And the Heat is On...

Well, after a long hiatus of baby raising and nursing it seems as though my thoughts on NCB and such has caused quite a stir. I was targeted on a blog that demeans and mocks anything to do with NCB, attachment parenting, not vaccinating.... there is a mini debate going on in the comment section of this post and I figured I would respond better here.

In these past almost 8 months I have not lost my passion for changing the modern medical system into something more natural, something safer for both mother and baby. Especially since my friends are having their babies any day now. It is in fact, with these two women that I can properly explain my stance on birth as a whole.

Mama 1 is one of my dearest friends, a sorority sister and an "auntie" to my girls. She is having her first baby around September 1st and was diagnosed as having gestational diabetes. She is trying to keep in the back of her mind that she does not want to be induced but knows that she runs the risk of having a very large baby and may need a scheduled c-section, which she doesn't want but it a real threat. Would I suggest to her that she sees a midwife, ignored her doctors advice for checking on the baby more often, and still push for a normal birth? No! She has pretty severe diabetes and needs to be tended to as more of a medical case than a natural process. Do I hope that she asks questions and stays informed that gestational weight can be off by pounds and therefore she shouldn't totally dismiss the thoughts of giving birth vaginally? Yes!

Mama 2 is also a dear friend and about to have baby #3. She had one baby naturally, no drugs and tore the most you possibly can since her little girl decided she was in a rush to be born. Baby #2 was also a vaginal birth but with a touch of pain medicine since she was terrified of tearing again that bad. This baby is going to be a NCB as well hopefully. I am so proud of her for being brave enough to go the no medication route, but she will tell you that she knows that it is what is best for her and the baby, that she likes to be in control of her body and that isn't an option when epidurals are given. That is her decision and her beliefs.

Neither of these women are right or wrong. They are just doing what is right for their own bodies, with what information is given. I guess most of these silly debates boil down to that simple fact- depending on what information you have, what do you do with the information?? Honestly, most women don't want to hear about how dangerous epidurals are, how hospital practices are driving the rates of mortality and c-sections up (it is NOT due to women having small pelvises or any nonsense like that). They don't want to know about OBs who give episiotomys without consent or due cause, or how to handle the pain of childbirth in a natural non-medicated way. And they definitely don't want to hear that due dates are just an ESTIMATION and can be off by weeks.

I feel that my first birth went wrong not because of the OB's push to induce or the hospital time clock, but the lack of information I was given. I had NO CLUE that I didn't have to consent to the c-section or that at 38 weeks it was just not good to induce. I didn't know that with the help of a Doula, I would have been confidant in my abilities to birth and that all the people who scared me about the pain didn't know better. But then I learned... and what I chose to do was my responsibility.

So, for all those people out there who think that natural child birth supporters are baby killers or just plain looney... have you really looked at the facts and used your own common sense that connects the high mortality rates in the US to the modern medical practices? Maybe there is a better way?

Naturally Inducing Labor FAIL

Yes, I know that babies are on their own schedule and that they will come when they are good and ready. And I definitely know that this little one is on a schedule that no one, not even the OB can figure out. But I have been having really intense contractions on and off for over a week now and even though this pregnancy has been fun and all, I am ready to get on with the VBAC action!

So yesterday at my weekly OB appointment my awesome Doc checked me and determined that not only is Miss M head down and ready to go, but he could sweep my membranes which he did.... (OUCH!). And he really surprised me when he suggested that maybe some castor oil would do the trick in getting these contractions to actually do something besides drive me nuts. Coming from a very cautious OB made me think that this was an AWESOME idea and that there was hope that it would work.... wrong!!

I looked online and tons of midwife and natural birth sites tote the dreaded castor oil as a miracle solution to getting labor going.... I read that I can either mix it with a food like eggs or drink it to make it more palatable....

First of all, that stuff is about as NASTY as it gets!!!!! I decided to mix it with some orange juice and made sure that the brand I got was odorless and tasteless. No one mentioned that the TEXTURE was going to be that of melted wax chunks!

Second of all, the thought of drinking the greasy concoction was enough to make me gag from the get go, and I hadn't even sipped any yet!

So I downed what I could, about 3 tablespoons (YUCK YUCK YUCK!) and went about my business. About 4 hours later it finally hit me and.... that was it. Sigh, yes the contractions started back up, and for a few hours they were intense and about 5 mins apart.... but nothing I couldn't talk through with effort. Double sigh..... I didn't even have to visit the bathroom again, lol.

Now I am trying to decide if I just didn't get enough down or if I am just destined to be preggers forever, lol. Oh, well... and that folks is my tale of the Dreaded Castor Oil!

 

Homestretch Already!

Well folks, the third trimester is here! I officially can't breathe most of the time since Miss M decided that my ribcage makes a good pillow and most days I think she is trying to break out of my belly button.

