Click here to read more from this author – a mom of 3 boys and birth doula in California.

As an educator, I am pretty easy-going.  My main goal is to offer accurate, evidence-based information and trust the expectant family to make the decisions they feel are right for their situation.  I don’t give a lot of “you should do this” kind of advice — it’s just not my style, and I don’t think it lends well to a woman learning to trust her inner wisdom.

One place where I throw this out the window, though, is when it comes to “rules” a partner absolutely must follow.  These rules are not covered in a particular class, rather they come up according to what topics we happen to be discussing.  In class last week we happened to touch upon quite a few of these rules, and I told my families, “I should write these down.”  Enter, the blog!

These are for partners, so the “you” in the sentence is not the woman who is pregnant, but her direct support person…I think you know who you are.

1.  You are not allowed to have bad breath.  Her breath will probably be less-than-optimal — she is working hard, breathing through her mouth, it could have been hours since she last brushed her teeth, or she may have thrown up her last snack.  None of this matters.  She needs support, often in a very close, in-your-personal-space kind of way.  If her breath causes you to recoil, you can muster up your strength and remind yourself of the awesome events unfolding within her body.  If your breath causes her to recoil, she may, very bluntly, tell you so, or maybe she will just involuntarily vomit in your lap.  You have been warned.  No chili cheese fries with extra garlic for you, partner.  Breath mints, gum, and mouthwash are your friends.

2.  You are not allowed to comment about anything else that might come out of her that is NOT a baby.  It is very common for a woman to have a bowel movement during the second stage of birth — it is actually a good thing — not only does it provide extra space for a baby, it also shows she knows how to push.  If a woman asks later, “Did I poop?” be careful, this question can be as loaded as, “Do I look fat?”  My best answers to this question:  “Hmm, I don’t remember,” or a solid, “No.”  One situation, kids, where honesty doesn’t pay.

3.  You are not allowed to try and have a conversation with her during a contraction.  Commonly, partners pick this one up pretty quickly, so it is kind of a freebie.  But, there is a second part:  While this seems like a simple idea to you, others coming and going may not remember to “respect the contraction.”  Your job is to run interference so the laboring woman can focus — remember her contractions are her body’s little bursts of working energy, and her concentration is needed.  If a nurse or friend tries to talk to her at this point, not only can it be a source of irritation to her, it can actually impede her body’s ability to unroll the red carpet that is the birth process.  “Let’s wait and ask her when the contraction is over.”

4.  You are not allowed to suffer in silence if there are people in the room that your partner is obviously not comfortable with.  This includes friends and family as well as hospital staff.  If the person(s) happen to be friends or family, and they just won’t listen to your kind requests of removal, enlist help from your doula or nurse or practitioner.  Get one of these fine folks alone in the hall and let her know your company has gotten out of control, and to save yourself the potential grudge at the 4th of July party and forever, could she please help you out?  These professionals have mouths like magic wands and they can easily clear a room with smiles on their faces and official-ness in their voices.  Your guests will never know what was at the root of their departure, and you have helped protect your partner and the space she needs to un-focus for birth.

If the unwanted guest happens to be working at the hospital, it is perfectly acceptable to ask for a replacement or a removal.  If you feel there is a bad connection with your nurse, you can talk to her about it, talk to the nurse manager about it, or talk to your practitioner about it, and see if the situation can be changed for the better, either with improved communication, or with a new nurse who better fits your philosophy and birthing plans.  If a nurse walks in with a group of students and your birthing partner does not want to be on the observation deck, this is a situation where you can ask for removal, in a nice way, of course.  “My-partner-the-laboring-woman and I discussed this beforehand, and she is not comfortable having students present.”

