Chandler, Arizona
Sweet Pea ​Births
Sweet Pea ​Births
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
Blog
To Eat or Not To Eat…
Posted on November 5, 2015 at 8:07 AM |
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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 |
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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®. |
A Letter To You, The New Mother
Posted on April 1, 2014 at 9:19 AM |
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April 2014: What You Wish You Knew Remember when you got your first positive pregnancy test? What do you wish that woman knew? Write a letter of love and encouragement to that awesome mama just starting her journey. Dear New Mama: Yes, you. I skipped
over the “mother-to-be”. You are already
growing life, and you are already aware of that life and protective of that
life…as I see it, there is no “to-be” in mothering. It is a state of being since you got your
BFP. Your mother’s instinct is no joke:
trust it always, even in the face of a “lack of evidence” or just “having a
feeling”. No mother has ever regretted
doing the best for her child from a place of love and concern…the only regret
is not listening to that voice. Your
mothering instinct will not fail you in pregnancy or parenting. At times, pregnancy may feel equally miraculous and
uncomfortable. First trimester: the
unquenchable excitement of being pregnant (it happened!!)…and nausea. Second trimester: interesting sounds and
smells, and maternity clothing as your waistline grows. Third trimester: the disappearance of your
feet beneath your belly, maybe nausea (again!), and the OMGosh moment: this
baby has to come out of me – through *there*!
Through it all, the miracle and awe of growing another human
being is constant. There are two hearts
beating, two minds working, two souls living in one body. The first time you feel your Sweet Pea stir
inside of you…their hiccups, the reaction to voices and touch…and those
sensations continue. I believe they
exist as a reminder that the sacred and divine is happening right now. You want to do the best for your baby. You want to have a perfect pregnancy that
leads into your perfect birth story.
While those are worthy ideals, you can only control finite amounts of
conception through the Birth-Day, and at some point you must surrender the rest
of it to the universe. I encourage you to learn as much as you can about birth,
breastfeeding and parenting!
You are never alone on this journey. Birth and parenting have happened for
eons. There is so much wisdom available
to you, and so many people to walk and learn with as a new parent. Read, connect, be willing to say hello to the
person sitting next to you in your childbirth or breastfeeding group. Once your Sweet Pea is earthside, get out and
about. Say hello at the breastfeeding or
postpartum support group, story time or playgroup. A simple hello can lead to a beautiful
friendship for you and your Sweet Pea. Since this is a birth blog, here are some more details about
preparing for the Birth-Day…
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. You are already an amazing parent – you have
chosen to carry this life, and by doing that, you have undertaken the essence
of mothering: living outside of yourself and considering the needs of
another. Best wishes to you as you
continue to grow in love. Blessings, Krystyna 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®. |
5 Step Plan for Labor
Posted on December 10, 2013 at 4:28 PM |
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If you follow these steps, you
can figure out if you are in “real” labor.
