Babies

Robots are Taking Over Birth

http://nursingbirth.com/2009/09/07/the-worst-idea-since-routine-continuous-fetal-monitoring-for-low-risk-mothers/

Your Signature Please

This is an actual hospital consent form for elective primary cesearean,
as posted on www.nursingbirth.com.

Nowhere near a very safe or easy way to birth.

Consent for Elective Primary Cesarean Section

A cesarean section (c-section) is the surgical delivery of a baby through an incision in the abdomen and uterus. An incision is made on the abdomen just above the pubic area. The second incision is made in the wall of the uterus. The physician can then open the amniotic sac and remove the baby. The patient may feel tugging, pulling, and pressure. The physician detaches and removes the placenta; incisions in the uterus and abdomen are then closed.

I authorize and direct _______________________________, M.D. with associates or assistants of his/her choice, to perform an elective cesarean section on _______________________________.

(Print Patient Name)

Patient’s Initials

_____ I have informed the doctor of all my known allergies.

_____ The details of the procedure have been explained to me in terms I understand.

_____ Alternative methods and their benefits and disadvantages have been explained to me.

_____ I understand and accept the possible risks and complications of a cesarean section, which include but are not limited to:

* Pain or discomfort

* Wound infection; and/or infection of the bladder or uterus.

* Blood clots in my legs or lungs

* Injury to the baby

* Decreased bowel function (ileus)

* Injury to the urinary tract of GI tract

* Increased blood loss (2x that of a vaginal delivery)

* Risk of additional surgeries

* Post surgical adhesions causing pain/complications with future surgeries

* Increased risk of temporary breathing problems with the baby that could result in prolonged hospitalization

_____ I understand and accept the less common complications, including the risk of death or serious disability that exists with any surgical procedure.

_____ I understand in a future pregnancy that I have an increased risk of complications including, but not limited to:

* Placenta previa, where the placenta covers the cervix.

* Placenta accreta, where the placenta grows into the muscle of the uterus.

* This may lead to a hysterectomy and excessive blood loss at the time of the cesarean section.

* An increased risk of uterine rupture (with or without labor) and that this risk increases with each subsequent cesarean section. Uterine rupture can lead to the death of the baby or myself.

_____ I have been informed of what to expect post-operatively, including but not limited to:

* Estimated recovery time, anticipated activity level, and the possibility of additional procedures.

_____ The doctor has answered all of my questions regarding this procedure.

_____ I am aware and accept that no guarantees about the results of the procedure have been made.

I certify that I have read and understand the above and that all blanks were filled in prior to my signature.

________________________________ Patient Signature/Date

 ________________________________ Witness Signature/Date

I certify that I have explained the nature, purpose, benefits, and alternatives to the proposed treatment and the risks and consequences of not proceeding, have offered to answer any questions and have fully answered all such questions. I believe that the patient fully understands what I have explained.

Laboring Under an Illusion

Homebirth Outcome Study

Since I'm trying to gather as many scientific studies from credible journals as possible (as a result of being kicked off a mom/pregnancy board for posting a blog page of information/thoughts/options that only referred to the position of ACOG-American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and did not include long-term, double blind, scientific studies on the subjects)....I present a Canadian study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

In summary...

"The study analyzed all planned home births attended by registered midwives from Jan. 1, 2000, to Dec. 31, 2004, in British Columbia, Canada (n = 2889), and all planned hospital births meeting the eligibility requirements for home birth that were attended by the same cohort of midwives (n = 4752).  We also included a matched sample of physician-attended planned hospital births (n = 5331)."  Meaning...these were not necessarily "high risk" patients in the hospital. Everyone started out on the same playing field.


"The rate of perinatal death per 1000 births was 0.35 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.00–1.03) in the group
of planned home births; the rate in the group of planned hospital births was 0.57 (95% CI 0.00–1.43) among women attended by a midwife and 0.64 (95% CI 0.00–1.56) among those attended by a physician."

WOOT!

http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/reprint/181/6-7/377

Vita Mutari

Um, yeah. What this lady said... (from www.nurturingheartbirthservices.com)
lovelovelove

"When I was in physical therapy after I injured my knee, my therapist learned that I’d had homebirths. He asked about the “pain” of labor and how I dealt with it at home. My answer, as it usually is, was, “It’s not PAIN as you think of it…my knee was pain. Birth is powerful, but it’s not the same as the pain you experience in life where something is wrong with you.”

His response was, “Then why do women scream?” Heh…you have to love television, right? So I told him that I rarely see women “scream” in labor….but that yes, some women are very vocal and make lots of noise. So he asked why they would make so much noise if they weren’t in pain.

So I told him, “Some women are very loud and make lots of noise during love making…you wouldn’t say they were in pain, right?” Interestingly, he stammered and walked away and the conversation was over.

