Wisdom and Births

November 17, 2012  is World Prematurity Day !   Prematurity, or preterm birth, refers to live births that occur before 37 weeks gestational age. The following are categories defined by how many weeks gestation were completed before the birth: extremely preterm (under 28 weeks gestation) very preterm (28 to 32 weeks gestation) moderate to late preterm (32 to under 37 weeks gestation)    A pregnancy is considered full-term at 39 weeks and as such I think these definitions need some adjusting, but March of Dimes, WHO, ACOG and many others agree that an induction or caesarean birth should not be planned before 39 completed weeks unless there is a TRUE medical indication. However, if your pregnancy is healthy, it is best if your baby is born at 40 weeks or later! (watch for a future post on this!) Preterm birth can lead to a variety of complications and the earlier the baby is born, the more severe the health challenges they will face. More infants die from preterm rel...

Save the Children has released their most recent report on the State of the World's Mothers and one of the features is a rank of the countries based on a number of maternal and child health indicators. This report not only shows the top countries for motherhood, but discusses very thoroughly the devastating health conditions that far too many mothers, infants, and children experience around the world, and thus the worst countries for motherhood. The countries are ranked based on scores in certain indicators including female education, political representation, MCH policies (such as maternity leave), life expectancy, maternal and infant mortality rates, etc. To exemplify the extremes, In Niger (#165) the life expectancy for women is 56 compared to 83 in Norway (#1), which offers one of the best maternity leave policies in the world.  Every mother in Niger is likely to suffer the loss of a child. These rankings give you an idea of the overall picture of maternal health and motherho...

This post is in response to an excellent inquiry made by a friend. She wanted to know what I thought about lanolin, coconut oil, or shea butter as a natural nipple cream. I wasn't sure how to answer, so this blog is my researched response! First I would like to recommend good 'ole Breastmilk for nipple care. You can rub a little breastmilk on the nipples and allow them to air dry. For many women this is all they need for normal nipple care. Also, remember that you DO NOT need to use any soap on your nipples! This will only increase dryness and decrease your own natural and protective oils. As for some other commonly used natural products... Lanolin, which means "wool oil", is a yellowish and waxy secretion from the sebaceous glands of woolly animals; most commonly from sheep. Lanolin is collected from the sheep's wool when it is pressed between rollers and squeezed out. While scouring the internet I found some mothers wondering and discussing about thrush and lano...

The following is written by Elizabeth Carrollton about pelvic health during pregnancy and the postpartum period. She addresses some common issues, excellent ways to prevent pelvic floor related problems, and brings awareness to some major issues with surgical treatment using transvaginal mesh . Thank you Elizabeth for all you do to improve maternal health and safety!!    C hildbirth is the biggest risk factor for pelvic floor problems like pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Half of all women who have had at least one child will develop POP to some degree, and SUI occurs in about a quarter of childbearing women. However, paying attention to your pelvic health during pregnancy and after childbirth can help reduce your risk of developing these disorders. Why Pelvic Health Matters Healthy, strong pelvic muscles serve a lot of important functions in the body, such as enhancing sexual sensation, making childbirth easier, holding pelvic organs secure...

Empowered Birth Awareness Week is quickly approaching and I am continuing my efforts to draw attention to Evidence-Based Maternity Care and safe birth choices for all women. Birth is an event we all share. I have heard before, that the status of a country, government, or people can be judged off how they treat their most vulnerable, in this case the United States and the American people fare poorly in regards to how our mothers and infants are treated during Birth.   Our modern maternity care system has seen some positive changes, but there is still so much room for growth. Most importantly we need hospitals and Birth professionals to be accountable for the care they provide and women deserve Evidence-Based Care.The long-term effects of obstetrical interventions are finally being realized and we need to change the face of medically managed birth! EMPOWERED BIRTH AWARENESS WEEK is September 3rd-10th.  Here are a few ideas that you can do to support Evidence-Based Maternity Care...

Unassisted Childbirth (UC) refers to birth in which the mother delivers without professional assistance (such as from a midwife or OB) and has also been referred to as 'freebirth'; this does not mean the mother and her partner have not prepared for labor and birth, just that they do not have a licensed professional present when the baby is born. Some women labor and deliver completely alone while others may be emotionally and physically supported by their partner, a friend/family member or a doula. There are a multitude of reasons why women choose to birth unassisted and some women choose to do so because this is the best choice for them, but for too many women, they have to have a UC in order to have their baby at home. In the U.S., 99% of births occur in the hospital, however the numbers of women choosing home birth are growing. Most home-births in the U.S are attended by midwives, however, many states still have laws that prohibit midwives from attending home-births and the ...

The location where you give birth is so important. What the people around you believe about birth will affect your experience. Obstetricians are surgeons and they are trained in a model that believes birth must be managed because it is wrought with danger. The midwifery model believes in the strength and robust nature of women's bodies and the midwife is present to encourage and support this natural, physiologic process. Too many women are birthing in a model where their bodies are seen as defective. Too many women are having C-sections and then being denied the opportunity to have a VBAC for subsequent births. In this new documentary Trial of Labor (click for their website), mothers share their stories about a previous C-Section and their desire to do it differently the second (or third) time. This women were not prepared for birth the first time around and they are determined to do it differently this time! As a doula, I have provided labor support to two mothers who had ...