Yet another great link brought to my attention by friend Shell (who happens to be a fabulous midwife if you are a lookin').
HERE is a link to an article which looks at scientific evidence of skin to skin contact for baby and mama moments after birth. Truly fascinating. Check it out.
Showing posts with label Birth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Birth. Show all posts
Monday, July 6, 2009
Arizona Birth Network and interview with Pam England
An amazing human being and Doula, Leigh Steele has posted something really beautiful on The Arizona Birth Network Blog.
An interview with Pam England, Author of Birthing From Within .
HERE
She addresses birthstory medicine and how women feel regarding their birthstories.
I have listened to it twice and I am still thinking about it.
Arizona Birth Network Blog
An interview with Pam England, Author of Birthing From Within .
HERE
She addresses birthstory medicine and how women feel regarding their birthstories.
I have listened to it twice and I am still thinking about it.
Arizona Birth Network Blog
Monday, June 15, 2009
Back for Good
Our trip went well and I am excited to have an open datebook with plenty of time to be a mom and write here.
I am just in awe of the magnificence of a woman's ability to nurture a child both in the womb and out. Cliche, but it is simply miraculous. Regarding pregnancy and birth, I feel that each woman must make the choices that are right for her, and those choices are not the same for every woman. Women need to feel safe wherever they birth, whether that be in a hospital, birthing center or in the home.What is your birth story?
Right now I am working on a project and I would love your input on any or all of the following:Where did you choose to birth and why?
What was your experience?
What was your partner's role and feelings during the birth?
What did you learn from your birth; before, during and after?
If you birthed naturally, what helped you most to do this?
Did your mother tell you your own birth story?
Did you have plans/hopes prior to the birth? If so, what were they?
If you've had more than one pregnancy/birth, how were they different?
Would you do anything different in future births?
If you are an adoptive mother, what helped you to bond with baby?
And anything else you would like to share regarding birth or motherhood...
Also, please let me know if you prefer your thoughts not be shared with others. If you don't mind sharing, tell me if you would like to do so anonymously or named.
THANK YOU! I look forward to hearing your stories: )
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Morning Sickness
I just read another article by Julia Wilson. She is the author of Blissful Birth and is a fresh voice in the natural parenting community in Australia. I am drawn to her work.In this particular article she talks about Morning sickness and several things you can do to treat or prevent having severe sickness. Very cool stuff for anyone who has dealt with it.
Here are some highlights:
"Nutritional needs increase in pregnancy, not in terms of calories but rather vitamins, protein and essential nutrients. Water volume and blood volume in the body increase substantially in early pregnancy, necessitating increased fluids and nutrition"...
..."Nausea is greatly exacerbated when the blood sugar level drops. To avoid this, it is essential to eat throughout the day. The nausea cycle can get out of control when you say, 'I feel so sick, even the thought of food makes me feel worse. There’s no way I can eat.' I hear you, believe me, I’ve been there but you don’t want to go down that road. If you don’t eat when the first signs of nausea arise, you’ll feel worse as time goes on. A few sips of juice or a small something to eat, even a bite of an apple will help the nausea to subside. Be sure, though that the foods you choose aren’t oily. Nibble something light and don’t overeat. Just start with a few bites and a mouthful of non-acidic juice. Sit down while you eat and chew slowly. Picture the food nourishing you and your baby."
Thinking about it in this way when I'm pregnant really seems to help. I hope it's helpful to you as well. More of Julia Wilson to come...
Julia Wilson is the author of Blissful Birth - The Handbook. A mother of five, she is an international advocate for natural childbirth and has been supporting families in pregnancy, birth and the post-natal period for well over a decade. Julia is passionate about natural childbirth and works from a holistic perspective. She also writes on topics regarding pregnancy and birth for magazines and websites such as Conscious Living, Natural Parenting, Natural Family and Kindred (previously Byron Child.) Julia was Australian country contact for America's Midwifery Today International Programme and former treasurer of the mid-North Coast Homebirth Group. She has been instrumental in popularizing the role of the doula in Australia through her work in the media and by offering doula training and support. Julia runs workshops, classes and seminars, based on the philosophy outlined in her book whilst also offering private holistic pre-natal, birth and post-natal support, both in hospital and at home.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
DoYouDoula? (Video)
I've talked about Doulas HERE .
There are many studies that show the benefits of having a Doula support you in your birth. The key really is about having someone who can give you accurate information about all your options and then will support you fully in whatever decisions you make---Period. Whether you choose a medicalized birth, or to have your baby naturally. Doulas give this service.
