Birth | Pregnancy | Blog

Since this month is dairy month, and a couple of fire departments/emergency squads are hosting the Meredith Dairy Fest, I thought it’d be kind of appropriate to do this book review in honor of the volunteers that help us out in a an emergency (and their making an attempt to encourage healthy habits, in the case of expecting moms, “Drink milk, it does two bodies good,” unless your expecting more babies, etc.).

Today’s book is a “must have” for any expecting mother, if you ask me. It’s Emergency Childbirth: A Manual by Gregory J. White, MD.

This book is a small spiral bound book that is easy to read and great to have with you where ever you go in the event you should go into labor someplace other than where you intended to and/or if the people around you can read (at least as well and an 8 year old) but don’t know much about childbirth. As long as your “attendants” can read, they can help you deal with labor and can also quickly find out what to do to help if things aren’t progressing normally. This is also a good way to prepare for natural birth because it quickly prepares you which can help relax you because you and your attendant/s know what to do and expect during labor.

It’s an easy read, something you can go through quickly during your pregnancy so that you can also be better prepared in case of an emergency.

I have this book listed first in my post about basic birth supplies, it’s that important in my opinion. While some of the instructions may seem dated, they will still be effective and obviously aren’t all that bad or they would have been modified as there have been many printings of this book. It has definitely stood the test of time.

I have two copies of Emergency Childbirth. One I have as a loaner and the other is sort of a good luck book to me. It was given to my mother shortly before I was born because she had originally intended to have me at home. She ended up going to the hospital anyway (by choice apparently, the doctor that did home birth’s wasn’t available at the time) but she kept the book all these years until I had my first home birth water birth, at which time she passed it on to me. (Thanks Mom ) My loaner copy is a much newer edition but still says almost exactly the same thing. I only found one minor change in a word. The meanings are the same and also importantly, the techniques are the same as well.

Childbirth hasn’t changed, so why should the ways we deal with normal childbirth? Technological interventions were intended for the rare occasions where childbirth is not normal and perhaps dangerous (where as “normal” is not dangerous but still different for every childbirth).

Emergency Childbirth also includes information on resuscitating your baby if needs be. It tells you how to handle the umbilical cord and so on. Do you know how to get your baby to breath if he isn’t breathing shortly after he is born? You should.

This is an excellent book to have. If you don’t already know how to handle emergency childbirth situations, I strongly urge you to invest in this book. It’s a small price to pay if it helps you and your baby, and if you end up not needing it, that’s even better and it’s still worth it.

Take care and birth well,
Sheilah

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I’ve had about 10 different blogs dealing with nutrition in one way or another. Basically put, I’ve tried to encourage the importance of prenatal and post partum nutrition.

Today I got an email that links to a report that kind of sums up what I’ve been trying to say. I can’t vouch for the particular vitamins she promotes since I’ve never tried them, but I do trust her judgment, so I wouldn’t mind trying them sometime either.

Jen is a Certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Professional. You may have even seen her on TV. She is the one who wrote the Slim Mom Secrets ebook I have listed on the right side of the page in the Hot Spots section. I know the email intended to be forwarded via email, but I’m hoping Jen won’t mind me posting it here instead. If so, I’ll have to pull it. In the mean time, she expresses the importance of proper nutrition and explains why you need to be aware and even careful about the prenatal vitamins you take.

It doesn’t matter where or how you are planning to birth. That is why I have this listed in each category except birth stories. Good nutrition is our building block to a healthy life, for us and our babies. So, since there is more reading to do else where, I leave you with this:

Here is The 7 Sins of Prenatal Vitamins Report!

I was going to wait to release this important report until after
Memorial Day, but I couldn’t wait a second longer.

You see, after revealing The 7 Sins of Prenatal Vitamins that
many of the big prenatal vitamin companies are trying to get away
with, I’ve been getting hundreds of emails from concerned pregnant
women (and many of their concerned doctors who aren’t up-to-date
on nutritional topics).

With that in mind, do you know what’s really in your prenatal
vitamin? The reason I ask is that an independent consumer testing
agency reported in Oprah’s “O” Magazine that 50% of vitamins,
including prenatals, don’t really contain what they say they do.
Some even had trace levels of harmful toxins! Others didn’t contain
much of ANYTHING!

