Chandler, Arizona
Sweet Pea ​Births
Sweet Pea ​Births
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
Blog
Meet the Doula: Kelly Sunshine
Posted on August 8, 2016 at 5:49 PM |
![]() |
This month's featured doula is Kelly Sunshine, of Sunshine Doula Services. We have had the pleasure of being vendors together at several different local birth events. It is our pleasure to introduce you to her this month in our Meet The Doula feature. When was the first time you heard the word, “doula”? I don’t remember the first time I actually heard the word,
however, as my sister-in-laws and friends were having kids I would always go be
with them while they were in labor and help them. I had already had a few of my
kids so they thought I would be helpful. I was essentially being a doula
without realizing it. Then one day a little over 5 years ago, I meet a gal who
was a doula and the dots all connected for me. I remember thinking how I wish I
would have had a doula with me at my 4 births. How did you decide that becoming a doula was part of your journey? I’ve had a passion for labor and delivery for years. I
contemplated getting my nursing degree at one point. But the more I thought
about it I realized I really enjoy helping moms through the entire birth
process and building relationships. I had heard about doulaing before. Then
about 5 years ago I met a gal who had been a doula for a few years and I
learned a lot more about the profession. At that moment I knew that was exactly
what my heart had been wanting to do. My husband, who saw my enthusiasm,
strongly encouraged me to “do it”. Before I even had a chance to make a
decision, he had already enrolled me in a doula certification training that was
happening in Phoenix 2 weeks later. I’ve never looked back since then. Are you a birth and/or a postpartum doula? Birth. How long have you been a doula? I have been a doula for almost 5 years. I am DONA Certified.
I have been fortunate to have a very active career and have been blessed to
work with over 350 families since I started. What do you enjoy the most about being a doula? So many moms have a vision of what an ideal birth would be
like. I like to help them develop the confidence to trust in their bodies and
themselves. There is nothing more rewarding than to support a mama and for her
to realize how strong and awesome she really is. I also truly love the
relationships I form with the couples. What is your philosophy when you go to a birth space? Empowering moms with the philosophy of, “its their agenda
not mine”; and using my skills to create an optimalenvironment that they
envisioned. Also helping them stay on course with their plan even when they
don’t think they can do it anymore. How do you work with and involve the birth partner? This is very important to me. I am not there to take their
place but to work together to help support the mom. I adjust my involvement based on how
comfortable their coach is and how involved the coach wants to be. If I see
they are feeling uncomfortable or nervous I show them things they can do to
support the mom. Once they get a little confidence then they step up and want
to do more. It really cool to watch. What is the toughest situation you have ever dealt with? How did
you handle it? Believe it or not the mamas are pretty easy to deal with. By
the time we get to a birth we’ve made a pretty strong connection and I
generally know what they need. As soon as you bring the extended families in,
not the daddy’s or partners, it can sometimes get challenging. My most notable
situation was with very vocal and disruptive family members in the room. They
were creating a lot of tension and drama and I could see it was upsetting the
mom. In fact, despite her requesting them to leave the room they simply weren’t
respecting her. I stepped in and with kind firmness asked them to step
outside into the waiting area. I explained that I wanted to take some time to
help the her get more comfortable and focused. They understood and spent the
rest of the birth in the waiting area. What keeps you working as a doula? I suppose the best way I can describe it is that being a
doula is in my blood. I just love it. It’s challenging work. It keeps me on my
toes. Every birth has its own unique dynamic. And I guess I am pretty good at
it. Perhaps it’s my gifting and a way of serving the world. What does your fee cover – how many visits or hours? Is there a
different charge for a shorter labor or longer labor? My fee covers a prenatal visit which generally last an hour
to 90 minutes. It also includes unlimited pre-birth support by phone, email and
text leading up to labor. Obviously I am with the family from the beginning of
active labor through approximately a couple hours after birth to help the mom
and baby get comfortable, and establish nursing if that is their desire. I also take photos of the entire labor, birth and after. I provide the family with the edited digital
copies, as well as a printed 4x6 set. I also write the family a birth story and
then meet them for a postpartum visit as well. My fee is the same regardless of
the length of the labor. Do you offer any other services to your clients? Yes. I do placenta encapsulation and have processed over 650
placentas. I also have some other pre- and post-birth products that are
designed to help moms prepare for labor and heal following the birth. Just for fun, what do you do when you are not doula-ing? Well being a doula occupies a good portion of my life. When
I am not doulaing, I love to travel with my husband and do family vacations
with our four kids. We entertain at our home frequently with family and friends,
which I love to do! Would you like to Connect with our featured doula? Here is her contact information: Kelly Sunshine 602-410-5968 Disclaimer: The material included in this blog 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 and related videos contain information about
our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official
website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained in this video and on our
blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American
Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Q&A with SPB: What do I bring to the hospital?
Posted on June 22, 2016 at 9:38 AM |
![]() |
What do I need to bring with me to the hospital? This is one of the topics we cover briefly in our
classes. The short answer is: Anything
you would regret leaving behind… As one dad in our last class said, “I was picturing a small
duffle bag, now it seems like we are going to be packing suitcases!!” Whatever size your bag ends up being really depends on what
it’s going to take for the mother to feel safe and secure in her birth space.
