Chandler, Arizona
Sweet Pea ​Births
Sweet Pea ​Births
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
Blog
In Their Own Words: Annika's Story
Posted on April 15, 2016 at 4:10 AM |
![]() |
April is Cesarean Awareness Month. As such, the blog topics this month will focus around cesarean birth journeys, and options that cesarean birth warriors have for subsequent pregnancies. If you would like to submit your story for our In Their Own Words series, please send your submission to krystyna{at}sweetpeabirths{dot}com. Here is Annika's story of her primary cesarean, and her VBAC journey with her second child: When you are pregnant with
your first child you have all these wonderful naive concepts about birth…well,
at least I did. Not to say I had a traumatic birth with my first child, but I
would say it definitely was a sobering lesson for my husband and I. Our plan was to have Landan
in a birthing center with minimal intervention and in a birthing tub. The
entire idea of a water birth and a welcoming atmosphere to me was literally heaven
and I would dream about it almost daily. At our 39 week check up our midwife
seemed a bit puzzled when she was examining my belly and feeling around for
Landan's position and promptly concluded after a ultrasound that he was in fact
breech and very comfortably nesting in my right rib cage. So with a referral in
hand and a last minute appointment with Dr. Medchill we made our way to his
office for another ultrasound to determine if I was a good candidate for an
external cephalic eversion (aka, external flipping or rotating of the baby). Much to our delight, Dr
Medchill concluded that there was sufficient fluid surrounding Landan and the
umbilical cord was not wrapped around his neck. So off we were to the OB Triage
at St Joe's to attempt flipping Landan with our bags packed "just in
case." While the idea of externally having my baby flipped was not
appealing, I really didn't have a whole lot of time to really understand the
gravity of what I was about to experience, nor do I think I would have cared to
be honest. I had my mind made up that
this was going to work and I was going to get my beautiful peaceful water birth
I had been dreaming about for 9 months. With my husband sitting at my head, Dr
Medchill on my right side pushing Landan's head and upper body, and a head
resident pushing Landan's legs and butt, they attempted 4 times to flip Landan
with no avail. My son was perfectly comfortable where he was at, and no one was
going to convince him to move otherwise. At this point, my husband and I had
been dealing with this ordeal all day and both of us were so incredibly burned
out. I was shaking thanks to the muscle relaxers they gave me so they could
perform the procedure and I didn't even want to dare to think about how sore my
belly was going to be once the pain medication wore off. So, seeing our
exhaustion, Dr Medchill offered to perform a cesarean birth within the hour. Looking back on it now, I am
actually very grateful for his willingness to help us in the midst of our
exhaustion. Let me be clear, he was not pushy by any means and if you have ever
encountered Dr. Medchill he is the most kind, but honest, human being on this
planet. In his professional opinion especially since I had showed no sign of
labor, my cervix was completely shut, minimal effacement, and Landan was
definitely not going anywhere from his comfy spot, the chances of my body
kicking into natural labor and Landan flipping and descending through the birth
canal was really minimal. Since I had never had a
vaginal birth to begin with, I also had what the medical community deems as an
"untried pelvis," which essentially means no baby has ever passed
through. Which can diminish your chances of having a successful natural breech
birth even farther. So, my husband and I decided
to go for the compromise and I was prepped for surgery before the ink was dry
on the consent papers. Looking back on it now, I'm actually incredibly grateful
for how quickly they moved as my husband and I weren't really given the chance
to think too much about what was going on. The cesarean birth, from what I
remember, was rather uneventful. I remember being extraordinarily cold, and
feeling very alienated being so exposed on the table, but the staff was really
pleasant and made me feel comfortable. Once Landan was born he was
quickly cleaned, weighed, and swaddled, and brought over to me where we
snuggled our heads together for a fleeting moment. My husband was allowed to