I have been busy reading Ina May every night, watching You Tube videos of natural childbirth to get me in the mindset that it can be done, and reading lots of posts on my BabyCenter VBAC board- especially the success stories!

One of the most inspirational and pretty videos I have seen yet is this one. Not only is the woman totally in control of her birth, but she is SINGING! It is one of my favorite songs called The Irish Blessing.




 

7 Ways to Help Have a Better Labor

I spotted this article in the Prenatal Yoga website and thought I would share it with everyone since it is such simple things like these that can make a HUGE difference in your labor experience! 

Here are some ideas to try to help make your labor more comfortable, less painful and (hopefully) shorter.

1. Heat – I typically bring a hot water bottle with me to births. However you can use a hot rice sock or a warm wash cloth. Most laboring women like to apply the heat to the lower back or lower abdomen. When using heat, the support people around should make sure that the heating device is not too hot, test it on your inner arm before applying to the laboring woman’s body.

How heat helps? “Heat increases local skin temperature, circulation and tissue metabolism. It reduces muscle spasm and raises the pain threshold.” (Therapeutic Heat and Cold by J.F. Lehmann)

2. Cold – Some women respond better with a cool touch than a hot one. If that is the case, I recommend using an old fashion ice bag, a latex glove filled with ice chips, a frozen rice sock, a frozen bottle of water or a cold wash cloth. With the cold packs, I recommend placing or rolling these items on the mother’s lower back, or draping the cold wash cloth on the back of her neck.

How cold helps? “Cold is especially useful for musculoskeletal and joint pain. Cold decreases muscle spasm - longer than heat. It reduces sensation in the area by lowering tissue temperature, which slows the transmission of pain and other impulses over sensory neurons.” (Therapeutic Heat and Cold by J.F. Lehmann)

3. Shower or Bath – The feeling of warm water on your belly and back during labor can be a life saver! You may find that the water helps alleviate the pain and distracts you from such intense sensation. This would be especially good if you are having back labor. If the laboring woman is too tired to stand in the shower, place a stool or the birth ball in the shower or tub. Again, it is important for the partner or doula to monitor the temperature of the water and make sure it is not too hot. Because the bath or shower is so relaxing, I typically do not use this method of pain relief until the mother appears to be in active labor because it can slow labor down. However, if the early stage of labor is rather drawn out and the mother needs to relax, a bath or shower could be the perfect solution.

How the shower or bath helps? The warmth of the water on the mother’s body can be very mentally and physically relaxing. The water pressure can help alleviate muscle tension and back pain. “The effects of immersion in water may be summarized as the following: bathing provides buoyancy and warmth, both of which often bring immediate pain relief, relaxation, lowering of catecholamines, increases oxytocin, and more rapid active labor progress. (The Labor Progress Handbook by Penny Simkins and Ruth Ancheta)

4. Birth Ball – The Birth Ball is a large physiotherapy ball- typically 65 cm is appropriate for the average size woman. It can be used prior to labor to help alleviate back pain and promote an ideal fetal position. Many women are surprised by my advice to bring it to the hospital with them.

How the Birth Ball helps? During labor it is particularly useful to sit on the ball which promotes a natural swaying and rocking of the pelvic. This motion can encourage fetal descent and help alleviate lower back tension, as well as provides gentle support for the perineum. As an alternative to being on all fours, lean over the birth ball. This position encourages an anterior position of the baby and takes pressure off the mother’s back. You can also place the ball on the bed, table or couch and leans over it while standing and swaying your hips. This helps use gravity and again encourages fetal descent.

Don’t deflate your birth ball too soon, when your baby is being fussy, gently bounce on the ball. Babies really love the movement!

5. Change Positions Often – Changing position every 20-30 minutes may help reduce the woman’s pain significantly. There are several common positions for women to use during labor. Side lying, semi seated positions, upright seated, standing and leaning forward, kneeling and leaning forward, all fours (hands and knees), child’s pose, asymmetrical lunge in the upright position and squatting.

How change of position helps? Changing positions often gives the woman a chance to experiment and discover what positions seem comfortable and effective, but also allows the baby to move around in the pelvis, encouraging fetal descent and moving into an ideal birthing position. Also, if the labor is slowing down, changing positions may help the mom get back into a rhythm that is comforting and shift the baby into the most advantageous position for passage through the pelvis.

6. “Set the Stage” – It has become more common for women to birth in hospitals instead of their home. (Although studies included prospectively reported data from more than 5000 women planning home births with Certified Professional Midwives in the year 2000 in the U.S. and Can, and found that outcomes for mothers and babies were the same as for low-risk mothers giving birth in hospitals, but with a fraction of the interventions…but I digress). So, to give the stark hospital room a bit more of a “homey” feeling, set the stage! One dramatic difference you could easily make would be turning off the bright lights. Also, some women bring their own pillows or night gowns. Others bring music or pictures that are inspiring or comforting. The partner, husband or doula can help handle “crowd control” and not allow to many unnecessary staff people disturb the laboring woman.

