Birthing Wisdom

Low Milk Supply and Breastfeeding

noreply@blogger.com (Pauline) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 19:54:00 +0000

Phillips Innovations In Women's Health posted the following on Linkedin..

How can we help parents to breastfeed for as long as possible?
A recent survey found that 90% of mothers breastfed their babies for up to 4-6 months. Nevertheless, forty-five percent was not able to extend breastfeeding past six months, although 72% wanted to breastfeed longer than they did. The primary reasons women cited for stopping breastfeeding were lack of milk supply and pain. (http://bit.ly/tnA17Z)

Within the same survey, lack of milk supply was also cited as a reason for stopping breastfeeding by 67% of Americans vs. 40% of women globally.

Any thoughts on the reasons for this? How can we help mothers to overcome obstacles they face in breastfeeding?

We know the many health benefits of breastfeeding, and it seems like parents’ desire to breastfeed their babies is strong. How can we help mothers to breastfeed their babies for as long as possible? What resources do you direct parents to? When advising parents on these resources, do you take into account the recent IRS ruling that breast pumps are now a deductible medical expense?

As a Board Certified Lactation Consultant my answer is:
Education before the baby its born and support after the baby is born.
Understanding the beauty of the human body and the wisdom of the newborn baby, a mother can release many fears related to breastfeeding and begin to think through the what ifs. Babies are born to breastfeed, but not all do. Mothers are made to create milk in sufficient supply, but not all do. Having a Board Certified Lactation Consultant come to your home and spend time assessing the mother/baby dyad and giving guidance and follow-up until all is going well is wonderful first step towards successful breastfeeding.

Hypnobirthing® Childbirth Class Series

noreply@blogger.com (Pauline) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 23:29:00 +0000

This is a comprehensive 5 week series of childbirth, parenting and self hypnosis education classes.
Hypnobirthing® is as much as philosophy as it is a technique. It is a rewarding, relaxing, stress-free method of birthing that is based on the belief that when a mother is properly prepared for birthing physically, mentally, and spiritually, she can experience the joy of birthing her baby in an easier, more comfortable manner.
The method is based on the belief that severe discomfort does not need to be a natural accompaniment of labor.
The aim of the program is to build confidence in the mother and for her to have confidence in her own ability to birth her baby. The philosophy of the Hypnobirthing® program is to educate the mother about the wonders of her body, to eliminate fear, as well as teach her the skills to work with the birthing process rather than fight against it. In many cases it is fear that undermines the mothers confidence in herself.
The mother is introduced to techniques of self hypnosis utilizing controlled deep breathing, visualization and imagery to produce deep relaxation.

The coach and birth partner is taught how to physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually support her throughout this wondrous journey. Extensive lectures in the birth process, birthing options and numerous self- hypnotic & relaxation techniques are taught. Other topics include: exercise, nutrition, anatomy, birth planning, c-section prevention, breastfeeding and baby care.

Location: Rockland County, NY (close to Bergen County & Westchester County)
Date & Time: February 6th – March 13th 7:00-9:30pm
For further information contact:
Pauline Nardella RN, MPA, CCE
845-323-1830
info@BirthingWisdom.com
www.BirthingWisdom.com

"Pauline's instruction in HypnoBirthing® gave me the confidence, knowledge, and calm that helped make my dream of a natural childbirth a reality. My son was almost 10 lbs, yet he came into the world drug free and nursed within minutes. All of Pauline's tips and how-to's enabled my husband to be the best coach I could ever hope for in the delivery room. We felt totally prepared and informed when the big day came. My labor was 13 1/2 hours long and I would do it again in a heartbeat."-This birth took place at Valley Hospital, Ridgewood, NJ

CNN: Is the medical community failing breast-feeding moms?

noreply@blogger.com (Pauline) — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 04:00:00 +0000

CNN: Is the medical community failing breast-feeding moms?
We need consistent education in all the health sciences, undergrad and grad school levels. So many inconsistent statements given to families regarding breastfeeding from the people they trust the most...nurses, pediatricians, obstetricians, neonatologists...the list goes on

http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/03/health/medical-breastfeeding/index.html

Breastfeeding in Public

noreply@blogger.com (Pauline) — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 03:34:00 +0000

Women of America...know your rights! You can breastfeed in public and should not be asked to go to the bathroom, the changing room, your car...or anywhere. The following is a listing of State Laws protecting women and children.

http://youcanbreastfeedhere.com/breastfeeding-laws/

Hypnobirthing Video - Just amazing!

noreply@blogger.com (Pauline) — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 16:47:00 +0000

Here is a video of a HypnoBirthing family laboring at home using many of the HypnoBirthing techniques. Positional changes, dad assisting mom with light touch, stroking massage and affirmations. listening to the Rainbow Relaxation CD by Mickey Mongan.
For class information and local teachers go to: www.HypnoBirthing.com

For classes near Westchester, Rockland, Orange & Bergen Counties in NY and NJ, go to: www.BirthingWisdom.com

Lactation Consulting / Breastfeeding Classes

noreply@blogger.com (Pauline) — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 16:10:00 +0000

What can a lactation consultant do for me?

