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Here is a video of Baby Riski born in September in Bali. Quite an amazing video, I couldn't help but tear up. Warning: graphic content.
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Beyond the "ick" factor of the, er, waterfall it was very amazing. Definite fear as the mother tries o get her baby to breathe or react or do something to show its alive (I was prepared to hate you forever if the baby was stillborn). And the tender touches she gives the baby when it finally starts to breathe. And the first steps where the mother is slowly walking beside the baby.
quote:Originally posted by katharina: Stupid bipedalism.
Or more accurately "smart bipedalism". Bipedalism itself wouldn't cause so much problem in giving birth if we didn't have such enormous heads. The combination of the too means humans have to be born so terribly immature that they can't even hold up their own heads until weeks after birth. And while the baby elephant is able to stand and walk only a few minutes after birth, baby humans aren't even able to crawl until they are roughly twice their gestational age at birth.
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Not to mention the laying on your back legs spread position is not very conductive to pushing a baby out, gravity can't help at all. I remember reading somewhere (always a strong endorsement ) that because baby elephants, like wildebeests, and zebras fall unto the ground, the shock helps them to begin breathing because the pain stimulates that process.
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quote:Originally posted by BlackBlade: Not to mention the laying on your back legs spread position is not very conductive to pushing a baby out, gravity can't help at all.
Its also a fairly modern innovation which is largely for the convenience of the doctor rather than that of the mother and child. There is actually very strong movement to promote and facilitat more natural positions for giving birth that reduce problem like tearing. You and Mrs. BB might want to look into it. Posts: 12591 | Registered: Jan 2000
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I actually found it really interesting that the amniotic sack actually came out ahead of the baby and that it didn't break until the baby hit the ground. That's just so different from the way it happens in humans and given the design of the human pelvis it would be completely impossible.
And I agree with Ginol_Enam that it was rather heart wrenching watching the mother trying to get the baby to breath and very touching to watch her tenderness with the baby when it finally starts breathing.
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Mucus: So long as it happens right after the baby has left the vaginal canal.
Rabbit: I've actually been looking into it awhile, right now I'm partial to the birthing stool but I'm not sure the nurse midwives we are using have that as an option. We're meeting with them in a few more weeks, and I'll see what they have available.
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As far as the elephant was concerned, the waterfall was kinda gross, but her trying desperately to get the calf to breath was as nerve racking as the joy of seeing it finally breath. I'm glad I watched it.
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quote:Originally posted by BlackBlade: Not to mention the laying on your back legs spread position is not very conductive to pushing a baby out, gravity can't help at all.
Its also a fairly modern innovation which is largely for the convenience of the doctor rather than that of the mother and child. There is actually very strong movement to promote and facilitat more natural positions for giving birth that reduce problem like tearing. You and Mrs. BB might want to look into it.
This. Oh yes, this. Having done it both ways, I can not say enough how much easier it is to push a baby out when you're not pushing uphill.
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quote:Originally posted by Minerva: That actually happens occasionally with a human baby. It's being born in a caul.
Yes, but not with all the water still in the amniotic sack and not with a bag a water exiting the birth canal ahead of the baby.
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quote:Originally posted by BlackBlade: Rabbit: I've actually been looking into it awhile, right now I'm partial to the birthing stool but I'm not sure the nurse midwives we are using have that as an option. We're meeting with them in a few more weeks, and I'll see what they have available.
Don't get your heart set on a specific position or contraption. It's much more important for Mrs. BB to be able to move around and find the position that is most comfortable for her at the time. That might change depending on the position of the baby, how fast labor is moving, etc. She needs to trust her body, and you need to trust her. This is so not about your preference.
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dkw: You are of course exactly right in that ultimately I'm going to have to go with what Mrs. BB feels is best at the time of delivery.
I'm just trying to be actively invested in her pregnancy, and help out where I can. It's hard, because I can't effectively empathize with how she is feeling, and sometimes I don't really know the best way to support her.
There's nothing really in my life where I can say to her, "This is my thing, you can't fully appreciate it, so thanks for your info but I'm deciding this for myself." I don't feel slighted that she's pregnant and that I am not, but this situation has aspects I'm not sure exactly how to deal with.
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I think the fact that you're making it clear to her that you care is the most important thing you can do. That way she can be comfortable asking you for whatever help she needs, during pregnancy, during birth, and postpartum.
But when it comes to actually pushing the baby out, she'll need you to encourage her, agree with everything she says, and to support any decisions she makes. Treat it like PMS, and you'll probably be okay. Posts: 6367 | Registered: Aug 2003
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In that video, it was a little more difficult for the baby elephant at first, because it was trying to stand on a wet concrete floor. In the wild, most of the moisture probably would have soaked into the ground shortly after birth, and the baby would have had more traction, and wouldn't have had to have so much assistance from the momma.
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Oooh, that was so, so cool to watch! Thanks, Valentine, for posting this. Wow, it made my day to see this. Posts: 315 | Registered: Dec 2005
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![[Wink]](wink.gif)
) that because baby elephants, like wildebeests, and zebras fall unto the ground, the shock helps them to begin breathing because the pain stimulates that process.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
