Annabel Karmel

http://www.annabelkarmel.com/gb/

Deceptively Delicious

http://www.doitdelicious.com/cookbooks/deceptively_delicious

Weelicious

http://weelicious.com/

My friend Brie Hall teaches these classes and more

[email protected]

480-299-1154

Great resource online:

Joann Woolley

http://www.sign4baby.com/

Local Signing Time instructor – alumni SPB Bradley™ mama, too :)

Tanya Bland

480-329-8835

http://www.signingtime.com/

On-line ASL lessons - this is how I started to learn ASL :)

http://www.lifeprint.com/

Visual ASL Dictionary

http://www.aslpro.com/

Breastfeeding Group – Meets every other week on Fridays
Erin Rudd, facilitator (Bradley™ SPB alumni mama) – email Erin for schedule and location: [email protected]

Classes: Arizona Breastfeeding Center

http://azbreastfeedingcenter.com/welcome/

480.442.8491

Dignity Hospital Groups: For more information, please call the ResourceLink toll-free 

1 (877) 728-5414,

Chandler Hospital Breastfeeding Group – Wednesdays @ 11:00am

Mercy Gilbert Breastfeeding Group – Fridays @ 10:00 am

KellyMom.com – reliable on-line IBCLC resource with HUGE archiveof Q&A

http://kellymom.com/

La Leche League Calendar

http://www.lllofaz.org/meetings

La Leche League Tear Sheets – highlights from the WomanlyArt of Breastfeeding

http://www.llli.org/toolkit

GoGo Natural – local mamaprenuer

http://www.gogonatural.com/

Zoolikins

Two retail locations in Scottsdale & Chandler, AZ

http://www.zoolikins.com/

Chandler Library – look for “Baby Brain Time” and enroll at the first opening – classes fill up quickly

http://www.chandlerlibrary.org/

In-Home Classes: Parents as Teachers

http://azpartnershipforchildren.org/parentsAsTeachers.htm

National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families

http://www.zerotothree.org/

New Directions Institute for Infant Brain Development 

http://www.newdirectionsinstitute.org/

Priscilla Dunstan on Oprah

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgkZf6jVdVg

Purchase video

http://www.dunstanbaby.com/

Local classes (Phoenix, AZ)

http://www.parentlink.org/services/18classes/dunstan_baby_language.htm

Sample visual birth plan:

http://www.sweetpeabirths.com/blog/2014/09/02/Birth-Plans-for-Siblings.aspx

Ideas for sibling preparation during pregnancy and handling postpartum:

http://www.sweetpeafamilies.com/2014/05/05/tuesday-tips-sibling-preparation/

Children’s Books to share with them:

http://www.sweetpeabirths.com/blog/2011/10/07/Picture-Books-for-Siblings.aspx

These are all resources that I have found helpful as I grow as a parent.  Treat it as a buffet – take what works for you and leave the rest.  I am a huge believer that the best thing you can do is throw out the books and read your child.  That being said, it's good to have an idea list of things to try, and reassurance and validation that the path you are on is a good one...so, read to educate and empower yourself.  Try not to make yourself crazy trying to be a "perfect" parent (hint: they do not exist), or feel guilty about your choices.

A-ha parenting

http://www.ahaparenting.com/

Attachment Parenting

http://www.attachmentparenting.org/

5 Love Languages

http://www.5lovelanguages.com/

Gentle Hearts Parenting

http://www.littleheartsbooks.com/

Happiest Baby/Toddler on the Block

http://www.happiestbaby.com/

Janet Lansbury - Resources for Infant Educarers

http://www.janetlansbury.com/

Parenting with Love & Logic

http://www.loveandlogic.com/

The material included on this site is for informational purposes only.
It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation.  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®.

Bruss and I often quip that we could teach another set of classes after the Birth-Day.  What we teach for childbirth preparation is valuable, and there is definitely more than enough to share over twelve weeks to prepare for a healthy pregnancy and the birth journey.

• I believe that the healthy mother who carried the child probably knows more about that child before they are born than any book on earth.  Choices like breastfeeding, babywearing, co-sleeping; any or all of those add to the bond between parent and child.  It is a bond that helps us sense when something is off, or when something is going well - an invisible thread that keeps the family growing together.

• We do tell parents that there several good books about parenting written by very well-respected pediatricians and researchers in the field of infant and child development.  Some of my personal favorites are those from the Dr. Sears library and Dr. Harvey Karp. Just as important as the books is the communication between you and your partner. Talk to each other and see what you come up with between the two of you after you have done some reading. 

