Chandler, Arizona
Sweet Pea ​Births
Sweet Pea ​Births
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
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Stay Safe and Cool Through Your Summer Pregnancy - Part 2
| Posted on June 10, 2016 at 10:05 AM |
comments (197)
|
 As you read on Tuesday (Part 1), dehydration and hyperthermia can cause
dangerous complications of pregnancy. Remember you have permission to be a Drama Queen during the summer months! Take it easy and take care of yourself as the
temperature climbs. You can also enlist
your partner and other family members to help you take advantage of one, some, or all of these comfort
measures listed below to avoid dehydration and hyperthermia in the first place. The simplest steps you can take are staying hydrated, getting rest, and staying out of direct sunlight and high temperatures. Above all, good judgment is the
best guide when you are out and about in the heat and sunlight. Here is a more detailed list of suggestions and tips I complied from
having had three (!) summer pregnancies, and all the reading I did on the subject (see the articles in the reference section
below). There are no affiliate links in this post - please feel free to click away at the other info I want to share with you. Bradley Method® instructor Krystyna Bowman, AAHCC shares ideas for staying safe and cool during the summer monthsClothing and Fabrics - Wear light-colored clothing that will reflect the
sunlight. - Stay away from dark colors that absorb heat if you are out
and about during the day. - Wear non-restrictive clothing to minimize swelling – you
want to encourage optimal circulation as much as possible. Pay special attention to wear clothing that isn't restrictive
around your waist area. - Wear a cooling bandana – there are several brands
available in the stores, or you may be able to shop local and support a crafter
at an area farmer’s market. - Wear fabrics that are breathable and keep you cool, such
as Cool Max (wicks sweat), Lycra (keeps shape while being elastic) and Supplex
(cottony feel and quick-drying). Stay
away from Spandex and nylon based fabrics that don’t let your skin breathe. - Breathable fabrics can also help prevent heat rashes on
your breasts and abdomen, the areas that rub against the fabric the most. - Avoid open-weave fabrics that allow the sun to reach your
skin. Cool Comfort Measures  - Carry a spritzer bottle or personal misting fan with
you. For extra cooling, keep them in
filled in the refrigerator until you need to take them with you.- Take frequent, quick showers – air dry if you have time,
or pat dry if you need to move on with your day. - Stay cool indoors by sitting in an air conditioned space
or near an electric fan. - If air conditioning isn’t an option, try an air filter or
a dehumidifier. These are especially
helpful if you live in a humid climate. - Find the most comfortable room in the building and make
that your nest. If your house or
workplace doesn’t have one of those rooms, think about investing in a personal
air conditioner that you can leave in your space, or move around with you. - Keep beauty products such as sun lotion, moisturizer or
toner in the refrigerator. Applying a
cold product to your skin will give you an instant cool down. - Use cold packs or ice cubes at wrist pulse points, the
back of the neck and on the forehead.
You can keep long-lasting soft-gel cooling strips in your car or purse
when you know the freezer isn’t going to be handy when you are out running
errands. You can also decide if THESE amazing necklaces might come in handy now instead of later. - Get long hair up and off your neck. You can braid it, tie it in a ponytail or
clip it up. Find easy up-dos via BuzzFeed HERE . - Raise your legs at every opportunity – encourage good
circulation whenever and however possible. - If you don’t have a swimming pool, fill a wading pool with
water and place it in a shady part of your yard or patio. Cool off as needed! Exercise Bradley Method® instructor Krystyna Bowman, AAHCC shares ideas for staying safe and cool during the summer months- Wear a heart rate monitor to ensure your working heart rate stays in a safe range while you exercise. Ask your care provider what they feel is a safe active heart rate for you. - Avoid exercising during the hot hours. Wherever you are in the country, the
temperature is generally the hottest between 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. - It follows to limit your outdoor activities from the hours of 10:00 am and 3:00 pm - find as many places to stay cool inside as possible! - Instead of walking outside, do your walking inside at an
indoor track or at an indoor shopping mall. - Swimming is a good warm/hot-weather option. It supports your growing body, the feeling of
weightlessness is awesome, it cools off your whole body, it takes weight off
the sciatic nerve, and it encourages the baby into an optimal birthing
position. - Prenatal yoga can be another good option. A class taught by an experienced prenatal instructor will provide a good mix of heart healthy poses, strengthening poses, and relaxation (see "Mind Over Matter" by scrolling down in this post). - Do the pregnancy exercises assigned by your Bradley Method® instructor. They are designed to be gentle enough to do during any time of the year, yet there is enough repetition to strengthen the muscles you will need for your labor. Fluids  - Drink 8-10 glasses of water per day, and more if you are
active.- Avoid caffeinated drinks. Caffeine acts as a diuretic and
it may increase the frequency of urination, which can then lead to a reduction
in your body fluid levels – hello, dehydration. - Make sure you are replacing your electrolytes...water intoxication is an actual condition that can be caused by drinking too much water in a short amount of time. In order to hydrate safely, we have used the product made by Emergen-C. Coconut water is a great natural "gatorade". A third option is to use trace minerals - find a brand you trust and add them to your glass of water. Food  - Eat little meals more often. Large meals increase your metabolism and this
could make you feel hotter.- Eat fluid-filled foods, such as strawberries, celery,
watermelon and cucumber. HERE are more ideas for hydrating foods. - Make healthy popsicles by freezing organic fruit juices. - Treat yourself to a meal at a restaurant – use their air
conditioning and you can keep the heat out of your kitchen since you won’t be
using your stove or your oven for food prep that night. As a bonus, pack half of your meal in a to-go container and have it as a snack later. - Read more about eating during pregnancy HERE - archive post from Spring 2014. Hustle and Bustle  - Do your chores early or late in the day when the
