Chandler, Arizona
Sweet Pea ​Births
Sweet Pea ​Births
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
Blog
Q&A with SPB: Crying It Out
Posted on November 24, 2015 at 8:55 AM |
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It is so tempting to an exhausted parent...putting their Sweet Pea in a crib and closing the door to let them cry it out so that they can all get some sleep. We encourage our students to nurture instead of ignore their infant's cry in class, and in today's VLOG we share why we suggest our students find other options: What We Know About Crying It Out Here is the presentation we share in class: For more reading on biological infant sleep patterns: "Normal,
Human Infant Sleep" via Psychology Today
http://bit.ly/QkH2Dr Links to explore: •Co-sleeping resource: Dr. McKenna http://cosleeping.nd.edu/ •Dr.
Sears’ Website: http://www.askdrsears.com/ •Dr.
Jay Gordon’s Sleep Information for Night Weaning AFTER ONE YEAR: http://drjaygordon.com/attachment/sleeppattern.html Disclaimer: |
Birth News
Posted on January 10, 2014 at 6:31 PM |
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These are probably going to keep being evening editions - thank you for your patience as we ramp up posting again in the New Year. I am really placing a high value on being Peaceful Mama for my kiddos, which means that being on the computer is taking a back seat to homeschooling and teaching classes this season. I will be back in full swing soon - until then, please do not hesitate to contact me via email (krystyna{at}sweetpeabirths{dot}com) if you have any pressing questions about pregnancy, natural birth or breastfeeding! Birth News FERTILITY NOTE: Please read this with a grain of salt - we have had students have beautiful, term babies even though they used IVF to attain pregnancy. Simply shared as a tool for discussion with your care providers as you weigh the benefits and the risks. IVF Pregnancies Are More Likely To Result In Stillbirth, Preterm Birth, Low
Birthweight, Or Neonatal Death
Medical Daily http://bit.ly/19V24Sc PREGNANCY NOTE:I am by no means suggesting that you *should* go get a flu shot – again, I am simply offering this as information to discuss with your care provider. See what Dr. Sears has to say about the flu shot during pregnancy HERE and HERE Flu shots in pregnancy protect babies from being born too soon, Canadian studies show
Ottowa Citizen http://bit.ly/1gqKeoL BIRTH Premature 'Water Breaking' During Pregnancy Linked to Bacteria
WebMD http://bit.ly/1d31rF3 POSTPARTUM Is Placenta Encapsulation the Answer to Postpartum Depression?
Health24 http://bit.ly/1iWKgZG Doctors report uptick in number of babies with RSV, a respiratory virus, this flu season
abc13.com http://bit.ly/1gqJ8cC BREASTFEEDING Study Links Breastfeeding to Lower Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Science World Report http://bit.ly/1iWMTKQ 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. 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®. |
Keeping Sweet Pea Healthy 2012
Posted on December 11, 2012 at 3:30 AM |
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Bruss and I are big advocates for our children, especially the youngest members of our family, during cold and flu season. Our Night Owl had a life-threatening experience with RSV when he was three months old, and that has made us painfully aware just how fragile our sweet peas can be. We have three sweet peas from our Fall 2012 class that we have not met yet because we have been passing around a cold for the last month at the Bowman House. Otter finally succumbed yesterday, and in her, this cold manifested as croup. A sobering reminder that an infant’s health is so much more important than our selfish desire to see the babies – I shudder to think what would have happened if we had seen those babies over the past weekend when the virus was active with no symptoms yet. You can click HERE to read last year’s PSA with a list of precautions you can take to minimize your sweet pea’s exposure to germs. I list 5 concrete steps to Keep Sweet Pea Healthy in that post. In a nutshell, limit exposure and practice good hand washing. This year, I want to take some time this year to share polite ways to insist that people who are not healthy keep their germs to themselves and away from your children. It is unfortunate that people really do not understand how devastating their “little cold”, sniffle or runny nose can be to a child with small airways and an evolving immune system. THE Announcement Here is wording you can work into the text of an announcement via email or social media:
People Want to Meet Sweet Pea Here is a polite way to screen people when you talk to them on the phone and they want to come for a visit. The reason I suggest asking people to wait a couple of days from the call is because a person can be contagious before the symptoms of infection are obvious.
