Archive for Childbirth

The Needs of a Mother in Labor

September 17, 2008 at 12:59 pm · Filed under Childbirth, Pregnancy ·Tagged , , , ,

I remember when I was at least 10 years old, my grandmother along with her pregnant dog was visiting us from North Carolina.  While we were away touring the city together, her dog gave birth to several cute, healthy puppies.  This is not surprising since most animals instinctively feel more comfortable in privacy as they labor and give birth.

The Bradley Methods® founder Dr. Robert Bradley questioned why animals give birth peacefully and joyfully unassisted, while human mothers seem to suffer tremendously through the labor and birth of their babies.  He found that if humans were trained and practiced what the animals do in labor they could be more successful at natural childbirth.  In addition, many veterinarians today prefer to “not interfere with nature” allowing the animals to give birth alone.

In the Hospitals today laboring mothers meet many challenges, including strangers, bright lights, often being hooked up to IV poles, different machines that may be beeping, being in an unfamiliar environment, being on a clear liquids only diet, and on top of all of these many women are constantly being interrupted.  In a hospital setting the mother’s concentration is disturbed possibly causing more pain and prolongation of labor.  This is why I choose a to have our first child at a Birth Center and our second at home.  Both of these environments were peaceful and relaxing which I believe helped me to have amazing natural births.

According to Husband Coached Childbirth there are 6 needs of the laboring mother.

1. The need for darkness and solitude.

2. The need for quiet.

3. The need for physical comfort during first-stage labor.

4. The need for physical relaxation – This is something that you learn how to do.  You need practice.  This is why I recommend that couples actually take the class.

5. The need for controlled breathing.  The Bradley Method® teaches natural abdominal breathing which will become deeper and more rapid as labor progresses.

6. The need for closed eyes and the appearance of sleep.  This will help the mother become totally concentrated on the task at hand.

If you chose not to have your baby at a Birth Center or at Home it is important that you write a birth plan which will help your birth team to know what type of birth experience that you hope for.

Animal vs. Human Birth, Beth Barbeau Excerpted from “Safer Birth in a Barn?” Midwifery Today, Issue 83 Husband Coached Childbirth, Robert A. Bradley, M.D., Fifth Edition

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FAQ: The Bradley Method®

April 29, 2008 at 10:32 pm · Filed under Childbirth, Pregnancy ·Tagged , , ,

What is The Bradley Method®?

The Bradley Method® teaches husband-coached natural childbirth.

Why should I consider The Bradley Method®?

The Bradley Method® method teaches the risk and benefits involved in each intervention and medicine. It is important that the mother knows the risks and takes responsibility to make decisions that will have lasting effects on her and her baby. Many mothers who receive epidurals sometimes develop long term backaches, have adverse drug reactions, or in some rare cases are paralyzed. In 2007, Maryland alone lost 3 women due to complications from cesarean section – one at 5days postpartum, one at 7 days postpartum, and one in her recovery room immediately after surgery. In most cases, natural childbirth is the safest way to have a baby. Our creator created our bodies to give birth.

How long do the classes last and what do they cover?

These classes typically last 12 weeks. A couple should try to schedule to take this class during the last trimester of the pregnancy. Statistics show that 12 weeks of preparation result in more unmedicated births.

Our comprehensive Childbirth Classes cover the following:

- Prenatal Exercises to prepare your body for the birth of your baby and ease any discomfort you may feel during pregnancy.

- Nutrition, breastfeeding, postpartum care and newborn care.

- How to find the right birth attendent and birth place for you.

- How to write your own birth plan.

- About the birth process.

- How to avoid unnecessary pain during labor.

- Relaxation and massage techniques to reduce pain.

- About medical intervention and the risks and benefits of each.

- What questions to ask when the birth attendant is suggesting to intervene.

- How to avoid unnecessary episiotomies and cesarean sections.

- How husbands/doulas can become effective labor coaches.

How do I find out who teaches in my area?

Go to: www.bradleybirth.com Enter your location and there you will find an Instructor who will be excited to tell you more about her class.