temperature is cooler.- Move slowly and avoid rushing. - Avoid movements that could lead to light-headedness, such
as repetitive bending or rushing around on staircases. Mind Over Matter  - Relaxation – the key to The Bradley Method®. It is easier to keep your body temperature
lower if you are calm and relaxed instead of stressed and hurried. Take the time to practice some mental imagery
and move through your day with the intention to stay cool.- Breathe – a good rhythmic breathing pattern can reduce
heat production in your body. The
foundation of relaxation is breathing that supports a relaxed state. Bradley instructors love to encourage
abdominal breathing anytime and anywhere. - Meditate – even an one-minute practice can make a difference - really!! Find some meditation resources HERE - archive post from Spring 2015. Sun Safety Bradley Method® instructor Krystyna Bowman, AAHCC shares ideas for staying safe and cool during the summer months- Stay out of direct sunlight as much as possible. Sunburn impairs the body’s ability to cool
itself and it causes the loss of body fluids. - If you must be or choose to be in the sun, use a good
sunscreen, at least SPF 15. The natural
momma in me will encourage you to find a sunscreen that is organic, thereby
minimizing the amount of chemicals absorbed into your bloodstream. EWG publishes a sun-screen guide - find it HERE. - Avoid mid-day direct sun exposure. If you live in the north, this means stay out
of the sun between 11:00 am – 4:00 pm.
If you live in the south, this means 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. - Use a sun hat and sunglasses to avoid prolonged exposure
or sunstroke. - Apply a sun lotion at the end of the day whether or not
you sunburn. The ingredients will soothe
and restore your skin from the drying effects of the sun. Did I forget to mention one? What is your favorite sun safety tip? Disclaimer: References: http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/water-education/water-pregnancy.htm http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=52172 http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=51783 http://www.pregnancytoday.com/articles/healthy-safe-pregnancy/pregnant-during-the-summer-months-3185/ http://www.suite101.com/content/coping-with-the-heat-in-pregnancy-a129230
http://www.parentingweekly.com/pregnancy/pregnancy_health_fitness/hot_summer_safety.htm
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2007/jun/18/staying-cool-pregnant-women-face-greater-risks/ http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/my-body/pampering/summer-pregnancy-issues/?page=5 http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/my-body/pampering/summer-pregnancy-issues/?page=6 |
Waiting For Baby
| Posted on May 27, 2016 at 8:54 AM |
comments (321)
|
 Originally posted Fall 2011 - sharing today since some of our Spring 2016 mamas are starting to approach their EDD's)So
your estimated due date is approaching...or maybe it has passed. Those
little ones we are carrying are happily ensconced in their warm, loving
homes. To us “carriers”, it feels like we have been pregnant forever!! I
remember that feeling very well. We have always had the good fortune
of having our babies before our due date. I am mentally preparing for
this baby to be the one that teaches us how to wait...and since we are
not planning to have any more children after this, reminding myself to
treasure every moment of the pregnancy...I’ll get back to you on that
after our baby is born. (Our youngest was born at 38 weeks - got lucky again!) As
a reminder, if you are a first-time mom, there was a Harvard study
published in the June 1990 edition of the medical journal Obstetrics
& Gynecology that demonstrated that we are probably not allowing
enough time when estimating due dates (read more). We give a copy of
this article to our students on the first evening of class. It is a
retrospective evaluation of pregnancies between April 1, 1983 and March
31, 1984. The
conclusion of that study was that the median estimated due date for
primiparas (first-time mothers) should be 8 days later than Naegele’s
rule (the 40 week date used to estimate due dates - it’s been around
since 1830), and that multiparas should have an estimated due date that
was 3 days later than Naegele’s rule. Per their study, if you are 41
weeks as a first-time mother, your baby might just be arriving to the
point when he or she is ready to be born. For
some of us, it is hard to be in the last two weeks before your due
date, wondering when labor is going to start. If you are personally
tired of being pregnant, it is hard to remember that every day your baby
is inside your womb is a day he or she needs to finish their
preparation for “life on the outside”. Because you are big, hot and
uncomfortable, and you are ready to be done!! I cannot even imagine
what it’s like to go past your estimated due date and then have people
you know constantly asking, “Is the baby here yet?” or, “Have you had
that baby yet?” At
that point, you might as well get a t-shirt made that says “Obviously
STILL Pregnant”. If your family and friends are constantly calling to
check on you, you could screen your calls. Change your phone message to
say “Still pregnant - don’t call me, I’ll call you! Leave me a message
if you are calling about something else.” All
kidding aside, here are some ideas that have been shared on our Facebook page that I hope
will help you pass the time as you wait for your baby to arrive safely
into your loving arms. From a Series 2 Coach: “[We] Reviewed Bradley® material,
continued to think about our own birth plan and contingencies,
continued to exercise (Kegel), and practiced relaxation techniques. Bags
packed, gas tank filled, friends/family/support group info programmed
into phone, phone charger? We also enjoyed the peaceful time we shared
as a couple and thought about our soon to be family of 3. Slept a bunch
too. Ahhhhh..... sleep.” From a reader in Phoenix, AZ: “My
confession: I had gathered supplies to bake birth-day cupcakes during
early labor. At about 10 days past ''due date,'' I caved in, baked the
cupcakes, and ate them! Our son arrived two days later. Despite our
Bradley® training, I was a bit impatient and I definitely learned my lesson!” From one of our Bradley® teachers: “The other kids kept me busy. Eating out is always a help.” From moms in our Series 2 and Series 4: “Retail therapy!” I
know one of our students from our Spring Series 5 is busy quilting a
blanket while she waits for her labor to start - they are already “past
due” their estimated due date by seven days. To
piggyback on the advice from our Series 2 Coach, it is vitally
important that you keep up with your exercise and relaxation practice.
