JenniferClancyBirthServices,LLC

JenniferClancy,M.A.
www.JenniferClancy.com

BirthingintoBirthAdvocacy
PublishedAugust2015

Thankyouforinquiringofmybirthsupportservices.Iamwholeheartedlyinvestedin
providingmycommunitythebenefitofinformedchoiceinthemattersoffertility,pregnancy,
postpartumcareandfamilyhealth/wellness.Ioffercounseling,childbirtheducation,prenatal
healthcoaching,placentaencapsulationandtincture,birthpoolrental,doulasupportandfuture
midwiferycare.Iammarriedtomycollegesweetheart,whoisnowinvestinginhiscommunity
asalawenforcementofficer.Weareparentsoftwovibrantchildren.Myofficeislocatedin
beautifulSouthernMaryland.

Earlyeducationtrackinpremedwasquicklyhaltedoutoffearofnotbeingabletoraise
myfuturefamilyasIdesiredbeingpresentduringtheirearlydevelopment.Tocontinueto
supportmycommunityandmyfamily,Ipursueddegreesintheareasofsocialjusticeand
education:aMastersinCounselinginEducationalSettingsandaBachelor'sin
Sociology/PsychologywithHumanRightsemphasis.Ihadtaughtinthepublicschoolsasa
Substituteteacher,inSpecialEducationasaclassroomassistant,aJuniorVarsityLacrosse
CoachandwaslayingmyfoundationintoGuidanceCounseling.Ilaterexpandedmycounseling
skillsetintheareaofAppliedBehavioralAnalysisinthehome.Withintheseyears,weplanned
toexpandourfamily.

Myfirstpregnancyendedinamiscarriage.Ibeganmyjourneyintobirthadvocacyduring
mytimeofhealing.Ilearnedagreatdealmoreaboutfertilityawarenessandnutrition.Wewere
blessedbyoursecondpregnancysoonthereafter.AsholisticallymindedasIwasatthetime,I
trustedmymedicalprovidertoleadthewaywithupdated,evidencebasedcare.Wehadtwo
pretermlaborscares.Thefirst,at32weeksgestation,wasthwartedbymedicalinterventions
andordersofbedrest.Atexactly37weeks,Iawokeinthemorningtogotothebathroom.I
soonnoticedatrickleofwaterwascontinuingdownmyleg.Layingbackinbed,Iphonedmy
aunt.Wedebatedaboutcallingthehospital.MyintuitionfeltthatIwasnotinlabor,butdueto
myfirstexperiencewithpretermlabor,Iphonedthenurse.Wewereheadedtothehospitalfora
nonstresstestandexamtodeterminewhethermywatershadruptured.

NerveswereonhighdriveasmyauntandIawaitedmyhusbandsreturnfromworkand
thephysiciansexamination.Irememberlyingonthebedinfullgownandthinkinghowthiswas
nothowIenvisionedmynaturallaborandbirthexperience.Confirmationthatmywatershad
releasedwasreceived,thoughallnotedthattheyseemedtobeslowing.Iwasnothavingany
contractions.Aninternalexamfromonenurseindicatedoursonwasintheproper,headdown
position.Wewereexcitedforthisbecausehehadbeenbreechinpriorultrasounds.My
obstetricianentered,showedenthusiasmthatifIwereenteringlabor,Iwouldbeallowedto
proceedwithoutintervention.Sheexaminedmeasecondtimetofindthatthebabywasindeed
breech.Thatsnothishead.Thatshisbutt,shesaidasshelookedupatmefrombetween
myknees.Myheartsank.Iaskedherwhethershewasokaywithattemptingavaginalbreech
delivery.Shedeclinedandstatedthatnooneistrainedtoperformbreechdeliveriesduetothe
damageitmaycausethebabyandmother.Shelistedstatisticsthatwerescarytome.IknewI

JenniferClancyBirthServices,LLC
JenniferClancy,M.A.
www.JenniferClancy.com

BirthingintoBirthAdvocacy
PublishedAugust2015

wasnotinlabor,though,sokeptaskingiftherewasanythingwecoulddotohelphimturn.She
refused.Isatthere,preparingmyselffortheinevitablediscussionaboutsurgicaldelivery.She
toldmethatthiswouldwarrantanemergencycesarean.