How about if you are planning a gathering with a mixed bag of guests and an infant is going to be in attendance? You can either mention your position on attending in full health when people RSVP, or you can send out an email a few days before the event to the guests that combines the ideas listed above:
I hope that these sample phrases give you some ideas to tactfully ask your family and friends to put your child’s health needs first. As for my favorite public request, this is still my favorite for the times when you need and/or want to get out of the house: You can purchase your own boy or girl themed card HERE
http://www.healthylittleones.com/OnTheGo.html
The unfortunate reality is that someone may take offense – and that is too bad
for them if they put their needs ahead of your child’s needs. Health is something we all take for granted
until we are faced with the harsh reality of how fragile life really is. Your baby is counting on you to be their
voice until they find theirs. It is hard
to regret putting their needs first when you consider the alternative. So speak up and advocate for your children. We wish you the best and a healthy season this year! 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. 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®. |
Silicone Necklaces for Teething
Posted on November 20, 2012 at 2:56 PM |
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It’s amazing how the “can’t live without” products end up
being the little ones. I recently had a
friend call me, looking for the “wow” gift she could purchase as a baby shower
gift. I laughed out loud because my
favorite, go-to gift is a “wow” gift – just not the way she was thinking
of. She asked me which one baby product I
could not live without, and it’s THIS ONE. As a matter of fact, I had just pulled it to
the front of our bathroom closet the day she called in preparation for the cold
and flu season. We just found another “mama must-have” in our book. Nursing “Otter”, who is an active one-year
old is a challenge. So is wearing said
teething one-year old in a baby carrier. Either her hands, or her gums and hands, want to stay busy. Before we started using a silicone necklace,
my breasts and my face were bearing the brunt of her busy-ness. Here is a picture of the adorable owl pendant I bought recently: The soft pendant keeps Otter’s hands busy when she is nursing. When I am babywearing her, her gums are satisfied
when she wants to chew on something. She
also finds it engaging in her own hands. She can spend ten minutes (IMO, a long attention span in the realm of
one-year olds) putting it on over her head and then taking it off again. It was just enough time for me to take in a
presentation at an event we attended. The last question I had before I bought wholeheartedly into the silicone
jewelry was, “Is it safe?” If you have
read our recent posts, you know I have had a Toxin Epiphany Moment. As both of these products are “Made in China”, I was relieved to read this on
the product sites:
Given the shaky history of Chinese manufacturing (read THIS NYT article),
I am feeling hopeful about companies that claim to have their products tested on a
regular basis. I have sent emails asking
the companies to define what “regular” means to them, and once I get that, I
will update this post. As to be expected, there is conflicting information out on the Internet. You might want to read THIS *pro* article and THIS *con* article, for starters. I must put
on my Bradley Method® teacher’s hat and remind our students and readers that it
is up to you to decide what is safe for your family and make the choice that
you feel comfortable with. The final deciding factor for me? Thank
goodness my favorite research site is back up and running! Silicone oil rates a “0” on the EWG toxicity
scale. YEAH!! Keep in mind that the primary purpose of this jewelry is to comfort a teething
baby by giving them something to chew on. After reading that silicone has the potential to break down over time,
and that perhaps the chemicals that are used to make the silicone leach out, I
think that we will be replacing them as recommended as per the Jellystone
designs recommendation HERE:
So our family has found another “mama’s favorite”. In the grand scheme of baby shower gifts, it
is small in size. What a perfect time to
pull out the age old quote, “Great things come in small packages!” If I had to come up with a marketing campaign, I would call these products
wearable baubles that are the perfect mix of fashion and function. I have posted a picture gallery so you can
see some of the options that are available. These are from the inventory at the store where we teach our lessons,
Modern Mommy Boutique. Puma wants me to buy the silicone bracelet three-pack, and I am going to think
about which color I want for a full necklace. We are planning to make our purchases on Black Friday and Small Business
Saturday. If you are local and want to
take advantage of the great deals, see the bottom of this post. I hope you enjoy looking at the options from the product gallery, and here is
the lowdown on the products as per their websites:
Are you ready to try out one of these necklaces? And, do you live in the Phoenix, Arizona
area? If so, you can come pick one out
at Modern Mommy Boutique and take advantage of these shopping specials at the
end of November, 2012: Black Friday, November 23, 2012
Small Business Saturday, November 24, 2012
Modern Mommy Boutique 3355 W. Chandler Blvd, Suite 3 Chandler, AZ 85526 480-857-7187 LINK LIST
Jellystone designs
Site http://www.jellystonedesigns.com/index.php
FAQ http://www.jellystonedesigns.com/index.php/faq Chewbeads
Site http://www.chewbeads.com/index2.php
FAQ http://www.chewbeads.com/faq.php NYTimes Article on Chinese manufacturing and recalls http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/02/business/02toy.html Article for silicone’s safety http://guide.thesoftlanding.com/faq-what-is-silicone/ Article arguing against safety http://www.safbaby.com/is-silicone-in-baby-products-and-bakeware-really-safe EWG Skin Deep Database
http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/705931/SILICONE_OIL/ 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. 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®. Bradley Method® natural childbirth classes offered in
Arizona: Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale, Payson |
One Size Does Not Fit All
Posted on April 6, 2012 at 12:14 PM |
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Hello, students and friends…Happy Passover and Happy Easter
to all. Here is a picture of our kiddos taken in time to share for
the holidays…some days, I still cannot believe we are parents to four children! ©2012 Marriott Photography Which brings me to today’s topic – one size fits all
parenting. I saw a picture on Facebook
that raised my red flag radar. As an
advocate of natural birth and attachment parenting, I love seeing things that
reinforce my beliefs. At the same time,
I am concerned when people take those beliefs too far and attribute authority
that stretches the truth. Here is the claim I question – my issue is with the front of
the card (top half of the picture): I found the article that was published
against the Babywise principles, of particular concern is the concept of Parent-Directed Feeding (PDF). Yes, it was
in the AAP News. Fact check: the article
is in the commentary section. I also
found a pediatrician who published in favor of those principles. Surprise! It’s
the co-author of On Becoming Babywise
– he justifies his positions. To
balance it all out, I share three links from the “official” AAP in regards to breastfeeding practices – all the links
are below today’s post. My ire with the top half of the card is due in one part to the leap it takes in justifying their opinion on how parents should "parent". A commentary in a journal does not represent the whole organization. Secondly, based on the anecdotal experiences of our students: “one size fits all” parenting
is unrealistic. Just because it is
“peaceful” doesn’t make it fundamentally right for all families; just as being found in a
published book doesn’t make ideas fundamentally correct and unquestionable. I can support the second half of the card. As a believer in baby-led feeding, I absolutely nurse and
have nursed our children when they show the initial signs of hunger, and these
are outlined in the AAP Breastfeeding Policy statement, ©2003, Rev 2005:
The AAP recommended breastfeeding practice specifically states
that, "Crying is a late hunger sign". If you have been reading my posts, you know
I am not a fan of crying it out, either. I propose that neither PDF or crying it out follows the signals put in place by Mother Nature for a
mother to respond to her baby. And as
Dr. Bradley used to say, “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature”. But – but – but – these beliefs and choices
work for me. As an instructor of The Bradley Method®, I advocate for
natural birth, and as an extension, other natural living choices. However, I am a firm believer that whatever
the situation or topic, it’s up to every family to choose what is right for
them. Our mantra to every parent is to make the decisions that lead to a Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby outcome - at birth and beyond. I have the luxury of living for my children since I have a
phenomenal support system. Nursing and
wearing my children in a carrier, as they need to be and want to be, works for
me. My husband bought into the concept
of exclusively breastfeeding thanks to our first Bradley Method® instructors
presentation on the advantages of breastfeeding; he has always helped in the
ways he can to support our choice to breastfeed. We also noticed that our babies, when close
to me, are much happier when awake and sleep longer when they are against my
chest. Bruss’ work affords us a
housekeeper so I can focus on the children’s needs and not our home. We have lots of other help from family and
friends – so living to breastfeed and wear our children works for me. While I am happy to hear that other moms can live for their
babies like I do, I know that this doesn’t work for everyone. And that is okay! Each family needs to work out a system that
works for their parameters. For example... what about the family that has to do
chores? Or the mom whose husband doesn’t
help to make the breastfeeding relationship an easy one? Or maybe the people around mom are
unsympathetic to the trials and tribulations of the bf learning curve - even with subsequent children, each relationship is unique. Consider the mom who has to or wants to work
outside of the home. These moms may have
to make different choices. If a mom needs
to choose her sanity or her sleep, some kind of schedule is a survival
mechanism for her. I cannot support Ezzo’s assertion that a baby’s night
feedings are trained out after 8 weeks of age.
