Check out this news story about the mom who was sent home from the hospital for being in false labor.  She had the baby in her driveway!!  Reminded me of my first birth.  I was also sent home because I definitely wasn’t in labor, according to the nurse.  (yeah….8 days past my due date….no way THAT could be real labor, right?!)  By the time we went back to the hospital my son was born within 20 minutes of walking through the door, and that was only because I was holding off on pushing to wait for THEM to get their act together.  I should have just had him at home!

~Erica

Have you heard about this new documentary that explores the way birth is managed in the USA? Ricki Lake directs in this film that gives a message that people need to hear.

As a mother of six, I have had

a hospital birth with an OB

a home birth of a posterior baby, attended by a lay midwife

a birthing center birth with a certified nurse midwife

a c-section for a premature breech baby and a placental abruption

an unassisted home waterbirth VBAC

a c-section for another placental abruption

Watching the film trailer here I was moved to tears remembering my own birth experiences–particularly the very empowering ones. I was reminded that women are getting ripped off every day with the messages and management of birth in our society. Women are so used to the message that birth is dangerous and that their bodies aren’t able to birth without intervention, that they believe the lies and allow their natural rights as women and mothers to be stolen away from them.

At the risk of sounding like a fanatic, I want to tell you this: Women, you are being lied to. You are being told that you are broken and weak. And for the vast majority of you that are forced or convinced into believing this, you may not even know what you are being robbed of. But you are being robbed nonetheless. And it is tragic. Truly tragic.
Take some time to watch this movie. I’m including some videos here, but you can also go to the official web site for more information, including info on local showings all over the world. Wilmington, NC residents–you have a community showing coming up on Jan. 31. Also, the movie will be available through Netflix in mid-February.  Do a search on youtube.com for “the Business of Being Born” and you will find quite a few interviews, etc. to watch.

~Erica

I found this interesting article today and wanted to pass it along to you gals. If you are looking for an alternative to coffee, why not check out Teeccino Herbal Coffee? It comes in many different flavors, including Vanilla Nut, Almond Amaretto, Hazelnut, Java, and even an organic version. It brews in your coffee pot and smells heavenly. Zero caffeine! You can check it out here.

Today I rec’d an email from Elena Tonetti, creator of the Birth As We Know It DVD, letting me know about her “birthshops” schedule for this year and next.  I thought some of you might be interested in knowing the locations and dates for this.  Contact information (and for details about what a ‘birthshop’ is) is at the bottom of this post.

January 25, 2008- Palo Alto, CA
“BAWKI” Screening at the “Blossom”
Mendy, elementsofmagic@gmail.comFebruary 23-24, 2008- Sebastopol, CA
“BIB” Birthshop, $350 single, $650 couples

March 4, 2008- San Francisco, CA @6:30pm
“BAWKI” Screening at The Natural Birth
Institute- http://www.naturalbirthinstitute.com

Earth at birthsage@wildmail.com or 510-410-5640

March 21-23, 2008- Los Angeles
Raw Lifestyle Film Festival
http://www.serenityspaces.org

March 25, 2009- Los Angeles
“BAWKI” Screening

March 26-27, 2008- Los Angeles- $350
“BIB” Birthshop
Featuring Raw Chef Dorit of Serenity Spaces
Sheila, 562-843-1999

March 29, 2008- San Francisco, CA
One Day “BIB” Workshop http://www.naturalbirthinstitute.com
Earth at birthsage@wildmail.com or 510-410-5640

April 6-12, 2008- Hawaii
“BIB” Birthshop Level I & II-$1800
Including lodging, gourmet meals, swimming w/whales,
template ritual, and Jin-Shin Jitsu, etc.
A week long intensive!

April 18, 2008- Palo Alto, CA
“BAWKI” Screening- $10
Mendy, elementsofmagic@gmail.com

April 19-20, 2008- Palo Alto, CA
“BIB” Birthshop- $350
Mendy, elementsofmagic@gmail.com

May 3-4, 2008-Chico, CA
“BIB” Birthshop- $350

May 16-18, 2008
Conference of California Midwifery Alliance- Sebastopol, CA

May, 2008- New York, NY
BIB Birthshop
Level 1: May 21-22, $450
Level 2: May 23-24 $500

June 2008- South Africa!
Johannesburg Conference- May 28-29
Johannesburg- BIB- May 31-June 1
Cape Town Conference- June 5-6
Cape Town- BIB- June 7-8

June 20-22, 2008- Singapore

June 27-29, 2008- New Zealand

September 12-14, 2008- Arizona
Raw Lifestyle Film Festival
Dorit, ddorit5@sbcglobal.net

September-October, 2008- Poland
Three “BIB” Birthshops:
September 27-28, October 1-2, October 4-5
Marek, mkotas@gmail.com

October 10-12, 2008- UK
Birth Into Being Birthshop
Anna, stampedebreakfast@mac.com

2009April 9-12, 2009- Elena’s Conference in CA, Featuring Russian Midwives:
Tatiana Sargunas and Svetlana Akimova, Amber Hartnell, plus a brilliant team of presenters.

To register for all Birthshops, please contact Crystal: crystal@birthintobeing.com or call 530-566-0199.
For local information such as lodging or directions, please contact the local organizer.

You Have Control Over Your Birth Experience by Rayven Perkins

I have given birth to four children, in three different states. Each hospital had different policies and procedures, and each birth experience was unique.

My last delivery, just a few months ago, was to boy/girl twins.

I started my pregnancy with a new-to-me doctor I disliked, who was ready to schedule a cesarean in my first trimester. About halfway through the pregnancy, we moved, and I found an absolutely wonderful doctor. I expressed to him my desire to do everything humanly possible to deliver these twins vaginally. I had never had a c-section before, and really didn’t want to have one.