That’s bad enough, but the prenatal vitamin companies are also
committing some pretty huge offenses that they put RIGHT ON THE
LABEL! (You won’t believe what they’re doing.)

When you visit the link below, you will discover what’s wrong
with almost all of the prenatal vitamins out there today, and you
will learn what is the single BEST prenatal vitamin I have found in
my three months of research.

However, the prenatal vitamin that I do recommend isn’t made by
some greedy corporation. It’s made by a Doctor who is an expert in
the area of nutrition for a healthy pregnancy. The problem is, his
small company only produced 250 of these new prenatal vitamins. And
this email is going out to over 50,000 of my SlimMom Members.

So whatever you do, be sure to read the special report I wrote
by visiting the link below now. At the very least, at least skim it.
You’ll have a head start on everyone else who is already on their
extended Memorial Day Weekend.

Here’s that link: (You may have to cut and paste it into your
address bar)

http://clicks.aweber.com/z/ct/?O.eYb.jyYznIMJBy.XIIjw

With Urgency,

Jen Polimino

P.S. Please do everyone a favor and forward this email to all of
your pregnant friends–even if they’re just thinking about getting
pregnant. It’s that important.

Please, check it out and check your vitamins. You don’t have to use the same ones Jen does, but be aware if you should be getting something better anyway.

Sheilah

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That’s right, I’m making a birth announcement. Jeannie Marie was born at 10:33 pm May 14, 2007. She weighed in as my smallest at 8 pounds. I really thought she’d be heavier than that though, she looks so chunky.

The birth went very well, and actually was my fastest labor from start to finish (my first sign, the mucus plug, to delivery) at about 5 1/2 - 6 hours.

Normally, when I’ve lost my mucus plug, it’s in the morning (with all three of the boys) and they were born later that same night. With Anna, she was born a day later. So anyway, we figured we still had some time since I didn’t loose my plug until yesterday afternoon, so I sat down to play the piano for awhile. My contractions picked up swiftly and were about 2-21/2 minutes apart, so Russell realized we didn’t really have much time and went right to work setting up my birthing pool (see previous post). When the water in our hot water heater was spent, he got pots going on the stove to make sure the temperature in the pool was good. He kept it about 100 degrees Fahrenheit which felt wonderful to me, and I guess it wasn’t to hard to keep it there (meaning the pool held the temperature well I guess).

So anyway, when my water broke, I was very surprised at how fast it went from there. Two pushes (I only push when I have the urge to, that way I am working with my uterus and not stealing any extra oxygen from the baby) and her head was out. I turned her head a little, and about 5 minutes from my water breaking, (or less) she was born.

And you know what else amazes me? For the first time in 5 vaginal deliveries, it doesn’t hurt when I pee! I expected it to burn because she was born so fast I figured I might have had some superficial tears or something, but evidently not. It doesn’t hurt at all. I love my home birth water births! The so called “ring of fire” didn’t hurt either. I felt the stretching, but it didn’t burn at all. Maybe because she was my smallest or maybe because I have the hang of it now.

Sorry, it still wasn’t orgasmic for me, the contractions were intense and uncomfortable, but I would not consider that it was painful at all. It was however, sensational.

Russell recorded some of it for me, so as I watch the video and reflect on it more, perhaps I’ll share more with you. For now, I’m going to baby moon for awhile. In my post partum state, I’m feeling great. I’m glad to be home and I’m oh so glad we have our newest bundle of joy here. The kids were thrilled to be able to witness it too, even Anna!

Until next time, take care.
Sheilah

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That’s right, birth supplies or “tools” to help natural birth along. Just because it’s natural does not mean you need to suffer. Even an animal in the wild will do what it can to get comfortable, and that is what natural birth tools are about.

Natural birth tools are things that you can use to aid and comfort you during labor, which in turn should help to ease childbirth, and maybe even speed up delivery.

Maybe you’ve heard of conventional “methods” to help progression, like walking. But sometimes when you are experiencing contractions, say, with your first baby, it can be quite a challenge to walk very far.

So, there have been other “tools” developed over time which have proven effective for many women over time. Many are for the most part portable too, so you may have access to them where ever you decide to birth, at home, in a birth center, a hospital, or a friends house.

Common “Tools” to Aid Natural Birth

These are the tools and how they are sometimes used.