How successful is the Bradley Method®?

86% of Bradley moms have vaginal childbirth with no medication.

The main goal of The Bradley Method® is that mother, baby, and family are healthy.

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Childbirth Options

March 26, 2008 at 2:31 pm · Filed under Childbirth, Pregnancy ·Tagged , , ,

Care Providers

Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM): a registered nurse who has completed an advanced course of study and is certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives. A midwife is trained to care for women during pregnancy, labor and the postnatal period; conduct normal deliveries, and care for newborn babies under normal circumstances. (source)

Certified Professional Midwife (CPM): A CPM is a direct-entry practitioner who has met all the certification standards set by the North American Registry of Midwives. What distinguishes a CPM from other nationally certified midwives is that CPMs primarily attend to out-of-hospital births and are trained via a competency-based model of education. (source)

Obstetrician: a physician that specializes in caring for pregnant women through childbirth. Women with complicated or difficult pregnancies make up a majority of their work. Many obstetricians also train as gynecologists so they are able to give medical advice and treatment concerning a woman’s reproductive system. (source)

*Obstetrics is the surgical specialty dealing with the care of a woman and her offspring during pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (period shortly after birth). Midwifery is the equivalent non-surgical specialty. (source)*

Doula: one who accompanies a woman in labor, taking care of her emotional needs throughout childbirth. A doula also provides support and suggestions for partners that can enhance their experiences of birth. A doula does not deliver the baby or have a clinical role at the birth. (source)

Birthing Locations

Hospital Birth: Traditional hospital births (in which the mother-to-be moves from a labor room to a delivery room and then, after the birth, to a semi-private room) are still the most common option. In a traditional hospital birth, doctors “manage” the delivery with their patients. In many cases, women in labor are not allowed to eat or drink (possibly due to anesthesia or for other medical reasons), and they may be required to deliver in a certain position. Pain medications are available during labor and delivery; labor may be induced, if necessary; and the fetus is usually electronically monitored throughout the labor. (source)

Birth Center: a homelike setting where natural childbirth is the focus. Since epidural anesthesia is not typically offered, women are free to move around in labor, get in positions that are most comfortable to them, spend time in the jacuzzi; or otherwise deal with the labor in a proactive manner. The baby is monitored frequently in labor typically with a handheld Doppler. Comfort measures such as hydrotherapy, massage, warm and cold compresses, and visualization and relaxation techniques are often used. The woman is free to eat and drink as she chooses. (source)

Home birth: childbirth that occurs outside a hospital or birthing center setting, usually in the home of the mother. Home births are usually attended by a midwife (or other attending medical professional) but there are some occasions when this does not happen. If labor progresses rapidly the midwife may not have arrived in time to catch the baby, but would then give immediate postnatal care. In rare cases the decision may be made to give birth without any medical professional present – this is sometimes known as an “unassisted home birth”. (source)

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Shannon’s Birth Story

March 13, 2008 at 10:20 am · Filed under Childbirth

I always enjoy exchanging birth stories, so here is the story of our journey through my pregnancy and labor of our first child.

It all started with asking my mother questions about how I was born. I had heard the story several times before but now I was much more interested since I would be experiencing childbirth shortly, too. I weighed 10 lbs and my mom actually had me with no pain medication. After hearing that she was in labor for 60 hours and had pitocin and then managed to have me with no pain medication I knew I could also do it without pain medication. I asked her if she would get me a natural childbirth book for Christmas and right away I was hooked. I read Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way by Susan McCutcheon and signed up for classes soon afterwards.

I started my pregnancy seeing an OB/GYN, but once we started the Bradley classes and asked our OB/GYN many questions, I decided it would be best for me to switch to a midwifery practice. I thoroughly enjoyed the Bradley Method® classes I was taking and I couldn’t wait until the next week of class to learn something new.

My husband Billy and I weren’t great at practicing labor techniques but I tried to do it alone as much as I could. We decided when I was 8 months pregnant to ask our Bradley teacher to attend our birth as our doula. She was very supportive and is also a fellow believer so I felt that it would be a blessing to have her there.

I was 2 days away from my due date when I went to bend over and felt a small gush of water. I was sure that my bag of waters did not break because it was just enough to change my underwear but not enough to change my pants. At that point, I our doula and told her what had happened. She told me to give her a call when contractions started.

We went to a party and once arriving back at home with a movie rental I decided that instead of watching it, I was going to go to bed. Around 1 am I woke up to use that bathroom when I realized that I had a bloody show. I got back in bed to try to get more sleep but then realized I was having contractions. I went downstairs to tell Billy and he didn’t seem to believe me because I was so calm. I decided to get in the bathtub to relax for a while. My contractions were coming 8 minutes apart.

After the bath we went to bed, but I was so excited I could not sleep. I let Billy sleep but I just laid in bed, dreaming of holding our precious baby boy. Around 5 am I called the birth center and our doula to let them know that I was in labor. My contractions were coming about 7 minutes apart. I took another bath and checked my bag to make sure everything was there. We left for the birth center at 6 am.

Once there the midwife did a pelvic exam and said that I was 3 centimeters. The center had a policy of not accepting patients until they were at least 4 centimeters dilated so we met up with our doula and decided to go for a walk. I walked and would stop for each contraction leaning against Billy and trying to relax. We decided to walk to breakfast and once we were inside, the contractions became more intense. I felt strange being in public in labor. I wonder what those people were thinking. I wasn’t making strange noises or anything (at least not yet) but I was putting my head on the table or trying to get into a comfortable position with each contraction. Once we were finished with breakfast we walked back to The Maternity Center and got comfortable in a room.

It was about 11 and the midwife did a pelvic exam and said that I was about 5 centimeters dilated. I thought at that point that I might be in labor all day. I was trying to get comfortable in the room and the funniest thing happened. My doula was trying to set the mood so she turned on a calming water fountain that they had in the room. Instead of the soothing sound of water it let out this wretched noise. It was hilarious. I was laughing so hard.. that is, until another contraction came.

I decided it was time to get into the tub. There were candles lit and the water was warm. I soaked for almost an hour. Once I got out of the tub I laid on my side trying to relax with each contraction. Billy was on the bed lightly stroking me. In between contractions I mostly prayed and dreamed of my baby being born.

About 2 hours later I decided it was time to get back into the bathtub. Once I got in the tub and relaxed, my contractions started to come closer and stronger. While I was in transition and starting to make noises, I heard the midwife on the phone across the hall calling for a back-up midwife.My son was born the day before Memorial day so a lot of people had family in town or could not be reached. I knew that she could tell things were starting to get more intense when she said to someone on the other side of the phone that she needed someone there soon because “this young girl here is going to be having a baby soon.” She finally found someone and came to check on me.

At this point she had me stand up to do a pelvic exam. She said that I was 9 centimeters dialated. I was ready to lay back down in the tub when she said to me “okay, it is time to get out.” I wasn’t too happy about that. Once I was out which took a lot of effort and help from Billy, I sat on the birthing stool. The midwife came into the room and asked to break my water. She said that the back-up midwife was worried that there was meconium in my bag of waters. We asked her to give us a minute so that we could talk. When she came back in we told her we would rather her not break my bag of waters. We did not feel it was necessary since there were no signs of stress from the baby.

Because I was starting to feel pressure about how long things were taking, I decided that I would go sit on the toilet and push. After a few pushes “pop” my water broke. My doula told the midwife. She told me to lay down so that she could do another pelvic exam (ugh, again) to see if it was time for me to push. I tried a few different positions pushing but I ended up on my side which at the time was not very comfortable. After about 40 minutes of pushing my baby was born. It was such a joyful experience. As my baby lay on my stomach all I could do is sob and thank God for giving me a healthy baby boy.

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The Business of Being Born

February 9, 2008 at 9:36 am · Filed under Childbirth, Pregnancy ·Tagged , ,

 

to be released on DVD on February 26, 2008 at Netflix or available for purchase in late March 2008…

 

 

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