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®. |
Coach's Pep Talk
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:07 AM |
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Coach's Corner Bruss reveals his secret to being a great coach today...this is my first insight into his process, too. He has been an amazing coach at all of our births - now I know how he does what he does for our baby and me!~Krystyna We are regularly contacted by our Bradley® students as they go into labor. For first time parents there is almost an universal excitement.
It is great to talk to the Dads and hear the excitement in their
voices...the nervous, anxious energy as they start the wonderful
experience of child-birth with their partner. When I talk to the Dads as Mom's labor starts I like to give them a little pep-talk as follows: OK.
You've been working very hard to prepare for this moment. You have
chosen a great medical team. You've studied about labor and delivery,
you've done the pregnancy and relaxation exercises, you've focused on a great diet. You are ready. Your job as labor coach is to pay very close attention to Mom. Keep mental track of all the following: - Energy level, mood, complexion color, pain level, ability to relax, ability to concentrate, hunger, thirst, fever, headache. - Notice how Mom is doing in all these areas and note any changes. Regarding the contractions: - How close are the contractions? - How intense are they? - Can Mom talk through them? Or are they intense enough that she has to focus all her energy on them and can't talk or focus on anything else? - Is there a pattern? - Is the pattern changing? Do the contractions (pattern, intensity...cadence) change with: - change in position? - walking? - laying down? - sitting down? - shower? - other? Note all of these attributes and be aware of changes. What stage of labor do you think you're in? (Note: ask this question of yourself a lot) Remember
what you and your medical team decided ahead of time about when you
would head to the hospital or when you would call in the midwives for a
home birth. Pay close attention to those thresholds. Now
while paying attention to all the little details about Mom's physical
condition and how the contractions are progressing you have to focus on
everything that you can do to support Mom as she labors. - Keep Mom hydrated - Make sure she has food (if she wants) for energy. - In early first stage labor make sure Mom rests as much as possible so she has energy for later in labor. - Help her relax through her contractions with your practiced methods. - Don't ever leave her alone. - Help her or be by her side whenever she's up and around. - Take care of all the external things so that Mom can focus on the labor. If you have any questions, concerns or intuition that something is not right contact your medical team immediately. Enjoy the process. The birthday of your child is one of the best days of your life. What coaching tip can you share with our student dads? 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®.
Spring Series
March 5, 2012 to May 21, 2012
For more information or to register, please call us at 602-684-6567 or email us at |
Our Homebirth Story - Part 2
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:19 AM |
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Click here for Part 1 of "Our Homebirth Story" My mom
arrived from Chicago to relieve my aunt at around 4:00 pm on Friday afternoon.
She came in to see how I was doing. She asked, “How are things going?”
which of course started the tears again. Being a woman of great faith,
she said a beautiful prayer over us, then gave me a kiss and left the room to
go take care of the kiddos. I pulled myself together and decided I wanted
to go see our children. I missed them and one of the benefits of a
homebirth is having those you love near to you. We took a quick cruise
around the house and saw the kiddos, and we decided it was cool enough to try
walking outside again – maybe just one more time – to see what would happen.
This walk
confirmed our suspicions. This baby wanted me on my side. Nothing
upright was working to progress the labor. I lost it again – why was this
happening to us? Why couldn’t just once, my body work like a “normal”
woman in labor??
Up to this
point, we had had student midwives checking vital signs on mom and baby.
I asked if we could have Wendi check me the next time just to be sure that we
were both doing as well as they thought we were doing. I wasn’t concerned
about infection despite the fact that the membranes had ruptured going on 18
hours. I had been good about taking Vitamin C every couple of hours, we
hadn’t had one vaginal exam or external vaginal probing that was introducing
germs “upstream” as we say in class. My concern was simply that although
I felt strong and the baby sounded good, we had been going at this since 5:00
am on Thursday morning and I wanted peace of mind that we could continue at
whatever pace the baby needed.
Bruss and I
also talked about having the midwives go or stay, and we were not sure what to
ask of them. We conveyed this to Wendi when we talked to her. I
felt so bad having them stick around for “nothing”. At the same time, I
was wondering when we would call them back when our labor finally picked
up. Having spent so much time with us at our prenatal visits, they knew
our birth history and knew that this had been our labor pattern in our previous
births. They assured us that they were comfortable, and happy to continue
waiting patiently for baby to make her appearance.
In the
meantime, this birth also confirmed our choice to have a homebirth. We
had been in labor for 36+ hours now. If we had been in the hospital, we
would have been subjected to multiple vaginal exams by now. If we had
gone home and then returned after our water broke, we would have had a very
hard time leaving again without signing a multitude of forms when it was clear
that labor was not progressing. I had declined the GBS test since we made
an educated decision to take supplements that supported a healthy vaginal
track, and I was confident that Dr. Ross’ KST check confirming that I was GBS
negative was accurate. Under medical care from an OB, I would have had to
have the GBS test and had I tested positive, I would have been pumped with
penicillin and IV fluids every four hours. By now my hand would be
swollen at the hep lock site, and my feet and face would be puffy and
uncomfortable.
At home, we
were allowed to have the gentle birth we wanted for our child. We
listened to my body and followed the cues, however unbelieving that
"this" was our labor. We were able to sleep and eat to keep our
energy up. Our baby was monitored with a Doptone monitor every hour for a
few seconds, which let us go back to the position we needed to be in for her
more quickly. Our midwives were supportive and encouraging that we were
doing well and to keep going like we were going.
Bruss kept
in touch with Andrea and Dr. Ross via text throughout the day and night – they
were our doulas by text!! As they made suggestions he would try them if
we hadn’t tried them already, as they gave us words of encouragement he would
convey them.
I would say
I finally “accepted” the birth around 8:00 pm. Bruss had given me
wonderful assurances that this was the labor our baby and I needed every time I
had started to cry. He assured me that he was ready to labor just he and
I – it had also become clear that having all the people around was starting to
stress me out. Despite the fact that a doula would be there to support
us, he wasn’t willing to call in another person to add to the group of people
in the house already.
We decided
to watch a movie and both proceeded to fall asleep. The midwives
continued to come in and monitor us through our sleep. I was still
getting up every 45 minutes to use the restroom. One thing we did REALLY
well is stay hydrated. We found that we still had the contractions when
we stood up and moved from the bed to the toilet. As I accepted that this
was our labor, I remember reading birth stories about women who slept through
labor until they woke up in time to push. I figured that we might as well
give it a try – who knew – maybe this could be our birth story since short and
sweet was definitely out!!
It was my
perception that the contractions were every half hour. I could sense that
I was moaning in my sleep, yet they didn’t feel so strong that they woke me up
until it was time to use the restroom. The midwives told me later that
they had watched and felt my belly when I was sleeping, and I was having
contractions about five minutes apart in my sleep.
Somewhere
between 10 and 11 pm, I could no longer sleep through contractions. We
decided to use the shower again. We put a birth ball in there and let the
water wash over me. You know what happened – the contractions spread out
again. Since our baby was CLEARLY happier with labor when I was lying on
my side, we set up a layer of towels in the shower and made a towel
pillow. I lay on my side, and sure enough, they contractions started getting
hard again. Although they were uncomfortable, I was happy to bear with
them since I knew these were the type of contractions that were going to get us
to the point of meeting our baby.
Before we
knew it, the shower stopped working as a relaxation tool, too. I had a
strong need to void, but I couldn’t do it anymore. We decided to move
back to the toilet to see if I could void in the toilet. It didn’t take
me two seconds before I declared that this baby was coming out *now*. The
birth stool that had been taunting me for 24 hours was finally going to be put
into use!
We got on
the birth stool. I asked our midwife Wendi if this was really it. She
asked me to try pushing and if I didn’t feel any pinching, to go for it and
work with my body. The next contraction came and I could push without
pinching – so we did. This is the one time when we could have used an
extra pair of hands. Since we didn’t have them, Bruss got behind me and
supported me in a dangle position off of the stool so I could bear down and also
use more gravity behind the push. Trying to be mindful that we were
capturing this on video for possible use with future students and for our
children to see, I made every effort not to yell out too strongly.
We asked
one of the student midwives to go wake up our children and my mom since it was
clearly time to push. Squatting didn’t feel as good as it had with our
other children. After a few pushes in the squatting position, I felt like
it would be best to move to my hands and knees, so there we went. Bruss
ended up on the floor with me, and as a contraction came, I would lean all my
weight on him and bear down. This is the first time I have been clearly
conscious of the baby moving through my vaginal canal – it was amazing. I
could feel her crowning, and I remember that Night Owl looked at my bottom and
said, “I see the baby!” I told him to talk to her and tell her to come
out, which he did! A couple more pushes and I could feel that we had
delivered her head. Before I knew it, I was holding our lovely little Angélica in our arms and overjoyed with the wonder of
the work we had done together.
We pushed a
total of 20 minutes – the most amazing 20 minutes of our birth. My mom
and Night Owl got to watch the majority of the pushing phase. Puma came in just as Wendi was passing Angélika ("Otter") up
to my arms. Our photographer who we have known for six years got to
capture the birth of our new family. Our midwives were there supporting
and loving on the whole process, one of whom was able to capture the birth on
film. It was a room full of love and joy.
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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