take him from there to the OB Triage area to have skin-to-skin contact while I
was being put back together. Granted, I would have loved to have that contact
with Landan myself, but stepping back from that, it really was a special time
for Danial and Landan. They definitely formed an unbreakable bond and for that
I am absolutely thankful for. That was such a special gift that Danial was able
to have with Landan and I wouldn't take that away from him ever. Fast forward 5 months and we
were a busy family with a new(Ish) baby still taking over our house. Since
having Landan I hadn't really thought much about his delivery or the ordeal
much as I was happy to have my son earthside safely. It was when I found out I
was pregnant with our second child that month that my feelings and emotions
about Landan's delivery and my upcoming delivery would soon start to bring to
the surface all sorts of emotions. Luckily for us, we decided to
stay with Dr. Medchill and continue care through him as he was most familiar
with us, and our previous experience with him was really outstanding. He didn't
hesitate when I asked if I had the option of attempting a normal VBAC and said
that I was a really good candidate and that he actually would encourage me to
at least try. Let me tell you, that was
music to my ears! But at the same time, the question in my head was "what
exactly am I going to expect?" I couldn't have the water birth that I had
fantasized about during Landan's pregnancy, and I was definitely not going to
get a very birth center like atmosphere in the hospital, so what exactly COULD
I expect? That's where getting involved
with the ICAN chapter in Phoenix really helped me wrap my head around my
options but also internally deal with some unresolved feelings from Landan's
delivery that I didn't even know I had. Also, getting involved with ICAN really
gave me confidence to ask questions that I didn't even know were subjects I
could ask! For example, I had no idea
that I could ask to have intermittent monitoring which would allow me to get in
and out of the shower along with walking freely without being attached to a
machine all the time. So armed with information, my husband and I navigated the
months leading up to Adaline's birth with optimism and trust in our care
provider that we could have a fair trial of labor. I'm not going to lie, while
we had an amazing support group around us from our care provider, to our doula,
to our family, there was some SERIOUS fear in me of the entire process. No
matter how you look at it, the incision is always going to be there. It doesn't
go away and that doubt of whether or not that area will be able to withstand
labor and birth is constantly lingering no matter how many statistics you look
at of the success of VBACs. I can say with confidence
that there were MANY times where I just wanted to schedule a cesarean birth and go
with what I knew and could expect. That is so much less scary then embarking on
the marathon of labor and delivery where you have no idea what to expect. But,
there was a really large part of me that just really wanted to experience the
beauty of labor and be able to say that I could do it on my own. So, I stuck to my guns and
kept drawing from my support group of my husband, my doula, and my care
provider. Much to my delight, on October 1, 2014 my water broke (which is
definitely not a glamorous experience like Hollywood claims it is!!) and labor
started with gusto about an hour later. My husband, doula and I made our quick
exit to the hospital as my contractions were coming on with force and
relatively quickly. After a marathon of 17 1/2
hours of hard, active labor, my daughter was born on October 2, 2014 and was
the most beautiful VBAC baby I could ever ask for. She absolutely made me work
for my VBAC and I truly couldn't have done it without my doula and my husband, who stayed up with me the entire night going between the shower, birthing ball,
holding the puke bin between contractions, making sure I drank water, and
listening to me when I was so tired that I could feel my body giving in after
15 hours and asking for an epidural simply so I could take a 30 min power nap. I have clients that ask me
all the time how I was able to get through that VBAC and it’s really plain and
simple to me. There is no part of me that hesitates when I say that I
absolutely drew from the strength of my husband and my doula the entire time.
Having my support group really helped me get through the toughest parts of that
labor and then also being at peace with getting an epidural and taking a nap.