One of the many benefits of homebirth is that “all the comforts of home” are
built in! The degree to which the mother wants to re-create the home
environment in her birth space will determine how much you are bringing with
you to a birth space outside of the home. The bare minimum of what you will be packing: Mom:
Partner:
Baby:
It was our experience that the hospital will provide diapers, blankets to swaddle and
to be used as burp cloths, and other miscellaneous baby items (shampoo, lotion,
etc.). If you want to go organic from the start, plan to bring your own. The bags get bigger when the mother wants to bring flameless
candles, music player and speakers, her own blankets, her own pillows,
pictures, affirmation cards and/or signs, camera and camera bag, her own birth
ball, a yoga mat…I won’t confess to taking all of these with me to our hospital
births…about 80% of this list did get carried in to the hospital by my amazing
husband. He really is an angel when it comes to supporting me in labor!! The last idea I mention in reference to making the birth
space “like home” are family heirlooms. If there is anything special from your
family history that you want in your birth space, I encourage you to take a
picture of it, print it at a minimum of 5”x7” format, and bring the picture
with you. You do not want to bring
anything that you could not stand to lose.
While you will probably be left alone for most of your
labor, save for hourly check-ins by your nurse, once it’s baby-time, the whole
room is going to fill up with people and activity: your nurse, your care
provider, an assistant nurse, the baby nurse, maybe a student or two…it gets
crazy. And since it is still standard
practice for you to be moved to a recovery room within 2-3 hours of the birth,
there is a lot of opportunity for things to get left behind or lost in the
shuffle. Other possibilities for misplacement happen with things accidently get
swept into the garbage or laundry bin as soiled items are replaced with clean
items; or in what I hope are rare instances, they fall victim to sticky
fingers. The fact remains that even when I packed everything that I
thought I wanted, we used maybe 30% of what I packed. I wouldn’t change how or
what I would suggest people pack, because having those things available gave me
peace of mind that I was prepared for the “just in case” scenarios that were
playing out in my head. I would love to hear from you: did I forget anything in the
essentials list? What else did you bring from the “extras” list? Disclaimer: The material included in this video and blog is for informational
purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice. The viewer and/or 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 and video contain information about
our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official
website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained in this video and on our
blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American
Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Uterine Rupture: Assessing the Risks
Posted on April 26, 2016 at 10:18 AM |
![]() |
Uterine rupture is a topic that came up when I was pregnant with
Otter that I was not ready to allow into my consciousness until she was
safely in our arms. After enough time
had passed and we have proven to ourselves that homebirth can be a safe option
when a person is healthy and low risk, I am ready to write about it.
I gave Stephanie Stanley, former facilitator of the East Valley
ICAN group, byline credit for this because I am using her research from a
uterine rupture presentation she did at a meeting for my post today. ICAN, the International Cesarean Awareness
Network, is a non-profit organization that strives to improve maternal-child
health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support
for cesarean recovery, as well as educate about Vaginal Birth After Cesarean
(VBAC) and options for what is called a "gentle cesarean" where the event is honored as a birth even though it's via a surgery. ICAN’s goal is to see a healthy
reduction of the cesarean rate that is patient-driven. By providing education and support, they hope
that more women making evidence based, risk appropriate childbirth decisions
will lead to an overall reduction in the rate of cesareans performed.
Uterine rupture seems to be the leading reason why care providers are
hesitant to allow a mother to have a trial of labor (TOL) after a previous
cesarean. In Arizona, a licensed midwife or certified professional midwife can attend a homebirth
with a mom who is striving to have a VBAC only if the mother meets certain criteria. Arizonana for Birth Options is leading a grassroots efforts to change this so
that as per the ICAN vision, women living here can make evidence based and risk
appropriate decisions. They want all
options to be available: for a hospital birth if mom feels that is the best
option, or a homebirth if both mom and midwife agree that they are a good
candidate for VBAC.
Uterine rupture is defined as an anatomic separation of the
uterine muscle with or without symptoms.
What this means for baby is that the uterus ceases to function as a sealed protective container from the rest of the blood and organs surrounding the baby. The function of the placenta and umbilical
cord may also be compromised. Mom is
subject to blood loss and shock. A
decision also has to be made about repairing the uterus or performing a
hysterectomy.
Another term used when talking about uterine rupture is
“dehiscence”. A dehiscence is the
splitting or incomplete opening of the cesarean scar. It can happen without complication for mom or
baby and sometimes it is only discovered after the delivery. It is also called a “window” by some care
providers.
As it turns out, while uterine rupture is a consideration when you are preparing for a birth after a cesarean, it's not the only one your care provider should be having a conversation about. You can read THIS post to see where the risk for uterine rupture falls in comparison to other risks of pregnancy and labor. So what does the research say?
Here is the overarching conclusion: anyone can be at risk,
whether you have an unscarred or scarred uterus. At most, your risk rate is 2%. 2 percent!
Why then is it that this is such a big deal? I believe it lies with the potentially
devastating circumstance a family will find themselves in if the uterus does
rupture. While 98% of the population
may have a successful VBAC, the worst case scenario of a uterine rupture is
the loss of the baby and possibly a hysterectomy for mom which makes future
pregnancies impossible.
Another point to ponder is that the statistics listed below
are close to other statistics for labor emergencies, such as placenta accreta,
placental abruption, miscarriage; for a longer list click here.
Statistics for the risk of uterine rupture – see links at
the end of this post for references: VBAC: .5% - .7% VBA2C: 1.7% (vaginal
birth after 2 cesareans) VBAMC: 1.2% (vaginal
birth after multiple cesareans) Previous VBAC: .4% - .5%
(if you had a previous successful VBAC) VBAC + Augmented labor:
.9% (stats for first attempt) VBAC + Induced labor: 1%
(stats for first attempt)
Here is a link to the comparison of risk rates for VBAC,
CBAC (a cesarean birth after a trial of labor) and ERC (elective repeat
cesarean)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002937808004213
The risk factors when considering whether or not to do a
trial of labor after a cesarean are: The type of scar you have: the most favorable is a low
transverse scar. Classical T-shaped
scars, vertical scars or high uterine scars are said to have a higher risk of
rupture.