A Lactation consultant can assist a family in preparing for breastfeeding. Classes before baby arrives allow parents to receive up to date information and hands on practice. Lactation Consultants also support families through breastfeeding issues including but not limited to:
- Assessing a past less-than-desired breastfeeding experience
- Beginning breastfeeding and hands-on help with early attempts at proper latch and positioning.
- Experiencing sore nipples, yeast infection of the nipple, or other nipple traumas.
- Engorgement of the breasts, plugged ducts, breast infections or breast pain of any kind while nursing.
- When your baby won't latch on or is having trouble feeding due to any reason.
- Concerned about your milk supply or your baby’s weight gain.
- If you are supplementing and wonder how this might affect breastfeeding.
- Mothers who are nursing multiples.
- If your baby is born prematurely and you wish to breastfeed
- Medication use and breastfeeding.
- Weaning from breastfeeding.
- Assisting with breast-pump purchase or hospital grade pump rental.
- Assisting with educating parents on the proper use of a pump.
- Breastfeeding and returning to work.
- Introducing solids to your baby and breastfeeding
- Normal growth and development and sleep patterns of your baby while breastfeeding.
- Planning on breastfeeding an adopted child

Breastfeeding & Baby Care Class (3hr Class) December 19th 6:30-9:30
Rockland County, NY www.birthingwisdom.com

To find a local board certified lactation consultant in your area, go to:www.ilca.org

Hypnobirthing® Class Series New York & New Jersey

noreply@blogger.com (Pauline) — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 15:58:00 +0000

Hypnobirthing® is a comprehensive 5 week series of childbirth and parenting education classes. Hypnobirthing® is as much as philosophy as it is a technique. It is a rewarding, relaxing, stress-free method of birthing that is based on the belief that when a mother is properly prepared for birthing physically, mentally, and spiritually, she can experience the joy of birthing her baby in an easier, more comfortable manner. The goal of the program is to build confidence in the mother and for her to have confidence in her own ability to birth her baby. Hypnobirthing® educates the mother/father on the wonders of the human body, it eliminates fear, as well as teaches the mother skills to work with the birthing body rather than fight against it. In many cases it is fear that undermines a mother's confidence in herself. Extensive lectures in the birth process, birthing options and numerous self- hypnotic & relaxation techniques are taught. Other topics include: exercise, nutrition, anatomy, birth planning, c-section prevention, breastfeeding and baby care. Location: Rockland, NY-close to Bergen County, NJ and Westchester County, NY Date & Time: November 14-Dec 19th-one spot left 7:00-9:30pm February 2013 class open for registration For further information contact: Pauline Nardella RN, MPA, HBCE, IBCLC 845-323-1830 info@BirthingWisdom.com www.BirthingWisdom.com

HypnoBirthing® Classes New York/ New Jersey

noreply@blogger.com (Pauline) — Tue, 04 May 2010 19:25:00 +0000

Summer Series: HypnoBirthing® -The Mongan Method

Please register early as the spaces fill quickly.

This is a comprehensive 5 week series of childbirth, parenting and self hypnosis education classes.

Hypnobirthing® is as much as philosophy as it is a technique.
It is a rewarding, relaxing, stress-free method of birthing that is based on the belief that when a mother is properly prepared for birthing physically, mentally, and spiritually, she can experience the joy of birthing her baby in an easier, more comfortable manner.
The method is based on the belief that severe discomfort does not need to be a natural accompaniment of labor.
The aim of the program is to build confidence in the mother and for her to have confidence in her own ability to birth her baby. The philosophy of the Hypnobirthing® program is to educate the mother about the wonders of her body, to eliminate fear, as well as teach her the skills to work with the birthing process rather than fight against it. In many cases it is fear that undermines the mothers confidence in herself. The mother is introduced to techniques of self hypnosis utilizing controlled deep breathing, visualization and imagery to produce deep relaxation.

The coach and birth partner is taught how to physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually support her throughout this wondrous journey. Extensive lectures in the birth process, birthing options and numerous self- hypnotic & relaxation techniques are taught. Other topics include: exercise, nutrition, anatomy, birth planning, c-section prevention, breastfeeding and baby care.

Location: Blauvelt, NY
Date & Time: 7/26, 8/2, 8/16, 8/23, 9/13 7:00-9:30pm
For further information contact:
Pauline Nardella RN, MPA, CCE
845-680-0385
info@BirthingWisdom.com
www.BirthingWisdom.com

www.HypnoBirthing.com
Birthing Wisdom now on Twitter and Facebook

Cameron's Birth Story

noreply@blogger.com (Pauline) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 18:53:00 +0000

Here is a birth story that shows how HypnoBirthing works under all situations!

Cameron's Birth Story

I decided to try HypnoBirthing because I am afraid of doctors and pain, perhaps unreasonably so. I very much wanted to have my baby without feeling fear and anxiety. At the beginning of my pregnancy, I joked that if I could set up the appointment for the epidural in advance, I would. As I learned more about HypnoBirthing, I downgraded my insistence on an epidural to an "if-needed" basis. When I would tell people about HypnoBirthing, they would look at me as though I were crazy. I would say, "For some reason, it just makes sense to me." No one thought that it would actually work. I must admit that I remained somewhat skeptical as well.

It's worth noting at this point that I had three major fears around labor:
1. Pitocin induction - I had heard so many horror stories about Pitocin, I was determined to avoid it at all costs.
2. No possibility of epidural – One of my sisters had a very fast delivery with her second baby and had no time to have an epidural.
3. Back labor - A friend's account of birthing her posterior baby sounded horrific.

At 6:00 am on June 30, after a night of no sleep, I decided to call my doctor. I had been having quite a bit of pain in my upper abdomen. I knew they weren't contractions. I wasn't due for another month and the pain was constant and different than any description of labor I'd ever heard. It felt as though a steel band were being tightened around my rib cage. My doctor told me to go to the hospital to have blood work done to try and determine what the problem was. My pregnancy had been incredibly easy so far. I joked to my husband, John, that I was going to be given a dose of Gas-X and sent home.

We went to labor and delivery and were situated in a room and had blood drawn. I remember thinking it was odd that we weren't just sent to the lab. Within an hour of the blood draw, the phone in the room rang and I answered. My doctor said, "Carol, you're going to have your baby today." It turned out that I had suddenly developed severe preeclampsia. We called my sister, Robin, our birthing companion, to tell her the news.

