Yes, You DO Get a Gold Medal!

Posted on June 12, 2011 by Heidi Thaden-Pierce

In the childbirth class I'm observing the parents discussed some of their questions or things they heard about birth. One mom said she's heard (more than once) "You don't get a medal for how you birth!" Which is true, but it was in reference to some moms trying for a particular type of birth (generally meds free) and it wasn't a supportive comment she received - more confrontational! We all laughed a bit and agreed, there are no medals, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't still try for the birth YOU want. The incentive is not medals or external rewards, the incentive is trying for what you feel is best for you and your baby.

I was telling Kit about this when I got home, mentioning the "gold medal for birth" taunt and my oldest child heard me. He ran to his room and came back with this:

A little plastic gold medal they got from some activity. He told me I could keep it in my doula bag so that when moms give birth, they CAN have a gold medal. 😀 Is that not the sweetest thing ever? My daughter brought me her gold medal, too, and I've tucked them in with my stuff. I brought the medals to the birth class to show them and they thought that was great, too. When I go to a birth we can snap a photo of that proud momma with her new baby and she can share that yes indeed, I DID GET A GOLD MEDAL! It doesn't matter where that baby comes out or what route they take, every mother deserves a gold medal.

Posted in Birth, Inspiration | 1 Comment

The Happiest Baby on the Block

Posted on June 11, 2011 by Heidi Thaden-Pierce

So years ago my father sent out an email to the children (there are seven siblings) and tells us about a story he heard on the radio (it must have been NPR) about The Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer. I read it, of course (Dad suggests good books) and we were hooked. It talks about the Fourth Trimester (how many of you have heard me use that phrase? It's from there!) and the five S's of soothing (swaddle, sway, shush, suck, side lay.) I remember Kit, in an exhausted fog as he swayed side to side with our swaddled baby, asking me "What were the other S's??" As I pointed out to him, this has become that central to our concept of ourselves as parents, even if we forget an S while we're tired. 😉

I cannot summarize it, as there is SO MUCH good information and it's one you'll refer back to with the same baby and with subsequent babies. I just learned they offer a class that a certified instructor will come teach you about what it is, how it works, and how to do it. I wish I had that, and a refresher class with each new baby! It's a one time class, not like a full childbirth preparation course but a focused newborn class. I think it would be better to read the book while you are expecting (and take the class and watch the movie, if you can!) and then have the video on hand postpartum to refer to... but it would be really good to have someone that could come sit down with you (like a Happiest Baby doula!) to help you refine your technique after the baby comes.

Here is the video, which is brilliant as you can have that visual reminder while you're practicing soothing - The Happiest Baby on the Block DVD.

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Why am I a Doula?

Posted on June 4, 2011 by Heidi Thaden-Pierce

As I've entered the certification process to officially become a doula I have pondered a lot on what brought me to this decision. As my husband pointed out - if a doula is someone that supports women through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum then I already am a doula. Now I'm just receiving further training and making it official! I have been blessed to be invited into the lives of women as they prepare for birth. Each time it has been an honor, whether I provided support and encouragement from afar or was at their labor with my arms around them, cheering them on...

I believe birth is sacred. My own pregnancy and birth experiences have varied widely in location, intervention, duration, care providers, and method of arrival! Each has taught me precious lessons and I am thankful for every single experience, with all of the challenges that were involved. I have given birth in a setting where I felt like an imposition on the staff, a nameless patient that needed to be dealt with and moved along and "managed." My wishes were ignored, my concerns dismissed, my "care" provider once didn't even show up in time to catch the baby! Despite the demeaning way I was treated, I knew that birth should be treated with respect and every laboring mother deserves kindness, compassion, and support.

I have also given birth in situations where I was treated with such love and respect, when time seemed to stand still as everyone around me focused on helping bring my child safely into the world. I have been privileged to birth with care teams that focused solely on me, reassuring me that there was nothing else that mattered so much as me laboring in peace. Both in and out of the hospital I've witnessed care providers receive inspiration to act in such a way that they literally saved my child's life. Some of my most sacred moments of birth were in the OR, under the bright lights and surrounded by a crowd of people! But the respect and attentiveness and concern were tangible, and something I will always remember. It does not matter where we birth, it matters how we are treated through the experience.

Our support team created a safe space for me to labor, to grieve, to celebrate, and to birth. There were moments in labor that I cried not from pain or fear, but from gratitude for the loving hands that were surrounding me. As I reflect on my births I am in awe of the wisdom, humility, and care of those people attending to us. When a woman gives birth she deserves to have her experience treated as the sacred event that it is . Doulas are given the unique opportunity to help create the safe space every birthing mother needs. I am humbled by the chance I have to offer that support to others!

