Dawn Henderson, Registered Midwife
2647 East Hastings Street V5K 1Z5 Vancouver, BC, Canada

2020 Birth Stats! Births attended as primary: 37 (Apr through Dec) Biggest baby this year: 4720g ... Smallest baby this year: 1514g Total labours: 37 (one not included in stats as it was a twin birth and I was supportive care only) Elective Caesarean Sections: 0 Stats for Vertex (head down), one baby (36) Nullips (first time birthers) 14/36 38.9% Multips (one or more previous births) 22/36 61.1%, 5 /22 had a previous CS and attempted a VBAC. Attempted VBAC 5/5, successful VBAC 3/5 60% Spontaneous vaginal births: 31/36 86.1% Vacuum births: 0 Forceps births: 1/36 2.8% Caesarean births: 4/36 11.1% Nullip Caesarean births 2/14 14.3% Multip Baesarean births 2/22 9% (both had previous CS) Epidurals: 11/36 33.3% (Nullips 6/14 42.8%, Multips 5/22 22.7%) Planned home births: 10/36 27.8% Actual home births: 12/36 33.3% No transfers in Labour, 2 unplanned homebirths Medical Inductions: 10/36 27.8% (5/10 high blood pressure/pre-eclampsia; 2/10 postdates/overdue past 41+3; 1/10 insulin treated gestational diabetes; 1/10 pre-labour release of membranes; 1/10 anhydramnios/no amniotic fluid) Castor Oil Inductions: 2/36 5.6% 1 postdates, 1 low fluid. Waterbirths: 7/36 19.4% Generally my stats have remained fairly similar this year, though of note, I’ve never had so many inductions! So much high blood pressure this year! Can I blame Covid?! Epidural rates are also higher this year, though more multips than normal got them, nullip rate is similar. Planned homebirth rates are a touch lower, though overall homebirth rate similar! It’s so interesting to look at these stats year after year and to reflect on changes in practice and any changes they might produce. Photo credit Morag Hastings Apple Blossom Families

2020 individual stats come soon... but check out this word wrap of all the Pom baby names!

Amniotic fluid ‘ferning’ on a microscope slide. Soooo beautiful! Tis the season!

Sharing again! Pom Hampers! We desperately need some gift card or cash donations to help our families this year! See below post for ways to donate!

Enough said! Read Jenn’s summary of all the ways you can donate to PomHampers this year!!

Six years ago, this beautiful person came roaring into the world. She approaches day to day life much as she did her birth - fast and furious! Thanks for making me a mom little bug. https://www.appleblossomfamilies.com//vancouver-birth-pho/

Know a healthy pregnant person between 15-23 weeks who is having a healthy pregnancy? Help us recruit them for the first midwifery led study in BC! (At this time, delivering at BC Women’s or St Paul’s, or planning home and pre registered at either of those hospitals) This study is looking at specific probiotics in pregnancy to reduce GBS colonization at time of birth and decreasing the need for antibiotics in labour (and decreasing newborn infections). Please share widely...! https://m.facebook.com/opsipstudy/

Holiday Hamper Fundraiser!! Pandemic aside, people still need love and support this holiday season. Please help Pomegranate raise some funds to provide a hamper of sorts for some of our families this year! We are likely doing gift cards only at this time, so feel free to mail or drop off at Pom during office hours. Alternatively, you can donate to this Go Fund Me. Tammy and Rob and little sister Fiona usually hold a celebration of life/fundraiser for our hampers, in memory of Mara, their firstborn baby who passed away of SIDS shortly after she was born. https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/

16 months later, some light pandemic reading for you! Maggie's birth story! Thanks as always to my fabulous birth team at Pomegranate (Amy and Savannah), my doula Jessica @ Birth Takes a Village, and Morag @ Apple Blossom Families! http://www.appleblossomfamilies.com//2020/02/maggies-birth/

Amazing work being done on Vancouver Island by a former Pom midwife.

Today we light a candle at 7pm for all the babies who couldn’t stay on earth. Families grieve babies lost to miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant death everyday. Let’s take some time to remember. #waveoflight2020