Myaunthadasadlookonherface.Iwaitedformyhusband.Wesatinsilenceagood
whileasIawaitedtheprep.Italkedtoourson,preparinghimforthisbirthingdaythatwewere
notpreparedtoexperience.Severalhoursyes,youreadthatcorrectlyseveralhourslater,I
signedtheformsandwaspreppedformyspinalblockrequiredinsurgery.Ineededtwo
adjustmentstothelevelofmedicationduetomyabilitytofeeltheOBstestprodding.My
husbandcameintothesurgicalroomtowitnessmybodysplayedonthetable,incisionalready
begun.Iwasbraveforhim,mybabyandmyself.Youhavetobe.Youhavetodeciderightthen
toacceptthis.Itistherightthingtodoasyouawaityourlongedforchild.Thedoctorremoved
himfrommyuterusandliftedhimhighforustosee.Hiseyeswereopenandsquinting.Helet
outacry.Oh,thejoy!MyhusbandandIkissedhimandthepediatricteamevaluatedhim
acrosstheroom.IwasstitchedupandwheeledintotheRecoveryroom,awaitingmysonand
husband.

Myspinalleftmeunabletoholdmysonsafely.Ourfamilygatheredaroundandoverthe
nextfewhourswesharedinthebeautythatlayswaddledinhisfathersarms.Heletouttiny,
breathycriesduringthistime.Wenotedthisobservationtohispediatricianoncall.Theytook
himawayformonitoring.Longhours(orwasitaday)later,Iwastoldhehadaholeinhislung.I
wastoldbytheheadpediatricianthatpneumothoraxismostcommoninboysbirthedvia
Cesareansectionduetoslowerlungdevelopmentthantheirfemalecounterparts.Thebabys
firstinhalationwasnotconditionedthroughtherhythmicactionsofcontractionsduringlong
hoursoflabor.Hisfirstbreathtoreaholeinhisunderdevelopedlungbecausehewasbornby
C/S.Ikeptrepeatingthisinmyhead.WhendidmyOBmentionthisasapotentialriskof
surgicaldeliveryduringherpersuasiveexplanationoftherisksversusbenefitsofthis
emergencysurgery?

Thepediatricteamwasamazingincludedusinnearlyeverydiscussionabout
procedures.Wewitnessedhisfirstsurgicalinterventionaninsertedtubetoreleasethebubble
forminginhischest.Hereceivedonlylocalanesthetic.Hescreamedandscreamed.My
husbandcried.Iheldstoicallyontomysonsimagefrom3yardsawaywewerenotallowed
nearhim.Theteamaskedustoleavesotheycouldcontinuemonitoringhisprogress.We
awaitednewsofhisrecovery.Allthistime,mybodywasrebellingagainstthemanydrugsIwas
withdrawingfromandtheinsaneheadacheIhad.Icouldnotsleepwell.Mybreastswere
engorged.Thepumpwasnotworkingefficiently.ThenwelearnedtheylockeddowntheNICU
forhissecondemergencysurgery.IwheelchairedmyselftotheNICUdoortowaitforhim.What
couldIdobutstayoutsidehisroom?Thedecisionwasmadetotransferhimtoahigherlevel
neonatalintensivecareunitinthecityhospital.Myhusbandwentwithoursoninthe

JenniferClancyBirthServices,LLC
JenniferClancy,M.A.
www.JenniferClancy.com

BirthingintoBirthAdvocacy
PublishedAugust2015

ambulance.Iwasnotclearedtotransportortransferyet.Myinsuranceneededtoclearthisand
abedwasnotavailableformeatthecityhospital.

Alone,Icriedmyselftoastateofmildhysteria.Iphonedmyaunttostaywithme.She
heldme.ThankGodforher.Thenextmorning,Iwassentviaambulancetobewithmyson.I
sharedaroomwithayoungmotherforanightortwo.IwheeledmyselftotheNICUeveryfew
hourstodeliverthesmallamountofexpressedmilkIhadonhand.Iwasabletofinallymeetmy
son.IthadbeenafewdaysandIhadyettoreallygetagoodlookathisfeatures.Herecovered
quicklyincomparisontotheothersweetbabiesinhiscompany.Wewerepressedtocircumcise
oursonrepeatedly.Atthispoint,Ihadnodesiretohaveanyfurthersurgicalprocedures
attemptedonmybaby.Iwasthrilledthatmyhusbandagreed.Iwasevenmorethrilledwhena
nursetoldmethatthisdecisionwasperfectlynormal,too.Thattherewasreallynomedical
reasonforititwasjustourchoice.Hewenthomewithusafterafewmoredaysofrecovery.

