Cookies and Breastfeeding

Yes, Cookies Can Help Breastfeeding

There are usually so many questions about breastfeeding and what can help build your milk supply. Well, ladies-- here is a very sweet enjoyable way to do that.
Promote your sweet tooth--


TRY THEM YOU WILL LIKE THEM.

1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
4 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons flax seed meal
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups oats
1 cup chocolate chips
2 -4 tablespoons brewer's yeast
Directions:

1
Preheat oven to 350°.
2
Mix the flaxseed meal and water and let sit for 3-5 minutes.
3
Beat butter, sugar, and brown sugar well.
4
Add eggs and mix well.
5
Add flaxseed mix and vanilla, beat well.
6
Sift together flour, brewers yeast, baking soda, and salt.
7
Add dry ingredients to butter mix.
8
Stir in oats and chips.
9
Scoop onto baking sheet.
10
Bake for 12 minutes.
11
Let set for a couple minutes then remove from tray.

Read more at: http://www.food.com/recipe/oatmeal-chocolate-chip-lactation-cookies-by-noel-trujillo-192346?oc=linkback

44 Questions For Your Midwife

by SVEA BOYDA-VIKANDER on JANUARY 1, 2013

Written by Svea

Just last week I had the privilege of meeting with two fantastic midwives. Recommended by a friend, they are the women I hope will accompany me through my second pregnancy and delivery. They are kind, empathetic, knowledgeable, and funny. Exciting!

When I told my husband the news, he had a lot of questions. Most of them (“How much does it cost?” and “Do they know what they’re doing?”) I could answer. But some, I couldn’t. Hubby wanted to know exactly what they would do in an emergency – “Tell me about a time when things didn’t go well. What did you do?” and, “Have you ever lost a baby? Why?”

I got all defensive and said that well, I had asked the questions I thought were important, and I’m pretty informed about birth and doesn’t he respect anything to do with intuition? Then I got mad and started defending the scientific realities of emotional support (emotionally supported births are not just happier, they’re healthier!) and he said something about how he’s always the one asking the hard questions and it turned into a whole late night conversation that, I guess, we’d been needing to have for a while.

But anyway, I thought I’d share some of the questions I asked in the interview. The query of what to ask a potential midwife used to come up a lot on the BWF support group (and probably does now on the BWF Fans group, but I’m left out because I’m not on Facebook, *sniff*); some of the items below are taken from those conversations. I personally think that ‘goodness of fit’ is the best thing to look for, but we all have to decide what that means for ourselves. The first few are the questions I asked (and the answers that made me so happy).

1. I plan to refuse almost all vaginal checks. Like, maybe I’ll allow one. What do you think about this? (they don’t check unless the mama requests it! woot!) 
2. Are you familiar with other ways of assessing dilation? (yes, e.g. vocalization)
3. Do you deliver breech? Do you deliver all kinds of breech? Do you have training and experience in this kind of delivery? If not, do you have a midwife you would refer me to if the baby had not turned? (No, but a neonatologist who trained under a midwife in Chile works at a hospital nearby and he does)
4. Do you have experience with turning babies, not hospital version-style? (Yes – almost 100% success rate)
5. At what point would I get ‘risked out’ of your practice, e.g. how many weeks ‘overdue’ could I go before you transferred my care to a doctor? (As long as baby’s healthy, as indicated by Non-Stress Tests, you can stay with us) 
6. What do you do in the case of a nuchal cord?
7. Speaking of cords, we intend to do delayed cord clamping. What do you think about this?
8. How long have you been practicing midwifery?
9. Why did you become a midwife?
10. What is your training/education/certification?
11. Will you deliver the baby, or will you assist me in birthing him/her/them?
12. Do you have experience and recommendations for prenatal nutrition?
13. Do you deliver twins?
14. Are you connected to a natural birth/natural parenting community I could get to know?
15. Do you do the Gestational Diabetes screening? Is there an extra cost associated with it? Do you ‘allow’ your clients to eat a specific meal before the test, or do you make them swallow a sickeningly sweet orange drink?
16. Do you continue to see clients with Gestational Diabetes, or do you refer them to an obstetrics practice?
17. How much do you charge, and by what date would the full amount be due?
18. Do you accept payment plans? What is your refund policy if we decide to switch care providers?
19. How often do your clients succeed in having their health insurance provider reimburse them?
20. Do you work with doulas?
21. Do you work with birth photographers?
22. Who is your back-up pair of hands/midwifery assistant? When can I meet him/her?
23. What is your hospital transfer rate?
24. Do you do routine episiotomies? Do you do any episiotomies?
25. What equipment do you bring with you to a birth? Are you legally allowed to carry Pitocin (for rare post-birth hemorrhaging)? Do you?
26. Are you trained in neonatal resuscitation?
27. How many births do  you take on per month/year?
28. Are you planning any vacations, trips, major surgeries, or other events that would interfere with your attendance at the birth?
29. I am an abuse survivor and this may affect my experience. Do you have training in counseling or other trauma-healing work?
30. What kind of postpartum care do you offer?
31. Do you do placenta encapsulation? Is there an extra charge?
32. Do you facilitate water birth?
33. What methods of pain management do you recommend?
34. My partner has x, y, z fears about home birth. How have you dealt with this in the past?
35. What is your preferred method of communication, prenatally (phone, email, text)?
36. Midwifery is a challenging profession, and often a labour of love. What can I do to make this experience easiest for both of us?
37. Have you had any loss (baby or mother)? Why and what happened?

Also, here are some questions I asked myself after the visit:

1. Would you be friends with these people? Why/Why not? (Yes. I hope we become friends)
2. Does either remind you of your mother? How do you feel about this? (Not much – and only in the best ways)
3. Were you able to ask all the questions you wanted to? Why/Why not? (No – I didn’t ask about hospital transfer rate because I already felt that we’re on the same page)
4. How did you feel about the birth when talking with them, compared to how you feel about it normally? More or less excited, more or less anxious? (More excited! Not anxious at all)
5. Was the visit enjoyable? (I didn’t want it to end)
6. If there were other family members present, what was their experience of the interaction? (My husband was at work but they were kind to my toddler and flexible with his needs)
7. Did you sense that either was intimidated by your birth nerdiness and stance as an educated consumer? (Nah, we’re all passionate about birth, why would that be a problem?)

While it doesn’t make sense to ask a potential midwife all of these questions in an interview, this is also by no means an exhaustive list. You can pick and choose according to your own needs and wishes. And add your own – if you have a suggestion, please let us know in the comments and I will add it above.

