Intermittent auscultation - ‘ripped away from my peaceful place’
- Martis, Ruth
Ruth Martis RM, RGON, Adv Dipl Nrsg, BA (Soc Sci), MA (Midwifery), IBCLC, Grad Dipl Tchng
is a New Zealand qualified midwife who has worked in a variety of settings for the last 30 years, including homebirth, primary birthing units, tertiary unit and midwifery education and research in New Zealand and South East Asia. She is currently working as a senior midwifery lecturer at Christchurch Polytechnic Technical Institute (CPIT), New Zealand.
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‘Spontaneous labour in a normal woman is an event marked by a number of processes so complicated and so perfectly attuned to each other that any interference will only detract from the optimal character. The only thing required from the bystanders is that they show respect for this awe-inspiring process by complying with the first rule of medicine — nil nocere (do no harm)’
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Sarah had planned a home birth for her second baby; the birth of her first baby had taken place at the local primary unit and all went well. Sarah had commented antenatally that she would rather have this baby at home as she felt the constant interruptions at the primary unit made her labour so much longer. Sarah was well throughout her pregnancy and went into labour in the early hours one Sunday morning. She called me when her contractions were coming about every five minutes. Her partner, Bryce, had filled the pool and Sarah enjoyed the relaxing effect of the water, which enabled her to go into herself to a place where nobody could touch her. She closed her eyes and quietly went about her labour. The room was darkened and a small lamp in the back of the room provided some light. When I arrived I was mindful of the relaxed and quiet atmosphere. I put my equipment down in the next room and silently went about organising baby clothes and putting towels into the oven to warm up. I did not want to disturb the serenity of Sarah's labour — she was coping so well.