5.  You are not allowed to get upset if you catch the brunt of some unseemly comments.  When a woman is having a baby, some odd things happen in her brain and she may not be in the “polite” part of her mind – that filter of sorts – that “nice-izes” the things we say.  Imagine this:  your eyes are closed and you are listening to something you know is very important, but it is lightly garbled and it runs together.  Your job is to pick out the words and phrases and construct some logical instructions out of it.  The words are being whispered, and you are concentrating hard, trying to understand them.  At the same time, you are aware of a fly buzzing around your face.  You don’t know how long the fly has been there, but suddenly it seems like forever, and in a nanosecond, the idea of that fly just consumes you, and you pop open your eyes and start flailing your arms around like crazy, surprised by how you went from zero to medieval in no time flat.  That’s kind of what it’s like in your head when you are absorbed in having a baby.

6.  You are not allowed to complain about being tired, hungry, sick, or sore.  That just kind of goes without saying.  If you feel you might need someone to help you help your partner if one of these four physical conditions should arise, consider hiring a doula.  Not only does she help the laboring mother, she also ensures the birth partner is doing well, gets to eat, gets to rest, gets a shoulder rub, etc.

To sum up:  Labor and birth are intense times.  There is so much going on that it can be hard to know how to help.  A woman must go through this process herself – no one can do it for her.  But that doesn’t mean she has to be alone while she is doing it.  The most important rule a partner should remember is to be with her and remind her of the wonderful job she and her baby are doing together, and that she has your support, your heart, and your presence during the process.

Author: Stacie Bingham. Printed with permission.

*Printed with permission from Birthing with Guinever. This is an awesome site with several great articles about pregnancy and birth.

So you’re pregnant, and you think you might want to have a natural birth. Having had 5 natural births myself, I’d like to offer what I feel are a few of the most important things to do in order to achieve a drug-free birth.

1. Going natural is a mindset. Make the commitment during pregnancy that drugs are not an option for labor. Believe that you can do it, and you will. If you have the feeling that you’d like to try it to see how it goes, but you’re open to getting an epidural, I guarantee you that you will have the epidural. Labor is hard work and to get through it, you can’t be wishy washy going into it. One medical intervention leads to another.

2. Surround yourself with friends and family who believe that you can have a natural birth, who assume that you can do it. Tune out the negative birth stories that some girlfriends might tell you about how awful labor was until the epidural took effect. Instead, seek out labor stories from women who have had natural birth and you’ll hear how awesome the birth was, how the baby latched on right away, how the nurses kept making comments that the baby was so alert. You’ll hear how proud her husband was, what a great help to her he was during labor, and that the birth was an empowering, amazing experience.

3. Take a private, independent childbirth class. (in other words, don’t take the birthing classes offered by the hospital.) If this isn’t possible, prepare yourself by reading several pregnancy books and learning labor coping techniques. Consider my list of recommended books.

4. Choose your doctor or midwife carefully. If you don’t know where to start looking for a care provider, ask your local childbirth educators and doulas for ideas. Ask lots of questions in your first few pre-natal visits so there aren’t any surprises later on. Be wary when the answer is always, “I only do that when its medically necessary.” You need to ask them, “How often do you feel its medically necessary?” (to do inductions, planned cesareans, episiotomies, etc) You want to find someone with a low induction, low cesarean, low episiotomy (and low tear) rate. Don’t be afraid to switch doctors or hospitals no matter how late it is in your pregnancy. Remember, it is your birth, and you are hiring them to work for you. There should be a mutual respect.

5. During labor, just take one contraction at a time. Don’t worry about the length of labor–how long it has been or how much longer it might be. Women talk about their long labors, but remember, its not as if they were in constant pain for 18 hours. Contractions only last for about a minute (longer during later labor) and you get breaks in between. Don’t let anyone tell you that your body isn’t working if your labor slows down. That is just the body’s way of giving you a rest. Be thankful for the break because labor will pick up soon enough.

*To read points #6-10,  visit Birthing with Guinever’s website here. You can also read many other articles including several positive and encouraging birth stories. Click here to read the small but growing collection of birth stories on this website.

State of American Childbirth

Pregnancy and childbirth are normal, healthy processes for the majority of women and babies.