If you are not, somewhere along these steps, your contractions will fizzle
out. And if they do, mama has eaten
well, slept, and hopefully had a good nap so that you are rested for the next round
of contractions when they begin again. If you are in labor, you will go through these five steps and discover that despite the change in activity and positions, your contractions are progressing. Now you can get excited because you will be meeting your baby sooner than later. And then, settle down to "work", because labor is definitely an athletic event, albeit one of the most rewarding ones ever! Eat
Drink
Walk
Shower
Nap
You can definitely follow this labor pattern over and over, until the mother is unable to sleep anymore because she is going through transition, and/or having the urge to push. It is definitely a way to manage labor without additional pain relief. The love and support of an invested coach, replenishing energy, and rest can go a long way for a family to have a natural birth. If you liked the way you labored, what was your recipe for success? 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®. |
Information Sheet: Non Per Os
Posted on September 24, 2013 at 1:51 AM |
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Info Sheet: NPO non per os nil by mouthRestricting food and drink is still a common practice in many hospital settings. Here is our presentation of the information so you can make an informed decision for your labor:
Definition: Non Per Os or Nil By Mouth From Wikipedia [1]:
*History Why was it adopted in labor? What was it supposed to
treat? Restricting food and drink was supposed to prevent Mendelson’s Syndrome. It is a condition…it is a theory that there is an increased risk of the stomach contents entering the lungs…here is a little history from About.com [2]:
Has it been effective: as in, has the incidence decreased or has a problem been solved as a result of the intervention/procedure/test? From About.com [2]
*Pros and Cons Pros: Theoretically: if you have an empty stomach, you are easier to treat. In reality: very hard to justify one. The idea of an “empty stomach” is a fallacy, and anesthetic techniques and training are vastly improved since the initial hypothesis about the link between aspiration and pneumonia in the 1950’s. You have to evaluate how you feel about this statement: “Labor is not an illness to be treated – it is a natural event that needs to be supported.” Cons:
Most telling is this practice guideline published by the anesthesiologist in 2007. The folks doing the anesthesia are saying it is safe for low-risk mothers to eat and drink in labor, even with anesthesia, and go so far as to make recommendations about the type of foods that can be eater: From the Practice Guidelines from An Updated Report by the American Society of Anesthesiologists Task Force on Obstetric Anesthesia [3]
*Links Resources with other options to explore if you want to negotiate for unrestricted
eating and drinking in labor – maybe you will “compromise” and get “clear
fluids”. These are more studies and
articles that demonstrates that eating and drinking in labor is a sound evidence-based practice: 1.) Singata M, Tranmer J, Gyte GML. Restricting oral fluid and food intake during labour. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 8. Art. No.: CD003930. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003930.pub3. http://summaries.cochrane.org/CD003930/eating-and-drinking-in-labour 2.) Health Behavior News Service, part of the Center for Advancing Health (2013, August 22). Restricting food and fluids during labor is unwarranted, study suggests. ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 10, 2013, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130822141954.htm 3.) Wiley-Blackwell (2010, January 22). Eating and drinking during labor: Let women decide, review suggests. ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 10, 2013, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100119213043.htm 4.) Summary of these three articles in our blog post “Can I Eat and Drink in Labor?” Did you eat and/or drink during your labor? Did you worry about it? What was your thought process? References: [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nil_per_os [2] http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/laborbasics/a/eatinginlabor.htm [3] http://journals.lww.com/anesthesiology/toc/2007/04000 Anesthesiology: April 2007 - Volume 106 - Issue 4 - pp 843-863 doi: 10.1097/01.anes.0000264744.63275.10 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®. |
Can I eat and drink in labor?
Posted on September 10, 2013 at 7:48 AM |
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Natural Labor Coping Techniques
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 10:27 PM |
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Here are some of the ways we recommend our students
manage their labor without analgesics or anesthetics. Even when they are used in labor, we are so happy that our couples use them as tools to manage a long labor and their children are born nursing vigorously and with high APGAR scores. Through the course of The Bradley Method® class series,
parents are taught about what to expect as “normal” in labor, what the
variations on normal might be, the different options and interventions in
labor, and how to recognize a complication that warrants a change in the plan
for a Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby outcome. We also teach positive communication, something intended to
strengthen the parental bond, as well as serve for positive interactions in the
birth space with care providers and support personnel. Our goal is that parents have the tools they
need to evaluate labor, communicate their needs to care providers, and ask the
questions they need to make informed decisions about the choices they may have
to make in labor.
An athlete with an eye on crossing the finish line does four
things: They train, they rest, they
nourish and they hydrate. Dr. Bradley
called his patients “obstetrical athletes”. His nurse, Rhonda Hartman, designed a training program just
for moms to prepare them for labor. We
are still teaching our couples this training program, starting with week one of
class and continuing until the time of birth.
