Positive Birth Stories

Women can overcome the fear surrounding labor and birth by hearing or reading Positive Birth Stories. I have asked a number of my Bradley Method® and Prenatal Yoga students to write their experiences down to share with other couples. Most of these stories on my blog http://prenatalyoga.wordpress.com are stories of natural birth. A couple of them are not, but these mothers were able to turn their baby's birth into an empowering experience and bring their babies into the world in the best, safest, and gentlest way possible.

"Women need to hear positive birth stories. Sadly, women who have positive, transformative, challenging but amazing births usually don't tell their stories. They may think it's not normal, or may not want to make other women feel inferior. Women need to share their birth stories, both positive and difficult, and when they're difficult, we should examine why and what could have changed. These stories have the power to transform how society looks at birth, to dispel the myths and relieve the fear." Debra Pascali-Bonaro

Cambria Lee

Post Date: May 14th, 2013

Below is the natural birth story of Emily, Tyson, and Cambria Lee Perez. I've added comments, highlighted, to emphasize things they did that were very helpful in achieving the birth they wanted for their daughter. If you want t learn more, click here.
Liza Janda

Cambria Lee arrived on Sunday, October 28 @9:36am. All 9lbs of her!!!

I was awakened around 4am on Saturday with menstrual-like cramps(about every 10mins). (A sure sign of early labor) This was the very first time that I had such cramping, so I had a big feeling that we would be meeting baby very soon. I didn't want to wake Tyson just yet to tell him because I knew we would need all the sleep we could get. ( Let your coach/birth partner sleep if you begin labor during regular sleeping hours. Your body has all kinds of hormones that help you get through labor and keep your energy up, but your coach doesn't have those hormones and may end up running low on energy)

When Tyson finally dragged himself out of bed, I was excited to tell him what I thought was happening. As the day went on Tyson made sure I was eating and staying well hydrated, taking me for walks, and just keeping me busy. (What a great coach-just what every labor support person is supposed to do.) I baked cookies for the staff and cleaned around the house. (This is a wonderful thing to do to help you ignore your labor and to get the staff support you'll need in labor) Throughout the day the cramping slowly became a little more intense and closer together. Nothing painful, just annoying. The Stage One Appcame in very handy! (Most first time parents aren't sure when early labor turns in to active labor. Most first time parents in labor go to the birth place to soon. This free App can help time labor contractions, help you focus, and decide when it's time to go to your birthplace when you get to active labor) Later that evening, I had to start finding out what was the most comfortable laboring positions for me. It was quite interesting to find out that the positions I thought I was going to like…I didn't like at all. (This a good reason to practice relaxation in many different positions and scenarios)

I liked the heat pack on my back,

laying on my exercise ball,

leaning against Tyson, and standing in the shower. Tyson was SOO good at getting me to change to different positions at this point and keeping my energy up. ( If you want to be as good a birth coach as Tyson, read:The Birth Partner, Third Edition: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Doulas, and All Other Labor Companions (Birth Partner: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Doulas, &)

It wasn't until around 9pm when things starting really picking up. Knowing that we desired to labor at home for as long as possible, I don't think I had ever told or asked Tyson to go to the hospital. I just kept doing my thing and pushed through every contraction. Around 11pm, Tyson told my parents to come over to prepare for our departure. At this point I was laboring in the shower for quite some time. Poor neighbors probably heard me through the walls. Our drive to the hospital was a good 45mins. Tyson made sure we werent leaving too soon, contracting @ 2-1-1 verses the 4-1-1. We wanted to make sure we wouldn't be turned away from the hospital and have the least interventions.
(These two had a great plan and were able to progress past 5cm. As a rule, if you want fewer interventions and/or a natural birth, it's best to labor at home as long as possible)

We arrived at the hospital around 1am. I walked myself in the hospital, stopping to lean on Tyson during every contraction. You should have seen the look on my dads face!! Haha. He is not good during situations like this, which is why he stayed in the waiting room.

Checking in was a pain!! We told them exactly how things had been progressing and that I wanted a room right away, but they insisted on needing a bunch of info and needing to do some tests to make sure I was ready for a room. Tyson had to deal with a few battles when it came to interventions they were wanting to do. Lets just say, He didn't vibe well with the OB they had come in.

(Sometimes in situations like this, having a doula to support the mom in labor can be helpful so mom feels supported and dad can handle decisions, questions, anything that needs to be handled.)

Once I was in the room, I went back and forth from the exercise ball and shower. Nurses kept wanting to pull me out of the shower to do some tests, draw blood, and fetal monitoring. All stuff that I did not want to come out of the shower for. Our first nurse really didn't agree with things on our birth plan. Tyson had some KIND words with her outside of the room .

