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
More Frequently Asked Questions About Prenatal Yoga
See more articles by Liza Janda
No it’s not too late to start! Actually studies have been done that show that women who practiced yoga three times a week in their last 10 weeks of pregnancy had shorter labors and experienced less labor pain.
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2. I’ve been on bed rest during pregnancy, and just got the okay from my doctor |
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Here’s How: from Yoga Journal Magazine: |
Kneel on the floor. Touch your big toes together and sit on your heels, then separate your knees about as wide as your hips. Exhale and lay your torso down between your thighs. Broaden your sacrum across the back of your pelvis and narrow your hip points toward the navel, so that they nestle down onto the inner thighs. Lengthen your tailbone away from the back of the pelvis while you lift the base of your skull away from the back of your neck. Lay your hands on the floor alongside your torso, palms up, and release the fronts of your shoulders toward the floor. Feel how the weight of the front shoulders pulls the shoulder blades wide across your back.
3. I have some pretty bad heartburn, so forward folds and downward dog are probably out of the question. Are there any solutions?
A lot of my students suffer from heartburn. And there are quite a few solutions to this problem. A couple of students have tried these:
· Chew on Papaya Tablets before and sometimes during class
· Take Digestive Enzymes before each meal and before yoga class
· Stir 1 tsp of baking soda into 6 oz. of water and drink quickly
· Raw almonds eaten throughout the day helps to reduce stomach acid
· Fresh pineapple or papaya help digestion
· Chew gum
· During yoga use the wall for Downward dog so that your head and shoulders never are lower than your belly
· Place your hands on a block in any forward fold so you also keep your head an shoulders above your belly and get the hamstring stretch you’re looking for. TopBrandVitamins Offers Free Shipping on Orders Over $49. Products are herbal and do not contain prescription ingredients. Recommended digestive enzyme brands are "Source Naturals" or "Dr.'s Best"
4. I am overweight and haven’t exercised much during my pregnancy. Can I still practice prenatal yoga?
You might want to try a Prenatal Yoga Video. There are a couple of great ones at www.yogadownload.com:
Prenatal Yoga #1 by Liza Janda
. You can try my 25 minute free video to start with and see how you do and how you feel. My on-site classes are fairly active and we do focus on exercises and poses to help with back pain. So if you’re out of shape and overweight, a video is a great way to start. After the baby you can give the Mommy & Me Yoga classes a try! They are really fun.
Tags: baby, Back pain in pregnancy, pregnancy, pregnant, prenatal yoga, www.yogajanda.com, yoga
Posted in Frequently Asked Questions About Prenatal Yoga, Yoga and Pregnancy |
Morning Sickness: The Sign Of A Healthy Pregnancy
One thing you don’t forget about being pregnant is that awful nausea and vomiting of early pregnancy. But take heart, mamas, studies have shown that women who experience nausea and/or vomiting in early pregnancy have a much greater chance of continuing on to a healthy full-term pregnancy. That nausea you’re experiencing indicates that your body is producing the HCG hormone necessary to continue with a flourishing, healthy pregnancy and baby.
So try to look at it positively even though I know it’s hard to do while you’re hugging the “john” on a daily basis!
Some may say that nausea in your first trimester is there to help you make sure you eat more healthful foods, or maybe even slow down and rest so that you and your baby get off to a good start. Whatever the reason, life still goes on, and you have to find ways to cope.
10 Tips For Coping With Nausea in Early Pregnancy
1. Keep some food by your bed: whole wheat crackers, dry cereal, a banana, some Greek Yogurt. Before you get up out of bed, eat a little snack first. Then get up and get ready for your day.
2. Drink some Dandelion Root tea or make a lemon tea. Take 2 TBS of lemon juice in some hot water. Sweeten it with good organic maple syrup. Both teas help digestion and help flush the kidneys.
3. Eat a good breakfast before you walk out the door. Make sure your breakfast includes a bit of protein too. You need 80-100 grams of protein, but only 300 extra calories daily, during pregnancy.