Induction of labor using cervical ripening agents, i.e., Cytotec,
Cervidil: the prostaglandins that soften the cervix may also soften the scar
tissue. In addition, ripening agents can
cause uterine hyperstimulation, meaning contractions that are much more intense
and frequent than the uterus is designed to withstand in the course of an unmedicated
labor.
More than one cesarean: as you can see from the statistics
above, there is a slight increase of risk.
Among factors that are disputed in medical literature are: - Age of mother: if a mother is over 30 she may be considered
at higher risk for uterine rupture. - Obese women - Size of baby: more than 8 pounds, 14 ounces - Post-term baby: 40+ weeks gestation from last menses To compare, here are the stats and risk factors for an
unscarred uterus: “The normal, unscarred uterus is least
susceptible to rupture. Grand multiparity, neglected labor, malpresentation,
breech extraction, and uterine instrumentation are all predisposing factors for
uterine rupture. A 10-year Irish study by Gardeil et al showed that the overall
rate of unscarred uterine rupture during pregnancy was 1 per 30,764 deliveries
(0.0033%). No cases of uterine rupture occurred among 21,998 primigravidas, and
only 2 (0.0051%) occurred among 39,529 multigravidas with no uterine scar. A meta-analysis
of 8 large, modern (1975-2009) studies from industrialized countries revealed
174 uterine ruptures among 1,467,534 deliveries. This finding suggested that
the modern rate of unscarred uterine rupture during pregnancy is 0.012% (1 of
8,434). This rate of spontaneous uterine rupture has not changed appreciably
over the last 40 years, and most of these events occur at term and during
labor. An 8-fold increased incidence of uterine rupture of 0.11% (1 in 920) has
been noted in developing countries. This increased incidence of uterine rupture
has been attributed to a higher-than-average incidence of neglected and
obstructed labor due to inadequate access to medical care. When one assesses
the risk of uterine rupture, this baseline rate of pregnancy-related uterine
rupture is a benchmark that must be used as a point of reference.” If you choose to have a VBAC, or realistically for any woman
in labor since the statistics show she has a slight risk, here are the signs that may
help you recognize that a uterine rupture is occurring or may have occurred: - Excessive vaginal bleeding - Extreme pain between contractions – these may or may not
be felt through an epidural block, though due to severity of pain it’s possible
they may be felt - Contractions that slow down or become less intense - Abdominal pain or tenderness - Baby’s head moves back up the birth canal - Bulge in the abdomen, bulge under the pubic bone, or
pressure on the bladder where the baby’s head may be coming through the tear in
the uterus - Sharp onset of pain at the site of the previous scar - Uterus becomes soft - Shoulder pain - Heart decelerations in the baby - Maternal tachycardia (rapid heart rate) and hypotension
(low blood pressure)
If you have a true uterine rupture, then an emergency
cesarean will be required. A Chandler
doctor told the ICAN group that the care provider has 5 – 7 minutes to get the
baby out safely, although in reading for this post I saw some estimates as 10 –
37 minutes. According to a 2010 National Institutes of Health study,
there have been no maternal deaths in the US due to uterine rupture. Overall,
14 – 33% will need a hysterectomy. 6% of
uterine ruptures result in perinatal death, and for term babies this risk was
put at less than 3%. **
If you do have a uterine rupture, it will have an effect on
your future pregnancies. Each cesarean a
mother has increases the risk for future complications of cesarean
surgery. If you have a hysterectomy, you
will not be able to carry any more children.
In today’s medical climate, a uterine rupture will most likely result in
all future pregnancies being delivered via repeat cesarean.
There are a lot of points to ponder as a new mom or as a mom
considering a VBAC. Our Bradley® mantra
is: Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby. We teach
that as long as you make all your decisions with those two goals in mind, you
are likely to make the choices that have a positive outcome for both Mom and
Baby. What are your thoughts on VBAC and/or uterine rupture?
**NOTE: Stephanie’s presentation called out these statistics
as inflated as the Landon study (2004) included women who had pre-labor
stillbirths included in the statistics.