(If you get a nurse who doesn't see things the way you see them, ask for another nurse. It's a simple solution)

Our second nurse…it was like the heavens had heard us and brought us and Angel!! A nurse who had 2 natural, non-medicated births and easily went along with our plans!!! She was really sweet and got things done the way we liked.

I have no clue what time they checked me, but I was at 8cm. About 2hrs later, they checked me again and I was at 10cm. I went to lay down in the bed. I had already been wanting to push so I was ready!!! Legs pulled back, C-shaped spine… OMG!!! The hardest part of the whole thing was that "RING OF FIRE"!!! Everything else was cake! I had pushed for about 40mins and then there she was, placed on my chest . The midwife who delivered her thought she would have to resuscitate her, which gave her the idea of "needing" to clamp the cord right away, something that we did NOT want. Because our little girl was quite big for my little body, they had to really pull on her shoulders and neck to get her out (I did get a first degree tear) but She pinked up immediately after being placed on my chest and started to cry . She Latched on soon after and fed easily. Daddy also adjusted her as she really needed it from all the pulling. (Tyson is a chiropractor and you can reach him at West Coast Chiropractic 4kids)

Tyson and I fell in love instantly with our "surprise" baby girl. I still find it funny that many people insisted I was having a boy, including my midwife .

We denied all tests except the hearing test and we left the hospital within 24hrs. Mommy and baby are getting along just fine, figuring out our new routine while daddy gets those special diaper changing bonding times ).

Thank you Liza for EVERYTHING you taught us. I felt extremely well prepared and feel like I knew exactly what to expect at each moment. I am so empowered by my first birth experience. A Natural, non-medicated birth is what i envisioned and it was just that and BEAUTIFUL! I didnt even ask for medication in which was a HUGE goal of mine!! Nor did i ever get "fussy" with the hubby during any of this. I knew i really needed him and didn't want him to leave my side . Next time we plan on a home birth ).

Thank you again!

Love,

Tyson, Emily, & Cambria Lee

Tags: baby, birth partner, labor, midwife, natural birth
Posted in Labor and Birth Advice, Natural Birth Stories |

What Vitamins and Supplements Should You Be Taking In Pregnancy?

Post Date: March 20th, 2013

Am I really getting the right nutrition for my baby?

What vitamins do I need for a healthy pregnancy?

There are so many vitamins and supplements for pregnancy! How do I know what's right for me? How do I know which additional supplement my baby and I need?

Confused About Vitamins? Take the Dr. Weil Vitamin Advisor today to find out if you are getting the best nutrition in pregnancy.

FREE Vitamin Recommendation from Dr. Weil

Vitamin D is the sunshine vitamin and you need about 10 minutes a day of sunshine. But if you live in northern climates or you wear sunscreen, you're not getting adequate D3. Prenatal vitamins will have about 400 IU and so you may need up to 4000 IU per day. You can have a simple blood test to see if you need more vitamin D in your diet. This is a supplement for pregnancy that is best gotten in pill form.

Iron is a very necessary supplement for pregnancy because you are building blood every day. If you are vegetarian or vegan, then you definitely need to supplement your pregnancy diet with some form of iron. Some suggestions for iron supplements are; Floradix, Rainbow Light Plant Sourced Iron, or Energizing Iron by Enzymatic Therapy. TopBrandVitamins Offers Free Shipping on Orders Over $49. Products are herbal and do not contain prescription ingredients.

Probiotics ( I like Garden of Life Probiotics, Source Natural, Nature's Way, Doctors Best) strengthen your immune system and help with digestion by introducing and aiding friendly bacteria in the gut. It will help strengthen your baby's immune system too. Even if you feel you are getting adequate nutrition in pregnancy, adding Probiotics may help keep colds and viruses at bay as well as help with digestion.

Taking your prenatal vitamins as an addition to your nutrition in pregnancy is a must. Even if you think you're eating a balanced diet, you're probably missing some important vitamins or minerals. So take your prenatal supplement for pregnancy, daily.

Good nutrition in pregnancy affects your baby's development, how your body grows your baby, and can even affect how your labor goes.

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Tags: baby, Dr. Weil vitamin advisor, friendly bacteria, immune system, iron in pregnancy, nutrition in pregnancy, plant based iron supplements, probiotics, supplement for pregnancy, vitamin D in pregnancy, vitamins, vitamins and supplements in pregnancy
Posted in Labor and Birth Advice |

Labor and Birth: No Poopin’ While Pushin’?

Post Date: February 20th, 2013

So many pregnant moms have a big fear of pooping while pushing out their baby. This is such a common fear, and it is so easily avoided if it's that big of a deal.