*All photography in this post by NHance Photography

Posted by Birth Without Fear

Treating Group B Strep During Pregnancy

Treating Group B Strep During Pregnancy

Let's begin with what is Group B Strep:

Definition:
Group Beta-Streptococci is a bacteria found in up to 40% of women. It originates in the intestinal tract, but because of the close proximity between the rectum and the vagina, if a mother has intestinal/rectal colonization she will most likely have vaginal colonization. Genital colonization can cause symptoms, but rarely results in maternal illness. It can carry significant risks for the baby, however, if he or she becomes colonized and develops an infection from the bacteria. Overall neonatal infection rate is 1-4/1000.

HOW DOES GBS AFFECT THE BABY?

Babies are not normally affected by the bacterium; but, approximately 50% of babies born to GBS colonized women acquire surface colonization at delivery. Although most babies do not develop problems, the incidence of invasive neonatal GBS infection is approximately 1‐3 cases per 1,000 live births. GBS can cause sepsis (blood infection), meningitis (infection of the fluid and lining around the brain) and pneumonia in the newborn and is characterized as either early‐onset (occurring in infants less than 7 days of age) or late-onset (occurring in infants greater than 7 days of age). The incidence of early‐onset disease is approximately 2 cases (range 1.3 to 3.7) per 1000 live births; the incidence of late‐onset disease is about 0.7 to 1.0 per 1000. Approximately 15% of early cases are fatal, whereas late‐onset disease is associated with about a 7% to 10% mortality.

 

RECOMMENDED MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR GBS

Women identified as colonized with GBS are treated with prophylactic intravenous (IV) antibiotics during labor.

Now, if you are like me, and allergic to all the antibiotics they would use to treat GBS, or you would rather not subject yourself, and your baby to a heavy dose of antibiotics, then here are a few known ways to treat it naturally. First, here comes the legal stuff:

I, nor any of the members of The Doula House L.L.C., are medical providers. We are simply providing you with natural information. What you choose to do with that information is up to you. Feel free to talk to your care provider about the options suggested here.

WHAT CAN BE DONE NATURALLY?

The natural way to treat GBS is to start with increasing the good bacteria...give it a fighting chance to defeat the bad bacteria. The easiest way is to start with fermented foods such as yogurt and kefir. Now, if you are dairy sensitive you can choose to use sauerkraut, kombucha, or a great probiotic. Continue to take your fermented food, or probiotic supplement, every day. You can start this at the beginning of your pregnancy to help prevent GBS, or use it as part of your treatment plan.

Second thing you need to do is to kill of the bad bacteria in the vagina, and the rectum if your GBS is really bad. Now, I am about to give you a time tested remedy, and at first you might think I am crazy (about half the women who read this will, at first) You are going to take ½ C extra virgin olive oil, 1 tsp (teaspoon) tea tree oil (melaleuca oil) and 1 ½ tsp garlic oil. Mix all three together, and then get a small tampon. You want to use a small tampon because it will swell up with the oils! Dip the tampon in your oil mixture until it is thoroughly soaked and insert it into the vagina for 2 hours up to two times a day. You won't want to be running around doing to much since it will feel funny, and it will smell like garlic. The garlic and the tea tree oil will kill the GBS, much faster than just doing the probiotics and kefir.

You will want to do this every day for two weeks and then ask to be retested. If your GBS test comes back negative, you will want to continue the protocol until baby is born, but using the tampon only once a day instead of twice. If your GBS test comes back positive, you can continue with the protocol and try again in another week. Talk with your care provider about your options.

For the record, with this protocol I have never had a mother have a GBS positive test after the two weeks.

You can also increase your Vitamin C and Zinc intake to boost your immune system. You should also consider decreasing or eliminating sugar, since sugar helps bacteria to grow.

Happy Birthing!

The Doula House L.L.C.

Putting a price on something that is priceless (for a birthing mom)

What should you pay your doula? (and if you are a doula, what should you be charging?!)

I love attending births. Aside from my family and running, it is one of my greatest pleasures to assist a mother to have her baby. I love helping families to born.
Salt Lake City, UT, is full of doulas, women helping women to have babies. Even though we have a great doula organization, there is some debate about how much a doula should be paid for her work.

Have you ever asked yourself, “why do doulas charge so much?” And honestly, I hope to show doulas why they are worth so much more then most of them charge.

Aside from the cost of education, books, workshops, continued education, and advertising (website, cards, brochures), we also take into consideration the time that it takes for all of these as well as out of pocket expenses.
Let’s just break down one of my packages in terms of time that I spend with my moms during the course of their pregnancy, labor, and postpartum:

Pregnancy and Labor Package

• Initial consultation meeting – Approx. 2 hours
• Two prenatal meetings Approx. 4 hours
• ASAP telephone, text, and email support during contact hours (8am-8pm) Average 6 hours
• 24/7 on call within 2 weeks of your estimated due date – I'll talk on call rate low down
• Around the clock Labor and Birth support once labor has begun – 12 hours (average)
• Immediate postpartum support of approximately 2-3 hours, or until the baby has nursed successfully and the family is settled – 2-3 hours
• One postpartum visit to discuss your birth, share photos, dote over your new arrival, discuss options for additional support (breastfeeding, cloth diapering, baby wearing, etc.) – Approximately 2 hours

With these approximations, we’re looking at about 29 hours of support from your doula.

On Call
Now, there is a low hourly rate the professionals charge in addition to their hourly rate, which works about to range from $.15-$30 per hour. If we go with the conservative amount of $.15 an hour for 2 weeks, which is the average amount from 37-42 weeks gestation for a mom. This works out to be $51

Travel

The average trip I make to meet with clients is approximately 35 miles one way.

• Trip time (based on 5 trips) – 10 hours
• Gas costs (based on 35 miles one way – 5 trips) – $55

Childcare & Food Costs

• Childcare – Approximately $150 per client including visits and birth
• Food During Birth – Approximately $10 depending on the length of birth

Miscellaneous Costs

• Materials for Clients – Approximately $20

Total Time and Out of Pocket Expenses

• Time – 39 hours
• Childcare – $150
• Food – $10
• Gas – $55
• Misc – $20
• On-Call - $51

$286 in total expenses

Let’s do the Math

Doula Fee – $300 – this is the low end in Utah.