IN other words, women whose babies had passed away before labor and
still delivered via VBAC rather than choosing a repeat cesarean were counted in
the perinatal death statistics. Please
read Henci Goer’s analysis for more information
For the resource list, click here. 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®. |
In Their Own Words: Isla's Birth Story
Posted on April 8, 2016 at 8:03 AM |
![]() |
April is Cesarean Awareness Month. As such, the blog topics this month will focus around cesarean birth journeys, and options that cesarean birth warriors have for subsequent pregnancies. I am pleased to open this month's In Their Own Words series with a share from a friend of ours from Texas. Her story is shared with permission from her blog, The Carey Haus, Here is the story of their second daughter's birth. Isla's birth story Upon finding out we were expecting, I had a tough decision to make. Since I had a [cesarean birth] with Sadie, I had to decide if I wanted to try for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) or to opt for a repeat [cesarean birth]. I went back and forth for a good 8 months before finally deciding that I was more comfortable with a repeat [cesarean birth]. Yes, it is major surgery, but I liked knowing there would be less variables and I could have a little more control. (Can you say type A???) This turned out to be a good decision because my blood pressure started to creep up around the 35-36 week mark. We knew going into it that this would be a possibility, as I had severe pregnancy induced hypertension with Sadie. We had originally scheduled a repeat [cesarean birth] for my EDD, which was 11-25. When the blood pressure started rising we moved it to 11-18. This was not good as Adam was in the midst of a crazy school schedule. We tried to move it to Friday the 20, but the Dr could not find anyone to operate with her. We wound up moving it to Tuesday the 24 and agreed to keep a very close eye on my blood pressure. The 16 the Dr went ahead and put me off work to keep me lying around the house. Thursday my friend Dory came in to hang out for a couple days before the baby would arrive. Well, my blood pressure started getting really high on my readings at home and the Dr had said I needed to call her if it was not going down. Friday morning the 20 I went in for them to check it. I was 39 weeks and 2 days at this point, so already 9 days further than when I delivered Sadie. The Dr decided that based on the reading we would be moving the delivery to the following day, Saturday, November 21. It was a very surreal feeling being told that the next day I would be having a baby. We knew all along that was a very real possibility, but hearing the words made it that much more real. It took me right back to the moment when my Dr with Sadie told us we would be having a baby later that day. My Dr told me to be at the hospital at 7am and we would plan on going into the OR at 9:15. I left and called Adam to let him know that the next day we would have a baby. The rest of Friday I had to lay low to keep my blood pressure from skyrocketing so Dory and I watched movies until it was time to get Sadie from school. I had promised Sadie that before her sister arrived we would go get a pedicure, so when Dory and I picked her up from school we went straight to do that. She was so excited that she would be meeting her sister the next day! That night I finished packing our bags and went to bed around 10. I slept well, surprisingly. We got up and got everything loaded in the car. It worked out so well that Dory wound up being there still since she was able to watch Sadie while we had the baby. Dory and Sadie followed to the hospital so they could see where to go and get the stickers that would allow them in the room to visit me later on. I had asked my photographer friend, Cally, to be there to photograph the birth. She met us in the lobby and took some very sweet photos of Sadie hugging on my belly and kissing me goodbye. I should have them from her in the next few days. What sweet moments to have captured! We said bye to Dory and Sadie and headed up to labor and delivery. EEK! We got to labor and delivery and I changed into my hospital gown. They then allowed Adam and Cally to come in. They went through 50 million questions and started my I.V. The I.V. was probably the worst part, as the first attempt did not take and she kept digging around. It was awful. The other nurse came and got one started in my other arm. I had a couple bags of fluid, which made me sooo cold! They gave me some blankets and I tried to just relax. The Dr came in and said hello and we calmly chatted. She has the most relaxed personality ever, which is nice when you are about to be cut open! Soon after, the anesthesiologist came in to chat as well. I was very hopeful that they would allow me to have my husband AND Cally in the OR, but that was a no go. They did however agree to allow them to swap places halfway through-yay! Cally set my camera up for a nurse and showed her how to use it so that we could have some photos before they allowed her in. The photos actually came out great! Anyway, right around 9:15 they had me climb in a wheelchair and we made our way to the OR. Let me tell you, it is the most surreal feeling walking into a freezing cold operating room knowing you are about to have surgery, let alone have a BABY! It really hit me that we were having a baby when I walked in there and saw all the equipment to take care of her. I told the CRNA [Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist] that I wanted to change my mind and not do it! Ha! He was very sweet and reassuring that all would be ok. I got situated on the table and the CRNA had me lean over a pillow into a nurse while he started my spinal block. It did not hurt when I had it with Sadie, but this time it hurt for a few seconds on the right side of my back, but went away pretty quickly. They got me situated on the table and then the rest of the surgery team started coming in. Luckily there is something in the spinal that relaxes you and warms you up, because I began to feel a little calmer. Everyone got prepped and they did a little test to make sure I was numb. I was, so they got started. It seemed like it took FOREVER for them to get to the baby. I kept asking Adam if they were close. Finally they said it was time and I would feel a lot of pulling and pressure. Boy did I! It was intense. It was not long and she was out! At 10:00am on the dot she was here! She cried right away, which is the best feeling ever. The Dr lifted her up over the curtain for me to see and the nurse captured some great photos of that moment! I feel like the image shows that a c-section is just as beautiful as a natural birth. The smile on my face is priceless. They started getting Isla all cleaned up and Adam swapped places with Cally. They brought Isla over to me to see and cuddle, but it is hard to hold a baby when you are laying down flat, even with a nurse helping. I told them to go ahead and take her out to my husband. Cally followed them out and I am sure got some great photos of that time. The CRNA told me he was giving me something in my IV to relax me and that it might make me sleepy. It did relax me and I was a tad sleepy, but too excited to go to sleep. I talked to the Dr while she put me back together. It was a very relaxed environment. Once they finished stitching me up, they wheeled me into the recovery room where I immediately got to do skin to skin and start nursing Isla. This was SUCH a different experience from Sadie, as I was not stable enough to be with her in recovery. Isla took to nursing right away and it made being in the recovery room so great. I shook quite a bit in recovery, but I don’t think nearly as much as with Sadie. The spinal started to wear off so I asked for some pain meds. Whatever they gave me did not work great, but I was ok since I had the distraction of a new baby! After about an hour or so they cleared us to go to my room. We called Dory and told her to head on up to the hospital with Sadie. We got to the room, which was so pretty and spa like for a hospital! Sadie and Dory arrived right after we got settled. It was so sweet introducing Sadie to her new sister. She did not want to hold her right away, but was certainly in awe. I think it was an hour or so later that she asked to hold her. They hung out for a bit and then Dory took Sadie home. Adam and I relaxed with Isla for an hour or two and then Adam headed home to get Sadie ready to spend the night at her friend Molly’s house. Isla and I enjoyed skin to