Thursday, May 26, 2011

One of my Favorite Breastfeeding Videos

This is one of my favorite breastfeeding videos. I love it.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Explaination of Hypno-anesthesia

One of the most common questions I get asked when talking to couples about Hypnobabies Hypnosis for Childbirth is, "what is Hypno-anesthesia?"
Carole Thorpe, an amazing Hypnobabies instructor in California put this together. (It explains it perfectly)

The most common misconceptions about Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis are, that hypnosis is merely another method of coping with pain, or that it's pain management, or that hypnosis is just flowery guided imagery delivered in a monotone voice that induces deeper relaxation than other methods, or that hypnosis distances a woman from her body during her baby's birthing and denies her basic physiological responses that others create through enduring pain, or that women won't remember their baby's births, or that moms must lie still and listen intently to hypnosis recordings... their birthings entirely scripted, for hypnosis to be of any use. None of these assumptions are true of real self-hypnosis, deepened to the level of 'somnambulism', which is the depth of hypnosis that one must achieve to create an anesthesia effect in the body.

When a birthing woman is profoundly relaxed and deeply in a state of self-hypnosis, she responds to pre-programmed, post-hypnotic suggestions so profoundly that her body creates endorphins, seratonins, melatonins and other relaxing hormones and stress-reducing brain chemicals. This happens automatically and all the smooth muscles in her body, all the muscles controlled by the autonomic nervous system relax so powerfully, that a physiological response occurs that is perceived by the woman as a lessening of physical sensations, or a profound diminishing of discomfort, and for the majority of them...the elimination of pain entirely. Hypnotherapists call this phenomenon, "hypno-anesthesia".

It's common knowledge among those who teach clinical hypnosis for medical purposes, that hypnosis can slow a person's pulse and respiration rates, and lower blood pressure, and eliminate pain entirely. Doctors and dentists use this type of hypnotic conditioning with their patients to create "hypno-anesthesia" for their patients who are allergic to medical anesthesia. These doctors and dentists perform surgeries with no medical anesthesia, with no pain and no side-effects.

Hypnobabies eyes-open childbirth hypnosis teaches the same medical self-hypnosis techniques that doctors and dentists use for their patients who cannot have medical anesthesia. Women listen to hypnosis scripts to learn a cue to instantly enter self-hypnosis, and how to deepen it to the level of somnambulism in order to create an anesthesia effect in their bodies. Hypnobabies mothers experience their contractions as "only pressure" or a bearing down sensation, or even like being squeezed or hugged tightly. Many Hypnobabies moms have described the sensation of their contractions as being very much like the sensation of a tight blood pressure cuff...intense, even sometimes mildly uncomfortable, but not automatically painful.

Hypnobabies moms learn to create hypno-anesthesia at the drop of a finger, literally. They learn to deepen their ability to do so by listening to a script designated to this purpose. Then with practice and by listening to other scripts, these women learn to strengthen the effects of this hypno-anesthesia in their bodies. They regularly practice scripts with their birth partners during their pregnancies to instill these skills as an automatic response to the sensations of their contractions when their labor begins. Through repetition and the resulting compounding effect, Hypnobabies moms learn to do all of this with their 'eyes open' so that they can move around and respond to their birthing body's cues and their baby's movements.

Friday, May 20, 2011

7 Ways You Can Increase Your Chances For a VBAC


So, this post is very personal to me, I had what I would consider a unnecessary cesarean birth with my first. During the the process of preparing for conception, pregnancy, and birth I did everything I could to increase my chances of having a successful vaginal birth after cesarean. I have comprised a list of things that will truly help any mom planning a VBAC.

Even though about 80% of women have successful VBACs, I think it is important to be a proactive advocate for yourself. We shouldn't just sit back and hope for the best, assuming that last time was just a mistake and things will just "work out" this time around. We need to seek out ways to improve our chances and be prepared.