It goes without saying that my Birthing Plan did not include preeclampsia. I was supposed to begin labor and stay at home for as long as possible before heading to the hospital, where I would be five to six centimeters dilated upon check-in. I would recite birthing affirmations all the while. I would have an epidural, if I felt I needed one. My baby would arrive peacefully and I would feel no fear or anxiety. In reality, I didn't even have my bags packed for the hospital. The baby's clothes had not been washed and we didn't have sheets for the bassinet. John and I hadn't practiced HypnoBirthing in a little over a month. We had practiced only one time with Robin present. In fact, we had scheduled a "refresher course" with Kathie for the very next night.

The form of preeclampsia I had was called HELLP Syndrome. H=Hemolysis, bursting red blood cells; EL=Elevated Liver enzymes; LP=Low blood Platelets. The cure was to have the baby. I was not allowed out of bed, so I was catheterized. My sister arrived and my husband went home to pack a bag. I was zero percent effaced and less than one centimeter dilated. There was talk of Pitocin. I spoke to the doctor and asked if my water could be broken to get labor going, if their efforts to spur effacement (similar to Prostaglandin) helped me to dilate. She said she'd have to wait and see. I put on my headphones and listened to my Rainbow Relaxation and the Birthing Affirmations over and over again.

Once I was fully effaced, about five hours after the initial treatment, I was still less than two centimeters dilated. Labor had clearly not started. The minor tightening I felt in my lower abdomen did not even register on the monitor. My blood work continued to return results that my condition was worsening. My doctor told me that they would have to begin Pitocin. With my greatest labor fear a reality, I asked for an epidural. I was told that because of my low blood platelet count, I was at risk for uncontrolled bleeding. I could not have an epidural.

It was about 5:30 pm, and I was told that the Pitocin would be started by 6:30. I put my headphones back on and said to John and Robin, "I'm checking out now." I knew that I would need to be completely relaxed once the Pitocin started, so that I could stay "on top" of things. At this point, Robin and John called Kathie to ask for some pointers. She was very reassuring, and told them that even without practice, we had everything we'd need.

At 6:40, the Pitocin was added to my IV. No one told me that it had started but I remember feeling my surges suddenly and greatly intensify. The sensation was all in my lower back. I couldn't believe it. Back labor. I told John and Robin what was happening and they looked through all of my HypnoBirthing materials to see what they could do. There was a method for getting the baby to turn that involved stacking pillows under my knees and having me turn from one side to the other with each surge. We tried that for three surges and I found it exhausting. At that point, I asked that we stop and asked Robin to apply counter-pressure to my back and for John to recite HypnoBirthing cues and provide light-touch massage on my arms and head. I had planned on listening to the Steven Halpern CD I had purchased from Kathie. However, in the rush to get my things to the hospital, John had picked up some new-age CD that we had bought at Target and had never listened to. I didn't matter. I was completely calm and felt no fear.

I can't say that there was no pain. But my mind was so far away from my body, it didn't seem to register in the usual way. The counter-pressure massage from my sister served to move the sensation from my back into my abdomen. Once it was there, I remember rubbing my abdomen lightly and saying, "Thank you my body for bringing my baby to me." This had a definite anesthetic effect. I think that acknowledging and being thankful for the fact that my body was completely in charge prevented my mind from registering the pain. I used many visualizations: breathing in to fill up a balloon that then floated away from my body, the opening rose, and being on a beach were the most effective for me.

I spent the duration of my labor laying on my left side, asking for counter-pressure with each surge and listening to my CDs. On several occasions, I was asked to turn onto my back so that my progress could be checked. I had to have a second IV set in case there was a need for a blood transfusion. The doctor attached an internal monitor to the baby's head. None of these things interrupted my hypnosis.

When I felt that it was time to begin breathing the baby down, I let John and Robin know. They told the doctor. As the room was being prepared, I remember talking and laughing with John and Robin. Because my condition was worsening, I was asked to abandon "breathing the baby down" in favor of downright pushing in order to get the baby here faster. Even that did not break the hypnosis. After 20 minutes of pushing, Cameron arrived at 9:08 pm, two hours and 28 minutes after the Pitocin began.

Despite all evidence to the contrary, it was exactly the birth I had hoped for. I was calm and unafraid and the mood of the room was the same. There was nothing but joy when our little boy came.

By the way, my doctor called me the day after Cameron was born. She said that she had never seen anything like Cameron's birth. Not only was she impressed with the fact that I actually stayed relaxed, she also commented on how terrific the support was that I received from John and Robin. They were reading directly from the materials you passed out. She said that she had been very unsure of HypnoBirthing, but had been converted!
For further information on local HypnoBirthing Classes in Rockland, Westchester & Orange Counties in New York and Bergen County New Jersey contact www.BirthingWisdom.com

Low Breastfeeding Rates Incur Billions in Medical Costs

noreply@blogger.com (Pauline) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 18:56:00 +0000

Visit us online at www.MedPageToday.com

Low Breastfeeding Rates Incur Billions in Medical Costs

By Crystal Phend, Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today
April 05, 2010

MedPage Today Action Points
Note that the economic analysis may have been an underestimate of the financial cost of low adherence to breastfeeding guidelines, since few of the cost projections were based on six months of exclusive breastfeeding.

Review
Poor compliance with breastfeeding recommendations costs the nation at least $13 billion each year, with nearly all of the cost related to infant morbidity and mortality, according to a comprehensive economic analysis.

If 90% of new mothers followed guidelines for six months of exclusive breastfeeding for their children, an estimated 911 deaths would be prevented annually, said authors Melissa Bartick, MD, MSc, of Harvard Medical School, and Arnold Reinhold, MBA, of the Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics, both in Boston.

Even 80% adherence would save $10.5 billion and prevent 741 deaths each year, they reported online in Pediatrics.

Taking action to help more families to follow the guidelines, such as by creating a national infrastructure to support breastfeeding, would likely be cost-effective, Bartick and Reinhold said.

Prior analyses that included fewer pediatric conditions affected by breastfeeding suggested a more modest potential savings of $3.6 billion if breastfeeding rates rose to meet the Healthy People 2010 objectives for initiation (75%) and six-month duration (50% any breastfeeding, 17% exclusive breastfeeding).