We also “train” relaxation. Each
couple is encouraged to take the weekly technique and practice at least 15
minutes per day so that there is muscle memory for relaxation when it is needed
in labor. We continually harp on the importance of sleep in the weeks
leading up to labor and once labor starts.
We learned this lesson the hard way, and as excited as we know our
students are going to get as they anticipate the birth of their child, we want
them to try to rest. Getting to the
magic number of “10 cm” is only the first part of labor – once they reach 10
cm, they also need energy for the second stage of labor to welcome their child
into this world. We also echo Dr. Bradley’s advice to eat if you’re hungry,
drink if you’re thirsty. He makes the
analogy that going through labor without eating or drinking is like playing a
full game of football without any substitutions. The body is working and burning energy to
birth your baby, it makes sense to follow mom’s physical cues. As long as mom is okay and baby is okay, we
have found that mom’s appetite will naturally decrease as labor intensifies;
and as with an actual marathon, that the need to hydrate is as important in
early labor as it is when mom is close to crossing the finish line.
Bradley Method® natural childbirth classes offered in Arizona: Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale, Payson Water is your friend. As stated above, a hydrated mother makes for an optimal
obstetrical athlete. She is hydrated for
energy and optimal hormone distribution throughout labor. Water is also a excellent relaxation tool. It works magic in labor: the warmth and the sensation move tension away
from the body and adding a layer of relaxation as it works to soothe the
mother’s body. I have heard it called, “The
Midwives Epidural”. Many hospital moms now have access to the birth tubs that
are used very effectively at birth centers or at home births. If using a birthing tub or home bathtub is not an
option, then the shower can also be an effective tool. The sensation of water will still massage and
soothe the body. With a shower hose
attachment, the water can also be directed at the body where it is the most
soothing for the laboring mother. Abdominal breathing is taught in many settings to deepen
relaxation – yoga, hypnosis, meditation, stress relief, and in The Bradley
Method® of natural childbirth classes!
Abdominal breathing is also known as diaphragmatic breathing. Basically, you are allowing your belly to
rise and fall as you breath instead of your chest. If you watch children breathe, or if you remember
what it was like to breathe before someone told you that you needed to suck in
your stomach, you will know what it means to breath with your abdomen. Abdominal breath is an important foundation for
relaxation. It slows down our mind and
it allows or bodies to release tension.
We teach abdominal breathing in class 2 so we can build on it through
the rest of the series.
Coach needs to know what relaxes their partner. Does mom respond to physical touch? What kind of touch? Does she like a strong counter-pressure or
gentle effleurage? Does she like a
relaxation script, a prayer or a story read to her? Does she feel safe in her birth space? By the end of The Bradley Method® class series, we have
covered these, and many more questions, to help the Coach be a relaxation
expert on their partner. We also teach
11 different relaxation techniques for coaches to put into their “toolbox” to
use as needed as labor progresses.
Champion sports teams have a stellar assistant coaching
staff. The head coach doesn’t try to do
it all – he delegates and finds the best person to train his team so that he
can keep his eye on the big picture and continue leading and motivating his
team. We have noticed that couples with an assistant coach
generally end up with births that are closer to the birth wishes they made in
preparation for their labor. The extra
set of hands, the extra energy in labor make a difference. The couples that hire doulas also have an
experienced birth professional to help them manage the map of labor. A good birth doula doesn’t take over the
birth, she will help the couple to recognize the signs of progress and make
suggestions for coach to support the mom. Even if you feel like you want to be just Mom and Coach,
you can benefit from an assistant coach coming in for a period in labor. When we labored with Angelika, a dear friend
of ours came in and labored with me when Bruss needed rest. I had been laying down the first day, resting
and napping since we know we have long labors.
Bruss had been checking in on me, taking care of our older children
while we waited for family to arrive to tend to them, and he took care of
feeding all of us. He REALLY needed to
sleep after dinner that night. Andrea
came, labored with me as long as she could, and when it was time for her to get
back to her own family, Bruss was rested and ready to be head coach again. I am forever grateful for her time that night
– it allowed for Bruss to rest and restore for the long work we still had ahead
of us.