4. Take your prenatal vitamins on a full stomach only.
5. Ginger is a great remedy and can be used in a variety of forms. You can drink ginger tea, eat fresh ginger, take ginger supplements, or chew on crystalized ginger when the upset stomach hits.
6. Homeopathic Remedies are safe and effective. If you can consult a homeopath, even better, but some homeopathic remedies to try are: Good Morning Mama from Native Remedies, Ipecacuanha for vomiting, Nux Vomica if nausea is worse in the morning , Sepia if you’re sensitive to smells or feel depressed about the pregnancy.
7. Acupressure bands-the same kind used for sea sickness.
8. Acupuncture two times a week has been shown to be effective. And if you’re afraid of needles, don’t worry. It is as relaxing as a massage. You may even fall asleep while you’re having your treatment, because you are so tranquil and relaxed.
9. Peppermint Oil can be found at any health food store. If you’re using homeopathic remedies, don’t use the peppermint oil. It can antidote the remedy. The smell of peppermint can alleviate an upset stomach. You can place a drop on your tongue, place a few drops in a bowl of water and place it near you, or use an aromatherapy oil diffuser.
10. Get lots of rest, but don’t lie around too much. The more you get up and out for a walk, a prenatal yoga class, a swim, or whatever you like to do for exercise, you’ll feel much better once you get moving.
Hang in there and just try to focus on the fact that this is a great sign that you and your baby are off to a healthy start.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to have a healthy childbirth, go to the website listed below to request a free copy of “Healthy Birth Booklet-6 Steps to a Safer Birth.” It has six simple steps you can easily implement to support and guide you before and during labor toward safe and healthy birth—for both you and your baby.
http://www.birthclassathome.com
Tags: early pregnancy, first trimester, healthy baby, natural remedies, nausea, pregnancy, vomiting
Posted in Labor and Birth Advice, Yoga and Pregnancy |
Birth Plans – Do I Really Need One?
See more articles by Liza Janda
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: birth, birth plan, labor, pregnancy
Posted in Labor and Birth Advice |
Birth Plans – Do I Really Need One?
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
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)
__Panting
__Side-lying
__Other
Care of Perineum
__Try for intact perineum (massage, positions, support, hot/cold compresses)
__Pressure episiotomy without pain medication
__ Other
__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
_Fetal scalp sample
_No fetal scalp sample
_Other
_No separation of mother and coach
_Medical staff only
_Doula only
_Other
_Regional with little or no premedication
_Regional with premedication
_General
_Other
Participation
_Screen lowered at birth
_Events explained as proceeding
_No participation by parents
_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 |
Prenatal Yoga San Marcos, CA?
Although you'll find yoga studios in San Marcos who say they have prenatal yoga, you won't find it on their schedules. But you will find Prenatal Yoga with Yoga Janda right off the 78 at Babies In Bloom, 1988 Hacienda Drive next to David's Bridal.
We are easy to get to-only 12 minutes from downtown San Marcos, 11 minutes from downtown Oceanside, and have convenient times. Babies In Bloom is easy to get to from San Marcos, Oceanside, Escondido, and Carlsbad. We are right off the 78 between Plaza and Emerald.
Come try our Prenatal Yoga , Mommy & Me Yoga, and Toddler/Family Yoga classes. We are only 12 minutes from downtown San Marcos, 11 minutes from downtown Oceanside! See the schedule now!
If you can't make it to class, you can still practice at home with these recommended classes from Yoga Download:
Prenatal Yoga #2 by Liza Janda
Prenatal Yoga #1 by Liza Janda
Tags: back pain, Back pain in pregnancy, birthing, pain in labor, pregnancy, pregnant, prenatal yoga, Rancho Bernardo, relaxation in labor, San Marcos, Vista, www.yogajanda.com, yoga
Posted in Backache in Pregnancy, Yoga and Pregnancy |
Practice, Practice, Practice!
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 27th. 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.
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.