However, that data was based on actual breastfeeding rates collected by the infant formula industry and incorrectly assumed that this reflected exclusive breastfeeding, Bartick and Reinhold wrote.

So with national data now available from the CDC on breastfeeding, they aimed to get a more accurate estimate of the economics of breastfeeding.

The CDC's National Immunization Survey found actual breastfeeding rates in 2005 were 74.1% for initiation and the early postpartum period, 42.9% for any breastfeeding at six months, 12.3% for exclusive breastfeeding at six months, and 21.5% for any breastfeeding at 12 months.

"Exclusive breastfeeding" meant only breast milk -- no water, infant food, juice, formula, cow's milk, or sugar water.

Bartick and Reinhold determined direct and indirect costs of illness and premature death as assessed in a 2007 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality analysis of the impact of breastfeeding on a host of maternal and childhood diseases.

The excess annual cost in 2007 dollars associated with the current poor levels of adherence compared with 90% compliance was:

$4.7 billion and 447 excess deaths due to sudden infant death syndrome
$2.6 billion due to 249 excess deaths from necrotizing enterocolitis
$1.8 billion due to 172 excess deaths from lower respiratory tract infections
$908 million due to otitis media
$601 million due to atopic dermatitis
$592 million due to childhood obesity
The largest proportion of these costs -- 74% -- was associated with premature deaths, although the price for more common conditions, such as otitis media and childhood obesity, was still substantial, the researchers noted.

There wasn't enough data available for type 2 diabetes to estimate the effect of breastfeeding duration, "although these costs are partially represented in the obesity analysis," the researchers said.

Furthermore, few of these estimates were based on exclusive breastfeeding for six months and most erred on the conservative side, so the projections may actually be an underestimate, they explained.

"Substantial gains could be made with exclusive breastfeeding for four months and any breastfeeding at six months," they concluded.

The researchers reported that they had no financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose.

Primary source: Pediatrics
Source reference:
Bartick M, Reinhold A "The burden of suboptimal breastfeeding in the United States: a pediatric cost analysis" Pediatrics 2010; 125: e1048–e1056.
Disclaimer
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© 2004-2010 MedPage Today, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

www.BirthingWisdom.com
Breastfeeding Classes
Board Certified Lactation Consultant

Infant/Child CPR, Choking & Safety

noreply@blogger.com (Pauline) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 22:42:00 +0000

Infant/Child CPR, Choking & Safety

In the US nearly 400 children under the age of four die every month due to
unintentional accidents!
This class presents age appropriate home proofing and safety concerns inside
and outside the home from infancy to toddlerhood. Learn how to deal
with an emergency situation.

Infant/Child CPR and choking will be presented and reviewed by participants with
hands-on return demonstration on
sanitary "CPR Manikins."

Safety & CPR handouts are given to each participant for display at home.
Location: Blauvelt, NY
Date: May 1st (Sat)
Time: 10am-12:30pm
Fee: $30.00/person
Class size is limited so sign up early.

You can reserved your space in this class by sending the class fee to:
Pauline Nardella, RN, MPA
2 Private Lovett Ct
Blauvelt, NY 10913

Private classes also offered for 16 participants

To receive further information or to sign up for the next class
go to info@BirthingWisdom.com
or call 845-680-0385
www.BirthingWisdom.com

Infantino Announces Sling Recall

noreply@blogger.com (Pauline) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:17:00 +0000

http://www.attachmentparenting.org/news/news.php#infantslingsafety
Infant Sling Safety

Today we received news of the Infantino sling recall, and the Today Show interviewed one of the mothers whose baby died in the sling. It goes without saying that we are deeply saddened by this mother's story of her baby's death,” said Barbara Nicholson, API Cofounder. “And hopefully this recall will heighten every parent's awareness of the importance of proper positioning of their baby in a sling. Unfortunately there is a tremendous lack of research on babywearing safety...there is not one study that proves that baby slings are actually the cause (or not the cause) of these deaths. We may never know if these babies were medically fragile, or perhaps had a SIDS death in the sling. Of course, safely using a sling is a key issue, and parents need to be cautious as they would with a car seat, walker, or any device, but there are no data/studies about slings to date. It has been pointed out that the drawings the CPSC released were not based on research either...just a good guess of guidelines/recommendations for proper use of slings. As we say in the API statement on babywearing safety concerns,” Nicholson concluded, “Our hearts go out to parents who have lost babies, and we hope that the good that comes from this is education and awareness, not only of safety, but why slings have been used for centuries all over the world for optimum baby health and well-being.

For more information, read API's Statement on Babywearing Safety Concern (PDF).

Infantino Announces Sling Recall

Infantino Commits to Work with Consumer Product Safety Commission on Ongoing Investigation of Sling-Style Baby Carriers

SAN DIEGO, March 24, 2010 — Infantino President Jack Vresics issued the following statement today:

"At Infantino, our top priority is the safety of infants whose parents and caregivers use our products, and we highly value the trust that mothers and families place in the company’s products every day. Infantino has a well-earned reputation for designing safe and enjoyable products that are manufactured to the highest quality standards.

Infantino is announcing a voluntary replacement program for the Infantino SlingRider and Wendy Bellissimo infant baby carriers to address concerns raised by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). One million of these infant slings are being recalled in the United States and 15,000 are being recalled in Canada.

Our company is comprised of moms, dads, sisters, aunts, uncles and grandparents and we care deeply about the quality and safety of our products. Safety is our number one concern and today's announcement of a free replacement program reflects this commitment. As an industry leader, Infantino has also been working closely with CPSC and other agencies, as well as the international agency ASTM to develop safety standards for baby slings to ensure that these products are safe and that they are used appropriately. We will continue to play a leadership role in the industry and to cooperate closely with CPSC as it continues its investigation of all baby slings."