Really, you won't even notice if you're pooping while pushing, you will be so focused on the job at hand-birthing your baby. But in case you want to avoid the pooping while pushing, when you're in second stage labor, order a twin pack of Fleet enemas and as soon as labor begins, give yourself an enema. If your labor has to be induced for a medical reason, give yourself an enema before you go to the hospital.

It isn't the most pleasant experience and it could possible stimulate your labor a bit. But I guess you have to decide which experience is more unpleasant, having an enema in the privacy of your home, in the very beginning of or before labor, or pooping while pushing at the end of labor with no privacy.

The choice is yours! Stock up now:

S ee More Articles By Liza Janda

Tags: baby, enema, labor, labor and birth, poop in labor, pooping while pushing, second stage
Posted in Labor and Birth Advice |

VBAC After First Baby Was Breech

Post Date: February 19th, 2013

Successful VBAC's can happen in 85% of women who had a previous Cesarean. I'd like to encourage women and couples to get as much education and re-education as they possibly can about childbirth and VBACs in general. There are some great resources for the support and information you will need for this momentous and joyous day to come. With the right support and effort you can do it. You won't get what you wish for, but you will often get what you work for!

Recommended books and DVD's for VBAC:

Here is Rachel and Nick's story:

Hi Liza, we had our baby! Last Saturday morning, two days before the due date. It was incredible!

I woke up at 2:45 in the morning feeling a very long contraction. When it ended I felt like my water may have broken. I took some notes on taco and began wandering around the house figuring out my contractions. They were all about one minute long and one to three minutes apart, mostly two minutes apart. They were manageable on my own so I let Nick sleep.

I kept watching for the emotional signposts because it was really important to me to stay home until the very end of first stage. After two hours I woke up Nick and asked him to help me. I called Dr. Cap and he just told me to go to the hospital when I felt it was time.

I started to think that I wanted to leave for the hospital before my daughter woke up so we called my parents and asked them to come help us get ready. I still did not feel like I was in transition or even late first stage. The most fabulous thing we discovered was when my back started to hurt, Nick tried the hip squeeze. Miraculously, doing the hip squeeze relieved both my back pain and cut the contraction pain in half. I don't know why, but it was an incredible trick. So he had to squeeze my hips for each contraction and then I'd let him leave for 30 seconds to go pack the car, then he has to come back to squeeze my hips again!

We hopped in the car just before seven. I had four or five contractions on the drive to scripps enc., but still felt pretty in control. I had a few contractions on the lobby floor while we checked into the hospital, but I quickly got a room and the nurse checked me. You are complete! she exclaimed, Don't push! Wow, those were the sweetest words I've ever heard!

Dr. Cap showed up shortly and told me to start pushing. It was a lot of work but not too bad and only lasted 45 minutes. I was on my back, tilted further back than I wanted, but Cap said that was best. As the baby came out, I reached down to take her. They told me to give one more push and she came out and I lifted her onto my chest! I just held her there for a while, and finally a nurse asked if it was a boy or girl. I never even thought to look or ask. Nick took a peek and found it was a girl! Total labor, start to finish: 5 1/2 hours.

Dr. Cap was a fantastic coach. He was so calm and gave me lots of guidance and encouragement. But I couldn't have done it without the encouragement that Nick was also giving me, telling me over and over how much progress I was making. That was the most helpful part, to know that I was actually getting closer each time.

Baby nursed right away! They never washed her and hardly took her from me at all. We did vit K but no eye drops.

So my birth plan was followed to the letter. The only thing that happened was I had to have the Pitocin IV after the placenta, due to excessive bleeding.

Looking back on it I couldn't really identify having gone through transition, I never felt like I couldn't handle it, but now I realize I was pretty irritable near the end as we rushed to get to the hospital, so maybe that was it!

We are at home now doing exclusive skin to skin, in bed all day, and it is beautiful. We named our baby girl Laurel Jane.

Thank you for all the support, education, and wise words as I prepared for that wonderful day.

Rachel

Tags: baby, back pain, birth, Books for VBAC, Bradley Method, Cesarean section, Childbirth videos, Dr Capetenakis, DVD's for VBAC, labor and birth, Liza Janda, relaxation in labor, unmedicated, VBAC
Posted in Labor and Birth Advice, Natural Birth Stories, Uncategorized, VBAC |

Pregnant-Increase Your Protein Intake! by Liza Janda

Post Date: February 12th, 2013

See more articles by Liza

The Bradley Method's nutrition program recommends that pregnant women need 80-100 grams of protein every single day during their pregnancy. The benefits of increasing your protein intake are many, but especially to help ensure a healthy, full-term pregnancy, and baby. If you feed your body right, chances are better that your body will work exactly the way God meant it to during labor-efficient, effective contractions, leading to the healthy and safe birth of your baby.