However, as Dr. Bucknam points out, a mom that is sleep-deprived needs
to sleep in the interest of her long-term health. From my email exchanges with
Dr. Christina Smillie, I have learned that the respectful quantifier is
“appropriate developmental age…so here goes:
So parents – I ask you to trust your instincts. A child that receives love, food and sleep is
likely to thrive. What works for you when
it comes to feeding you child, or in regards to other childhood topics? Have you researched your choice so that you
know the pros and cons? Are you
comfortable with that decision or do you need to research some more? You are
the final arbiter between what works for your family – you get to choose what the
best approach is for you. No one else knows your baby and your situation like you do. When it comes to “experts” telling you what
to do, I offer the La Leche League idea: Treat it as a buffet – put the ideas
you like or what you think might work for you on your plate, and leave the rest
of the ideas on the table. How have you negotiated the sleep-feeding cycle with your
child(ren)? Link List: The card designer is quoting this article published in the
Commentary section of Vol.
14 No. 4 April 1, 1998, pp. 21: and another blog post on the subject: And here is the position paper written refuting the claim
that all pediatricians are opposed to Babywise written by the co-author of On
Becoming Babywise: What the AAP Statement organization actually says:
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. 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®. |
Some Postpartum Strategies
Posted on November 18, 2011 at 3:09 PM |
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As a general rule, the fewer interventions you have during
your birth, the easier your breastfeeding relationship will be to
establish. This leads to a mom who
recovers from her birth experience feeling competent in her abilities to
nourish her child. If mom is physically well
and mentally well after her birth experience, she is less likely to have
postpartum depression, which has been known for years as the “baby blues”. So what do you do after baby arrives and you are adjusting
to life with a newborn? The best way to figure
out what works for you is to embrace two ideas: 1. Baby
has three needs that need to be met: (s)he wants to be fed, clean & dry and loved. 2. Mom
has three needs, too: she needs to be rested, fed and loved. Ask yourself what has to happen so your needs can be met,
and make you fully available to meet the needs of your baby. As adults, we all have different ideas of
what being loved means. Can you write a
postpartum plan that makes you feel loved and nurtured? Here are some ideas that I have learned, heard shared at
Birth Circle and from moms in our classes. This is at the top of my list because we just had the
easiest postpartum ever. If you are
feeling well emotionally, everything else that comes with the postpartum period
is so much easier to handle. We had our placenta encapsulated using the traditional
Chinese method. The theory is that the
body is in a warm state when a woman is pregnant, and cold when she is
not. By taking the placenta pills on a
daily basis and weaning yourself down over the weeks following the baby’s
birth-day, the body gently transitions back to a cold state. I will write more about our experience is another post. For your info today, here are the benefits
listed on our encapsulator’s website: increase a mother’s energy levels
postpartum, help
to regulate hormones (especially thyroid), increase milk supply, reduce pain
and expedite
healing. Who wouldn’t want these
benefits? My only regret is that we
don’t have more of these “happy pills”.
I wish we had done this with our other births. This
is a hard one for many of us. We take
pride in being self-sufficient and getting things done, so “admitting” that we
can’t do it all is a big step on our journey.