Here are 7 ways to increase your chances of a successful VBAC:

1) Get a midwife! I think the most important way to increase your chance for a successful VBAC is to find a midwife that 100% supports and encourages your decision. I say find one, because just like there are GREAT OBs our there (and we are lucky to have them, so if no Midwive is available, then seek out a great OB.) there are also very medical midwives. So, the first thing you need to do is research, use the internet, friends, family, local support group. Try your local ICAN group, they would be one of the best resources you can find. The midwife you choose should offer advice on how to be successful and not focus on what would cause you to not be successful. Some care providers might be tolerant of your or say "well, you can try" while others will help you realize that you can do it, and educate you on the ways to be most successful.
*Note, I am not saying there are not wonderful and amazing OBs out there, I just saying consider the option of a midwife.*

2) Learn from the past! Get a copy of your medical record, read through it. You should understand what happened, and why your last birth went the way it did. Even if you think you know why you had your c-section, you may have forgotten significant details. If you find that your baby was posterior and had a hard time engaging and descending, then read everything you can about optimal position. A great site for that would be Spinning Babies. If you were listed as "Failure to Progress" i would suggest learning more about the natural process of birth. Often women have phases of rest, and care providers can interpret that as 'nothing is happening.' This is a great study on waiting it out.

3) See a Chiropractor! I completely believe in this and the powerful way they can help moms prepare for a better birth. A chiropractor who specializes in maternity care can mean the difference between comfort or not during pregnancy and birth. There are two main reasons for adding a chiropractor to your list of super heroes as you plan for your VBAC. First, when a women is pregnant the ligaments, muscles, and bones are all moving as your belly bump expands. This movement can cause discomfort that they can easily and effectively help you to relieve. Not only will they keep you comfortable, they will keep everything LINED UP. As those ligaments more, they can pull bones out of alignment, and that can change the pelvic inlet and outlet. Keeping things lined up is key if you want to increase the chances of a vaginal birth. Secondly, if you schedule your first appointment before you are pregnant, they can do x-rays to get a better idea of what is going on, and what needs to be addressed.

4) CPD is relative not a commitment to http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifcesarean births for the rest of your life! Ok, that was long, but it is true. Many women see CPD (cephalopelvic disproportion) as a death sentence. They believe, probably because they are told, that CPD means that they just don't have birthing hips. When I hear women repeat this to me it makes me sad. The truth is Cephalopelvic Disproportion means that the baby's head or body is too big for the mother's pelvis. This does not mean the mother is broken or inadequate. It means that in all actuality it was a one time occurrence, and this next birth can and probably will be different. Empower yourself through education. f you want to learn more about CPD look here

5) Avoid Induction! I am not talking medically necessary induction, I am talking induction for convenience. Remember, your greatest chances for a successful VBAC is natural spontaneous labor. Let your body tell you, and your care provider, when he/she is ready to come. Also, when your birthing time arrives, allow it to progress naturally. If you do need to augment your contractions to regulate them, try a natural option. Walking, nipple stimulation, and pressure points. This may help you avoid pitocin and further intervention.

6) Prepare yourself for a great un-medicated birth! Having an un-medicated birth will increase your chances of a vaginal birth. Take a childbirth class, this is just as important as hiring the right care provider. There are several great natural childbirth options out there to help prepare you. I used Hypnobabies Hypnosis for Childbirth, and I LOVED that they had a VBAC Success Hypnosis CD. Most childbirth classes will not only will this help prepare you to work through contractions, it will also teach you how to stay active. Movement is so important in aiding your baby down and out the birth canal. I like to tell my moms that babies "Dance their way out." Your baby will rotate and descend the birth canal as he/she is born. Movement such as walking, rocking, and sitting upright will help that baby 'dance out' a little easier.


I saved one of the best for last...
7) Hire a DOULA!! A doula is a professional birth partner who specialises in helping women to feel encouraged, empowered, knowledgeable and relaxed. They help mom and dad by providing them with skills, knowledge and experience. Studies have shown that having a doula can reduce the chances of a caesarean birth by up to 50%. And if you are planning a VBAC, 50% is a BIG deal.

Add to all of this a great diet and regular exercise and you are setting yourself up for a great pregnancy and a great birth.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

7 Ways Dads Can Bond With Their Baby That Don’t Involve A Bottle




One of the arguments I hear from so many moms as to why they have to give up breastfeeding, is that Dad feels left out. As my other half mentioned in another post, the one thing that Dads have no real place in, is breastfeeding. There are so many other ways to bond with your baby, that feeding is a moot point. And really Mom’s job :)

1. Bath your baby. Better still, bath with your baby. Co-Bathing and showering saves water, and gives you some lovely skin to skin bonding time.

