Birth in Bloom

Doulaing the Cesarean Birth

After three births in four days, all cesarean deliveries, I'm more inspired than ever to think about what more I can do to support women in their cesarean birth experiences. I know that when a cesarean is medically necessary, it can be a lifesaving technique for both mother and baby, and worth the risks involved. I also know that the majority of women who look to me for support before, during and after their births are hoping to avoid a cesarean. But what about when one becomes medically necessary for them, what happens then?

The The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics has reported (Download Nvsr59_03 copy) that the cesarean rate hit another record high in 2009, with a preliminary rate of 32.9 percent. Including the three recent cesareans, my cesarean rate for doula clients is 16%. While all of them were performed for different reasons, each decision was come to after thoughtful, informed consideration and it is my hope that all of the moms look back and feel they made the best choice based on the information given to them, as well as the feeling they had in their gut, their instincts about what was right for them and their baby in that moment.

For some of the moms I was able to stay by their side in the OR, for others I was in the recovery room before and after, to provide support to mom, dad and baby. In all instances I had to instantly shift internally from what mom had been working toward, most often a low-intervention vaginal delivery, to a birth which mom and dad may be completely unprepared for. Some families attend childbirth preparation classes, some read books, but quite often they are not sure what to expect of a cesarean birth. As a doula I encourage families to ask questions and understand fully what will happen during the procedure, what to expect after the baby arrives and have an idea of the timeline.

One thing I have seen over and over again in my three years as a doula is that no matter what type of birth you have, it is crucial that mom and dad have support, support and more support.  A cesarean birth is no different, moms still need comfort measures as they prepare for delivery, support and encouragement as they prepare mentally for a change in their birth outcome, emotional support during the cesarean birth, breastfeeding support after delivery, physical support as they recover, the list goes on and on.

I feel blessed to be a part of each and every birth experience and appreciate greatly the insights moms & dads have shared with me after the birth. Especially helpful is hearing what they would have liked to have known beforehand, so that I can better support future families. I would love to hear from other moms and dads about their cesarean delivery.  What did you find most helpful before, during or after delivery?

For more information about cesareans visit International Cesarean Awareness Network

Interested in a VBAC? This website has some great information VBAC.com

Wrap me up

There is nothing more soothing to a baby than the scent of her parents, the sound of their heart beating, and the feel of being snuggled in close. Babywearing allows baby to enjoy all of these sensations and more.

 

In a study published in the Journal  of Pediatrics, researchers found that babywearing for three hours a day reduced infant crying by 43% overall and 54% during evening hours. Tiny babies cry to communicate, not to manipulate so why are babies that are worn crying less? Because their needs are being attended to and they trust in their parents responsiveness to their needs, leaving them with the ability to relax and spend more time in the state of quiet alertness, the behavior state in which babies learn most about their environment

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“Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do.”

– Dr. Benjamin Spock

 

The Moby Wrap 

My very favorite babywearing tool is the Moby Wrap. With solid colors which can easily be worn by mom or dad, and the ability to transition between front or back carry, it’s ideal. The fabric has a bit of a stretch to it and crosses in back to evenly distribute weight, making it easier on your back than most carriers. But what I like most about is best described in this photo. See how baby is right there on your chest, close enough to kiss, love and snuggle and yet your arms are free to do all the other things our busy lives require of us! Check out all the beautiful wraps they offer at www.mobywrap.com

 

Here are a few positioning tips for safe babywearing:

• While you are getting used to wearing your baby, support him or her with your hands. As you go through the learning phase of moving and reacting, the urge to support your baby with your hands is instinctive. After you become a babywearing veteran, you can safely carry your baby in the sling or wrap with one or both hands free.
• Baby should not be curled tight chin to chest because this position partially closes baby’s airway. (With correct positioning there should always be at least one finger’s width of space under baby’s chin.)
• Sling fabric should not be draped across baby’s face. For slings made from thin, airy fabrics please check the airflow of the fabric by placing it over your own nose and mouth. No matter how breathable the fabric looks, if it is difficult for you to breathe through the fabric it will be difficult for baby as well.
• Baby should not be rolled so that his face is pressed tightly against the parent’s body. Position baby’s face upward when he or she is not actively nursing and when nursing ensure that baby’s nose is not blocked.
• An infant should be repositioned if he is having any sign of respiratory difficulty. Symptoms include: rapid or labored breathing, grunting or sighing with every breath and/or restlessness.
• Wear baby cautiously in the kitchen. Do not wear baby while cooking or working with sharp or hot objects.
• When wearing your baby and stooping over, bend at the knees, not at the waist, and hold baby in a sling style carrier with the sling with one hand.
• Do not ride a bicycle or other moving vehicle while wearing your baby. Baby carriers are not substitutes for an approved carseat.
• When going through doorways or around corners, be careful that baby's body does not stick out past your arm and strike the wall or doorjamb.

The positioning recommendations are for infants 0 to 4 months of age or until baby achieves good neck and head control. Once baby has good head control the neck muscles are generally strengthened sufficiently to support baby’s airway, even if baby becomes slightly curled or slumped in a baby carrier (or car seat, swing, bouncer etc.). However, please use common sense and monitor your baby frequently no matter his or her age and weight.

 

For more information about the benefits of babywearing check out these additional resources:

Babywearing International

Dr. Sears - Babywearing

Babywearing.com - an online babywearing forum

 

 

HypnoBirthing, birthing in an atmosphere of calm

When you choose to learn HypnoBirthing you are truly giving yourself the tools and techniques you need not only to empower your birth experience, but also skills you can use to relax later when Breastfeeding and even parenting!

 

"When you change the way you view birth, the way you birth will change." -Marie Mongan 

 

 

My first experience with HypnoBirthing was when I came across the book HypnoBirthing: The Mongan Method in the Birth section of Barnes & Noble. I flipped through the pages and decided it looked like a great approach that was in line with my desire for a natural birth experience. At the time, I had no idea how often I would use the techniques I learned. After reading the book, practicing the affirmations, and loading the included CD onto my iPod, I knew I was setting myself up for success! 

I first noticed myself using the tools when I was driving to my 37 week OB appointment. My little one had been presenting breech and I was spending every other day driving to either the acupuncturist, the massage therapist, or the chiropractor, in an effort to flip that little girl around and every week I would drive to the office worrying, except this week. This week I was calm, I was breathing slowly and rhythmically, I was resting the tip of my tongue on the top of my mouth and thinking about my peace sanctuary (one of the relaxation exercises) and I felt peaceful. I wasn't even in labor yet and HypnoBirthing had already affected my life in an extremely powerful way.

 

 Hypno-What? 

HypnoBirthing allows you to experience birthing in an atmosphere of calm relaxation, free of the fear that prevents the muscles of the body from functioning as nature intended them to. In this calm state, your body's natural relaxant, endorphins, replaces the stress hormones that constrict and cause pain. 

This philosophy and method supports you fully by helping you tune into your natural birthing instincts to experience a calm, serene and comfortable birth.

  

The proof is in the pudding

Just like any other method, the only way to know a techniques true potential there is always the question “how many of your HypnoBirthing families actually end up with an unmedicated birth”. My answer is “All of them.” Every family that I have worked with who took the HypnoBirthing series of classes has delivered vaginally without pain medication. That’s about as successful as it gets and that’s why I’m writing this post.

 

 

To learn more about how HypnoBirthing can enhance not only your birth experience but your life, please contact one of these local HypnoBirthing educators that I work with:

Sharon Stevenson

Offering Group Classes in Classes in Alexandria, VA

Yoga, Birth & Beyond
703.971.7305

Stephanie Kraft

Offering Private and Group classes in Burke, VA

Healing and Hypnotherapy
202.250.1051

 

The magical gift of Relaxation

I know you've heard this before "just relax". In pregnancy, labor and even life with baby, that isn't going to get you very far. What you need to know is how to relax and the sooner you learn how, the better.