Exercise is important to keep your stamina and your energy up, as well
as keep your circulation going. Some moms experience swelling in the
last weeks of pregnancy. Doing regular cardiovascular exercise will
make sure that things are circulating through your body as needed. The
pregnancy exercises will continue to keep you in good shape for your
athletic event, whether you have a “sprint” or a “marathon” birth. It
has been proven that exercise also produce endorphins. These “good
guys” will be a great asset to you if you are feeling a little cranky
about being uncomfortable. Anything you can do to stay positive will
help you have a better labor. Relaxation
practice is another key for coping with an approaching or passing due
date. It helps both mom and coach increase in their confidence to
manage their natural labor. If mom knows that coach knows what they are
doing, it will help her achieve deeper relaxation to manage the
discomforts of labor. If coach knows they know what they are doing,
they are confident and unwavering in their support. Relaxation
practice also helps keep mom’s blood pressure lower. If you go past
your due date, your blood pressure will be monitored every visit. The
better your reading, the less likely you are to be pressured to “do a
little something to speed things along” or schedule an induction. I
spent the last two weeks of our first pregnancy preparing Puma’s
pregnancy scrapbook. The attention to detail and the loving touches
made the time worthwhile. To date, she is the only one with a real book
- that was the last time I have made the time to work on one. The rest
of the kiddos have their items gathered and labeled...one of these days
there will be time again. If
you have older children, I find it’s important to spend one-on-one time
with them, too, wherever you are in respect to your due date. I do
have virtual albums made for each of the kiddos - they are a great help
as we prepare to welcome our fourth child. I use our special time to
look at their pictures with them, tell them their birth story, and
remind them that they were once babies, too. The
albums show their birth and their first year in our family. The
pictures show them how we took care of them, and we can relate how we
will be doing things for the new baby. You can also remind them that
you will always love them despite the fact it will seem like you are
spending most your time with the new baby. It may feel like the baby is
going to be a baby forever - showing them the pictures of their quick
progression may help demonstrate that this time will pass and soon they
will have more of your attention again. “Banking” some special time
with them now may help decrease the jealousy after baby arrives. I
would also suggest making time with your spouse. Create special date
nights for just the two of you, for it will be the last time you are
just the two of you, or “the parents of # children.” This is a time you
can spend talking about the plans for your birth, your hopes and dreams
for your children, and reminiscing about the days you fell in love.
Although it will feel like there is less “couple time” after your baby
is born, I hope that you will be as blessed as we are with the birth.
Inexplicably, we are more and more in love with each other after each
birth when it seems like we just couldn’t love each other any more than
the overabundance of love we felt already. Have you documented your pregnancy yet? Make time to have a belly-cast done, or have some pregnancy pictures taken. You can share some laughs with the person doing your belly cast. Find a fun place to take pregnancy photos - maybe a botanical garden, the zoo, a historical building. Not only will you have a good day trip, but your child will have some great stories to hear some day when you tell them about the pictures. If
you are artistic, you can dedicate some time to writing, painting or
drawing. You can dedicate your art to the new baby, or explore your
feelings about your pregnancy through your art. These pieces will
probably become treasured keepsakes to your children. If
you are so inclined, you can also sew, knit, or crochet a blanket or
baby clothes. Older siblings might enjoy having an item of clothing or
outfit made out of the same fabric or yarn to show that they are all
going to be part of the family now. Just wear your “STILL Pregnant”
t-shirt when you go to the fabric store! It has been my experience that
the ladies at the fabric counter love to chat up pregnant customers. Best wishes to you if you are near or past your due date. Please feel free to drop me a line at [email protected] if you would like us to pray for you. Disclaimer: The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It
is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical
advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider
to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own
situation. This blog contains information about our classes available in
Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The
Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily
reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of
Husband-Coached Childbirth®. Reference: Harvard Study: Obstetrics & Gynecology, Vol. 75, No. 6, June 1990, pgs 929-932 |
Patient Rights
| Posted on September 25, 2015 at 9:39 AM |
comments (169)
|
 Thank you to one of my colleagues, Rachel Davis, for
suggesting this topic. I originally shared this after one of our couples had an unplanned unassisted birth couple encountered in the
hospital, and they were not treated very kindly upon arriving or throughout their hospital stay. Most people would not expect their baby to be born at 35
weeks. In addition, they had not counted
on dealing with hospital protocols since they had planned a homebirth. The other situation they hadn’t planned on
was giving birth away from their community. They were familiar with their local hospital in northern Arizona - it was beyond their imagination that they would spend their first week of their child's life having to deal with a major hospital in central Phoenix.  Their situation underscores the importance of having a
well-thought out and written birth plan no matter what kind of birthplace you
have chosen. Wherever you are
planning to give birth, Bruss and I suggest that you think about writing two birth
plans. Write one for a normal, uncomplicated birth at your chosen birth place. Also consider writing one that has your wishes written down in the event of complications, and that