We break the Fear by teaching couples what to expect in a
normal labor, along with the many variations on “normal”. We also break the Fear by discussing the complications
and sharing strategies and options for them to consider if they are among the
small percentage of people that face complications in labor. We break the Tension by teaching Mom and Coach to be
relaxation experts. We break the Tension
by teaching couples to communicate together, and how to communicate with their
care team for effective and positive interactions. We break the Pain by reminding mothers that labor is an
athletic event. It isn’t always easy,
however it is doable. We invite couples
from the previous class come share their stories with our current class. I have seen the “light bulbs” click for both
Moms and Coach when the other “first-timers” share their stories. It makes it more realistic to hear that other
newbies had Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby outcomes by using the information they
learned in class. It reassures them that
the intensity is brief compared to the joy of holding their children. The new parents confirm that the work is
worth the effort, and that staying the course and/or making Healthy Mom,
Healthy Baby choices are rewarded with a happy family outcome. We also encourage couples to find affirmations, prayers,
scripts and/or music to draw energy from in labor. Labor is an exercise in intensity that ebbs
and flows. Having something to focus on
besides the intensity that is growing helps to focus mom on the work that she
is doing. They can also restore and
encourage her when she wants to give into the pain. By having knowledge, training and tools, couples are well
on their way to a Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby outcome.
What was a natural labor coping technique that worked for
you during your labor?
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®. |
One More Thing
Posted on February 28, 2012 at 3:34 PM |
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I reflect and wonder if we have told them everything, showed
them everything, practiced everything – which is of course, realistically,
impossible. I take heart in the fact
that in some classes, some babies arrive a few weeks earlier than the estimated
due dates. Even though the parents do not complete the series, the births have all gone pretty well.
We are covering enough material to allow these families to have Healthy
Mom, Healthy Baby outcomes, and at the end of the day, that is the most
important aspect of the classes we teach. Before we complete the last class, the phrase “one more
thing” is said a lot in that final session.
Here are the impressions we want to leave our students with… On teamwork:
On managing labor:
(To read in more detail about evaluating your labor, click here.) On Motherhood:
On Fatherhood:
Our parting wish is for them to have a very Happy Birth-Day;
and to come back to share their beautiful babies and their birth stories with
future classes. The most fun of all is
to meet again at their Bradley® Class Reunion – it is always fun to see all the
Bradley® babies “earthside,” and hear all the new families exchanging stories and
experiences. Which parting thoughts resonate with you? Please add your own words of wisdom in the
comments section. 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®. |
Energy for Pregnancy and Labor
Posted on January 10, 2012 at 9:37 AM |
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So what are ways of increasing your energy during pregnancy,
or additionally, your labor, if you are feeling low energy?
Abdominal
Breathing We talk about it often in class – deep abdominal breathing
is one of the best ways to increase oxygen in your body while still maintaining
a deep level of relaxation. Chest breathing wastes a tremendous amount of energy. “Chest breathing is inefficient because the
greatest amount of blood flow occurs in the lower lobes of the lungs, areas
that have limited air expansion in chest breathers. Rapid, shallow, chest
breathing results in less oxygen transfer to the blood and subsequent poor
delivery of nutrients to the tissues.”
- From http://www.amsa.org/healingthehealer/breathing.cfm Abdominal breathing can also eliminate the vicious circle of
the fear-tension-pain cycle.
By relaxing, you can stop the chest breathing that causes
tension that causes pain; the pain causes fear; fear causes more chest
breathing that winds up until mom and/or baby are showing signs of distress
that leads to more intervention.
Trace Minerals Birth is an athletic event, whether you have a
sprint, marathon or something in between.