BreastfeedingdidnotgoasIenvisionedeither.Yes,oursonwashealthier,buthe
refusedmybreast.Mymilkwasnotextractedwellwiththepumpswehadonhand.Iwashand
expressingmorethanIwaspumping,butthiswasnotenoughtofeedhim.Cracked,engorged,
sorenipples,tearsflowingfrombothmyselfandourson,weoptedforformulasupplementation.
Ifeltdefeated.NothingIhaddesiredforhisbirthwascomingtofruition.Hisfirstweeksoflife
wereastruggle.Isoberedmyselfoftenwiththerealitythatmybabycamehome.Heishereand
thiswillnotbehisforever.

Iwasintroducedtomycousinshomebirthmidwiferyteamafewmonthslater.Whata
differenceinapproachtocare!Invitedtowitnessherbirth,Iwastransformed.Ineededtolearn
more.Idelveddeeplyintothehistoryofchildbirth,themodelsofcare,thesupportiveroleof
doulas,thegreatdebateregardingwomensrighttoinformedconsent,etc.ItrainedasaDONA
InternationalBirthDoula,jobshadowedahighvolumehomebirthmidwiferypracticespecialized
invaginalbirthsaftercesarean(VBAC)andbeganmycareerinchildbirtheducationanddoula
support.Inthefirstthreeyears,Isupportedanaverageof1familypermonth.Inthattime,I
supportedonlytwoCesareanSections:anunplanned,emergencyCesareanduetoseverely
prematureruptureofmembranesandsuspectedplacentaabruption,andtheseconddueto
maternalexhaustionandsuspectedsmallpelvisafter35hoursofstrenuouslaborallwhile,
encouragingimmediateskintoskinandearlybreastfeedingakintoFamilyCenteredCesarean.
Ofcourse,thiscaliberofsurgicalbirthwouldnotbepossibleifitwerenotforobstetricteams
whofollowedMotherBabyFriendlyInitiatives.Theywereamazing.

IwitnessedaVBACinasupportivehospitalsetting.Iwitnessedhomebirthsinbirth
pools,onbathroomfloorssomeasVBACs.Iwitnessedavaginalbreechdeliverywithepidural
inahospitalsettingtrulyspectacular.(Yes,vaginalbreechisnotanoutdatedskillsetthere
were7providerstrainedinmyarea.IquicklylearnedIhadbeenliedto.)Duringthissametime,
Iattendedconferencesonperinatalhealthandwellness,auditedtheMassachusettsMidwives

JenniferClancyBirthServices,LLC
JenniferClancy,M.A.
www.JenniferClancy.com

BirthingintoBirthAdvocacy
PublishedAugust2015

AllianceBasicCourseonMidwifery,coordinatedtheImprovingBirthrallyinourareaand
sponsoredprofessionaldevelopmentworkshops.Duringthistime,Ialsobecamepregnantand
plannedforahomebirthwiththesamemidwiferyteamwhosupportedmyentryintothiswork.

Ourdaughterspregnancywastreatedwithgreaterconsiderationandnutritional
guidancethanmysons.Ididoptforcomanagementwiththesameobstetricalproviderduein
partofmyinnerresidualfearthatsomethingwouldgowrongandtoassuagemyfamilys
reservationaboutVBACathome.(Iwasnotreadytofindanotherobstetrician,thoughInow
regularlyencourageclientstodojustthatifintuitioncallsthem.)Anotherpretermlaborscare
mademetrulyreadytolistentomymidwivesguidanceonnutritionduringpregnancy.Thistime,
Ienteredlaborearlierthanmyfirstpregnancyandhaddilatedandeffaced!Mymidwifesentme
tothehospitalsincemypregnancywasfallingoutsideherscopeofpractice.LearningIwas
referredbymyhomebirthmidwife,Iwaswarnedbytheobstetricians,includingthenewheadof
obstetrics,abouttherisktouterinerupturebeing.5%.HowIwasputtingmychildindanger.I
reflectedonthesamelineusedinmyfirstpregnancybythesamehospitalandrealizedhow
naiveIwastobelievebedsidemannerandhospitalpolicywouldchangemerelyduetoanew
departmentheadhire.Lyingontheexamtable,greatlyirritatedbutarmedwithmynew
knowledge,replied,Withrespect,thisalsocanbeinterpretedasasuccessrateof99.5%,
right?Towhichtheyagreed,butwouldnotencourageanywomanwithpriorCesareantobirth
athome.