Less Expenses - (-$286)

Remainder applied towards hours of work (39) - $14 (this is what the doula is getting paid)

Approximately $.36 per hour

Doula Fee – $500 – average in Utah

Less Expenses – (-$286)

Remainder applied toward hours of work (39) – $214 (this is what the doula is getting paid)

Approximately $5.49 per hour - this is not even minimum wage

Doula Fee – $700

Less Expenses -(-$286)

Remainder applied toward hours of work (39) - $414 (this is what the doula is getting paid)

Approximately $10.61 per hour

Doula Fee – $900

Less Expenses - (-$286)

Remainder applied toward hours of work (39) - $614

Approximately $15.74 per hour


Now according to Living Wage, the living wage for Salt Lake City, UT is $19.05.
“The living wage shown is the hourly rate that an individual must earn to support their family.” (according to http://livingwage.mit.edu)

So, in order for me to get paid the minimum living wage for SLC:

Doula Fee – $1050

Less Expenses - (-$286)

Remainder applied toward hours of work (39) - $764

Approximately $19.58 per hour


Again, this is based on my time and expenses. Of course, over the duration of my time with a client, I can spend more or less one on one time. This is all approximations.
In the grand scheme of things, you’re paying for an invaluable service during your pregnancy, labor, and birth. The difference a doula can make during this time is often priceless. The least that can be done is pay her asking fee.

Do you think that an OB or midwife would lower his/her costs if a mom told him/her that the fees just are not in their family’s budget? 
 
Doulas are a valuable asset to a mom’s birth team. Our time is also valuable – just ask our kids (and the electric company who won’t waive our monthly bill because it doesn’t fit into our budgets!)!



And in all of these expenses, I did not list the advertizing time and money that a doula spends, I did not list the addition times I end up at a moms house helping with breastfeeding. All of these are extra costs that I have, that I did not factor in to all of this.
What I am hoping by posting this article is that those who are looking to hire a doula can understand why it is so important to be willing to understand why she has listed her prices where she has.
And secondly, I hope to help all those doulas out there who are unsure of what they should charge for their time and energy, that they are worth more than they think.

Ten Ways To Make It All The Way To The End Of A Natural Hypnobabies Birth And Still Enjoy It

You know I am a doula and a Hypnobabies instructor..I love it. I do.....and over the years I have found a list of certain things that help moms have easier, comfortable births that they feel like they are in control of and not a victim to. Through experience and trial and error I  have also found that these techniques help most moms make it all the way through their Hypnobabies births right up to the end while still feeling like they are in control, strong, comfortable and that their Hypnobabies hypnosis is working.   Most of these births have the first ingredient in them to take Hypnobabies.. With most moms this is a must. Not that they can't give birth without it but with Hypnobabies moms can actually create births that they really. really enjoy and not something they have had to muscle their way through....so Yes!!!!

Number one is Take Hypnobabies!!!!!!


Number 2---

Create a firm resolve about the kind of birth you want-You can do this. Try to work through any thoughts about the need to suffer. This particular thought is deeply embedded in our culture and if  you don't watch it you will find yourself walking down that path.. It is not necessary to bring a beautiful child into this world in pain, agony and with suffering. Seriously its not!!!

Number 3
KNOW you deserve it-
Do all your hypnosis practice with the intention of creating the birth that you KNOW you can have.
Work through every single fear you can find.Write them down. Go through all the stories that your mom or friends told you growing up and pick out those things that you are afraid of and work on them.

Number 4
Be stubborn about your choices before birth and during birth, like not getting induced ect. and not having your water broken when you are just two centimeters. Remember you have the right to refuse everything-- If YOU are ok and your BABY is ok-- think again!!!!!

Number 41/2
Ok, I forgot one of the most important things---- Sleep, Sleep, Sleep, in your early birth time and as much as possible later.. DO WHAT EVER IT TAKES to get back to sleep if you wake up in the middle of the night. Avoid the tendency to wake up and get all excited and wake everyone else up.. If your birth is really long you will want that sleep and your body will need it...understand?

Number 5
The minute you feel your waves getting stronger start using your hypnosis with a vengeance!! or I guess you could call it firm consistency doing at least two Hypnosis Scripts/cds every three hours. This is important to set a firm foundation for adding layers of anesthesia to help you through transformation. This is a must. This choice will help you be deep enough when you enter transformation and eliminate the fear that comes with dealing with intense transformational waves.

Number 5 1/2
Put in in your mind that birth can be easy and comfortable but that it can be quite intense at times. Knowing that the waves get stronger and stronger before birth can be empowering and help you accept the intense pressure that these waves bring... P. S. It is helpful to have someone around that can tell you when they are as intense as they will get before birth( A Doula?). That way you know that if you can handle those you can handle all of them!! ya bab! you can do it!!!!

Number 6

Stay home as long as possible and resist the temptation to go to the hospital to get your baby out.
It doesn't work like that but at some point during your birth your mind starts telling you it does..Going to the hospital sooner does not mean you will get your baby sooner. Instead just focus on going deeper into your hypnosis and that will do the trick.

Number 7
Hire a Hypno-doula( preferably an instructor of Hypnobabies or someone that has a lot of practice with Hypnobabies) and a fantastic caregiver that really believes in your goals and does not just give them lip service. If you have any reservations about your caregiver change immediately as soon as you can before birth. They will help you and dad navigate uncharted waters and support you in finding your own way to the birth you desire..

Number 8
Prepare your cervix before birth by taking things that soften your cervix and getting regular chiropractic adjustments to align your pelvis.There are many natural substances that you can use to help you have a shorter easier birth simply by preparing your cervix ahead of time for the process.
Consult with a doula that has this kind of knowledge or a natural minded caregiver. It is so worth your time and research.. it can take hours off a birth if used in a timely manner.

Number 9
Prepare ahead of time through visualization to navige the different stages of birth, like transitioning from early birth time to active birth time, the transition from dilating rapidly to dilating very slowly which can happen in birth from time to time and finally visualizing the transition from transitional waves and keeping very relaxed to the downward and intense pressure of pushing your baby out.  If you visualize yourself working through these transitions with grace and knowledge and a prepared plan of what you will do and how you will do it, you will find that not much will get you off balance and you will be able to use your hypnosis more effectively and continue with a peaceful outlook..

Number 10
Prepare, Prepare, Prepare for transition. Have a plan and put it to work the minute your waves start getting 2-3 minutes apart and lasting 90 seconds. Plan ahead of time that this is the time you will put everything you know into practice and that your focus will only be on taking one wave at at time and going deeper.If you have a particular visualization that takes you deeper, use it at this time.. It will help so much and keep you steady and focused during this time. Avoid the impulses to come out of hypnosis ect. and just stay steady in working with each wave and going deeper. Remember transformation is very close to getting your baby. That is so exciting and can be very rewarding if you stay in that mindset. You should have a very firm resolve at this time by not allowing your mind to wander from your focus of taking one wave at a time and focusing on your anesthesia...taking you deeper...Ignore everything that is not focused on your goal.. Just be patient you can do this.... you are very close.