The more vigorous your labor is, the more important it is to restore
your body’s supply of minerals. Exercise and stress, both of which may be
present during labor, can drain the body of electrolytes and trace minerals, elements
needed to maintain proper fluid balance and recharge energy levels.
In addition, energy is passed through the body
via electrical charges. In order to work
well, properly functioning electrical cellular communication is essential. Minerals act as catalysts for the biological processes in the body,
including muscle response, the transmission of messages through the nervous
system, and the utilization of nutrients in food. All of these are essential if you want the
most efficient labor possible.
Strive
to find a trace mineral supplement with a flavor you can tolerate. At the very least look for an electrolyte
drink that will help replenish the minerals you need and might be using up
through the course of late pregnancy and delivery.
Take a Nap Whether you are tired during the day when you are pregnant,
or feeling exhaustion set in during labor, a nap is a great solution to help
mom and dad face their labor with renewed energy and confidence. A twenty-minute nap is a very effective tool
for increasing alertness. If you can get
a 30-60 minute nap it helps with decision-making skills. Both of those would be beneficial in labor.
I wonder what students picture as the length of nap when we
encourage them to sleep during their labor. I think most of them must imagine a
2-3 hour nap, think it is impossible and cross it off the list since so few of
them have been able to nap in their labor.
We know from experience that sleeping can be incredibly restorative
during labor. If Coach can convince Mom
that just twenty minutes will do her well, remind Mom she doesn’t have to
hunker down for a long time. Mom will
not miss out on anything by sleeping just twenty minutes; in fact, you can
drastically change your outcome by being rested.
So turn off the lights, wrap her in a comforting blanket and
stroke or talk her to sleep with your soothing voice. If Mom responds to music, find some
relaxation tunes to play for her. Maybe
use an eye mask to block out light – it seems to be easier to fall asleep when
it is dark.
Go for a Walk We encourage all our students to be walking at least twenty
minutes per day from the first day of class until the day they have their
baby. Regular physical exercise not only
increases stamina, it also helps energize the body. During the day or during a low-energy point
in labor, a walk might be in order.
A change in pace or scenery can help restore energy. I am not talking about constant walking to
speed labor, especially if you start with contractions that are more than ten
minutes apart. If your contractions
start that far apart, a good meal and rest are in order to conserve energy.
My first question to a tired couple is, “Can you get mom to
sleep?” If that doesn’t work, it is
possible that a walk around the building or around the block doing abdominal
breathing will oxygenate and wake up your body when you need to restore
energy. Eat protein-rich
snacks Click here to read my list of good choices for labor
snacks. They are high in protein and
complex carbs. I try to avoid processed
sugars or starches that rapidly convert to sugar – no need to repeat the
effects of a quick sugar up and down that we saw in class tonight!
Drink water If you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated and it’s time
to get mom some plain water to get her fluid level back up. In labor, the body is working in ways that
you cannot measure. Water is crucial to
get the hormones that stimulate and regulate labor circulating effectively
throughout the body.
Early signs of dehydration include thirst, loss of appetite,
dry mouth and head rushes. If Mom has a
desire to eat, she needs to be eating to store energy for the point in labor
when she is no longer hungry. If this
suppressed due to dehydration, she will miss out on her opportunity to store
energy. Head rushes can lead to an
untimely fall, which could potentially change the course of your labor
depending on the severity of the fall.
Continued dehydration can lead to increased heart rate,
increased temperature, fatigue and headaches…which could also be construed as
the mother going into distress. You can
absolutely head off a false distress warning in labor by making sure Mom is
drinking eight ounces of water per hour, or chewing on ice if that is what she
prefers. If Mom is hydrated and this
happens, then you know it’s time to pay attention and alert your care provider.
A side note on hydration: if Coach is good about getting Mom
the necessary water, Coach also needs to be good about getting her to the
bathroom. A full bladder can lead to
unnecessary pain in labor if the baby’s head is pushing against a full
bladder. It might also impede the
progress of labor if the baby’s head is blocked from entering the vaginal canal
by a full bladder.
