Doula Nour Hafifi

20/07/2024

It's been a quiet year for me with only attending to a small selection of clients.

A break long needed, as we always say you cannot pour from an empty cup. I am grateful for the referral and reachout of former client seeing my long silence. I missed the work, I miss being part of the birth story - tears, laughter and smile. I miss the calm before the transition. It was a year of healing this past year of shaking away and cutting off the evil of narcissist within the Web of my life. (Oooopssss, I said it)

The good news,I will be back taking clients for September 2024 onwards - Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah. Oh yeah, I have decide to be a travelling Doula 😜, ask me how that works.

See you ladies for the prenatal consultation and in the birth room soon.

16/09/2022

Found this card from 2 years ago...

I had my friends and clients celebrating my 100th births.

7 years into this work and many more births, it has changed my perspective and understanding on birth and our body to birth.

05/06/2022

https://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/2575377/dad-no-point-delivery-room-birth-reddit/

“Fatherhood doesn’t start when after the baby is born and all cleaned up, it starts from when your baby is conceived and you need to step up and support your wife when she needs it.”

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I had attended birth where the husband was around and some the husband was absent for various reasons.

Did you have your partner with you in the birth room?

Did you want your partner in the birth room but he refuses? What are your thoughts about it?

He also calls labor "messy" and says, "I don’t want to see my wife that way."

26/03/2022

Photo credit: Google

For those who followed me long enough, they would know that rebozo is my favorite Doula tool. It is a tool I bring to every birth, and if there is only one thing I am allowed to bring Rebozo is my first choice.

is a handwoven shawl used in Mesoamerica traditions for many purpose, one of them is pregnancy and birth.

Some techniques I taught in class to my clients are to used them as a belly wrap during pregnancy, shaking the apple and many other techniques but lately, I found myself using it alot during pushing in a technique known as tug of war. (You know that game, don't you 😉)

This past week I attended a birth with the same doctor twice. On the first birth, my client a first time mum needed a bit of help during pushing. She had tried for couple of contractions but unable to maintain the same strength during each push. I know this will get some Doula jumping and say, "Women do not need to push." But hold your horses, while I believe in fetal ejection reflex (I personally experience it with both my babies birth and my miscarriag), I had seen many births where this just do not happen and the mother would just need some assistance because in order for FER to happen we know the environment affects much of this event.

Anyway, before the doctor intervene during the pushing I reached out for my rebozo, tied both ends and hand it to my client. I whispered to her to hold the cloth and that I want her to feel the resistance as I pull her towards me with it and that is how she will feel the sensation of pushing. So, it was successful she maintain the power needed of pushing with this techniques till her baby was born.

It was another day of birth, till the next birth when I did the same thing and the doctor acknowledged that it was a good technique and we shall do it this time too. Transition and Exhaustion can make any laboring person cries out for any help to just get the baby out.

I had to apply counter pressure on my client, when the doctor said he will respect my client's wish not to be touch and instead he will assist with the tug of war. I couldn't be more amazed when I heard that.

What a great story to remember World Doula Week

26/11/2021

14/11/2021

25/10/2021

A Breech Vaginal Delivery After Cesarean

First and foremost, I’d like to thank the Delivery Team in Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital. Special thanks to Dr Taghrid Badri, Dr Amira Saleh and Nurse Hana Raeed. Like every births, the honor for me as a Doula is being able to witness the birth of a life happening before my eyes over and over again, and I take no credit for this beautiful event. To the wonderful family that had me as their Doula, thank you for having me in that special moment where we once again witnessed Allah miracle and plan unveiling with perfection. To my dear client (G), you are such a strong believer and I truly believe your faith in believing what your body is sets you to do, made it all possible.

All I have to say is everything that happened was unexpected. No one had known before than that the baby was breech. In fact the birth happened before 37 weeks. My client was due for her weekly check and ultrasound, but the birth happened before her appointment.