He respected my decision, and agreed to only mention a c-section if an emergency situation occurred.

At the start of my third trimester, I had the opportunity to tour the hospital I was to deliver in. While on the tour, I asked if twin deliveries were required to be in the operating room, which is standard in most hospitals, and the touring nurse said to me, “How else would you have a c-section?” She seemed shocked that I would even consider giving birth to twins in any other way.

On the delivery day, I was able to labor in a birthing room and was transferred to the OR for the delivery only.

I had a normal labor, and they finally wheeled me into the OR. There were about six medical personnel in the room, busy preparing for the delivery and awaiting the doctor. I was concerned that the first baby was on his way out, and kept saying to the nurses “I think the baby is coming”, but for the most part, they ignored me. I said this maybe five times. Finally, one nurse told me not to worry, that they would catch him should he decide to make an appearance.

Amidst all this activity, I suddenly had a thought, and announced, “Oh, by the way, under no circumstances whatsoever do I want an episiotomy.”

Immediately, the six people in the room froze, and dropped everything they were working on to turn and look at me. So I repeated myself. They looked at me as though I was growing horns out of my head. Finally one nurse told me that she would make sure that the doctor knew.

The delivery went well. The second twin decided to turn breech at the last moment, but my doctor, respecting my decision to do everything possible to avoid a c-section was able to manually turn her. I avoided the episiotomy as well, which proved to be completely unnecessary.

The next morning, as I was walking around trying to regain my strength, I saw several other new mothers sitting on ice packs, moaning and groaning. They had not realized the episiotomy was a choice.

All the nurses who cared for me after the delivery treated me oddly. It was as though I were some sort of celebrity. Finally, one nurse spilled the beans. It seemed that I was the first mother to deliver twins vaginally in that hospital in over ten years.

Ten years.

It amazes me how much hospitals and doctors take certain situations for granted. No vaginal twin deliveries in a decade? How many of those mothers were lead to believe their bodies wouldn’t do what came naturally to them? How many of them had unnecessary surgeries, higher risk of infections, and major recover for nothing?

You have a lot more control over the birth of your child in a hospital setting than you are aware of.

–An episiotomy is optional, but if you do not speak up and vocalize your desire not to have one, it may happen to you.

–A c-section is optional in some cases. There are circumstances where it is necessary, but many are done for convenience when other options are available.

–Pain medications and even IVs are optional. If you chose not to have any pain medications, then you do not need to be hooked up to an IV at all.

–Lying flat on your back in a bed is optional. If you do not have an epidural, you do not need to remain in bed through labor and delivery. Feel free to move about, take a shower, and try different labor positions that you would like to get more comfortable.

The birth of your baby should be a happy experience. It should not be one of fear and disappointment. Simply talk with your doctor and hospital staff about your desires. Do this early in the pregnancy. If it seems like your doctor does not take your concerns seriously, find a new doctor.

—

Rayven Perkins is an expert at saving money at home. She has spent 7 years finding and implementing unique cost-cutting tips that allow her family to live comfortably as a one-income family. Her site http://www.stay-a-stay-at-home-mom.com examines resources and tips on Reducing Expenses, Stretching Your Dollar, and Supplementing Income in order to stay a SAHM

By: Colleen Langenfeld

Are you pregnant? Has your doctor told you to get moving in some way, to do some sort of exercise? (By the way, ALWAYS check with a doctor before beginning an exercise program.)

Exercise can either be your best friend or your worst enemy. Here is some food for thought if you are struggling with starting an exercise program during your pregnancy.

==> The Good.

You need to exercise during pregnancy. You need to gently stretch and stay as flexible as possible. This can make a huge difference in the quality of your delivery and recovery.

I know. I’ve had four full time pregnancies and I’ve experienced firsthand the difference staying flexible can make. Exercise also keeps your body working at a higher efficiency rate which will help you sleep better and improve your digestion, two things not to be taken lightly during pregnancy.

The difference exercise during pregnancy can make for your post-partum recovery is amazing. Again, I can tell you from firsthand experience, that a comfortable and reasonable fitness routine (simple walking is terrific) can help your body ’snap back’ like nothing else.

Physical exercise has been shown to improve moods. Girlfriend, we know how to have moods when we’re pregnant, don’t we? Enough said.

And don’t forget this vital point. A healthier mom means a healthier baby. How can you argue with that?
==> The Bad.

Exercise performed during pregnancy is different than exercise at other times. You’ve got to be extra-sensitive to your body needs. You’ve got to go slower and be willing to stop sooner. You must be willing to be flexible in your choice of exercise, too. If you like to run, you probably won’t be able to keep that up your entire pregnancy. Of course, that choice will be between you and your doctor.

Still, all those points have a silver lining. A great exercise for pregnancy is swimming. And hey, no one cares what you look like in a bathing suit! In fact, being pregnant is a wonderful time to celebrate the beauty of your body. Take advantage, buy a cute suit, and head for the water.

An additional safety point to consider when you exercise is not to overheat. I’ve experienced this, as well, and it is not fun. I was only fourteen weeks pregnant, but the weather was hot and humid. I was playing horseshoes (hardly an aerobic sport), but after a short time I was feeling terrible. The people around me were commenting on how flushed I looked. When I went inside it took a very long time for me to cool down, much longer than normal.

So be careful. Exercise during pregnancy is meant to benefit you and your baby, but that means it needs to be moderate and regulated. Save the Olympics for later.

==> The Ugly.

You’re pregnant. You feel sick. You’re tired. Exercise?? Are you crazy?