Consumers should stop using the recalled slings immediately and contact Infantino to receive a free replacement product, including a choice of the Wrap & Tie infant carrier, the 2 in 1 Shopping Cart Cover, or the 3 in 1 Grow & Play Activity Gym, plus a Jittery Pal Rattle.

Contact Infantino at 866.860.1361 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday.

On March 12, 2010, CPSC warned consumers against the use of all sling-style baby carriers in certain circumstances and announced that it was actively investigating all baby sling carriers to determine what additional action may be appropriate.

www.BirthingWisdom.com

A Gift From Life

noreply@blogger.com (Pauline) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:47:00 +0000

Gisele Bundchen blogs about her amazing birth!
March 8 was International Women's Day and the Brazilian beauty chose to launch her new website on this special day and share her pride in being a powerful woman. The 29-year-old model mom will continue to share information and raise awareness for environmental issues, childbirth, motherhood, health, spirituality and so much more. Here's Gisele's first blog entry, entitled A Gift From Life:http://blog.giselebundchen.com.br/?p=772&lang=en

Carolena's Birth

noreply@blogger.com (Pauline) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:44:00 +0000

Hello Dear Family and Friends!

Below is my account of Carolena's Birth. It will be up at a great home birth website soon, but I wanted to share with you all in this way too. Feel free to share this with anyone interested in a happy and loving home birth story.

Wishing you all our best,
S and C

Carolena's Birth

December 7th, 2009
The baby (cherub) is sleeping beside me on the bed, one little arm draped across her cheek. According to everyone’s advice, I should be sleeping too, but I have wanted to record as much as I could recall before it is all one beautiful glossy memory. This is the story of our daughter’s homebirth on December 3, 2009. The choice to birth at home was an easy one without many reservations. Among them were the fear of disturbing the neighbors (which is quite possible as I sang through each contraction…more on that later) and the fear of destroying my favorite rug with various gross fluids (I actually birthed on my favorite rug with many layers of towels between us, and am so happy such a beautiful piece of art holds that memory).
Notably absent is the reservation shared by many…that “something” would go wrong. From the beginning of the pregnancy, I couldn’t wrap my mind around the belief that pregnancy and birth are a medical instance in need of treatment. My husband and I both favored the idea that birth is a normal physiological event and inherently safe process. It seemed the most tangible manifestation of nature and spirit that I could imagine. Very early on I began researching models of prenatal care that could reserve intervention and treatment for medically necessary complications, and allow a normally developing pregnancy to progress into a normally developing labor and birth. The primary goal was an emotionally, spiritually, and physically healthy mother and baby. I realize labor doesn’t always progress as planned, and would have been happy and grateful to transfer our care to our local hospital in the event of an abnormality, complication, or (as most common with home birth transfers) a stall in labor progress. Luckily, there is education and information available today so that all expecting families can make choices that feel best for them. For us, this was midwife-managed care, although in the beginning we weren’t planning to birth at home. Deep in my pregnant belly I longed for the comfort of home birth, but I struggled with the myth so deeply indoctrinated in us all…you have to GO somewhere to labor and birth.
We started our journey at a free standing birth center near our apartment in Brooklyn. The center is staffed by four midwives and throughout the course of pregnancy, we saw each one (as is common with obstetrical practices, we wouldn’t know who would be on call the day labor started). Instead of packing a bag and preparing to leave for the hospital at the first sign of labor, we would pack a bag and labor at home until active labor began and then travel to the birthing center for delivery. At the center, I was so pleased with the quality of care that I found. I was surrounded by birthing professionals who reserved Pitocin use for emergency situations, wouldn’t equate a multiple pregnancy with a c-section, and didn’t even offer epidurals. I didn’t realize just how medicinal it still was. I had ultrasounds for instance, and in addition to multiple blood tests to check for a very long list of abnormalities, I drank the strange orange soda substance to check for gestational diabetes.
The midwives measured me and we listened for the baby’s heartbeat at each short visit. Because I spent most of my pregnancy deeply and quietly trusting of my body, when the portion of the check up arrived for me to ask all my burning questions, I wasn’t really interested in discussing all the strange and random pregnancy quirks, favoring talk of my meditation practice, the journal I was starting (of my experience of pregnancy that I plan to give to my daughter when she is pregnant someday J) and which affirmations were working best so far to keep me balanced. While the midwives would patiently nod while I described my vision of a peaceful, uncomplicated birth, there was a vacancy in their eyes that I can only attribute to a waiting room full of other moms needing their urine and weight checked too. It was better than what I imagined care to be at an obstetrical practice, but I wanted more.
Around my 28th week of pregnancy, we moved to a larger apartment in the Bronx, relieving some tension that had cropped up in my marriage due to sheer lack of space. While the birthing center assured me that many birthing moms traveled from over 2 hours away to labor there, my 45 minute labor commute scared me. My dreams of freedom of movement, candles, music, dancing, and laughter were replaced with nightmares of being fully dilated during rush hour traffic on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway, and an unassisted back of our SUV birth.
Enter our superwoman home birth midwife. I found her during an internet search of all places, and found her face so kind I scheduled an interview. Although I wasn’t positive yet I had the strength to make my secret longing for home birth a reality, I wanted to meet with her in hopes I would find clarity surrounding my choices. In addition to sharing experience, offering references, and generally just putting me at ease, she made us laugh. I didn’t realize how much I needed a practioner to be both knowledgeable at the craft, and also human enough to laugh at the process. We loved her. I wanted to home birth, and think I just needed someone to say YES YOU CAN. Coincidentally, we also found out a birth she attended was featured in a documentary that was next on our Netflix queue, a great movie called Orgasmic Birth. Although I had trouble picturing myself reaching orgasm during labor like some of the birthing women, we were excited to see her in action (and actually, our birth was more like her patient’s, beautiful and NOISY).