*While I acknowledge that all births are different,using these ten techniques will really create a powerful, strong ,self-sustaining process for completing and enjoying a wonderful natural birth.. Through being a doula, I have seen this work first hand over and over.. So birthing Moms and Dads, it is possible and it can happen and it can happen to you! Believe it, know it.. it is possible and it has been done!!!!

p. s  Over and Over--

Marie Johnson
Doula and Hypnobabies Instructor
Thedoulahouse.com




         

Why You Need A Hypno-Doula

I love teaching Hypnobabies, it is really one of the most rewarding things that I do. While our couples are going through the childbirth class, the topic of having a doula comes up many times.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with what a doula is, let me clarify.

Webster's Defines A Doula As:

"a woman experienced in childbirth who provides advice, information, emotional support, and physical comfort to a mother before, during, and just after childbirth"

 In everyday terms, this means having a trained professional with you and your partner from start to finish. A doula attends your birth to provide you with suggestions for physical comfort, emotional support, and understanding what the care providers are telling you. A doula often will suggest alternatives for typical medical procedures. Studies have shown that having a doula present at your birth can reduce the length of your birth 25%, reduce your chances of a cesarean birth by 50%, and reduces the request for epidural use by 60%. On top of all of that, women who have a doula present at their births often have a more positive view of how their birth went and have less postpartum depression. 

When I explain all these wonderful benefits to moms, I throw in a caveat, not all doulas are created equal. For starters, a doula who has been doualing for 10 years will have more experience and a better understanding of the flow of birth than a doula right out of training. Also, a doula who is trained in Hypnosis for Childbirth will have a better understanding of what to expect during a Hypnosis birth. (such as Hypnobabies or Hypnobirthing) 

At first this might seem like a minor thing, having a doula who is familiar with hypnosis for birth. But in practical application this makes a huge difference. If you imagine that having a doula at your birth is like having a tutor during a test. You want your tutor to not just be familiar with your subject, but to really understand the subject. To have studied this subject as intensely as you have. This will make your tutor of more use to you. The same is true for having a "hypno-doula." These doulas have a very specific set of skills, and they are invaluable during your birth. These doulas know your hypnotic deepening techniques and cues. They also know that a hypnosis birth many times look different from a regular birth. For example:

1. A mom using Hypnobabies will probably remain calm and focused for most, if not all, of her birth. I have had many moms show up at the hospital at 8 or 9 cm and have the nursing staff believe that they were still in their early birthing time (around 3-4 cm) This is amazing!! And for the untrained eye, or a non hypno-doula, they may mistake a mother's calmness and focus just like the nurses do...thinking it is only early birth and no need to rush or head to the hospital. I had one mom accidentally have her baby at home because when she informed her doula that she felt it was time to head to the hospital, her doula told her she was no where near having a baby and to relax on her bed. 15 minutes later this mom had her baby in her hands. 
2. Secondly, a doula unfamiliar with how powerful her words are, and the effect they have on a mom in hypnosis can say the wrong thing and cause some unintended consequences. I had another mom tell me that her doula kept telling her that "I know this is painful but you can do it" or "I know it hurts, and you can just embrace that pain and move forward." Well, throughout her entire Hypnobabies class she had retrained her subconscious mind to only expect discomfort, not pain. She told me that it was incredibly distracting, and the more the doula talked about pain,, the more she felt "pain." This mom eventually had to ask her doula to leave the room. 

Now, I am not saying that you can't have a fantastic doula who is not a hypno-doula, it just increases the odd that your doula will be exactly what you need if she has this extra skill. Another benefit to a hypno-doula, she understand hypnosis. So even if a couple is not using hypnosis for childbirth, the hypnotic techniques she uses will help any birthing mother become more calm, focused, and relaxed. Every mother, Hypnobabies or not, is in a state of hypnosis during birth. These mothers are open to all suggestions given to them; why not make those suggestions positive and empowering, instead of fear inducing.

Now, if a hypno-doula is your tutor, let me add one other option. Imagine now that you are taking that same test, but instead of having a tutor, you actually get to have the teacher help you take the test. She is there to give you the answers and suggestions to help you have the best test you can have. 
This teacher, during your birth, would be your Hypnobabies Instructor. She knows the subject better than anyone, and she also knows exactly how to respond to the situation and help you have the best birth possible. Many of the Hypnobabies instructors are also doulas for their students. This is one of the best things you can do, in addition to taking Hypnobabies, to have a great birth. And, if your instructor is not a doula, I know she can refer you to one who is. 

With my second birth, I had 2 doulas. A hypno-doula and my Hypnobabies instructor. (and yes, my husband had plenty to do and never felt like his role was taken over) It was so empowering to know that when I, or my husband, needed the extra hypno-support it was there. My birth was so empowering, not just for me but for my husband as well. He told me afterwards that it was so nice to have another set of hands and eyes to assist him during the birth. 

So, if you are considering having a doula present at your birth, Hypnobabies or not, look into the option of having a hypno-doula present. 

For more information on Hypnobabies classes in Utah, please click here
For more information on Hypnobabies everywhere, or to find an instructor close to you, click here

5 Ways to Get Through a Long Labor By Robin Elise Weiss, LCCE, About.com Guide

While the average length of a first labor is typically 12-18 hours, not including inductions, there are labors that last longer. Some labors last longer because of physical issues, the baby moving into a better position, mom’s body opening. Other labors are longer because of emotional issues like fear of your surroundings or of becoming a parent, or that your husband won’t make it on time. These can be very real things. For the women who have to deal with lengthy labors, it sounds like it’s a lot of pain. Though having had six labors of my own, I’ve had a wide variety of times: (in order) 36 hours, 45 hours, 8 hours, 11 hours, 4 hours, 2-3 hours, and 45 hours. The easiest labor was actually my 45 hour labor. The reason? Because I managed my labor well. And I’ve also seen it happen many other times in my time as a doula. So here are tips on making the most of a longer labor.