factors in hospital care if you are planning to birth at home or birth center.. Once you have
talked these out between yourselves and your care providers, write them down and have a copy handy at all times.You just never know how the birth journey will unfold…in the event of
unforeseen circumstances, your birth plan can act as a compass for your
decisions. It can also remind you of the
decisions you made when you took the time to research your options and when you
were not under pressure. You can then
evaluate the current situation with a little less emotion and a little more
reason. There are two sections to this post. First, I highlight the main points of your rights as a patient in the hospital. I encourage you to remember that you are the CONSUMER of health care, not a helpless being at the mercy of the staff. The second section reviews some basics of informed consent so that you have an idea of how to receive the right care for you after asking questions that other people have found helpful to gather complete information before accepting or declining treatment. PATIENT RIGHTS For a full Pregnant Patient and Obstetric Patient Bill of
Rights, I am going to refer you to a link on Doris Haire’s Alliance for the
Improvement of Maternity Services (AIMS): http://www.aimsusa.org/ppbr.htm One of the reasons so many of us feel pressured to make choices
against our instinct or desire for as natural experience as possible is that
sometimes information is relayed in such a way that implies that you are a bad
parent if you deny treatment to your child, or they imply that by not choosing
something you could harm your child. How
many parents are strong enough to follow their instinct with pressures like
time, fatigue and shock also factoring into the situation? Whether you are planning to give birth at home, in a birth
center, or a hospital, I encourage all pregnant mothers and their coaches to
become familiar with the AIMS Pregnant Patient Bill of Rights in the event that
you end up in a hospital for whatever reason.
I suggest that you print out the American Hospital Association's
"Patient's Bill of Rights," (http://www.patienttalk.info/AHA-Patient_Bill_of_Rights.htm) as well as the AIMS Pregnant Patient Bill
of Rights and bring them both with you in the event of a hospital visit during
your pregnancy and labor. I will summarize some of the points here and encourage
parents everywhere, that pregnant or not, if you are in a hospital, there is very little that you can be forced to do or take for yourself or your child. You have every right to ask and be told the
benefits and the risk of EVERYTHING they recommend as treatment, and you have
the right to refuse. These are what I chose to pull our from both of the Bill of Rights documents as your rights as a pregnant and an obstetric patient:
INFORMED CONSENT What is informed consent?
According to Doris Haire: "Most courts consider that the patient is
'informed' if the following information is given:
You can ascertain this information by asking questions. For a more comprehensive look at positive
communications and informed consent, refer to page 55 of The Bradley Method®
Student Workbook. I suggest that you start with questions that establish how
the mother and the baby are doing.
Always use names to remind the care providers that they are making
recommendations for another human being, not an ambiguous test case:
If both are well enough and there is time, then you can
continue with questions such as:
If the care provider agrees that Mother and Baby are well
enough to let labor proceed and let nature take her course, continue to trust
that Mother and Baby are working together and that you will be meeting your
baby in due course. You can address
other probable causes – is mom hydrated?
Is she emotionally ready and relaxed enough to accept her labor? Are you using the best positions in the
appropriate stage of labor to allow gravity and physiology to move things
along? If after asking this series of questions Mother and Coach
decide that further action is worth exploring, then you can continue with these
questions:
One of the reasons it is so important to take care when
choosing your care providers and medical facilities is that sometimes there
isn’t time to ask all these questions.
If Mother and Baby are already compromised and there is no time to ask
questions, you must trust that the care providers and the birthplace will do
the best for your family. Do you have
this level of trust with your care provider?
Do you have this level or trust with the birthplace? If you answered “no” to either of these
questions, it’s time to seriously consider making a change. Although true complications are rare, if you
are part of the small percentage, you want to ensure that you have the best chance
for a good outcome despite any complications that may arise. You have a couple of
options in a hospital setting in the event that you want to choose differently than your care
providers are recommending and/or if you feel like your concerns are not being
heard by your care provider.
There is no decision, big or small, that you will regret
making as long as you keep in mind Dr. Bradley’s ultimate outcome: Healthy Mom,
Healthy Baby. As long as your decisions
are made with the best results for these two people in mind, then you can find
peace of mind that you are making the right decision for you and your family. The
material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical
advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to
determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. This blog contains information about our classes available in
Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley
Method®. The views contained on this blog do not
necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of
Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
What is natural birth?
| Posted on September 4, 2015 at 9:37 AM |
comments (278)
|
The night we started our seventh Bradley Method®
class series in December 2011 played out like all other "first nights" of class. I am on edge all day long. I get nervous before our students
arrive: What if I forget anything? Will they like our class? Will our class run smoothly? What if I leave something I need for class at home?  The class went well, and we got a question that we have
never gotten before: “What is natural birth – is it anything that doesn’t end
in a C-section?”