Figure out what
works for you. Conserving energy is extremely important because you don’t
know how long you will be in labor. There
isn’t much we can control about labor if you follow the course for a natural
birth. You can influence how rested you
feel. It would be unfortunate to end up
with medication, an episiotomy or a cesarean if the only factor for that choice
is being too tired to make it through with the energy you needed to meet your
baby.
What are the energy saving or energy
restoring methods that you use? Would you like to read more about today’s suggestions?
For information on the minerals you need and how your body
uses them: Start a Walking Program
While you are pregnant, focus on walking for energy and
stamina. After your baby is born you can
consider the suggestions on walking for weight loss. More about dehydration:
http://www.symptomsofdehydration.com/effects-of-dehydration.htm 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®. March 5, 2012 to May 21, 2012 For more information or to register, please call us at 602-684-6567 or email us at |
The Importance of Water
Posted on October 18, 2011 at 11:40 AM |
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We all know
it is important to stay hydrated, especially when we live in the desert. Why is it so important? Does it matter what we drink to hydrate our
bodies? What is the best way to hydrate
our bodies? How much do we need to drink
in order to properly hydrate our bodies? Ok, let’s
start at, “why is it so important?”. Our bodies are hydroelectric machines that
need water in order to function. Feeling
thirsty is actually a LAST DITCH EFFORT for our bodies to get our attention to
our severely dehydrated state, it is not the first step. Our entire
bodies are made entirely of cells. Picture cells this way…cells are like little
shower heads in reverse. Meaning they
are covered with little perforations that allow moisture in for hydration. Moisture gets inside the cell and hydrates
it, the remaining moisture then coats the outside of the cell to hydrate the
outside where it stays sort of like a bubble until needed. Cells travel throughout our bodies hydrating
organs, muscles, etc as they move along their journey allowing our bodies to
work at their optimum. Does it matter what we drink to
hydrate our bodies? What is the best way to hydrate our bodies? These two
questions are sort of one in the same.
Yes, what we drink matters very much; which leads us to the best way to
hydrate our bodies. Water is the ONLY
way to truly hydrate your body. Why? Let’s continue…water is the only moisture that
can get inside those little perforations.
Every other liquid just cannot break down small enough to get inside. When liquid cannot get inside and hydrate the
cell from the inside out, the cell starts to dry up and shrivel like a raisin. (This
is one of the reasons we get wrinkles!)
Now, it gets more insidious from here…the liquid other than water that we
have put into our bodies is sticky and sticks to the outside of the cell. As it travels throughout the body, it is not
a hydrated cell so it cannot feed moisture to the organs like is needed and we
start to get dehydrated. As these cells
go through the urinary system and the moisture is now eliminated, the
insidiousness starts to get worse. The
sticky liquid is now leaving the cell and takes with it any moisture from the
inside, leaving the cell completely dried up. How much do we need to drink in order
to properly hydrate our bodies? Most of us
think of the 6-8 tall glasses of water per day rule, right? Well this is not true. Think about it…if Person A weighs 100 pounds
and Person B weighs 350 pounds, how can 6-8 glasses of water a day be right for
both of them? How about people who gain
or lose large amounts of weight (for example, being pregnant and getting
appropriately larger quickly and then giving birth)? How can the same amount be enough at both our
lighter weight moments and our heavier weight moments? This just makes no sense. A better
rule of thumb is this: take your weight
in pounds, divide by 2, and that is the number of ounces of water you should be
drinking every single day. If you are
drinking other liquids, for example, you just cannot live without your morning
cup of coffee, you need to increase your water intake accordingly to cover that
coffee that is so dehydrating. Also, if
it is very warm or you are exercising and you are perspiring, you will need to
add more water to make up for that as well. Now that you
have learned all this lets go back a moment to why it is so important. Remember those little dehydrated cells moving