skin for the rest of the day. It was the sweetest time ever. Adam got Sadie situated at Molly’s house and then came back so he could spend the first night with me. Isla and I stayed in the hospital for 3 nights. It was the best time, believe it or not. I never once turned the tv on. I just enjoyed the peace and quiet. It was such special bonding time with my baby. It was also very healing for me to have a better recovery this go round. I finally was discharged Tuesday and sent home on blood pressure medicine. It seemed like I would escape the post partum hypertension this time, but it started going up while I was still in the hospital. I was glad we caught it before going home, and am confident that it will correct itself in time. The time at home has been tiring, but wonderful. We kindly asked for some time before we were ready for visitors and I am thankful for that. It has been the most wonderful time to bond and establish nursing privately. I can honestly say that this time has been the best experience. We are so in love with sweet Isla and cannot imagine our family without her. Thank you, Marissa, for sharing your family's birth story. It so important to honor all birth journeys, for they transform us into the mothers and fathers that we are. If you would like to share your birth story this month, please email it to me, along with a statement that I have permission to share your story on social media. You can email it to me at krystyna{at}sweetpeabirths{dot}com. Disclaimer: The material included in this video is for informational
purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice. The viewer 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 and video contain information about
our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official
website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained in this video and on our
blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American
Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
To Eat or Not To Eat…
Posted on November 5, 2015 at 8:07 AM |
![]() |
We love it when science catches up to Dr. Bradley. Anecdotally, we could tell students that it was safer to eat before/during labor since anesthesia has changed from the days of "knock'em out, drag 'em out" birth, as Dr. Bradley called it. Women used to be under general anesthesia, which is administered differently than today's spinal or epidural blocks. We are so excited to update this post (and our class info!) with a press release from the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA):
Now...how long will it take for hospital protocols to change and reflect these recommendations from ASA? As we found out the hard way, sometimes the doctor approves something but if it is not in writing and signed off on the birth plan, it probably isn't going to happen in the hospital setting. The nurse will follow the hospital protocol or they may invent their own interpretation if none exists to cover their liability. If you are going to have a hospital birth, I have a strong opinion about getting your wish list signed so that the nursing staff has “permission” to “break the rules” if they feel that something you are requesting is out of the ordinary. Maybe you could ask for a copy of the ASA press release to be included in your chart that goes to the hospital. Dr. Bradley always advocated that a healthy mom should eat if she is hungry and drink if she is thirsty. As he said, “Birthing is like playing a full game of football without any substitutions.” He recognized that labor is an athletic event, and that a well-nourished athlete would perform better than a hungry one.
A Note About Hospitals and Nourishment If you are having a hospital birth, you need to find out how your care provider feels about nourishment during labor, even with this announcement by the ASA. If your care provider is on board with mom eating and drinking as her body directs, great! Get it into your birth plan, aka "wish list", that you have permission to eat and drink. If they restrict intake, you need to think about your options. You may question whether or not your care provider is truly supportive of your plans for a natural birth. You should also ask what the hospital policy is on food and drink during labor when you do your hospital tour. It helps to know what kind of potential situations you may be facing so you can avoid stress-inducing encounters during labor. The potential conflict between a laboring mother’s needs for nourishment and her care provider or hospital protocol comes from the days when general anesthesia was standard for hospital births. There was a very real danger of a mom “aspirating”, meaning that food or drink the mom had consumed before labor would be regurgitated and accidently enter the trachea and lungs, creating a life-threatening condition to mother and baby. [See reference 1]
Although very few women have births under general anesthesia nowadays, the practice of restricting food and drink still persists. You may hear it called “NPO”, which stands for the Latin, “non per os”, meaning nothing by mouth. With the press release from the ASA, we can keep our fingers crossed that hospitals will start to change their practice protocols. In the past, it was likely that you would only be allowed ice chips if you opted for an epidural. The chance of needing general anesthesia was within the realm of possibility since some moms and babies “crash” after the epidural dose is dispensed. As with all labor interventions, you don’t know how you will react until it’s administered. Although it’s a small percentage of women that have life-threatening complications, the prospect of the drugs dropping your heart rate, blood pressure or respiration to dangerously low levels exists once they are in your bloodstream. In the instance of a “crash”, you would need general anesthesia to perform an emergency cesarean to save your or your baby’s life, thus your nourishment options become limited to ice. Eating and Drinking During Labor Have your refrigerator stocked with your favorite healthful foods and/or meals as you near your estimated due date. Labor is a funny thing – you never know what your body is going to like. If you think you are in labor, you can go through Dr. Bradley’s list of things to do to see if you are in pre-labor (contractions slow down or stop) or actual labor (contractions continue at same pace or get closer and harder despite the change in position or activity). To "test" for labor, he suggests that a woman should eat, drink, go for a walk, shower and nap – in that order. When you start with the “eat” part of the list, it will be more satisfying to eat something you really enjoy. If you are not in labor, at least you ate something you like and you can move on with your day with a tummy-full of your particular “comfort food”. If you are in labor, then you have eaten something that is fueling your body for the labor. It will put you in a good frame of mind if you ate something that is a favorite and you create a positive emotional state. The best drink during labor is water. Water is a key to staying hydrated and avoiding the slippery slope of interventions. A hydrated body has the energy for the work of labor. Ample water also allows for effective hormone distribution throughout the body: the chemicals and hormones being made to stimulate and progress labor are able to circulate freely. If you have a longer labor, consider an electrolyte replacement: trace minerals added to the water you are drinking, Emergen-C makes a powder, or coconut milk is a "natural" version of sports drinks. Dehydration causes a spike in temperature and blood pressure, while at the same time depleting your energy by as much as 30%. Can you see that simple dehydration can also be interpreted as the mom being “in distress”? Your care team will not want to take a chance of making the wrong call, so they are likely to intervene or suggest drastic measures to “save” mom and baby. Whether you are laboring at home, a hospital or birth center, small-portioned, protein rich snacks are nice to have on hand. As your labor progresses, a laboring woman’s appetite will naturally decrease as the body shuts down other functions such as digestion to allow for full focus on the progression of labor and birth. Here are some foods that we and other students have found useful for quick energy boosts when mom doesn’t have the desire to eat a full meal. These snacks are also handy for the coach to get the energy boost he needs to be a great support person for mom. We don’t want hungry, cranky coaches during labor!!