1. Keep raw almonds handy-in your desk, in your purse, in your car. 1 Oz. of raw almonds, or approximately 20-30 almonds, gives you 6 grams of protein. Since you only need 300 extra calories a day while you're pregnant, you might want to be careful about over doing it. An ounce of almonds has about 160 calories. You can nibble a few here and there throughout the day.

2. Start your days while you're pregnant with a protein shake. There are many protein powders on the market and my favorite is whey protein. But if you're allergic to dairy, you'll want to try rice, soy, or some hemp protein powder. Here are some recipes to try:

Whey protein shake

(Designer Whey, MRM< or other brands)

2 scoops protein powder

1 cup milk

4-6 ice cubes

Put all ingredients in a blender. 18 grams of protein per scoop.

Chocolate Banana Shake

½ of a frozen banana (approximately)

2-3 ice cubes

¾ cup of milk or milk substitute

1 tablespoon of baking chocolate (unsweetened powder form)

1 scoop of Life Time Vanilla flavored Plant Protein. 22 grams protein per scoop

In a blender, blend banana, ice, and milk. Once well blended, add chocolate and protein. More or less milk may be needed.

Strawberry Shake

¼ cup frozen pineapple

½ cup frozen strawberries

2-3 ice cubes

¾ cup of milk or milk substitute

1 scoop of Life Time Vanilla flavored Plant Protein

In a blender, blend pineapple, strawberries, ice and milk. Once well blended, add protein. More or less milk may be needed, depending on the desired consistency.

3. "Beans, beans, good for the heart, the more you eat,…" well you know this one. Not only are they good for the heart, but they are low in calories, and high in protein. Every cell during your pregnancy is formed from protein- baby, bones, uterus, blood, amniotic fluid-everything! One cup of beans has about 12-14 grams of protein. So start adding beans to soups and stews. Add hummus to your sandwiches. Just spread it onto the bread instead of mayonnaise. Throw some kidney or garbonzo beans on to your salads. Your pregnant body will thank you.

4. Whole grains give you fiber and protein. When you're pregnant, the old digestive tract doesn't work the way it does when you are not pregnant. So, adding whole grains can help regulate your digestion. Some suggestions are Quinoa, which has 18 grams of protein in one cup. You can eat it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Read labels and look for whole grains. Stop eating white rice and switch to brown rice only. Or if that's too drastic cook half brown, half white rice.

5. Keep a food diary by downloading apps from Myfitnesspal.com, calorieking.com, or live strong.com

Now get busy! Your baby is counting on you to provide all the nourishment he/she news to grow up healthy and strong!

See more articles by Liza Janda

Take Prenatal Yoga Classes in Vista or Prenatal Yoga Classes in Poway with Liza Janda

Take Bradley Method of Childbirth Classes in Vista, CA

Can't Get To A Childbirth Class? Try Birth Class At Home- an award winning childbirth education program recommended by doctors.

Tags: baby, Bradley Method, healthy pregnancy, pregnancy nutrition, pregnant, protein
Posted in Recipes For a Healthy Pregnancy |

Birth Plans – Do I Really Need One?

Post Date: January 30th, 2013

Yes absolutely every pregnant mom should write a birth plan! Just like anything in life, it really benefits you to have a plan. Setting your intentions and writing them down will help you manifest what you intend to achieve.

What exactly is a birth plan?

Your birth plan should represent your set of goals for your birth. Remember that the choices you make during your pregnancy, labor, and birth are the choices that you will live with for the rest of your life. Your doctor or your midwife, or your nurses do not have to live with the consequences or outcomes of your choices. You and your family do! So make sure you are actively participating in those choices.

How do I actively participate in the choices made during childbirth?

First you need to get educated. It is the one thing you can do to help your baby into the world as safely as possible. Learn the risks and benefits of all of the interventions. Don’t let others make decisions for you in pregnancy, labor, and birth, except in a true emergency. Make your healthy decision WITH your care providers. It is their legal obligation to fully inform you so that you can give consent. But it is your responsibility to ASK QUESTIONS! To know which questions to ask, you should learn about informed consent questions. Hopefully your childbirth educator will drill these questions into your brain in your childbirth classes.

Let’s Get Started Writing Your Birth Plan!

Once you are finished creating your birth plan, you will have your care provider sign it. You’ll make at least 4 copies of your birth plan: one goes in your file at the office; one goes in your file when you pre-register at the hospital or birth center; one or two go with you to give to the nurses when you arrive at your birth place. It’s important to be flexible because the one thing you can count on in labor and birth is the unexpected.

GUIDE FOR

THE BIRTH PLAN/GOALS/WISHES OF ___________

Example: We understand this plan consists of our goals for our labor and baby’s birth. We intend to be flexible. We consider mother’s and baby’s health and safety our top priority. We hope you will work with us as a team to achieve the birth we envision. We would appreciate all your help in achieving a natural birth.