It’s true. Even the most die-hard fitness gal often finds motivation for exercise during her pregnancy much more difficult. So if you are not a regular exerciser, you’re wondering how you can possibly pull this off. Even if you know it’s very important to your health and your baby’s well-being, it can be hard to simply get started.

The number one recommendation I can give you is to not to do this on your own. It’s just too big of a leap during this season in your life. The great news is you have some excellent options that can make your exercise time downright fun.

Look for an exercise system or group specifically designed for pregnant women. (For a detailed review of such a system, see the author’s resource box following this article.) Look for one that gives abundant support. This is crucial! You need to be in regular contact with other exercising pregnant women. This will give you the motivation you need to keep up your exercise program even when you don’t feel like it.

Let’s face it. You’ll need someplace to vent and share openly about your pregnancy experiences. An exercise group of other moms-to-be could be a very, very helpful thing to you. I highly recommend it.

So do something wonderful for yourself and your baby today and get moving!

Article Source: http://www.thewahmshack.com/articledirectory

About The Author: Colleen Langenfeld has been parenting for over 25 years and helps other moms enjoy mothering more at www.paintedgold.com . Learn more about exercise during pregnancy at her site today.

By: David Viniker

If your pregnancy symptoms are earlier and more pronounced than you’d normally expect, you may be carrying a twin pregnancy. However, only a health professional can tell for sure.

1. You just feel that you are carrying more than one baby. Some mothers of twins (or higher order multiples) say that they knew right from the start that they were carrying more than one baby.

2. You experience more nausea and/or morning sickness. If you are having more than one baby, you may have an elevated hCG level (hCG is a pregnancy related hormone). This hormone is the one associated with morning sickness.

3. Other typical pregnancy symptoms may be exaggerated. Many women — but not all — who are pregnant with twins have more intense pregnancy symptoms, probably related to the extra hormones circulating through their system. You may find that your breasts are extremely tender, you have to urinate frequently, you are hungry all the time and you are always very tired.

4. A higher than average weight gain in the first 16 weeks may be your first clue that you’re carrying more than one baby. Good weight gain in early twin pregnancy is associated with a favorable outcome.
With each additional fetus a woman carries, the range of weight gain will increase. For example, a woman who starts a pregnancy in a healthy weight range might expect her weight gain to be as follows:
One fetus, 11 kg (24 lb) to 16 kg (35 lb)
Twins, 16 kg (35 lb) to 20 kg (44 lb)
Triplets, 20 kg (44 lb) to 23 kg (51 lb)
Quads, 23 kg (51 lb) to 25 kg (55 lb)
5. Your uterus seems large for gestational age. If your last menstrual period indicates an eight-week gestation, your uterus may feel more like 10 to 12 weeks to your obstetrician. This may prompt a request for an ultrasound examination.

6. You are told that you have elevated levels of AFP. AFP is one of the chemicals tested to screen for Down’s syndrome and spina bifida abnormalities. AFP levels are higher in twin pregnancies.

7. Your health care provider hears two fetal heartbeats. Two separate heartbeats can be distinguishable with a Doppler in your care provider’s office from around 18 weeks. At around 28 weeks, it may be possible to differentiate two fetal heads and multiple small parts when doing an abdominal exam.

8. You have a positive ultrasound. If you believe you are pregnant with twins, an ultrasound can be performed quite early in pregnancy. With a skilled ultrasonographer, two gestational sacs, two embryos and two distinct fetal heartbeats can be seen six weeks after the first day of the last menstrual period. Many twins have been diagnosed as early as five weeks — when you’re just one week late for your menstrual period.

9. In later pregnancy, you may experience difficulty catching your breath, swelling (edema) of the hands and legs, an unusual rate of weight gain and abdominal enlargement and excessive fetal movement. Anemia or low iron (decreased hemoglobin) is also common with twin and multiple pregnancies.

10. There is considerable disagreement among medical professionals as to whether a woman carrying twins is more likely to feel movement earlier. But many mothers do claim that those early flutters and flips were their first clue that they might be having more than one.

Article Source: http://www.thewahmshack.com/articledirectory

About The Author: David A Viniker MD FRCOG is a London Consultant in OB/GYN who strongly supports patient choice. You are welcome to visit his websites which explain the pros and cons of the various options for women’s health, pregnancy and childbirth: www.obstetric-health.com www.2womenshealth.com

By: Kari St.Louis

The first steps to combating anemia during pregnancy is to get proper amounts of iron nutrition. Make sure you discuss all your nutrition plans with your Doctor.

Why do I need iron?
Iron is a very important mineral present in certain enzymes and hemoglobin, the substance in red blood cells that enables the blood to transport oxygen throughout the body. Iron helps your immune system function normally, increasing your resistance to stress and disease. In addition Iron is also critical for normal brain function. Lastly, iron helps you avoid symptoms of tiredness which is a very common complaint during pregnancy, weakness, irritability, and depression.

Signs Of Iron deficiency
Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency and can be caused by many factors including a poorly balanced diet. Iron deficiency can lead to anemia, a blood disorder that occurs when there is not enough hemoglobin in a person’s blood. Most womens iron stores are low to begin with so they are unable to meet their pregnant bodies increased demands. Also if a new mom experiences morning sickness she increases her risk for anemia. The symptoms of anemia include:

fatique

headache

dizziness

difficulty with sleeping

loss of appetite

slight increase risk of infection

How Can Expecting Moms Get More Iron
Iron is found in many foods, but it is hard to absorb, making it difficult for your body to get enough iron so it can meet its needs during pregnancy. When you don’t have enough iron in your diet, you make fewer red blood cells, which is called anemia. Iron deficiency anemia is very common during pregnancy and is easy to correct.
Expecting moms can get iron from sources such as Red meat, Chicken, and Fish. If you are a vegetarian and you prefer non-meat choices there are lots of dark green leafy vegetables to choose from, dried fruit, eggs, wheat germ, tofu, beans, and whole grain breads. Then ofcourse prenatal vitamins. An iron supplement may be recommended by your doctor if you become anemic. If you think you are anemic communicate your concerns with your doctor so that a blood test may be performed. *Caution: Do not turn to liver for your iron needs. Liver is best avoided during pregnancy because it contains unsafe amounts of vitamin A which can cause birth defects.