How setting the stage helps? “What is needed for effective labor with lowered levels of stress hormones is a comfortable, dimly lit, cozy space that allows you to access the part of your primitive brain that sets up the process of hormonal ebb and flow and facilitates the smoothest functioning of the normal birth process. We share this need for privacy during labor with virtually all other female mammals.” (Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, by Ina May Gaskin)

7. Massage – I have met very few laboring women that do not appreciate a reassuring and relaxing massage. You do not need to be a professional massage therapist to give some one you love a little helpful massage. All you have to do is move into the massage with the intention of helping to release tight muscles and alleviate pain and most importantly, watch for the woman’s response. She may not verbally tell you if you are doing it right, so watch for her facial expressions and sounds.

How massage helps? Massage has been credited with helping to reduce pain, anxiety and fear by increasing endorphin levels in the body. Several of the common areas that the laboring mom may enjoy to have massaged are the lower back, neck, shoulders, hands and feet. Also keep in mind, the more relaxed you are, the less painful the contraction will seem. The more stressed you are, the more painful the contractions will seem. Final tip- be prepared with lotions or oils that smell good to you. Just the smell of the products may help relax you.

 

Book Review- "Labor Pain: A Natural Approach for Easing Delivery"

Now that I have my VBA2C doctor in place and know that I am not going to be forced into having an epidural or other pain meds unless I want them, I am reading everything I can about natural childbirth and pain management.

One book that I picked up at the library and am enjoying is "Labor Pain: A Natural Approach to Easing Delivery" by Nicky Wesson.

I like this book because it is very factual and at the same time presents the facts in a way that make it easy to understand, therefore making it easier to make an informed decision about different methods of pain management. The author does not sugar coat the fact that labor hurts, to do so would be slap some rose colored glasses on the reader. However, you are given tools to cope with that pain and listen to it rather than hide it beneath drugs.

The author goes through the various stages of labor from how to tell if you are truly in labor to the end where the placenta is delivered. She talks about the pain medicines available at a hospital, birth plans, labor positions, and so much more.

I really enjoyed reading about various oils that can be soothing for aromatherapy, reflexology, and the benefits of acupuncture for getting labor going. I would highly recommend this book to anyone considering an all natural birth!!


 

Why Would You Want a Natural Birth?!

If you would have talked to me a few months ago or a year ago I would have laughed my butt off at the thought of having a baby without pain medicine or interventions like Pitocin. I was one of those moms who recovered great from c-sections, happy to have not "endured the horrors of birth", and figured that unless the hospital gave new cars to moms who went natural, drugs were ok with me. So why the change of heart?

Well, reason #1 is totally 100% selfish: I react bad to pain killers and all forms of anesthesia. I mean vomiting for hours upon hours, blacking out from drops in blood pressure, shaking and feeling just horrid. Just remembering pressing a towel over my newly cut tummy while throwing up is enough to make me run for the hills.

Reason #2: The more I read the more I know that these medicines are soooo not good for the baby. They make the baby sleepy therefore making labor longer, they increase the intensity of contractions which affects what the baby is feeling, and using them improperly increases your risks for a c-section.

BUT, if you express your desire for a totally natural birth be prepared for people to look at you like you just suggested that you snort some cocaine while birthing. In this day and age, when there is so much science and technology, people are very quick to point out that the doctors made drugs to relieve birth pain for a reason. "You won't make it through birth without drugs", "You say that now, but I bet you will be screaming for drugs soon enough", "The drugs don't hurt the baby, they wouldn't give them to you if they did"- these are all things that I have heard just in the past month or two. But I have to wonder if all these birth horror stories make women reach for the epidural faster than the women who know how to manage labor pain?

Here are some things that I will be doing to manage my pain during labor:
1. No induction- Pitocin is NOT your friend!
2. Move around, use a birthing ball, move as your body tells you to.
3. Eat and drink as needed: Would it make sense to starve an athlete before a huge race? No! So why starve a pregnant woman who is working the hardest in her life?
4. Have a great labor support system- your partner, friend, Doula, anyone who knows what you plan for this birth and supports your wants and needs.
5. Use non-medicinal tools to relieve pain: Aromatherapy, music therapy, acupressure, breathing and visualization, and water especially a nice warm bath!
6. No laying down on the job! Let gravity do its thing and push in a squat or on all fours.... have you ever seen an animal birth on its back with its legs in the air? No! It makes no sense and makes labor go so much slower than need be!

If you are hoping for a natural birth I would highly suggest Ina May's Guide to Childbirth.... what an inspirational book that is!