• About all those "expert" opinions:  They are great for getting ideas or uncovering possible answers.  However, if something doesn't feel right or it is not working for you and your Sweet Pea, put down the book and read your child.  You and your partner have raised them - what does your gut tell you?  

• Be flexible - each child is a unique individual.  You need to be a parent to each child, and that may mean changing or growing as they present their needs.  We say our fourth is breaking us...everything that worked with her older siblings from birthing to toddlerhood has been re-learned, because she doesn't respond to the same things.  And that's okay!  Our core value of love and respect allows us to honor that need and still retain our integrity as parents and nurturers.

What are some pregnancy/birth/parenting decisions that you want to make, that you suspect your family/friends will not agree with?  How will you be a united front?

How is your relationship with your parents?  How do you want to incorporate your child into your family, and your partner’s family?

How did your parents handle conflict between them?  How do you think you want to handle it when it happens in front of your child(ren)?

Were you spanked as a child?  How do you feel about it?  What do you think you want to do with your child(ren)?*

Were you tickled as a child?  How do you feel about it?  What do you think you want to do with your child(ren)?*

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®.

Although World Breastfeeding Week: Close to Mothers has come to a conclusion, we continue with Breastfeeding Awareness Month in the USA.  We will be bringing back our "In Their Own Words" for the rest of the month.

This series shares chronicles from students and readers about their own breastfeeding journeys.  Each mother has a unique story, one that I trust will empower you if you are learning about breastfeeding, and inspire you if you are in the trenches, struggling as you learn to breastfeed with your Sweet Pea.

Today's "Thoughtful Thursday" is not about breastfeeding specifically.  However, since a family's birth experience precedes the breastfeeding relationship, birth outcomes tend to directly influence the choice a mother makes about breastfeeding.  My thought relates to having a dialogue with your care provider about your birth:

"My obstetrician is trained medical professional.  He has years of schooling and experience about birth.  Who am I to question them?  Is it okay to question how they do what they do?"

"THE BUSINESS OF BEING BORN touches on a number of past medical interventions that have gone terribly wrong. The film explores the use of the drug scopolamine in the 40s, 50s and 60s that put mothers into a kind of “twilight sleep” that didn‟t stop pain, but merely eliminated the memory of pain by attacking the brain functions responsible for self-awareness and self-control, resulting in a kind of psychosis, followed by post-traumatic stress-like memories in thousands of new mothers. In the 30s doctors routinely took x-rays of the pelvis, resulting in babies with cancer. In the 70s, use of the drug thalidomide, used for morning sickness, caused birth defects, while in the 90s, the drug Cytotec was used to stimulate contractions in mothers who had undergone previous Cesarean section. This was later found to cause ruptured uteruses and high infant mortality."  

Read more about the movie here:

http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com/press/BusinessofBeingBorn.pdf

Cervidil is contraindicated in:

"- Patients with known hypersensitivity to prostaglandins.

- Patients in whom there is clinical suspicion or definite evidence of fetal distress where delivery is not imminent.

- Patients with unexplained vaginal bleeding during this pregnancy.

- Patients in whom there is evidence or strong suspicion of marked cephalopelvic disproportion.

- Patients in whom oxytocic drugs are contraindicated or when prolonged contraction of the uterus may be detrimental to fetal safety or uterine integrity, such as previous cesarean section or major uterine surgery (see PRECAUTIONS and ADVERSE REACTIONS).

- Patients already receiving intravenous oxytocic drugs.

- Multipara with 6 or more previous term pregnancies."

"Warnings

Women aged 30 years or older, those with complications during pregnancy and those with a gestational age over 40 weeks have been shown to have an increased risk of postpartum disseminated intravascular coagulation. In addition, these factors may further increase the risk associated with labor induction (See ADVERSE REACTIONS, Post-marketing surveillance). Therefore, in these women, use of dinoprostone should be undertaken with caution. Measures should be applied to detect as soon as possible an evolving fibrinolysis in the immediate post-partum period.

The Clinician should be alert that use of dinoprostone may result in inadvertent disruption and subsequent embolization of antigenic tissue causing in rare circumstances the development of Anaphylactoid Syndrome of Pregnancy (Amniotic Fluid Embolism)."

"Precautions

General: Since prostaglandins potentiate the effect of oxytocin, Cervidil must be removed before oxytocin administration is initiated and the patient's uterine activity carefully monitored for uterine hyperstimulation. If uterine hyperstimulation is encountered or if labor commences, the vaginal insert should be removed. Cervidil should also be removed prior to amniotomy.