SCOPE AND SCALE OF MATERNITY CARE — EACH YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES:

1. Over 4 million Births
2. 99% in Hospitals
3. Over 90% Attended by Surgeons
4. Second Most Common Reason for Hospitalization
5. Most Common Reason for the Hospitalization of Women
6. Care for Mothers and Babies combined Rank 4th in Hospital Expenses
7. Over 6.8 million Obstetric Procedures Performed – 2nd Most Common Category of Surgical Procedures
8. Three of the Four Most Common Surgical Procedures Performed in the United States are Obstetric

Nearly all women giving birth in hospitals are subjected to some level of technological or medical intervention.
THE MOST COMMON INTERVENTIONS ARE:

1. Over 31% (1.3 million) Cesarean Surgeries – Has risen over 50% since 1996, HIGHEST EVER
2. Vaginal Birth after Cesarean (VBAC) rate has fallen over 50% since 1996, ACCESS DISAPPEARING
3. 34% (1.4 million) of Labors Medically Induced
4. 41% (1.66 million) Need Vaginal Stitching (episiotomy, tears, vacuum extraction, forceps)
5. 47% (1.88 million) of Labors Artificially Stimulated
6. 60% (2.4 million) of Women Denied Fluids
7. 76% (3.04 million) of Women Restrained In Bed
8. 85% (3.4 million) of Women Denied Food
9. 86% (3.44 million) Given Drugs For Pain Relief
10. Over 90% (3.68 million) of Women Attached To Electronic Fetal Monitors

What do we have to show for all this intervention?

OUTCOMES IN THE UNITED STATES:

1. High Infant Mortality Rate – Stayed Flat over the last 6 years, 29th in the world – Twice as High for African American Babies
2. Maternal Mortality Rate – Not Improved in 20 years, 25th in the world – Four times as High for African American Mothers
3. 12.8% (over 546,000) of Babies Born Preterm – has Risen 21% since 1990
4. Over 8.3% (over 354,000) of Babies Born Low Birth Weight – has Risen 19% since 1990
5. 44% (1.76 million) of Mothers have Emotional Or Physical Impairment after Birth Interfering with Ability to Care for their Babies
6. Over 25% (1 million) of Mothers have New Health Problems after Birth
7. 63% (2.52 million) of Mothers have some symptoms of Postpartum Depression
8. 18% (720,000) of Mothers show symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress with 9% showing all signs of PTSD.

With all the money we spend, why aren’t our outcomes better? Countries with lower costs and better outcomes for mothers and babies rely on midwives to attend most births – and many support out-of-hospital births.

The Midwives Model of Care & The Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative
www.cfmidwifery.org/mmoc www.motherfriendly.org
Promote Wellness, Education, and Individualized, Motherbaby-Centered Care.
Midwives are Key to Effective, Affordable Mother-Friendly Childbirth

Reprinted with Permission from Citizens for Midwifery

Click here for this article along with references.

Want to know how to bring on labor naturally? If you want to get things started or you have seen your due date come and go, then you may be looking for ways to get it all over with. More than likely you really don’t want to go with the drugs available to start labor, since many of them come with side effects that can be pretty nasty.

You’ll find that various methods of bringing on labor in a natural manner are available. They won’t harm your child and you don’t have to take any drugs. The following are some great methods that can help you get labor started so you can meet your need little one.

Believe it or not, relaxation is one way that labor can be brought on naturally. When you are uptight, you may not be able to get things started. A nice massage, a great bath, or just spending some time relaxing can help. Aromatherapy can help you relax and can get things started. Try adding the visual of being in labor to your relaxation as well.

You may have heard that having sex is how to bring on labor. Well, it’s actually true. Having sex is one way that you can naturally get labor going. The hormones that end up being released have a whole lot to do with it. So, if you are feeling up to it, this may be one method that you may want to try.

Find a swing and start swinging. This can get labor started too. How does it help? Well, when you swing, it can enable the baby to get in a position that is better for birthing. When the baby is in a good position, it can start the labor for you. Bumping is another option that basically does the same thing – helping get the baby in place for the birth. Get out there on a bump road and bump your way to labor.