• Don’t focus on the clock.
  It’s so tempting when you’re in labor to look at the clock. How long have I been doing this? How much longer will I be doing this? When will I get to hold my baby? These are all valid questions, but questions that ultimately keep you from focusing on the work of labor which is what gets you to the end. If you can remove the clocks near you, have them turned around or cover them.
• Stay home as long as possible.
  In your own home, you are most comfortable. You can move freely around, watch television, play on your computer and sit in your baby’s room. These are all the comforts of home. You also have your own bathroom and tub or shower, you can eat and drink to comfort. It is much easier to pass the time in your own surroundings and it can help prevent your labor from stalling by going to the hospital too early. An early labor plan can also be beneficial here.
• Go with the flow.
  As crazy as it may sound – follow your labor’s lead. In longer labors, there tend to be parts that are slower and more calm. This is the opportunity to rest and even nap. Most women don’t think about this and often view this slow down as a bad thing, when what it usually is is the ability of your body to sense that you need a small break before continuing. Take advantage of these breaks whenever possible.
• Use comfort measures early and often.
  By the time I was having baby number three and I was anticipating a very long labor, I really wanted everyone to rest up to support me “when I really needed it.” After an hour or two of trying to go it alone, I was agitated and in pain. I finally let people help me relax and rub my back and help me out. Oh, labor was so much easier. A few hours later when I figured out it wasn’t going to be three more days of labor, it finally all made sense. Staying calm all the way through took less energy and made me more relaxation, helping labor progress. Also don’t forget to move around often, this can many times be what you need when labor is taking awhile. It helps protect your joints and skin from being in one position too long.
• Start labor off right.
  When you first realize you’re in labor, the best advice is to ignore it. Remind yourself of why you can’t be in labor yet. You know the list I’m talking about: I can’t be in labor because I haven’t washed all of the baby’s clothes. I can’t be in labor yet it’s not the date I picked. I can’t be in labor yet my favorite gown is not packed. But remember to take your time. For most women there is no need to rush. Just casually go about getting ready and enjoying these last few hours of pregnancy.

So the next time you’re having a baby and baby seems to be taking his or her time, remember, there is a reason and it’s up to you to handle the labor in a constructive manner that benefits you and your baby.

Top Ten Truley Needed New Mom Gifts

So, I get invited to a lot of baby showers, and almost every one has a Target Baby Registry attached. This is full of items like Blankets, Clothes, Bouncers, etc. This list, that was put together by the first time mom, is missing some of the best gifts you can give to a new mom. Here is a list of what I think are 10 of the best alternative gifts to give mom, and believe me, she will thank you over and over again.

1- A Breastfeeding Class, or a Private Lactation Consultation: Yes, I am putting this as #1. Unless mom is not planning to breastfeed, she will most likely need some support with breastfeeding. But far too often, this may get lost in all the other baby preparation. Giving her this gift is priceless for her, and only about $30 for you.

2- A Doula. It can be either a birth doula, or a postpartum doula. A Birth doula is there to support the couple during the birth. Providing mom with physical comfort, emotional support, and knowledge. A postpartum doula is there to help with the transition into parenthood. She will often help with breastfeeding, grocery shopping, and giving mom the night off and taking care of the baby between feedings.

3- A Gift Certificate to The Healing Group. These ladies specialize in helping moms postpartum. Whether mom is 2 weeks or 2 years postpartum, this group is all about mom. They are our go to for the new mom trying to balance her role as mother, wife, and women!

4- Happiest Baby on the Block. Get mom, and dad, the class (there are several people who teach this in Utah) or get them the DVD. This saved me as a new mom. There is such a peace that comes with knowing how to calm your baby. This may end up being their favorite gift.

5- Newborn Photography. This may seem like a splurge, and maybe it is. But from what I have found over 75% of the moms I talk to are hiring someone to come and take professional pictures of their new baby. I am not talking Target or Kiddie Kandids (no offense, they are great businesses) I am referring to the photographers that come into your home, with a box of props and amazing talent to capture those moments they want to remember. I did my newborn pictures myself with my first, and thought I did pretty good. I hired someone to take pictures for my second, and it was a huge difference. Those are the pictures I more readily display.
Some of the photographers we really like are: (in no particular order)
Jewels Photography
Christy Rossi Photography
Earthside Photography

6-  A Luna Lullaby or an Aden and Anis Swaddle Blanket. These blankets are made of muslin cotton, and they are huge. They will swaddle a newborn up til his first birthday and beyond. They are soft and cozy without over heating the baby. These are a MUST gift for all parents, and they come in so many cute designs.

7- Prenatal or Postpartum Massage. Massage can help to prep a mom's body for the birth process as well as help her body better heal afterwards. Select a massage therapist who specializes in pregnant and postpartum moms. Wise Massage Care will come to your home, and Salt Lake Prenatal Massage can arrange for someone to watch your baby at the office while you enjoy your relaxation. Both of these companies specialize in expectant moms, but you can get one for yourself too!

8- Babysitting! Old school, I know, but still one of the best things you can do. Allow Mom and her partner to reconnect and to remember the love they have for each other. The long nights, and the newborn challenges can take their toll. Having some one on one time, even for an hour, can make a huge difference in their relationship.

9- Cleaning. You can do this yourself or bring in the professionals. Nothing takes the load off a new mom like knowing her house is clean. You can take 15 minutes and tackle as many tasks as you can, or you can give mom and dad a gift certificate for a local service. Make sure you find one that is very reputable, and with good local reviews. And a few of the local companies said they can work out a deal if you let them know it is a gift for a new mom, or watch for them on LivingSocial or Groupon.

10- Go for a walk. Help mom to get out of the house. Getting some fresh air and exercise will help with the baby blues as well as postpartum healing. Mothers are far more likely to get out for a short walk, if it is with a friend or family member. Make sure that mom has the all clear from her doctor, and keep to to a simple stroll. (she should not be over working herself too soon) Spend this time talking to he about how she is doing, and how she is processing all the changes. Sometimes the best gift, is the gift of support.


(This article is written for a local Utah Audience, the companies we site are local, but you can find them in your area too)

Hypnobabies, not just for Homebirths

One of the most common questions, or statements, I hear about Hypnobabies Hypnosis for Birth is "Is that just for homebirth moms?" or "Can I use it even if I am birthing at the hospital?"
Let me take a moment now to explain WHY Hypnobabies Hypnosis for Birth works, and why it is the best option for a mom birthing in the hospital (or out of the hospital)

First, Hypnobabies is a complete childbirth course. This means that when you take a Hypnobabies Hypnosis class, you are learning all about:
*What to expect During Pregnancy and Birth
*How Labor (birth) begins
*Stages of Labor
*Staying Healthy and Low Risk
*A Healthy Pregnancy Diet
And so much more. You are will leave you Hypnobabies class having a much better, and often times very clear understanding on what the birth process is, how it begins, and what happened during each stage. This is a very important component of Hypnobabies because it means that you will not need to take another childbirth prep course. And remember, mom may have been studying up on everything birth related, but her partner may not. So it is another added benefit that Hypnobabies helps to educate mom and partner about what to expect during birth.
So, we have covered that Hypnobabies Hypnosis for Birth includes a detailed Childbirth Preparation, it also includes Hypnosis. Hypnosis has been used for pain management for many years. It is used for medical as well as dental surgeries when the patient is unable to use traditional anesthesia. With Hypnobabies, you are learning very powerful self-hypnosis. This means you learn to enter hypnosis, literally, at the drop of a finger. This deep self hypnosis that our moms learn and practice for 6 or more weeks helps them to instantly enter hypnosis and stay comfortable during their birth. The best part, mom's partner learns all her hypno-cues so that s/he is able to help mom stay focused, comfortable, and in a space of calm.