Cervidil is contraindicated when prolonged contraction of the uterus may be detrimental to fetal safety and uterine integrity. Therefore, Cervidil should not be administered to patients with a history of previous cesarean section or uterine surgery given the potential risk for uterine rupture and associated obstetrical complications, including the need for hysterectomy and the occurrence of fetal or neonatal death.

2. Drug Interactions: Cervidil may augment the activity of oxytocic agents and their concomitant use is not recommended. A dosing interval of at least 30 minutes is recommended for the sequential use of oxytocin following the removal of the dinoprostone vaginal insert. No other drug interactions have been identified."

"Post-marketing surveillance:

Immune System Disorders: Hypersensitivity

Blood and lymphatic system disorders: Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (See WarningsSection)

Reproductive system: Reports of uterine rupture have been reported in association with use of Cervidil some required a hysterectomy and some resulted in subsequent fetal or neonatal death.

Vascular Disorders: Hypotension

Pregnancy, Puerperium and Perinatal Conditions: Amniotic fluid embolism"

"Contraindications:

Hypersensitivity to dinoprostone, prostaglandins, or any components of the product; patients in whom oxytocic drugs are contraindicated or when prolonged contractions of uterus are considered inappropriate; ruptured membranes; placenta previa; unexplained vaginal bleeding during current pregnancy; when vaginal delivery is not indicated; acute pelvic inflammatory disease; active cardiac, pulmonary, renal, or hepatic disease (suppository only)."

"General advice:

Carefully examine vagina to determine degree of effacement and appropriate length of endocervical catheter to be used for application of gel (10 mm if 50% effaced, 20 mm if no effacement).

Patient should be in dorsal position for administration and remain supine for 15 to 30 min after administration of cervical gel.

Following administration of vaginal suppository, the patient should remain in the supine position for 10 min.

Following administration of the vaginal insert, the patient should remain in a recumbent position for 2 h.

Inserts do not require warming prior to administration.

Suppositories and gel must be brought to room temperature. Do not use external sources of heat (eg, hot water bath, microwave oven) to decrease warming time.

Wait at least 6 to 12 h after administration of gel before using IV oxytocin; a dosing interval of at least 30 min is recommended after removal of insert.

Do not use dinoprostone vaginal suppository for extemporaneous preparation of any other dosage forms or for cervical ripening or other indications in the patient with term pregnancy."

"May augment effect of other oxytocic agents; avoid concomitant use. For the sequential use of oxytocin following dinoprostone cervical gel administration, a dosing interval of 6 to 12 h is recommended. A dosing interval of at least 30 min is recommended for the sequential use of oxytocin following the removal of the dinoprostone vaginal insert."

"Pregnancy Category C. Contraindicated if fetus in utero has reached viability stage except when cervical ripening is indicated."

"Lactation: Undetermined."

"Special Risk Patients

Use with caution in patients with asthma, glaucoma, or raised IOP, hypotension or hypertension, CV or renal or hepatic impairment, anemia, jaundice, diabetes, epilepsy, compromised uterus, infected endocervical lesions, acute vaginitis, in patients with cases of non-vertex or non-singleton presentation, and in patients with a history of previous uterine hypertony.

-Anaphylactoid syndrome of pregnancy Intracervical placement of dinoprostone may result in inadvertent disruption and subsequent embolization of antigenic tissue, and rarely leads to development of anaphylactoid syndrome of pregnancy (amniotic fluid embolism).

- Incomplete pregnancy termination If dinoprostone pregnancy termination is incomplete, take other measures to ensure complete abortion.

- Postpartum disseminated intravascular coagulation An increased risk has been described in patients whose labor was induced by physiologic means. Women who are 30 y and older, those with complications during pregnancy, and those with gestational age more than 40 wk are at risk.

- Pyrexia Transient pyrexia (temperature elevations in excess of 2°F), possibly due to the dinoprostone effect on hypothalamic regulation, was observed in 50% of patients receiving suppositories at the recommended dosage. Temperature returned to normal on discontinuation of therapy.

- Ruptured membranes Exercise caution when administering dinoprostone cervical gel or vaginal insert to patients with ruptured membranes.

- Uterine hyperstimulation Placement of dinoprostone cervical gel into the extra-amniotic space has been associated with uterine hyperstimulation. When using the vaginal insert, if uterine hyperstimulation is encountered or if labor starts, the vaginal insert should be removed."

"Generic Name: misoprostol (MYE-soe-PROST-ol) Brand Name: Cytotec Do not take Cytotec to reduce the risk of stomach ulcers caused by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) if you are pregnant. Cytotec may cause abortion, premature birth, or birth defects if taken during pregnancy. Life-threatening..."