Taking a nice, slow walk is an excellent way to help bring on labor naturally. Often the movement of the walking can bring on contractions. When you are upright, pressure is put on your cervix. This can help it to start dilating. However, if you do this, make sure that you don’t go overboard. Drink plenty of water while walking, don’t get overheated, and if you get fatigued, you need to stop.

Acupressure is often used today as a natural way to bring on labor. It is natural and safe, and new studies have shown that this is an effective way to get labor going for many women. It’s very simple, and you can either go to a professional or even get your partner to learn the right methods so he can apply the acupressure for you. Since it’s so easy, it can b done right at home to help start labor for you.

So, you don’t have to rely on drugs to get labor going. With these natural methods of inducing labor, you won’t have to worry. They are natural and safe, and soon you’ll get to meet that little person you’ve been carrying around with you for so long.

There is an expectation in the United States that childbirth is the worst pain you could ever feel. Because of this, women approach childbirth with overwhelming fear of the pain and attempting to remove it all in search of a good birth experience. How painful is childbirth really? What does it take to handle the pain? Can you have a good birth experience if you feel pain?

How painful is childbirth, really?

Ronald Melzack researches experiences of pain, and studied the pain of labor. Through his research he found that overall childbirth can be called severely painful, but the intensity of the pain is variable. About 25% of first time mothers and only 11% of experienced mothers rated labor as horrible or excruciating. In fact 9% of first time mothers and 24% of experienced mothers said they had low levels of pain. With 17% of women having low levels of pain, the ‘easy’ labor can’t possibly be as rare as we think it is.

For many women labor is the first experience with any real physical pain. Women who have experienced other physical pains tend to rate childbirth lower on the scale than things like kidney or gall stones, Lyme disease, chronic back problems, some broken bones, double ear infections, toothaches in need of root canal and recovering from cesarean surgery. Some women even claim the pain of labor is easier to handle than the pain of a broken heart. The point is, how painful childbirth feels is somewhat relative. Without another pain to compare it too, calling childbirth the most painful experience is prejudiced.

If only 18% of mothers rate labor as excruciating, how likely are you to be included in that group?

Research by Lederman found that overall, you are likely to experience more intense pain if you:

• Are a first time mother
• Have less education
• Are younger
• Experience menstrual problems
• Have a history of miscarriage
• Have difficulty accepting this pregnancy
• Feel conflict about becoming a mother
• Are anxious about labor
• Fear being helpless, in pain, losing control or losing self-esteem
• Have a previous psychological issue requiring counseling
• Have unstable emotional feelings
• Have unrealistic expectations of the pain
• Have a partner who is negative or indifferent toward this pregnancy

What does it take to handle the pain?

One of the most startling truths about the pain of labor is its relation to the mother’s confidence in her ability to cope. In general, the more confident you are you will be able to cope, the less pain you will feel. Another important factor is the people you have with you at labor, because your ability to cope with the pain of labor will be influenced by the interactions you have with those attending you (midwife, doctor, nurse). This paints a far different picture of what you will need to get through labor than the old ‘high pain tolerance’ theory. In fact, you can be a wimp about pain and still cope well with labor pain.

In A Wise Birth, authors Penny Armstrong and Sheryl Feldman explain that women who are treated well by birth attendants, have their needs considered and bodies respected and whose mothering responsibilities are honored will give birth more easily. In contrast, women who are challenged by their birth attendants, restrained, distrusted and treated indifferently will have more trouble with labor. They conclude, ‘drugs and technology in birth, as in life, have proved to be poor substitutes for true, human attention.’

Studies on doulas continue to prove their statement correct. A doula is a professional childbirth assistant. She does not offer medical help, instead her job is to simply be with the mother and serve any needs she may have. You may find a doula rubbing a back, suggesting positions, teaching a partner how to give a massage or just talking to the mother. What effect does this attention have? Women with doulas need less medical intervention to give birth, are less likely to need medication for pain, and are more satisfied with the childbirth experience. Again we see a high pain tolerance is not what it takes to cope well with labor.

Can you have a good birth experience if you feel pain?