FIRST STAGE LABOR

I.V.
__No I.V.

__Heparin or Saline lock

__Mobile I.V.

__Placement (forearm, hand, etc.)

Monitoring

__Manual auscultation (fetoscope,stethoscope)

__Doptone

__One 20 minute external electronic strip

__Intermittent external fetal monitoring once every 1 or 2 hours

__Continuous external fetal monitoring

__Continuous internal monitoring

__Some mobility

Positions for labor

__Freedom to change positions/walk around

__Confined to bed in various positions

__Confined to bed in one position

Dealing with pain

__Natural methods

__Medication at mother’s request

__DO NOT offer medication

Enhance or speed labor

__Natural methods (visualization, walk, change positions, nipple stimulation…)

__Enema, castor oil

__Artificial rupture of membranes

__Pitocin

__Herbal remedies

Empty bladder

__Walk to toilet

__Catheterization

__Bedpan in bed

__Other

Fluids

__Juice, water, Popsicles

__Water only

__Ice chips only

__I.V. fluids only

Food

__Mother’s choice

__Limited

__No food

Cervical checks

__Few at mother’s request

__Staff prerogative

SECOND STAGE AND BIRTH

Position for pushing:

The mother has been encouraged to take whatever position is most comfortable to her and to vary positions during second stage until delivery (semi-sitting, sitting, side-lying, hands and knees, standing, squatting, etc. she has been discourages from using the lithotomy or any supine position during descent of the baby, and for a delivery unless forceps, vacuum extractor, or episiotomy become necessary.

__Mother’s choice (vertical, hands/knees, squat, side lying

__Lithotomy

__Stirrups

__Other

Bed for Birth

__Birth chair, beanbag, floor, bed, toilet

__Hospital bed/labor bed

__Delivery table

Pushing techniques:

Rather than prolonged breath holding and bearing down throughout contractions, her bearing down and breath holding efforts will be spontaneous and in response to the strength and duration of her urge to push. Bearing down will be for a shorter period (5-6 seconds) than is usually encouraged. There will be several moments between these bearing down efforts during which she will breathe without pushing.

__Spontaneous bearing down

__Directed pushing (counting by birth attendants)

__Other

Speed actual birth:

Pelvic floor relaxation

1 suggest that she change position if progress is slow

2 remind her to bear down with the urge, and not to push unless she has the urge

3 remind her to let go-thereby relaxing the pelvic floor

4 if spontaneous bearing down and changing position do not result in progress, ask her to bear down longer and more forcefully.

__Prolonged pushing on command

__Episiotomy

__Forceps

__Vacuum extractor

__Patience for natural methods (position changes, visualization, intense coaching)

Slow actual birth

__Panting

__Side-lying

__Other

Care of Perineum

__Try for intact perineum (massage, positions, support, hot/cold compresses)

__Pressure episiotomy without pain medication

__ Other

Baby Catcher

__Parent’s choice (father, coach, family member)

__Nurse

__Doctor/midwife

Cord cutting

__Clamp & cut after pulsating stops

__Clamp & cut immediately

__Parent’s choice who cuts cord (i.e. father/coach)

__Doctor or nurse

__Other

Placenta birth

__Spontaneous/natural (breast stimulation, baby suckling,)

__Fundal massage

__Pitocin

__Other

In case of Cesarean Section:

Timing (if planned)

_After labor begins

_Scheduled before labor begins

_Other

Precaution (if not planned)

_Fetal scalp sample

_No fetal scalp sample

_Other

Others present

_No separation of mother and coach

_Medical staff only

_Doula only

_Other

Pain medication

_Regional with little or no premedication

_Regional with premedication

_General

_Other

Participation

_Screen lowered at birth

_Events explained as proceeding

_No participation by parents

Contact with baby

_Held by mother or father soon after birth

_Breastfeeding soon after birth

_Sent immediately to nursery with father in attendance

_Other

Don’t forget to discuss pain management options for post surgery. Remember to ask about meds: effects on breast milk and baby. Ask your pediatrician and lactation consultant the same questions. You may get a different perspective or answer.

Tags: baby, birth, birth plan, hospital, labor, midwife, pregnancy, Yoga Janda
Posted in Labor and Birth Advice |

11 Things You Should Say To A Woman In Labor

Post Date: January 26th, 2013

See more articles by Liza Janda

1. You’re doing so well.” You can’t praise or encourage a pregnant woman in labor enough.

2. “You’re amazing!” Pour on the praise and keep it coming.