- Handful of nuts. If you have a favorite nut (besides your coach-lol), bring some with you. You can eat 1 or 10, whatever you are in the mood for. I like nuts because you get the energy boost in whatever quantity you are in the mood to chew and swallow. Trader Joe’s sells packages nuts in handy single serve packets. I usually eat 2 or 3 pieces, and Bruss would finish off the bag for his energy boost. - Banana. Another source of potassium that is portable and easy to eat. To prevent a sugar burst, pair this with a cheese stick to balance out the carbs. - Single serve smoothies or juice drinks. I am thinking along the lines of Stonyfield Farm Smoothies or Drinkable Yogurts for a liquid protein boost, or the Odwalla line of Protein Beverages. It’s a little sip of something sweet with carbs that still offers a protein source for energy. As you noticed from the list, some of these foods need refrigeration or a heating source. These are considerations if you are having a hospital birth. It stands to reason that if you will not have access to a refrigerator or microwave, the items that won’t stay cool with an ice pack or the foods that need to be heated need to left out of the cooler. The bottom line: eat to appetite and drink to thirst for the best labor possible! I hope this list gives some ideas with which you can fill your refrigerator or cooler. What did you eat during your labor? 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. 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®. References: [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulmonary_aspiration [2] http://www.honey.com/nhb/benefits/natural-energy/ |
Natural Oxytocin Boosters
Posted on October 23, 2015 at 9:27 AM |
![]() |
In addition to being the “love” hormome, oxytocin is also produced in great
quantity when a woman is in labor. The
hard contractions can only happen if the woman’s body is producing ample
oxytocin. I find it so ironic that the physical
pain and the emotion of love are happening at the same time. That must be the combination
that makes natural birth possible, that helps bond us to our Sweet Peas, and why people sign up for the experience
more than once. I can honestly say that
I am really going to miss being in labor. Call me crazy! Anyway.
I wanted to call out their suggestions for non-medical ways to boost oxytocin
production and talk about how they may be options to consider while you are in
labor since the article was not birth specific. Oxytocin production in labor suggestions offered by Sweet Pea Births, instructor in the Bradley Method® natural childbirth classes offered in Arizona: Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale, PaysonPet you furry friend: One of the many
benefits of laboring at home. Do you
have a four-legged friend that wants to cuddle? Go for it! Love on them, speak in
gentle tones…it will be calming for both of you.
As I leave you with these ideas, I want to remind mamas and coaches that even if you are doing all of these things, labor cannot progress by oxytocin levels alone. One of the key components of birth is surrender. Do the things that boost your oxytocin and then let go, give in, and open up to the whole experience of labor and the birth journey. The best gift is at the end when you meet your baby – it is SO worth it!
Best wishes for your upcoming birth – we hope some of these natural oxytocin
boosters will help you stay on course with your wish list! Which one of these do you like and/or have you used? Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and posted. *I think* that the amount of traffic you so generously
generate has led to a lot of spam posting. In an effort to keep the spam
to a minimum, I am taking the time to moderate comments now.
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®. |
Patient Rights
Posted on September 25, 2015 at 9:39 AM |
![]() |
What is natural birth?
Posted on September 4, 2015 at 9:37 AM |
![]() |
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? 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: Midwifery Care
Posted on May 5, 2015 at 7:49 PM |
![]() |
Happy International Day of the Midwife to the midwives of the world. Facebook image - source: KNOW YOUR MIDWIFE We are so blessed with so many amazing midwives in our birth community. Here is a little more about why Sweet Pea Births advocates for midwifery care to be an available option to all birthing families: ~~~ Here is a little more about the different ways a health practioner can certify to become a midwife - excerpt from THIS article:
For a good explanation of the way a midwife is different from a doula read this excerpt from the bump:
In the Phoenix, Arizona area, home birth families have the choice of doing co-care with Certified Nurse Midwives in the hospital setting, and still maintaining the midwifery model of care. This allows for families to continue with "watchful waiting" and preserve their autonomy as consumers of healthcare. Why hire a midwife? "After controlling for a wide variety of social
and medical risk factors, the risk of experiencing an infant death was 19
percent lower for births attended by certified nurse midwives than for births
attended by physicians. The risk of neonatal mortality (an infant death
occurring in the first 28 days of life) was 33 percent lower, and the risk of
delivering a low birthweight infant was 31 percent lower. Mean birthweight was
37 grams heavier for the certified nurse midwife attended than for the
physician attended births. Low birthweight is a major predictor of infant
mortality, subsequent disease, or developmental disabilities. Certified nurse midwives attended a greater
proportion of women who are at higher risk for poor birth outcome: African
Americans, American Indians, teenagers, unmarried women, and those with less
than a high school education. Physicians attended a slightly higher proportion
of births with medical complications. However, birth outcomes for certified
nurse midwives were better even after sociodemographic and medical risk factors
were controlled for in statistical analyses." Excerpt from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/98news/midwife.htm For the study abstract, click HERE To read the study, click HERE Is homebirth safe?