Important Facts About Iron

Did you know Vitamin C helps your body use and absorb iron? It is important to eat or drink sources of vitamin C along with foods containing iron and iron supplements all at the same time. So what foods are high in vitamin C? Orange juice, grapefruit juice, tomato juice, bell peppers, broccoli, melon, strawberries, half grapefruit, and cabbage.

Iron supplements can cause constipation. Increase fiber intake by including whole grain breads, fiber cereals, fruits, and high fiber vegetables. Drinking at least 8 cups of water daily and start light walking to get your circulation going (as recommended by your physician). These things are a great way to ward off constipation.

What Interfers With Iron Absorbtion
Caffeine drinks can inhibit the absorption of iron. Caffeine is commonly found in teas, colas, coffees, and chocolate products. These products contain polyphenols that interfere with the absorption of iron from supplements and plant sources. Carbonated beverages and many medications also contain caffeine. Become a label reader. You want to take your iron supplement and eat the foods high in iron at least two to three hours after drinking or eating caffeine products.

Calcium also interfers with the iron absorption process. Antacids can be a pregnant womens best friend but since they are high in calcium they can also interfere with iron absorption. Same goes for other calcium supplements, and drinking milk. Allow a time frame inbetween calcium and iron intake.

Article Source: http://www.thewahmshack.com/articledirectory

About The Author: by: Kari St.Louis For more information on Healthy Pregnancy Tips visit www.healthyfamilytalkradio.com/pregnancy-article.htm

By: Tina Titas

Mothers-to-be have many questions about pregnancy nutrition and exercise.
The tips and advice below will help you get started on a healthy pregnancy.

A diet containing the essential nutrients and vitamins are vital to the development of both mother and child. Vitamins are imperative to the health of a developing baby and the well being of the mother. Choosing foods that are rich in vitamins and other nutrients are a critical part of a healthy pregnancy nutrition plan and supplemental vitamins are necessary as well.

Follow a well-planned pregnancy diet to help avoid complications such as morning sickness, fatigue, anemia, and constipation. Your healthy diet must continue after pregnancy if you plan to breastfeed your baby.

Pregnancy food recommendations
* Your pregnancy diet should include plenty of complex and unrefined carbohydrates as they contain important B vitamins, trace minerals, and fiber that are essential to a fit, healthy pregnancy.
* Appropriate quantities of yellow and green leafy vegetables are vital for the growth of the baby and the health of the mother.
* Dairy products contain calcium that will assist in the developing baby’s teeth and bones. If your diet is lacking calcium your body will draw calcium from your bones to meet it’s increased need.
* Avoid excessive amounts of fat must be avoided during pregnancy, as it will only serve to add excess pounds, which will be hard to lose after the birth of your baby.
* Vitamin C in generous amounts is crucial to a healthy pregnancy, bone growth, and various metabolic processes. Including berries, citrus fruits, raw broccoli and cabbage can help provide you with the Vitamin C that you need.

Ideally, your pregnancy diet should include 3-4 servings of protein and meat, 2-4 servings of fruit, 6-11 servings of grains, 4-6 servings of dairy products, and 6-8 glasses of water, milk, and juice. A pregnant mother must follow a healthy diet that will benefit the developing baby but that will also maintain her general health as well.

Exercise recommendations during pregnancy
Exercise during pregnancy will promote strength, muscle tone, and endurance. Regular activity during your pregnancy will help alleviate swelling, fatigue, and backache. If you expect to remain fit during your pregnancy you will need to work your heart and major muscle groups. The type of exercise you do during your pregnancy will depend on your fitness level prior to pregnancy. Walking, pregancy yoga videos, and swimming are excellent pregnancy exercises combined with stretching and other low-impact activities.

Exercises that involve a risk of falling or injury should be avoided such as bicycling, racket sports, horseback riding, and skiing. You will need to alter your exercise routine from trimester to trimester to accommodate your growing body. Avoiding over-exertion is necessary to avoid complications such as faintness, dizziness, vaginal bleeding, and premature contractions. Also, make sure you drink plenty of water before, during, and after exercising to reduce the risk of dehydration, which can raise your body temperature and cause harm to yourself and/or your baby.

A regular exercise program is beneficial to both mother and child, but check with your health care provider to make sure you have no conditions or risks that will prevent you from participating in a regular exercise routine or could cause potential harm to yourself or your child.

Article Source: http://www.thewahmshack.com/articledirectory

About The Author: Tina Titas is a columnist for www.FunExerciseVideos.com — From Carmen Electra to Richard Simmons, you’ll find exercise videos at a great price.

By: Susanne Myers

I still haven’t figured out why they call it morning sickness. If you ask me, it’s all day every day sickness. For many of us, dealing with the queasiness and nausea of morning sickness is the hardest part about being pregnant. Thankfully there are quite a few easy and natural ways to improve the way you feel without harming your baby. Here are a few of my favorite remedies to give you morning sickness relief.

Eat small meals spread out through the day. This way your stomach is never quite empty which helps prevent excessive stomach acid. Eating small meals will also keep you from eating too much at once, which can also make you feel sick.

