When Should Your Doula Arrive In Your Labor?

Nov 302008
 
A doula is a professional birth guide. Her role is one of non-intervention and non-clinical in nature. She gently guides through her words, suggestions, and knowledge of birth to assist a couple in having a birth that is in line with their birth desires. Many doulas will come to your home in labor to assist before you leave to go to the hospital, for hospital-planned births. The question that arises in labor is when should I have my doula come.
The idea of coaching the woman in labor is one I am uncomfortable with. The birth guide and partner should be there to support the woman but not direct her. If a woman is walking the path of her labor and doing well, I do not think someone should tell her how to do things differently. If she begins to fall off the path and needs assistance- encouragements, affirmations, suggestions, that is when the birth guide should offer to gently guide her back onto the path. Listening to her body and what it tells her to do is paramount. Continue reading »
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Due Dates How accurate is your Due Date?

Nov 302008
 
How are due dates calculated?

 

In the 1850′s, a Dr. Naegele determined the average length of human gestation was 266 days from conception, or 280 days (40 weeks) from last menstrual period. He assumed that the average woman had cycles that lasted 28 days and that she ovulated on Day 14 of her cycle. He used his data to come up with a mathematical calculation for due dates: 

((1st day of your last menstrural period -LMP + 7 days) – 3 months) = Due Date. EX: ((January 1, 1996 + 7 days) – 3 months) = October 8, 1996

This is still the standard method used to calculate due date, despite the fact that it doesn’t take into account: that many women are uncertain of the date of their last menstrual period and not all women ovulate on day 14. Other factors which affect term are: mother’s age, ethnicity, prenatal care, prenatal nutrition, number of prior pregnancies.

Another Calculation Continue reading »
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Let Labor Happen

Nov 302008
 
The increase in cesareans today is linked to the increase in inductions. but there is certainly a seduction to induction today. The reason for inductions being so prevalent today is multifaceted. There are reasons to medically induce a labor. The signs of preeclampsia is one reason. There are some conditions that make the pregnancy threatening to the mom’s health as well as the baby’s. But many inductions are not medically indicated. 

When a mom has had a fast birth the first time, sometimes there is concern about a precipitous labor with the second. I have accompanied moms in just such an induction. Many times the induction is easy, but it can also cause the labor to be more painful and longer than it would have normally been if not interfered with by the induction.

 

Sometimes childcare arrangements for the couple with one or more children, makes an induction seductive. Knowing the exact day the birth will occur helps some couples decide to have an induction. The element of the baby not being ready, or the body not responding to the induction in a favorable way is always a risk. Continue reading »

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Doing the Next Best Thing

Nov 302008
 
When someone asks if Birthing From Within is natural childbirth preparation, I have a hard time answering that. Certainly most of my students plan to attempt a medication free birth experience. But BFW is birthing in awareness. If you are making an informed decision, and are choosing your next approach based on what is the next best thing to do in our situation, then you are making a decision in awareness and thus birthing in awareness.Each birth is different and you have not idea what may be truly needed in that particular birth. That is why birth planning is difficult if not impossible. Certainly you can fantasize about your birth and make your wishes known, but to truly plan it is not conceivable having no idea how it may unfold.

In a birthing in awareness childbirth class you will learn to develop a pain coping mindset. You will learn at least 20 things that will help with pain coping. For instance think in terms of a few you already know that work when you have pain now. In class you will learn how to decide what things to choose and when the timing may be more beneficial. But here is a list of 20 things to try in labor : Continue reading »

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Fear & Fatigue

Nov 302008
 

The Two Big Factors in Labor and Birth

 

As a labor doula there are two factors that I think make the most difference in labors. The first one is fear. Pam England says that the work of pregnancy is worry. We need to get all our fears out on the table and address them one by one. That way when labor begins, we have gotten the fear factor out of the way and we can labor. When a woman is holding onto some hidden fears she does not allow her body to unfold and birth. This truly inhibits the mind-body connection that is so essential for birth to flow more easily.

Some of the greatest fears are not unique to most women. There is a fear of loosing control. The concern about pooping when they are pushing out their baby. There is concern that their behavior will be such that they will be embarrassed by it later. There is the issue of trust for their provider and the location where they will birth. Will their partner be supportive enough? Will this experience enhance their relationship or hurt it? Will their body “fail” them- not opening properly or not being able to withstand the pain? Will they have to fight for what they want? Will they allow something to happen that they will later regret? These are just a few of the concerns most women share with me. The answers or solutions are as varied and individual as the concerns. I do know that these concerns need to be addressed long before labor begins so that these same concerns won’t inhibit the natural process of labor. Continue reading »

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Bishop Scores… and warning about Cytotec

Nov 302008
 
The Bishop Score is a method to help determine how favorable your body is for an induction. The less favorable, the more likely your induction will fail and thus lead to a cesarean birth. The more favorable your score is the more likely your induction will lead to a vaginal outcome. There are several reasons to induce. This is a question for you and your care provider. But determining how favorable you are is something you should know so you can make an informed decision regarding the likely outcome.
Points you earn / 0 / 1 / 2 / 3 /
Dilation (cm) / 0 / 1-2 / 3-4 / 5-6 /
Effacement (%) / 0-30 / 40-50 / 60-70 / 80 /
Station / -3 / -2 / -1/0 / +1/+2 /
Cervix / firm / medium / soft / /
Cervix Position /posterior/ meidan / anterior/ /
Ask the care provider these questions: Continue reading »
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