I was done with all my October clients birth, and went to Makkah Friday afternoon. As I was packing early Friday, I just had a strong feeling of hesitation for the trip. However, knowing how busy my November would be I just continued with the plan to go on meeting all my clients as per schedule. Upon reaching the Hotel, one of my client who was expecting her 3rd baby and 37 weeks along was messaging me saying she is feeling contractions. This would be her second baby with me as her Doula, and knowing how her previous birth had been I was certain it is just a prodromal labor. Evening came and there wasn’t more updates from her, and I went on with my appointments.

Saturday morning, at 7am I got a message from my client G saying that her water had broke. I asked questions and confirmation regarding her gestational age, and advised her to go to the hospital for assessment. I mentioned to her that I was in Makkah and will head to Jeddah immediately. We arrange to meet at the hospital. I reached Jeddah a little after 9am, and met G at the hospital ER. She got her vital read, and her assessment done.

We were told that it was positive amniotic fluid and she is 4cm dilated. G was delighted when she heard that she was 4cm, as her previous caesarean was done at 2cm due to SROM at 40 weeks. The doctor were told that she is planning for a VBAC. However after the assessment, we were sadly informed that she will only be given a trial of 4 hours for her labor after caesarean. Hearing this news, G felt devastated and was stressed out. We weigh on the possibility and limitations, and since G has an option for another doctor’s opinion she thought of visiting her doctor for another assessment.

However, out of caution due to her previous caesarean G was advised against discharge and to be admitted. G, her husband and myself we spent the next couple of hours in the ER taking time to make a decision. After sometime G just kept telling me she has lots of pressure building up downwards. And we finally made a decision for admission, and per her birth plan she wanted a minimal VE. So, she was sent to the delivery room to labor in without any more VE in the ER.

We got to the ER and I was delighted to know that nurse Hana was assigned to our room. G changed, had the cannula inserted and asked to be excused to use the washroom. I followed and stay with her in the washroom and then, we made way to the delivery room. While waiting for the nurse to be back to have the CTG and BP hooked up, G was walking and leaning forward on the bed with every contractions. Her contractions came very closely together, and then she said to me that she felt like pushing. I called for the nurse, and she got a doctor to the room. The doctor did a VE and said she is 10cm dilated with baby in station 0 however, the baby was breech. As the got her hand away, she showed the tiny lil’ poo the baby had made as G was pushing with each contractions.

A consultant was then called, an ultrasound unit was brought into the room and a quick test was done. The consultant confirmed it was breech and declared that she should be sent to a caesarean. At this point G was just smiling, I saw a big smile on her face as she said to me, ‘’Nour, I did it. I got to 10cm.’’ I witnessed her contentment and satisfaction but my head was a mess digesting all this information was thrown around. I then explained to G the situation and what were to happen. And then, I talked to Hana and asked her if Dr Taghrid would do a breech delivery. Hana confirmed and said she is capable. And we got her husband’s approval to call Dr Taghrid for assessment, as they had initially requested for a different doctor for their birth. At this point, we had a quick talked and the couple just wanted a confirmation that breech delivery was impossible before agreeing to cesarean.

We had the room silent and to ourselves for a split second, before 2, 3, 4 and in total 12 people being in the room. It quickly turned to a familiar scene of any medical drama and movies. Our focus was only on the 2 doctors, they made a quick assessment and spoke to my client. No words of caesarean was mentioned, rather they worded it beautiful that a just trial will be given. The head of OBGYN lay out the risk and concern calmly. While everything and everyone was setting up the room for a birth. The doctors agreed for the birth to continue. With each contractions, Dr Taghrid would instruct and coach the mother through the pushing. As the bum emerged, I heard Dr Amira describing the baby’s ball were seen (The baby got balls indeed, to be born in this position). I was very close to the lower part of my client’s body and could see every single thing happening. All this while, my hand was holding hers, and I could see her pushing the baby with all her might and listening to every direction by the doctor. I looked around the room, and it was so intense as though no one was breathing, until the last push and the baby was born. A sigh of relieved by all that were in the room, followed by cheer and smile broke the previous moment of hard and cold atmosphere.

You did it, G. Congratulations. Even though you did not have a printed copy of a birth plan for your birth, your plan still went in your favour. All decisions were respected and supported. And I was glad that you too just a couple of months ago had a first hand experienced of witnessing the miracle of life when your horse gave birth. I am glad you share this story, and it became a reminder for you through your own birth.