When I first began my research, I was surprised to learn that many women who have the support of a Doula, do so not only in a hospital setting, but have also chosen a medicated birth. This speaks to the fact that Doulas, really are there to serve the woman--not to judge her birth choices, or talk her out of something she feels is right for her.
I know I've talked a lot about natural birth and the benefits of doing so---but I also want to bring attention to the fact that none of us can fully understand well enough to judge what another woman is experiencing or feeling in her given situation. Some women feel that the natural birth community ignores their particular circumstances if a cesarean or other intervention was needed. It is of course a tragedy for any woman to feel this---especially if they were originally seeking an unmedicated birth. Once again, having a Doula in this situation can help a mother to have a sense of involvement in her birth as opposed to simply being an observer or feeling like a victim of a procedure or intervention. Doulas have training to help the mother process her birthstory.
Having said this, I have a lot of trust in women.
Trust that we have the intuition to know what is right for our bodies.
Trust that we can handle our birth outcomes.
For some, it is about knowing and understanding the process. Once they have the information and are really tuned into their bodies--- They feel good about making decisions. Having a Doula as another resource for further education in the moment, is invaluable for them.
For some women, knowing all the physiology does nothing. For some, all the info and facts are distracting. These women choose to simply follow their gut (no pun intended). For them, a Doula is extremely helpful and can focus on comfort techniques and guiding the birth partner.
And still, for most women it is a combination of knowing and feeling.
The following video was brought to my attention by my midwife Marinah. It gives a great overview of several different reasons women loved having a Doula present at their birth.
Enjoy!
There are many studies that show the benefits of having a Doula support you in your birth. The key really is about having someone who can give you accurate information about all your options and then will support you fully in whatever decisions you make---Period. Whether you choose a medicalized birth, or to have your baby naturally. Doulas give this service.
When I first began my research, I was surprised to learn that many women who have the support of a Doula, do so not only in a hospital setting, but have also chosen a medicated birth. This speaks to the fact that Doulas, really are there to serve the woman--not to judge her birth choices, or talk her out of something she feels is right for her.
I know I've talked a lot about natural birth and the benefits of doing so---but I also want to bring attention to the fact that none of us can fully understand well enough to judge what another woman is experiencing or feeling in her given situation. Some women feel that the natural birth community ignores their particular circumstances if a cesarean or other intervention was needed. It is of course a tragedy for any woman to feel this---especially if they were originally seeking an unmedicated birth. Once again, having a Doula in this situation can help a mother to have a sense of involvement in her birth as opposed to simply being an observer or feeling like a victim of a procedure or intervention. Doulas have training to help the mother process her birthstory.
Having said this, I have a lot of trust in women.
Trust that we have the intuition to know what is right for our bodies.
Trust that we can handle our birth outcomes.
For some, it is about knowing and understanding the process. Once they have the information and are really tuned into their bodies--- They feel good about making decisions. Having a Doula as another resource for further education in the moment, is invaluable for them.
For some women, knowing all the physiology does nothing. For some, all the info and facts are distracting. These women choose to simply follow their gut (no pun intended). For them, a Doula is extremely helpful and can focus on comfort techniques and guiding the birth partner.
And still, for most women it is a combination of knowing and feeling.
The following video was brought to my attention by my midwife Marinah. It gives a great overview of several different reasons women loved having a Doula present at their birth.
Enjoy!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
C-section births fall
I found this via Luna Maya Blog. It makes me happy to hear of women getting such great care!
http://www.berkshireeagle.com/ci_11982902
C-section births fall
By Jennifer Huberdeau, New England Newspapers
Tuesday, March 24
NORTH ADAMS — While more and more women choose to undergo Cesarean section births despite a national push by the federal government to decrease the number, the local rate has declined and is well below the state average.
North Adams Regional Hospital performs significantly fewer c-sections than other hospitals around the state — an average of 18 percent of all births at the hospital compared to the state average of 34 percent, according to reports released by the state Department of Public Health.
The hospital also has a better prenatal care record, according to the reports: 94 percent of women giving birth have had nine or more prenatal care visits versus the state average of 87 percent having that many visits.