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Herbal Bath

Posted on June 2, 2011 by Heidi Thaden-Pierce

*New recipe is here.*

I got the herbs in and mixed them up then divided (sharing with some other doulas.) Each of these is a gallon size bag holding a pound by weight of herbs, it's a LOT! 🙂 One bath needs about a cup of herbs infused in 4 cups of hot water then strained into your bath.

Cam

From the previous post, this is what I included:

Shepherd's Purse - from the battlefields of World War I to the natural first aid kit, Shepherd's Purse is known to be a powerful astringent. In traditional herbalism, astringent herbs help tighten tissues, and reduce secretions & discharges. One of Shepherd's Purse major compounds includes vitamin K, which promotes proper blood clotting. Current herbal texts cite Shepherd's Purse for supporting a smooth female cycle and for promoting urinary tract health. Common use: Herbal astringent; promotes urinary tract health; supports healthy blood pressure; supports venous health.

Comfrey's botanical name is derived from the Greek and Latin words, which mean "to unite", "with strength". A breakdown of Comfrey's active natural compounds reveal it's a rich herbal source of allantoin, a natural substance that promotes new cell growth. It's no wonder Comfrey is commonly used in external preparations for temporary bone, cartilage, tendon and muscle discomfort, as well as to soothe irritated skin.

Witch Hazel is one of those herbs that have a long history of use in North American herbalism. Today, it continues to be trusted and well respected for its ability to support healthy veins, which are vital for circulatory health.

Yarrow: In ancient mythology, Yarrow is the herb used by Achilles to heal the wounds of his warriors - perhaps the reason for its other common name, Herba militaris. Whatever the case, Yarrow is more realistically used today for its potent astringent action.

Posted in Postpartum | 6 Comments

Herbal Infusions

Posted on June 2, 2011 by Heidi Thaden-Pierce

One of my doula certification assignments is to try an herbal infusion, using each herb alone for a week and then combining them all. I chose a good pregnancy/nursing "tea" combo (leaving out the herb that's good for increasing supply - fenugreek or blessed thistle, as I have enough milk!) And for those that avoid tea, there is no actual tea in this. 🙂 But these three herbs are good for pregnant (or nursing) mothers:

Cam

Info from Penn Herbs but herbs from Frontier! 🙂

Nettle leaf is an herbalist’s top-pick to soothe distressing seasonal symptoms, relieve temporary water weight gain and promote fluid balance. The nutrient-rich "spring tonic" also nourishes, detoxifies, and reinvigorates vital body systems! It is just loaded with vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, and a host of nutrients, including chlorophyll, magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, and more!

Herbalists praise Red Raspberry as one of nature’s ultimate gift to women. Why? For centuries, the renowned female tonic has provided effective support throughout all stages of a woman’s life- from menstrual to menopausal health. Red Raspberry also has a long history of use by traditional midwives and women seeking a gentle alternative for strengthening and maintaining overall reproductive health. In addition, the herb is a valuable storehouse of the key nutrients that positively affect women’s health, including calcium, iron, and vitamin E. It offers nutritional support for pre-menstrual needs, supports a smooth female cycle, and gently calms morning sickness associated with pregnancy.

Rose Hips are the little, bright red fruits you see on the Rose plant after the flowers have bloomed and the petals have fallen. Yet they're one of nature’s most concentrated sources of antioxidant vitamin C & bioflavonoids - and with the same health benefits! Rosehips promote healthy resistance, soothe stress, strengthen blood vessel…and more!

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Denton Presby – Baby Friendly Initiative and Tub

Posted on May 31, 2011 by Heidi Thaden-Pierce

Update: Denton Presby no longer allows moms to use the tub for births or while laboring, despite MANY moms requesting it. 🙁

One of my doula certification assignments is to tour a birth center and a hospital and write up papers on each. I attended a prenatal OB visit with a doula client today and then we toured the hospital with her older children. I thought I would snap a photo of the tub room, as I've heard other moms asking about what it is like. The official response is that the tub is only for laboring in, but if you ask the right doctor nicely and things are looking good then you can birth in there. Or so I hear... 😉

I was THRILLED to learn that Denton Presby is going through the process to become a Baby Friendly Hospital. In just the last two weeks the policy has changed and babies no longer have to be returned to the nursery if mom is sleeping (and there is no awake adult in the room.) Hooray!!! Here are the ten steps included in their new program:

The BFHI promotes, protects, and supports breastfeeding through The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding for Hospitals, as outlined by UNICEF/WHO. The steps for the United States are:

1 - Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff.
2 - Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy.
3 - Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.
4 - Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth.
5 - Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation, even if they are separated from their infants.
6 - Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breastmilk, unless medically indicated.
7 - Practice “rooming in”-- allow mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day.
8 - Encourage breastfeeding on demand.
9 - Give no pacifiers or artificial nipples to breastfeeding infants.
10 - Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic

Posted in Birth, Breastfeeding, Hospitals | Tagged | 3 Comments

Skin-to-Skin & Crying

Posted on May 24, 2011 by Heidi Thaden-Pierce

A review of over 30 studies on the effect of early (in the delivery room) skin to skin contact on infants and mothers showed that babies who were in skin to skin contact:

*interacted more with their mother,
*stayed warmer,
*cried less,
*were more likely to be breastfed, and
*were more likely to breastfeed for longer duration.

Moore ER, Anderson GC, and Bergman N. Early skin-to-skin contact for mothers and their healthy newborn infants (Review). Cochrane Collaboration. 2007: pg 1-63.

"Crying is a late sign of wanting to nurse. If a mother waits until the baby is crying or until a certain amount of time has elapsed since the last feeding it may be much more difficult to get the infant to breastfeed than when he was in a calmer state."

Neifert MR. Clinical aspects of lactation. Clin. in Perinatology. 1999: 26(2); 281-306.

So do not wait to put baby to the breast, look for the early warning signs of interest/hunger and offer the nipple when baby is alert and opening/closing their mouth. Waiting until the baby is crying increases the risk that baby will be too agitated to latch on, will be swallowing air and making themselves gassy (and more prone to spit up) and decreasing breastfeeding success.

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Breastfeeding Links

Posted on May 23, 2011 by Heidi Thaden-Pierce

I just completed my breastfeeding course, woo-hoo! But here is the link if you would like a very extensive breastfeeding "basics" course (that goes way beyond the basics!) It was suggested by DONA to fulfill their breastfeeding class requirement for certification. (It's not required for Birth Arts International Certification but you know me, I like to be thorough. 😉 )

Drugs & Lactation database link here!

(Thanks to Tonya & Joy for the links!)

Several links I've not explored yet.

International Breastfeeding Centre

Dr. Jack Newman

StartLocal.com

Myths about nursing (several pages.)

The Visual MD which is neat except I want to help that mother bring her child in closer to her chest because that latch & positioning is just looking painful! I wish they had demonstrated better positions, see how the baby is pulling away from mom's breast and not belly to belly?

But besides that painful looking latch, that video is really neat. When it ends there are pages below you can look at and read more about the composition and benefits of breastmilk. I'm learning a lot, it's amazing!

And from my breastfeeding course:

"We need to remind mothers that breastfeeding remains the most powerful prevention against both malnutrition and infectious diseases."
Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director-General,
World Health Organization; 1998

Trainings - Most of these courses are available for free (or a small fee) and it appears there are at least six of the Breastfeeding Management and the Breastfeeding a Compromised Infant courses in the DFW area in the next few months, but only three of the Managing Breastfeeding Complications (in Rockwall and Lewisville.) Here is the link. Very helpful for doulas! (And probably parents, if you really want to learn more about breastfeeding!)

I plan to attend one in Lewisville at the end of September on Managing Breastfeeding Complications that covers:
• Maternal complications that impact breastfeeding success
• Infant complications that impact breastfeeding success
• Breastfeeding management techniques and equipment

The compromised infant course covers:
• Skin to Skin contact
• Breastfeeding equipment to assist with feeding difficulties
• Establishing mother’s milk supply for the compromised infant

And the intro/basic course (which is the longest) covers:
► Discuss the advantages of breastfeeding. ► Describe the components of human milk. ► Describe the internal and external structures of the mammary tissue. ► Identify the effect of maternal diet and nutritional choices on both the infant and mother. ► Evaluate three positions and three indicators of a good latch. ► Describe the management of common breastfeeding problems. ► Discuss ways to initiate milk supply or maintain milk supply when mother and infant are separated. ► Evaluate the safety of medications during lactation. ► Identify how hospitals, birthing centers, and work environments can support the breastfeeding woman.

Lewisville is offering the intro (all day) course on Thursday with the managing complications course on Friday (half day.)

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made through affiliate links.  This does not impact your purchase price, and helps support this website.