It made me pause and think for a moment. My short answer in class was, “Well, I guess
that depends on the person and their definition of natural birth.”
I pondered that question all night. Up until three months before that class, I would have said
that we had three natural births and were preparing for our fourth. And then we had our home birth experience,
which re-defined “natural birth” for me.
It turned out to be the most natural birth experience we had.
I can’t say our hospital births were completely intervention
free since we were always poked and prodded by something or someone. Heck, they weren’t even “un-medicated” – I
was administered some kind of medication with each one. With Puma, I had penicillin, Pitocin and an
episiotomy; I had penicillin with Night Owl; and penicillin and Pitocin with Charger. We did achieve three epidural-free vaginal births
with a very supportive OB, though, and for that I am grateful.
Otter’s birth gave us a new definition of “natural”. Here are all the things we DID NOT experience
during our low-risk home birth: - A transfer from our home to another location during active
labor - Forms to fill out - A wait in the triage area with other families in varying
states of apprehension - Vaginal exams to check the progress of labor - Heparin lock for access to veins “just in case” - Electronic fetal monitoring - Mommy-monitoring
Nurse coming in to check vitals - Calls to the doctor to report on my “progress” - Restriction of food or drink - Beeping sounds and hospital smells that inhibit rest or
sleep - Time on back for the convenience of the hospital staff - Episiotomy
Our midwives were called when my water broke and they came
to see how we were doing. The baby was
low and things seemed to be progressing, so they stayed. To this day I do not know what the deciding
factor in their staying was when our labor hit the start-stop mode…I do know I
am grateful that they didn’t leave us. I
would have felt like another “failure to progress” and who knows what that
would have done to my emotional state and our labor. (Click here for our homebirth story.)
At first, they checked on us every thirty minutes. They would monitor the baby with a Doptone to
assess her heart rate, and they would check my blood pressure to see how I was
doing. When it was clear that we were
both handling the labor well, they checked on us with less frequency while
still maintaining a trained eye on us to judge our fitness and make sure we
were still low-risk and doing well.
They asked questions.
They let me eat. They made sure I
was drinking. They checked in with Bruss
to see how he was doing and how he thought I was doing. They offered moral support and encouragement
that everything was fine although we were clearly not going to be one of those families
who can say their homebirth was their shortest labor. In an ironic twist of fate – this happened to
be our longest labor, and we were so grateful to be at home with trained care
providers who allowed my body and our baby the time they needed to figure out
the process and have a healthy mom, healthy baby outcome.
So now we know what all the possibilities are when a person
imagines “natural birth”. A woman and
her partner work together to welcome their child, free of interference or
invasive probing, supported by a team that completely believes in your
abilities and will help you welcome your baby gently and lovingly into the
world. It makes me wish that there were
no pregnancy complications so that every woman could have a gentle birth.
The reality is that the majority of our students coming
through class are just like we were with our first baby. They believe that a hospital is the safest
place to give birth and that an OB is the only person qualified to safely
deliver your baby. It would be irresponsible
to have a baby at home, outside of the “safety net” if something were to go
wrong.
I am so grateful that now there are many more Certified
Nurse Midwives ("CNM") working in hospitals.
They provide the level of belief in the natural process that we found at
our home birth, while still working at the hospital setting in which most people
feel comfortable.
If a student’s care practice does not offer midwifery care,
I hope that like us, they will find a supportive OB who respects their
proactive approach to achieving a natural birth and helps them find a way to
have the birth experience they want in the hospital. We have a very tender spot in our hearts for
our OB. Not only did she deliver our
biggest baby without an episiotomy, she also helped us have our most natural
hospital birth because she believed in our ability to birth.
There is also another option available to families in the Phoenix area. We now have several birth centers. Birth centers strive to be the happy medium between home and hospital for families that want to have the "compromise option". They can offer a more relaxed atmosphere similar to the home environment, and some provide medical options at the center that would not be present in a home birth. I feel it is our role as Bradley Method® instructors to help
every couple achieve the best birth possible for their children with a healthy
mom, healthy baby outcome. “Natural
birth” will be different for each of them based on their pregnancy and their
choices. What can you "control" in the childbearing year? A couple will probably have more options availabel to them in labor if the mother has good nutrition, maintains a daily exercise regimen to tone their back, belly and
bottom, and does some form of exercise for stamina. By attending classes every week they learn a
new relaxation technique that they can put in their labor toolbox. We explore many, many options available to
birthing couples today. What can you influence during the childbearing year? We work on
communication every class so that the couple is prepared to respectfully ask questions of their care
provider if they feel something they recommend goes against their dream of a natural birth, or to better understand their recommendations so that
they can make an informed decision. The choice of care provider will also play a role in the way to birth plays out - are you getting red flags during your prenatal visits? Do not ignore them - ask around and find the provider that respects your rights and your knowledge as a birthing parent of *your* child. They may be the expert in birth; you are the only one that knows your baby. Beyond that, the rest is up to what we would call God, or a Higher Power; some people call it Fate...whatever the belief system, we encourage our students to focus beyond the "how" of their birth story: - What will you learn from this birth journey? - Where will the transformation from Maiden to Mother happen for the woman? Where will the transformation from Stag to Father happen for the partner? - How will your partner disappoing you? How will they rise to the occassion, and maybe even surprise you? - What was your most brilliant moment? We look forward to sharing the information taught in Bradley
Method® classes with our students. We strive
to equip them with the tools they need to assess situations that present
themselves in pregnancy and labor. When we hear that a baby is born and nurses
readily at the breast, we know those parents worked together to achieve the
ultimate Bradley Method® outcome: Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby. What does "natural birth" mean to you? Disclaimer: The
material included on this site is for informational purposes only.