When it boils down to it, that's what my body needed and having my support
group there allowed me to listen to my body. There is nothing I regret from
Adaline's birth and in a way it was so healing for me and resolved so much self
doubt from Landan's birth that I didn't even know existed in me until I was
faced with the option of having a normal VBAC. Now we are weeks away from meeting #3 and my husband and I feel so comfortable and armed with such confidence that we do know our options and are going into this second vaginal birth. I know, and for the first time, feel absolutely confident in my body; that it knows what to do and I also know how to listen to it as well. We have moved to a different state so having to switch providers was nerve racking until my husband and I really sat down and realized that we were completely confident with the criteria that we wanted and were setting for ourselves and also that we would find a care provider who was just as amazing as Dr Medchill was. Luckily for us, we did find
an amazing care provider and he is definitely on the same page as we are with
this delivery. My hope and prayer for every single mother going through her
VBAC whether it be after one or multiple cesarean births is that you really
find your voice and find your support. I know that's what helped me navigate
this incredible journey that I've been on the past 3 1/2 years and I only can
hope that every single mother finds that strength as well. Photographer Name: Allie Hannah Photography Henna: Pheobe Sinclair Disclaimer: The material included in this 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®. |
Two Cesareans and A VBAC
Posted on May 1, 2015 at 12:33 AM |
![]() |
Here is our final post for Cesarean {Birth} Awareness Month. (I missed by a day when I was planning posts :/ Oops!) Today I am sharing two cesarean birth stories from SPB alumni families. Both beautifully illustrate the gift of a cesarean when they are medically necessary.
And to round off the stories, here is the Bland Family story. They were classmates with the Schlueter family, and joined us as part of their journey as they prepared for a Trial of Labor After Cesarean (TOLAC). They were able to have a VBAC - here is how it happened for them: My C-section and VBAC journey by Tanya Bland With my first pregnancy I planned an all natural birth. I went to midwives, took baby classes, the whole nine yards. 40 weeks came and went. When I hit 41 weeks the ultrasound showed that my daughter was measuring very large. They said she was weighing about 9 lbs, 15 oz. I was told all the concerns with a large baby and being "overdue". Unfortunately in hind sight I feel I didn't have enough knowledge or the confidence to ask more questions. I became scared by the "big baby" issues and decided to schedule an induction. We decided to go with a round of prostaglandin gels. My husband and I checked in to the hospital around 2pm and had to lay down in the bed for 6hrs then I went home. Nothing happened the next day. The following day I went back to the hospital for another round of gels. They admitted me and proceeded with more inductions. I went back and forth between prostaglandin gels and cervadil for 4 days. When I finally got to 3cm they started pitocin. The contractions started to intensify for a few hours but then I fell asleep. I slept for about 3 hrs and when I woke up all my progress had come to a halt. At that point my midwife told me about the risks if I were to continue of possible shoulder dystocia. Not knowing the stats or real risks of shoulder dystocia my husband and I became very scared. We decided to go with the option for a c-section. Even during the c-section they had to use a vacuum to get Taylor out. I feel that she truly wasn't ready to come despite how big she was. She was born at 10 lbs, 5 oz. I attended some ICAN meetings and did more research and by the time I was pregnant again I was determined for a VBAC. With my second child I decided to attend Bradley™ classes to gain even more knowledge, along with hiring a doula. I believe that having Krystyna and Bruss, along with my doula in my corner to ask questions whenever I was unsure of things, not only made me feel more at ease but also helped with my successful VBAC. I made a plan ahead of time and knew that I would be "overdue". At 41 weeks the doctors wanted me to have a repeat c-section. Thankfully, with the knowledge I had learned I knew that as long as I was healthy and my baby was healthy that I could continue to wait until baby was ready to come. My midwives were very wonderful in supporting me with waiting and dealt with the doctors for me. The day before I hit 42 weeks I went in for my check up. My midwife said she supported me completely but needed to express the risks for continuing to wait. She offered to start an induction using the Foley Bulb. This time I felt more prepared. I called Krystyna and my doula, Diane Acuna and was able to research the positives and negatives. I made the choice to continue to wait because I was healthy and so was baby. I felt at peace with whatever was going to happen, whether it be VBAC or repeat C-section because I felt like I had done all I could and research all I could. Thankfully Kaylee decided to make her grand entrance at exactly 42 weeks and I got to have my completely natural VBAC. If anyone is open to advice, this is what I would tell them: take the Bradley™ classes and hire a doula! What a difference having all that knowledge and extra support in my corner did for my peace of mind and outlook. 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®. |
VBAC Preparation: Ask the Midwife
Posted on April 29, 2015 at 7:16 PM |
![]() |
Our posts for Cesarean Awareness Month continue. With their permission, I am sharing notes today that I took at an
ICAN meeting presented by some Phoenix-area midwives in 2012. The main presenters and most of what you see below are the paraphrased words of Diane Ortega, CNM
and Belinda Hodder, CNM. They are midwives at Valley Women for Women, whose overall cesarean rate in 2014 was 7% in the midwife practice.* Also in
attendance and adding commentary to some of the answers was another CNM in the
area. While all three midwives believe
in and support the natural process, all of these women have had a cesarean
themselves. It seems to me that it lends them an
extra dose of vestment in their patient’s goals for a vaginal birth after
cesarean.