• birth ball - Much like one of those huge balls kids love, but stronger like an exercise ball. These are good to sit on and gently rock side to side (or however is most comfortable for you) and encourages the baby to descend down into the pelvis.
• birthing stool - takes on different shapes with one general thing in common, a large open space you straddle allowing for passage of the baby while your legs and bottom are supported by the stool. This helps to create more of a squatting position which puts gravity to work for you also.
• ropes or bars - suspended from the ceiling or some other device (tree branches outside) to hang on to and assist keeping you in a more up-right position to encourage gravity’s help.
• water - also referred to sometimes as “hydro-therapy.” Water relaxes the muscles of your body, creating less tension overall and allowing your energy and focus to be placed on your uterus and childbirth.
• pillows - for leaning on, laying on, propping up whatever needs to be propped up. Pillows are just another thing you can place where ever you want them to make you more comfortable. The more comfortable you are, the greater your ease and the more likely you are to have an enjoyable (and tolerable) childbirth.
• distractions - before you’ve actually hit transition, (the last part of the first stage of labor) things to keep you busy and allow your body to progress naturally are helpful. Whatever you like, a movie, a book, taking a walk, talking to a friend, planting a garden, doing house work, kissing your husband, whatever you want.
• Breathing - practicing controlled breathing, (not like hyperventilating) will give both you and your baby the oxygen you both need to continue, and sometimes focusing on this normally simple task eases discomfort. (I like to count the length of each inhale and exhale)
• visualization - can be very powerful, especially if you have been practicing throughout your pregnancy. Picture yourself opening up and your baby descending into place, then gently emerging.
• massage - as long as you don’t mind being touched, this can be incredibly useful to ease body tension. (Those poor wild animals without opposable thumbs can’t enjoy this as much, )
• support - from a loving and understanding person. I really feel this can be invaluable. There are no words to describe the feeling of having somebody there for you constantly, to help you with whatever you want or need help with. It gives me a sense of security just knowing somebody is there that I can count on for whatever.

Less Common Tools to Aid Natural Birth

Since I am not a midwife, or doctor of any sort, my knowledge in these tools are limited. I am only telling you about them so that if they interest you, you may ask your care provider about them or pursue people of greater experience in these helpful remedies.

• herbal teas and tinctures - most commonly used by midwives knowledgeable in herbal remedies, there are herbs which can strengthen particular body parts, such as the uterus, or calm other parts to put you at ease. I know that I like drinking a pregnancy tea and I can feel the difference in my uterus when I don’t.
• Chiropractic - Like I said above, I don’t know a lot about this. However, one of my own chiropractors has told me that in 44 years of practicing, he has had patients stop to see him while on their way to the hospital to give birth. He said that is shortens labor and quickens recovery.
• Acupressure - I have only been learning about pressure points (meridians) over the last year or two, but there are areas which will increase blood flow and relieve tensions to certain areas of the body. Once again, consult with somebody knowledgeable in this field as the wrong points could actually do more harm than good.
• Acupuncture - The most I know about this is that it is similar to acupressure in that there are certain points on the body which when stimulated, result in different effects. If this is of interest to you, consult with an acupuncturist for more information.

Today’s birth story is called Cory’s Birth Story. What I like about this story is that like myself, the birthing mom has had both in hospital and home birth experiences and shares a little of each with us while still focusing on the main story. Also she details how beautiful Cory was when he came out, not an uncommon thing for a healthy, normal, and natural birth.

Sheilah

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Hello, on this fine day! I’m curious to know how you all feel about a home birth waterbirth video, so I’m asking for your input.

I myself have lots of books, and I’ve done lots of research, I have seen videos that I’d like to buy but some just seem to short for the price, if you know what I mean. They are the kind of thing I’d rather rent before I buy because I’m just not sure it’s what I want. Nobody ever asked me for my input about them, and so I’m asking for yours.

A few quick questions:
Who would be interested in a birth video?
What kind of things would you like to see included with a birth video?
How much would you be willing to pay for it?
Would DVD or Video tape be better?

More detailed questions to get you thinking about it:
Would you like to see a visualization exercise?
Pregnancy stretching exercises?
Interviews with my nurse and/or doctor?
Common birth supplies used?
Support tips?
Interviews with my other children regarding their thoughts on the birth?
Tips on preparing other children for a birth?
Talks with my folks, their concerns before and their feelings afterwards?
Ultrasound clips?
A prenatal check-up?