VITA MUTARI

 I don’t believe that there is a word in the English language to express what it feels like, as it’s totally unique to anything else you will ever feel in your life. It demands full attention of your body, your mind, your soul….it is one of the few experiences we have that transcends the physical and is all encompassing, taking everything you have and everything that you are….only to have you emerge on the other side transformed, changed permanently – you will never be the same.  Sometimes you have a really difficult experience and you come out the other side feeling beaten down, feeling weak and dealing with the consequences of the negativity for the rest of your life. Other times you will emerge with an entirely new respect for yourself, your body, your strength…you will suddenly see yourself as the amazing person that you are!

VITA MUTARI

Which (finally) brings me to these two words…my new favorite words.  I think I will start using these words from now on when someone asks about what labor feels like or the pain of giving birth…. VITA MUTARI!!  Labor feels like “mutari”….the contractions will grow and you will feel Vita Mutari …the vita mutari will grow in intensity….as the mutari increases, you may vocalize or call out…

The literal translation from Latin to English is “Life Transformation”.  That is the closest thing I could think of the feeling of labor/birth…what you are feeling isn’t pain, it’s life transformation.  Is it dramatic? You bet!  I think it should be!" - Stephanie Soderblom

 http://www.nurturingheartsbirthservices.com/blog/?p=16

Hooked Up

Seriously.  Is this really the most effective way to birth?

GO GISELE!

"Despite what you may have read, Gisele Bundchen did not give birth at Brigham and Women's Hospital -- or Mass. General, Beth Israel, or Boston Medical Center, for that matter. The supermodel spouse of Pats QB Tom Brady had her baby at the couple's Beacon Street townhouse. But that's not all. In an interview with a popular Brazilian TV show, Bundchen has confirmed something we'd heard: She delivered little Benjamin in the bathtub. (The interview with "Fantastico," the Brazilian equivalent of "60 Minutes," airs this weekend.) Home births are hardly the norm in Brazil, which has one of the highest rates of caesarean sections in the world. So what's with Bundchen? We're told Gi was profoundly influenced by director Abby Epstein's 2008 documentary, "The Business of Being Born," which makes a compelling argument for natural childbirth. The movie, executive produced by Ricki Lake, looks at the history of obstetrics, midwives, and how modern medical practices may do pregnant moms more harm than good. One of the people quoted in the film is Ana Paula Markel, a friend of Bundchen's who works as a doula, or childbirth assistant, in LA. "It's so great to hear that (Gisele) had a positive homebirth experience," Lake told us yesterday. "Not only because it was at home and in water, but because it says a lot to girls who follow her." They might also be interested in what else we heard -- that Gisele may have used self-hypnosis relaxation and breathing techniques to aid her delivery. Whatever she did, it worked. Word is, the supermodel was in labor for only about eight hours before the bundle of joy arrived. Other celebs who've had their babies at home include actress Alyson Hannigan, model Cindy Crawford, singer Erykah Badu, actress Maria Bello, and Bundchen's BFF Michelle Alves, a Brazilian model and the wife of Madonna's manager Guy Oseary."

http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/more_names/blog/2010/01/the_story_of_gisele_bundchens.html

Gisele!

A one liner news story... Gisele says, "I gave birth in a bathtub" in their Boston penthouse.

 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/28/gisele-i-gave-birth-in-th_n_440595.html

Suggestions for Having a Peaceful Birth

1. Avoid artificial labor induction
This includes pitocin IV (artificial oxytocin), amniotomy (breaking the amniotic sac or "bag of waters"), prostaglandin gels or tampons inserted into the cervix, and stripping the amniotic membranes off the cervix.
Labor induction doubles your chance as a first time mom of having a cesarean section.

2. Avoid an epidural and other pain medications
Epidurals often slow the labor process down, which leads to the use of pitocin to strengthen contractions. Both epidurals and pitocin use increase your chances of having a c-section, forceps, or vacuum extraction birth.
Other pain medications such as narcotics, are often not very effective for pain relief. Both epidurals and narcotics have side effects for you and your baby.

You can do it. Your body was made to birth naturally.

3. Avoid IVs--instead eat and drink during labor
There is no reason not to eat and drink during labor. If you are eating and drinking than you don't need an IV. Labor is work-- that's why its called "labor". It is like vigorous exercise and the calories and fluids are needed for your body to work effectively.
Starving yourself and becoming dehydrated during birthing can lead to complications.
IVs keep you from moving freely during labor and movement facilitates faster and easier births.
IVs are for sick people and you're not sick--you're giving birth.
The use of IVs can cause other complications such as fluid overload and hyperglycemia for both mother and baby.