The format of this meeting was question and answer. Below is a paraphrase of the midwives’
answers to the questions posed by the women in attendance at the ICAN meeting
on October 24, 2012 in Tempe, AZ.
There is not a lot of opinion offered here.
It was a presentation of information so that a woman considering a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) could consider
the information as she prepared for her next birth journey. This information is offered a starting
point for the previous cesarean birth woman to do her own research so that she could make the decision that
is right for her unique situation.
VBAC Planning and Preparation
Q: What are the best methods to prepare for a VBAC? A: There are several things you can do to prepare:
Q: What can I do to prepare my body for a VBAC?
A: There are a few things you can do
Q: Will the type of sutures I have determine whether or not I can have a VBAC?
A: Whether an obstetrician will do a
single-layer or a double-layer of sutures depending on how they are trained,
and sometimes it depends on what the uterus looks like. As long as you have a low, transverse scar,
or the status of your scar is “unknown” than you can have what is called a
“trail of labor”. If you have a vertical
scar, the standard is to have a repeat cesarean. Uterine Rupture
Q: Will my chance for a uterine rupture increase with the length of labor?
A: There is no evidence in the research that supports that. (At this point, ICAN leader Stephanie Stanley mentioned that a uterine rupture can happen at any time, with or without a previous cesarean – HERE is her research on that topic). Q: What are signs of uterine rupture? A: Pain that doesn’t go away after the contraction is over,
and a decrease in the baby’s movement an/or heart rate.
Q: How long does it take to heal from a uterine rupture? A: Like a cesarean; maybe there will be a little more bleeding.
Going Past 40 Weeks
Q: What is the concern about going postdate? A: ACOG guidelines are that babies should be born by 42 weeks gestation. While the literature does not show an increase of risk for uterine rupture, it does indicate that a baby does not tolerate a labor as well after 42 weeks. There are more issues with meconium, the umbilical cord and the placenta after the 42-week mark. You could find a care provider that is willing to let you go past 41 weeks as long as you are having ultra-sounds and non-stress tests done.
Q: What is the policy for induction if a
mother wants a trial of labor after multiple cesareans? A: That usually depends on the personal beliefs of your doctor(s). The use of prostaglandins or Cytotec is not indicated. In reality, there are no guidelines, only protocols to consider and to follow.
Q: How do I know if I am really “past” my estimated due date? A: The ultrasound at 9-10 weeks is considered to be the most accurate predictor of your estimated due date. If you know the history of your menstrual cycle (menses), or if you used an ovulation kit, you might have another data point for establishing your conception date, and thereby having another way to estimate your due date.
Q: What are strategies for inducing labor for a VBAC mom? A: Things that are done in office and then allow you to go home and labor there: a foley bulb (aka foley ball) or a stripping of the membranes. In the hospital and you stay at the hospital: foley ball, artificial rupture of membranes, and in some cases, you could use Pitocin.
About Labor
Q: What is the most common reason for a repeat cesarean after a trial of labor? A: A slow progress of labor with no real signposts that labor is going to progress. Keep in mind that if you come to the hospital early in labor, you start chipping away at your chances for a VBAC.