The first step towards relaxation is to create an environment that supports and nurtures you. Be it dimming the lights, using fluffy pillows for even wearing comfy and cozy clothing, creating an atmosphere of calm will set the tone for relaxation.  This is especially important in labor, it is up to you and your Doula if you have one, to help set up an atmosphere of comfort.  Creating a warm and fuzzy space allows mom (and dad) the sense of confidence they need to keep a good flow in labor. 

Getting to know yourself

This is a wonderful time to get to know your body and learn how to relax during your pregnancy. There are many stressful moments during pregnancy and when those situations arise stop, take a deep breath in and as you breathe out, let the muscles relax so that they feel loose, open and soft. Afterward take a moment to think about which parts of your body became tense and needed releasing. We all hold tension differently and stress builds up in your body, learning where you hold your stress and tension now will help you understand where and how to relax when things become more demanding. You could also do a body scan, imagining each part by itself, filling with a warm radiant light and relaxing as it does. Some call this a roving body check and it is a wonderful beginning on becoming aware of how it feels to enter a relaxed state.

Not purely a solo act

Once baby arrives you will have endless opportunities to practice relaxation, complete with distractions. Between nursing, diapering, bathing, and squeezing in sleep when possible, there will be many times that a good, nice, deep breath that starts at the tip of your head and ends leaving your toes, will be just what you need to pick up and do whatever is next on your list. Gather the tools you need for parenting now by becoming more in tune with your body and your breathing by learning how to truly relax yourself.

For more information or to learn how to help yourself breathe better and relax more efficiently you can Register for our winter session of Breathing & Relaxation for Birth today, private and group classes are available!

Creating your birth

There is a lot of planning and preparing as you make your way through pregnancy, the baby's room is painted and furniture is moved in and placed just right. The walls are decorated and the clothes are washed and folded in perfect stacks, but what preparation have you done for the moments just before and just after your precious new baby arrives?

Birth planning

I make a conscious effort to avoid using words like "plan" when thinking about creating the birth experience. I like to call them "wishes for birth" or a "birth wish list", this allows, even in the early stages of preparation, for your mind to remain open to the knowledge that birth does not follow a plan that can be written on a piece of paper. Instead, creating a wish list of what the most important things are for you in the birth experience, for the time you will spend in the hospital from the onset of labor to those first amazing moments when baby is in your arms, can be incredibly helpful when the time arrives.

Part of my service as a birth doula is to to help parents create their birth wishes. When I work with mom's and dad's to be I first ask them to pick the top three things that they most want out of this birth experience, what is the most important aspect their birth. Healthy baby, healthy mom...number one every single time, but from there, it varies greatly so knowing what your top wishes are is a great place to start. I highly recommend starting with a book like Your Best Birth, written by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein, which talks about options and gives a lot of information about birth choices. Educate yourself, if you don't know you have a choice, the less likely you are to make one.

Communication is key

One of the best ways to create a positive birth environment for you and your baby is to communicate with your provider ahead of time. This provides you with the opportunity to know early on if your birth choices will be supported. If not, you then have a new choice, stick with them or research your options. Consider what interventions you'd like to avoid and find out if that's something they can work with. This is your birth experience and it's up to you to create the birth you desire. The hospital has standard procedures that you may not know about, so talking early and often with your provider will help you in crafting a wish list for birth.

I have my wishes for birth, now what?

Now that you've read some books, talked with your provider and maybe even hired a birth doula, it's time to put it all in a nice clean organized format that can be put on file with your OB or Midwife and given to the staff upon arrival at the hospital. Do yourself a favor by keeping it to one page, separated by stage or phase (Early Labor, Pushing, Newborns First Moments, etc) with bullet points. As long as you have already discussed each item with your provider, presenting it to the hospital staff should be fairly simple. As a doula, I generally bring two copies, one for myself and one for the nurses and I put it right on the computer keyboard in the labor room. This will prompt the nurse to read, ask questions if necessary and make any changes based on what is happening at the time.

For more ideas on how to write your wishes for birth or for information about how a doula can help improve your birth experience email me at birthinbloom@gmail.com.