2. Massage your baby. You can learn infant massage from a certified instructor, or from a DVD. Massaging your baby is soothing for both of you, and really beneficial for your tot.

3. Wear your baby – Baby wearing isn’t just for moms. Babies like the sound of Dad’s heartbeat too. Invest in a good quality baby carrier (Such as an Ergo) and enjoy the benefits as your baby sleeps, observes, and snuggles in nice and close.

4. Read to your baby – you can start this in utero :) One of the most beautiful moments after my son’s birth was watching him turn his head to his daddy’s voice, he recognised it from all the chatting and reading to him that was done while he was gestating!

5. Sing to your baby. Your baby doesn’t care if you’re a soprano or a bullfrog. Singing to your baby is a bit of fun, and can soothe them. There are lots of sites with nursery rhyme tunes, and words you can try out with your baby. Or you can do what my husband does, and make up silly songs.

6. Walk your baby. Get the pram (or sling) and get out there and enjoy the big wide world. Explain things to him, chat to him along the way. Babies take in and store everything, so you’re not just talking to yourself.

7. Play with your baby – it might seem obvious, but just getting down on the the floor, and showing them toys, chatting about things, and simply “being” with your baby is wonderful. As I said, your baby takes in everything, and is constantly learning and developing. Newborns don’t “do” a great deal, but they are still learning all about the world, and their place in it – so show them!

You don’t need to feed your baby to be connected – there are a million and one things that go on during a baby’s day, and you can be a part of all of them. It gives Mom a break, and you can bond with your amazing little creature.

Enjoy!

thank you http://www.naturalparentingtips.com

Friday, May 13, 2011

Pelvic Floor Exercises


A few tips every woman needs to know in regard to keeping her pelvic floor strong. Written by Sarah Jones, CPM, LM


1. Don’t hold a sneeze in. The pressure you place on your Pelvic floor muscle is damaging to your tone.

2. Women should not do Crunches or sit ups. It is better to work on abdominal muscles from the bottom up, such as leg lifts. Lay on your back and pull your knees up till you are in a sitting position. You can place your hands on your thighs and put counter pressure. This will work on your abs while also protecting your pelvic floor form further weakening.

3. Don’t hold your bladder for long periods of times or force yourself to go just because you see a bathroom. When you have to use the toilet go right away and don’t try to hold it for long periods. Years of holding the bladder or forcing it to release when you don’t have the urge can damage bladder control.

4. Avoid straining when having a Bowel Movement. Forceful pushing when using the toilet is detrimental to the pelvic floor muscles. You may want to use a stepping stool for your feet to get you into more of a squat therefore reducing the strain on your pelvic floor.

Keeping up with bladder control.

Start with the four rules above. As soon as you have the urge to go and you dont think you are going to make it on time start with 5 quick kegels and then get to the toilet quickly. (Quick Kegels are contract and release as quick as 1 and 1) To increase your quick muscle response for bladder control you need to do quick kegels for 60 seconds after you have already emptied the bladder. It just takes 1 min extra of your time on the toilet after every bathroom break to build the bladder control back. This needs to be as important as washing your hands after using the restroom. This will keep you from having to wear depends one day.

Keeping up with good muscle tone for life.

Some of you may want to know why is it so important to do your Kegels on a regular basis. I am not only here to tell you why it is important but also teach you the proper way to do them so you are not further weakening the muscle.

Common complaints:
Painful intercourse
Cyctocele (This is where the bladder muscle is so weak it bulges in the vaginal opening when any downward pressure is given.)
Rectocele (This is where the rectal wall is so weak it bulges in to the vaginal opening when any downward pressure is given.)
Constant pressure in the pelvic floor area after having a baby.

Prolapsed Cervix or Uterus.