We began each prenatal visit at our homebirth midwife’s office with couch time. We discussed my diet, my feelings, my dream birth, and my questions before the routine check-up. She lent us books, documentaries, and showed us many photos of childbirth at home so we would be as prepared as possible. One of my favorite things from these visits is before our midwife measured or checked the baby’s heartbeat, she would lovingly place her hands on my belly and joyfully say “Hi, Baby!” I loved that our little mermaid girl swimming about in there was greeted. Without her, after all, we would not have been there in the first place. On average, our appointments at the birthing center lasted about 15 minutes. With our home birth midwife, they were closer to an hour.

At a prenatal appointment conducted in our home with our midwife and our doula, they both asked what sort of vision I had for the birth. They wanted to be able to respect my wishes, and also hold the type of energy in the space in case I wasn’t able to maintain it. I wanted our beautiful home to be warm and dimly lit, have softly playing music, the sound of our softly trickling fountain, a million lit candles, and ROMANCE JOY and LOVE energy filling our apartment, both to nurture me, and to make the place our little girl journeyed to beautiful and comfortable. During labor, I wanted to laugh, dance, sing, and kiss my buddy. I wanted to relax into the joy that my baby was coming, Most of all, I wanted to trust my body to know what to do. I had a commitment from the birth team of my hubby, midwife, doula and my mom to maintain a loving, safe and gentle process for me and the baby. I joined a wonderful birth circle with other expecting moms where we released residual fears, blessed our bodies, and imagined our perfect births. I created drawings and notecards to hang that reflected the vision I had of a beautiful, gentle birth in hopes that the constant reminders would somehow influence the big day.

On my due date of November 23, my mom arrived. She planned to stay for three weeks. We were all hoping the baby wanted to come sooner than later so we’d have the necessary postpartum support that is so important for women to receive. I spent over a week with my mom watching movies, tooling around Manhattan, and answering the question “do you feel any contractions yet?” about 137 times. Every so often, I felt slight tingling sensations, but without any pattern whatsoever. Each new one even felt so different from the last, that if I were to experience it again I am not sure I would recognize them as Braxton Hicks.

The morning of December 2nd, I noticed I passed my mucus plug. I excitedly went into the living room and told my mom that YES I think we’re having a baby soon. I had already decided that during my early labor, I wanted to make a birthday cake for my little girl. We decided her name would be a tribute to my late grandmother, and so I wanted to make her specialty, Italian Crème Cake. (I get a lot of mileage out of that detail…not only did I have a home birth but I made a cake during labor. People are in disbelief. J)

Not yet contracting really, but just FEELING like the day was here, I started my cake project. During the baking I became ravenous. I ate about 5 leftover pancakes, a banana, and some other assorted snacks. Later I recognized this as a typical early labor sign…my body was trying to tank up for the day’s work. While my cakes were cooling, I decided to watch a little guilty pleasure comfort TV viewing (Gilmore Girls on DVD) and rest for a while. I dozed and watched and started to notice the dull tightening sensation I had been feeling all week were occurring about every 12 minutes. I was SO excited to realize that finally after all the waiting there was a pattern to the contractions. Not wanting to get my hopes up in case it turned out to be a long day, I napped and continued my GG marathon (for any fans out there….it was the season where Rory is secretly into Jess but still dating Dean. Juicy).

With beautiful butterflies in my tummy, I decided to take a bath. As I soaked, I called out to my mom in the other room every time I felt another tightening. Just as I’d done so many times before, I rubbed my belly and imagined what that little angel looked like. Realizing I would soon find out made me grin from ear to ear. The contractions still weren’t painful, and were just a dull achy feeling. My mom said they were starting to come every 8 minutes now. This was it! By the time I got out of the tub, I started to feel like I was leaving the room. It was so intense already. I lay on my bed, closed my eyes and started to go through one of the relaxations I learned in our Hypnobirthing class. (Hypnobirthing is a childbirth preparation method in which relaxation and visualization are utilized to eliminate the fear that constricts birthing muscles and allow your mind to aid your birthing). As I became more and more attuned and present in my body, everything else just started melting. I remember calling out to my mom and husband that I think they better put together the birthing tub we rented because this baby was coming faster than I expected.
Around 3:30, I met my much appreciated and loved birthing partner, the rented Aqua Doula birth tub. Instinctively, I sat in the same position polar bears do when they labor and rocked back and forth as my hubby rolled tennis balls on my lower back. The contractions were coming about every four minutes, and were strong already. During this time, I pictured this drawing our childbirth educator shared with us of an opening flower with a baby’s head in the center. With every rise, I imagined my body opening. At the advice of the doula that led the birth circle I joined, I also mentally said YES and THANK YOU to each tightening, yet opening feeling. Over the course of the next hour, the contractions began coming every 2 minutes. I was so deep in my body that I was having trouble coming out in between contractions to carry on conversation. My husband (or my mom?) called our doula. By the time she arrived, the contractions that were bringing my beautiful baby closer to us were only 90 seconds apart. It was around this time that I started chanting. A deep, moan-y, unstructured chant come from deep within my soul each time another came on. I am told most times, I was harmonizing with the brilliant global, rhythmic birth music mix my husband made. It makes me smile that even in labor, I was creating harmonies.