We are now enrolling for our Spring 2016 Series For more information or to register, please call us at 602-684-6567 or email us at |
Q&A with SPB: Healthy Pregnancy
| Posted on July 6, 2015 at 11:46 PM |
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 Question: What can I do to have a healthy pregnancy? Answer: A lot, actually! Come to Saturday's class to learn more about what any mom can do to lay the foundation for their Sweet Pea to have a healthy start in life. See today's VLOG HERE or click We are excited to announce another Healthy Pregnancy Classes at Modern Mommy Boutique this month! It is a two-hour class designed to introduce the basics of having a healthy, low-risk pregnancy that is best for mom and best for Sweet Pea. As childbirth educators, one thing has become painfully clear over the last five years...no matter how many things a family will "do right" during pregnancy, we just don't know what the birth journey will hold until they are on the other side, holding their baby. The one thing we can all share, in spite of whatever happens during birth, is the opportunity to give our Sweet Peas a healthy pregnancy. We all have the ability to be intentional; to provide a place for our baby to grow and be nourished through the pregnancy. If you or someone you know is interested in setting a great foundation for their child's life earthside, please join me! In the class, we will cover how to the foundation for a healthy pregnancy. We'll introduce basics like exercise (no previous fitness level required) and nutrition to build on to keep the mama and the Sweet Pea well, plus substances and environmental factors to avoid. We will also do a mini-relaxation workshop so that participants can have a few basic tools to practice during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. We know that meditation, even a minute a day, can make a difference! This class is designed to be an informative session to get your pregnancy off to a healthy start, or to make sure you are having the healthiest possible pregnancy! Couples in the first, second and third trimester are welcome. Included in the tuition is a 1-on-1 call follow-up call with Krystyna, as well as a take-home packet for you to use as you continue through your pregnancy. Tuition for the 2-hour session: $10/couple I hope you can join me - please call or text 602.684.6567 to register. JULY CLASS AUGUST CLASS  Disclaimer: |
Q&A with SPB: Changing Locations During Labor
| Posted on February 10, 2015 at 3:15 PM |
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I taped my first vlog this morning!! When to go to the birthplace is a common question we get from our students, who are still primarily choosing to birth in a hospital setting. This information is also applicable if you are transferring to a birth center or having a non-emergent homebirth transfer. A non-emergent transfer is the most common type of transfer when it happens in a homebirth setting. The midwife and patient decide together that the family wants a different kind of observation if they feel things might be shifting away from healthy and low-risk. So, with that being said, here is today's Q&A: Do you prefer to read about it? Check out these blog posts from our archive: Kudos and thanks to Jen McClellan at Plus Size Birth whose message to "Capture Motherhood" has inspired me to be okay in front of the camera again. This adventure into "vlogging" would not have been possible without her support and encouragement <3 What tips would you share with a family who wants more information about making the trip from home to their birth place? Disclaimer: |
Suggestions for an effective labor rehearsal
| Posted on July 25, 2014 at 11:45 AM |
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Originally published February 2011 ~ Updated July 25, 2014 The class topic last night was first stage labor. This stage is characterized by a
progressive intensification of the sensations in labor. A mom will experience her contractions,
or her “surges”, getting increasingly stronger and longer with less time
between them, as she gets closer to the pushing phase of her labor. Why do a "labor rehearsal" when labor is so unpredictable?? Mostly to train you and your partner into some "muscle memory". By practicing different positions and reminding yourself when/why they are effective, that body of knowledge is more readily accessed when you are in labor. Even if you forget your "playbook", you have some tools that you can use without referring back to a print-out of labor positions. (Although, HERE is one that I share with students. I used it to prepare for our births and often use it as a reference in our classes.) We had our couples do an active labor rehearsal. As a reminder to them, and as a
practice tool for anyone reading this who is striving for a natural labor, here
are our tips on having a good labor rehearsal. 1. Have a
good guide at your fingertips.  We
have the advantage of a student workbook with illustrations to follow. There are also resources out on the
Internet with ideas for different positions to open the inlet of the pelvis to
make room for baby. The key is to
try all the different positions.