Q: Why do I have to be continually monitored? A: Our hands are tied by hospital policy – any VBAC patient has
to have continuous electronic fetal monitoring.
We work in a community that is frightened of litigation.
On the upside, if everyone looking in from the outside can “see” that mom and
baby are doing fine, this can buy you more time.
There are options in monitoring. There
are waterproof monitors that can be used in water during labor, and there are
also some hospitals that use wireless monitors.
HERE is a great visual on all
the different positions you can labor in even if you are continuously
monitored.
In reality, the amount of monitoring is specific to the hospital. You have to decide how you feel about going
Against Medical Advice (AMA) if you feel strongly about not having a continuous
monitor.
Q: What are your thoughts on an epidural?
A: You want to try to get into labor on your own at the beginning since
epidurals tend to slow your labor down.
When we say “get into labor” we mean dilation to at least a 6 with a
good, established pattern of contractions.
Pain is one of the indicators that can tell you something is going wrong
right away. If a mom has an epidural,
bradycardia (slow heart rate) in the baby is the only indicator we have that
things are not staying low risk. The use
of Pitocin to augment a slowed labor can also increase your chance of uterine
rupture.
Q: How long can I go with ruptured
membranes (broken bag of waters)?
A: If you are GBS negative, you could wait up to 24 hours before coming
in. If you are GBS positive, then we
evaluate that on a case-by-case basis. (Krystyna’s note: the presence of GBS at the time of labor raises the
concern for mom/and or baby to develop an infection during labor since the bag
of waters in no longer intact and able to provide a barrier against infection.)
Q: What are ways to prevent tearing during the pushing phase?
A: Eat well – a good diet packed with fruits and vegetables. There is no evidence that shows that perineal
massage will prevent tearing. You could
avoid tearing by tuning into the natural “safety mechanism” known as the “Ring
of Fire”. By tuning into your body, you
will slowly ease the baby out. This is
another reason to consider going the natural route: you don’t feel the ring of fire
when you have an epidural. In closing, here are their "Words of Wisdom": CARE PROVIDER
WHAT IF…
If your VBAC doesn’t work out, be easy on yourself.
(Krystyna’s note:HERE is a family-centered cesarean on film.
What is a little startling about this is that one of the references is
dated 2008! At least we are doing our
part to bring awareness to this option.)
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
*Rate for one baby, head down, for patients who wanted to have a vaginal birth was 7% in 2014. This marks the third year they have collected data and the rate has remained 8 % or below whilst their overall number of patients rises each year. What did you do to prepare for your VBAC/CBAC journey? What did you learn that you are willing to share? 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 Visual reference of labor positions during EFM http://www.icanofatlanta.com/?page_id=159 The Family-Centered Cesarean http://blog.ican-online.org/2012/04/14/the-family-centered-cesarean/ Video: The Family-Centered Cesarean http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5RIcaK98Yg
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®. |
VBAC: The BIG picture of the risks
Posted on April 24, 2015 at 9:58 AM |
![]() |
If
you have had a previous cesarean, this is THE “drop” word for many care
providers when they have their “informed consent” talk with patients for
consequent pregnancies. Today I want to take a look at several other complications related to labor and delivery. If your care provider is expecting you to be influenced by risk factors for uterine rupture, I think it is fair to look at all the other risk factors of pregnancy and labor in order to create a bigger picture and put things into perspective. Pregnancy is generally considered a healthy time in a woman’s life. In order to make life, the woman’s body has to be able to support that life. In most cases, it is healthy women who become pregnant. What do we have to be afraid of? In most cases: nothing. However, as with many if not all things in life, there is a certain level of risk, and yes, sometimes things go wrong. So let’s start with the risk numbers for uterine rupture. Read THIS blog post for an in depth look at the numbers. Here is the summary of the incidence of uterine rupture, depending on what category you fall in:
So what are your risks of other complications of labor?