         On that note, a couple of things that you may, or may not, know about hypnosis.

                1- All hypnosis IS self hypnosis. 

                            This means that mom, partner, or anyone doing hypnosis; chooses to enter hypnosis  and they also choose to exit hypnosis whenever they need too. 

                2- Hypnosis is a state of being that we all do, on a regular basis.

                            Have you ever left on a simple errand in your car, and the next thing you know you are at your destination...that is a form of hypnosis. Other forms of hypnosis are: watching tv, listening to someone talk, etc. 

                3- Hypnosis is not a state of mind control, or a state of sleep. 

                            Since all hypnosis is self-hypnosis, you are always completely in control, and you are never asleep. 

Next, I would like to cover one of the reasons I think Hypnobabies should be a cornerstone for any couple that is choosing to birth in a hospital. Hypnobabies covers Informed Consent. This is a big deal, since often times couples enter the birth arena with little to no knowledge of what their choices are during pregnancy, birth, and the care of their baby.
Far too often I hear moms tells their birth stories and it goes something like this: "Then they allowed me to _____", "They told me I had to ________", " I felt like my birth was happening to me, I had no choice, no control."
These are sad, often painful statements that mothers are making about their birth. The truth is, you have a choice during your birth. This, to me, is the best part of a Hypnobabies class. Since each instructor is teaching the exact same things, no matter where you take your Hypnobabies class (whether here in utah with me, or in Canada with one of our amazing instructors there) you are getting the same, invaluable information.
Hypnobabies takes the time to really educate an expectant couple on their choices during birth. Did you know that Pitocin can be turned down or even off is the pressure waves (contractions) are too strong? Did you know that you have other choices for cervical softening besides cytotec? Do you know what a Bishop's score is?
All of this stuff is what makes Hypnobabies stand out. We teach our couples how to ask questions and get all the information needed to make the best choice for them and their baby. By adding choice back into the birth equation, hospital moms are more able to feel empowered about their birth choices, instead of feeling that things just happened. This choices are also helpful for birth center and home birth moms!!
Right there, one class in a series of 6, is just ONE reason why Hypnobabies is almost a necessity for a hospital birth. Being informed allows you to have a greater say, and a greater understanding of the birth process. This in turn allows the Hypno-Family to make educated choices not only during birth but for the rest of their lives. Many of my hypno-couples have mentioned that the tools they learned they continue to use. One mom said it was nice to know what to ask when she had to take her 14 month old baby to the hospital and they wanted to perform test and do procedures that she did not feel was necessary. After asking questions that she learned from Hypnobabies, she was able to decide what was legitimate for her baby, and what was just a doctor "shooting in a barrel hoping to find something."

If you are an expectant couple, the best thing you can do for yourself and your baby is to become informed. If you are wanting an unmedicated childbirth, then I highly recommend you look for a local Hypnobabies Instructor.

Understanding "Painless" Childbirth

Painless Childbirth

Birth Unplugged

An Ever-Evolving Understanding of the Power of the Divinely Designed Female

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Understanding "Painless" Childbirth

This post is inspired by a recent conversation on my natural childbirth forum, as well as a few birth stories I have read from Hypnobabies moms who were surprised to find that their pressure waves felt "painful" to them. It also is a response to something I stumbled upon while browsing the archives of a natural childbirth blog, in which the author said she would not want to have a painless birth.

So, what is up with "painless" childbirth?

A few women are rumored to have "painless" births without special preparation. I think this is probably pretty rare, but the fact that it happens is notable. The majority of women who refer to their births ans "painless" or "pain-free" are women who used hypnosis.

I think this is something that is commonly misunderstood, and I admit I didn't understand it when I was preparing for my first birth. I read the book Hypnobirthing by Marie Mongan, and listened to the CD that came with it a few times. As I understood it, Mongan was teaching that all "pain" in childbirth was a result of the fear/tension/pain cycle, meaning birth will not be painful if you are not afraid of it. I believed that what we experience in birth is a direct result of what we expect, so I chose not to expect pain. I was really oversimplifying things, and I was in for a rude awakening.

When I started having contractions (I refer to them as "contractions" here because that is what I called them at the time--I didn't buy into the idea of changing the words then) I admitted that "they hurt," but it was very manageable. They went on for quite a long time, going away and coming back, and then I was given a very low dose of pitocin, and those contractions really hurt. I was still able to cope using movement and deep breathing for a while, but I was really miserable. I do recognize that there was a psychological element to this pain. In my mind, something external (pitocin) was inflicting pain upon me, instead of it being caused by my own uterine muscles contracting. This, as well as exhaustion and pressure to dilate due to risk of infection, made it much harder for me to cope.

I think that I, as a first timer, espoused a common misconception about painless birth: believing that your birth will be painless just because you've heard of it and believe it's possible. I didn't think I needed to do anything to have a painless birth; I thought it would just happen because birth is not "meant" to be painful (right, Dr. Dick-Read?)

My understanding of this changed when I did the Hypnobabies program for my second birth. I don't know if there is really a difference in the two programs' views or if my experiences caused me to have this new understanding. I don't know if birth is really "meant" to be painful or not, but I do know that it involves a stimulus that the majority (at least in our culture) of women's brains interpret as "pain," which is generally experienced as a negative thing. Good hypnosis for childbirth provides a system for changing your mind so that the stimulus is interpreted as not painful, so that it can be experienced more positively. For me, with my second birth, experiencing it positively involved a conscious choice on my part.

Both Hypnobirthing and Hypnobabies use a technique of renaming some of the words commonly used in childbirth. This is a strange practice and, I admit, it's a little cumbersome at times, but many women find it helpful to avoid negative associations their subconscious may have with the words. One example is avoiding use of the word "pain" and using "discomfort" instead, because it is not as negative of a word. Some could argue that "painless childbirth" is about semantics, but it's really about what you choose to believe.

I believe that most women who have unmedicated births are able to find a way to experience the stimulus of the sensations of childbirth as not a bad thing, even if they do experience them as painful. In embracing a "pain with a purpose" ideology, women are choosing to tweak their understanding of the word "pain" (which is usually a negative word to describe a sensation that occurs when the body is being harmed) to include a kind of pain that is good. This essentially means changing the negative connotation of the word "pain" to be positive in this particular circumstance, while with hypnosis, we simply change the word, eliminating the negative connotation altogether.