(My note: yes - this is just how it appears - with the ellipsis there)

"Misoprostol has been assigned to pregnancy category X by the FDA. Animal studies have failed to reveal evidence of fetotoxicity and teratogenicity. In studies of women undergoing elective first trimester abortion, the administration of misoprostol 400 mcg for two doses caused increased uterine contractions and bleeding in 41% of cases, and partial or complete expulsion of uterine contents in 11% of cases." 

"Breastfeeding Warnings

Misoprostol is rapidly metabolized in the mother to misoprostol acid which is biologically active and is excreted in human breast milk. There are no published reports of adverse effects of misoprostol in breast-feeding infants of mothers taking misoprostol. The manufacturer recommends that caution should be exercised when misoprostol is administered to a nursing woman."

"What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving Pitocin (oxytocin)?

You should not receive this medication if you have ever had an allergic reaction to oxytocin."

"To make sure oxytocin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

genital herpes;

diabetes;

• high blood pressure;
• a heart rhythm disorder;
• a history of cervical cancer;
• a history of severe infection in your uterus;
• a history of difficult labor because you have a small pelvis;
• if you have ever had surgery on your cervix or uterus (including a prior C-section);
• if your pregnancy is less than 37 weeks; or
• if you have had 5 or more pregnancies.’’

"Tell your caregivers at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

fast, slow, or uneven heart rate;

excessive bleeding long after childbirth;

headache, confusion, slurred speech, hallucinations, severe vomiting, severe weakness, muscle cramps, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, seizure (convulsions), fainting, shallow breathing or breathing that stops; or dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure)."

"Less serious side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting;
• runny nose, sinus pain or irritation;
• memory problems; or
• more intense or more frequent contractions (this is an expected effect of oxytocin)."

"For Health Professionals

Hepatic side effects have included neonatal jaundice."

Read more at HERE 

"Genitourinary

Genitourinary side effects have included pelvic hematoma. Excessive doses have produced pelvic fracture, uterine hypertonicity, spasm, tetanic contraction and rupture."

"Hematologic

Hematologic side effects have included postpartum hemorrhage and fatal afibrinogenemia."

Read more HERE 

"General side effects have include low Apgar scores at 5 minutes. Fetal death has been reported."

Read more HERE 

• Is Mom okay?
• Is Baby okay?
• What are the benefits of using this drug?
• What are the risks of using this drug? (You have the right to read the drug insert for yourself in the care facility)
• What else is going to happen if we say yes? (Additional procedures, time in bed, time being monitored, position for mom, etc.)
• What are the expected results?  What if we don’t see them? 
• What are the alternatives if we choose not to do this?
• What does our intuition tell us?
• What happens if we choose to do nothing?

I got a desperate text this week from an alumni mom.  A mama in her circle heard these words from her OB, “Nothing good happens after 40 weeks,” as a reason for her to schedule an induction.

All I could think, was, "WOW!" and how grateful I was that our care providers did not have that belief.

 I want to preface this post by 

1. PubMed offers an ABSTRACT of a Harvard Study that questions the current method of establishing due dates.  Their study found that white, low-risk women delivered after their due date.  The median for first time moms (primipara) was found to be 8 days past the estimated due date.  Moms in their 2+ pregnancy (multipara) were 3 days past.
2. Childbirth Connection offers an evidence-based analysis of the concerns, methods and options available to birthing families when faced with the choice of induction.

• Keep in mind that this list may also apply during labor, when you may be “failing to progress” per the expected dilation measurements.  The Bradley Method® offers the possibility that your body might have a Natural Alignment Plateau while mama and baby make their last adjustments.  This period with no measurable dilation is often followed by an acceleration of labor and the birth – more about that HERE.
  
  

1. Take the time to read the information offered by Childbirth Connection on induction – and read ALL of it.  HERE is that link again.
2. LISTEN to your care provider, which is why it is so super important to choose a provider you trust implicitly.  They are the expert in pregnancy and labor.  They have prior experience and training that leads them to make the recommendations they are making to you today.  If you know your care provider is using evidence-based practice, then you know that they are asking you to consider actions supported by research and probably not asking you to do something for their convenience.

• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2342739

• http://childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10651

• http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/newsroom/news-releases/year-2004/fetal-lungs-provide-a-signal-initiating-labor-ut-southwestern-researchers-find.html

• http://www.marchofdimes.com/pregnancy/getready_atleast39weeks.html