There are several studies that have been conducted around the world that show midwifery is safe - find a reference list HERE. The big question remained: would outcomes be comparable in the US, where we do not practice socialized medicine? The MANA study found that:
Are you curious about midwifery care?? Here are some posts where we share our birth journey with midwives: Our Midwifery Care Experience - Second Trimester Midwives Make a House Call - Third Trimester Preparing for our Homebirth - Third Trimester Link List 1998 Midwifery Study http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/98news/midwife.htm
http://jech.bmj.com/content/52/5/310.abstract?sid=52c15f2a-a71c-45d5-a827-c403cb953fa1
http://jech.bmj.com/content/52/5/310.full.pdf+html?sid=52c15f2a-a71c-45d5-a827-c403cb953fa1
MANA Homebirth Study http://mana.org/blog/home-birth-safety-outcomes
Homebirth Studies Reference Page http://mana.org/research/section-a-best-available-studies-grouped-by-design-level-of-evidence The material included in this blog and video is for informational
purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice. The viewer 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 and video contain information about
our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official
website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained in this video and on our
blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American
Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
The Family-Centered Cesarean
Posted on April 30, 2015 at 9:40 AM |
![]() |
A "Family-Centered" cesarean? A "gentle" cesarean? A procedure that is Woman and MotherBaby-centered? What? Did you just read that correctly? Yes, you did. There is a "new" trend in cesareans that is hitting the mainstream consciousness here in the United States. While a lot of the focus during Cesarean Awareness Month tends to center on Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC), I also want to acknowledge that a VBAC is not the choice that all mothers want to make. Here is an option for mothers who know they want, or are considering, a repeat cesaran birth. It is also an option if a healthy, low-risk labor starts to change it's course and there is time for non-emergent cesarean. I have linked to THIS post about a "natural" cesaran more than once in previous posts, and today I want to be a little more specific about what a "natural" cesarean is and why a family might opt for this. To quote the article:
A family-centered, or natural cesarean strives to capture these components of a vaginal birth:
The idea of "seeding the microbiome" is a new concept. Here is a quote from THIS article:
And one from THIS article:
So while your initial reaction might be one of surprise and disgust, think about it. Please take a minute to read both of the excerpted articles and have a discussion with your partner and your care provider before you make up your mind one way or another. Here are some of the benefits that are causing mothers to request this kind of cesarean option:
If you would like to have a conversation with your care provider about planning for a gentle cesaean as your birth plan or "just in case" plan, HERE is a list of options for you to discuss with them, provided by ICAN of Phoenix chapter leader Jenni Froment. I also want to mention: these are evidence-based recommendations. If your care provider scoffs at you and laughs you out of the room, thank them very much for their time and go have a conversation with another provider in your area. Your local ICAN chapter or ICAN international are great resources for respectful, family-centered providers. What do you think? Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and posted. *I think* that the amount of traffic you so generously generate has led to a lot of spam posting. In an effort to keep the spam to a minimum, I am taking the time to moderate comments now. Link List: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5RIcaK98Yg ARTICLES ICAN http://blog.ican-online.org/2012/04/14/the-family-centered-cesarean/ MIDWIFE THINKING http://midwifethinking.com/2014/01/15/the-human-microbiome-considerations-for-pregnancy-birth-and-early-mothering/ MAMASEEDS http://mamaseeds.com/blog/antibiotics/how-seed-your-baby-healthy-microbiome-last-lifetime/ 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®. |
Categories
- Why we chose the Bradley Method� childbirth classes (14)
- Birth center (34)
- Birth Centers Phoenix AZ area (8)
- Birth place options (36)
- Bradley Method� outcome (44)
- Managing or coping with natural labor (33)
- natural labor coping mechanisms (35)
- Natural labor coping techniques (35)
- Pain management (23)
- Pain management natural labor (18)
- The Bradley Method� pain management (19)
- First stage labor (29)
- Birth plans (72)
- The Bradley Method® (68)
- Birth Story (33)
- Bradley Method® birth story (16)
- Birth Circle (9)
- Midwife (36)
- Midwifery Care (32)
- Cesarean Birth (35)
- Cesarean Surgery (27)
- Doulas (50)
- Second Stage Labor (21)
- Acupuncture (5)
- Parenting (63)
- Use of vacuum extraction (1)
- Breastfeeding (232)
- Chiropractic Care (10)
- Webster Protocol (3)
- Breastfeeding support (154)
- Information Center (101)
- The Bradley Method® classes (57)
- Placenta Encapsulation (11)
- Postpartum Depression (31)
- Breech presentation (8)