Dreamlike, my midwife somehow arrived. About 5 hours into labor, I moved into our bedroom and asked her to check my progress. Luckily, I was 7 centimeters dilated and about 90% effaced. I say luckily because it is extraordinary, hard work. If I had gotten news that I wasn’t progressing as quickly as it felt like I should be, I imagine it would have been very discouraging. I feel for women who labor in hospitals and are forced into frequent and disruptive vaginal exams. Back to the tub I went where hubby resumed rubbing my back with tennis balls, which at this point was adding to the intensity. Apparently, I couldn’t control my volume when I struggled to focus long enough to ask (demand?) he STOP THE BALLS. I started picturing this spiral charm our childbirth educator gifted us. I traced in my mind its grooves while internally chanting with each contraction, “I am connected to every woman before me and every woman after”, the power and poignancy of which fueled me.
About an hour later, I was fading. I had gotten sick earlier in the day and the thought of eating again made my stomach churn. The only energy I was adding was in the form of frozen cubes of cranberry juice. My arms were tired from holding my position, and I struggled with the most challenging part of my birth…not knowing when it would be over. It is a bit like running a marathon without ever knowing just how long a marathon race is. I felt like if I just knew when I would see a finish line I could pace myself. Contractions were still coming every 90 seconds and lasting about 60 seconds. With only half a minute to rest between each, I desperately needed to know. I went back to our bedroom so our midwife could examine me. At 9 centimeters dilated and completely effaced, it seems I was somewhere around mile 20. Relief flooded me; the baby’s almost here. After the exam, the bag of waters in which my little girl so gracefully swam about for 9 months released. About 10 minutes later, I started pushing.
Because active labor was so manageable for me, I was completely overwhelmed by the intensity of pushing. Guttural screams escaped my tired throat each and every push. I was still lying on my side on our bed; eyes shut, I felt paralyzed. It was so intense that I was letting contractions pass without a push. My midwife and doula were encouraging me to try a new position, but I couldn’t move. I struggled to cry, but couldn’t find tears. Comfort comes when you most need it I suppose, because at that moment I heard a small clap of thunder and a downpour of rain. When I opened my eyes, I noticed my mom had moved a tray of candles into the bedroom and they were softly illuminating the Buddha statue on my dresser. The sound of rain and a candlelit Buddha saved me. I finally moved from the bed, sat on the birthing stool my midwife set up on my favorite rug and leaned against my sweet love husband. Finally, I reached down to find the baby was crowning. I remember hearing my mom say, “Oh, her head is out now!” Another push at 12:25am, and Carolena Frances Benelli joined the world. I looked down at her, overcome with sheer wonder and joy.
We wanted to leave her umbilical cord attached as long as possible so that she would benefit from the rich nutrients still pulsing through from the placenta. Maybe because of this, or maybe because I was just so exhausted, it was another hour and a half before I birthed the placenta. Carolena nursed and then snuggled with her grandma so I could clean up. Perhaps the most romantic moment of my life was my husband coming into the shower and cleaning my body after I gave birth to our daughter. I felt so loved and cared for in that moment. I came out of the shower to fresh sheets and a cleaned room. Our little love weighed in at 9 pounds, 3 ounces, and measured 21 1/2 inches. Around 3:30 in the morning, our midwife and doula went home, and the new grandma went to sleep in the other room. Hubby and I snuggled in with our new little angel and enjoyed our first night of sleep together.
There is not a single thing I would change about the beautiful way our daughter joined the world. Seriously, how many times did I describe something as beautiful in this account? There just aren’t many other words for it. I am so grateful for the information available that allowed us to truly make conscious choices for Carolena’s birth, and that I found the perfect birth team for me (thanks Pauline, Marin, Nancy, Anne, Mom, Chris, and all the wonderful women I’ve met before the birth and since who encouraged me). I would birth naturally, and at home as many times as my husband will agree to pregnancies J. When I tell the story, women are shocked that I “made it through natural childbirth”. To the women that think I am somehow MORE powerful than they, I would just like to say YOU’RE WRONG! My body is no different, and the power that enabled me to birth in the way it was intended is in every woman. The only difference between us is mental; I know what is possible for every woman and every baby. I learned that it is as true in birth as in life…you have the experience you intend to have. And mine was just beautiful.

Preventing Cesarean Sections

noreply@blogger.com (Pauline) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:08:00 +0000

Preventing Cesarean Sections

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZy0JPtubiQ

www.BirthingWisdom.com

Treating Your Baby's Cold

noreply@blogger.com (Pauline) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:11:00 +0000

Treating Your Baby's Cold

Safe alternatives to medication

By Alice Lesch Kelly

Many doctors applauded federal health experts last fall when they advised against the use of over-the-counter cough and cold medications for babies and children younger than 6, leading to recalls of several infant cold medicines. "Too many parents have been misusing these medications for too long," says Gwenn Schurgin O'Keeffe, M.D., a Boston pediatrician and CEO of Pediatrics Now. So, what's the parent of a sick baby to do? Here are some safe alternatives:

Loosen mucus with steam, saline nose spray or breast milk and remove it by suctioning with a bulb syringe, advises Tara Levy, N.D., a naturopathic physician in Oakland, Calif.

Mix two drops of eucalyptus oil into one teaspoon of safflower or olive oil and massage it on your baby's chest or back to relieve congestion, Levy suggests. (Make sure it's completely rubbed in so your baby can't get it on his fingers and then accidentally ingest it by putting his fingers in his mouth.)

Use a humidifier with a clean filter to keep the air in your baby's room moist.

Keep your child hydrated by breastfeeding or bottle-feeding more often. If your baby is 6 months or older, offer him a little water or diluted juice.

Try to be patient. "Colds are caused by viruses and the only cure is time," O'Keeffe says. "A typical virus lasts about seven days.
Brought to you by
Fit Pregnancy
February/March 2008

www.BirthingWisdom.com
Empowering trust in the innate wisdom of mothers, fathers and families.

A Wake Up Story

noreply@blogger.com (Pauline) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:51:00 +0000

A Wake up Story by Healthy Child Healthy World
A Wake-Up Story is a must-see video for every parent and anyone that cares about the health and development of children. Watch it. Share it. Join the movement. Awakeupstory.org

A Wake-Up Story from Healthy Child Healthy World on Vimeo.

Drinking and Eating in Labor

noreply@blogger.com (Pauline) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:29:00 +0000

January 26, 2010
In Labor, a Snack or a Sip?

By RONI CARYN RABIN

Maternity wards have long forbidden women in labor to eat or drink. Even when labor goes on and on, the bill of fare is usually limited to ice chips.

Now a systematic review of existing studies has found no evidence that the restrictions have any benefit for most healthy women and their babies.