I think some people, when they hear "painless," assume that means not feeling anything--that the "hypno-anesthesia" would be like an epidural and make them numb. It doesn't work this way. Hypno-anesthesia is very strong endorphins. It's like when you cut yourself or you twist your ankle and at first it hurts a lot, but then it doesn't hurt as much, that's endorphins. They soothe and dull pain, but they don't take away sensation. With a pain-free unmedicated birth with hypnosis, you would still feel your baby being born, it just wouldn't feel like pain to you.

Sometimes the talk of feeling "only pressure and tightening" in Hypnobabies leads women to expect that birthing waves will feel just like Braxton-Hicks waves. This is not true either. Braxtion-Hicks are just tightening sensations, for me, birthing waves (and also the pre-birth waves that can occur irregularly for weeks before the actual birth) have an extra level of intensity--what I now call a "downward pressure" which signaled to me that my uterus was now working to begin moving my baby down instead of just flexing itself for the exercise.

One of the changes in the new 6th edition of Hypnobabies is the re-recording and re-naming of a track that used to be called "Painless Childbirth" to "Easy, Comfortable Childbirth." Hypnobabies appears to be moving away from using the word "painless," which, considering all of the misconceptions about it, I think is a good move. I feel like "comfortable" is a more accurate description of how Hypnobabies helped me. Whatever sensations I felt (some of which I may have called "painful" under other circumstances), I knew they were normal and was able to not be afraid of them, which allowed me to feel calm and confident and not out-of-control or panicky (except during the cervical lip and the pushing, but I have theories about that). I wouldn't say I was "in pain," because for me, being "in pain" never involves that degree of serenity and self-composure.

I know there are some women for whom surviving the pain of childbirth provides a sense of accomplishment. It makes them feel like they are "hardcore." I, on the other hand, am not "hardcore," nor do I want to be. I can get a sense of accomplishment from seeing that I did something most people experience as very painful, and it was mostly comfortable to me, and I did it with my mind!

10 Things No One Tells You About Birth

TheBirthingSightTBS

1. The contraction pain doesn't end when the baby is born. Your uterus will contract for days, weeks and even months after birth. The pain is especially bad during breastfeeding in the first week or two, some women describe it as feeling like their uterus is going to fall out!


2. Your vagina will look different...not just from a tear or episitomony scar (if this happens) but diferent in color...it will be a darker shade of the original color in most cases.


3. Your baby will breastfeed WAY more than you can imagine...so don't be surprised when you spend half of a 24 hour period breastfeeding. Growth spurts are a whole different issue, thankfully they often don't last longer than 7 days.


4. If birthing in a hospital they more often than not will give you synthetic oxytocin after the birth whether you need it for heavy bleeding or not (prevents hemorrhaging). Discuss this with your careprovider...if you don't chances are, you will be administered this via IV or a shot in your leg (as baby is crowing) and you won't notice it. This disrupts your body's natural process of making Oxytocin the much needed love hormone for bonding and establishing milk supply.


5. Your baby's umbilical cord will be clamped immediately at birth in most hospitals and routinely cut shortly after. This may not surprise you, but learning the benefits of delayed umbilical cord clamping, how it's recommended by the WHO and how hospitals still routinely early clamp regardless of the benefits or potential harm caused...may surprise you.


6. The foreskin that is routinely cut off of many newborn boys has a very important purpose and up until recently circumcision was performed without anesthetic: they didn't believe young babies could feel pain.


7. Induction before 42 weeks is often not necessary unless you have health complications. Induction can mean a variety of things from a membrane sweep to pitocin through an IV. An induced labour is the most painful type of labour you can have, with no naturaling occuring breaks and a lack of hormones that occur naturally. It is also particularly hard on the baby and often causes fetal distress from no break during contractions.


8. Epidurals come with serious risks that most women do not have explained to them prior to the epidural being administered. 


9. You do not NEED to tear or have an episotomy to birth...with time and patience breathing baby out, MOST babies regardless of size can be born vaginally with minimal trauma.


10. Breach baby or previous cesarean doesn't necessarily mean a cesarean section is needed.

Maizy's Beautiful Hypnobabies Birth Story

Excellent Birth Story, Origianal from moms blog

We used Hypnobabies for our birthing. They use some different terminology then you are used to. I also talk about the self hypnosis that I used. If anything doesn't make sense or you would like more of an explanation of what I'm talking about, feel free to ask. I'd love to share more info with anyone! At about 3 AM Tuesday June 19th I woke up to go to the bathroom. I noticed I was having some pressure waves (contractions) and that they were stronger and coming fairly frequently. I slept in between them for about an hour, then I started timing them. They were every 3-5 min apart and lasting about a minute. I was trying to do my finger drop technique (entering self hypnosis) at the same time trying to time my pressure waves. It wasn't working so great, I was too distracted. At 4:30 I got on my exercise ball, tried to relax and tell my cervix, open open open. I was finding it hard to relax and finally at 5:30 I decided I needed to listen to my Deepening CD.

I went downstairs and put it in and slept for about half an hour. At 6:30 our neighbor brought a wide awake Croix back home (he had been at their house from the night before when I wasn't positive if my water had broken and we went to the hospital). I ate some breakfast and went back to bed to see if I could sleep some more. After listening to my deepening DC I found it much easier to stay in my hypnosis. I stayed relaxed and comfortable through pressure waves even when interacting with Croix and eating breakfast. Even though I'd been having regular, strong pressure waves for 3 hours I was hesitant to declare it time to go to the hospital, after we had been sent home less then 12 hours ago. Once upstairs I couldn't sleep and my pressure waves were getting stronger, longer, and closer together (although I did not actually time them, I found that to be too distracting.) A little after 7 I hollered to Brent to get Croix ready we were going back to the hospital. He asked if my water had broken and I told him, no but I'm calling it, this is the real deal, time to go.

On the way there we text our Doula, Tricia, and the birth photographer. Tricia met us at the hospital shortly after we got out of triage and to our room. The birth photographer was unable to make it. So disappointing. So the photos we do have are not so great quality, but I'm still thankful to have them. (So please excuse blurriness, graininess, darkness, etc) We dropped Croix back off at our neighbors and headed to the hospital at 7:30. On the drive I put my head phones and listened to one of the Hypnobabies tracks. This really helped me to stay relaxed on the drive. When we got there I walked up the registration and said "hi! we're here to have a baby!" She asked if we were there for a scheduled induction or C-section. I didn't realize at the time why she had asked that but thinking about it now I'm sure it's because I didn't look like the average woman "in labor". I was calm, smiling and most important, not in pain. She then asked if I was having contractions and I told her yes, every few minutes, with a smile. Since we had just been there the night before going through registration was much quicker then the last time. I found it easy to stay relaxed as a pressure wave would come I'd put my light switch in the off position, breath, back to center and continue what I was doing. In triage they checked me, I was at 5.5 cm! I was excited. We were getting closer to meeting our baby!