Drink plenty of water. Carry a cup or a water bottle with you at all times and sip throughout the day. The water is important for the overall health and wellbeing of both you and your baby. It will also dilute any stomach acid, keeping you from getting quite as sick.

Take your prenatal vitamins right before you go to sleep at night. Mine used to make me really sick, even if I took them with a full meal. Taking them at night, right before I went to bed, allowed me to fall asleep before I started getting sick. Take them with a snack, like a bowl of cereal, or some crackers and cheese.

Ginger and peppermint will both help with nausea. Carry some ginger snaps, or some candied ginger with you. Nibble on it when you feel the first signs of morning sickness. Carry some peppermint candy or gum with. For bad cases of morning sickness, a cup of peppermint tea always helped me. It may be worth a try.

Please check with your OB/GYN about these tips on morning sickness relief before implementing them.

Article Source: http://www.thewahmshack.com/articledirectory

About The Author: Susanne Myers has suffered her share of morning sickness, which prompted her to create www.morningsicknessinfo.com a website full of information about and tips to prevent morning sickness. For more information about your pregnancy in general please visit www.healthandbeautyinfo.com/pregnancy.html

By: Audrey Okaneko

I remember when I first announced that I was pregnant. Two things happened. I began getting phone calls of congratulations and I began getting advice.

Today, it is 20 years later and I’ve continued to get parenting advice through the infant stage, the toddler stage, the young adult stage, the teen stage and now the adult child stage. Everyone has advice to offer.

So, how can you stop yourself from going nuts with all of the advice? Here are a few of my suggestions.

Listen to those who you want to listen to. There is always something to be learned. You may pick up a tidbit of what to do or you just may be persuaded to never try something that is being offered to you as advice. I have had women over the years offer advice to me that I knew was exactly what not to do.

If you don’t want to listen, simply say “thank you, right now I’m just on information overload”. Most folks will stop when asked to stop. When I was pregnant, I had some health issues. I was following the advice of my doctor. I think everyone I spoke to either knew someone or knew someone who knew someone else who had been through what I was going through and everyone wanted to help me. I simply said “thank you so much for caring, however I really need to listen to my doctor, I trust her 100%”. At this point, most folks stopped offering their advice.

Through the years as I’ve had various parenting questions and parenting dilemmas, I have most definitely solicited information from others who had walked in my shoes previously. Again, listen to and take in what you find useful. If the information gets overwhelming, then once again thank people for their concern and change the subject.

Anyone who has been pregnant and had a child will have information and advice to share. It’s up to you how much you listen to and how much you say “no thanks”.

Article Source: http://www.thewahmshack.com/articledirectory

About The Author: Audrey Okaneko is mom to two girls. She can be reached at audreyoka@cox.net or visited at www.recipe-barn.com

My second child was born posterior. Let me tell you…a posterior labor is a PAINFUL labor, and a posterior birth is a PAINFUL birth!

During subsequent pregnancies I did my best to encourage my unborn babies to get into positions that were more favorable for an easier birth.

Today I found out about a cool website that helps women encourage their baby to turn to optimal birthing positions. Whether your babe is posterior, breech, or otherwise, Spinning Babies is a great resource! I hope it’s a help to you.

More and more men are taking their role as daddy very seriously. There are many Internet sites dedicated to new fathers and helping them to navigate through the challenges. Member sites just for new dads are filling up quickly and daddy’s rush from work to attend their child’s nursery school event or soccer game. Never before has there been such an interest in hands on parenting in new fathers.

In the past, the majority of fathers were delighted with the new baby on the way, but coolly waited out the pregnancy not getting too involved except to assemble nursery furniture and attend birthing classes with their partner. Most only became involved when their child was old enough to interact with them.

Women bond faster with the new baby for obvious reasons. Mothering and nurturing come naturally to most new mommies, with a little common sense thrown in. Mothers learn to be a mother from the moment they are aware they are pregnant. It’s their job to take care of the baby in their body and that caring naturally continues after the birth.

Unfortunately, fathers don’t experience what mothers do. They have to learn to parent after the baby arrives. Suddenly they are expected to know how to be a father. They’ll draw upon their experiences growing up with their father and most will parent exactly as their fathers did. This can be good or it can be bad.

During the pregnancy, the mother-to-be is busy recording every thought, feeling and wish into her pregnancy journal. This process allows her to reflect and to plan how she will mother this new child. This process puts her far ahead of the new father when the new baby arrives.

It’s time to level the playing field and help the daddy-to-be bond earlier with his new child. Mothers can help by:
* Getting daddy to answer some of the questions in her pregnancy journal
* Have daddy record an audio for his new child of his hopes and wishes
* Write letters to his child during the pregnancy
* Have daddy think about how he was raised and how he wants to raise his new child

Too many children have grown up not knowing their father. It’s not natural for most men to verbalize their emotions or to record them. Our children have an intimate keepsake from their mothers. It’s time we help new fathers into fatherhood and assist them in bonding with our children during the pregnancy. Take a look at these wonderful tools for fathers and families as they welcome a new addition into their home!

In the beginning of your pregnancy, you’re consumed with excitement and you feel beautiful. It seems like the upcoming months will last forever as you plan, shop, decorate and bond deeper with your husband. You can’t imagine forgetting one moment of this exciting time. But just to make sure, you dutifully record every precious moment in your pregnancy journal along with the receipts and special mementos you’ve collected.

You’re pregnant and your emotions change all day long; excited, anxious, happy, sad, feeling beautiful, feeling fat. These feelings not only change all day, but they become stronger and different over the months as your baby grows inside you. Those emotions of feeling beautiful at the beginning of your pregnancy will change to emotions of feeling fat once you’re into your sixth or seventh month.