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 |
Prenatal Yoga for a Healthier, More Comfortable Pregnancy, Labor, and Birth
"Each class was for me a time to become more intimately acquainted with my son. It forced me to slow down for that hour and really think about my relationship with him. I visualized giving birth,holding him and spending the rest of my life with him. It made me feel better about myself as a mother-to-be."Maria T, Carlsbad, CA
One study proved that practicing yoga can help expectant mothers’ experience a healthier pregnancy: “Occurrence of complications of pregnancy (pregnancy-induced hypertension, intrauterine growth retardation, pre-term delivery) shows lower trends in yoga group.”1
Why suffer, when you can actually enjoy your pregnancy? Nancy B. from Poway, CA says, “I have loved your class and look forward to it every week. You have been such a joy for me and have really helped me enjoy…no love, this pregnancy.THANK YOU!" Erin N. from Escondido said, “Prenatal yoga made me feel physically and emotionally strong. I felt such a strong bond with my baby during and after every class."
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Check the Prenatal Yoga Schedule at www.yogajanda.com Or on the Calendar at www.babies-in-bloom.com 1.Research on Benefits of Yoga in Pregnancy |
Efficacy of yoga in pregnant women with abnormal Doppler study of umbilical and uterine arteries.Narendran S, Nagarathna R, Gunasheela S, Nagendra HR.
Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (sVYASA), Bangalore 560019.
PMID: 16008324 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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J Altern Complement Med. 2005 Jun;11(3):459-64. |
Tags: Babies In Bloom, back ache in pregnancy, CA, CA San Marcos, Ca Vista, Carlsbad, expectant mothers, healthy baby, healthy pregnancy, labor, laboring mother, lamaze, low back pain, pain, Pomerado Hospital, Poway, pregnancy, pregnant, prenatal yoga, prenatal yoga classes, relaxation in labor, sciatica in pregnancy, strengthening back and belly, stretching back, www.yogajanda.com, Yoga Janda
Posted in Backache in Pregnancy, Yoga and Pregnancy |
Lily’s Arrival
Lily's story started on new years day (Sunday) when I lost my mucus plug…I then noticed my first contraction early Tuesday morning around 4:30 am but nothing intense. I took it easy on Tuesday and noticed that the contractions were more intense but still totally manageable on Wednesday when I ran errands most of the day (chiropractor, lunch with a girlfriend, hair appointment, dinner with Brian)…Wednesday night their intensity continued to increase as I frequently woke up throughout the night and moved to an all fours position or got up to walk around to breathe through them…this continued into the morning as I attempted to fold the baby clothes I had washed for hours without accomplishing much – I continued to change positions and breathe through the contractions wondering how intense they would get. At this point (around noon or so on Thursday) I decided to take a bath and listen to one of the meditation CDs from yoga class. This definitely helped me to stay in the right mindset and relax. I was in the tub for about an hour and it definitely took the edge off. Once I got out, things kicked in quickly and I had Brian call the midwife. She wanted to talk to me and I quickly realized that I was no longer able to talk when a contraction hit…My contractions were definitely about 4 mins apart at this point and I was starting to feel the urge to push…She told us to come in and we made our way to TriCity in the 2 o'clock hour…By the time I was checked in, changed and was checked by my midwife, Mimi, it was close to 3:00. She told me that the baby's head was right there and that I could push when I was ready…Once I wrapped my head around the fact that it was go time, Mimi, Brian, and the nurse coached me through pushing and Lily was born at 3:58 pm naturally in a calm environment. The lights in the room were dimmed for me and all of my requests for her birth were totally supported by the midwife and nurse. There were other hospital staff in the periphery standing by during the delivery as Lily was over a month early, but they did not disrupt the serenity of the environment. I was pleasantly surprised by such a positive experience as I had been reluctant to birth in the hospital setting. I had been hoping to have the baby at Best Start Birth Center – but this was not an option once Lily decided to come early (you have to be at least 37 weeks to give birth there and I was 35 and 1/2).