4. Avoid continuous fetal monitoring
Continuous fetal monitoring causes more c-sections and interventions without improving outcomes for the baby. Both external fetal monitoring and internal fetal monitoring keep you from moving freely. Internal monitoring introduces the risk of infection.
Intermittent monitoring with a hand-held doppler or a fetascope is more effective at detecting problems with the baby should any occur. It is also much more comfortable for you not to have straps around your belly and to have freedom of movement.

5. Stay upright and stay active during labor.
Staying upright and active during labor instead of laying in bed facilitates a faster, and more comfortable labor. I was upright and moving for all but 30 minutes of my labor. And that 30 minutes of laying on my side was excruciating!

6. Give birth in an upright position
Squatting or kneeling is how many women instinctively choose to birth if they don't feel that they have to lay in bed.
Birthing in an upright position works with your body and with gravity. It is the physiological natural position for baby to be born in. Laying on your back to give birth is actually pushing the baby uphill.
I know that if I had been trying to birth on my back I would have felt like a turtle in the mud!

7. Don't wear the hospital gown
You are not sick and you are not "Property of Anytown Community Hospital". Donning the hospital gown is a powerful message to your unconscious mind.
Wear what you are comfortable in. Your husband's T-shirt, jogging pants, your own night gown, or even nothing at all!

8. Don't take a ride in the wheel chair.
It might make you feel special or seem fun, but again, you are not sick, and "My legs work just fine thank-you very much";)
The wheel chair is another powerful message to your unconscious that you are dependent and need to be "rescued".

9. Don't go to the hospital--give birth at home or in a freestanding birth center
The hospital is in itself an intervention. And here I go repeating myself again, but--You are not sick--you're having a baby.
 
Animals give birth unaided in their own environments without anyone disturbing their process. Strange environments cause the fight or flight system to kick into gear which hinders labor.
Staying away from the hospital is the top way you can ensure that you birth completely naturally. Once you enter the hospital, you are on their turf and the medical staff has a greater measure of control over your birth whether actual or perceived.
It is very easy to cave in to pressure from those we perceive to be in authority.

10. Hire a doctor or midwife with a non-interventionist philosophy.
The philosophy of your care provider has a HUGE influence on your birth outcome. Ask your care provider what their rates of c-section, induction, episiotomies, and assisted deliveries (forceps or vacuum extractions) are.
National rates for c-sections and inductions are at an all time high, but if your caregiver's rates of these interventions are much higher than the national average, it would be wise to switch caregivers. It would be optimal to find a caregiver whose average for interventions is well below the national average.

11. Make it easy for baby to be in the optimal birth position.
Don't lay on your back in pregnancy, stay active, and know how your baby is positioned.
Laying on your back encourages the baby to be posterior with his back facing your back. This is not the easiest position in which to give birth to a baby. Women certainly birth posterior babies, but it is usually more work.
Doing the yoga posture Downward Dog and pelvic tilts help baby to get in-and stay in-the best position--head down with their back facing your back.

12. Consider giving birth vaginally even if the baby is breech.
A vaginal breech birth is just as valid a choice as cesarean section-- consider all your options.
It is difficult to find a doctor who will attend vaginal breech births. You may find that the only caregiver who will attend a vaginal breech birth is a homebirth midwife.

13. Eat extremely well during pregnancy
Metabolic toxemia of late pregnancy has been linked to poor nutrition. Not consuming enough calories or consuming empty calories that are high in sugar and not high in essential nutrients, can cause MTLP.
If you have MTLP or your baby doesn't gain enough weight because you are restricting your diet, interventions are often necessary.
Eating a diet of whole foods and very little processed foods, grows a healthy baby and a healthy mother.

14. Take a good child birth education course
A good childbirth education course will help you work through fears, and practice relaxation and coping methods for discomfort during labor.
Hypnobirthing and Birthing from Within are two courses that I recommend.
Know thyself. Learn what psychological roadblocks lay in the way of having a natural birth experience and seek to remove them.

http://www.dare-to-give-birth-naturally.com/

The Folly of Naegle's Rule

"The 40 week due date is based upon Naegele's Rule. This theory was originated by Harmanni Boerhaave, a botanist who in 1744 came up with a method of calculating the EDD based upon "evidence" in the Bible that human gestation lasts approximately 10 lunar months. The formula was publicized around 1812 by German obstetrician Franz Naegele and since has become the accepted norm for calculating the due date. There is one glaring flaw in Naegele's rule. Strictly speaking, a lunar (or synodic - from new moon to new moon) month is actually 29.53 days, which makes 10 lunar months roughly 295 days, a full 15 days longer than the 280 days gestation we've been lead to believe is average. In fact, if left alone, 50-80% of mothers will gestate beyond 40 weeks."

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1047180/the_lie_of_the_edd_why_your_due_date.html