Chandler, Arizona
Sweet Pea ​Births
Sweet Pea ​Births
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
Blog
Uterine Rupture: Assessing the Risks
Posted on April 26, 2016 at 10:18 AM |
![]() |
Uterine rupture is a topic that came up when I was pregnant with
Otter that I was not ready to allow into my consciousness until she was
safely in our arms. After enough time
had passed and we have proven to ourselves that homebirth can be a safe option
when a person is healthy and low risk, I am ready to write about it.
I gave Stephanie Stanley, former facilitator of the East Valley
ICAN group, byline credit for this because I am using her research from a
uterine rupture presentation she did at a meeting for my post today. ICAN, the International Cesarean Awareness
Network, is a non-profit organization that strives to improve maternal-child
health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support
for cesarean recovery, as well as educate about Vaginal Birth After Cesarean
(VBAC) and options for what is called a "gentle cesarean" where the event is honored as a birth even though it's via a surgery. ICAN’s goal is to see a healthy
reduction of the cesarean rate that is patient-driven. By providing education and support, they hope
that more women making evidence based, risk appropriate childbirth decisions
will lead to an overall reduction in the rate of cesareans performed.
Uterine rupture seems to be the leading reason why care providers are
hesitant to allow a mother to have a trial of labor (TOL) after a previous
cesarean. In Arizona, a licensed midwife or certified professional midwife can attend a homebirth
with a mom who is striving to have a VBAC only if the mother meets certain criteria. Arizonana for Birth Options is leading a grassroots efforts to change this so
that as per the ICAN vision, women living here can make evidence based and risk
appropriate decisions. They want all
options to be available: for a hospital birth if mom feels that is the best
option, or a homebirth if both mom and midwife agree that they are a good
candidate for VBAC.
Uterine rupture is defined as an anatomic separation of the
uterine muscle with or without symptoms.
What this means for baby is that the uterus ceases to function as a sealed protective container from the rest of the blood and organs surrounding the baby. The function of the placenta and umbilical
cord may also be compromised. Mom is
subject to blood loss and shock. A
decision also has to be made about repairing the uterus or performing a
hysterectomy.
Another term used when talking about uterine rupture is
“dehiscence”. A dehiscence is the
splitting or incomplete opening of the cesarean scar. It can happen without complication for mom or
baby and sometimes it is only discovered after the delivery. It is also called a “window” by some care
providers.
As it turns out, while uterine rupture is a consideration when you are preparing for a birth after a cesarean, it's not the only one your care provider should be having a conversation about. You can read THIS post to see where the risk for uterine rupture falls in comparison to other risks of pregnancy and labor. So what does the research say?
Here is the overarching conclusion: anyone can be at risk,
whether you have an unscarred or scarred uterus. At most, your risk rate is 2%. 2 percent!
Why then is it that this is such a big deal? I believe it lies with the potentially
devastating circumstance a family will find themselves in if the uterus does
rupture. While 98% of the population
may have a successful VBAC, the worst case scenario of a uterine rupture is
the loss of the baby and possibly a hysterectomy for mom which makes future
pregnancies impossible.
Another point to ponder is that the statistics listed below
are close to other statistics for labor emergencies, such as placenta accreta,
placental abruption, miscarriage; for a longer list click here.
Statistics for the risk of uterine rupture – see links at
the end of this post for references: VBAC: .5% - .7% VBA2C: 1.7% (vaginal
birth after 2 cesareans) VBAMC: 1.2% (vaginal
birth after multiple cesareans) Previous VBAC: .4% - .5%
(if you had a previous successful VBAC) VBAC + Augmented labor:
.9% (stats for first attempt) VBAC + Induced labor: 1%
(stats for first attempt)
Here is a link to the comparison of risk rates for VBAC,
CBAC (a cesarean birth after a trial of labor) and ERC (elective repeat
cesarean)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002937808004213
The risk factors when considering whether or not to do a
trial of labor after a cesarean are: The type of scar you have: the most favorable is a low
transverse scar. Classical T-shaped
scars, vertical scars or high uterine scars are said to have a higher risk of
rupture.
Induction of labor using cervical ripening agents, i.e., Cytotec,
Cervidil: the prostaglandins that soften the cervix may also soften the scar
tissue. In addition, ripening agents can
cause uterine hyperstimulation, meaning contractions that are much more intense
and frequent than the uterus is designed to withstand in the course of an unmedicated
labor.
More than one cesarean: as you can see from the statistics
above, there is a slight increase of risk.
Among factors that are disputed in medical literature are: - Age of mother: if a mother is over 30 she may be considered
at higher risk for uterine rupture. - Obese women - Size of baby: more than 8 pounds, 14 ounces - Post-term baby: 40+ weeks gestation from last menses To compare, here are the stats and risk factors for an
unscarred uterus: “The normal, unscarred uterus is least
susceptible to rupture. Grand multiparity, neglected labor, malpresentation,
breech extraction, and uterine instrumentation are all predisposing factors for
uterine rupture. A 10-year Irish study by Gardeil et al showed that the overall
rate of unscarred uterine rupture during pregnancy was 1 per 30,764 deliveries
(0.0033%). No cases of uterine rupture occurred among 21,998 primigravidas, and
only 2 (0.0051%) occurred among 39,529 multigravidas with no uterine scar. A meta-analysis
of 8 large, modern (1975-2009) studies from industrialized countries revealed
174 uterine ruptures among 1,467,534 deliveries. This finding suggested that
the modern rate of unscarred uterine rupture during pregnancy is 0.012% (1 of
8,434). This rate of spontaneous uterine rupture has not changed appreciably
over the last 40 years, and most of these events occur at term and during
labor. An 8-fold increased incidence of uterine rupture of 0.11% (1 in 920) has
been noted in developing countries. This increased incidence of uterine rupture
has been attributed to a higher-than-average incidence of neglected and
obstructed labor due to inadequate access to medical care. When one assesses
the risk of uterine rupture, this baseline rate of pregnancy-related uterine
rupture is a benchmark that must be used as a point of reference.” If you choose to have a VBAC, or realistically for any woman
in labor since the statistics show she has a slight risk, here are the signs that may
help you recognize that a uterine rupture is occurring or may have occurred: - Excessive vaginal bleeding - Extreme pain between contractions – these may or may not
be felt through an epidural block, though due to severity of pain it’s possible
they may be felt - Contractions that slow down or become less intense - Abdominal pain or tenderness - Baby’s head moves back up the birth canal - Bulge in the abdomen, bulge under the pubic bone, or
pressure on the bladder where the baby’s head may be coming through the tear in
the uterus - Sharp onset of pain at the site of the previous scar - Uterus becomes soft - Shoulder pain - Heart decelerations in the baby - Maternal tachycardia (rapid heart rate) and hypotension
(low blood pressure)
If you have a true uterine rupture, then an emergency
cesarean will be required. A Chandler
doctor told the ICAN group that the care provider has 5 – 7 minutes to get the
baby out safely, although in reading for this post I saw some estimates as 10 –
37 minutes. According to a 2010 National Institutes of Health study,
there have been no maternal deaths in the US due to uterine rupture. Overall,
14 – 33% will need a hysterectomy. 6% of
uterine ruptures result in perinatal death, and for term babies this risk was
put at less than 3%. **
If you do have a uterine rupture, it will have an effect on
your future pregnancies. Each cesarean a
mother has increases the risk for future complications of cesarean
surgery. If you have a hysterectomy, you
will not be able to carry any more children.
In today’s medical climate, a uterine rupture will most likely result in
all future pregnancies being delivered via repeat cesarean.
There are a lot of points to ponder as a new mom or as a mom
considering a VBAC. Our Bradley® mantra
is: Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby. We teach
that as long as you make all your decisions with those two goals in mind, you
are likely to make the choices that have a positive outcome for both Mom and
Baby. What are your thoughts on VBAC and/or uterine rupture?
**NOTE: Stephanie’s presentation called out these statistics
as inflated as the Landon study (2004) included women who had pre-labor
stillbirths included in the statistics.
IN other words, women whose babies had passed away before labor and
still delivered via VBAC rather than choosing a repeat cesarean were counted in
the perinatal death statistics. Please
read Henci Goer’s analysis for more information
For the resource list, click here. Disclaimer: The material included on this site is for informational
purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Q&A with SPB: Water
Posted on March 8, 2016 at 9:22 PM |
![]() |
Water is essential for good
health. Pure water (nothing mixed in) is best for re-hydration of the body.
Bottled or filtered water may be necessary, depending on your water source at your home or workplace. In the mother, water acts as a solvent and catalyst for biological
reactions. In the baby, water accounts
for 75% of your baby's total body weight at birth. Lack of water leads to
dehydration, which can lead to over a 20% reduction of energy output (can you see why this could be a problem in pregnancy and/or labor?).
Dehydration may also contribute to the headaches some women experience as a discomfort of pregnancy. Some of the complications a water deficiency can
lead to are declined circulation (low blood flow which then affects what is *not* getting to the placenta), hypovolemia (low blood volume), and oligohydramnios (low amniotic fluid volume), which can trigger premature labor.
Note: water without adequate
salt intake leads to an imbalance, making it hard for your body to absorb and
retain fluids. Be careful about your source
of water – how much chlorine is in your municipal water? You can request a
report from your town or city if they don’t send you an annual quality report. Be careful of some bottled water.
Read the labels. Some of them have additives such as magnesium sulfate (MgSO4),
which is a laxative, muscle relaxant, and is used to stop labors. This common name for this additive is Epsom Salts. Your water needs depend on
your weight, your climate, and your energy output.
Did you know that the color of your urine could be a hydration test? If your urine is clear, pale or
straw-colored, *and* you feel well overall, there is a good probability that you are adequately hydrated. If your urine is dark yellow or even orange, it's time to start drinking up some good, clean water. Strive for even more
fluids if you have an active lifestyle, if it’s hot outside or both. Note on oligohydramnios: if
you are being told that your fluid levels are low, it might be a real
thing. Know that your amniotic fluid is
not a closed system – your body is constantly making more and replenishing amniotic fluid. I’ve read anywhere from 1 hour to every 3-4 hours for that process. So, if you drink more water, you could
potentially increase the amount of fluid in the uterus. However, if you have
been drinking a lot of water and your fluid levels are still low, then
definitely have an honest conversation with your care provider about your
options. Links to explore: Importance of Water written by my Bradley colleague Lisa Pearson, AAHCC Risk of Chlorinated Water via EWG Fluid Levels in Pregnancy via mamabirth.com Is 6-8 glasses enough? via self.com Best Sources of Drinking Water via Dr. Mercola Disclaimer: The material included in this blog and video is for informational
purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice. The viewer should always consult her or his
healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for
their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss
Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site,
or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog and video contain information about
our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official
website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained in this video and on our
blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American
Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Info Sheet: Vaginal Exams
Posted on March 4, 2016 at 2:01 PM |
![]() |
Pelvic or Vaginal Exam during Pregnancy (3rd Trimester) According to Mayo Clinic, “as your due date approaches, your prenatal visits might include pelvic exams. These exams help your health care provider check the baby's position and detect cervical changes.” *History Pelvic examination during pregnancy is used to detect a number of clinical conditions such as anatomical abnormalities and sexually transmitted infections, to evaluate the size of a woman’s pelvis (pelvimetry) and to assess the uterine cervix so as to be able to detect signs of cervical incompetence (associated with recurrent mid-trimester miscarriages) or to predict preterm labour (see Section 11.3). In an RCT that assessed the relationship between antenatal pelvic examinations and preterm rupture of the membranes (PROM), 175 women were assigned to no examinations and 174 women were assigned to routine digital pelvic examinations commencing at 37 weeks and continuing until delivery.233 In the group of women who had no pelvic examination, ten women developed PROM (6%) compared with 32 women (18%) from the group of women who were examined weekly. This three-fold increase in the occurrence of PROM among women who had pelvic examinations was significant. Based on the above study the NCBI concluded, “Routine antenatal pelvic examination does not accurately assess gestational age, nor does it accurately predict preterm birth or cephalopelvic disproportion. It is not recommended.” Another study completed by the NCBI concluded, “In patients with a US-documented viable pregnancy, the pelvic examination did not contribute to the patient's immediate obstetric treatment. Occult cervical pathogens may be present in these patients.”
*PROS Vaginal Exams can possibly measure:
*CONS
*Links to explore Pelvic Exams Near Term: Benefit or Risk? Talking to Mothers About Informed Consent and Refusal Did you have vaginal exams in your third trimester before your labor started? Thoughts? Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and
posted. 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®. |
Q&A with SPB: Writing a Birth Plan
Posted on October 20, 2015 at 7:18 AM |
![]() |
Q: How do I write a birth plan? A: Have a good conversation with your partner and your care provider, write down a wish list, and then be prepared for your birth journey, taking into consideration there might be a detour or two! Here are the basics of what we share with our students: 1. EXAMINE YOUR FEELINGS What is important to you? What would you be willing to compromise? What are your absolutes? 2. CONSIDER YOUR PRIORITIES List your choices in order - Mother ranks hers, Coach/Birth Partner ranks theirs, and then compare notes and arrive at some sort of compromise. 3. EVALUATE YOUR SITUATION Are your choices realistic given yoru choice of birth setting? Does your birth team support your wishes? If you find yourself wanting to make changes in birth setting or care provider, what are your options? 4. MEET WITH YOUR CARE TEAM Ask for etra time during the "birth plan" appointment. Bring a draft of your wish list to get their input, and listen with an open mind and a grain of salt - more on that below. 5. PREPARE FOR A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE Are you doing daily exercise? Bradley Method Exercise Program Are you eating the best whole food diet possible? Brewer Diet for a Healthy Pregnancy Those two things are the foundation for the possibility of a low-risk labor. Add in daily meditation for a good measure of positive energy for your upcoming birth journey. 6. BE FLEXIBLE Bruss's mantra: "You are the birth that you bring with you." Consider going into your birth journey with the idea that something is going to surprise you, something will disappoint you, and at the end of the day, transform you into the parent you need to be for your child. Consider this: what is more important - sticking to your plan at all costs? Or, surrending to the birth journey, wherever it may lead you, and discovering something new about yourself? For the birth journey is an initiation of sorts; however it happens, it transforms us from maiden to mother, or from stag to father. So, as instructors, we encourage our students to at least go through the process of preparing a wish list. It allows the birthing family the opportunity to discover their priorities, evaluate whether or not they are in the right setting and with the right care provider for their dream of their birth, and then sets the compass for the general direction you want to travel along on this upcoming journey. This is the left-brain preparation for the birth journey. Then, when the birth journey starts, there is a guideline to evaluate the path that is being traveled. When the birth partner has to take over being the mother's voice, they know what's important, what is not. The birthing mother is free to surrender her unnecessary baggage along the way. I imagine it kind of like the settlers of old, leaving what they really did not need along the side of the road to arrive at their destination. As we go deeper into "laborland", we surrender to the right brain that turns off the lists, turns off expectations, and simply does what needs to happen to birth this baby, wherever the path may lead. For us, the compass was always set to "Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby". Each birth achieved that in a different way, and each one grew me in just the direction I needed to be the mother of our new family. Here are some resources to consider: A priority exercise we use in our classes HERE A list of possible options to learn more about and prioritize for your wish list HERE A starting point for writing a wish list HERE. We encourage our students to use a list like this to clarify what they are dreaming of, and then using their own words when they write their dream down on paper. Try to keep it to one page; if you go beyond one page, print on the front side only so that it is easily read when it's inserted into your file. Finding the right care provider: If you are getting red flags from your care provider when you start talking about the dream for your birth, consider if there resistance to your preferences is aligned with evidence-based care or personal opinion. Explore their resistance: what experiences are filtering their response to your requests? And then listen to them: they have been around birth and have seen a lot of outcomes as trained professionals. When you sit quitely with all the information you have gathered, what does your intuition say? If it's telling you that your requests are not extreme and you know that other families have been supported in them, go on a fact-finding mission: who was their care provider? How did that choice work out for them when they look back at their experience? If your fact-finding mission comes to the conclusion that you need to change providers, then change: you only have one journey to birth this baby. Surround yourself with the right care for the path you are about to embark on. Good resources to find about local care providers are childbirth educators or doulas in your area, any "birth circle" type gatherings, or your area ICAN chapter. The birth community in your area will have an idea of who you might want to consider as your care provier for the birth journey that you are dreaming of for your family. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have questions about care providers in the Phoenix area: [email protected] We wish you all the best as you prepare for your birth journey with your Sweet Pea. Disclaimer: |
The Family-Centered Cesarean
Posted on April 30, 2015 at 9:40 AM |
![]() |
A "Family-Centered" cesarean? A "gentle" cesarean? A procedure that is Woman and MotherBaby-centered? What? Did you just read that correctly? Yes, you did. There is a "new" trend in cesareans that is hitting the mainstream consciousness here in the United States. While a lot of the focus during Cesarean Awareness Month tends to center on Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC), I also want to acknowledge that a VBAC is not the choice that all mothers want to make. Here is an option for mothers who know they want, or are considering, a repeat cesaran birth. It is also an option if a healthy, low-risk labor starts to change it's course and there is time for non-emergent cesarean. I have linked to THIS post about a "natural" cesaran more than once in previous posts, and today I want to be a little more specific about what a "natural" cesarean is and why a family might opt for this. To quote the article:
A family-centered, or natural cesarean strives to capture these components of a vaginal birth:
The idea of "seeding the microbiome" is a new concept. Here is a quote from THIS article:
And one from THIS article:
So while your initial reaction might be one of surprise and disgust, think about it. Please take a minute to read both of the excerpted articles and have a discussion with your partner and your care provider before you make up your mind one way or another. Here are some of the benefits that are causing mothers to request this kind of cesarean option:
If you would like to have a conversation with your care provider about planning for a gentle cesaean as your birth plan or "just in case" plan, HERE is a list of options for you to discuss with them, provided by ICAN of Phoenix chapter leader Jenni Froment. I also want to mention: these are evidence-based recommendations. If your care provider scoffs at you and laughs you out of the room, thank them very much for their time and go have a conversation with another provider in your area. Your local ICAN chapter or ICAN international are great resources for respectful, family-centered providers. What do you think? Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and posted. *I think* that the amount of traffic you so generously generate has led to a lot of spam posting. In an effort to keep the spam to a minimum, I am taking the time to moderate comments now. Link List: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5RIcaK98Yg ARTICLES ICAN http://blog.ican-online.org/2012/04/14/the-family-centered-cesarean/ MIDWIFE THINKING http://midwifethinking.com/2014/01/15/the-human-microbiome-considerations-for-pregnancy-birth-and-early-mothering/ MAMASEEDS http://mamaseeds.com/blog/antibiotics/how-seed-your-baby-healthy-microbiome-last-lifetime/ The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Birth Story: Marathon Labor
Posted on January 23, 2015 at 9:45 AM |
![]() |
Christine & BJ Bollier Bradley Method© Birth Story This story is a great example of making your wishes known,
persevering through a long labor that stalled (The Bradley Method® calls “the stall”, aka
“failure to progress”, a “Natural Alignment Plateau” or "NAP"), and making decisions as the labor progressed for a Healthy Mom,
Healthy Baby birth experience. Even with
an intervention they did not initially want or anticipate, they were able to have the vaginal,
unmedicated birth they had prepared for. One of my favorite quotes from the video is Christine’s
statement, “I was tired, but I was never scared, because I knew what to
expect.”
Here is a quick summary of their labor: She started with contractions around 15 minutes
apart on a Thursday morning. They went
to their doctor’s appointment that afternoon and decided to go home and let their
labor progress. On Friday, they were timing contractions throughout the
day. When they got to five minutes apart,
they decided to go to the hospital because of the impending blizzard (they live
in Payson, AZ). By the time they were
all checked into their room, it was 2:30 am on Saturday. By Saturday evening at 6:00 pm, they hit a NAP
at around 8 cm dilation. They made the
decision to accept an amniotomy (breaking the bag of waters) at 10:00 pm. Their son was born on Sunday morning at 3:30
am. When the Bollier's time their labor, they call it 36 hours from the
contractions that were 6 minute apart on Friday afternoon to the time when he was born on Sunday morning. They both stayed awake for the whole of that time, save a few cat naps that happened between contractions when they were both exhausted. It is good to note that they did sleep on Thursday night when contractions were still in the "putsy-putsy" stage. I am so glad she talks about how she experienced contractions
– that’s a big question mark for first-time moms. Christine says she felt them as rhythmic and
internalized them – she says she could have painted you a picture of the
contractions. I love that perspective! HIGHLIGHTS Birth plan
Changing the Plan
Christine’s Insight: Q: What did BJ do as a Coach that helped you the most? A: He kept me from freaking out when it had gone on for so
long. As she explains, he kept her on track through the
exhaustion. BJ kept her calm with reassurance; he also pointed out the progress they had made. Loosely paraphrasing: [The hard part] wasn’t the pain – it was the exhaustion. I knew the pain was purposeful because
I was getting a baby. [Contractions] came in bursts and they were
not constant - it wasn’t miserable pain or constant pain from an injury that hurts all the time. Looking back a year later, [a contraction] was such a short period of time. BJ’s nuggets of wisdom Education & knowledge quell fear – having notes at
my fingertips kept me from getting scatterbrained while I was watching
(coaching) my wife through labor. Postpartum advice for the husbands: Don’t be proud – just say
yes. Don’t be too proud to accept help –
it’s a gift. On the lighter side, you’ll hear the inauguration of the
term “The Splash Zone” – now that we know our student’s perception of watching
all the birth videos from the first row of chairs, it’s what we call that front
line when we show birth videos in class - lol. QUESTIONS FROM THE CLASS: Q: Were you both awake the whole [36 hours of progressive
labor]? A: Yes…If I had it to do over again – we would rest throughout
labor. You’ll hear it in class that you
should rest. Seriously – REST. After the baby is born, you are playing
catch-up with sleep. Q: What can you tell us about breastfeeding a newborn? A: Get your hands on reading material, borrow books, have phone
numbers of support people you can call, have a good structure around you to
encourage, inspire, and inform you. Invest in good bras – wear a tank top with shirt underneath
at this age (son is about 11 months old in this video), after the infant stage
the nursing cover is not staying on! Did you have a long labor?
What labor management tips would you share with first-time parents? Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and
posted. 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 |
![]() |
Rally to Improve Birth 2013
Posted on July 16, 2013 at 6:59 PM |
![]() |
I first became aware of ImprovingBirth.org when they held their first rally last year. In order to bring awareness to the maternity health care crisis in our country, the organizers chose the date of Labor Day for the national event. This year, they are truly nation-wide – there is at least one rally planned in all 50 states, and as of today, it looks like they are up to eight international locations. What maternity health care crisis in the United States, you ask? Here is a look at the numbers. In the world:
So do you know why I find this so infuriating?
Are you motivated to stand with women, children and coaches to rally for
change? On September 2, 2013, from 10 a.m. – 12 noon local time, cities across the states are going to host a Rally to Improve Birth. The rally is not to promote one kind of birth over other kinds of births. It is not about bashing care providers and birthing facilities.
What is the message that Improving Birth is striving for? Here are some of the messages they hope to get across that day (hint...ideas for rally signs):
You can click HERE to find
your local rally (readers in the Phoenix, AZ area - local info at the bottom of this post): http://rallytoimprovebirth.com/find-a-rally-near-you/ If you can’t stand side-by-side with the families attending the rally, you can still participate. All the rallies are 100% volunteer organized – even a donation of $10.00 can help buy water to hydrate all the mamas, babies, coaches and care providers standing under the hot sun on Labor Day to bring awareness and change to the maternal healthcare system.
HERE is a story from an "eye-roller" at last year’s rally, to a supporter at this year’s rally. I would like to think that these stories are few and far between. Unfortunately, I know they are not. Due to my involvement in the birth community at large, I have personally heard stories from several women who felt completely violated by their care providers and the current standard of care. We can make a difference. We can stand together and insist that it is time to humanize birth again, to use evidence-based care, and to involve the birthing family as partners in their birth story. For more information, please visit their main website: Readers in the Phoenix, AZ area Here is the info on our local event: September 2, 2013 10:00 am to 12:00 pm Tempe Beach Park 54 West Rio Salado Parkway Tempe, Arizona 85281 To stay up-to-date on the local event, visit the Facebook Page. 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®. |
Warning Labels: Induction Drugs
Posted on June 7, 2013 at 4:20 PM |
![]() |
This is the second post in the series that looks at the small print on the drug information sheet for consumers. In our first post, we looked at the details of drugs used in epidurals. Here is the fine print for the drugs used by hospital practitioners to induce labor. This may be offered for a variety of reasons. Whenever a drug or procedure is offered, we encourage our students to look at the benefits and the risks. There are circumstances where the benefits clearly outweigh the risks. It is up to each family to individually decide what works best for them and their baby. In the spirit of informed consent, here is the fine print and FDA Pregnancy Category for Cervadil (Brand Name for a form of Dinoprostone), Dinoprostone, Cytotec (Misoprostol) and Pitocin. To be clear – we are not anti-care provider or anti-drug. We are grateful for modern medicine that saves lives in circumstances when Mother Nature needs help. It exists for a reason, and we are thankful for the opportunity to meet all the Healthy Moms and Healthy Babies when we hold a class reunion. Please read and consider this information as you prepare for the birth of your baby. I included the link to find the complete drug label on-line. As with last week, everything is in direct quotes because the information is pulled from the drug information made available by the Federal Drug Administration (USA).
As you can see from the insert information and the pregnancy categories assigned by the FDA, these are not inherently safe just because they are commonly used. Any parent who is being asked to use these should do so after careful consideration of the risks and the benefits. You can use this series of questions to help you determine if the benefits outweigh the risks:
Any advice to offer about being induced? 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: 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®. |
Planning Your VBAC – Where to Begin
Posted on April 2, 2013 at 4:02 PM |
![]() |
While a cesarean birth can be life saving and necessary, and we are so grateful for the technology when our students need this intervention, we encourage you to know the difference between a variation and complication. Is Mom okay? Is Baby okay? If yes to both questions, asking for time can spare both Mom and Baby from an "unnecesarean". The current cesarean rate in the US is around 32-33%, so our wish at Sweet Pea Births is that by raising awareness, only the necessary cesareans are performed, and that over time we see our national cesarean rate back down to at or under 15%. If a VBAC is not an option you want to explore, I encourage you to explore the ideas and additional readings HERE to learn more about a family-centered cesarean that may be a gentler experience for both mother and baby. With time and planning with your care provider, these are possible and a beautiful option for families that want and/or need a repeat cesarean. On to the topic: Where do you begin if you want to plan for a Vaginal Birth After Cesarean? These notes are from an ICAN meeting presented by ICAN of Phoenix chapter leaders Stephanie Stanley and Jessica Franks on January 23, 2013, hence they get the author by-line on this one. Thank you, ladies, for your constant support of the cesarean community in the Phoenix area. Here are the steps that Stephanie and Jessica identified in hindsight of their VBAC journeys. Step 1: Find a supportive care provider Your options for finding a supportive care provider in Arizona include an obstetrician in a hospital setting, a Certified Nurse-Midwife in a hospital setting, and Naturopathic Doctor who also holds a Certified Professional Midwife license in a home setting. In addition, you an interview at Women’s Birth and Wellness Center in Mesa, Arizona, to see if you are a candidate for a VBAC at their birth center. If you are in the Phoenix area, you can check the ICAN Phoenix provider list HERE to see which care providers have been supportive as per first-hand experience from VBAC mothers. Step 2: How do I know if someone is truly supportive? The only way to really know if a care provider is going to go along with your choice for a trial of labor that you hope is going to lead to a vaginal birth is the interview them. Schedule an appointment with them and meet them face-to-face. Here are some questions you can ask – you want to keep them open-ended so that you hear their spontaneous answer.
Step 3: Be Healthy, Starting NowYour nutrition is vital to your health, your pregnancy, your baby and your birth. Maintain a healthy diet and exercise on a regular basis.
Krystyna’s note: A comprehensive
childbirth education class, like The Bradley Method®, prepares mothers over the
course of the twelve week series to eat well to build a strong body and a
strong baby, and we have a pregnancy exercise program that builds stamina as
well as the three major muscle groups that support pregnancy and labor: Back,
Belly, and Bottom. Step 4: Mental Health Your mental health plays a significant role in your pregnancy and birth. A childbirth preparation course can educate you on the course of labor so that there are *less* surprises – all labors have an unknown factor and you can’t be “completely” prepared.
Krystyna's Note: The Bradley Method® is fabulous as a comprehensive preparation course. You can click HERE to see what is taught through the course of the 12-week series. However, we do not do anything in-depth to address any past birth trauma or fears that you may be bringing to the birth space. If you are interested in The Bradley Method®, please contact me to discuss some additional resources I recommend for VBAC couples enrolled in our course. Step 6: Plan To Hire A DoulaDoulas are an essential part of your birth plan. A doula is a woman whose only role is to support a family through their labor, birth and the choices they want for their birth. They may offer ideas for labor positions, moral support and hands-on help, among other things. Typically people hire their doula between 24-30 weeks. There is no “right time” to hire a doula, so even if you are earlier or later than this window, you can make phone calls and find the right person to support you and your partner through your birth experience. Some insurance companies cover the doula fee, so call them and ask! Step 7: Get Family SupportThe support of the people closet in regards to your decision to VBAC is very important.
Krystyna’s Note: My favorite line of conversation I have heard at an ICAN meeting, and that I know share with our students in regards to birth choices is this: “I have taken the time to educate myself and make the right choice for our family. Do you really think that I would make a choice to intentionally harm myself, or our child? If we cannot come to an understanding, or at least agree to disagree, this topic is off the table and no longer up for discussion.” Step 8: Educate Yourself Knowing the facts about VBAC will give you more confidence in your decision, as well as prepare you to educate those who may question the safety of your decision.
Step 9: From a Birth Plan A birth plan is a great way to organize and prepare your goals. It is a tool to help you articulate the vision you have for this birth. Birth plans are typically written around 30 weeks, but there is no “right time” to write a birth plan.
Step 10: Breathe It will be okay! Your body knows how to have babies. In the swirl of activity, remind yourself to relax and enjoy your pregnancy! Krystyna’s Note: However this birth is going to go, your body is still in the midst of the miracle of creating an entirely new human being over the course of the pregnancy. You are an amazing, creative goddess – enjoy the glow and revel in your growing baby bump! Are you planning/have you had a VBAC? What is/was been important to you? Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and posted. *I think* that the amount of traffic you so generously generate has led to a lot of spam posting. In an effort to keep the spam to a minimum, I am taking the time to moderate comments now LINK LIST Family-centered Cesarean http://blog.ican-online.org/2012/04/14/the-family-centered-cesarean/ ICAN of Phoenix Provider List http://icanofphoenix.weebly.com/valley-resources.html Bradley Method Course Outline http://www.bradleybirth.com/krystynabowman?Page=5 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®. |
Categories
- Why we chose the Bradley Method� childbirth classes (14)
- Birth center (34)
- Birth Centers Phoenix AZ area (8)
- Birth place options (36)
- Bradley Method� outcome (44)
- Managing or coping with natural labor (33)
- natural labor coping mechanisms (35)
- Natural labor coping techniques (35)
- Pain management (23)
- Pain management natural labor (18)
- The Bradley Method� pain management (19)
- First stage labor (29)
- Birth plans (72)
- The Bradley Method® (68)
- Birth Story (33)
- Bradley Method® birth story (16)
- Birth Circle (9)
- Midwife (36)
- Midwifery Care (32)
- Cesarean Birth (35)
- Cesarean Surgery (27)
- Doulas (50)
- Second Stage Labor (21)
- Acupuncture (5)
- Parenting (63)
- Use of vacuum extraction (1)
- Breastfeeding (232)
- Chiropractic Care (10)
- Webster Protocol (3)
- Breastfeeding support (154)
- Information Center (101)
- The Bradley Method® classes (57)
- Placenta Encapsulation (11)
- Postpartum Depression (31)
- Breech presentation (8)
- Breech turning techniques (6)
- ECV (6)
- External Cephalic Version (6)
- Infections and Pregnancy (7)
- Bradley� Coaches (47)
- Coach's Corner (14)
- Coaches (47)
- Coaching (39)
- Exercise (18)
- Modern Mommy Boutique (10)
- Nursing and Maternity Bras (4)
- Transition (11)
- Postpartum Plan (29)
- Grief Counseling and Support Services (3)
- Miscarriage or Stillbirth (8)
- Pregnancy Loss (4)
- Variations and Complications (17)
- Going to your birthplace (9)
- Homebirth (58)
- Hospital Birth (57)
- Informed Consent (29)
- Patient Bill of Rights (2)
- Dehydration and Pregnancy (5)
- Fluid Retention (3)
- Heat Comfort Measures (7)
- Hyperthermia and Pregnancy (2)
- Pre-term Labor (4)
- Swelling in Pregnancy (2)
- Full term (9)
- Past due date (6)
- Postdate (7)
- Postmature baby (2)
- Crying (8)
- Newborn Care (23)
- Fussy baby (11)
- Support Groups (17)
- Pregnancy (69)
- Avoiding harmful substances (32)
- Toxins, pesticides, chemicals and pregnancy (18)
- Starting Solids (14)
- Drinking during labor (11)
- Eating during labor (12)
- NPO (2)
- Nutrition (37)
- Due Date (9)
- Planning for Baby (34)
- Child Spacing (3)
- Sibling Preparation for Newborn Arrival (9)
- Breastfeeding 101 (24)
- Debbie Gillespie, IBCLC, RLC (8)
- Circumcision (2)
- Lactivist (3)
- In Their Own Words (36)
- NIP (25)
- Nursing In Public (28)
- Childcare (17)
- Infant Classes (5)
- Photographer (5)
- Epidural (15)
- Depression (12)
- Allergies (3)
- Dairy Allergy (2)
- Breast Pumps (19)
- Postpartum Doula (11)
- Jaundice (2)
- Newborn jaundice (1)
- RSV (4)
- Postpartum (55)
- Labor Marathon (20)
- Labor Sprint (17)
- Belly Cast (2)
- Maternity Keepsake (1)
- Natural birth (34)
- Obstetrical Care (16)
- Engorgement (2)
- Uterine Rupture (3)
- Berman's Law (1)
- Back Labor (3)
- Healing (8)
- Hearing Screen (1)
- Perineum (4)
- Herbalist (2)
- Tandem Nursing (5)
- Breastfeeding Challenges (91)
- Tongue Tie (2)
- Tongue Tie Procedure (2)
- Bradley Day Family Picnic (5)
- Cephalo-Pelvic Disproportion (3)
- CPD (3)
- Failure to Progress (10)
- Fetal Distress (2)
- FTP (5)
- Pain (4)
- Prolonged Labor (3)
- Baby games (4)
- Playing with baby (5)
- Sensory games (2)
- Cesarean Support Group (16)
- Baby blues (8)
- NAP (5)
- Natural Alignment Plateau (6)
- Baby-led weaning (2)
- BLW (2)
- Comfort Measures (15)
- Flower Essences (4)
- Relaxation practice (4)
- First Foods for baby (2)
- Babywearing (21)
- Nursing (31)
- Sling (2)
- Soft-structured carrier (1)
- Wrap (2)
- Weaning (2)
- Co Sleeping (6)
- Family Bed (6)
- Relaxation (6)
- Meet the Doula (24)
- Bradley Method® (37)
- Bradley Method® for next baby (4)
- Bradley Method® for second pregnancy (5)
- Bradley™ classes and the next baby (4)
- Bradley™ classes for next pregnancy (3)
- Bradley™ classes for second pregnancy (3)
- Next baby (5)
- Next pregnancy (7)
- Repeat Bradley™ classes (1)
- Bedtime Routine (5)
- Children's Books (3)
- Breast Pumps and Workplace (10)
- Breastfeeding in Public (37)
- Communication (8)
- Labor Support (25)
- Amniotomy (5)
- AROM (6)
- Artifical Rupture of Membranes (5)
- Bag of Waters (5)
- Premature Ruptture of Membranes (4)
- PROM (4)
- ROM (4)
- Rupture of Membranes (4)
- La Leche League (8)
- Nursing Strike (2)
- Galactogogues (1)
- Increase Breastmilk (2)
- Milk Supply (2)
- CIO (4)
- Cry It Out (4)
- Teething (1)
- Hyperemesis Gravidarum (1)
- Morning Sickness (3)
- Nausea (2)
- Eclampsia (1)
- Healthy, Low-Risk (16)
- Pre-eclampsia (5)
- Rights for Homebirth (6)
- Traditions (2)
- Midwifery Scope of Practice Committee (5)
- Scavenger Hunt (1)
- Sweet Pea Births (5)
- Cassandra Okamoto (6)
- Mommy-Con (9)
- Phoenix Mommy-Con Mini (2)
- Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (18)
- Vaginal Birth After Multiple Cesareans (10)
- VBAC (21)
- Monitrice (1)
- Baby Concierge (4)
- First Birthday (1)
- Oxytocin (2)
- Warning Labels (3)
- Inside Look (19)
- Induction (12)
- Induction of Labor (8)
- Labor Induction (11)
- Episiotomy (3)
- Info Sheet (22)
- Information Sheet (22)
- Augmentation (4)
- Labor Augmentation (9)
- Cord Clamping (2)
- Delayed Cord Clamping (2)
- Immediate Cord Clamping (2)
- Birth Mantra (19)
- Rally to Improve Birth (4)
- Eye Drops (1)
- Eye Ointment (1)
- Eye Prophylaxis (1)
- Neonatal Eye Drops (1)
- Neonatal Eye Ointment (1)
- Neonatal Eye Prophylaxis (1)
- Wordless Wednesday (37)
- Big Latch On (1)
- Blog Carnival (3)
- IBCLC (11)
- Lactation Consult (3)
- Lactation Consultation (3)
- WBW2013 (1)
- World Breastfeeding Week (51)
- Thoughtful Thursday (3)
- Family Fun (18)
- Weekend Activities (1)
- Upcoming Events (81)
- Breastfeeding Awareness Month (76)
- Sleep Sharing (1)
- Newborn (12)
- Newborn Procedures (3)
- Preemies (4)
- Twins (1)
- Vitamin K (1)
- Vaccines (3)
- Fertility (10)
- Premature Baby (4)
- Babymoon (4)
- Green Nursery (4)
- Gowning (1)
- Affirmation (20)
- Birth News (5)
- First Trimester (1)
- Membranes (3)
- Stripping Membranes (2)
- Sweeping Membranes (2)
- Fear-Tension-Pain Cycle (2)
- Third Trimester (2)
- Baby (26)
- Infant Care (9)
- Contest (1)
- Family Fest (9)
- Giveaway (1)
- Birth (33)
- Nursery (3)
- Bradley® Dads (3)
- Mantra (8)
- Waterbirth (3)
- Essential Oils (1)
- Gestational Diabetes (1)
- Q&A with SPB (23)
- NICU (3)
- Placenta (4)
- Birth Story Listening (1)
- Meditation (3)
- Birthing From Within (3)
- Ask the Doula (1)
- Monday Mantra (4)
/