How big is your list of things you get done every day and/or week? Evaluate it with the “Drop-Delegate-Do” approach. What are the things that you can let go for a
few weeks? What are things that you can
delegate? What is left that you need to
do? Once
you have that list pared down to what you need to do, look at it again. Who can do that list for you for at least the
first week, if not two, after your baby is born? As I mentioned earlier, sleep and rest are
the two biggest gifts you can give yourself after your baby is born. Your body heals when you are sleeping. Your mind resets when you are sleeping. All your systems function better when you
allow yourself to recover, and birth is an athletic event – for some of us, the
most demanding event in which we will ever participate. This
idea is much harder to grasp with your first child. It’s hard to believe that having a baby is
going to have as big an impact on our bodies and our lives as we hear it
will. There is so much unknown: what
will I feel, how tired can I really be, will I be in pain, will I be a good
mother? These anxieties, on top of feeling immensely uncomfortable at the end
of pregnancy, may lead to sleepless nights even before baby arrives. As I hope you can see, making sleep a
priority after baby arrives is a key to setting yourself up for a better
postpartum period. Here
is the advice I share with our students who are neat-freaks like me. I suggest that they figure out which one room
their well-being rests with – which dirty room sends you “over the edge”? Make keeping that room clean the
priority. My husband and my mom were
great at keeping our kitchen clean, and that made it easier for me to let go of
the mess in the rest of the house. After
a couple of weeks, you can start keeping your house again with some of your
pre-pregnancy vigor without sacrificing sleep and your sanity. Another area in which you should ask for help is with any breastfeeding concerns or challenges. Unless you saw someone breastfeeding on a regular basis and learned how they did it, there is a low probability that a breastfeeding class here or there, or reading online or a book will give you the answers you need. Peer-to-peer help or paid help are both available. Get help! Debbie Gillespie, IBCLC, RLC has some very informative posts on our blog - but your best bet is to see her or another warm, informed body in person!! A
postpartum doula is a great option if you don’t have family or friends
available to help you rest and recover after the baby arrives. The ideal situation would allow both mom and
dad time to sleep and enjoy their new baby while other people take care of
them. Your baby is only a newborn once! Food
is paramount on the list of things that make postpartum easier. Mom needs to eat to recover and to nourish
baby, Dad needs to eat to stay happy and have the energy to take care of mom
and baby, and if there are other children in the family, they need to be fed,
too. Meals: (1)
Consider making double portions of your meals when you are two weeks out from
your estimated due date. Freeze the
extras – make sure you date and label the food because it looks different when
it’s frozen! You can also have a cooking
day and make big batches of one-dish meals to be frozen. It is easier to defrost if you freeze it in
portion size and/or prepare it in containers that can go from freezer to oven
(conventional or microwave might make a difference as you do you planning). (2) Meals make great baby gifts! You can have a sign up sheet at your baby
shower, or maybe your church or a dear friend will organize meals after the
baby arrives. The folks who sign up can
be organized via on-line methods these days.
This was one of the most cherished gifts we received as we adjusted to
being and feeding a family of six. (3) Prepare a list of your favorite take out
places and make sure you have extra copies.
One of our moms shared this idea in class – she gave a copy to her
husband and he would call orders in for dinner on the way home from work. If you don’t think your partner knows what
you would like, also include your order next to the name, address and phone
number for your favorite take-out restaurants.
Some of them even deliver – score! Breastfeeding: Bradley
Method® students who keep up with their nutrition tracking are very aware of
what they eat on a daily basis. We
suggest that our students keep on tracking, or at least stay aware of their
intake for a minimum of four weeks after baby arrives. If the baby is going to have any reaction to
what you eat, it’s easier to figure out what to take out if you are keeping
track. One of our moms offered this
information: If it’s an allergy, it
takes time for the body to show signs since it’s an immune response. It it’s a reaction, its usually immediate and
you’ll know within 24 hours if your baby’s gut didn’t like what you ate. An
allergy to a food is something you would have to cut out of your diet long-term
– baby’s skin can be an indicator if there is a rash or irritation that doesn’t
go away, another sign I have heard anecdotally is blood and/or mucus in the
stool. A reaction indicates food you
need to take out for a little while and try again later when you are willing to
risk the side effects: vomiting, fussiness, more gas than normal are signs that
your baby wasn’t ready for what you ate and you can try again later. Another
breastfeeding or feeding older sibling tip is to have snack food readily
available and packed in serving sizes.
Carrot sticks, cheese sticks, nuts, granola, protein snack bars are all
good ideas for food that will nourish without sending your sugar (or your
children’s) spiking before a crash. For
a more complete list, check out my post on labor food ideas – the same foods will
work postpartum. My
crunchy friends are really good about packing these snacks in reusable
containers. Personally, I sacrifice a
little environment during the postpartum period to save time and water doing
dishes, and we pack food in snack size bags so that the kids can throw the bag
out when they are done. Dad can spend
about an hour once a week stocking the snack shelf and once you are feeling up
to it, you can take over and do it as long as you feel a need for nursing
snacks. The
underlying idea is to make them grab-and-go so that you can eat a little
something every time you nurse to keep your nutrition where it needs to be to
nourish your growing child. Nursing is a
great appetite builder, as hunger is a great mood downer – so do what you can
to stay fed between meals. I
am going to have to wrap up here today.
Part of my postpartum plan is to sleep at night so that I am “Happy
Mommy” during the day – none of us like seeing “Cranky Mommy” – she is no
fun!! Which means that I am no longer
carving writing time out of my sleeping hours and I have four kiddos clamoring
for attention at lunchtime. I have left
lots of idea room for our readers – please fill in the rest of this list: If
you are a new mommy, what are the questions you have that I didn’t address in todays
or Tuesdays post? If
you are already a mommy, what are postpartum tips do you have to share?
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®. |
Keeping Sweet Pea Healthy
Posted on November 11, 2011 at 4:57 AM |
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(Picture notes: Night Owl made a more rapid recovery than most children - he was only intubated four days. We credit that to the fact he was covered in prayer across the country, and he got breast milk in his feeding tube!) When someone with a cold coughs
or sneezes, they spread droplets of cold germs on nearby surfaces. Those germs can live for hours. If they are near us, the germs can fall on our
skin or clothing. If they were in a
space before us, we unknowingly touch the infected surfaces and then infect
ourselves with the same cold virus. While
these viruses are around throughout the year, they thrive in the chilly, dry
air of winter. The critical mass makes
the amount of people showing symptoms of a cold or a flu infection more
noticeable during the winter months. “RSV” stands for respiratory syncytial virus, a common, easily spread
virus. It causes excessive fluid build
up in the lungs. It is not devastating
to an older child or an adult because they have the capacity for a strong
sneeze, and the ability to blow their nose to clear the congestion. An
infant lacks both of these mechanisms to clear the fluid from their lungs. Therefore, the fluid builds up and the
breathing gets more and more labored. As
we found out, higher altitudes add additional stress to the lungs and cause
them to fail faster. What we believed to
be a simple cold turned out to be RSV.