throughout our bodies? Let’s continue on
their insidiousness. The cells move to our
organs in their dehydrated state but they have no moisture to give to our
organs to make the organs run smoothly at their optimum levels. All the cells are dehydrated so what do you
think happens next? Our organs get
dehydrated. When our organs are
dehydrated, our bodies start to go into power saver mode kind of like a city
doing purposeful brown outs in summer to avoid a complete blackout. Our bodies start to shut down the least
important functions to save the moisture for the most important, the heart and
the brain. Without the heart and brain
working properly, the body cannot continue, so other organs that are less
important start to power down. At first
they go into a less active mode. They
are still working, still doing their jobs, just not as quickly or as efficiently. The power down means our bodies are running
sluggishly: digestion is not as good, we are tired, toxins are not being
flushed out of the body. The toxins show
up on our skin as age spots, etc. As the
drought in our bodies continues, more organs power down. Eventually the organs begin to completely shut
down. Now we have major problems. The pancreas stops processing sugar and we
become diabetic. Abnormal cells are not
flushed out of our bodies but instead gather together with other abnormal cells
somewhere in our bodies. A cluster of
abnormal cells is cancer. The list goes
on, but you start to get the idea. Does the type of water make a
difference? Oh yes, very
much. First of all, distilled water is
not for drinking, it is for cleaning.
The process that removes all the bad things in the water, also removes
all the good things in the water as well.
It does not differentiate. You
cannot use distilled water in a freshwater fish tank, your fish will die. Distilled water is “dead” water. Our bodies cannot function with dead water;
our bodies need good, healthy water. Also, make
sure you know what is in your water: know how it is processed and where the
water comes from. Most bottled water is
just city water put into a bottle for your convenience. City water is full of chlorine. “So?”, you ask, and think, “I swim in chlorine.” That may be true but…a study conducted in 1998 by the California Department of Health issued a warning to pregnant women in regards to drinking water processed with
chlorine. A pregnant woman who drinks
water processed with chlorine increases her risk of miscarriage! Although a 2005 study of the same issue concluded that there might be less of a risk than implied by the 1998 study, a risk still remains. There is another ingredient that you want to
try to avoid in your drinking water: magnesium sulfate. Magnesium sulfate is used in hospitals to
slow labor. Certainly not a good water
to use when you are in labor! One last
thought…water alone does not make the hydroelectric machine function
properly. In order to be used to its
fullest potential, water needs salt. No,
you don’t have to salt your water, but you do need to add a little salt into
your diet. If you are concerned about
adding salt because of high blood pressure or other reasons, try sea salt. It is the healthiest salt because the way it
is processed leaves all the minerals needed in the salt, whereas iodized salt
and kosher salt remove the minerals.
This however, is a whole other blog post conversation. Moral of the
story…drink plenty of water and know where it has been before it arrived in
your drinking glass! Now, I am going to
go get a refill on my ice water. For more reading about Chlorine & Tap Water: Water Quality - 1998 Study Water Quality - 2002 Report Water Quality - 2005 Study Risk of Chlorinated Pools & Pregnancy About the author: My name is
Lisa Pearson and I have been married for 20 years to a wonderful man. We have 2 children, both girls, ages 16 and
4. Our first birth was a traumatic one
using a different method and the second was a fairy tale birth using the
Bradley Method®. We have been Bradley®
teachers for 3 years because of that birth.
I am also a doula and soon to be student midwife; as well as just
finishing up with my certificate in holistic nutrition. We teach in North Phoenix just off the 51
highway. Our classes are on Thursdays at
5:00 pm and Saturdays at 4:00 pm. Our next class series
will begin on Thursday, December 1, 2011 and Saturday, January 7, 2012. You can find me on the Bradley® Birth website
in the teacher information section, or call me at 602-494-3554 or email me at [email protected]. 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®. |
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