Theyofferednoguidanceonhowtohealorfixmyphysiologicalstateandeven
balkedattheguidanceofmymidwifetoincreasemyvitaminsandmineralswithwholefoods
andsupplementsThereisnomedicalliteraturethatclaimsthattowork.Ithankedthem,left
andimmediatelyboughtmynewsupplements,food,andcalledmyemployerstonotifythemof
myneedtocutdownmyhourstohelpthisbabystayput.Iwentinforafollowupexamafew
weekslaterandwaspleasedtolearnIhadregrownandclosedmycervix.Wewereintheclear
andmycervixwaslongerandthickerthanmostwomenintheir3rdtrimester,saidthe
surprisedHeadofObstetrics.Helookedveryintriguedbythisamazingchange,somyhopeis
hehadamomentofawakening.Iamoptimistic,attheleast.

Iresumedmybirthcarewiththemidwivesfromthispointonward.Iwentontobirthat
homeat41weeksgestationinthewater,after12hoursofactivelabor,withmyfamilyand
midwivessupport.Wasittough?Amazinglyso.Weretherehurdles?Yes,indeed.Mybagof
waterswassothickthatitwasdifficulttoruptureonitsown.(Thereisevidencetosuggestthe
rupturinghelpsprogresslabor,butitisalsobelievedthatbabiesbornencaulhaveeasier
transitionsduringbirth.)Atonepointduringmybacklabor(babywasnotfacingoptimally),Iwas
beggingforrelief.Iwasnotthinkingwellandexhaustionwasgettingthebetterofme.My
husbandwasamazinginhissupportivestance.WhenaskedifIwantedtoattemptspeeding
laboralongbyrupturingthebag,Iconsented,knowingittypicallydoesjustthatinmostmothers
laborsthathavebeendeemedactive(after6cm).Inhindsight,perhapsthiswouldhavebeen

JenniferClancyBirthServices,LLC
JenniferClancy,M.A.
www.JenniferClancy.com

BirthingintoBirthAdvocacy
PublishedAugust2015

theonlythingthatIcouldhavedonedifferentlyjustleavingitalonetoallowdaughtertobirth
inthecaul.

Otherthanthathurdle,myexperiencewasthatIwasincontrolofthenormally
progressinglabor,whichmeans,
relinquishingt
he
idea
ofcontrol.Forphysiologicalbirth,one
mustsurrendertoit.Ihadseenthisreleaseinsomanymotherswhoinvitedmetoattendtheir
births.IsawtheirfacesinmymindseyeasItransitioned.IheldmybreathasIfeltmybaby
crown.Involuntarily,Ibirthedourdaughterintomyhusbandswaitinghands.Themidwives
assessedherhealthimmediatelyandIwelcomedherintomyarms,allfromwithinthepool.I
heldmydaughterasIsteppedoutofthetubtobirthmyplacenta.Mymidwivesencouragedme
toliedownsotoreceiveafewstitchesandroutinepostpartumassessment.Ourbabywasalert,
strongandreceivedimmediatenewbornassessmentandcuddletimewithherfatherand
brother.Ourfamilysettocleaningtheapartmentandpreparingbreakfast.Ourpediatricianwas
notifiedofherarrivalandherfirstappointmentscheduledforthefollowingweek.Whenall
quieted,Isettledtonursemydaughter,whotooktothebreastwellwebothfellasleepwhile
lyingthere.

Thenextmorning,myobstetriciancalledinaworriedstate,wonderinghowIwasfaring
at41weeks.Shouldwescheduleavisittoassess?Ihappilysharedourbirthstoryandshe
repliedwithWow!Withtheuterinerupturerateof.5%,thisisquiteastory!Yes,yesitwas.

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