"I think what is being reflected in our numbers is that we are taking a more 'midwifery' approach with our practice then before," Robin Rivinus, a certified nurse midwife with Northern Berkshire Obstetrics & Gynecology at the hospital, said last week. "It means that we do fewer unnecessary interventions — inductions, Cesarean sections, episiotomies. We treat childbirth as the normal, natural thing that it is. We only step in when it's medically necessary, which is much better for both the mother and the baby."
In 2004, federal health officials, after seeing a 40 percent increase in c-section births between 1996 and 2004, announced a goal of decreasing the total percentage of c-section births in the county from about 30 percent to 15 percent or below by 2010.
"We usually have a rate of about 16 percent, which is a pretty good range to be in," Dr. Charles O'Neill, an obstetrician/gynecologist with Northern Berkshire Obstetrics & Gynecology [at North Adams Regional Hospital], said.
"I think there are several things that conspired to push the number of c-sections up over the years," he said. "There has been a trend away from offering vaginal births after c-section (familiarly known as VBAC) because of several high-profile malpractice suits and a trend to deliver most twins by c-section."
During 2008, the hospital performed 29 first-time c-sections out of 207 births or 10.7 percent, which is well-below the state average of 20 percent. It had 20 repeat c-sections — 7 percent of the births versus the state average of 13 percent.
"Recently there have been several high-profile studies done that conclude there is overuse of high-tech interventions," Rivinus said. "The conclusions have been that all women should be offered a midwifery model, or a 'back-to-basics' approach to childbirth, where spontaneous, natural birth is the focus."
While some may find a planned Cesarean to be more convenient for the practitioner and family, Rivinus said there are several significant high-risk complications that come with c-sections: infection, uncontrolled bleeding, respiratory distress for the infant and increased risk of the placenta detaching from the uterine wall in future pregnancies.
"Vaginal births are a very natural process," she said. "I think births have become very clinical and sterile, which they shouldn't be. We strive to have personal relationships with our patients and treat the whole individual, not just the pregnancy."
O'Neill said that while he and Dr. Susan Yates have always offered a 'patient-centered' practice, subtle differences have evolved with the addition of two full-time and one part-time certified nurse midwives to the practice.
"To me, the take-home message is that our collaborative practice has made an impact on our overall rates in the end," O'Neill said. "They've helped us improve our standards with the progress of labor and help to remind us and the patients that patience is always a virtue."
Northern Berkshire Obstetrics & Gynecology plans to have two additional obstetrician/gynecologists on staff later this year.
http://www.berkshireeagle.com/ci_11982902
C-section births fall
By Jennifer Huberdeau, New England Newspapers
Tuesday, March 24
NORTH ADAMS — While more and more women choose to undergo Cesarean section births despite a national push by the federal government to decrease the number, the local rate has declined and is well below the state average.
North Adams Regional Hospital performs significantly fewer c-sections than other hospitals around the state — an average of 18 percent of all births at the hospital compared to the state average of 34 percent, according to reports released by the state Department of Public Health.
The hospital also has a better prenatal care record, according to the reports: 94 percent of women giving birth have had nine or more prenatal care visits versus the state average of 87 percent having that many visits.
"I think what is being reflected in our numbers is that we are taking a more 'midwifery' approach with our practice then before," Robin Rivinus, a certified nurse midwife with Northern Berkshire Obstetrics & Gynecology at the hospital, said last week. "It means that we do fewer unnecessary interventions — inductions, Cesarean sections, episiotomies. We treat childbirth as the normal, natural thing that it is. We only step in when it's medically necessary, which is much better for both the mother and the baby."
In 2004, federal health officials, after seeing a 40 percent increase in c-section births between 1996 and 2004, announced a goal of decreasing the total percentage of c-section births in the county from about 30 percent to 15 percent or below by 2010.
"We usually have a rate of about 16 percent, which is a pretty good range to be in," Dr. Charles O'Neill, an obstetrician/gynecologist with Northern Berkshire Obstetrics & Gynecology [at North Adams Regional Hospital], said.
"I think there are several things that conspired to push the number of c-sections up over the years," he said. "There has been a trend away from offering vaginal births after c-section (familiarly known as VBAC) because of several high-profile malpractice suits and a trend to deliver most twins by c-section."
During 2008, the hospital performed 29 first-time c-sections out of 207 births or 10.7 percent, which is well-below the state average of 20 percent. It had 20 repeat c-sections — 7 percent of the births versus the state average of 13 percent.
"Recently there have been several high-profile studies done that conclude there is overuse of high-tech interventions," Rivinus said. "The conclusions have been that all women should be offered a midwifery model, or a 'back-to-basics' approach to childbirth, where spontaneous, natural birth is the focus."