What a birth.

A previous cesarean
A breech vaginal delivery

23 October 2021
2.1kg
12.45pm
Jeddah

Doula Nour Hafifi https://www.facebook.com/123017301376390/posts/1552133348464771/

25/10/2021

A breech vaginal delivery after cesarean

22/09/2021

18/09/2021

1st baby, premature birth (30 weeks)
2nd baby, scheduled c-section (38 weeks)
3rd baby, vaginal delivery

16 September 2021
Jeddah

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Another successful vba2c in Jeddah.

16/09/2021

Her motherly instinct rub the little child, and she held the newborn. I observed the baby, Client Z’s blood loss, took off my gloves and washed my blood covered hands before returning back to the room.

I checked the time the birth happened roughly around 4.14 am on 8th September. It is such an honour that this day on the date of birth of my mother, I caught a baby for the first time.

Client Z got busy nursing her newborn.

As she was nursing, she felt contractions which what came along the placenta. We look for things we could place the placenta in and there were the children's toy bucket which we used, and kept the tree of life next to the little newborn.

After the baby was done with the nursing, Client Z took a wash, while I cleaned and prepare the newborn. We notified the hotel, and asked for assistance for an ambulance which were to bring the mother and child to the hospital.

8th September 2021
4.14am
4.2kg

16/09/2021

Her motherly instinct rub the little child, and she held the newborn. I observed the baby, Client Z’s blood loss, took off my gloves and washed my blood covered hands before returning back to the room.

I checked the time the birth happened roughly around 4.14 am on 8th September. It is such an honour that this day on the date of birth of my mother, I caught a baby for the first time.

Client Z got busy nursing her newborn.

As she was nursing, she felt contractions which what came along the placenta. We look for things we could place the placenta in and there were the children's toy bucket which we used, and kept the tree of life next to the little newborn.

After the baby was done with the nursing, Client Z took a wash, while I cleaned and prepare the newborn. We notified the hotel, and asked for assistance for an ambulance which were to bring the mother and child to the hospital.

8th September
4.14am
4.2kg

16/09/2021

I left her with her husband as she took a rest. Her husband asked if this will make the labor stops. I assured him that it won't and to let her be.

Time went by, and is roughly an hour to Fajr. I heard her grunting, and I went in to see that now she is kneeling on the small mattress she had brought along for the kids, and her water is leaking.

Ohhh no!! Was all that I could think of at this moment..I know what this means, she is starting to push..

Quickly we placed some towels around just to protect the hotel's property. She asked her husband to remain behind her. He sat on a stool belonging to the hotel and Client Z went on supported squat.

I stood right opposite her close to the bed, I could see the baby's head at this moment. Client Z was screaming with every contractions. I have so many thoughts right now, but quickly regained my focus.

I reached to my bag and put on my gloves. I get down to her, guided her with the pushing as the baby's head emerged.

One contractions, baby's forehead is seen, and warm fluid mixed with blood covered my gloves. I still have my hand on the head and perineum.

Next contractions, the baby's cheeks were out. And I said a little prayer. I prayed that the baby's cheeks would not be stucked as her it did with her sister.

Another contractions the face is out and the rotation starts to happen. I slowly guided her to shift back a little and slightly lay down from her squat position.

The baby was out in my hands, and gently placed on the mattress as Client Z adjusted herself to reached for her baby.

16/09/2021

She went into the shower as her husband filled the tub. I checked on the temperature. She stayed in the tub and labor in it for some time.

After it stops being a comfort to her, she stepped out and went back to the room.

Her children were asleep in the living area of the 1-bedroom suite. They were not awoken by any of the things that was going on.

Back in her room, Client Z was on a full labor mode. Her contractions hasn't changed from the 5/6 minutes apart but they were lasting longer than before. She feels it is more intense and needed to focus more with each contractions.

After a while she wanted to use the commode and she showered again. This time as she stepped out of the shower, I told her that perhaps she should get ready to go to the hospital. She asked if it was for admission, I said we need to go in for assessment.

She said she wanted to take a little rest before we go.