True statisticians are going to take issue with this oversimplification of
comparisons. In recognition that a
percentage is more than its face value, here are the ratios and the sources for
my information: Postpartum Hemorrhage: 1/5 – .2000 – 20% Definition: “Postpartum
hemorrhage is traditionally defined as blood loss greater than 500 mL during a
vaginal delivery or greater than 1,000 mL with a cesarean delivery. However,
significant blood loss can be well tolerated by most young healthy females, and
an uncomplicated delivery often results in blood loss of more than 500 mL
without any compromise of the mother's condition.” Quoted from Medscape “The incidence of postpartum hemorrhage is about 1 in 5 pregnancies, but this figure varies widely due to differential definitions for postpartum hemorrhage.” Stat SOURCE Preterm labor and preterm delivery: 1/9 – .1111 – 11.11% Definition: Baby born before 37 weeks Stat SOURCE Post-Maturity: 3-6% Definition: pregnancy past 42 weeks in which the placenta cannot provide the
nourishment to maintain a healthy fetus
Definitions of the types of breech:
Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes before 37 weeks: 3% 3% of all pregnancies and occurs in approximately 150,000 pregnancies yearly in the United States Definition: a condition of pregnancy in which the mother’s blood pressure
starts to rise to dangerously high levels, the indicator for possibility of
more complications that are potentially fatal to mother and/or baby; 2% to 6% in healthy, nulliparous women (women who have never given birth yet) Stat SOURCE Placenta Abruptio: 1.0% Definition: the placenta separates from the uterine wall before delivery
of the baby
Stat & Quote SOURCE UTERINE RUPTURE STATS FALL HERE Umbilical cord prolapse: 1/300 – .0033 – 0.33% Definition: the umbilical cord precedes the baby in the birth canal Definition: the placenta grows too deeply through the uterine wall July 2012 study publication Stat SOURCE What do you think now that you have seen a wide array of complications and risks? 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. For more reading: Uterine Rupture in Pregnancy: Article dated July 31, 2012 Understanding Labor and Delivery Complications – The Basics from WebMD http://www.webmd.com/baby/understanding-labor-delivery-complications-basics The Risks of Cesarean Section http://www.motherfriendly.org/Resources/Documents/TheRisksofCesareanSectionFebruary2010.pdf 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: Cesarean Support
Posted on April 21, 2015 at 3:18 AM |
![]() |
I interviewed Stephanie about her childbirth classes last week. She came back to sit down with me and talk about the mission of ICAN, and we talked a little about peer-to-peer support. Here is what she had to say about this amazing group: And here is my virtual interview with Jenni Fromment, one of the co-leaders of our local ICAN chapter in Phoenix, AZ.
If you have heard about an ICAN chapter in your area, and you still haven't made it to a meeting, I encourage you to take the first step and get to a meeting this month. You may feel all alone...as Stephanie mentioned, find your courage and come out to a meeting. You are not alone. There is more to birth than,"at least you have a healthy baby". This support group knows it and is available to walk your postpartum journey with you. ICAN Infernational: http://www.ican-online.org/ ICAN of Phoenix: http://www.ican-online.org/phoenix/ Have you had help along your postpartum journey? What worked for you? Feel free to give a shout-out to your local ICAN group or your ICAN leaders in the comments. Comments will be moderated and posted. BUT WAIT - THERE'S MORE: Here are some specials for the month of April from ICAN and Give-Birth... ICAN: Membership Sale - www.ican-online.org/join Give-Birth: In honor of Cesarean Awareness Month Stephanie will be offering her 6 Week Class Series for $100! If you're not due for a while you can still take advantage of this offer. Contact her for details. Disclaimer: |
Q&A with SPB: Childbirth Classes for VBAC or CBAC
Posted on April 14, 2015 at 10:57 AM |
![]() |