Finally the labor begins and you’re whisked off to the hospital or birthing center and your pregnancy journal is forgotten. You’re now concentrating on the labor and wishing it would be over. What a way to cap off a wonderful pregnancy, writhing in agony or thankfully medicated as the contractions take over your body. At this moment you can’t think of much you’d want to remember, except maybe those special moments with your partner.

Suddenly you are giving birth, your new baby has arrived and your wonderful new life is starting. You and your partner exchange emotional thoughts that will be remembered forever. These are moments burned in your memory to be shared in later years when your family is grown.

While you wrap up the labor and delivery those first few days, friends and relatives call and some stop by to view your baby in the nursery. You form a special relationship with your doctor and the nurses and other new mothers. As you drive your new baby home and safely nestle him in his new room, there are more special memories. From now on, everything you do is a special memory.

These are the times you want to record as a family keepsake. Your pregnancy journal may not leave much room to record the events that come after the delivery. You’ll want to have a new scrapbook ready or a new journal just for the labor and delivery. You might overlook giving birth as an event needing a special keepsake. Of course, you’ll remember the major special moments, but as the years go by, you will forget the minor events. You may have a video of the birth and of course, you’ll have many photos of the labor and delivery, but these don’t record your special thoughts and emotions that only you experienced.

When your new baby is grown and ready to commit to a family of his own, you’ll be asked a lot of questions about his birth. Imagine how wonderful it would be to have your keepsake to provide all the details you otherwise would have forgotten. This is a keepsake that will warm the heart of your now grown child as he/she realizes how special it is that you put so much time and effort into this keepsake.

Make plans early in your pregnancy to record these cherished memories of giving birth. These wonderful journaling tools are a great help–check them out here!

Many thanks for Jackie for sharing her birth story with us!

The shortened version of my birth history:
-First section was an emergency and I believe it was necessary. They tested the blood in his cord and it had not been circulating.
-2nd section was after a trial of labor and ended up being ‘Failure to Progress’, or as we know it “Failure for Doctor to be patient”. I wish I could go back in time to change this decision…
-3rd and 4th sections were scheduled. I went in to my first pre-natal appt when pregnant with my third all ready to try a VBAC and basically got laughed at. I wish I had done then all the research/soul-searching I’ve done this time.

This pregnancy and leading up to it:

So, after 4 children, we thought we were done….my hubby b/c he was just done and me b/c I didn’t think I could deal with any more c-sections. After the last section, I kept saying, “I can’t do this anymore….” But, in my heart, I knew that I was not done having children…there were more ‘out there’ for me. I began looking into adoption and fostering, but didn’t have hubby’s total support there, either. Finally, after a long while….(all of our children are about 2 years apart, but this baby comes almost 4 years after our youngest)….we let go of it all and put it in God’s hands. We would let Him give us more children. And then, if He gave us the child, then He could deliver this child the way He made me to….vaginally. Believe me, its been one long walk of faith!!

We got pregnant right away after that decision, but that started the turmoil for me. I so wanted to gestate in peace, but that really didn’t happen. I immediately contacted several midwives in my area, only to be turned down by all of them. One was really nice and spent a ton of time with me on the phone and gave me lots of advice. But, she said even though she believed I could VBAC, she didn’t want her fears to affect me. So, I was ’stuck’ with my OB. (About halfway through my pregnancy, I ‘met’ online a traveling midwife who was willing to attend me. Well, after all this, my hubby tells me he’s adamately opposed to spending that much money on a midwife. [and we really didn't have the money- It would have meant taking out a loan.] Nice he should tell me that then. We fought about that for much of the rest of the pregnancy. Our insurance doesn’t cover midwives, but totally covers OB/hospital births. So, “Thank you” to that midwife- you know who you are- she was very helpful, as well. Next pregnancy, I’m saving up for a midwife!)

I continued with OB care, being a “good little patient”, pretending that I was having a 5th section. My plan for most of the pregnancy was to stay home as long as possible in labor and show up ready to push and refuse a section. Or if things were feeling comfortable, to stay home and deliver baby.

Of course, they scheduled my section for a week before my due date….I stated that I wanted to go into labor on my own and then show up for the surgery….we had several confrontations about scheduling with my doc and the surgery scheduler. I couldn’t deal with the stress anymore and just wanted to quit going to the doc for the last few weeks. Well, my hubby, being the honest person that he is, wanted to tell my OB the truth about our plans. I knew very well what his reaction would be, but that was what we did. At 38 weeks, we told my OB (of 12 years) that we were planning to VBAC and not planning on having another section. He flipped, of course. I basically got yelled at for 15 minutes…called selfish, stupid, irresponsible…told I could die, baby could die, I had a 15% chance of rupture (which is not at all true)…on and on. I hate confrontation, had been sick to my stomach for days, dreading this encounter….but it was done. He dropped me from his care…although, he knew he had to care for me for 30 days.

I had been given the name of a doctor at the beginning of my pregnancy, who I was told was supportive of VBACs. Well, I hadn’t called him earlier b/c he’s further away, and connected to a much smaller hospital and I figured he’d be supportive of a VBAC after 1 section, but no way after 4 sections. Well, now I had nothing to lose, so I gave him a call. I had to fight my way around the receptionist and his nurse, who both said I was too far along for him to take me. I begged them to just run it by him, have him call me, talk to him directly. They did and he agreed to see me on his day off, no less! He says, “I figure you’re an adult and can make this decision (to VBAC).” I’m thinkin’ “Yes! That’s what I’m talking about!” So, he agreed to attend me (at the big hospital nearer to me where he has priveleges). We got along great, but at our 2nd appt had a few disagreements. We agreed on: he doesn’t like to break womens bag of waters, he rarely does episiotomies, and he told me several times to stay home in labor as long as possible-that he didn’t want to see me until I was at least dilated to 5 and I’m liking him alot. But, then, he says that Pitocin is safe for VBAC- yikes! and he is all for epidurals….hmmph….well, I guess he can’t be perfect, huh?