- Breech turning techniques (6)
- ECV (6)
- External Cephalic Version (6)
- Infections and Pregnancy (7)
- Bradley� Coaches (47)
- Coach's Corner (14)
- Coaches (47)
- Coaching (39)
- Exercise (18)
- Modern Mommy Boutique (10)
- Nursing and Maternity Bras (4)
- Transition (11)
- Postpartum Plan (29)
- Grief Counseling and Support Services (3)
- Miscarriage or Stillbirth (8)
- Pregnancy Loss (4)
- Variations and Complications (17)
- Going to your birthplace (9)
- Homebirth (58)
- Hospital Birth (57)
- Informed Consent (29)
- Patient Bill of Rights (2)
- Dehydration and Pregnancy (5)
- Fluid Retention (3)
- Heat Comfort Measures (7)
- Hyperthermia and Pregnancy (2)
- Pre-term Labor (4)
- Swelling in Pregnancy (2)
- Full term (9)
- Past due date (6)
- Postdate (7)
- Postmature baby (2)
- Crying (8)
- Newborn Care (23)
- Fussy baby (11)
- Support Groups (17)
- Pregnancy (69)
- Avoiding harmful substances (32)
- Toxins, pesticides, chemicals and pregnancy (18)
- Starting Solids (14)
- Drinking during labor (11)
- Eating during labor (12)
- NPO (2)
- Nutrition (37)
- Due Date (9)
- Planning for Baby (34)
- Child Spacing (3)
- Sibling Preparation for Newborn Arrival (9)
- Breastfeeding 101 (24)
- Debbie Gillespie, IBCLC, RLC (8)
- Circumcision (2)
- Lactivist (3)
- In Their Own Words (36)
- NIP (25)
- Nursing In Public (28)
- Childcare (17)
- Infant Classes (5)
- Photographer (5)
- Epidural (15)
- Depression (12)
- Allergies (3)
- Dairy Allergy (2)
- Breast Pumps (19)
- Postpartum Doula (11)
- Jaundice (2)
- Newborn jaundice (1)
- RSV (4)
- Postpartum (55)
- Labor Marathon (20)
- Labor Sprint (17)
- Belly Cast (2)
- Maternity Keepsake (1)
- Natural birth (34)
- Obstetrical Care (16)
- Engorgement (2)
- Uterine Rupture (3)
- Berman's Law (1)
- Back Labor (3)
- Healing (8)
- Hearing Screen (1)
- Perineum (4)
- Herbalist (2)
- Tandem Nursing (5)
- Breastfeeding Challenges (91)
- Tongue Tie (2)
- Tongue Tie Procedure (2)
- Bradley Day Family Picnic (5)
- Cephalo-Pelvic Disproportion (3)
- CPD (3)
- Failure to Progress (10)
- Fetal Distress (2)
- FTP (5)
- Pain (4)
- Prolonged Labor (3)
- Baby games (4)
- Playing with baby (5)
- Sensory games (2)
- Cesarean Support Group (16)
- Baby blues (8)
- NAP (5)
- Natural Alignment Plateau (6)
- Baby-led weaning (2)
- BLW (2)
- Comfort Measures (15)
- Flower Essences (4)
- Relaxation practice (4)
- First Foods for baby (2)
- Babywearing (21)
- Nursing (31)
- Sling (2)
- Soft-structured carrier (1)
- Wrap (2)
- Weaning (2)
- Co Sleeping (6)
- Family Bed (6)
- Relaxation (6)
- Meet the Doula (24)
- Bradley Method® (37)
- Bradley Method® for next baby (4)
- Bradley Method® for second pregnancy (5)
- Bradley™ classes and the next baby (4)
- Bradley™ classes for next pregnancy (3)
- Bradley™ classes for second pregnancy (3)
- Next baby (5)
- Next pregnancy (7)
- Repeat Bradley™ classes (1)
- Bedtime Routine (5)
- Children's Books (3)
- Breast Pumps and Workplace (10)
- Breastfeeding in Public (37)
- Communication (8)
- Labor Support (25)
- Amniotomy (5)
- AROM (6)
- Artifical Rupture of Membranes (5)
- Bag of Waters (5)
- Premature Ruptture of Membranes (4)
- PROM (4)
- ROM (4)
- Rupture of Membranes (4)
- La Leche League (8)
- Nursing Strike (2)
- Galactogogues (1)
- Increase Breastmilk (2)
- Milk Supply (2)
- CIO (4)
- Cry It Out (4)
- Teething (1)
- Hyperemesis Gravidarum (1)
- Morning Sickness (3)
- Nausea (2)
- Eclampsia (1)
- Healthy, Low-Risk (16)
- Pre-eclampsia (5)
- Rights for Homebirth (6)
- Traditions (2)
- Midwifery Scope of Practice Committee (5)
- Scavenger Hunt (1)
- Sweet Pea Births (5)
- Cassandra Okamoto (6)
- Mommy-Con (9)
- Phoenix Mommy-Con Mini (2)
- Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (18)
- Vaginal Birth After Multiple Cesareans (10)
- VBAC (21)
- Monitrice (1)
- Baby Concierge (4)
- First Birthday (1)
- Oxytocin (2)
- Warning Labels (3)
- Inside Look (19)
- Induction (12)
- Induction of Labor (8)
- Labor Induction (11)
- Episiotomy (3)
- Info Sheet (22)
- Information Sheet (22)
- Augmentation (4)
- Labor Augmentation (9)
- Cord Clamping (2)
- Delayed Cord Clamping (2)
- Immediate Cord Clamping (2)
- Birth Mantra (19)
- Rally to Improve Birth (4)
- Eye Drops (1)
- Eye Ointment (1)
- Eye Prophylaxis (1)
- Neonatal Eye Drops (1)
- Neonatal Eye Ointment (1)
- Neonatal Eye Prophylaxis (1)
- Wordless Wednesday (37)
- Big Latch On (1)
- Blog Carnival (3)
- IBCLC (11)
- Lactation Consult (3)
- Lactation Consultation (3)
- WBW2013 (1)
- World Breastfeeding Week (51)
- Thoughtful Thursday (3)
- Family Fun (18)
- Weekend Activities (1)
- Upcoming Events (81)
- Breastfeeding Awareness Month (76)
- Sleep Sharing (1)
- Newborn (12)
- Newborn Procedures (3)
- Preemies (4)
- Twins (1)
- Vitamin K (1)
- Vaccines (3)
- Fertility (10)
- Premature Baby (4)
- Babymoon (4)
- Green Nursery (4)
- Gowning (1)
- Affirmation (20)
- Birth News (5)
- First Trimester (1)
- Membranes (3)
- Stripping Membranes (2)
- Sweeping Membranes (2)
- Fear-Tension-Pain Cycle (2)
- Third Trimester (2)
- Baby (26)
- Infant Care (9)
- Contest (1)
- Family Fest (9)
- Giveaway (1)
- Birth (33)
- Nursery (3)
- Bradley® Dads (3)
- Mantra (8)
- Waterbirth (3)
- Essential Oils (1)
- Gestational Diabetes (1)
- Q&A with SPB (23)
- NICU (3)
- Placenta (4)
- Birth Story Listening (1)
- Meditation (3)
- Birthing From Within (3)
- Ask the Doula (1)
- Monday Mantra (4)
/