Lily was totally alert and was on my chest immediately after she was born. She weighed 6 pounds, 1 ounce and was 19 inches long…10 weeks later she is doing awesome and getting so big!!!
I don't think I could have had such a such a calm, peaceful birth without your prenatal yoga and Bradley classes! Turning inward, listening to my body and using my breath to manage contractions definitely helped me be able to have the birth I was so hoping for 
Carrie's Advice for you:
1 What was the most challenging part of your labor or birth?
I would have to say pushing or knowing how to push – that is when I felt like I really needed coaching and support/encouragement the most…having my midwife, Mimi, to guide me through what to do at that point and Brian next to me for support was key. That was the only point when I questioned whether or not I would be able to do it. I also believe that the techniques Mimi used during delivery was the reason I did not tear.
2. What was the most helpful thing either you did or someone else did for you? Taking a bath and listening to that Anugama CD helped me to relax and create the space to prepare myself mentally for birth. I also believe it was helpful to not have someone checking to see how dilated I was so I never got caught up in the mindset that labor was not progressing – it truly moved at it's own rate.
3. What advice would you give another pregnant mom?
Take the time to relax and create the space for labor to unfold as it will however that looks for you. Also, as much as I love my family, I also knew that I did not want them around during my labor and delivery. When the time came, it was just Brian, Mimi (midwife) and a nurse with me and it was a very peaceful, calm experience (in a hospital)!
4. Would you do anything differently?
I probably would have experimented with a squatting or all fours position to push as I feel like it would have been a more natural position to give birth. By the time I got situated, I found myself in a side-lying position and was not inclined to try another position once I started to push. However this position did work out well in the end, so I'm not sure I would have changed that 
Tags: baby, Best Start Birth Center, birth, birth ball, birth center, Bradley Method, doula, hospital, labor and birth, midwife, natural birth, pregnancy, prenatal yoga, relaxation in labor, squatting for birth, unmedicated, www.yogajanda.com
Posted in Labor and Birth Advice, Natural Birth Stories |
Feeling the gratitude, love and appreciation of the man I married.
My True Loves
My husband, Demian, and I met 10 years ago and he quickly became the love of my life. When we found out we were pregnant, I knew our love would only grow for our little one. Many mothers told me to get prepared to meet true love upon meeting your child, a sentiment that brought me close to tears while pregnant as I dreamed of our little girl. I didn’t realize then that our birth journey would not only introduce our daughter into our lives but intensify the true love I felt for my husband.
I knew that I wanted to give natural child birth a long time ago and also knew I couldn’t do it alone. After taking prenatal yoga classes with Liza and reading about the Bradley method, her Bradley class seemed perfect! Demian and I would gain information on natural childbirth and become our own advocates while not feeling pressure or blame if it didn’t go that way. Also, Demian really wanted to be “my person”, the one who would help me through the birth of our child.
From prenatal yoga, I was able to better center myself during pregnancy. Liza’s classes helped me wipe away the worry that I found to accompany the medical model’s view of pregnancy. Weekly classes helped me focus on taking care of myself, listening to my inner voice and calmed me throughout the week. I was very ready to start the Bradley classes as we approached 32 weeks of pregnancy and they were great. At times we struggled to keep up with the reading J and I worried about being ready, while Demian reassured me that “we’ve got this”. Looking back, man did they prepare us.