Our son’s right lung collapsed and he spent four days at Phoenix
Children’s Hospital fighting for his life. If
you have had a baby within the last year, please take this information to
heart. Do not be afraid to tell people
they cannot touch or hold your baby if you haven’t seen them wash their hands
before asking or reaching for your child.
Be courageous for your child – you are the only one who can speak for
them when they do not have words to protect themselves. You can help them get through this season in
good health with some simple precautions. For some communication ideas to use with family or friends, READ THIS. RSV
Disease Symptoms to watch for: - Coughing or wheezing that does not stop - Fast breathing or gasping for breath - Spread-out nostrils and/or caved-in chest when trying to breathe - A bluish color around the mouth or fingernails - A fever: in infants under 3 months of age, a fever greater than 100.4 deg
F rectal is cause for concern If
you see your baby exhibiting any of these symptoms, get them to the
pediatrician's office or to a care facility right away.
A swab test can be done to determine whether your baby has been infected
with RSV. Early treatment can head off
the worst effects of this disease and shorten your hospital stay, if not avoid
it altogether. Precautions
we learned the hard way: Wash
your hands thoroughly before touching your baby and ask others to do the same. This is especially important if you have been
out in public touching shopping carts or other high-touch surfaces (handrails,
ATM's, refrigerator handles, doorknobs, computer keyboards, telephone handsets). I included some tips for hand washing from
WebMD at the end of this post. Don’t
have access to a sink before unloading your groceries or after handling cash? Have hand sanitizer readily available –
attach a bottle to your diaper bag or keep some sanitizing wipes in your car
that you can use before touching your baby. Do
not let anyone smoke in your home, or near your baby. Second-hand smoke irritates the lining of the
lungs; specifically, it has been found to damage the surfactant that makes
breathing possible. (See Link 2)
Damaging that lining on top of dangerous germs makes for a sick baby who
can’t breathe well. Wash
your baby’s toys, clothes an bedding often. In
order to effectively kill germs, the water temperature needs to be between 140
– 150 degrees F. Most people don’t turn
their water heaters up that high, and even if they do, that water temperature
is hard on fabrics. If you can, use
bleach with your detergent when you wash clothing and bedding. If you prefer not to use bleach on fabrics,
you can run a cycle with hot water and bleach to clean your washing machine
after washing 3-5 loads of laundry. This
will kill the germs in the machine and theoretically you have cleaner clothes
since you aren’t washing germy items in a germy machine. Keep
your baby away from people with colds, crowds and young children. Keeping away from a person with a cold seems
pretty obvious. However, when that
person with a cold is the loving relative who came all the way to see the baby,
it is harder to say no. Head off the
uncomfortable situation by making it very clear that people need to be healthy
when they come visit your baby. We let
people know that if they have been exposed to a person with a fever or have had
a fever themselves in the 24 hours before coming to visit, we would appreciate
seeing them another time. Crowds
and young children follow from that idea.
It is impossible to know who has been exposed to what and when that
exposure happened in both situations, so the best choice is to avoid them
altogether. As the respiratory therapist
at Phoenix Children’s told us, “Don’t go to church or [insert big box store
name here] during flu season” since people will go to both places whether they
are sick or healthy, and both places are frequented by young children. Between
poor hygiene habits and exposure to germs through toy and space sharing with
other children, these kiddos are walking germ factories during cold and flu
season. My
favorite way to kindly ask people to keep their hands off comes in the form of
a sign from Healthy Little Ones. Click
here to see what this mom-preneur has to offer. Change
your clothes and wash your hands when real life interferes. You will have to venture out to the grocery
store at some point this season, and some of us still do our holiday shopping
in high-traffic areas. When you do have
to go out, take precautions when you come home.
If possible, arrange for another parent or caregiver to stay with your
baby when you need to go out. Anybody
who goes out should change all their clothes when they come back from
shopping. Here is the way it goes down
at our house: once we get home, we strip in the laundry room and get the
clothes into the washer. Then we wash
our hands and put on clean clothes. It
makes for extra laundry; however, we have been fairly fortunate in avoiding
nasty colds the last couple of years. I
hope these ideas help you avoid any emergency room visits and/or hospital
stays. We wish you and your sweet pea
good health this season. Do you have any cold-prevention tips to share with
us? Please help us add to our list by leaving a comment below. From
WebMD: Washing
your hands for cold prevention
What if you
are not near a sink? Keep an alcohol-based sanitizer for hands if a sink is unavailable. Rub your hands until they are dry. The alcohol in the gel kills the germs on your hands. Reference and Related Links: (1) RSV Information (2) Second
hand smoke research (3) Tips on
washing your clothes and cleaning your washing machine http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_c/c-503.html
- Getting Clothes Clean (4) WebMD
on Handwashing 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®. |
Newborn jaundice
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 2:58 PM |
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Which brings me to one of the topics that we covered briefly
at the end of class last night. One of
our Coaches asked if we are going to spend some time talking about
jaundice. The topic of jaundice has
actually affected the care and breastfeeding relationship of three students in
the last six months, up from absolutely none since we started teaching. As with many things involving pregnancy, labor and newborn
care, it is imperative that parents do their research and know where they stand
before they arrive at the hospital.