Not only can you cope well if you are a wimp about pain, but you can have a great labor and be satisfied with the experience even if you feel pain. In fact, in one study, the mothers who refused anesthesia felt more pain, but they had higher scores of satisfaction with labor both immediately after the birth and one year later. Another study found no difference in satisfaction immediately after birth, but within two days mothers who had chosen to use epidurals had less positive feelings about childbirth. All of this tells us that removing the pain is not related to having a good childbirth experience.

Where does all this leave you? There are several things you can do now to give yourself the best chances for a low pain labor and positive birth experience. First, educate yourself about the process so you are less likely to be anxious and fearful of what to expect. Second, learn different techniques for working with your body and managing the pain you feel in labor. Third, make sure your caregivers will be supportive of you during labor – if they won’t or can’t, hire someone else. Finally, hire a doula to be with you during labor. These four things will give you the best odds for a manageable labor, regardless of how painful it is or is not.

Resources:

Melzack K, Taenzer P, Feldman P, Kinch R, (1981). Labor is Still Painful After Prepared Childbirth Training. Canadian medical Association Journal, 125:357-363.

Lederman R, Lederman E, Work B, McCann D. (1979) Relationship of Psychological Factors in Pregnancy to Progress in Labor. Nursing Research, 28(2):94-97.

Lowe, N.K. (1993). Maternal confidence for labor: Development of the Childbirth Self-Efficacy Inventory. Research in Nursing and Health, 16(2) 141-149.

Standley K, Nicholson J (1980). Observing the childbirth environment: A research model. Birth and the Family
1ff8
Journal, 7, 15.

Armstrong P, Feldman S. A Wise Birth. London:Pinter & Martin, 2007.

Hodnett ED, Gates S, Hofmeyr GJ, Sakala C, (2003). Continuous support for women during childbirth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2003 Issue 3.

Morgan B, Bulpitt CJ, Clifton P, Lewis PJ, (1982). Analgesia and satisfaction in childbirth (The Queen Charlotte 1000-mother survey). Lancet, 1, 808.

Author: Jennifer Vanderlaan

For more information about the pain of labor, and to learn effective ways to cope with the pain, Jennifer invites you to visit http://www.birthingnaturally.net Jennifer Vanderlaan is a childbirth educator and doula who helps families discover what they need to be successful at childbirth.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Vanderlaan

Breech Presentation Fact Sheet

Water childbirth is becoming very popular. Many women are finding that is a great way to give birth. They say it is more comfortable, easier, and healthier. Water is known to help ease pain during labor, making a natural birth more bearable. It aids in keeping a steady pulse, stabilizing your blood flow and helps you to be more relaxed. It also helps the baby slip out more easily, helping quite a bit in managing pain and cutting back on labor time.

In order to decide if a water birth is for you, you will want to do some research. Those who are nervous about a home birth should probably decide against a water birth as, currently, water births are not conducted in many facilities. In addition, women who aren’t comfortable working with a midwife are not prime candidates for water birth. For more information, visit waterbirth.org or birthbalance.com.

The next step in planning a water childbirth is to find a midwife. Since water childbirth is still relatively new, many midwifes are not experienced and are reluctant to try it. If you are not able to find a midwife who has experience with water childbirth, try finding one who is open to it. With the proper research, you and your midwife can learn what is needed. Some women choose to deliver without a midwife, but you’ll want to make sure you are 100% comfortable and as educated as you can be if you choose to do this.

The next step in planning a water childbirth is to obtain a birthing pool. You have the option of purchasing or renting one. Renting one will cost a few hundred dollars, while purchasing one will be around a thousand. If you plan to use your birthing pool for multiple children, it is probably more economical to purchase rather than rent. You should purchase a birthing pool that can comfortable seat you and another person. There are also birthing pool accessories available such as booster seats, thermometers and liner patch kits.