3. “Imagine what is happening inside your body. Visualize your cervix opening with each contraction.” Imagining the changes that are

4. “Think about the baby. Each contraction is like a hug of love from you for your baby.” Each contraction in labor and birth really is a surge of the love hormone known as oxytocin. This is the same hormone we all produce when we fall in love, when we have an orgasm, and breastfeed our babies.

5. “All this hard work is stimulating your baby’s breathing, and circulation, and preparing the baby for life outside your womb.” Studies show that hormones the laboring mother produces that help her deal with the pain of her contractions, cause her baby’s adrenals to produce high levels of catecholamines or stress hormones that help baby adapt to all the changes coming his way.

6. “Trust yourself. That incredible strength is YOU. You’re doing it! “ Turn her fear around and encourage the laboring mother to accept that great power is coming from her.

7. “You’re doing everything right. We’re here for you.” Standing right next to her, supporting her both physically and emotionally will carry her a long way through all that hard work of labor.

8. “We know how hard you’re working. I’m so proud of you.” Showing compassion and empathy can help. Just acknowledging that yes, it is hard work, but “You can do it and you are doing it.”

9. “Breathe in and breathe out. That’s right deep slow breaths!” Deep slow abdominal breathing helps to stimulate the relaxation response in labor.

10. “Let’s hear you make some noise. Keep it low and deep. Take a deep breath in through your nose and just moan all the breath out.” The vibrations the laboring mother makes when she moans affects the pituitary gland which then stimulates the relaxation response every pregnant woman needs to tap into in labor.

11. “Take a deep breath and just LET GO with your exhale… One contraction at a time… Stay focused on this one contraction and see how relaxed you can get.” For everyone helping the laboring woman it’s helpful to stay focused on the moment. Don’t think about the contractions to come and the ones that have passed. The body knows just what to do and the laboring mother’s job is to let go and get out of the way.

Remember that the woman in labor must have complete trust in her body’s ability to bring her baby into the world safely. She must find assurance and confidence from those around her. Just like you will tell her, “You Can Do It!” and so can she with your help and faith in her.

Tags: baby, contraction, labor and birth, laboring woman, natural birth, pain in labor, pregnant
Posted in Labor and Birth Advice, Natural Birth Stories |

Practice, Practice, Practice!

Post Date: August 6th, 2012

Thursday June 14, 2012, came and went. However, it was not a typical Thursday. I woke up as usual at 8:30 a.m. to get ready for my cycle class at the gym. At 8:33 a.m. I felt a slight gush of water as I walked around. I didn’t think much of it so I continued to get ready for the gym. Time continued to pass and I didn’t think anything of it since I was not due until June 27^th. Even though I was 38 weeks pregnant and considered full term, I told myself it was too early to go into labor or let alone for my water to break. I asked a close friend who had just given birth to her third child a week earlier what she thought it might be. She indicated that it could be my mucous plug. However, I continued to feel gushes of water as time went on. I decided to wake my husband and let him know what was happening. He advised me to call the midwife and not go to the gym (yes I was still trying to get to my cycle class).

Once I spoke with the midwife who indicated that it was not an emergency and it sounded like my water broke she instructed me to make my way to the labor and delivery unit to test the liquid that was gushing out. Since it was not an emergency my husband and I decided to take our time getting to labor and delivery. We cooked breakfast and then I showered to make sure I was nice and relaxed. We grabbed our birth kit and our over night bag and headed to labor and delivery. At that point I was a little nervous because I was not feeling any contractions and I knew that I had 18 hours before I was at risk of getting an infection and I did not want to get induced. During our drive to the hospital, my husband and I had agreed that if everything was ok, we would drive back home to labor as much as we could with our Doula.

We arrived at labor and delivery at approximately 12:30 p.m. The nurse checked the baby’s heart beat and everything sounded normal. The midwife arrived and tested the liquid and it was confirmed that I had a spontaneous rupture of membranes. We were told that I would be checked into the hospital and that I could not go back home and labor. My heart dropped and my husband and I immediately became upset. The midwife informed us that it was a new hospital policy that if you arrived to the hospital with your water broken they could not let you go back home to labor. She indicated that if we did leave hospital grounds I would not be eligible to labor in the birthing center. We were so upset but we decided to re-focus and stay positive. It was around 1:30p.m. and a room in the birthing center would not be available for us until 4p.m. I finally began to feel contractions around 2p.m. which made me excited and nervous at the same time because I was finally going into labor (naturally). We had lunch at the hospital cafeteria (since we couldn’t leave the grounds) and then we made our way to the lobby where I walked around in circles until 4p.m.