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Inspiration – What Lies Within

Posted on May 21, 2011 by Heidi Thaden-Pierce

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Cesarean Birth Options

Posted on May 16, 2011 by Heidi Thaden-Pierce

I prefer to call it a cesarean birth (vs. delivery) because you are still giving birth, whether surgically or vaginally. Either way, in the event that you know you'll have a cesarean birth then here are some things to consider discussing with your care team in advance. Some may still be possible if you are having a surprise c-section (you were in labor planning a vaginal birth and had a change of plans!) but in an emergency situation then you may have no time to talk. Consider the c-section rate in this country is around 33%, this is something that all mothers may want to consider in advance:

- Choose a care provider that has experience, meaning don't let the newest resident gain experience by doing your surgery! 🙂 And speak in advance about closing with two layers of internal sutures (vs. one) which takes longer but read up on it, there are studies saying VBAC success and uterine rupture may be connected to the number of layers at closing.

- Consider choosing a hospital that has anesthesiologists ready (in house if possible) so you can wait until you go into early labor before having the surgery. It won't make it an emergency but even a bit of laboring can provide benefits to your baby and decrease the chance of a premature arrival because of c-section birth scheduled too early. Laboring increases the baby's levels of catecholamines, labor hormones which stimulate your baby in preparation for life outside the womb. If this is not possible then schedule your c-section for as close to your due date as possible to ensure your baby has as much time as possible to finish baking! Many insurance companies will not allow a cesarean to be scheduled before 39 weeks, so ask your doctor.

- If you desire it, ask that they explain every step of the surgery to you. For the c-section birth I recently attended the mother requested this, so the anesthesiologist lowered the screen to allow me to watch and photograph the birth as I described it to the mother.

- Discuss your anesthesia options in advance, ideally with the doctor that will administer your spinal or epidural (or combo.) Find out the pros and cons of each and determine what will be best for you, and also discuss your post surgery pain management. For example, narcotics do nothing for my pain - the morphine drip post-surgery for me was an absolute nightmare. Ibuprofen provided better relief and didn't leave me incoherently drugged. If you are awake for surgery then discuss the possibility of a spinal-epidural combo so post surgery you can have the epidural pain relief for the first 24 hours. (Talk to your doctor.)

- Review the possibility of a blood transfusion, and whether donated your own blood is advised. (I did not know that was an option while expecting but according to this book, The VBAC Companion, up to 10% of women post-surgery will need a transfusion and I've talked with some friends that developed complications and did need them. Donating your own blood is safer, if allowed while you are expecting. When I was in the range to receive a transfusion due to hemorrhaging during pregnancy they were able to push fluids and other nutrients to stabilize my blood volume but in the midst of crisis is not when you want to discuss this.)

- Ask who may be with you in the OR, generally a spouse is welcome but the doctor can also authorize your doula, another family member, or your photographer to be there. This allows one person to remain close to you and another to be near your baby. See this post for an explanation of how a doula can help with a cesarean birth.

- Express your personal preferences for the OR, whether it is music, silence so you and your spouse can first greet the baby, lowering the curtain so you can see the baby being lifted up, have one arm free so you can touch your baby, etc.

- Request that the baby be brought near you as soon as possible and held to you (with assistance from your spouse or doula) so the baby can smell your scent and so you can touch your baby. Specify that you want the baby to be examined and bathed within your line of sight, so have them move the infant bed near you if at all possible.

- Request that the baby not be brought to the nursery but remain with you in the OR and then come to recovery with you. (Or you can request the baby be brought to the nursery while your surgery is complete then brought to you in recovery, but the nursery staff may or may not bring your baby back quickly.) More hospitals are working to ensure the baby and mom remain together throughout the birth and postpartum stage, which is wonderful!

- Arrange to do skin-to-skin care and nurse your baby as quickly as possible, generally in recovery. More and more hospitals are making it possible for moms to have skin-to-skin with their babies while still in the OR, and ask if this is possible. Request extra pillows to provide nursing support/cover your incision site. This is when your partner and doula will be especially helpful as you nurse and recover.

- Plan to have daily assistance in the hospital and at home for the first two weeks. You will be taking care of a newborn and recovering from major abdominal surgery and YOU WILL NEED HELP. Overdoing tasks physically risks delaying your healing and opening your incision site. The sleep deprivation and emotional stress can wear down your immune system, also delaying your healing, so take it easy. If you have older children you will need someone to lift and care for them. Anticipate that it will take time for you to get back to any sense of normal, and be patient with yourself. If you know you'll be having a cesarean birth then seriously consider having a close family member to come stay for those first couple weeks, or the first week your spouse returns to work. Also consider a postpartum doula.

- Learn more about your options for a cesarean birth plan.

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made through affiliate links.  This does not impact your purchase price, and helps support this website.

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