Author: Sarah Freeland

Pregnancy these days is trendy and fashionable. No more hiding a baby bump, motherhood is redefined! Maternity clothes are evolving too. Funky maternity clothes and punk rock baby clothes and maternity wear are now the norm! Shop for cool pregnancy outfits and funky diaper bags as well as alternative baby clothing and accessories.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Freeland

If you know you are planning to use an epidural to help you manage pain during childbirth, you may not be thinking about natural childbirth techniques. In contrast with an epidural which almost always provides good pain relief with no effort from the mother, natural childbirth techniques take time to learn, time to practice and you don’t know which ones will help you most until your labor begins. But as is so often true in life, there is great value in the things you have to work harder for.

1. Your labor may move faster than you expect – the typical labor may start slow, and slowly build to active labor, but not all do. About 2% of women experience a precipitate labor, one in which the early stages pass so easily they are unnoticed and the mother suddenly finds herself dealing with a fast active labor. If your labor starts fast, the natural childbirth techniques you learn will not only keep you comfortable, but also help you stay calm and as relaxed as possible until you get to your birth place.
2. It can take 20 minutes to an hour or more from the time you request an epidural to the time you get pain relief. Instead of being a specific medication, epidural and spinal are advanced anesthetic techniques. This means you need an anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist to administer one. Unlike simpler, less effective pain relief methods which your midwife, doctor or nurse could administer, when you choose an epidural you need to wait for the anesthesiologist to be available.You could have pain relief in as fast as 20 minutes if everything was already set up and the staff ready, or you could be waiting for another woman to have an epidural administered first, or waiting for an anesthesiologist to finish assisting a cesarean surgery or come to the hospital. In some smaller hospitals, epidurals are not available ‘after hours,’ the staff relying instead on simpler methods of pain relief which are not as effective. Natural childbirth techniques will be your only choice for pain management until things are ready for an epidural to be administered, and can be helpful if you receive a less effective pain medication.
3. Holding off on an epidural allows you to use positioning to move the labor along as quickly as possible. Once you receive an epidural your mobility is greatly reduced, if your baby is not in a good birth position at that point, it becomes harder to get him to move. Epidurals inhibit fetal rotation for a posterior baby (commonly known as back labor). Henci Goer reports in The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth that one study found a 450% increase in persistent posterior (the baby never turned) with epidural use.Ms. Goer also reports that first time mothers with an epidural are more likely to have a cesarean surgery for failure to progress. One study showed women with a slow labor who had an epidural were five times more likely to have a cesarean surgery than women with a slow labor who did not have an epidural. Delaying an epidural gives you the best chances of getting your baby into a good position and labor progressing normally.
4. The longer you can wait to receive pain medications, the less medication you and your baby will receive. This means you lower the potential risks during and after childbirth. Even with lower dose epidurals to reduce the side effects, there are still some. Minimizing the time you have an epidural minimizes some of these side effects, such as risk of maternal fever. Minimizing the time you have an epidural also minimizes the amount of medication you and your baby are exposed to, further reducing risks of side effects.Using natural childbirth techniques can give you the ability to manage pain and discomfort well into active labor. You may find you labor so well with them, you do not need to add the risks of medications. This can mean a faster recovery from the birth, since your body does not have to spend time removing the medication.
5. Natural Childbirth Techniques are helpful for all stages of life, not just giving birth. Comfort skills such as massage and relaxation, can help you relieve tension or stress on a day to day basis. Good positions for childbirth can be helpful for relieving backaches and other discomforts during pregnancy. Women who practice relaxation techniques use them to sleep better before and after their baby is born. The good nutrition and exercise habits learned through most natural childbirth programs can help keep your whole family healthier.Many women find the coping mechanisms they develop using natural childbirth techniques in labor increase their self confidence which helps them manage other parts of their lives. Other women express that even though labor hurt, they were glad they did it because it challenged them in new ways and showed just how strong they were. There is no link to satisfaction with labor and the use of pain medication, which means you are no more likely to look back at labor favorably whether you use medications or not.

Natural childbirth techniques are useful in unexpected labor situations, when you can’t get what you want and when things are not going quite the way you planned. Knowing the medications have risks, and there are benefits to using natural childbirth techniques beyond labor, it can make a lot of sense to try for a natural childbirth with the understanding an epidural is available if you decide you want it.

Author: Jennifer Vanderlaan