Four o’clock finally arrived and we went to check in at the birthing center. We were given one of the big rooms that had a king size four post bed and a tub to labor in. It was 5p.m. when my mother and sisters arrived at the birthing center. At that point my contractions were getting a little stronger, longer, and closer together but they were still manageable and I was still able to have conversations. Around 7p.m. things started to pick up and my contractions were a lot stronger, longer, and closer together, I was in active labor. I tried several positions which included side lying, rocking on the birth ball, walking, and leaning over while holding on to one of the post on the bed (this position really worked for me). As active labor continued things were getting really intense. My contractions were very strong and were right on top of each other. I didn’t have any breaks in between them. At that point I felt like I could no longer do it and my husband reminded me that by saying that I was in transition and I was close to meeting our daughter. Finally I was able to get into to the tub and continue my labor. I had no idea how I was going to get into the tub from the bed because the contractions were killing me. Once I got into the tub it was a huge relief. Laboring in the tub was very relaxing and the contractions felt more manageable. While in the tub I began to feel a huge sensation to push. The midwife was able to confirm that I was dilated enough to push. Once I changed my breathing and was able to establish a good pattern of birthing and curling the pushing sensation became easier to handle. The hospital’s policy did not allow for a water birth so I could only labor in the tub until the baby began to crown (I could remember wanting to curse at the nurse for not letting me deliver in the water). After pushing for sometime the baby began to crown and I somehow managed to get up and walk back to the bed to resume my pushing. I pushed for approximately 45 minutes. On June 15, 2012, at 2:09 a.m. our beautiful Charlotte Aleah Maldonado was born, weighing 6lbs 11oz and 18 inches long.

The joy of watching my husband catch her and then cut the cord was amazing. My daughter was placed on my stomach and crawled her way up to my chest and I embraced her warm little body. The third stage of labor did not go as I planned. Because I had a slight tear and I would not stop bleeding the midwife was forced to give me pitocin or risk hemorrhaging. Delivering the placenta was not a pretty sight at all and I was surprised by its size. After all was said and done both my daughter and I were alive and healthy.

My husband and I are extremely proud and thank God everyday for allowing us to have a natural birth as planned. I labored for a total of 12 hours which was short for a first birth. I can only describe the entire process as an out of body experience and definitely an experience I could never forget!

ADVICE FROM GINA:

My advice would be to practice, practice, practice, the (relaxation) exercises and
definitely practice the pushing exercise at least once.
Working out everyday also helps you get through the marathon of labor.
The one thing I would do different is ask about their policy for patients that come in with their water broken. I don't think we asked that question but we still managed to avoid that disaster.
Also, don't be afraid to speak up during labor if they are going to do anything you don't agree with. I don't know how but somehow I managed to ask them what they were going to inject in me during the third stage of labor.
Make sure to have a notebook or cheat sheet in case the coaches forget what to do. I organized a folder for Alex and he was able to flip through it in case he needed it.
The biggest help was having a coach that did his homework, our Doula, and having my sisters and my mother present. At one point I think I had four people massaging different areas of my body.
The hardest part would definitely be transition. The contractions were so strong and on top of each other that I have know idea how I made it through.
The most rewarding for me was feeling my daughter's warm little body on my stomach and Alex said the most rewarding for him was being able to catch her.

Click here for your: 18 Remedy Homeopathic Childbirth Kit

Tags: baby, birth videos, birthing, Bradley Method, childbirth, contractions, crown, hospital birth, labor, natural, natural birth, nurse, pregnancy, pushing, relaxation in labor, spontaneous rupture of membranes, water birth
Posted in Labor and Birth Advice, Natural Birth Stories |

Pregnant? Looking for a Lamaze class?

Post Date: May 30th, 2012

What exactly is a Lamaze class? When Fernand Lamaze created his method of childbirth, the focus was on natural, normal labor and birth without medication and interventions. The idea was to use controlled breathing and breathing patterns to distract the laboring mother from the contractions, and to use breathing methods as a way to lessen pain. Today when someone talks about Lamaze, they are often referring to the class I the hospital they think everyone takes.

What most people call “Lamaze” classes these days do not necessarily match the original intent. Depending on whom you take the class from, or where you take it, you may find, in some hospitals, that you learn more about how to be a good patient. Some instructors may be limited by what their hospital allows them to teach. And you will spend more time learning about the interventions and medications, than you will about the normal natural processes of labor and birth. Though you can find a good class anywhere if you follow some simple guidelines when looking for the right class for you and your birth partner(s).

The best childbirth classes will:

· Consist of a minimum of 5 classes

· Each class will be at least 2 hours long

· Have between 3-10 couples enrolled

You should learn about:

· Nutrition

· Emotional and physiological stages of labor

· Non-medicated pain coping techniques/comfort measures

· Risks and benefits of all of the medications & interventions

· How to be your own advocate

· Informed consent

· Breastfeeding beginning at birth

· Post-partum care

· Birth plans

· Unexpected situations

· Cesarean surgery

Even if you want an epidural, you need a childbirth class and so does your partner. If you are planning a home birth, you still need a childbirth class to prepare you for normal labor and the unexpected events that sometimes come with it. If you’ve had a baby before and things didn’t go as you had planned, a new class can help you avoid those obstacles you faced before. If you had an unplanned cesarean and want to try a VBAC, you need education, and information and support to work through the fears and trauma associated with the previous birth.