The labor and birth of Josephine Ellyn (finally, I know, I know….thanks for reading this far):
I had weeks of contractions every night, wondering if they were for real….but then finally on Monday, Oct 16, they started for real. (I was a week overdue.) I had a NST in the morning, which I really didn’t want to go to, but was trying to cooperate with the Dr., since he was working with me. She reamed on my tummy to wake up baby 3 times and I wonder if that’s what made my water break just a couple hours later. I went to the bathroom that afternoon and had some bloody show and then I started leaking amniotic fluid everytime I changed positions. Yay! I was finally going to start something! Contractions started that afternoon, but sporadic. I called hubby to pick up something for supper b/c I didn’t feel like cooking. Contractions continued all night, but not super close together. I called several people to have them pray. (Note to self: don’t call people when you think you’re in labor. LOL ) But–the ctx were just close enough to keep me awake all night.

Tuesday morning, we decided to have hubby stay home from work b/c I was having to breathe thru the ctx and they were hurting. We got the kids all ‘farmed out’ that afternoon. From noon until about 7:30, the ctx were 3-5 minutes apart and quite intense. Greg filled the birth pool and I got in it around 5:00. Well, after eating a huge piece of pizza LOL and being in the pool for a couple hours, the ctx petered out again. Argghh! (We had called the doc earlier in the afternoon just to let him know we were in labor, but were going to stay home awhile.) The ctx were sporadic the rest of the evening, but just enough to keep me awake most of the night. I would lay in bed, but while laying down, the ctx were excruciating, so when I would have one, I would roll out of bed into a kneeling position, breathe through it, then get up to go to the bathroom and then back to bed…all night long, about every 15 minutes. Ugh…..

Wednesday morning, we got up around 5:00 a.m. b/c we were sick of not being able to sleep and wanted to get things going….so I tried walking around the house for awhile and doing nipple stimulation…this would keep the ctx coming. The doctor called around 7:30 a.m. and says, “How ya doin’?” ha ha ha… He wanted me to come to his office to see if it really was my water that broke and not other discharge and to check my progress. He was really hoping that it wasn’t my water b/c he truly wanted to leave me alone. I liked the idea of going to his office better than going to the hospital, which my hubby was pushing by this point. So, we went to his office. Yes, it was my water that had broke (which I was quite certain of) and I was only dilated to 2….ugh…. He sent us back home and said, “lets meet at the hospital at 10:00 tonight, if things don’t pick up by then” to get me started on anti-biotics. I had tested positive for Group B Strep, also and the dangers of infection rise when the water breaks. I wanted to refuse the anti-biotics, but found out the hospital would test/treat my baby as if infected if I refused. And the doc was being pretty cool considering my water had been broken for more than 48 hours by that night. After leaving his office, I contracted quite regularly for several hours and was excited that it might really be happening….but once again, the ctx petered out. I was able to rest a little Wednesday afternoon between ctx. I found that standing during them was the most comfortable. For some reason, ctx were excruciating when laying on my side and a little better if I was kneeling. I had my hubby start squeezing my hips during them.

And, can I just say how annoying it was to have a washcloth/towel between my legs for 3 days b/c my water was leaking….ugh…..

Finally, Wed night arrived and we went to the hospital to meet my doc and get my anti-biotics going. We were sent to OB triage. The first nurse there that I had was the only one to give me a hard time about VBACing. She was quite surprised that any doctor would ‘let’ me VBAC. But, from then on out, all my nurses were super supportive and no one gave me a hard time about VBACing. I don’t know if my doc had told everyone to leave me alone or what, but I was pretty much left alone.

Upon arriving at the hospital, my doctor recommended starting on a low dose of Pitocin. (Because of my water being broken for so long and laboring for so long.) I didn’t want it to come to this….my doctor and I had had the Pit discussion in his office. He believes that the smallest dose would not increase the risk of rupture. (His belief is that cervical gels are much more dangerous than Pit) He said at that point the risk of infection in baby was much greater than my risk of rupture. Group B Strep added to the water breaking risk. I asked for a few minutes to talk with my hubby to make a decision. I broke down and cried…I didn’t want any interventions….but we decided to start a Pitocin drip. He started it very very low- 1 unit (whatever measure they use- I don’t know.). I have a friend that was a L & D nurse there with me later in labor and she was very happy to see how low he kept the Pit….she said she would be closely watching my IV b/c there were “Pitocin Monsters”, posing as nurses and doctors, out there. She said some women get all the way up to 30 units of pitocin. I was never given more than 2 units.

The ctx started up immediately…my body was very ready, obviously. I labored from 11:00 p.m. til 7:00 a.m. with the Pit only increased to 1.5. When they increased it to 2, the ctx were too close together, giving me and my uterus no time to rest, so they lowered it. I was handling the ctx o.k. My mom was there, along with this friend and my hubby. Around 4:00 a.m., my SIL came. They all took turns holding my hips during ctx. I was hooked up to the monitors the whole time, but I had agreed to that, so long as I could be in any position I chose. My friend was so surprised that the monitors were picking up the heartrate with all the moving I was doing. God was answering my prayers, that was for sure. My hubby even asked if we could walk the halls for awhile and the nurse said “Sure, after I get 20 minutes”. I was so surprised. Ends up, I didn’t feel like walking b/c the ctx were intense enough. We did unhook the monitors quite often to use the bathroom. The baby’s heartrate was doing splendidly during ctx….we were all so glad to see she was tolerating labor so well.

The hardest part was that I was only comfortable standing. I had so much pressure in my bottom that I couldn’t sit. (Tried the birth ball, stool and couch) And it still was horribly painful to be laying down. I would try to lay down between ctx to rest, but then by the time I got to a standing position during a ctx, I would somehow be ‘behind’ on working with the ctx, so it seemed much worse. So…for 8 hours, I stood on that hard hospital floor. We had the bed raised way up, so I could lean my upper body on it during ctx. Between ctx, I swayed, walked, peed, etc. They finally made a pile of bed pads to cushion my feet.

At this point, I finally decided to get checked. (No one had pressured me to be checked up to that point) I hated that decision….its like you want to know if its good news, but don’t want to know if its bad news. So, after 8 hours of very good ctx, she checked me and I was only dilated to 4. Oh my, I was so upset. I thought for sure I was in transition b/c I had begun shaking and saying “I can’t do this!!” and I felt like I had a bowling ball between my legs!! I starting balling. That is that point where I decided to get an epidural, even though I hadn’t wanted one. (I was trying to do everything to be as safe as possible for my scarred uterus. And I knew by getting an epidural, I’d no longer be able to feel if anything was wrong.) But, I was SO tired. I hadn’t slept since Sunday night and it was now Thursday morning. I know I could have kept going if I wasn’t so tired. And I was physically tired from standing for so long- I just wanted to lay down.

So, the epidural was put in..I was able to rest! Awhile later, maybe 9:00 ish, her heartrate started dropping to the 60s and 70s during ctx. You know how doctors usually just come in at the end to catch baby, well my doc came into our room (he was in the hospital the whole time I was laboring b/c he is from further away) and hung out with us for several hours, watching the baby/monitor. He says, “We need to get her out quite soon” He knew how badly I wanted a VBAC and he worked with us. Any other doc would have sectioned me b/c of the decels, the water broken for so long, etc. He kept checking me, saying I needed to be complete soon, so he could get her out. He told me it would be a forceps delivery. We were able to talk about it for a bit…how experienced he is with forceps, etc. He only mentioned surgery once….but I knew it was always on his mind and ours. (The decels were a major flashback to our first labor/section) Once I was dilated to 8, he basically stayed at my bottom to ‘encourage’ me to dilate….I think he was manually dilating me. He then said that he wanted me to try pushing on the next ctx. I think I was dilated to 8, but hubby thinks I was 9. Anyways, around 10:00, I started pushing. The doctor was trying to turn her also, because she was posterior. Ugh…just one more thing ‘against’ me. She was not descending that was the major problem he kept saying. He couldn’t use the forceps until she was lower and she just wasn’t dropping. I volunteered to get on my knees, but he didn’t think that would help. I couldn’t do anything else b/c of the epidural. I asked about letting the epi wear off, so I could get up, to get her to drop, but he said “You don’t want me doing the forceps without the epi”. She finally was low enough and he had turned her enough to get her out with forceps. Just before she was born, I hemmoraged a ton- I lost alot of blood. (My hemoglobin was 6.3 the next day, which is dangerously low.) He was worried that it was my uterus rupturing or the placenta abrupting. (Found out later that my placenta had partially abrupted.) It was pretty intense and scary for those few hours. Hubby and doc were worried about me (I didn’t know I was bleeding out) and I was worried about baby. I kept saying “come on baby, come on baby” between pushing…that’s all I could think. My friend was right at my head, praying for me and quoting Scripture verses. Well, finally, at 12:35 p.m. on Thursday, Oct 19, after years, months, days and hours of fighting, our beautiful daughter was born vaginally!! She was 8 pounds, 11 ounces, 20 inches.

And she came out screaming- praise the Lord! (The cord was up by her head, getting squeezed during the ctx. That’s why the heartrate decels.) For the first time in 5 births, my baby was placed up on my chest immediately after birth- what an awesome thing!!

I then starting feeling faint after she was out. I spent the next hour or so on oxygen and flat on my back and/or side. I was so weak from losing the blood. I was able to nurse her and hold her for just a bit. And hubby cut the cord. But, the first hours weren’t ideal b/c of my faintness.

I ended up only having 2nd degree tear(s), which I was quite pleased with after all the trauma. And he didn’t have to do an episiotomy.

She was born 10 days after my ‘due date’ and 17 days after the original scheduled c-section. (She would have been a tiny baby, maybe with breathing problems.)

I hesitate to give an OB so much credit, but my doctor really made my VBAC successful. Any other doc would have sectioned me several times over in those few hours. He worked with us b/c he knew how much it meant to us. (But, of course, I know it was because of the power of my great God!) I was able to joke after the epidural was in, for someone to take a picture of me hooked up to every known intervention that I didn’t want! LOL Unfortunately, with all the events that took place, the interventions happened…..water breaking 3 days earlier, GBS+, labor stalling, cord up by her head, posterior position, no sleep for 3 nights, etc, etc. But, none of that was b/c of being a VBAC, so I’m encouraged for the next time.

I am very glad we went for the VBAC- I don’t regret it. I’m encouraged that my uterus stayed intact and that I now have a ‘proven’ pelvis. I think this will open up my options for a midwife and homebirth next time. And hopefully, all the things that happened this time won’t happen the next time around. (I want to know how to have like a 6 hour labor, with 2 pushes and baby’s out! LOL)

Love, from Jackie and baby Josie, who will know someday how special her birth was

This is an interesting article about additional effects that smoking can have on unborn babies.