We are honored to share an amazing childbirth educator and Cesarean Birth Advocate with you today. We got to sit down with Stephanie Stanley, founder of Give-Birth.org, and in today's VLOG we bring you a short interview with her: GiveBirth Workshops: Want to learn more about what VBAC is, why it matters, and why it's not standard practice for most care providers? The GiveBirth VBAC workshop will go in depth to answer all these questions and we don't stop there. In this 4 hour educational and interactive workshop you and your partner (and doula too, if you want to bring her!) will learn all about your options for VBAC, how to find the information and resources you need to make birth choices that are right for you, and how to release your previous expectations (or limitations) of birth and move forward open to a new experience. We also include 9 practical tips to prepare for your VBAC. Cesarean Awareness Month Special: In honor of Cesarean Awareness Month I will be offering my 6 Week Class Series for $100! If you are not due for a while you can still take advantage of this offer. Contact me for details. Upcoming Classes Preparing for Birth After Cesarean - 6 Week Series Wednesday evenings, May 6th - June 10th GiveBirth: VBAC Workshop Saturday May 23rd (time TBA) About GiveBirth GiveBirth is an idea born of a desire to help new parents discover and enjoy the experience of birth, regardless of how their birth unfolds. Birth is a transition for both the baby and the parents, as individuals and as a family. The way we welcome our children into this world, into our lives, begins at birth and our experience impacts bonding and growth through that transition. Our goal with GiveBirth is to create an organization committed to educating, supporting, inspiring and empowering parents as they prepare to Give Birth. Disclaimer: |
Wordless Wednesday: Cesarean Awareness Month
Posted on April 8, 2015 at 6:10 PM |
![]() |
There are no mommy wars on this page. Every birth is acknowledged, as our tag line is, "Celebrating every Sweet Pea and their birth." However your child enters the world, it is the day of their birth, as well as the birth of a Mother and Father. If you need help processing your birth, please email me at krystyna{at}sweetpeabirths{dot}com and I would be happy to send you a resource list. Cesareans: This Coach still got to cut the cord - you can preserve some elements of your birth plan, even if it plays out differently than you prepared for. Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC): SPB students working through VBAC labor ICAN of Phoenix leader and baby* ICAN of Phoenix leader, husband and VBAC baby* We celebrate ALL births at Sweet Pea Births - ALL Birth-Days are the first day of your family's life. That is not to say there is not grief or sorrow for a birth that doesn't go as expected - we hope and pray that with time, glimmers of joy can be gleaned from your birth experience. If you had a cesarean birth, we invite you to find an ICAN support group in your area, and then prepare for a VBAC if that is a choice that works for your family. Thank you to our students and friends who sent pictures to share today...there is so much to say about cesareans...we'll leave these pictures with you today and share words and thoughts throughout the month.
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®. |
VBAC: What Your OB is Supposed To Know and Acknowledge
Posted on April 3, 2015 at 3:42 PM |
![]() |
Last year I wrote an article on evidence-based practice for
The Clarion, the newsletter published by ICAN and sent to it’s
subscribers (Spring 2014). I read A LOT of documents and studies in preparation for that! Since it is Cesarean Awareness Month, I thought it fitting to share those with you. The information shared below is accessible to all care providers who care for women in their childbearing years. If you would like a Trial of Labor with a subsequent pregnancy after a cesarean birth, then inform yourself about what the professionals are saying. Examine your expectations, and find a care provider that supports your intentions for your next birth journey. I have provided a brief summary, excerpt, and link to the complete document so that you can read that are meaningful to you in full. This document from ACOG sets new goals for the obstetrical practice as a whole to re-evaluate their standard practices and make necessary
changes to reduce the primary cesarean rate: Safe Prevention of the Primary Cesarean Delivery
ACOG http://bit.ly/1e5A2TW This document from ACOG outlines the benefits and risks of a trial of labor after a cesarean (TOLAC), and help a doctor and a patient determine whether or not they are a candidate for TOLAC:Vaginal Birth After Previous Cesarean Delivery
ACOG - http://bit.ly/1jFbSSg This article outlines some of the different changes that
might be made in the way labor is managed – definitely talking points for ANY
family to discuss with their care provider to ensure they are receiving
evidence-based care: Safe Prevention of the Primary Cesarean Delivery: ACOG and
SMFM Change the Game
Science & Sensibility » http://bit.ly/1imlVdt Prepared with the intention, “To provide health care providers, patients, and the general
public with a responsible assessment of currently available data on vaginal
birth after cesarean (VBAC).” NIH Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) Conference - Panel
Statement
NIH - http://1.usa.gov/1jFdrQ7 Perspective and summary of the revised recommendations
issued by online news source, Medscape: ACOG Issues Less Restrictive Guidelines for VBAC
Medscape - http://bit.ly/1impfpd A look at what evidence-based practice is – great place to
empower you as a consumer and demand evidence-based care, and help evaluate the
choice to change providers if you are not getting evidence-based care: Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice
LibGuides at Duke University Medical Center
http://bit.ly/1e5zxcH The jury is still out as to how this will affect mothers who birthed by cesarean who want a Trial of Labor with subsequent pregnancies. Theoritically, it should allow for more time before a mother is considered "past due" and a care provider talks about induction. Ob-Gyns Redefine Meaning of "Term Pregnancy"
ACOG Publication http://bit.ly/1y5woWq Any thoughts on cesareans or VBAC? Please leave 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®. Bradley Method® natural childbirth classes offered in Arizona: Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale, Payson |
Wordless Wednesday: Breastfeeding
Posted on April 10, 2014 at 7:25 AM |
![]() |
This week's theme for Wordless Wednesday was breastfeeding in the immediate postpartum period. Whether you birthed vaginally or via cesarean, it is possible for mothers to breastfeed. Our first series is of a mama feeding in the recovery room after a cesarean, and a day later, still swollen from the drugs used for the induction and the cesarean. She went on to have a great breastfeeding relationship with this Sweet Pea, and was our student for her VBAC baby in 2013. The second set of pictures are from our births. I hadn't thought about it until after seeing our student's comments about her third picture...I was definitely more swollen after Charger's birth than any of the others because I got lots of IV fluids between the penicillin (I was positive for GBS Strep) and the Pitocin over our two days in the hospital. Interesting to note which babies I nursed skin-to-skin and which ones were handed to me as little burritos...now that I know better we talk about immediate skin-to-skin in the postpartum period to help get breastfeeding off to a good start. 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®. |
Inside Look: Vbac Junkie
Posted on April 5, 2014 at 7:09 PM |
![]() |
Jesse
Franks is a mom who I had the honor to meet early on in her VBAC journey. She is now a co-leader of the ICAN of Phoenix
Chapter and admin at the facebook page Vbacjunkie. She
is not only an amazing mama and leader, she is also a talented artist. She has graced many a belly cast with her
imaginative art, and she recently opened an Etsy shop to celebrate birth. I can't remember a time when I wasn't motivated to make jewelry! But the vbacjunkie project started late 2013, when I was trying to find the perfect gift for a friend. She recently had a home birth VBAC with twins. I quickly realized finding that specialized of a gift would be next to impossible, so I got to it! What inspires your designs? The women I meet and the birth stories I hear. I may not always remember a name, but I can remember an impressive amount of details from someone's birth story. And no matter what the story, women deserve the chance to show off that story. What else are you offering in your shop? Right now we have personalized jewelry and crease-less hair ties. Any of them can be personalized with stamped pendants. I hope to have some personalized baby hats up soon. I am the only VBAC store out there! CBAC, HBAC, VBAC, Home birth, I know I'm not appealing to a huge market, but this is where my passion is, it's where my energy goes. What do you like to do when you’re not making jewelry or being crafty? I am a stay at home mom of two, number three on the way, and my kiddos keep me pretty busy. I also spend a lot of time doing volunteer work for ICAN. (International Cesarean Awareness Network) I do love running though. I just finished my first 1/2 marathon in January. And when I can sneak it in, I watch terrible reality TV. Its my guilty pleasure. How did you celebrate your births? 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®. |
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)
/