After 20 minutes on the NST they took us to our room where they had the tub all ready for me. A little after we got to our room Maria the midwife came and checked in on us and asked how we were doing and asked if we needed anything. I told her everything was great! She told us if we needed anything just to let the nurse know and she'd be right there. We met our nurse Angie, she was great. She said to me, "I've never done a Hypnobabies birth before so I'm sorry if I say the wrong thing". I said to her, I've never done a Hypnobabies birth either, we'll do great together! The tub was awesome! So comfortable and relaxing. I was able to enjoy my birthing time with out any IV's and only intermittent monitoring. To do the monitoring the nurse would just bring a dopler over and listen to Maizy's heart beat before, through and after a pressure wave. I was able to stay in the tub for that which was great! She did that about every 30 minutes. The nurse had to put on these hilarious gloves that went clear up to her armpit every time she monitored me. For some reason it reminded me of a Veterinarian delivering a horse, or elephant or cow or some huge animal! Hilarious right? That was not the only thing we laughed about. We were talking and joking and enjoying our selves the whole time. When a pressure wave would come, I'd just turn off my light switch, focus and then go back to the conversation. There were a couple times when someone was talking to me when a pressure wave would come and I tried to talk to them rather then turning off my light switch. Those couple times I felt my body start to tense up and as soon as I turned my light switch off, I'd relax and be much more comfortable. It was amazing to me! I also used my peace cue and that was very effective and helpful in staying calm and relaxed. During Pressure Waves After At 11:10 Maria came in to talk to us. Her and Dr. Kells had a C-section to do at another hospital at 12:00. She wanted to check me and see how things were progressing before she left. I got out of the tub and was excitedly anticipating hearing I was at a 9 or something like that. She says, well you're at about a 6 so I think we'll be ok if I head over. I was so disappointed. I'd barely made any progress. I decided as wonderful as the tub felt it was time to try and get things moving. But not until after some lunch!

At 11:25 we ate some lunch. Then we went on a walk at 11:45. While we were walking during pressure waves I would lean on Brent and Tricia used a wrap around my belly and lifted. After about 4 pressure waves doing this my water broke, at 12 pm. I had lots of extra amniotic fluid and it was a huge gush, in the middle of the hall way. Not so envious of who ever has to clean that up! Funny how I had been so concerned about a prolapsing cord, or arm but in the moment it didn't even cross my mind. I could feel something was a little different with that pressure wave and it felt kind of nice when my water broke. Instantly I could tell things were different and we quickly headed back to our room. At 12:10 we got back to the room and I asked the nurse to check me, I was at an 8. Brent helping me stay relaxed while the nurse checked me. They called Maria. I heard the nurse say, "my patient is getting pretty active." I decided 2cm could take a while so I got back in the tub. I thought we had plenty of time for Maria to get there Brent using the relax cue Reading me some scripts. It seemed to me that almost instantly I felt like I needed to push! Which I thought I couldn't be to a 10 yet, so I better not, I (my body) couldn't be ready to push yet! But with the next pressure wave there was no way I could not push!

At 12:25 I got out of the tub and squatted and pushed for one pressure wave. The nurses wanted me to get on the bed, so I didn't give birth on the floor. I got on all fours to push on the bed. I remember hearing a nurse say something about getting any OB in there. They told me Ramona was coming and I smiled! Ramona is the midwife at the practice I like the most, the one I had wanted to be with me when I gave birth. I asked how far away she was and they told me she was just leaving the office, I thought I'm going to get Ramona she's only 10 min away!! I pushed with the next pressure wave and at that point I thought oh this hurts. I kind of whimpered "it hurts it hurts". Brent helping me while I pushed. Next pressure wave it burned and I said that. The nurse said yes she's doing a good job of stretching you out. I asked if she (Maizy) was there? She said yes you can feel her head. So at 12:32 I reached down and felt my baby crowing. (I think it's funny at that moment I wanted to shout, "how's my perineum?" I didn't :) I was shocked, I had pushed for an hour and a half with Croix. Here I was just a couple pushes in and she was already crowning. I also remembered with Croix his head would come out a little with a push and then go back in and that happened for such a long time. I wanted to make sure that didn't happen so with the next pressure wave I really bore down, and out came her head. The nurse said one more push for her shoulders. One more push and at 12:35 she was born. Brent was going to catch, and went down to do so when her head came out, but it all happened so fast he didn't get a chance to. The nurses kind of caught her, more they helped her land on the bed. The midwife, or any other doctor never made it. It was just me, Brent, Tricia, and the nurses. It was perfect.

At 12:45 Maria got there. She checked and said there was no tearing, just some minor abrasions. I was so happy to hear that! I was worried with how fast it had gone I would have torn. I was very glad my perineum was fine:) We waited to cut the cord until it stopped pulsing. Maizy came out perfect with a good cry. She scored a 9/9 on the Apgar. At 12:55 the placenta was delivered and it felt good to deliver the placenta, a little relief. And at 1:00 Maizy started nursing for the first time. We waited an hour or so to weigh her, just took some time to bond. She weighed in at 5 pounds 14 ounces, 19 inches long 12cm head. After a while another nurse came in and said what a great job I did. She said, I hear you even went pee by yourself. My slightly baffled response was "Yeah I'm such a big girl" When I got home and was using my water bottle after using the restroom I remembered having a hard time peeing after Croix, most likely from the catheter, and having to use water to help me start peeing. That helped me understand her comment. I heard from several nurses, what an amazing job I did. It really felt great to hear that from women who see births daily.

Maizy was doing great and I was feeling fantastic so the next morning I asked if we could be discharged. Twenty Four hours after she was born and our little family was headed home. I was confidant that Hypnobabies would work and I would have the birthing experience I wanted but I am still amazed at just how easy it really was. It was quick and comfortable. The only time I felt any real pain was when I was pushing her out. And even then I was not screaming out in pain, or crying, or vomiting, just quietly said it hurts. I felt/feel so much better afterwards this time then I did after Croix. I was immediately able to get up and walk around and I felt great! My body is/was not as tired. I am already (3 days post baby) not even taking Ibuprofen because I don't need it. When my milk came in I didn't get engorged (that can be caused by the excess fluids in your body from IV fluids during birthing time). A natural birth, a Hypnobabies birth was one of the best most beautiful experience of my life. It was perfection!