While some may find a planned Cesarean to be more convenient for the practitioner and family, Rivinus said there are several significant high-risk complications that come with c-sections: infection, uncontrolled bleeding, respiratory distress for the infant and increased risk of the placenta detaching from the uterine wall in future pregnancies.
"Vaginal births are a very natural process," she said. "I think births have become very clinical and sterile, which they shouldn't be. We strive to have personal relationships with our patients and treat the whole individual, not just the pregnancy."
O'Neill said that while he and Dr. Susan Yates have always offered a 'patient-centered' practice, subtle differences have evolved with the addition of two full-time and one part-time certified nurse midwives to the practice.
"To me, the take-home message is that our collaborative practice has made an impact on our overall rates in the end," O'Neill said. "They've helped us improve our standards with the progress of labor and help to remind us and the patients that patience is always a virtue."
Northern Berkshire Obstetrics & Gynecology plans to have two additional obstetrician/gynecologists on staff later this year.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Do You Wanna Doula?
Of course you do!
art credit http://www.mayanhealers.com/doula_care
art credit http://www.mayanhealers.com/doula_careAnd now I shall share with you all the beauties of a Doula and why you might want to consider having one at your next birth.
First, What is a doula?
The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.
When doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily.
The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.
When doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily.
Numerous Clinical studies, such as this one have found that a doula’s presence at birth
-Reduces the need for cesarean by 50%
-Reduces the length of labor by 25%
-Reduces the use of oxytocin by 40%
-Reduces pain medication use by 30%
-Reduces the need for forceps by 40%
-Reduces epidural requests by 60%
-Reduces the length of labor by 25%
-Reduces the use of oxytocin by 40%
-Reduces pain medication use by 30%
-Reduces the need for forceps by 40%
-Reduces epidural requests by 60%
Six weeks after birth, mothers who had doulas were:
-Less anxious and depressed
-Had more confidence with baby
-More satisfied w/ partner (71% vs 30%)
-More likely to be breastfeeding (52% vs. 29%)
This study can be found in “A Doula Makes the Difference”
by Nugent in Mothering Magazine, March-April 1998.
Doulas are not just for the wealthy. Many Doulas charge a fee based on a sliding scale, meaning that a percentage of your income decides the fee. Some are willing to barter services or goods. EVERY woman deserves a doula.
A story From Valerie, a brave mama whose son was delivered via Cesarean section:
"I was optimistically expecting a short, easy, uneventful, painless delivery, probably like most new mothers. That is not what happened. I had three epidurals and some additional pain medications which did not work as expected. I had not planned for the pain of delivery, and would not have been prepared for it without a doula. Even with a childbirth class behind me, my doula was much better prepared than anyone else to get me through the contractions which I could feel even with the epidurals. Moreover, because my labor had exceeded 24 hours, my family support was almost as exhausted as I was. However, my doula remained prepared and professional, and was just as able to help me through the contractions at the 30th hour as she was at the first."
Informative article HERE with another woman's experience with a doula.
Informative article HERE with another woman's experience with a doula.
A Birth Doula
-Recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life
-Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor
-Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth
-Stays with the woman throughout the labor
-Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get the information she needs to make informed decision
-Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers
-Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman's memory of the birth experience
-Allows the woman's partner to participate at his/her comfort level
-A birth doula certified by DONA International is designated by the initials CD(DONA).
-Recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life
-Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor
-Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth
-Stays with the woman throughout the labor
-Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get the information she needs to make informed decision
-Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers
-Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman's memory of the birth experience
-Allows the woman's partner to participate at his/her comfort level
-A birth doula certified by DONA International is designated by the initials CD(DONA).
A Postpartum Doula
-Offers education, companionship and nonjudgmental support during the postpartum fourth trimester
-Assists with newborn care, family adjustment, meal preparation and light household tidying
-Offers evidence-based information on infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from birth, infant soothing and coping skills for new parents and makes appropriate referrals when necessary
-A postpartum doula certified by DONA International is designated by the initials PCD(DONA).
-Offers education, companionship and nonjudgmental support during the postpartum fourth trimester
-Assists with newborn care, family adjustment, meal preparation and light household tidying
-Offers evidence-based information on infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from birth, infant soothing and coping skills for new parents and makes appropriate referrals when necessary
-A postpartum doula certified by DONA International is designated by the initials PCD(DONA).
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