On the eve of my 38th week of pregnancy (with two Bradley classes left to go), I started having contractions at 12:30 am. I rested and watched the clock and for the first hour I had one every ten minutes. I let Demian sleep (I’m glad they specifically told us to do this in class otherwise I would have woken him up!) and I went to walk the house and get something to eat/drink to see if they would continue. The second hour the contractions were one every six minutes. As my labor progressed, I felt a sense of calm and that my body knew what to do and our little girl did too. At 3:00 am I could no longer time the contractions myself. I woke Demian up, he quickly sat up and said, “What do I do?” to which I responded, “Take a minute, breath and wake up,” and then he was ready! He started to time my contractions, they were about 5 minutes apart. I was still very talkative, upgrading my Pandora (highly recommend Spa Radio without commercials), reading about different relaxation positions we could try, etc. Demian ran back and forth between pushing on my hips and timing my contractions to packing the bag, printing the birth plan, making the bed (a great idea for when we came home), etc. At around 5:30 am my contractions were between 4 and 5 minutes apart so I decided I wanted to take a shower before we left for the hospital. I never really hit the serious emotional marker we were waiting for and we really didn’t want to be turned away at the hospital. The shower is where it really picked up. I was able to stand for one contraction and then immediately went to my hands and knees and my low moans turned into guttural screams. Realizing it was time to go, Demian threw everything in the car amidst my proclamations of not wanting to leave and we could just have the baby at home (oops – probably should have left by now). I had a brief moment of clarity in which I said, “We REALLY need to go!” To which Demian responded, “I know babe, let’s go.” Working between contractions (which were now about 2-3 minutes apart), he got me out of the shower, dressed and leaning over the front passenger seat – no way was I sitting upright.
We drove from Oceanside to Sharp Mary Birch, felt like a long ride but Demian kept talking me through one contraction at a time and reassuring me along the way. We arrived to the hospital around 7:30 am and left the car in the emergency round about (it would stay there until our friend moved it two hours later). The nurse in triage examined me and said, “You are at 10 centimeters, wait let me check again, yes 10 centimeters,” and I asked, “ Can I push?!” and she said, “No, no, let us get you a room.” It was at that moment when they started to wheel us up to labor and delivery that I recognized my intense connection to Demian. It was the first time I felt like I couldn’t touch him easily enough so of course I yelled for him to be at my side (a little squished in the elevator) and he took my hand the whole way. It was then that I knew I couldn’t be without this man, in this moment, in this place. Having always been in control and independent, I knew it would be difficult to not feel in control during labor. But what I found was that I could now wholeheartedly trust Demian to take care of me and advocate for the three of us – he knew what to do and was doing it even before I recognized it.
Our labor and delivery nurse was awesome, we told her we wanted an unmedicated birth and she supported us 100% (of course we left everything in the car so the birth plan was not with us J). My water hadn’t broken and when the OB wanted to break it to help things progress, I said no. I just knew I didn’t need to progress any faster and didn’t want any intervention. The nurse reassured me that this was a good decision as even though the pushing would take longer (as it was creating a balloon type effect), it would help me tear less as the baby eased down and out. As each contraction came on, I was cheek to cheek with my arms around the shoulders of Demian on one side and the nurse on the other. After about 2 hours and a good 10 sets of pushes (I had about 6 minutes in between to rest and occasionally drift off to sleep), Rowen, our little girl, was born at 10:16 am. She was placed immediately on my chest. As I reveled in her beauty, I was overcome with love as I looked from her to Demian.
I was so proud of us, we did it and we were on the same page the whole time, I never felt a sliver of doubt or fear or anxiety. I can honestly say that the “pain” I felt was not as bad as I thought it would be and I attribute this to our learning how to relax and having both Demian and I in tune with what I needed during each contraction. The other thing I was impressed by was the different sensations I felt throughout labor, the beginning contractions were different than those in transition which were completely different from the urges and power I felt during second stage.
