assistance. A medical professional can give you
step-by-step instructions over the phone and can help with any post labor
issues.
Know what
works. Hopefully by this point in the pregnancy you’ve become aware of the
different laboring positions, breathing techniques and other tips and tricks to
help keep mom comfortable. During labor (even if you are in the hospital),
helping your partner to change positions and keep breathing will be very
helpful.
Sterilize.
You will need to make sure your
hands and arms are thoroughly washed with soap and warm water. Keep a stock of
clean towels nearby to place under the laboring mother and to help clean up the
baby once he arrives.
Trust her
instincts. Keep in mind that birth is a natural process. Your partner and
the baby are going to do the majority of the work. Rather than try to coax her
to push and breathe constantly, know when to sit back and watch as nature takes
over. Your partner will feel the urge to push when it’s time to push.
Catch the
baby. Be ready to catch the baby once the head has started to crown and be
aware that babies are slippery. Place the baby in a towel and gently clean him
off. The rubbing will help to stimulate the baby to breathe. You will need to
wipe the fluids out of the mouth and nose to facilitate breathing – you can use
a straw to suction it out, by putting one end to the nostril and then closing
the other end with your finger.
Don’t cut
the cord. At this point, you can put the baby on the mother’s chest but
leave the umbilical cord alone. You should probably wait for a medical
professional to cut it. Otherwise, the umbilical cord will actually fall off on
its own after a few days, a practice called lotus birth.
Wait for
the placenta. The placenta will come out on its own about 20-30 minutes
after birth. Don’t pull on it or help it along or you can cause the mother to
hemorrhage. You can gently massage the woman’s stomach to encourage its
release. Put the placenta in a portable container for the doctor or midwife to
examine later. If the placenta does not come out, then you will need immediate
medical assistance to remove it.
Encourage
the mother to breastfeed. Breastfeeding will nourish the newborn and
protects him from infection. It also causes the uterus to contract, which can
help expel the placenta.
Here’s a funny tutorial video that accurately
explains the process step by step:
Have
you witnessed a live birth before?
A Man’s Guide to Pregnancy: How to Deliver a Baby in a Pinch
[theArtofManliness]