Proper way to do Kegels
Start off slowly to work on slow response and gently build your muscle back up. Don’t over do your kegel exercises or you may further fatigue the muscle. For example after one of my clients has a baby I will tell her to start off with doing 10 kegels every time she sits down to nurse, holding it for 2-4 seconds and relaxing it for just as long as she holds it. It is important to always relax it as long as you hold it to avoid tiring it out. Some women are ready to start at 5 seconds and begin building up to 10 slowly over the course of several months, but most women after just having had a baby will start at a 2 sec time and build every other month to get to 10 sec. I tell my clients to never do more then the 10 in a sitting, thus giving the muscle a chance to slowly recover.

thanks http://gbbcwellnessblog.com/?p=269

Friday, May 6, 2011

Why choosing your birth place and Care provider is so important

This video, I do not like, but it is worth sharing to help women understand. If you do not protect your baby, who can?
“Why must a child emerge from the quiet darkness of the womb into a blaze of blinding light and loud voices? Why must an infant take its first breath in terror, hanging upside down as its vulnerable spine is jerked straight? Why must the infant be separated from its mother after spending nine months inside her nourishing body?”

~Frederick Leboyer



Birth Trauma from Centre Quiropràctic Molins on Vimeo.

Monday, May 2, 2011

The other side of what a doula does.


Well our last post, how a doula prepares for birth, which I borrowed from http://birthamiracle.wordpress.com/2011/03/28/doulas-prepare-for-birth/ because it was written so perfectly. That last post brought up a few questions, so consider this the continuation of that post. I will answer the questions that came up as best I can.

Questions 1: What does a doula pack in her birth bag?

I will try to answer this from my perspective, as well as what I know my partner packs in her bag as well. (Since we pretty much bring the same stuff)

I pack lots of physical stuff in my birth bag. It changes a little depending on type of birth we are looking at (home, hospital, birth center, induction, etc) I pack oils, lotion, gum, suckers, mints, limp balm, emergen-c (electrolyte drink, no sugar) treats, nuts (or some protein item) 2 rebozos, hypno-cues booklet, CDs of music and Hypnosis CDs I teach Hypnobabies Hypnosis for Childbirth. I always bring them with me incase a couple has misplaced theirs. I have also found that Hypnobabies couple or not, a mother is in a state of hypnosis while birthing and I have used positive hypno suggestions to assist her in relaxing, opening, and in some cases stopping her excess bleeding.

I also bring homeopathics, herbs, teas, a camera, a note pad, a copy of the families birth plan, treats for the care providers. (They just love it when you bring them goodies) Wow this list is getting long already. I hope that give you a good idea.

Question 2: Do you pray for all of your mothers?

Yes, we pray for each and every mother. I pray for Marie’s mothers, and she prayers for mine. Birth is a spiritual experience, regardless of religion. Each birth brings in such a wonderful amount of love and energy. Each birth is the welcoming event to this new child’s life, what better way to get things going than with a pray to set the intent and positive energy. Our prayers consist of safety and peace for the family, for ease of the birth process, and for wisdom; wisdom for us as the doula, wisdom for their birth staff (midwife, doctor, nurses, etc) and wisdom for mom to read her own body cues. Our prayers are also prayers for guidance, helping us and inspiring us to know how to help each individual mother and family. No two births are the same, and no two women are in need of the same things.

Also, our prayers begin from the moment we are contracted with that mother. We prayer for aligning of schedules so that I know I can attend that mothers birth. And I have been blessed enough to have never missed a birth. (neither has my partner) This may seem like a small thing, but I truly believe that I am inspired to serve that family, and I set the intent to be healthy and available whenever that baby chooses to arrive.

Question 3: How often do you visualize or do energetic work for your doula clients?

At least once a week! Once a week we set aside time to visualize how we can be a perfect assistant to the birthing couple. I visuals each couple individually, not as a group. I visualize their birth preferences and how it relates to me. I make sure I am visualizing a positive care staff, not just for mom but for me as I work with them. I also make sure I spend time each week sending positive energy for them, helping mom to stay healthy and well rested, sending good vibes that they are doing their homeplay (if they are a hypnobabies couple) This is another reason why a doula is so much more than just the birth. We are truly invested in you, and wanting the best for you.

Question 4: How else do you help prepare you mothers besides the prenatal visits?

We encourage our couples to take a childbirth preparation class, (of course we really like Hypnobabies.) We also send them articles, birth stories, birth videos, website links, anything that helps to make them more informed on their birth.

Questions 5: Are you available to be MY doula?

Ok, ok, I know that this was probably not a real question, as the mother isn’t even pregnant, but I do want to address this. ASK! If you are interested in a specific doula, call her, talk to her, and most importantly don’t let money be the reason you don’t have a doula.