_{“Many people}spend more time researching the stroller than they do trying to understand the physicality and the emotional-loadedness of getting a baby out of their bodies.” A good childbirth class might actually change your mind about some of the things you didn’t consider.” Erica Lyon birth educator…

There are many types of classes out there that can help prepare you for this amazing birth experience. If you get educated, you can increase your chances of having a healthier labor and birth with less complications for both mother and baby. If you take an active role in the decisions and know what questions to ask, then you will have less, or no regrets later. Above all, you will be ensuring that your baby comes into the world in the safest, healthiest way possible.

So what choices do you have?

The Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth, www.bradleybirth.com :

Your currently affiliated Bradley® instructor wants you and your baby to have the best, safest, and most rewarding birth experience possible. For that reason, we endorse and teach the following:
·      Natural childbirth
·      Active participation by the coach
·      Excellent nutrition
·      Avoidance of drugs
·      Early training
·     Natural breathing combined with relaxation techniques
·      Tuning into and working with your body
·      Immediate and continuous contact with your new baby
·      Breastfeeding beginning at birth
·      Positive communications
·      Informed parents sharing in the making of responsible decisions
·      Parents prepared for unexpected situations (such as emergency childbirth or       cesarean section)

Lamaze, www.lamaze.org :

Lamaze: Helping You Decide What’s Best for Both

• Lamaze supports evidence-based pregnancy and birth practices that are supported by research and experienced childbirth educators.

• Lamaze guides you as you navigate all of your options, and their benefits and drawbacks.

• Lamaze seeks to empower you as you explore how your body was designed for birth, and encourages you to work with your body’s natural abilities.

• Lamaze provides strategies for natural pain management during labor, reducing unnecessary medical interventions. – Lamaze ensures that you feel continuously supported during labor and birth.

• Lamaze stresses the importance of natural pain management strategies through labor and birth, helping you choose methods that are safe and healthy.

• Lamaze encourages bonding between you and your baby, with the importance of skin-to-skin contact and time to get to know your new baby after birth.

Birthing From Within, www.birthingfromwithin.com :

In your Birthing From Within classes, you will learn how to:

• Experience birth as a rite of passage

• Eat a sound diet (pregnancy and breastfeeding)

• Open your body-mind before and during labor with self-hypnosis and visualizations

• Build confidence in yourself and your partner

• Ask questions and make decisions in labor

• Protect your birth space

• Tame your "Birth Tigers"^TM

• Push your baby out

• Welcome your baby

• Recover and plan postpartum

• Care for and feed your newborn

• Give birth from within during a Cesarean, while using pain medication, or with medical support.

Hypnobirthing, www.hypnobirthing.com :

“Through a very simple program of self-hypnosis and education, healthy, low-risk women, as well as women who need medical assistance because of special circumstances, learn to dismiss fear-based stories, misinformation, and birthing myths; and they are helped to see birth as normal. They learn to trust that their bodies know how to bring their babies into the world in the calm and gentle way that Nature intended.”

Hypnobabies, www.hypnobabies.com :

“In Hypnobabies, our objectives are to help our pregnant couples bond with their baby in utero, teach you how to stay healthy  and low-risk and be an excellent consumer, trust in your body, mind and baby, as well as become self-reliant and confident  about birthing your own way; unmedicated, safely and in comfort. We overcome negative belief systems and programming,  get you in touch with your own beautiful pregnant body, support you through your own excellent birth experience and give you  skills that you will use for the rest of your life. Birth Partners are brought into the preparation process and have their own  hypnotic relaxation cues, as well as a special role to play as they await the birth of the precious newborn with our Hypno-mom.  Since we use real medical hypnosis techniques, addressing the mind, body, and spirit of both Mother and Baby, our success and satisfaction rates are wonderful and very gratifying!”

Take the time to learn about this amazing process and bring your baby into the world in the gentlest, safest, healthiest way possible. Check out your options. If you don’t ask what your options are, you don’t have any!

Liza Janda AAHCC, E-RYT, RPYT

Certified Bradley Instructor, Experienced-Registered Yoga Teacher, Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher Yoga Alliance

www.yogajanda.com

Tags: baby, birth classes, brithing, Cesarean, Cesarean section, childbirth classes, Hypnobabies, Hypnobirthing, labor, labor partner, lamaze, medication in labor, natural
Posted in Labor and Birth Advice |