Try to practice at least two simulated contractions every day, and you
will find that you will have put your body in the different positions before
you start labor. This
is important for the following reasons: You will know if you can do them – if
it hurts, maybe it’s time to do more stretching, or find other positions that
have similar benefits without being uncomfortable. You can also start making a list of the ones that feel
really good, keeping in mind that this list may change as you are progressing
through labor. 2. Once
you are in a position, don’t change it or move around during a
contraction.  Again,
the key is to simulate labor. Once
mom starts having stronger surges, she will be physically unwilling or unable
to move while she is having a contraction. So train your muscle memory the right way from the
beginning. That’s
not to say that you will stick to one position during the course of your
labor. It’s likely that there are
several positions that you will try, and you may eventually gravitate to a few
that seem to be the most effective. 3. If mom
has to go to the bathroom, someone needs to go with her. In
actual labor, a coach or one of the assistant coaches must always stay with
mom. She is in a vulnerable time,
PLEASE stay by her side. If mom is
not comfortable having you in the bathroom, getting over the emotional hurdle
will be better dealt with outside of labor. It sounds weird, maybe? It is possible that emotional barriers can keep labor from
progressing. Who would want
bathroom issues to extend the amount of time you are having contractions? Another thought: why delay meeting your
baby? This is what we personally experienced: if you leave mom
alone, she may fall – this could drastically alter the course of your
labor. Additionally, there is no
guaranteed labor pattern – just because you have been having surges 5 minutes
apart and you think she has five minutes before her next contraction doesn’t
mean she should “go” alone. If she
starts having contractions on the commode, she isn’t going to be able to
move. It is possible, since the
bladder is emptied, that the contractions will feel stronger after she has voided
since it has made room for baby to descend, and she will want your help
handling the stronger sensations.
From our own personal experience, I know we hit “transition” in the
bathroom in 2 of our 3 labors. It
was a good thing to have someone with me to help me manage the mental gearshift
and the sensations. 4. Coaches need to practice multi-tasking with every simulated contraction.  Coaches,
you have a good job during labor.
You are the person that can make all the difference in mom’s confidence
in herself and her ability to birth.
Prepare by working out your “athlete” at home and learning how to be the
best coach for your team well before labor starts. Regarding
such things as touch, music and environment: do you know her likes?
Dislikes? Do you know which
relaxation techniques work for her?
Can you massage, talk, and time her contractions simultaneously? If
you answered no to any of these questions, then we encourage you to start
finding the answers! And practice
until you are doing several things at once without having to think too much
about what you need to be doing to keep your partner completely relaxed through
her labor. 5. Watch
mom’s key tension indicators. The
three main areas where mom will hold tension are her face (especially the jaw and brow areas), her hands and her feet. Can
you do the checkpoints in #4 and observe her for relaxation, too? Most coaches need lots of help learning
to do all these things at the same time.
You can find an assistant coach who is there to help support coach as he
strives to do all these things.
Or, the assistant can help the coach to get mom as relaxed as possible
so her body can get down to the business of having the baby. The more efficient her labor, the
sooner you will all be holding your baby in your arms.  A key thought is PRACTICE MAKES PREPARED. As in all things where we seek to
succeed, good practice leads to better results versus going in without any
prior mental or physical preparation.
As labor has mental, physical and emotional aspects, we really encourage
our students to allocate time every day to train their muscles and minds for
the challenge of labor.Some other tidbits from class: TRANSITION No first stage labor rehearsal in class is complete without a
discussion about "transition", the time between the active stage and the pushing
stage of labor. Although it might
be an emotional time, transition is a good thing – it means your labor is
almost over. Question directed at Bruss: Which one of your labors had the
worst transition? Answer: There
was not really a worst. You need to look for signs and prepare yourself ahead
of time, prepare yourself now. Since transition occurs at the end of labor and
you are caught up with the whole process of labor, know what to look for. There will be distinct signs and they
are different for everybody. In
our case, Krystyna got really abrupt.
Up to that point, she would communicate with “this feels”…or, “please
try”… transition was marked with, “I told you not to do that!” I also reminded our class of a birth story they had heard
where the couple’s only sign was a physical sign: mom started burping out of
the blue, and it lasted a little while.
When she calmly announced, “I think I have to push”, it turns out she
really and truly was ready without having the self-doubt or the pendulum swing
of emotions. (For the whole story,
go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDI61YWV5G0 ) HOSPITAL CARE We were lucky enough to have two nurses join our class last
night. They were attending as
assistant coaches-in-training for one of our moms. I took advantage of the situation to ask the nurses who
makes the best patient. My goal
was to illustrate the point that you are the labor you bring with you,
especially in a hospital situation.
We encourage our students to write a birth plan to use as a communication
tool, and to use positive communication (important at all birth venues). The idea is that you are all on the
same team and you wouldn’t be there if you didn’t feel some element of safety
in the hospital. As long as labor
is progressing without complications, a couple is reasonable in their requests,
and the care provider has signed off on the birth plan, it should not be
difficult to have the hospital staff support your choice to have a natural
labor. Question: Who
makes the best patients, or who are the patients that are the easiest to work
with? Answer: They
are willing to work with patients who want to work with them. They also appreciate patients who
respect their medical training.