Although complications from jaundice are rare, true complications lead
to irreversible neurological damage to the child. Because treatment is available and the damage
is preventable, charges of substandard care or neglect are plausible. Thus hospitals and pediatricians are pro-active
and aggressive in their treatment of jaundice. I have to ask myself why I am seeing red instead of yellow when it comes to jaundice treatment. Answer: because pro-active and aggressive care that is not truly medically necessary can separate babies from the nurturing breast of their mother and the loving arms of their parents. This can have a long-term and possibly negative effect on the breastfeeding relationship and family bonding. Bilirubin in and of itself is beneficial to the body. It is a bacteriostatic agent, meaning that it
stops bacteria from reproducing. This is
a good thing in a newborn’s body – we want bacterial growth to be inhibited in
our precious babies, especially if they are exposed to hospital germs. It is also an anti-oxidant that inhibits the
growth of free radicals in the body.
Free radicals cause damage or death to a cell, so inhibiting their
growth is again, a good thing. The
condition known as jaundice is diagnosed because the skin, and maybe the sclera
(the “white of your eyes”), look yellow-tinged. An excess of bilirubin causes the
condition. It takes a few days for the
body to process bilirubin effectively, however, as the newborn gets their
systems “on-line”, the liver becomes efficient at processing the bilirubin and
the yellowish pigment of the skin and eyes goes away. Jaundice can be considered pathologic or physiologic. The distinction in diagnosing which type of
jaundice your baby has is determined by when the jaundice is noted in the newborn. Pathologic jaundice, which occurs within 24 hours of a
child’s birth, needs to be treated immediately to avoid the neurological injury
called “kernicterus”. Kernicterus
happens when an accumulation
of bilirubin in certain brain regions causes irreversible damage to those areas. It manifests as various neurological deficits, seizures, abnormal reflexes
and abnormal eye movements. Physiologic
jaundice, which occurs on or around the second or third day after birth, is not
generally considered dangerous and occurs in almost all newborns. In the case of physiologic jaundice, the
bilirubin levels never rise to the point of causing permanent injury to the
child. The bilirubin functions, as it
should: ridding the body of bacteria and free radicals, and eliminating them
through the baby’s stools. There
are two ways to treat jaundice. If
bilirubin levels are on what your pediatrician considers a safe increase,
phototherapy may be the treatment of choice.
If the bilirubin reading is borderline dangerous or at dangerous levels,
a blood transfusion is the quickest way to reduce bilirubin levels; and more
than one may be indicated. As I
read up on jaundice in preparation for writing today’s post, I was so glad to
read that many medical professionals agree that there is NO REASON TO STOP
BREASTFEEDING your baby. I put it in
caps because I feel it is important for parents to know they are supported in
their right and their desire to breastfeed their child. Breastfeeding is not the same as
supplementing with breast-milk in a bottle, or substituting with inferior
formula products. Since
this is not a medical blog, I am going to add in some vocabulary words that you
may want to add to your list of “things to research”, and listen for them as
your baby is evaluated for jaundice. I will close with an excerpt from a site
that delineates when parents should be concerned, and with some suggested links
to serve as a starting point for additional reading. Exchange transfusion – used to rapidly remove bilirubin from
circulation Hyperbilirubinemia - increased
levels of bilirubin in the extracellular fluid Intensive phototherapy – uses blue light for treatment of
jaundice – can be an “incubator” or a blanket (note: you could hold your baby on your lap if you use a blanket) Phototherapy – standard treatment for jaundice: at home,
daily exposure to indirect sunlight; in a hospital setting, most commonly uses
fluorescent white light TSB
– total serum bilirubin Transcutaneous – noninvasive techniques for measuring
bilirubin levels Note: If the bilirubin concentration is found to be greater than
10 mg/dL in a pre-term infant, or greater than 18 mg/dL in a term infant,
additional testing will be done. Here is
a list of what those additional tests might be: Hct, blood smear, reticulocyte
(red blood cell) count, direct Coombs’ test, G6PD test, TSB and direct
serum bilirubin concentrations, and blood type and Rh group of infant and
mother. When you are evaluating what course of testing or treatment to
follow for jaundice, remember the following assessment tool. I included some sample questions for this
situation. “BAR” B – Benefits: What are the benefits of this test over the
other available tests? A – Alternatives:
Are there any alternative tests we could consider if we feel this is too
invasive or the risks are too great? R – Risks: What are the risks or side effects of the
test you are recommending? How do you do
this test? What else will you do - or
can we expect to happen - to our child if we agree to this test? Excerpts from “The Merck Manual” (See Link 4 below): Red flags: The following
findings are of particular concern:
Pathologic
hyperbilirubinemia in term infants is
diagnosed if
Some of the most common pathologic
causes are
Links for additional reading: (1) US National Library of Medicine (2) U of Iowa Info – with a CHART to help with evaluation of
severity of jaundice (3) Pediatrician’s Info – IN SUPPORT of breastfeeding (4) The Merck Manual – Jaundice 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®. Winter Series December 5, 2011 to February 20, 2012 For more information or to register, please call us at 602-684-6567 or email us at [email protected] |
Off to a Good Start with your Newborn
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 2:06 PM |
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A baby is born -
helpless, frail, precious, captivating, demanding, amazing. Even if not initially, soon enough most
parents find themselves awed at this tiny little miracle. They want to do the
best they can to care for this needy little person who demands so much of their
attention and care. For many parents, this is an intimidating and overwhelming
time. When they leave the hospital or
the midwife goes home from the birth, they find themselves facing an overwhelming
challenge. How do you care for a
newborn? When my first baby was born, I was living overseas in an
apartment building in Istanbul. As my
belly grew I was often asked, “Who will come help you when your baby is born?”
“No one, I will take care of him,” I said.
“Your mother won't come? Your mother-in-law won't come?,” they would ask
me in disbelief. “Then who will take
care of your baby?“ “I will,” I'd
insist. “You can't,” neighbors would tell me.
“Of course I can,” I'd say. At
the time I was annoyed and hurt by their judgment and lack of confidence in
me. I've since come to appreciate
that they were not judging me but simply concerned for me: these women understood that a woman needs
to be cared for and nurtured so she can nurture her baby. In Turkey, as in many cultures, a woman is cared for by her
family for the first six weeks after her baby is born. Special foods and drinks are prepared to help
her recover from childbirth and develop a good milk supply. While I didn't have family to care for me in this way, a
Turkish friend of mine insisted on doing all my grocery shopping for the first
6 weeks. We received meals from Turkish
and non-Turkish friends alike. Determined to be culturally sensitive, I tried
to follow the Turkish custom of staying home for the first 40 days, but being
cooped up indoors for so long felt claustrophobic to me! So, with my baby in a
sling, we'd venture out together on a daily walk for fresh air, exercise and a
change of surroundings. I was also fortunate that growing up I had lots of
experience caring for babies. I started
babysitting at age 12 and by the time my husband and I started our family in
our mid 20's, I had cared for numerous babies and children, including a
3-week-old baby and her 2-year-old brother when I was 13 years old. In Istanbul I lived in a community where I had many
opportunities to observe women interacting with their babies, often singing to
them or telling them rhymes and stories.
Babies and children were welcome everywhere. Weddings and celebrations were noisy
gatherings where whole families attended including the youngest members. If
parents were having difficulty calming a fussy baby, there always seemed to be
another set of arms eager to comfort the little one. Unsolicited advice also abounded. And while there were those who I learned from
by their positive examples, there were also those who were concerned I'd
“spoil” my newborn: “Don't hold him so much.
Don't rock him, he'll get used to it.”
I'd laugh and tell them, “He already is used to it. He was rocked and
held constantly for 9 months while he was inside of me.” Books were an invaluable source of wisdom and help to me. I
read every book I could get me hands on about pregnancy, birth and child
rearing. Dr. Bradley’s book helped me
with childbirth. La Leche was invaluable
concerning breastfeeding and Dr. Sears spoke to my heart concerning child
rearing. Yet, even with so much to help me in my parenting, I often
wished someone would come off of those pages and enter my world so I would not
feel alone in many of my parenting choices. Postpartum "Good Start"
Tips In the United States, couples face these same challenges as
they care for their newborn. Some women are fortunate to have a family member
who is able to come help out. But for many couples, family members live too far
away or they work and are not available to help. Being part of a support network can be a great
blessing to a new mom. Often church
groups or mom's clubs provide meals for the family as well as a place for moms
to connect with other moms. La Leche
League groups can be a great source of up-to-date information on
breastfeeding. Many hospitals also offer
breastfeeding support groups where moms can learn and network with other
breastfeeding moms. A daily walk can be a wonderful thing for moms and
babies alike, as well as for other family members. It's always a wonder to me
how simply stepping outdoors can often calm a fussy baby. They seem to love the
fresh air and change of environment.
With baby in a carrier, mother and baby can interact with each
other. The baby can see his mom's face,
be comforted by her nearness and enjoy seeing surroundings together with her.
He loves the sound of his mom's voice, the same voice he's been listening to
while in the womb. There are a wealth of excellent books and websites to
learn from. However, be careful –
some people who call themselves experts in the field are unqualified for such a
title. Be sure that the information you receive is appropriate for your baby's
developmental stage. Beware of programs that encourage a rigid schedule or
letting a baby “cry it out.” Crying is your baby's way of communicating a need
he has. (Click here for my list of book recommendations.) Parents do need to be supported in the postpartum
period. By taking advantage of available
resources to meet your family's needs, the postpartum period can be an
enjoyable time of getting to know your new family member rather than merely
struggling through a haze of sleeplessness and uncertainty in caring for your
precious newborn. Krystyna’s Note: The work that a postpartum doula does for a family will
vary, as each family’s needs are individual to their situation. Spending the money to have someone help with
laundry, meal preparation and other light housework is well worth it when you consider
how short the snuggly newborn period really is. If you have never cared for a newborn and/or if you are
nervous about any aspect of newborn care, a postpartum doula can teach you the
ins and outs of caring for your new family member. When they are Certified Breastfeeding
Counselors, such as Jacqueline, they can offer support to get breastfeeding off
to a great start. Some postpartum doulas
are even available to work overnight. The precious first days are much more enjoyable when you
feel nurtured and supported – do what you need to do to set yourself up for
success! Communicate your needs when you
interview and hire a postpartum doula.
An ideal care plan allows you to rest and recover so you can be at your
best for your new baby. About the author: Currently living in Mesa Arizona with my
husband and 4 children, I am happy to support families throughout the east
valley. All of my children were born while living overseas, two in the
hospital, two at home. Like all women, I will always carry the memory of my
birth experience with each of them. I want women to be supported in this important
time they will always remember, wherever and however they choose to give birth.
I am awed at the design of the human body to give birth naturally. When
properly supported birth can be both a joyful and empowering experience. I
believe this is significant for the joys and challenges that lay ahead in
parenting. To contact Jacqueline, please call her at 480-433-7007 or email her at [email protected] To learn more about her birth or postpartum doula services, you can visit her website at www.sweetblessingsdoula.com. 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®. Winter Series December 5, 2011 through February 21, 2012 Monday evenings @ 6:30 pm Call us at 602-684-6567 or email us at for more information |
No, my milk did not go bad!
Posted on October 25, 2011 at 1:22 PM |
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We are officially on our babymoon. Thank you to today's writer, Tina Lebedies, AAHCC for allowing us a little more time to enjoy our sweet baby girl who is growing and changing already!! Tina is an Affiliated
Bradley Method® Instructor who teaches her classes in the Queen Creek and San
Tan Valley area of Metro Phoenix.
I want to share this story with you
because I believe it is a common problem, and with awareness and proper
education it can be overcome with little to no medical or non-natural
interventions. My second child, Erik, was born at
home on Christmas Eve. He was a big healthy boy weighing in at 9 lbs, 4 oz. and
was 21 in. long. After joining the world he nursed like a champ for at least a
solid hour. He was the best Christmas present I had ever received! Everything was going well until his
1 week birthday. My husband was changing his diaper and yelled for me to come
and look. He had bloody, mucousy stool in his diaper. We of course panicked and
I called our midwife/naturopathic doctor immediately. Thankfully, she was able
to come over within the hour. She was initially thinking it was uric salt
crystals (which is common and will go away on its own) but as soon as she saw
the diaper her hunch was that Erik was allergic to dairy. She instructed us to keep our 1
week pediatrician visit and go from there. The pediatrician cancelled his
appointments for the day so we were sent to urgent care. So off to urgent care
we went! After an unpleasant exam, the urgent care provider diagnosed that the
blood was most likely from an anal fissure; and they said that a dairy allergy
was possible, but not likely. We were told that if he had any more bloody
stools to go to the ER. Well, sure enough, a week or so goes by and he has 2
bloody diapers in one night. So off we went to the ER. They did the same
unpleasant exams and came up with the same answers as urgent care and we were
instructed to follow up with the pediatrician. The pediatrician saw no reason
why he should disagree with the two previous diagnoses but thinks we should see
a pediatric GI specialist, just to be safe. Erik was now 6-8 weeks old and we
are finally seeing the specialist. They immediately tell us that he is allergic
to dairy and will need to switch to a prescription formula and that he needs to
be on Zantac. I quickly told them that I don’t do formula and that was not an
option for us. I asked them, “How do I need to change my diet? What do I need
to do? I will do whatever it takes.” We passed on the Zantac, and of course the
formula too. I was now eating dairy-free and
desperately hoping that my sweet little guy would stop screaming constantly and
would never have a bloody diaper again. Well, a week went by and Erik was still
screaming but the diapers were good. Our very intuitive midwife, who diagnosed
this allergy from the start, gave me a lesson on eating dairy-free. Dairy-free
I was not! Dairy and it’s byproducts can be added to everything! I quickly
learned how to read labels and to cook with substitutions. Did you know that
some seasonings have dairy in them? Some breading on fish or chicken does, and
some do not. Some bread does, and some does not. I had to be constantly on my toes.
If I accidently messed up I would pay for it the next day by having a screaming,
inconsolable baby. I also learned that it was just cow dairy that Erik was
allergic too. That meant that I could have eggs and all egg products like
mayonnaise and such. Erik did get better but he still
cried and screamed way more than he should. After trying many different
homeopathic remedies we decided to go for the Zantac. We were told that it
would help heal the lining of his digestive tract as the dairy had made it raw.
(Being born during the holidays didn’t give this poor kiddo a chance! We ate so
many rich, creamy dairy foods.) After a few hours of his first dose he was a
new baby. I hated to give him medicine at such a young age but I felt that it
was the best option at this point. I continued to eat dairy-free and to
exclusively breastfeed. At one of the specialist follow-up
visits the doctor explained that as he grew and gained weight, his dose of
Zantac would not work anymore. I simply just needed to call the office and ask
for a stronger dose. The doctor was very pleased with my exclusively breastfed
baby. He was growing like a weed and was doing great! Well, sure enough, one day the
Zantac stopped working so I called the office to request a new dose of medicine.
A nurse called me back and said that my milk had gone bad and that I would have
to switch to formula immediately! I knew my milk had not gone bad; and I wanted
to scream that at her, but I remained calm. After a very frustrating phone call
Erik had his new dose and life was back to our “normal”. I bring this part of the story up,
to point out that if there is an allergy or a complication with breastfeeding
that we are quickly told to begin formula. This frustrates me to no end. The
benefits of breastfeeding are huge and vastly outweigh formula. Thankfully, I
was educated on breastfeeding and knew better, but not everyone does. I hope
sharing my story will help others to stay strong, to ask questions, and to keep
breastfeeding. Many people ask me how I survived
eating dairy-free. Yes, it was challenging; but for my baby I was willing to do
anything. My willpower was much stronger for him than it would have been for me.
Erik is now 21 months and has completely outgrown his dairy allergy. We are
still going strong with the breastfeeding. He was on the Zantac for only a few
months while his system healed and matured.
I was dairy-free for just under 1 year. How did I know when he outgrew his
allergy? The only way that can be determined is by trial and error and that is
not always so fun. The naturopath suggested that we try dairy at every
milestone. At six and nine months I ate a small amount of dairy and we had a
very fussy baby the next day. Just before his 1 birthday I tried
it again and the following day nothing happened. I couldn’t believe it! I added
more and more dairy in my diet and he was completely fine! He continued to be
happy and I sure was, too. At his last visit with the
specialist we were told that we could wean him off the Zantac. He had no signs
of needing it but I was so scared. I got up my courage and began the weaning
process. He handled it with no problem and was completely off of it after 2
weeks. He is healthy and can eat more than his 4 yr old brother most days. He
loves cheese, yogurt, and milk. You would never guess that he had such a rough
little start. Did you discover your baby had a food allergy (or allergies) when you
were breastfeeding? How did you manage
it (them)? About the author: Tina Lebedies, AAHCC is an Affiliated
Bradley Method® Instructor who teaches her classes in the Queen Creek and San
Tan Valley area of Metro Phoenix. To contact Tina directly for more information
on managing a dairy allergy in your nursling, or about her upcoming Bradley
Method® class series that start on 11/29/11 and 02/04/12, you can call her at 480-272-7086; or visit her website at www.welcomingbirthnaturally.com 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®. Now Enrolling for our Winter Series December 5, 2011 through February 20, 2012 Limited enrollment - one space left For more information or to register, please call us at 602-684-6567 or email us at |
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