Any other ideas you may have for a birth-related video are welcome. Please pass this on to your friends as well. The more the merrier.

I’ve posted the same questions on the blog ( http://www.birthexperts.com/forum/ ) with the detail.

If response is favorable, and we actually make the video, I’ll give you a 10% discount or free shipping (in the continental US) for responding.

I’m due in about a month, so the sooner I get this information collected, the better so that if we decide to go ahead with it, we can get started.

Thanks in advance for your input.
Sheilah

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Well, I’m thinking that I have officially reached anxious or excited anyway. I was having pregnancy dreams all night about my water breaking and going into labor. Also I was kind of recounting everything I had to make sure all my supplies for the birth were in order. I’m happy to report that as my water was breaking (in my dreams I mean) I never felt like, “Oh no!, I don’t have this or that!” I am still lacking some, but for the most part, I think I’m ready. I have the most important stuff for my home birth.

The birth supplies I have:

• my birthing pool - for the water birth part of course
• my OB kit - mostly for the clamps, but sometimes other stuff in there is handy too. I’d be happy with cotton shoelaces, but I can never find any around here for some reason.
• my main supporter - my wonderful husband, Russell. He keeps me grounded and gets me what I need when I need it.
• plastic and tarps for protecting the floor, or whatever else I might need it for.
• 1 washable and a bunch of disposable chux - mostly for afterwards to protect the bed or whatever I’m sitting on to nurse the baby. For my last childbirth, I did make use of the washable one before birth because my bag of water was leaking.
• hydrogen peroxide, somewhere around here… I guess I’d better locate that, it comes in handy to get out blood stains if there happen to be any.
• rubbing alcohol - to sterilize things, and also for the baby’s umbilical cord to keep it clean and help it to dry out and heal.
• lots of towels for spills and chills.
• my peri bottle to clean my area afterwards
• tea tree oil to put in my peri bottle to promote healing and cleanliness after childbirth.
• pads, both washable and disposable - I think I’ll start with the disposable ones first as my initial lochia flow will be heavier in the beginning and dwindle as the weeks go on.
• nursing pads, washable and disposable. I don’t know which I’ll like more.
• a couple of back up plans - one of which I really don’t want to use (going to the hospital)

I Still Need for My Childbirth:

• blood vial with anticoagulant - to put cord blood in for the typing of the baby. I’m pretty sure I know what it’s going to be, but since my husband and I are different blood types, we won’t really know until the typing is done. By using the cord blood (I know we could bank it too, that would be neat, but it’s kind of expensive also), the baby doesn’t need to be stuck with a needle. It has been kind of difficult getting much out though for my last two. The anticoagulant keeps the blood from clotting (becoming solid).
• to check with my folks how their calendar is around my due date, incase any of the kids decide they’d rather stay with them instead of hang around here waiting for their baby sister to be born (not really likely, they are just as excited as me and Russell, but we like to give them the option if we can).
• an extra helper - I haven’t actually discussed it much with anyone yet. Maybe the boys are old enough we don’t really need one, and as long as my folks are home, they are close enough that if we needed to go to the hospital, they could watch the kids. I don’t know, I’ve been pondering.
• newborn diapers - my babies have been on the larger side of “average” with the smallest being 8 lbs 6 ozs and the biggest being 10 lbs 2oz, so I’m not worried about the newborn size being to big.
• perhaps a hand pump - to help inflate the floor of my birth pool. Maybe our bike pump will do, we’ll have to check it out when we do our trial run.
• baby names - we haven’t decided yet. Nothing has struck our fancy, and we may just have to ask the baby!

Hey thanks for letting me think “out loud.” It helps to get it all down. Have I missed anything?
Perhaps you have an idea for me? Leave a comment and let me know. Maybe if you are feeling anxious about seeing your baby, it’d be just what you need. Getting it out can help you determine if you feel like you have everything in order, and what you are lacking if you don’t.

So anyway, that is what I was dreaming about last night. Pregnancy has been giving me some weird dreams, it’s kind of nice to be having more focused dreams which help me with my birth supplies.

Sheilah

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