When it comes to requests, i.e. birth plans; patients who are nice get
their way! PRACTICE MAKES PREPARED I want to encourage you to make the effort to practice what
you want to happen on your baby’s birth-day. We encourage our couples to do ten minutes in the morning
before they get started on their day, and right before bed at night. What better way to help mom feel safe,
secure and stress-free? She can go
about her day knowing that she and baby are important enough to merit the
time. At night, she will sleep
better after a good relaxation session. We can attest to the fact that yes, it is hard to find the
time. In reality, you don’t find
time – you have to make the time available. It is worth it – even if you end up with interventions, the
fact that you gave it your best effort makes for a labor that you can look back
on with an element of pride. The
natural labor and birth you want is a reality – and the more you practice, the
more likely you are to achieve the birth story you want for your family. There is another element to a successful labor beside
preparation – and that is a well-rested team – and that is a post for another
day. Happy Practicing!! Disclaimer: The
material included on this site is for informational purposes only.
It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical
advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to
determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. This blog contains information about our classes available in
Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy
of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Dr. Bradley's Postpartum Instructions
| Posted on October 21, 2013 at 2:16 PM |
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We continue looking at Dr. Bradley's words of wisdom by looking at his postpartum tips today. Here are his insights for a family to follow right after the baby is born. What I continue to find fascinating about his writing is that he didn't just talk about childbirth, which was built on the groundwork laid by Dr. Grantley Dick-Read. He also wrote about the MotherBaby relationship, at a time when the baby was barely even considered to be a salient being - they were still considered "parasites" inside the womb. His postpartum instructions for the MotherBaby were based on his observations growing up on a Kansas farm, watching countless animals birth in a domestic and non-domestic settings. He taught his patients to do the same thing with their babies. His intuition was spot on- there is so much research that has been done, and continues to be done, that is proving out his hypothesis that birth matters, and keeping the MotherBaby together matters. You can read the details of the points listed below in his book, Husband-Coached Childbirth. For now, here are the highlights:  I do like his point not to be overly enthusiastic. It is an amazing feeling to have a completely unmedicated natural birth - you feel like you have conquered the world! By the same token, there are other mothers who have Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby outcomes because they followed their intuition, and sometimes the best birth for those babies is not completely unmedicated. Those mamas have every right to feel proud of their births without having some overly-enthusiastic natural birth mother making them feel like their birth was less than for any reason. So rock on, mamas! Prepare for your natural births, and then enjoy the best gift no matter how they make their Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby appearance...love your baby! The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Dr. Bradley's Nutrition Tips
| Posted on October 14, 2013 at 1:45 PM |
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 Today we take a look at Dr. Bradley's advice to mamas about pregnancy nutrition. One of my favorite things about doing these at-a-glance tips is going back into his book (I need to do it anyway for re-certification at the end of the year) and reading his gems about pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum.In reading about nutrition in Chapter 8 (How To Live With A Pregnant Wife) of his book, "Husband-Coached Childbirth", I am reminded again why we teach these childbirth classes. He has a no-nonsense, practical explanation to help mamas avoid heartburn in pregnancy by eating slowly and eating more frequent, smaller meals.
Besides asking your care-provider for antacid suggestions, the book goes on to suggest the natural remedy of eating papaya as a natural antacid (that also counts as an orange-yellow fruit/vegetable for their Bradley class nutrition tracking!). What did you do to help you avoid heartburn in pregnancy? Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and posted. Disclaimer: It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Keys to Labor: Pushing
| Posted on September 30, 2013 at 7:34 PM |
comments (2)
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Here is another installment in our "It's Not Nice to Fool Mother Nature" series. Dr. Bradley had revolutionary ideas to share with the public when we started his obstetrical practice in the 1950's. He was not the only person advocating natural birth, however, he is one of the first to advocate for fathers to be the coaches and in the hospital delivery room at a time when partners were relegated to hospital waiting rooms.  Here are his keys to pushing: Key #1: Wait until the urge to push is overwhelming. Dr. Bradley was a big proponent of saving energy and tuning-in to the body to birth as instinctually as possible. Key #2: Use effective pushing positions. Dr. Bradley believed that squatting was the most effective pushing position. However, if that wasn't going to happen for whatever reason, he wrote that, "It is not necessary to have the knees far apart. This assures us that the mother's back is rounded like a ball and the baby comes sliding out - like on a slide." Key #3: Athletic breathing. In his book, Husband-Coached Childbirth, Dr. Bradley uses the analogy of an athlete clearing out stale air before performing in an athletic event. Basically, during the second stage, a mama pushing is acting like she is running a quick sprint. As the contraction builds, she should take three deep cleansing breaths. Before exhaling on the third breath, she should tuck her chin to her chest. She uses that air to create a cushion behind the diaphragm to push to the point of comfort, holding her breath as long as it's comfortable. If the contraction is still strong after she exhales, she can take another deep breath and trap that air for a second (and third push) as long as the contraction feels "push-y". Key #4: Relax the Kegel Muscle. Now this is always the hardest one to explain because you have to feel it to understand how it works in practice. The idea is that only the abdomen and the uterus need to work during a contraction. The Kegel, which up to this point (hopefully) has worked beautifully to tuck the baby's chin to their chest into an optimal fetal position, now needs to relax and open to allow baby a smooth passage earthside. I hope you are enjoying these "Dr. Bradley's Keys". Next week, we will look at his postpartum instructions. The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |