The Days of a Doula

MOVED

2010-06-29T10:14:00.003-05:00

The Blog has moved!

www.wiregrassdoulaservices.com

Bishops Score

2010-05-26T18:49:00.008-05:00

Before considering labour induction, you can determine your chances of a successful induction by scoring yourself using the Bishops Score table, below.

A lower score can mean induction may be more difficult, longer, and will most likely be harder on you and your baby.

The higher the score, the more favorable the cervix. Clinical trials showing a score of 6-7 or more were associated with successful inductions, but most agree that a score of 9 is preferable.

Cervix	Score
	0	1	2	3
Position	Posterior	Mid-position	Anterior	---
Consistency	Firm	Medium	Soft	---
Effacement	0-30%	40-50%	60-70%	>80%
Dilation	Closed	1-2cm	3-4cm	>5cm
Baby's Station	-3	-2	-1	+1, +2

Further Bishops Score considerations:

Add 1 point to your score for:

Preeclampsia
Each prior vaginal birth

Subtract 1 point from score for:

Postdates pregnancy
Nulliparity (if this is your first baby)
Premature or prolonged rupture of membranes

Website DOWN

2010-05-26T18:44:00.003-05:00

So, my website is down and I'm bummed. So, while we are trying to figure it out, please feel free to just browse this site or the Wiregrass BirthNetwork site, or just email or call me if you have questions.

Hopefully it won't be down forever. :(

What pain reliever is ten times more effective than Valium?

2010-05-22T08:35:00.002-05:00

Oxytocin!

Immediately before orgasm, levels of the hormone oxytocin rise by 5 times, determining a huge release of endorphins. These chemicals calm pain because the pressure in the brain's blood vessels is lowered while we love.

This is why natural oxytocin (the love hormone) in labor signals the brain for endorphins and lessons the pain of contractions.

The primary conscious behavior or thought process that increases oxytocin is caring for another. Appreciation, generous touch, gratitude, and emotional connections with others also raise oxytocin levels. In addition, oxytocin appears to be behind many of the health benefits from meditation, massage and acupuncture.

In addition to oxytocin's powerful effects on the body, it strongly affects your mind and behavior. It is nature's antidepressant and anti-anxiety hormone. It creates feelings of calm and a sense of connection, so it actually shapes how you view the world. The whole universe looks like a better place when you feel tranquil and loving.

Cesarean Rate Jumps Again

2010-04-25T09:30:00.003-05:00

For Immediate Release

Cesarean Rate Jumps Again To Record High; 32.3% of Births Resulting In Major Abdominal Surgery
12th Consecutive Year to Show Increase

Redondo Beach, CA, April 6, 2010 – The National Center for Health Statistics has reported that the cesarean rate hit another record high in 2008 with a rate of 32.3 percent, up 2.6 percent from 2007. The findings reflect the 12th consecutive year of increase.

“Every U.S. woman in childbearing years should have deep concern over this rate,” said Desirre Andrews, president of the International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN). “With the cesarean rate showing no signs of decreasing and VBAC access being limited in many areas across the U.S., women need to be well educated and well versed in self advocacy during pregnancy and birth.”

With the preliminary number of 4,251,095 U.S. births reported in 2008, a 32.3% cesarean rate results in approximately 1,373,103 women undergoing surgical deliveries. This total is equivalent to the entire population of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania or the combined populations of Alaska and Washington, DC. “This real life comparison highlights how serious the near 1 in 3 percentage of pregnancies resulting in major abdominal surgery is,” said Andrews. “Evidence shows that cesareans put women and babies at increased risk for morbidity and mortality immediately and long term. Cesarean sections are being overused in the United States and as the rate continues to rise, mothers and babies are exposed to these risks avoidably. The repeat cesarean rate of over 90% is undoubtedly helping to drive this record setting data."

ICAN has a variety of educational, advocacy and support options on-line through webinars, forums, blog, twitter and white papers at www.ican-online.org.

About Cesareans: When a cesarean is medically necessary, it can be a lifesaving technique for both mother and baby, and worth the risks involved. Potential risks to babies from cesareans include: low birth weight, prematurity, respiratory problems, and lacerations. Potential risks to women include: hemorrhage, infection, hysterectomy, surgical mistakes, re-hospitalization, dangerous placental abnormalities in future pregnancies, unexplained stillbirth in future pregnancies and increased percentage of maternal death. http://ican-online.org/ican-white-papers.

Mission statement: ICAN is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support for cesarean recovery and promoting vaginal birth after cesarean. There are over 130 ICAN Chapters across North America and internationally, which hold educational and support meetings for people interested in cesarean prevention and recovery.

Call Harri Anne Smith NOW!

2010-03-31T10:07:00.004-05:00

Wiregrass Ladies! We need your help, NOW! From the Alabama Birth Coalition:

Dear ABC Supporters,

Although yesterday was a good day in Montgomery and we talked to many senators who said they will support SB414, as of this moment, we do not have the majority we will need for our bill to pass the Senate.

If your senator is on the following list, please make a call today or tomorrow and ask him/her to vote yes on SB414, the bill to license Certified Professional Midwives in Alabama:

• Scott Beason, district 17
• Roger Bedford, district 6
• Ben Brooks, district 35
• Steve French, district 15
• Rusty Glover, district 34
• Del Marsh, district 12
• Larry Means, district 10
• Hinton Mitchem, district 9
• Harri Anne Smith, district 29

Calling takes only a few minutes but can make a huge impact!

CALL Harri Anne today!

http://www.legislature.state.al.us/senate/senators/senatebios/sd029.html

SB 414!

2010-03-30T16:53:00.002-05:00

Now is the time for action!!!

From the Alabama Birth Coalition:

We have made monumental strides with our legislative effort this session, and now we need your help! Senate Bill 414, the bill to license Certified Professional Midwives in Alabama, will pass out of committee and be brought to the Senate floor for a vote within the coming week or two. Before the vote, our Senators need to hear the message loud and clear: Alabama families support licensed midwives.

We urgently need each of our supporters, their friends and family to call their state senator and ask him/her to vote yes on SB414!

Each and every phone call is vital to successful passage of the bill in the Senate. One does not need to have had (or plan to have) a midwife-assisted birth--anyone can still voice their desire for Alabama families to have that option. Please do not be intimidated by the idea of calling your legislator. Legislators do not know what their constituents want if they do not hear from them. Believe me, they will be hearing from our opposition so it is extremely important that they hear from constituents in even larger numbers.

CALL CALL!!!!

Container Syndrome

2010-03-11T12:24:00.003-06:00

I was reading an article from October today.

"Car Seats can be Dangerous Outside the Car"

Ok, so finally - an article to back up my thoughts! I see the desire to have one of those "travel systems".. it's convenient, it's easy... but what is NOT easy about wearing your baby? And it is so much nicer to be close to your baby, and you can snuggle them and smell their "BABY" smell. Ahhh.... I digress.

More than 8,700 infants end up in the emergency room each year because their car seats are used improperly outside the car, according to study presented Monday at the American Academy of Pediatrics' annual meeting in Washington.

Interesting. So first, I was wondering what on earth are they doing with these car seats? Leaving them on the roof? Flinging them around? But then I read on...

Most of the injuries in Parikh's study occurred when car seats fell off tables, countertops or other high surfaces. In some cases, babies who weren't securely buckled fell out of the seats. Babies also were injured when car seats flipped over on soft surfaces, such as beds and couches, where infants can suffocate, he says.

But, THIS is what I thought was the MOST important part of the whole article.

Spending too much time in car seats can cause other problems.

Physical therapists are seeing more babies with "container syndrome," or weak muscles and flat heads caused by too much time spent lying on their backs, says Colleen Coulter-O'Berry of the American Physical Therapy Association.

And a study in Pediatrics in August found that car seats can make it difficult for babies to get enough oxygen, which led the authors to suggest that the seats be used only while infants are in cars.

Think about it... how often are we putting our babies "IN" things. Swings, Bouncers, Car Seats, etc. They don't NEED these things. Sure, they help if you need a shower... but you just can't use them ALL day because they calm them.

Container syndrome is a relatively new term, first popularly used in mid 2008 to describe a condition observed by a variety of pediatric health care providers. In a survey sponsored by Pathways Awareness, pediatric health care workers have noted an increase in motor delays in infants, that may well be related to the amount of time infants spend on their backs. The broad strokes of container syndrome theory is that children who are not given adequate time on their tummies (tummy time) may be missing opportunities for natural and developmentally appropriate muscle development, especially of head and neck muscles.-WiseGeek

I suppose the bottomline is that we, as mothers, need to be MORE connected to our babies, both physically AND emotionally. We have to take them out of the "container" and hold them, love them, nurse them, carry them, wear them, interact with them.

Yeah yeah - I know! You have "things" to do, laundry to fold, dinner to cook. Why not try a sling - AND NOT THE ONES AT TARGET - but a real sling or wrap... Check out Maya Wraps for a good place to start.

It's not THAT hard to hold your baby. :)

Maternal Mortality Rates Rising

2010-03-07T08:10:00.006-06:00

"New Study Shows More Women are Dying After Childbirth, but Most Deaths are Preventable"

Full Text Here

According to the World Health Organization, the U.S. ranks behind more than 40 other countries when it comes to maternal death rates, with 11 deaths per 100,000 pregnancies when measured in 2005. More women die in the U.S. after giving birth than die in countries including Poland, Croatia, Italy and Canada, to name a few.

My first instinct is to loudly shout, "I told you so!!!", but I am going to refrain. At least for the moment.

The popularity of scheduled C-sections has also been cited by public health experts as a possible cause for rising maternal mortality rates. The latest data from the CDC shows that 31 percent of the mothers now choose to have C-sections, up 50 percent since 1996. Studies have repeatedly shown a higher rate of mortality in mothers who have a C-section delivery, especially those who have multiple C-sections. "If the risks of a Cesarean birth are small, they're magnified greatly when you add many more Cesarean births each year," said Main, adding that "not that many women actually choose to have an elective C-section at the beginning, but it's easy to fall into a pattern of care that ends up resulting in a C-section."

I'm really biting my tongue now. I mean, HELLO!!!!!! Where have the doctors been when the natural birth advocates are shouting - "NO, it's not JUST about OUR experience... it's about safety!"

And, it drives me crazy - because they aren't looking at ways to REDUCE the underlying cause - the cesarean - they are looking for better ways to warn and treat mothers AFTER they have the cesarean. While this is important, this DOES NOT solve the problem... or even ATTEMPT to solve the problem.

Essentially we're saying - "Hey, I know that your risk of dying is higher if you have this completely unnecessary elective cesarean, and even more so if you decide you want more children... but we'll just put some compression boots on your legs and let you know that if you feel funny, you should tell someone... and that will make it all better."

BULL!

Cesarean surgery is associated with 33 serious complications – a number 8 times greater that the risks of vaginal birth.

In comparison with vaginal birth, a cesarean increased harm due to:

- Death, related to surgery or anesthesia (rare)
- Emergency hysterectomy
- Blood clots and stroke
- Injuries from surgery
- Longer hospitalization
- Rehospitalization
- Infection
- Severe and long-lasting pain
- Ongoing pelvic pain
- Bowel obstruction (due to scar tissue and adhesions)

In comparison with cesarean, vaginal birth (both spontaneous and assisted with vacuum or forceps) increased harms due to:

- Perineal pain
- Any urinary incontinence
- Any bowel incontinence

The risk of maternal death 3 to 5 times greater during or after operative delivery.

We should be focusing on the cesarean rate, the induction rate, the rate of routine and unnecessary interventions to the normal labor and birth process...

But, now I'm moving on to a completely NEW post, and I will save that for later.

Placenta Encapsulation, Part 2

2010-03-03T19:48:00.003-06:00

So, Amy and I finished the encapsulation process today. We took the dried placenta pieces and ground them up in a coffee grinder. Then, we PAINSTAKINGLY filled each capsule. My capsule machine didn't come it, AHH!

It took about an hour and a half, and in the end we had 138 capsules.

Dosage is 2 capsules, 3x a day for the first 2 weeks postpartum, and then taper off as desired.

I will post pictures when I have them!

Induction Increases Cesarean Rate

2010-03-01T22:17:00.005-06:00

REALLY? No... You must be joking.

Ok, so enough of my sarcasm and on with the facts...

To start with, here is the full text of the article.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) May 15 - Elective induction of labor significantly shortens the active phase - by an hour, on average - but nearly doubles the risk of cesarean section, researchers report in the May issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Did you get that, one hour. You are shortening your active labor time by one hour, and in return, you're doubling your chances of getting major abdominal surgery. What is the draw here?

Forgive me, I'm feeling annoyed about our skyrocketing induction and c-section rates. No, make that ANGRY.

With all this hot-air about health care reform and lowering health care costs... what on earth are we letting happen in Maternity Care? No matter how many studies are done, no matter the results.. nothing is changing. Studies have shown over and over that modern obstetrical protocols are causing more c-sections, more deaths and more bad outcomes than the traditional methods that midwives use.

This is NOT rocket-science people. Why is it so hard for us to understand that a c-section is not a minor, no-big-deal procedure? When are we going to start telling women openly , honestly that c-sections are major surgeries, with major risks, both for the current and in the future when that same woman gets pregnant again, and maybe again after that?

The induction rate MUST be addressed. It's insane for this many women to be consenting to inductions that are completely unnecessary.

You can wait another 2 weeks for your baby to be born. They will be healthier for it, and so will you... and so will the rest of the babies you have.

Tell me, which looks like more fun?

THIS ONE

OR

THIS ONE

Ok, rant done. Go ahead - call me the EVIL, ANTI-INDUCTION DOULA.

My FIRST Placenta Encapsulation!!

2010-02-26T18:02:00.004-06:00

So, Amy and Morgan came over today to help me with the placenta encapsulation! The kids played, and we worked with a placenta!

The word placenta comes from the Latin for cake.

The placenta is an organ that connects the developing fetus to the uterine wall to allow nutrient uptake, waste elimination and gas exchange via the mother's blood supply.

So, first we had to rinse the placenta and drain the blood from it.

Once we removed the cord and drained the blood from it, we put it in the steamer.

And, steamed it...

While it was steaming, we took the cord and made a heart with it.

Once the steaming was complete, we cut it up and put it in the dehydrator.

Once it's completely dehydrated, I'll post about the next steps!

Movie & Discussion

2010-02-25T23:50:00.005-06:00

Date: Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm
Where: Amy's House, RSVP for directions! (wiregrassbirthnetwork@gmail.com)

This month's movie is Born in the U.S.A.

BORN IN THE U.S.A. is the first public television documentary to provide an in-depth look at childbirth in America.

"Through the eyes of an obstetrician, a licensed midwife attending homebirths, and a nurse-midwife at an urban birth center, BORN IN THE U.S.A. explores the landscape of American maternity care. How do different caregivers answer these fundamental questions: What is "normal" birth? How much technology does safety require? What choices do women have? How do we decide what's best?"

The state of birthing in the U.S. is complex and controversial. While we now routinely use technology that saves countless lives that might have been lost just ten years ago, this technology has also led to one of the highest cesarean section rates in the world - one in five - and more than half of all births involve some type of surgical or operative procedure.

Bring a snack to share, there's room for kids and mamas!

Join us on Meetup.com!
Join us on Facebook!

Tuesday's Baby!

2010-02-25T20:24:00.002-06:00

I attended one of the most amazing birth's on Tuesday. The mom carried her baby to exactly 42 weeks. We did a lot of talking the last week, but we finally had a breakthrough the night before labor began.

I got funny text from her that morning around 7:30am. She called me after that to let me know that she was having these "cramps" that sort of "come and go" every 5 minutes or so. She then added that she'd had some bloody show about an hour before that when the cramps started.

We talked again around 11:30am. Things her picking up, but not much.

We talked again around 1:20pm. I could tell she was in active labor at that point. She seemed much less like talking, and a bit "weepy" and "complain-y". They said they didn't need me yet.

At 3:15pm came the next call. "We'd like you to come now". So I headed out - it's a long drive. I arrived at about 4:20/4:30pm. She looked panicked, but had her friend and husband helping her work through a contraction. I told her I was going to warm up my hands and she insisted that I don't, and put my cold hands on her belly.

At the next contractions, I could tell she needed some focus. I wrapped her arms around her husbands neck. He stroked her face and I helped him breathe with her, while I rubbed her back. After that, she seemed much more in control. She had a purpose during a contraction, a plan.

After a little while of standing and swaying through contractions, she went and laid down on her side on her bed. We worked through contractions, focusing on slow, deep breathing, relaxing her neck and face and hands.

Later, she went to the bathroom and then we stood and leaned against a wall. She started to enjoy it when we squeezed her hips, so we did that, and encouraged her to breathe.

She laid back on the bed a while later, and I massaged her feet and calves, which were really bothering her. Contractions seemed to become quite intense at that point. I pushed on her hip during each contraction. She started to completely sleep in-between contractions. I looked at her husband and whispered that we ought to be getting ready soon. It was a 30min (minimum) drive to the birth place.

Around 6:30pm, I managed to get everyone in the car. She was feeling pressure at this point, but not needing to push.

We arrive!

So now, we're trying to make everyone aware of the plan. They check her - she's 10cm/+1. They call the doctor.

They start bringing delivery stuff into this TINY, maybe 8x8 Triage room.... the baby warmer, the delivery cart. The doctor comes in, checks her, and then asks if they are going to move her to a room... he looked slightly perplexed. The nurses say no, and he walks out, I think a little annoyed.

At that point we only have one nurse, the nurse assigned to her there. She is wonderful. She listens and hears. We get the monitors off, and we turn her over on hands and knees over the back of the bed.

They decide to move her to her room, since she's still not pushing yet. We cover her with a sheet and wheel her down the hall to her room.

Once we get there, the nurse starts asking what the preferences are. Basically they want nothing done to them or the baby. So, she calls the doctor back in, so they can talk. He agrees to everything, including that the husband gets to help catch the baby. YAY!

So, she starts pushing around 8:10pm, on her hands and knees. She does this, well, for about 30min. We start seeing the baby's head sometimes, so the nurse calls the Dr in, and he gets ready, but after a while there is still no baby, so he leaves again. They monitored her twice during pushing, and baby was wonderful.

She starts to ask why it's taking so long, and I tell her and the nurse tells her that it isn't taking long and she's doing great. I ask if she wants to try a different position, and she does, so we put the squat bar up and break down the bed and get her squatting. We set up a mirror so she can see. Within minutes the baby's head is clearly visible. The doctor is called back.

With another few pushes he is out. Mom and Dad cry and cry and cry with joy! She sits back and dad picks up his new baby and holds him up like an offering to the mom. It was beautiful. Her friend managed to get the most amazing shot of this moment. I will never forget it. He places him on her chest and they love him and cry over him and it is amazing.

The doctor calmly watches... doing nothing. The baby nurse doesn't touch the baby, she only looks in-between them to try and gauge his APGARS.

Baby was 8lbs 8oz and the dad guessed his weight exactly.

It was AMAZING!!!

Statistics

2010-02-19T22:07:00.001-06:00

So, I keep stats on all the births I attend. Mostly to get a general idea of how a doula is contributing in comparison to the averages in my area. Here are mine as of the end of 2009...

* 82% gave birth vaginally
* 18% gave birth by c-section
* 24% received an epidural or other pain medication during labor
* 71% were unmedicated during labor
* 18% were attempted VBACs, with 30% achieving a vaginal birth
* 24% received an episiotomy
* 18% were inductions
* 24% received internal monitoring
* 47% were first time moms

I'm happy with them. I don't really care much about the medication rate, so much as the vaginal birth rate. 18% is great for this area, since in 2006 the rate was around 38%+.

Still waiting on that birth to happen. :)

New Year, New Blogging!

2010-02-06T21:59:00.003-06:00

So, I've been slow to begin blogging this year. I've been, well... busy. January was a lovely month, that included the entire household getting the flu. We are well again, mostly.

I am now waiting for the birthing to start! So, here is a rundown of the planned events for February.

8th - Sophia turns 4!!
9th - Client Due Date
10th - Movie and Discussion with Wiregrass Birth Network
12th - Wiregrass Birth Network Outing at Landmark Park from 12-2
14th - Valentines Day!
16th - Birth Network Meeting in Fort Rucker from 10-12
18th - Birth Network Meeting in Dothan from 10-12
19th - Cole turns 2!!
20th - Healthy Pregnancy Class at 2pm
25th - Potential Client Due Date

Busy busy busy.

I suspect my next post will be a birth story! YAY! I'm ready!

A great website

2009-12-17T21:01:00.000-06:00

I just found this great website!

Are you using the right type of healthcare provider for your pregnancy? Take this quiz and find out!

http://www.delivermybaby.org/

Shoulder Dystocia

2009-11-18T17:25:00.002-06:00

I'm sure most of you have heard of Shoulder Dystocia, but does anyone know much about it, or how it's resolved?

From Wikipedia:

Shoulder dystocia is a specific case of dystocia whereby after the delivery of the head, the anterior shoulder of the infant cannot pass below the pubic symphysis, or requires significant manipulation to pass below the pubic symphysis. It is diagnosed when the shoulders fail to deliver shortly after the fetal head. In shoulder dystocia, it is the chin that presses against the walls of the perineum

So, the most common way I've seen this handled in the hospital is by using the McRoberts Manuver, which just means pulling your knees all the way back to your ears... followed by suprapubic pressure. The technique is effective in about 42% of cases. Although McRoberts maneuver and suprapubic pressure are generally safe, it is possible to cause maternal injury by performing them.

Personally, I would like to see more of the Gaskin maneuver, named after Certified Professional Midwife, Ina May Gaskin, which involves moving the mother to an all fours position with the back arched, widening the pelvic outlet. I partially understand why it isn't... most women in the hospital have an epidural, and most likely it is heavy enough that quickly moving to an all fours position is nearly impossible.

BUT, for those mothers that can assume this position, the results are good.

One study found:

The most significant observations of the study were the negative findings. No still births or neonatal deaths were reported. Not a single infant suffered Erb palsy, either transient or permanent, and no newborns experienced seizures, hemorrhage, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, cerebral palsy, or fractured clavicle. No patients required any tocolytic medication during labor. No vaginal, cervical, or uterine lacerations occurred. No women required transfusions. And no cases of postpartum, ileus or pulmonary embolus were reported. Overall, the maternal complication associated with the use of the “Gaskin Maneuver” was 1.2 percent (one case of postpartum hemorrhage, transfusion not required), and the neonatal complication rate was 4.9 percent. . . None of these patients required any additional maneuvers. . . Not only was the Gaskin Maneuver instrumental in relieving shoulder impact in every instance, it is also a non-invasive procedure requiring only a change of maternal position.” The average time needed to assume the position and complete the delivery was 2-3 minutes, with the longest reported interval being 6 minutes.

Cheap Websites?

2009-11-14T19:24:00.002-06:00

This is a completely unrelated post, but...

I'm offering to do basic, but nice websites for a great price!

Prices will range from $50 for a basic website with no more than 5 pages, up to $100 for more complicated designs.

You are responsible for securing your domain name and choosing a hosting plan. I will provide your finished website in a zipped folder, which you can upload to your site.

Samples:

www.wiregrassdoulaservices.com
www.aplacetorenew.com

Just for FUN...

2009-11-05T09:51:00.000-06:00

Jill at the Unnecesarean is having a contest! So, just for fun, I thought I'd throw in an entry.

When VBAC, meets CBAC...

2009-11-01T12:23:00.006-06:00

VBAC = Vaginal Birth after Cesarean
HBAC = Home Birth after Cesarean
WBAC = Water Birth after Cesarean
CBAC = Cesarean Birth after Cesarean

For every woman there is an end to pregnancy. Yes, even for those women who's OB's told them they really would stay pregnant forever if they didn't do X, Y or Z. It's an exciting time, anxiously awaiting the impending birth of their new baby.

But, for a VBAC mom, the end of a pregnancy can be bittersweet. There is endless preparation, reading, praying, hoping and dreaming of the long awaited birth. Will they be able to accomplish this? Are they really broken?

If it ends in another cesarean, what is left of that mom? Peace? Emptiness? Gratitude? Pain? Just another scar?

The nationwide VBAC success rate is around 20 percent. But, if you look more closely, you will find better odds. A VBAC mom who is under the care of a practitioner who regards VBAC as no riskier than any other delivery and chooses to deliver in a setting that does not consider VBAC women "high risk,", her success rate is more like 75-90 percent.

So, what does a VBAC turned CBAC mom do?
- Recognize, honor and accept the feelings of loss or sadness if they are present.
- Share your story and feelings with other CBAC mom's.
- Above all, love yourself and your baby.
- Get help if you need it.

Unfortunate

2009-10-20T10:03:00.003-05:00

Well, this is the newest update in the BIRTH WORLD.

So, here is my 2 cents on the photo....

It's disgusting, and irritating. The fact that they are so out of touch with birth that they can't even spell "doula" or use the correct term for a birth plan shows that they just "decided" to do this and didn't base it on anything, let alone consider the welfare of their patients.

I also would like to know what they plan on doing if one of their patients shows up in labor, and is using The Bradley Method? I'm assuming they have heard of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act.

EMTALA requires hospital emergency departments (EDs) to provide any individual coming to their premises with a medical screening exam (MSE) to determine if an emergency condition or active pregnancy labor is present. If so, the hospital must supply either stabilization prior to transferring the patient or a certification (signed by the physician) that the transfer is appropriate and meets certain conditions.

Are they planning on refusing to accept the woman as a patient and pass them off to some other on call OB?

Honestly, it's GREAT that they have this posted on their wall. Pregnant women know upfront what they are getting themselves into with this practice and can feel free to run the other direction if necessary.

Someone who called the actual office for more information got this:

"I called this clinic and spoke personally to the receptionist, manager, and then doctor. The receptionist and manager were concerned over the fact that I informed them that "doula" was misspelled, and that "birth contracts" were actually birth plans. The doctor was rude and told me that he HATED doulas and didn't care what I thought and didn't care about evidence-based maternity research."

Well, if that isn't a place to end this post, I don't know what is.

Angie's List

2009-10-19T10:28:00.001-05:00

Mainstream attention to poor OB decisions, yes.

Myth vs. Reality: Episiotomy

2009-10-16T10:14:00.002-05:00

I'm not going to do anything in the way of my own writing, since this basically speaks for itself. You can't always believe your doctor.

Myth: A nice clean cut is better than a jagged tear.

Reality: "Like any surgical procedure, episiotomy carries a number of risks: excessive blood loss, haematoma formation, and infection. . . . There is no evidence . . . that routine episiotomy reduces the risk of severe perineal trauma, improves perineal healing, prevents fetal trauma or reduces the risk of urinary stress incontinence." Sleep, Roberts, and Chalmers 1989

Summary of Significant Points, from Henci Goer's Book, Obstetric Myths vs. Research Realities

>Episiotomies do not prevent tears into or through the anal sphincter or vaginal tears. In fact, deep tears almost never occur in the absence of an episiotomy.

>Even when properly repaired, tears of the anal sphincter may cause chronic problems with coital pain and gas or fecal incontinence later in life. In addition, anal injury predisposes to rectovaginal fistulas.

>If a woman does not have an episiotomy, she is likely to have a small tear, but with rare exceptions the tear will be, at worst, no worse than an episiotomy.

>Episiotomies do not prevent relaxation of the pelvic floor musculature. Therefore, they do not prevent urinary incontinence or improve sexual satisfaction.

>Episiotomies are not easier to repair than tears.

>Episiotomies do not heal better than tears.

>Episiotomies are not less painful than tears. They may cause prolonged problems with pain, especially pain during intercourse.

>Episiotomies do not prevent birth injuries or fetal brain damage.

>Episiotomies increase blood loss.

>As with any other surgical procedure, episiotomies may lead to infection, including fatal infections.

>Epidurals increase the need for episiotomy. They also increase the probability of instrumental delivery. Instrumental delivery increases both the odds of episiotomy and deep tears.

>The lithotomy position increases the need for episiotomy, probably because the perineum is tightly stretched.

>The birth attendant's philosophy, technique, skill, and experience are the major determinants of perineal outcome.

>Some techniques for reducing perineal trauma that have been evaluated and found effective are: prenatal perineal massage, slow delivery of the head, supporting the perineum, keeping the head flexed, delivering the shoulders one at a time, and doing instrumental deliveries without episiotomy. (Others, such as perineal massage during labor or hot compresses have yet to be studied.)

>Independent of specifically contracting the pelvic floor muscles (Kegels), a regular exercise program strengthens the pelvic floor.

Dothan Meeting - Why Midwives?

2009-09-28T20:54:00.002-05:00

Join the Wiregrass Birth Network in Dothan for a discussion on the importance of CPM's in the maternal health circle of care providers with Shannon Burdeshaw, ALMA President.

The Alabama Midwives Alliance (ALMA) is the professional midwifery organization for out-of-hospital midwives in Alabama.

ALMA is gearing up for a heck of a year here in Alabama. We are trying to educate a new lobbyist, talking with legislators again and rallying the troops for fundraising initiatives.

ABC and ALMA are working feverishly to legalize Certified Professional Midwifery and increase access to care in YOUR state.

For more information, visit these websites:
www.alabamamidwivesalliance.org
www.alabamabirthcoalition.org

Thursday, October 29, 2009
10:00am - 12:00pm

Episcopal Church of the Nativity
205 Holly Lane
Dothan, Alabama

Contact us at: wiregrassbirthnetwork@gmail.com
Visit us on the web at: www.wiregrassbirthnetwork.webs.com

Ft. Rucker Meeting - Why Midwives?

2009-09-28T09:24:00.009-05:00

Join the Wiregrass Birth Network in Ft. Rucker for a discussion on the importance of CPM's in the maternal health circle of care providers with Shannon Burdeshaw, ALMA President.

The Alabama Midwives Alliance (ALMA) is the professional midwifery organization for out-of-hospital midwives in Alabama.

ALMA is gearing up for a heck of a year here in Alabama. We are trying to educate a new lobbyist, talking with legislators again and rallying the troops for fundraising initiatives.

ABC and ALMA are working feverishly to legalize Certified Professional Midwifery and increase access to care in YOUR state.

For more information, visit these websites:
www.alabamamidwivesalliance.org
www.alabamabirthcoalition.org

Tuesday, October 27, 2009
10:00am - 12:00pm
Allen Heights Neighborhood Center, Fort Rucker, AL

Contact us at: wiregrassbirthnetwork@gmail.com
Visit us on the web at: www.wiregrassbirthnetwork.webs.com

Oligohydramnios

2009-09-23T15:13:00.005-05:00

Oligo-wha-huh?

Oligohydramnios is the condition of having too little amniotic fluid.

What causes it?

Birth defects – Problems with the development of the kidneys or urinary tract which could cause little urine production, leading to low levels of amniotic fluid.

Placental problems – If the placenta is not providing enough blood and nutrients to the baby, then the baby may stop recycling fluid.

Leaking or rupture of membranes – This may be a gush of fluid or a slow constant trickle of fluid. This is due to a tear in the membrane. Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) can also result in low amniotic fluid levels.

Post Date Pregnancy - A post date pregnancy (one that goes over 42 weeks) can have low levels of amniotic fluid, which could be a result of declining placental function.

Maternal Complications - Factors such as maternal dehydration, hypertension, preeclampsia, diabetes, and chronic hypoxia can have an effect on amniotic fluid levels.

Ok, so now for the real post - Should you be induced because your doctor performs an ultrasound and says you have low fluid? Hmmmm..

It depends (as usual). How low is low? An AFI (amniotic fluid index) that is less than 5-6 = oligohydramnios, but...

On the other hand, a low AFI (oligohydramnios) at or near term may be an indication for delivery, either by induction or C-section. If there were to turn out to be a normal amount of fluid with rupture of membranes during an induction, then the low AFI that prompted the induction was either temporary or wrong. - http://www.gynob.com/biopamfl.htm

Notice the word temporary.

Notice the word wrong.

Some interesting information:

It is important for parents to know that this is likely an inaccurate assessment. What the ultrasound technician is doing could be compared to viewing an adult in a see-through plexiglass bathtub from below the tub. In such a scenario, it would be difficult to assess how much water is in the tub above the body that is resting on the bottom of the tub. You might be able to get an idea of the water volume by measuring how much water was showing below the elbows and around the knees, but if the elbows were down at the bottom of the tub, too, you might think there was very little water. This is what the technician is trying to do in late pregnancy—find pockets of amniotic fluid in little spaces around the relatively large body of an 8 lb. baby who is stuffed tightly into an organ that is about the size of a watermelon (the uterus). If most of the amniotic fluid is near the side of the uterus closest to the woman’s spine, it can not be seen or measured. - Gloria Lemay's Blog

Now, how do you know whether is a true case of "Oligo" or not? Well, there are several things that should be taken into account.

What gestation is your pregnancy?

If you are post dates, is the fluid "low" because the baby is big and the assessment is wrong? How do you tell? Why not get some IV fluids and then get another ultrasound? If you were borderline low, is it back into a normal range now? Maybe you could go home and drink drink drink and come back in the morning for another ultrasound?

Is the baby in any distress? Are you doing kick counts and getting 10 movements in an hour?

What if you are only 38 weeks and your AFI is showing 1? Way too low. And induction is probably very necessary.

So, here's the point. If your doctor says, "Your fluid is low, we need to induce.", don't blink blindly and say, "ok". Ask some questions.

What is my AFI?
Did you do a Biophysical Profile, and what are the results?
Can I get some fluids (IV, etc.) and retest?

Can low fluid be dangerous? Of course! And for that reason you should always pay attention to any diagnosis you are given. Oligohydramnios is more dangerous in the 2nd trimester. It is sometimes associated with other dangerous pregnancy complications. True low fluid in post dates pregnancies is associated with labor complications.

The problem is that it is very often hard to determine "oligo" with certainty.

As usual, be an active participant in your pregnancy and birth. There is nothing wrong with asking questions, even if you decide to take your doctors recommendations.

**Blog Post included in the Lamaze Healthy Birth Practice Blog Carnival**
COOL!

Red Tent Event

2009-09-16T21:10:00.004-05:00

A Birth Story

2009-09-15T23:11:00.002-05:00

I attended this birth as their doula on Monday. It was a wonderful experience with a room full of love.

Fort Rucker Meeting

2009-09-11T15:20:00.002-05:00

Join us for the first Fort Rucker Meeting!!

We will show the movie, The Business of Being Born, with open discussion of the movie to follow. Refreshments will be provided. Babies-in-arms welcome.

10am-12pm at the Allen Heights Neighborhood Center (corner of Christian and Artillery Road).

Contact Amy or Ashley for more information at wiregrassbirthnetwork@gmail.com.

Remember

2009-09-11T15:18:00.005-05:00

We Remember September 11, 2001.

The Eleventh Of September
Written by Roger J. Robicheau ©2002

We mourn their loss this day this year
Those now with God, no danger near

So many loved ones left do stand
Confronting loss throughout our land

My heart goes out to those who do
No one can fathom what they view

I firmly pray for peace of mind
Dear God please help each one to find

And to our soldiers now at war
God guide above, at sea, on shore

They are the best, I have no doubt
Our country’s pride, complete, devout

The finest force you’ll ever see
All freedom grown through liberty

One final thought comes clear to me
For what must live in infamy

Absolutely - We’ll Remember
The Eleventh - Of September

The Worst Idea Since Routine Continuous Monitoring

2009-09-09T10:38:00.005-05:00

I really couldn't say this any better myself, so I'll just refer you directly to the blog post:

The WORST Idea Since Routine Continuous Fetal Monitoring for Low Risk Mothers

Well I have a message for both Trig Medical and Barnev, LABORING WOMEN DO NOT NEED ANY MORE THINGS SHOVED UP THIER VAGINA!!!! And furthermore, CLIPING ANYTHING TO A WOMAN’S CERVIX OR SCREWING ANYTHING INTO A BABY’S HEAD DOES NOT COUNT AS “NON-INVASIVE”!!! LABORING WOMEN AND BABIES ARE NOT ROBOTS THAT DON’T FEEL ANY PAIN OR DISCOMFORT!!!! RESEARCH HAS SHOWN TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT LESS IS MORE WHEN IT COMES TO LABOR FOR HEALTHY MOMS AND BABIES!!! CONTINUITY OF CARE IS MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE, LESS PAINFUL, LESS INVASIVE THAN ANY “COMPUTERIZED FINGER.”

Cesarean

2009-09-05T21:41:00.002-05:00

Ladies - don't underestimate the cost of a cesarean; on your body, your mind and your baby.

Do your research NOW - http://ican-online.org/

Walk for Midwives

2009-09-05T09:57:00.004-05:00

MORE INFORMATION ON SPECIFICS COMING SOON - BUT HERE IS SOME GENERAL INFORMATION!

On October 3, we’ll be joining citizens in communities across the state to help raise funds and awareness as we work for greater access to midwives and better maternity care in Alabama.

The Walk for Midwives is part of the Alabama Birth Coalition’s campaign to raise $55,000 to support our vital public policy and educational work. A nonprofit, all-volunteer, grassroots organization, the Alabama Birth Coalition relies on the generous support of our sponsors and individual donors to make this work possible.

Get Ready to Walk!

Here’s what you need to do:

Pre-register by September 17 to let us know you’re coming and guarantee your free t-shirt size. Just fill out the registration form and mail it with your donation to Alabama Birth Coalition, PO Box 121, Montevallo, AL 35115. Or you can make a secure donation online via PayPal on our website at alabamabirthcoalition.org and email your registration info to alabamabirth@gmail.com.

Can’t pre-register? That’s okay! You can also register after September 17 all the way up until the day of the Walk. Those registering after September 17 will receive free t-shirts based on availability.

Invite your loved ones to walk with you. This will be a fun, casual event, suitable for all ages, so bring the family with you!

Ask your friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors to sponsor you in the Walk! Just fill out the Sponsor form and bring it along with cash or check donations to the Walk. Your sponsors can also donate online at our website, alabamabirthcoalition.org. Every gift makes a huge difference for our work.

And did you hear? A generous donor has offered up to $25,000 in matching funds for donations to the Walk for Midwives! That means every dollar you and your sponsors give will be matched, dollar for dollar!

To receive a registration form, please email me at apmotz@comcast.net.

New Lamaze Site

2009-09-04T22:29:00.003-05:00

Lamaze has updated their site: http://www.lamaze.org/

PLUS... their Care Practices have been updated! They represent "evidence-based care," which is the gold standard for maternity care worldwide...

#1 Let Labor Begin on Its Own
#2 Walk, Move Around, and Change Positions Throughout Labor
#3 Bring a Loved One, Friend, or Doula for Continuous Support
#4 Avoid Interventions That Are Not Medically Necessary
#5 Avoid Giving Birth on the Back and Follow the Body’s Urges to Push
#6 Keep Mother and Baby Together – It’s Best for Mother, Baby, and Breastfeeding

Check out more here: http://www.lamaze.org/ChildbirthProfessionals/ResourcesforProfessionals/CarePracticePapers/tabid/90/Default.aspx

The Safety Of Planned Home Birth With Registered Midwife

2009-09-01T23:02:00.005-05:00

I found yet another article today about the SAFETY of homebirth... http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/162421.php

The risk of infant death following planned home birth attended by a registered midwife does not differ from that of a planned hospital birth, found a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

While reading through some of the study - this immediately stood out at me:

The rate of perinatal death per 1000 births was 0.35 in the group of planned home births. The rate in the group of planned hospital births was 0.57 among women attended by a midwife and 0.64 among those attended by a physician.

It also found that babies benefited from homebirth:

Newborns in the home-birth group were less likely than those in the midwife-attended hospital-birth group to require resuscitation at birth or oxygen therapy beyond 24 hours. They were also less likely to have meconium aspiration.

Another great point found that those who planned a home birth were significantly less likely to have a third- or fourth-degree perineal tear. I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume this has something to do with the rate of epidurals and episiotomies in hospitals.

To sum up...

Women who planned a home birth had a significantly lower risk of obstetric interventions and adverse outcomes, including augmentation of labour, electronic fetal monitoring, epidural analgesia, assisted vaginal delivery, cesarean section, hemorrhage, and infection.

Need anyone say more? I didn't think so.

Woo-Hoo! Hooray for fruit juice without pulp!

2009-08-28T11:00:00.006-05:00

Recommendations Relax On Liquid Intake During Labor

Women in labor may be allowed to quench their thirst with more than just the standard allowance of ice chips, according to a new Committee Opinion released today from The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and published in the September issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Although the guidelines on prohibiting solid food while in labor or before scheduled cesarean surgery remain the same, ACOG says that women with uncomplicated labor, as well as uncomplicated patients undergoing a planned cesarean, may drink modest amounts of clear liquids during labor if they wish.

Um... wow. Thanks!

From what I can gather, the risks of aspiration are only a problem when general anesthesia is used (3.5-13% of cesareans), and the technique has improved. I've searched for a study that shows an actual number or percentage of patients who do end up aspirating during a surgery, and I can't find anything. I'm thinking it's NOT at epidemic proportions...

It is honestly ridiculous to deprive every laboring woman of food! Labor is often long and it requires quite a bit of energy.

Obstetrics, yet again, is being practiced via a "one size fits all" mentality. Women with a high risk of needing a cesarean (ie women with known placental problems or other serious medical problems) should be monitored more carefully, but low risk women should not be automatically relegated to this bizarre list of approved beverages.

Ugh.

This is WRONG on so many levels....

2009-08-23T08:32:00.003-05:00

I am shocked... well maybe I'm not... but I am infuriated. This is wrong on so many levels...

Bedtime Feedings - Enfamil

Your baby needs a proper amount of sleep to keep her healthy and happy. That's why we created new Enfamil RestFull, the formula specially designed to naturally encourage a good night's sleep.

* A natural way to help keep your baby feeling satisfied.
* Thickens gently in baby's tummy and digests slowly.

Fact #1: Newborns need to be fed every two to four hours - and sometimes more.

Fact #2: For a new baby, a five-hour stretch is a full night.

Fact #3: One of the suspected deficits involved in some SIDS deaths is the apparent inability of the infant to arouse to re-initiate breathing during a prolonged breathing pause.

Fact #4: Breastmilk (babies preferred diet) digests within 90 minutes.

We need to, as a culture, understand that babies waking often during the night is NORMAL and HEALTHY! As a friend of mine said... "This product is trying to improve upon nature." SORRY! I think nature got it right.

I encourage you to contact Enfamil and let them know your concerns.

Parents ‘Last Good Bye’ Saved Their Baby’s Life

2009-08-22T00:40:00.010-05:00

I can't take credit for this post, but I thought I'd copy it in it's entirety.
(Read the Original Article here.)

It was to be the one and only cuddle Carolyn Isbister would have with her tiny, premature daughter.

Rachael had been born minutes before - weighing a mere 20oz - and had only minutes to live. Her heart was beating once every ten seconds and she was not breathing.

As doctors gave up, Miss Isbister lifted her baby out of her hospital blanket and placed her on her chest.

Life-saver: The mother's hug that kickstarted Rachael's heart

She said: "I didn't want her to die being cold. So I lifted her out of her blanket and put her against my skin to warm her up. Her feet were so cold.

"It was the only cuddle I was going to have with her, so I wanted to remember the moment." Then something remarkable happened. The warmth of her mother's skin kickstarted Rachael's heart into beating properly, which allowed her to take little breaths of her own.

Miss Isbister said: "We couldn't believe it - and neither could the doctors. She let out a tiny cry.

Doing well: Carolyn Isbister at home with Rachael

"The doctors came in and said there was still no hope - but I wasn't letting go of her. We had her blessed by the hospital chaplain, and waited for her to slip away.

"But she still hung on. And then amazingly the pink colour began to return to her cheeks.

"She literally was turning from grey to pink before our eyes, and she began to warm up too."

Four months later, Rachael was allowed home weighing 8lb - the same as a newborn baby - and she has a healthy appetite.

Miss Isbister, a 36-year- old chemist from West Lothian, said: "Rachael has been such a little fighter - it is a miracle that she is here at all. When she was born the doctors told us that she would die within 20 minutes. But that one precious cuddle saved her life. I'll never forget it."

Miss Isbister and her partner David Elliott, 35, an electronics engineer, were thrilled when she became pregnant.

At the 20-week scan at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, doctors told them she was carrying a girl and they decided to name her Rachael.

But at 24 weeks a womb infection led to premature labour.

Miss Isbister, who also has two children Samuel, 10, and Kirsten, eight, from a previous marriage, said: "We were terrified we were going to lose her. I had suffered three miscarriages before, so we didn't think there was much hope." When Rachael was born she was grey and lifeless.

"The doctor just took one look at her and said no," said Miss Isbister.

"They didn't even try to help her with her breathing as they said it would just prolong her dying. Everyone just gave up on her."

Ian Laing, a consultant neonatologist at the hospital, said: "All the signs were that the little one was not going to make it and we took the decision to let mum have a cuddle as it was all we could do.

"Two hours later the wee thing was crying. This is indeed a miracle baby and I have seen nothing like it in my 27 years of practice. I have not the slightest doubt that mother's love saved her daughter."

Rachael was moved on to a ventilator where she continued to make steady progress.

Miss Isbister said: "The doctors said that she had proved she was a fighter and that she now deserved some intensive care as there was some hope.

"She had done it all on her own - without any medical intervention or drugs.

"She had clung on to life - and it was all because of that cuddle. It had warmed up her body enough for her to start fighting." Because Rachel had suffered from a lack of oxygen doctors said there was a high risk of damage to her brain. But a scan showed no evidence of any problems.

As the days passed, Rachael began to gain in strength and put on weight. She had laser treatment to save her sight because the blood vessels had not had a chance to develop properly in the womb. And she also had six blood transfusions.

"We couldn't believe that she was doing so well," her mother said.

"Her heart rate and breathing would suddenly sometimes drop without warning, but she just got stronger and stronger."

After five weeks she was taken off a ventilator and Miss Isbister was able to breastfeed her.

Then, after four months, the couple were allowed to take her home - a day they thought they would never see.

Miss Isbister said: "She is doing so well. When we finally brought her home, the doctors told us that she was a remarkable little girl.

"And most of all, she just loves her cuddles. She will sleep for hours, just curled into my chest.

"It was that first cuddle which saved her life - and I'm just so glad I trusted my instinct and picked her up when I did.

"Otherwise she wouldn't be here today."

Preterm Birth = Low Progesterone?

2009-08-18T13:34:00.002-05:00

An exploratory study to be published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, has shown that women going into early preterm labour (before 34 weeks gestation) have low-levels of progesterone in their saliva as early as 24 weeks, and that moreover, these levels fail to rise during pregnancy in the normal way.

Mortality Rates

2009-08-10T09:02:00.003-05:00

As you can see, the United States' infant mortality rates have risen over the past 40 years:

The CIA World Factbook shows that for 2009, the United States is ranked 46th in the World, with 6.26 deaths per 1,000 live births. See the complete list here.

With all the "advancements" and gadgets we have to monitor and "protect" pregnant women and their newborns, shouldn't we be in the top 5?

In the spirit of breastfeeding...

2009-08-08T21:35:00.002-05:00

Breastfeeding in Bronze

2009-08-08T12:44:00.004-05:00

Daniel Edwards' (remember the nude Britney Spears giving birth on a bear skin rug?) latest work, 'Landmark For Breastfeeding,' depicts Angelina Jolie nursing her two babies in the football hold.

I think it's wonderful that we are bringing attention to breastfeeding. That it is a beautiful and normal event in motherhood, but... I can't decide how a really feel about this statue. I am torn between the weirdness of it, and the absolute beauty of the work.

"I totally support shifting societal standards to make breastfeeding anywhere, any time totally cool," writes Celebitchy blogger. "I'm even okay with public art celebrating breast feeding. But to use Angelina's image for it? Just seems weird. Then again, they are raising awareness more with this than with a sculpture of just some random woman breastfeeding. So... well done?"

Now, as for the whole "but it's Angelina Jolie" thing - I honestly don't think it looks a lot like her anyway, but that is maybe beside the point.

I think I'm just going to resign myself to this:

It looks a bit robotic and mechanical, and maybe even a little weird, but I hope the message gets out there regardless.

The sculpture will debut in Norman, Oklahoma in the second week of September, as part of World Breastfeeding Week.

WHY?

2009-08-07T22:39:00.003-05:00

Ok, so it's been a few days since I posted. I've been tired and unable to think of a topic to post on.

I attended a birth on Monday that was a bit emotionally exhausting. Mom, Dad and baby are wonderful, and they did wonderful, but I find myself so demoralized just thinking about the birth itself.

Why do OB's think that they need to put down a woman's body to the woman while she is in labor? It is especially irritating when they do it after said woman has received an epidural because she just can't take anymore of the ridiculously and unnecessarily painful contractions caused by pitocin. And you know, "You could have never done this without an epidural. Don't you see how hard pushing is? Can you imagine how much pain you would be in without it?" Well, duh... maybe if you'd left her alone to go into labor naturally, she wouldn't have needed the epidural. Bah!

Being a doula is wonderful. I get to be a part of one of the most empowering and life changing experiences in a woman's life. The birth of her baby. I can't describe to you the feeling of seeing a brand new life enter into the world, and to see a mother born.

But sometimes, being a doula is hard, emotionally. It is hard to sit and listen to doctors or nurses tell women that their bodies are broken, when I know they aren't. It is hard to see a woman lose her voice, instead of find it, when she is about to go through one of the most important changes in her life. When she is no longer only responsible for herself, but for the life of another.

Birth is beautiful. It is amazing. It is hard. It is rewarding, in the most unimaginable way.

"There is power that comes to women when they give birth. They don't ask for it, it simply invades them. Accumulates like clouds on the horizon and passes through, carrying the child with it."
-Sheryl Feldman

Group B Strep Positive = Antibiotics During Labor... Evidence Based?

2009-07-30T23:02:00.003-05:00

This review finds that giving antibiotics is not supported by conclusive evidence. The review identified four trials involving 852 GBS positive women. Three trials, which were around 20 years old, compared ampicillin or penicillin to no treatment and found no clear differences in newborn deaths although the occurrence of early GBS infection in the newborn was reduced with antibiotics. "Intrapartum antibiotics for known maternal Group B streptococcal colonization"

Anyone that has been pregnant knows that at around 35-36 weeks gestation, your OB tests you to find out of you are "GBS+" or Group B Strep positive. This involves a swab of the vagina and usually the rectum and it is sent off for analysis and culture. If the results show that you are GBS+, antibiotics are required during labor to keep the baby from contracting the infection.... or will they?

A new study by the Cochrane Reviews shows that giving antibiotics made no clear difference in the instance of GBS infections.

So, yet again, ACOG and its members are practicing medicine that is not evidence based. At the very least, I would like to see OB's using antibiotics on a case by case basis.

There are symptoms that can indicate that you are at a higher risk of delivering a baby with GBS...

* Labor or rupture of membranes before 37 weeks
* Rupture of membranes 18 hours or more before delivery
* Fever during labor
* A urinary tract infection as a result of GBS during your pregnancy
* A previous baby with GBS disease

Shouldn't we be looking more at these risk factors and treating mindfully, rather then assuming that yet another one-size fits all way of practicing is best?

Looking for some alternative treatment options? http://www.givingbirthnaturally.com/group-b-streptococcus.html

The Experience of Birth

2009-07-29T21:12:00.001-05:00

Wiregrass Birth Network

2009-07-28T10:06:00.008-05:00

The Wiregrass Birth Network is a non-profit organization committed to helping women and families have a safe & fulfilling pregnancy and birth experience.

Our goal is to empower women in their roles as health care consumers. We promote an awareness of evidence-based care and informed decision making through advocacy, education and support.

Visit the new site at: http://wiregrassbirthnetwork.webs.com/

Pregnant Woman = Doormat?

2009-07-25T10:01:00.004-05:00

So, I've been reading a lot of articles and stories lately about women who have been treated badly during labor and birth.

Here are just a few:

Skol v. Pierce Update: Doctor Fined and Placed on Probation

New Jersey Cesarean Refusal Case: The "System" is Schizophrenic

Since when did pregnant women become doormats? No one, especially a woman in labor, deserves to be treated like this.

This all has me thinking.

A pregnant woman, like any other competent adult, has certain basic rights. She has the right (for any or no reason) to decline medical treatment. This has long been recognized by the common law in the United States, Canada, England and Australia. (from Childbirth and the law; By John A. Seymour)

It amazes me that in this country you can actually choose to have an abortion, yet you (obviously) can't choose to refuse a cesarean. And while I don't want to open a can of worms in regards to abortion, we need to sort out some facts.

An abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus/embryo, resulting in or caused by its death. (from Wikipedia)

So, an abortion ends in the death of the fetus (or embryo as the case may be), and it is a deliberate act. And if we take into consideration that there are a few doctors in this country that still do LATE term abortions, we can factually say that some abortions are performed on viable fetuses. So, we are legally allowed to cause death deliberately to a potentially viable baby, but we are not allowed to refuse a cesarean (even when fetal distress is the reason given for it).

Abortion = Deliberate Death = OK
Cesarean Refusal = Possible Death = Not OK

Now, I am not advocating for women to refuse cesareans if their baby is in true distress. And I think that most women are smart enough and brave enough to admit that cesareans are a wonderful live-saving tool and a benefit when used judiciously. But to tell a woman that she must sacrifice her bodily integrity to potentially save the fetus's life seems out of line.

Lets talk a bit about fetal monitoring for a moment.

Results were the same in all four studies: more electronically monitored women ended up...with Cesarean deliveries. Cesarean section rates ranged between 63% and 314% higher for electronically monitored women than manually monitored women. There was no improvement in perinatal outcome for the babies delivered by Cesarean section. The principal "reasons" alleged for these surgical deliveries--fetal distress and cephalopelvic disproportion (disproportion of head to pelvis)--cannot be proved or disproved. The real reasons, according to these studies, are attending physicians' impatience and nervousness. (Brackbill et al. 1984:10)

Ok, so according to 4 studies, the diagnosis of fetal distress via electronic fetal monitors which led to an implied life-saving cesarean, showed NO better outcome.

Forgive me, I am failing to see why a pregnant woman's autonomy should be violated...

VBAC

2009-07-24T20:03:00.003-05:00

What is a VBAC? Simply put, it is a vaginal birth after cesarean. I talk to a lot of pregnant women. Most of the mother's I speak with who have had previous c-sections will express some interest in a VBAC, but won't follow through. This is unfortunate, because the risks associated with VBAC's are less than those of elective repeat c-sections.

And yes, I did say elective repeat c-sections. This is what they are... elective. You don't have to have one.

Risks to the baby from elective cesarean section:

* Babies delivered by elective cesarean have an increased risk of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), a life-threatening condition,3-7 and other respiratory problems that may require NICU care.
* Babies delivered by elective cesarean have a five-fold increase in persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPH) over those born vaginally.6
* Babies delivered by elective cesarean are at increased risk of iatrogenic (physician-caused) prematurity, usually related to failure to conform to protocols for determining gestational age prior to delivery, or errors in estimating weeks of gestation even with the use of clinical data.7,8 Prematurity can have life-long effects on health and well-being, and even mild to moderate preterm births have serious health consequences.9
* Babies delivered by elective cesarean are cut by the surgeon’s scalpel from two to six percent of the time.10 Researchers believe these risks to be under reported.

Risks to the mother from elective cesarean section:

* Up to 30% of women who have a cesarean acquire a postpartum infection. Infections are the most common maternal complication after cesarean section and account for substantial postnatal morbidity and prolonged hospital stay.11
* Other serious complications for women undergoing cesarean include massive hemorrhage,12 transfusions,13 ureter injury,14 injury to bowels,15 and incisional endometriosis.16,17
* Women who undergo cesarean report much lower levels of health and well-being at seven weeks postpartum than women who have vaginal births.18
* Women who undergo cesarean section have twice the risk of rehospitalization for reasons such as infection, gallbladder disease, surgical wound complications, cardiopulmonary conditions, thromboembolic conditions, and appendicitis. Rehospitalization has a negative social and financial effect on the family.19
* Women who undergo cesarean section report less satisfaction than women having vaginal births.20,21
* Women undergoing cesarean are at increased risk of hysterectomy in both the current and future pregnancies.22,23
* The maternal death rate is twice as high for elective cesarean as for vaginal birth.24
* In subsequent pregnancies, women with a prior cesarean have higher rates of serious placental abnormalities which endanger the life and health of the baby and the mother.25-27 Women are rarely told that a cesarean places future babies at higher risk.
* After cesarean section, women face higher rates of secondary infertility as well as higher rates of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.28,29

References:
1 Harer WB Jr. Patient choice cesarean. ACOG Clinical Rev 2000; 5(2).
2 Greene MF. Vaginal delivery after cesarean section - Is the risk acceptable? N Engl J Med 2001; 345(1): 54-5.
3 Bowers SK, MacDonald HM, Shapiro ED. Prevention of iatrogenic neonatal respiratory distress syndrome: Elective repeat cesarean section and spontaneous labor. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1982;143(2):186-9.
4 Morrison JJ, Rennie JM, Milton PJ. Neonatal respiratory morbidity and mode of delivery at term: Influence of timing of elective caesarean section. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1995; 102:101-6.
5 Hales KA, Morgan MA, Thurnau GR. Influence of labor and route of delivery on the frequency of respiratory morbidity in term neonates. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 1993; 43(1):35-40.
6 Levine EM, Ghai V, Barton JJ, Strom CM. Mode of delivery and risk of respiratory diseases in newborns. Obstet Gynecol 2001;97(3):439-42.
7 Parilla BV, Dooley SL, Jansen RD, and Socol ML. Iatrogenic respiratory distress syndrome following elective repeat cesarean delivery. Obstet Gynecol 1993; 81(3):392-5.
8 Hook, B et al. Neonatal morbidity after elective repeat cesarean section and trial of labor. Pediatrics 1997; 100(3):348-53.
9 Kramer MS, Demissie K, Yang H, Platt RW, Sauve R, Liston R. The contribution of mild and moderate preterm birth to infant mortality. Fetal and Infant Health Study Group of the Canadian Perinatal Surveillance System. J Amer Med Assoc 2000; 284(7):843-9.
10 Smith JF, Hernandez C, Wax JR. Fetal laceration injury at cesarean delivery. Obstet Gynecol 1997; 90(3): 344-6.
11 Henderson EJ & Love EJ. Incidence of hospital-acquired infections associated with cesarean section. J Hosp Infect 1995; 29: 245-255.
12 van Ham MA, van Dongen PW & Mulder J. Maternal consequences of caesarean section. A retrospective study of intra-operative and postoperative maternal complications of caesarean section during a 10-year period. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 1997; 74: 1-6.
13 Naef RW III, Washburne JF, Martin RW et al. Hemorrhage associated with cesarean delivery: When is transfusion needed? J Perinatol 1995; 15: 32-35.
14 Eisenkop SM, Richman R, Platt LD & Paul RH. Urinary tract injury during cesarean section. Obstet Gynecol 1982; 60: 591-596.
15 Davis JD. Management of injuries to the urinary and gastrointestinal tract during cesarean section. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am 1999; 26: 469-480.
16 Wolf Y, Haddad R, Werbin N, Skornick Y, Kaplan O. Endometriosis in abdominal scars: A diagnostic pitfall. Am Surg 1996; 62(12):1042-4.
17 Wolf GC, Singh KB. Cesarean scar endometriosis: A review. Obstet Gynecol Surv 1989; 44(2):89-95.
18 Lydon-Rochelle MT, Holt VL, Martin DP. Delivery method and self-reported postpartum general health status among primiparous women. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2001 Jul;15(3):241-2.
19 Lydon-Rochelle M, Holt VL, Martin DP, Easterling TR. Association between method of delivery and maternal rehospitalization. J Amer Med Assoc 2000; 283(18):2411-2416.
20 Fawcett J, Pollio N & Tully A. Women’s perceptions of cesarean and vaginal delivery: Another look. Res Nurs Health 1992; 15: 439-446.
21 Waldenstroem U. Experience of labor and birth in 1111 women. J Psychosom Res 1999;47: 471-482.
22 Stanco LM, Schrimmer DB, Paul RH, Mishell DR Jr. Emergency peripartum hysterectomy and associated risk factors. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1993; 168(3 Pt 1):879-83.
23 Bakshi S, Meyer BA. Indications for and outcomes of emergency peripartum hysterectomy. A five-year review. J Reprod Med 2000; 45(9):733-7.
24 Bewley S. Maternal mortality and mode of delivery. Lancet 1999; 354: 776.
25 Zaideh, SM et al. Placenta praevia and accreta: Analysis of a two-year experience. Gynecol Obstet Invest 1998; 46(2):96-8.
26 Ananth, CV et al. The association of placenta previa with history of cesarean delivery and abortion: A meta-analysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1997; 177(5):1071-78.
27 Miller DA, Chollet JA & Goodwin TM. Clinical risk factors for placenta previa-placenta accreta. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1997; 177: 210-214.
28 Hemminki, E and Merilainen, J. Long-term effects of cesarean sections: Ectopic pregnancies and placental problems. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1996; 174(5):1569-74.
29 Hall MH, Campbell DM, Fraser C & Lemon J. Mode of delivery and future fertility. Brit J Obstet Gynecol 1989; 96: 1297-1303.

© International Cesarean Awareness Network, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The most serious risk of a VBAC is a uterine rupture. While this often sounds catastrophic, that is not always the case. Most uterine ruptures occur without symptoms and do not cause problems for the mother or baby. This mild type is usually only noticed when surgery is required for other reasons.

Researchers have shown that women attempting a VBAC and who have undergone a trial of labor have a 1.6 per thousand chance of uterine rupture or 0.16%.

A recent study, The Vermont/New Hampshire VBAC Project, reported that the overall risk of infant death from a VBAC attempt is 6 per 10,000 compared to 3 per 10,000 planned cesarean births.

The rate of uterine rupture rises when labor is induced with oxytocin, prostaglandin preparations, or misoprostol (Cytotec).

Women interested in attempting a VBAC should learn as much as possible about labor, childbirth, cesareans, informed consent and VBAC pros and cons. I also recommend looking into support groups like ICAN and getting the support of a doula or other support person with professional childbirth experience.

A VBAC can be a very emotionally charged and challenging event. But it is often an empowering and healing one as well.

Inductions

2009-07-21T22:25:00.007-05:00

Ok, so I'm posting about inductions, again. Yes, I'm irritated about them, again. So, here are my lists.

Reasons to induce:

Preeclampsia (or worsening preeclampsia/HELLP)
Eclampsia (life threatening, usually means a c-section)
Chronic high blood pressure that is difficult to keep under control or is affecting the baby's growth
Intrauterine growth restriction
Gestational diabetes - induction can be indicated at 40 weeks for this, to prevent complications related to the diabetes (risk for stillbirth goes up, blood glucose out of control)
Mom has an illness or medical condition that continuing the pregnancy would make the condition worse, or could endanger mother or baby's health.
Very low amniotic fluid levels (below 6) - usually confirmed by a 2nd ultrasound -- first ultrasound could have been wrong.
Fetal distress or health concerns for the baby based on prenatal screenings (NSTs, biophysical profiles)
Post dates (beyond 42+ weeks)
Amniotic sac has ruptured but labor hasn't started within 24-48 hours.

NOT Reasons to Induce:

Large for gestational age
Maternal discomfort
Hypothyroidism
History of short labors
Live more than 30 minutes from the hospital
Family will be in town
Want to pick the birth date
Edema
Tired of being pregnant
Husband in the military
Patient convenience
Doctor convenience
One or two days past your due date

About one out of every five pregnant women in the U.S. has their labor induced, according to the CDC. You can't honestly tell me that 1 in 5 women have the above medical indications for induction.

“It's really become an epidemic,” said Dr. Mildred Ramirez, an author of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guidelines and professor of ob-gyn at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

The overall induction rate doubled from 1999 to 2006.

Ladies!!! Wait it out. Be firm.

The Birth Survey

2009-07-21T22:16:00.003-05:00

If you've given birth in the past 3 years, please take this survey!!!

www.thebirthsurvey.com

The purpose of The Birth Survey is to provide women with a venue to give feedback about their birth experiences with specific doctors, midwives, hospitals and birth centers, and to make this feedback available on this website as searchable reports. These reports currently include overall ratings but will over time expand to include detailed feedback. These searchable reports will be a resource to help other women and families to make more informed choices when choosing maternity care providers and birth settings and provide practitioners and institutions with feedback for quality of care improvement efforts.

Boring

2009-07-20T21:25:00.003-05:00

So, I've been trying to decide what to blog about this evening. The kids are in bed, I have the house to myself and I've been searching the internet for some new piece of interesting information for an hour now. So far... nothing has hit me.

So maybe I'll just blog some random thoughts...

1. Every pregnant woman should read the book "Pushed" by Jennifer Block. It is a wonderful collection of information. Read it. Pass it on.

2. My daughter had a hard evening. She refused to take a nap this afternoon and by the time we arrived home around 6pm she was a mess. The screaming and crying ensued and I finally ended up giving her soup for dinner and sending her to bed at 7:30pm. She didn't even complain much. She was tired.

3. Cole has been an angel about sleeping since we got home from Jamaica. He has slept through the night since we got home. This morning I woke up to him standing next to my bed with his arms up. He wanted to nurse. So I changed him, and put him in bed with us and we snuggled and slept a bit longer. I'm going to miss these days.

4. I love my babies, even when they are horrible and run around car dealerships and stores and scream and don't listen and whine and cry and talk back. I still love them... even when I want to rip out my hair.

Ok, well, now I'm even more exhausted, so I'm going to bed.. early. YUM.

Pit to Distress

2009-07-08T11:04:00.005-05:00

While I feel very lucky that all the births I've attended thus far have been induction and pitocin free, I know there will come a day when a client faces pitocin.

With all the birthy information that I read about or talk about on a daily basis, I have not heard of this. Honestly (and unfortunately), I am NOT surprised. The fact that there is even a need to inform women of this, disgusts me.

"Pit to Distress": Your Ticket to an "Emergency" Cesarean?

“Pit to distress.” How have I not heard about this? Apparently it’s quite en vogue in many hospitals these days. Googling the term brings up a number of pages discussing the practice, which entails administering the highest possible dosage of Pitocin in order to deliberately distress the fetus, so a C-section can be performed.

Yes folks, you read that right. All that Pit is not to coerce mom’s body into birthing ASAP so they can turn that moneymaking bed over, but to purposefully squeeze all the oxygen out of her baby so they can put on a concerned face and say, “Oh dear, looks like we’re heading to the OR!”

Ok, so here is my advice.

First, read the blog entry from Jill at Unnecesarean (above).

Next, read my blog on Labor Induction.

Next, don't induce unless it is medically necessary.

Finally, do some research on pit protocols and ask your doctor and hospital what their policy is. Do they jive? Does it sound like too much? Will they agree to a lower or slower pit induction?

If not... RUN.

Shame on OB's that practice this way.

Welcome Baby!

2009-07-07T15:29:00.003-05:00

My client due 7/20 had her baby this morning. I'm so glad I got to attend this birth!

She was great. Very calm, very in control. She called me yesterday afternoon to check in after her OB appt and let me know that she was 3cm/100%/btw 0 & +1. WOW! She told me her back was hurting her a lot. I had a nervous feeling, but told her to try some pelvic rocks and hands & knees.

She called me back a few hours later around 6:30pm to ask if she was having contractions. From her description, I confirmed that she was probably in early labor and told her to go rest, take a bath, relax and to call me back in 2 hours to let me know if things had changed.

She called again at about 7pm, to say she was bleeding. She felt like it was a lot of bright red blood, so I told her to call her doctor and ask what he thought she should do. He wanted her to come and get it check out, just to make sure there wasn't a problem. She has a 45min drive to the hospital. I told her I would meet her at there.

I arrived at about 8pm. She was checked at 8:15pm and was 4cm/100%/0. The blood was just bloody show, although a lot of it. She was admitted and we were in a room around 9pm and her antibiotics were started (GBS+).

Around 10pm, her contractions were about 3 minutes apart, and long (double peaking). I got her in the tub and it spaced her contractions out a bit and they weren't as long, and she said she felt a lot better there. After about 30 minutes, she got out and back to the bed to lay down.

At 12am on 7/7, she was checked again and was 5cm, her contractions were long again (90+ seconds) and about 2 minutes apart. Around 2am she went to the bathroom and said she heard a pop and thought her water had broken. She laid back down on the bed and was immediately shaking and showing signs of transition. After saying she was feeling some pressure and grunting, she was checked and was 8cm.

The nurse left us alone (again) and we talked her out of giving up. Several times I looked up at the door wondering why no one was in here checking in. After several contractions of uncontrollable pushing during contractions, I paged the nurse to come. A different nurse comes in and I tell her that she is pushing a lot with each contraction. It's been about 20 minutes since she was last checked. She tells me she will tell her nurse, but not to push (as if I can hold her baby in or stop her). We work to get her to breathe out and that works a lot to keep her from pushing. Finally (at 3am) the nurse comes in and I give her a look... you know the she is ready to have a baby look, and she checks her (she's complete, duh!) and she calls the doctor, and tells her not to push (hah!). I tell her to blow out again, but I don't try and stop her from pushing. She's complete and whether he makes it or not, wasn't that important.

OB comes in and asks how things are going. Watches her push a couple times and leaves. (This doc is kind of funny, he's sort of a interventionist, but he tries to be hands off) At about 3:30pm, she has moved the baby down to almost crowning and doc comes back in. The baby is born at 3:41am.

He is a cutie! Congratulations to the new mom and dad!

Sleep with your baby!

2009-07-02T23:09:00.003-05:00

Ok! So how often have you heard this:

"Is your baby sleeping through the night yet?"

It is often (and unfortunately) the first question people ask a new parent.

The truth is that most babies do not sleep through the night, yet it is a myth that is perpetuated from generation to generation.

Ladies! It is ok! There is no reason for your baby to be sleeping through the night! The fact that they are not, shows that they are developing just as they should. They are bonding. They are attaching. They need you at night, just like they need you during the day.

Parents who are frustrated with frequent waking or who are sleep deprived may be tempted to try sleep training techniques that recommend letting a baby cry in an effort to "teach" him to "self-soothe". New research suggests that these techniques can have detrimental physiological effects on the baby by increasing the stress hormone cortisol in the brain, with potential long term effects to emotional regulation, sleep patterns and behavior. An infant is not neurologically or developmentally capable of calming or soothing himself to sleep in a way that is healthy. The part of the brain that helps with self-soothing isn't well developed until the child is two and a half to three years of age. Until that time, a child depends on his parents to help him calm down and learn to regulate his intense feelings.

Notice the bold that I added. Bet you didn't think about the neurological aspects of sleeping through the night!

The Case Against Solitary Sleep

It's important to note that infant solitary sleep is a relatively new practice that has evolved in the western world only within the last 100 years. Recently, there have been efforts by various medical and professional organizations to discourage parents from sleeping with their children for fear that it contributes to an increase in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). However, new research demonstrates that co-sleeping, when practiced by informed parents, can be safe and beneficial. In fact, many cultures where parents routinely sleep with their children report some of the lowest SIDS rates. In some of these cultures SIDS is non-existent.

In closing! Sleep with your baby! If you aren't comfortable with the baby in your bed, try a side-car arrangement or a bassinet next to your bed. If nothing else, keep the baby in your room! It will help your baby, and it will help you. If you have to get up in the middle of the night with your little one, at least you don't have to walk across the house in a haze.

Happy sleeping!

Ref: http://www.attachmentparenting.org/principles/night.php

Special Offers!

2009-07-01T22:27:00.002-05:00

Ok, so I've got some special deals running right now. The economy being what it is, I thought I would try to offer what I could.

Check them out here!

Push Summit 2009 in Birmingham!

2009-07-01T10:54:00.004-05:00

Push Summit 2009 in Birmingham!

The Big Push for Midwives, is holding “Push Summit 2009” in Birmingham from July 12-14. The nation’s best and brightest midwifery advocates will be convening to discuss state- and national-level strategies for licensure of Certified Professional Midwives.

The summit is expected to draw national media attention.

If you want to be more involved in our state’s licensing effort, this will be an informative event. You may register here.

Please note that they are offering a discounted rate for students who wish to attend.

2009/2010 Maternity Care Excellence Awards

2009-07-01T10:12:00.004-05:00

HealthGrades recognized 145 hospitals with a 2009/2010 Maternity Care Excellence AwardTM. This places these hospitals among the top 10% of all hospitals nationwide for maternity care.

These best-performing hospitals consistently outperformed all other hospitals for maternal complication indicators as well as the weight-stratified neonatal mortality indicator (the number of newborns who died while in the hospital, examined by birth weight). Because of these vast quality differences, women should take care to research quality prior to choosing the hospital where they will deliver their baby.

Unfortunately, not a single hospital in Alabama received an award. In fact, the closest hospital that received the award is in Gainsville, FL, 240 miles away from Dothan. North Florida Regional Medical Center

AND... I am not incredibly happy with this study for its cesarean rates....

C-section rates average approximately 32% among the 19 states studied.

Obviously, a much lower c-section rate would be beneficial.

For a complete list of the hospitals, click here.

Labor Rooms Around The Country

2009-06-27T20:13:00.007-05:00

The Brooklyn Hospital Center
Brooklyn, NY

Mount Nittany Medical Center
State College, PA

Medical Center of Lewisville
Lewisville, TX

Simi Valley Hospital
Simi Valley, CA

Cedar Park Regional Medical Center
Cedar Park, TX

Reston Hospital Center
Reston, VA

Babies R Us

2009-06-13T20:48:00.002-05:00

So, the healthy mommy, healthy baby event was a bit of a bust, but I did have the opportunity to meet a few pregnant ladies, so it was well worth it!

I had quite a busy day afterward though. Some friends came over with their kids and we had a small birthday party for one of them. Such fun! The kids played all day and I had ZERO problems getting either one to bed.

I feel great... except that the house is a but messy now, but oh well... tomorrow is Sunday and I can take care of it then. Right now I have a Saturday evening alone to relax and unwind... at least until Cole wakes up... although, he didn't nap this afternoon, only around 10am.... hmmm, maybe he'll sleep for a while!

Frustration

2009-06-12T21:29:00.004-05:00

It's really easy to come by lately...

Frustrated because I'm a mom... the kids don't always go to bed peacefully, they throw tantrums, they're whiny or hungry or sleepy or all of the above...

Frustrated because I'm a wife... to someone in law enforcement, and all that comes with it.. the long hours, the weird schedules, the fear and worry, the grumpy mornings from lack of sleep and because the kids are screaming...

Frustrated because I have a job and a business, despite already being a mother and wife.

Frustrated because it's often hard to find money to pay all the bills, not to mention all those random bills that show up when you least need them too.

Frustrated because life is just frustrating... because when you had no responsibility, "life" looked so exciting and easy. Welcome to the real world.

Despite all that frustration, I still love being a mother, a wife, a worker, a business owner, a doula, a birthy woman, an advocate.... I just wish there was a bit more money (hahaha)!!!!

The evenings happenings...

2009-06-11T19:26:00.006-05:00

This evening was full of lively adventures! There was outside play, followed by homemade lasagna...

Yum! And of course, the aftermath of such a meal...

Such fun! And if you are Sophia, you are now driving around the garage...

And finally, after awaking from the lasagna coma, a lovely bath...

Night night!

Childbirth Intensive

2009-06-10T09:06:00.002-05:00

A 3-hour intensive class on the ins and outs of labor and delivery! We'll talk about the process of labor, the risks and benefits of getting an epidural or going all natural and the real reasons for c-sections. And we'll be a peek at a birth shown in the film, The Business of Being Born.

Saturday, June 20, 2009 from 10:00am to 1:00pm

The class is for couples or moms-to-be, place to be announced.

For more information or to register, please contact Ashley by phone (334/726-9267) or email (apmotz@comcast.net).

Price: $40.00

Babies R Us - Healthy Mommy, Healthy Baby

2009-06-10T09:03:00.002-05:00

Come join me at Babies R Us in Dothan on Saturday, June 13th from 9:30am-11:30am. There is a Plan & Scan Baby Registry event happening, along with 3 other local businesses related to pregnancy or babies to get great information from!

See you there!

OB Consent

2009-05-28T08:04:00.004-05:00

So, in being the huge birth junkie that I am, I am a member of several email groups. Today, while reading through some posts, I came across this little jewel...

A Different Kind of Consent Form

Did you know that OB's love to pull out those long and horribly written consent forms when you want to use your rights as a citizen to respectfully decline a treatment, even when that treatment might be worse than declining it in the first place?

It really gives you a lot to think about. While this may not apply to every woman, it often applies to far more than is acceptable.

Don't be a sheep! It is your body, and your baby... and your birth. Do your homework! Read some good books with real research in them. Here are a few...

Think about what your doctor says to you. Does it make sense? Is it logical? Ask questions. Remember, you hired them to be your birth attendant... you are not at their mercy.

Running out of TIME!

2009-05-26T21:06:00.002-05:00

Childbirth Intensive!

A 3-hour intensive class on the ins and outs of labor and delivery! We'll talk about the process of labor, the risks and benefits of getting an epidural or going all natural and the real reasons for c-sections. And we'll be a peek at a birth shown in the film, The Business of Being Born.

Saturday, June 6, 2009 from 10:00am to 1:00pm

The class is for couples or moms-to-be, place to be announced.

For more information or to register, please contact Ashley by phone (334/726-9267) or email (apmotz@comcast.net).

Price: $40.00

Easy as A B C...

2009-05-26T21:02:00.002-05:00

http://www.alabamabirthcoalition.org/

Check out the Alabama Birth Coalition! Get involved... it is YOUR right to birth!

Labor Induction

2009-05-16T22:12:00.003-05:00

One of the most common things that I hear among pregnant women is regarding induction. My insides cringe when I hear "I was induced"...

As our society has slowly placed more and more emphasis on the "due date", we have forgotten that babies don't keep a calendar with them in your womb. Each baby is unique. It grows at it's own pace. And frankly, it should be allowed to pick its OWN birthday. Why? Because it is safer. Safer for your baby, and safer for you.

Babies that are induced before they are ready can have trouble breathing, staying warm and breastfeeding, and they often need special hospital care after birth. In fact, we are seeing a large increase in preterm births, mostly due to the fact that we are inducing and sectioning babies way before they are ready.

It's isn't devoid of risk for mothers either. Research shows that first-time moms who are induced are twice as likely to have a cesarean as one whose labor starts on its own.

Actually, I've only scratched the surface here. The other risks involved are being confined to your bed, IV fluids, continuous fetal monitoring and denial of food and drink. These often lead to epidurals, because induced labors are significantly more painful. Epidurals lead to catheters and internal monitors. They can even lead to an assisted delivery with a vacuum or forceps. AND as mentioned above, inductions often lead to a cesarean, usually for fetal distress or stalled labors. Oh, and did I mention that sometimes an induction just doesn't work at all?

My advice to any pregnant woman... skip the elective induction. No matter how miserable you think you are, no matter how many times your well meaning friends call and ask if you've had the baby yet, no matter how tempting it is to schedule when you are going to meet your baby... be strong, for yourself, for your baby and for your birth.

Fresh Bread

2009-05-07T22:35:00.004-05:00

Freshly baked bread is a wonderful thing. My daughter and I made some today and it was wonderful, or as Sophie says "Yummy!"

Childbirth Intensive

2009-05-04T08:59:00.000-05:00

A 3-hour intensive class on the ins and outs of labor and delivery! We'll talk about the process of labor, the risks and benefits of getting an epidural or going all natural and the real reasons for c-sections. And we'll be a peek at a birth shown in the film, The Business of Being Born.

Saturday, June 6, 2009 from 10:00am to 1:00pm

The class is for couples or moms-to-be, place to be announced.

For more information or to register, please contact Ashley by phone (334/726-9267) or email (apmotz@comcast.net).

Price: $40.00

Babypalooza

2009-05-03T10:40:00.003-05:00

I had a booth at Babypalooza yesterday. I think it was a success! There were so many women and babies there, I ran out of brochures and flyers within the first 2 hours!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by and said hello. I met a lot of great new people and saw a ton of beautiful pregnant bellies!

I hope to hear from some of those ladies soon!

Congratulations to anyone that won a prize. That stroller and car seat was amazing!

A "birthy" quote for inspiration!

2009-04-22T22:10:00.000-05:00

"There is power that comes to women when they give birth. They don't ask for it, it simply invades them. Accumulates like clouds on the horizon and passes through, carrying the child with it."

-Sheryl Feldman

Tea Party

2009-04-15T11:02:00.000-05:00

Are you attending a TEA party today???

If you're in Dothan, it's from 5:00pm - 7:00pm at the Federal Courthouse on Troy Street, Downtown Dothan. SEE YOU THERE!!

If you can't attend, show your support by honking your car horn 3 times at noon!

DON'T TREAD ON ME!

Just not a hamburger... please!

2009-04-09T22:52:00.003-05:00

So, here is some great justification for not starving yourself during labor! Just do yourself a favor, NOT A HAMBURGER! You'll thank me later.

Eating During Labour Has No Effect On Delivery

Eating during labour does not affect delivery, according to a study published on bmj.com. It also has no effect on the duration of labour, the need for assisted delivery (forceps or vacuum extraction), or caesarean rates.

Read the full article at: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/143640.php

You're a "Crick in the Neck"

2009-04-08T21:20:00.004-05:00

So, I woke up this morning with a crick in my neck. I spent the whole day trying not to turn my head the wrong way. So, I decided to look up some info about "cricks", so you won't suffer as much as I have today!

About 75% of "cricks in the neck" are due to a muscle spasm. If you wake up with a crick in the neck, try at home therapies like ice and/or heat and massage. But it's important to go easy on the area in the first few days at least, to avoid making it worse.

Remedy #1: Take a hot towel (or rice sock) and wrap it around your neck for 20 minutes. Take it off and then very slowly move your neck around, up and down and back and forth, but don't "stretch". Then use an ice pack for 20 minutes. Slowly move your neck again. Rest for 20 minutes. Do this every hour until you start to feel better.

Another interesting tidbit is that most cricks are a long time coming. It has been building up for some time and no matter how you slept last night, the crick was coming, like it or not.

Remedy #2: Put lotion on your neck and have someone roll a rolling pin up and down the large muscles along your neck. If you don't have a rolling pin, you can use use a round smooth plastic bottle or such.

Don't stretch your neck! This can irritate and even make worse a crick in the neck. It's fine to slowly move your head (within normal range of motion), but don't stretch the muscles!

If you are still hurting after relaxation, rest and remedies.... head to the chiropractor!

Good luck! I'm off to try to relieve some pain.

My Birth Story, Cole Henry

2009-03-25T23:55:00.002-05:00

My 2nd Birth...

I woke up around 5am on 2/19/08 with easy contractions, but they were different than the previous weeks. I basically continued on with my day as normal. Contractions were all over the place (which happened with me last time).

My mom came over and cleaned my house (way cool). Around 12pm I got irritated about being in the house and we went and ate lunch at Ruby Tuesday.

When we got home, I cleaned some more and wandered around. Around 4pm I was getting really irritated about where I was in labor, and that I was bored in the house. So, I got everyone together and we took a quick (2 min) trip to my doctor's office to get a "progress report". Once I got there, my contractions started getting worse. He checked me and I was 6cm and 90% effaced. Told me to head on over to the hospital.

We ran home for a few last minute things and went in. My doctor called over to L&D and got me THE BEST nurse there. She has actually looked into opening her own birthing center (but the interest still isn't here). She did all doppler monitoring like I wanted and when they wanted one strip she just held the monitor on me herself for 20 minutes.

Anyway, about 8:45pm I started feeling a lot of pressure all of a sudden and made my husband go get the nurse (she had stepped out for a minute). There was a lot of scurrying about trying to find a doctor. Mine wasn't there yet and the on-call was heading into c-section. My nurse was trying to find a midwife from downstairs while putting on gloves to possibly catch the baby. The on-call walked in (because apparently someone thought I was only at 30 weeks gestation), but stayed anyway to catch.

Pushing was QUICK! His shoulders got stuck for a second or two, but pulling my legs/knees back was enough to free them, no biggie. I felt a big pop when his shoulders came out. Baby was born at 9:06pm. He was 8lbs 5oz and 21inches long (HUGE, more than a pound bigger than my last, who was 6 days past her edd). I had a tiny tiny tear that wasn't really on my perineum and didn't need any attention.

I had a lot of bleeding (again) with this birth AND my water never broke and they had to tear it off the baby.

This was such an easy birth!

It's been a long day.

2009-03-21T00:13:00.002-05:00

It's been a long day.

Somehow, I'm still up and blogging from my bed. There's nothing much to say tonight except... ::sigh::

Goodnight!

C-Sections reach 1 in 3..... WOW.

2009-03-18T21:56:00.003-05:00

Mar 18 2009
For Immediate Release

Cesarean Rate Jumps to Record High; 1 in 3 Pregnant Women Face Surgical Delivery

More Women Forced into Surgery; Few Mothers Recognize They Can Reduce Their Risk of Surgery

Redondo Beach, CA, March 18, 2008 – The National Center for Health Statistics has reported that the cesarean rate hit an all‐time high in 2007, with a rate of 31.8 percent, up two percent from 2006.

“Every pregnant woman in the U.S. should be alarmed by this rate,” said Pam Udy, president of the International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN). “Half or more of cesareans are avoidable and over‐using major surgery on otherwise healthy women and babies is taking a toll.”

A major driver of cesarean overuse is underuse of vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). The VBAC rate currently hovers around 8 percent, far lower than the Healthy People 2010 goal of 37 percent. Driving this decline is the growing practice of hospitals banning VBAC.

In February, ICAN released the results of a new survey showing a startling increase in the number of hospitals banning VBAC. The survey showed a near triple increase (174%) from November 2004, when ICAN conducted the first count of hospitals forbidding women from having a VBAC. In 2004, banning hospitals numbered 300. The latest survey, conducted in January 2009, counted 821 hospitals formally banning VBAC and 612 with “de facto” bans.1 Full results of the research can be seen at http://www.ican‐online.org/vbac‐ban‐info. Between formal and de facto bans, women are not able to access VBAC in 50% of hospitals in the U.S.

Research has consistently shown that VBAC is a reasonably safe choice for women with a prior cesarean. According to an analysis of medical research conducted by Childbirth Connection, a well‐respected, independent maternity focused non‐profit, in the absence of a clear medical need, VBAC is safer for mothers in the current pregnancy, and far safer for mothers and babies in future pregnancies.2 While VBAC does carry risks associated with the possibility of uterine rupture, cesarean surgery carries life‐threatening risks as well.

“The choice between VBAC and elective repeat cesareans isn’t between risk versus no risk. It’s a choice between which set of risks you want to take on,” said Udy.

Studies from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal–Fetal Medicine Units Network, one most recently published in the February 2008 issue of the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, demonstrate that repeated cesareans can actually put mothers and babies at greater clinical risk than repeated VBACs.3

In October 2008, Childbirth Connection released a report called “Evidence‐Based Maternity Care: What It Is and What It Can Achieve,” 4 showing that the state of maternity care in the U.S. is worrisome, driven largely by a failure of care providers to heed evidence‐based care practices. For most women in the U.S., care practices that have been proven to make childbirth easier and safer are underused, and interventions that may increase risks to mothers and babies are routinely overused. The authors of the report point to the “perinatal paradox” of doing more, but accomplishing less.

“All pregnant women are faced with important choices in their pregnancies. It is critical for women to understand what their choices are, and learn to spot the red flags that can lead to an unnecessary or avoidable cesarean,” said Udy.

Women who are seeking information about how to avoid a cesarean, have a VBAC, or are recovering from a cesarean can visit www.ican‐online.org for more information. In addition to more than 90 local chapters nationwide, the group hosts an active on‐line discussion group that serves as a resource for mothers.

For women who encounter VBAC bans, ICAN has developed a guide to help them understand their rights as patients. The resource discusses the principles of informed consent and the right of every patient to refuse an unwanted medical procedure. The guide can be found at http://www.ican‐online.org/vbac/your‐right‐refusewhat‐do‐if‐your‐hospital‐has‐banned-vbac‐q.

About Cesareans: When a cesarean is medically necessary, it can be a lifesaving technique for both mother and baby, and worth the risks involved. Potential risks to babies from cesareans include: low birth weight, prematurity, respiratory problems, and lacerations. Potential risks to women include: hemorrhage, infection, hysterectomy, surgical mistakes, re‐hospitalization, dangerous placental abnormalities in future pregnancies, unexplained stillbirth in future pregnancies and increased percentage of maternal death. http://www.icanonline.org/resource/white_papers/index.html

Mission statement: ICAN is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve maternal‐child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support for cesarean recovery and promoting vaginal birth after cesarean. There are 94 ICAN Chapters across North America, which hold educational and support meetings for people interested in cesarean prevention and recovery.

1. A “de facto” ban means that surveyors were unable to identify any doctors practicing at the hospital who would provide VBAC support.
2. http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10210#bottom Best Evidence: VBAC or Repeat C‐Section, Childbirth Connection
3. Mercer et al, Labor Outcome With Repeated Trials of Labor Am J Obstet Gynecol 2008;VOL. 111, NO. 2, PART 1 Silver et al, Maternal Morbidity Associated With Multiple Repeat Cesarean Deliveries, Am J Obstet Gynecol 2006; VOL.107, NO. 6
4. http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10575 Evidence‐Based Maternity Care: What It Is and What It Can Achieve

Womb to Bloom

2009-03-17T21:56:00.003-05:00

I'm really diggin this new site... way cool... check it out

I'm trying!!

2009-03-17T21:22:00.004-05:00

Seriously! I really am trying to be a good blogger, but I'm, well, I guess I'm just not that interesting!

Day in the Life - St. Patrick's Day addition:

This morning I cleaned the living room (sophie actually helped!!). As a treat for helping, we went to McDonalds (I know, I know) and ate INSIDE. Sophie just loves this. We even went to the McD's without a play place... she still loves it... weirdo!

Anyway, then we went and got some color wonder markers and the special paper. Yay! No more coloring on my walls! Then we head to the store (For Pet's Sake) to do some work.

4:30pm is my Yoga time. My time to be with adults, and only adults and get a nice workout. As usual, it was wonderful.

I get back at 5:30pm to a completely pathetic crying baby. Geez! Some little kids had come into the store yelling and woke him up. Mandy was NOT happy, until I got back (haha).

Then we got home and I cleaned the kitchen... the chore I asked my OH-SO-RELIABLE husband to perform... ugh! Sophie helped me with dinner, she likes to pour the rice in the pot and help me season the chicken. While we were eating, Sophie (who can't sit still to save her life) falls off the chair and smacks her head on the floor. She's gonna have a huge bruise... I swear, people must think I beat my children. They are both so clumsy.

Then, for dessert, we made GREEN milkshakes in honor of the holiday! Cole was in heaven.

Then, of course, we had to take a nice warm bath to get rid of the "stickies" and the cold from the milkshake. Then book, then bed for Sophie. Nursed Cole, and they are both asleep! Yay!

It was a pretty good day!

Mobile Blogging!

2009-03-13T00:28:00.002-05:00

How awesome is mobile blogging? Pretty awesome!

Facebook

2009-03-13T00:15:00.003-05:00

I am such a facebook geek. I really could sit at the computer, kids asleep, just trying to find people I know.. or once knew. I know, it's lame, but it is my quiet, wind down time after all the craziness of the day, the kids, etc.

Everyone needs that.

Hey! Don't you want to be my friend!?

Childbirth Education Class

2009-03-12T00:18:00.000-05:00

Childbirth Education Class
Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn

Starting April 2, 2009 through May 7, 2009
Thursdays from 5:30pm to 7:30pm

Location: a place to RENEW, 148 E Main Street, Dothan, AL

Phone: 3347269267
Email: apmotz@comcast.net
Web: www.wiregrassdoulaservices.com

A six week course on Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn.
Class will be for couples, and will be held at the wellness center: a place to Renew

For more information or to register, please contact Ashley Motzenbecker by phone or email.

Price: $50.00 per couple

Sad News in the Wiregrass

2009-03-11T00:11:00.002-05:00

I am so saddened by the horrible shootings in Geneva and Samson today!

http://www.rickeystokesnews.com/article.php/1036-pm-update-at-least-11-dead-in-coffee-and-geneva-counties-1336

My thoughts are with everyone touched by this event!

A great birth!

2009-03-08T00:09:00.000-06:00

I attended a wonderful birth this weekend! It is so refreshing to see a normal labor lead to a normal birth! How exciting!

I feel so excited and it makes me want to have tons of babies, just so that I can experience the euphoria that comes right after giving birth!

When births are fast!

2009-02-20T23:17:00.004-06:00

Whew! What an intense birth I attended this month! 2 hours from start to, well, baby! It reminded me of why I tell anyone I hear say "I hope my birth is soooo fast!" that "NO, they don't!".

Fast labors.. and births, also known as precipitous births, are nothing to look at lightly! While, yes, they are shorter, they are also tremendously intense. I mean, you're packing what is usually an 8-12 hour deal into, an hour or two. What if you packed all the energy and intensity of running a marathon into 10 seconds? Chances are you might be a bit overwhelmed!

Now, there is usually nothing wrong with a fast labor. In fact, it means things are working just exactly as they should. But, I find that most women are very overwhelmed and dazed by a fast birth, and that is not always a good thing.

I think a great length for a labor is that 8 hour mark. It allows you to work into labor quickly, but also adjust to labor's increasing intensity and emotional and physical demands, without tiring you out. That's not to say that a shorter or longer birth isn't equally as wonderful (because I've had a 25 hour labor and it was wonderful).

Of course, you can always go on hoping for a fast birth! Chances are it won't matter to you in the end anyway. :)

Update

2009-01-25T10:41:00.001-06:00

So, I haven't blogged in a while.... the holidays have really made me crazy!

So I thought I would run through a little update on the ins and outs of me....

I had a great birth the day after Christmas, even if I was called out on Christmas! Great family!

I've had several birthdays this month, whew! And my children's birthdays are approaching... RAPIDLY!

I finally got to watch the business of being born!!!! Great movie! I recommend it to ALL pregnant women!

Well, that is a quick run-down. I'll try to get back to blogging regularly!

Website Re-do

2008-11-15T20:58:00.002-06:00

So, I re-did the website! I get bored with it easily, so I went in a totally different direction! Check it out!

www.wiregrassdoulaservices.com/

Lung Capacity in Breastfed Children

2008-11-13T21:02:00.000-06:00

Yet another reason to breastfeed our babies!!

Babies' nursing workouts build lung capacity
Thu Nov 13, 2008

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The exercise that babies get while suckling at the breast may be an essential component of the respiratory benefits associated with breastfeeding, new research shows.

Dr. Ikechukwu U. Ogbuano of the University of South Carolina in Columbia and colleagues found that by 10 years old children who were breastfed for 4 months or longer had larger lung capacities than their counterparts who had been nursed for a shorter amount of time or not at all. The breastfed children were also able to expel air from their lungs more quickly.

While the children's speedier exhalations could have been related to the beneficial components of breast milk, "the lung capacity cannot be really explained by the immune factors in the breast milk," Ogbuano told Reuters Health. Instead, Ogbuano and his colleagues argue, the harder work required of babies who drink from the breast rather than a bottle is a more likely explanation.

Breastfeeding is known to help protect babies from developing respiratory infections, but studies of whether it may reduce their risk of asthma risk later in life have had mixed results, the researchers write in the journal Thorax. To investigate, they looked at lung function in 1,033 children who were 10 years old, born on the Isle of Wight, and were followed since birth.

The average lung capacity, as measured by the volume of air a child could exhale forcibly, was 54 milliliters greater in those who were breastfed for at least 4 months than in those who were not been breastfed at all. Peak expiratory flow, or the maximum speed at which the air can blown out of the lungs, was 180.8 milliliters per second faster in these children.

The lung function in children who had been breastfed for a shorter amount of time wasn't significantly different from the lung function of children who weren't breastfed at all.

Ogbuano and his team note that the pressure nursing babies exert on the breast before milk begins to flow is triple that required when drinking from a bottle; nursing sessions also last 8 minutes, on average, compared with 4.4 minutes for bottle feeding. Nursing four to eight times a day "may also help to prepare these children for a lifetime of physical fitness," Ogbuano said in an interview.

The findings suggest that babies who are bottle-fed with pumped breast milk may be missing out, Dr. Wilfried Karmaus, another researcher on the study, told Reuters Health. "We may go just in the wrong direction with the pumping and bottle feeding. That's why it's so important to really clearly consider what's going on there."

Karmaus noted that in Canada and Europe, generous maternity leave policies make it possible for women to directly breastfeed their infants for several months if they choose, while in the U.S. many women must return to work after only a few weeks. Giving U.S. women longer maternity leave might pay for itself in terms of health benefits, such as reductions in obesity, he suggested, calling for an economic analysis to address the issue.

Some recent births...

2008-08-26T09:20:00.003-05:00

I recently attended a clients birth that was just wonderful. It was quick and easy (although she doesn't think easy is the right word!).

I also recently attended a birth that was hard, but the mom did such a wonderful job. Her baby is so cute and she is so in love.

All is right in the world!

I bought some new cloth diapers!

2008-08-24T09:24:00.001-05:00

Ok, I am officially a cloth diaper nerd. I just love them. I just bought some new ones to try out!

Happy Heiny's

These are so cute!

Thirsties

I'm such a dork!

I can make cloth diapers!

2008-07-14T08:33:00.003-05:00

So, here is my first attempt at making a cloth diaper cover. It is fabulous and only cost about $1.00 to make.

The outside is fleece from an old baby sleeper, the inside is one of those things you lay down on a bed to keep it from getting wet (ie, soft and pretty water resistant). Then it's just thread, velcro and elastic, all of which was on sale.

So I am crafty, green and frugal. How awesome!

Father's Day

2008-06-15T10:27:00.003-05:00

Well, today is Father's Day! Soph picked out a card for daddy, complete with the "Kung Fu Fighting" song. She was so excited to give it to him this morning! He loved it. Such a good daddy!

Paul has to work... bummer. But, Sophia, Cole & I are going over to see Grandpa Dave (as she so lovingly refers to him).

Fun Fun FUN!

Ballet Class!

2008-06-04T09:01:00.002-05:00

Cathy DeLoney is teaching a Ballet Class for adults/young adults at the Cultural Arts Center in Dothan, AL on Monday's at 7pm. Come join us for a fun workout!

Cultural Arts Center
www.theculturalartscenter.com

909 St Andrews Street
Dothan, Alabama 36301
(334) 699-2787

Cesarean Rates And Epidurals Reduced By Doula Support During Labor

2008-06-04T08:56:00.006-05:00

A new study on the effectiveness of doula support! Yay!

MedNews: Doulas

"Cesarean delivery rates decreased by 12%, the need for an epidural dropped by 11%, and the need for a cesarean after induced labor decreased by 46% when a doula arrived shortly after hospital admission and remained with the woman throughout her labor and delivery when compared with the group without a doula."

Hooray for doulas!

An Introduction

2008-06-04T08:45:00.003-05:00

I sit her musing over things I could type, and I've settled on just a short and sweet introduction. So... Hello! Welcome to my blog, hope you enjoy it.

First things first.... I am a doula and childbirth educator. For more on that, go to my website: www.wiregrassdoulaservices.com

I am also a mother of 2 young children (2 yrs and 3 months) and a wife. I have 3 dogs. Suzie, the Chihuahua, (who as of this moment is being carried around the house by my 2 yr old daughter) who thinks of herself as "in charge, but is generally deflated by my daughters enthusiasm. Nero, the German Shepherd, whose name suits him well. And Dan, the Great Dane, who is the wimpiest dog I've ever known, but has a good heart, as gentle giants usually do. My husband is a deputy sheriff and works long and late hours, but leaves me with a bed to stretch out in, at least for MOST of the night.