But most of all, I was grateful for the birthing preparation we had gone through in Liza’s classes. We were so well prepared that we both knew what to do when the contractions started. It helped us be on the same page and as Dr. Bradley said, only intensified the relationship I have with Demian. I can’t imagine not looking into Demian’s eyes after Rowen was born and feeling the gratitude, love and appreciation of the man I married. It is a beautiful thing to be able to rely on your husband so entirely that he becomes the one and only in the wondrous moments of having the child you share together. I can’t think of a better way to start the journey of parenthood, falling even deeper in love with your partner and starting a new beautiful shared love of your child. Labor and Birth Advice from Mom & Dad:
)!Tags: advice for labor, advocates, amniotomy, anxiety, baby, Back pain in pregnancy, beautiful, beauty, birth center, birth coach, Bradley classes, confidence, Cynthia Gabriel, doctor, fear, first stage, Ina May Gaskin, Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, inner voice, labor and delivery nurse, Liza Janda, medical model, mothers, natural birth, natural hospital birth, pain, Posh Push, pregnancy, prenatal yoga, proud, sensations, sleep, stay home in labor, transition, true love, trust, Unbound Birth, Yoga Janda
Posted in Labor and Birth Advice, Natural Birth Stories |
What kind of a birth do you want for your child? How to Set an Intention For Your Birth:
This article is about how to create and set an intention for the birth of your child. Most people don’t even think about this. The majority of American women are fearful of labor, feel the need to be spared expected suffering, assume the doctor knows best, and assume that medication in labor is safe with little or no risks. “ I’ll just do whatever the doctor says. The doctor will know exactly what is best for me and my baby.” Or they may be told, “ Get the epidural as soon as possible. There is no need to be a martyr.”
Each mother and each baby and each birth is different. But the potential for a powerful, transformative, normal, and natural experience is there in each and every birth. “Giving birth as nature intended is not “biting the bullet and letting it happen.”” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1595040/
Preparing for the birth of your child takes time, commitment, and education. I’ve been teaching the Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth for 16 years. The one thing you can count on in childbirth is the unexpected, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have the loftiest goals paired with the ability to be flexible. Read on for steps to set your intention for your birth and create the best “Birth Day” ever.
1. Get clear about the birth you want and write it down. Examples:
· “I want to give birth to a baby who has no drugs in his/her system”
· “I will stay home so that when I arrive at my birth place, I will be completely dilated.”
· “I will be patient with labor and know it can take a long time.”
· “I plan to have a natural birth but I will be flexible since a healthy baby is the ultimate goal.”
· “I plan to stay home as long as I possibly can”
· “I will go into labor at 9 Am and give birth at 4 PM”
· Write down YOUR OWN INTENTION:
· __________________________________________________________________
2. Share your intention with someone who will support you, but also hold you accountable.
Write it down
· Share it with your doula
· Share it with your coach and anyone else who will be at the birth
· Share it with the medical staff when you arrive at your birth place. Give them a copy of your birth plan and ask,” Can you help me have a natural birth?”
· Write a birth plan. Have your doctor sign it. Have a copy at the doctor’s office, at the birth place, and with you when you arrive at your birth place.
· Say it out loud and talk about it and discuss it with your birth support
3. Do something today to demonstrate your commitment to your intention.
· Ask yourselves if your caregiver and birthplace truly support the outcome you want.
· If you ‘re not sure go to: Questions to Ask Your Care Provider. If you don’t get the answers you want, find another care provider and/or birth place.
· If medication is the usual way of dealing with pain in labor, tour alternatives:
Do a Google search for birth centers, nurse midwives, licensed midwives, doulas, natural birth
· Visualize your birth
· Meditate on it
· Pray about it
· Write your birth story ahead of time and re-read it every day. Include every detail.
4. Acknowledge that you did what you said you would and then, take the next step.
· Write your fears down
· Look at each fear-one at a time, and brainstorm how to get past it.
· Take one small step at a time
“By setting an intention; you make it clear to yourself and others, just what you plan to do. Set an intention to redefine what it means to be serious about your dreams.” Marcia Weider
Resources:
http://healing.about.com/od/marciawieder/a/powerintention.htm
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1595040/
Tags: baby, back pain, Back pain in pregnancy, beautiful, birth, birth ball, birth center, birth coach, birth place, birth plan, Bradley birth, Bradley Method, breathing, C-section, care provider, delivery, doctor, doula, doula during birth, drugs in birth, epidural, fear of labor, full term pregnancy, home birth, hospital, intention, labor pain, midwife, natural, physician, positive birth story, pregnancy, relaxation in labor
Posted in Labor and Birth Advice, Yoga and Pregnancy |