The prohibitions are meant to reduce the risk of Mendelson’s syndrome (named for Dr. Curtis L. Mendelson, the New York obstetrician who first described it in the 1940s), which can occur if the contents of the stomach are drawn into the lungs while the patient is under general anesthesia.

While rare, the syndrome can be fatal. But nowadays the use of general anesthesia during labor and delivery is also rare. Caesarean sections are generally done using regional anesthesia.

“My own view of this has always been that you could say one shouldn’t eat or drink anything before getting into a car on the same basis, because you could be in an automobile accident and you might require general anesthesia,” said Dr. Marcie Richardson, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates in Boston, who was not connected to the new study.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where Dr. Richardson delivers, estimates that just 1 to 2 percent of women in labor are given general anesthesia.

The restrictions date back almost seven decades, said Joan Tranmer, an associate professor of nursing at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, an author of the new review, published last week by the Cochrane Collaboration.

“We thought it was time to question this, now that we’re in the 2000s,” said Dr. Tranmer, who said she had seen all too many women in labor complaining of thirst and dry mouth resort to sucking wet washcloths.

“With improved anesthetic techniques, we don’t do general anesthesia a lot anymore,” she said. “And even when they have to administer general anesthesia, they’ve improved the techniques, and the risk is very, very low.

“So we turned the question around and asked: Is there any benefit to restricting oral food and fluid during labor? And we found no benefit and no harm.”

The authors acknowledged that they found relatively little evidence to analyze: 11 studies, including just 5 randomized controlled trials encompassing 3,130 women.

All of the studies looked at women who were in active labor and at low risk of requiring general anesthesia. One compared complete restriction of food and drink with complete freedom to eat and drink at will, two compared water with other liquids and foods and two compared water with carbohydrate drinks.

There were no statistically significant differences in such primary outcomes as the rate of Caesarean sections and fetal Apgar scores, or in secondary outcomes, like the need for pain relief or duration of labor. One small study, however, did find an increase in C-sections among women taking carbohydrate drinks compared with those limited to drinking water.

Some hospitals have lifted restrictions on drinking during labor in recent months, since the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued new guidelines last August allowing patients to drink clear liquids. But the guidelines kept the restriction on solid foods.

“The problem is going to be for emergency C-sections, which are rare but not unheard of,” said Dr. William Henry Barth Jr., chairman of the society’s committee on obstetrics practice. “There’s just not time in that setting to stop and do regional anesthesia. And it can be unpredictable.”

Anesthesiologists were critical of the review, saying none of the studies were large enough to evaluate the impact of eating on risks during general anesthesia.

“From an anesthesiologist’s perspective, they missed the boat on this one,” said Dr. Craig M. Palmer, chairman of the committee on obstetrical anesthesia for the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

“They looked at the impact on the progression of labor, but to be honest, that’s not an issue for anesthesiologists. Our primary concern is patient safety.”

www.BirthingWisdom.com

URGENT CALL FOR HUMAN MILK DONATIONS FOR HAITI INFANTS

noreply@blogger.com (Pauline) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:13:00 +0000

URGENT CALL FOR HUMAN MILK DONATIONS FOR HAITI INFANTS

The Human Milk
Banking Association of North America (HMBANA), United States Breastfeeding
Committee (USBC), International Lactation Consultant Association/United
States Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA/USLCA), and La Leche League
International (LLLI) are jointly issuing an urgent call for human milk
donations for premature infants in Haiti, as well as sick and premature
infants in the United States.

This week the first shipment of human
milk from mothers in the United States will be shipped to the U.S. Navy
Ship "Comfort" stationed outside Haiti. "Comfort" is currently set up with
a neonatal intensive care unit and medical personnel to provide urgent
care to victims of the earthquake. An International Board Certified
Lactation Consultant stationed at the U.S. Navy base in Bethesda, MD is
assisting with providing breast pump equipment and supplies to the
"Comfort." Dr. Erika Beard-Irvine, pediatric neonatologist, is on board
the "Comfort" to coordinate distribution of the milk to infants in need.
HMBANA, USBC, ILCA/USLCA, and LLL are responding to requests to provide
milk for both premature infants and at-risk mothers who have recently
delivered babies on board the U.S.N.S. Comfort, but an urgent need exists
for additional donations.

At the current time, the infrastructure to
deliver human milk on land to Haiti infants has not yet been established.
As soon as that infrastructure is in place, additional donations will be
provided to older infants.

Mothers who are willing to donate human milk
should contact their regional Mothers' Milk Bank of HMBANA. A list of
regional milk banks is available at the HMBANA website at www.hmbana.org.
Currently milk banks are already low on donor milk. New milk donations
will be used for both Haiti victims as well as to replenish donor supplies
to continue to serve sick and premature infants in the U.S. Donor milk
provides unique protection for fragile preterm infants. Financial
donations are also strongly encouraged to allow HMBANA, a nonprofit
organization, to continue serving infants in need.

UNICEF, the World
Health Organization, the Emergency Nutrition Network, and medical
professionals all recommend that breastfeeding and human milk be used for
infants in disasters or emergencies. Human milk is life-saving due to its
disease prevention properties. It is safe, clean, and does not depend on
water which is often unavailable or contaminated in an emergency. Relief
workers, health care providers, and other volunteers are urged to provide
support for breastfeeding mothers to enable them to continue
breastfeeding, and to assist pregnant and postpartum women in initiating
and sustaining breastfeeding.

For more information, contact HMBANA at
408-998-4550 or www.hmbana.org . Additional information can be provided
from the United States Breastfeeding Committee at 202-367-1132
(www.usbreastfeeding.org), ILCA/USLCA at 1-800-452-2478 (www.ilca.org ; or
www.uslca.org ), or La Leche League at 847-519-7730 (www.llli.org) .
Sincerely,

Angela Smith, President
ILCA Board of Directors

www.BirthingWisdom.com

10 Tips to Avoid a Cesarean Section

noreply@blogger.com (Pauline) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:45:00 +0000

10 Tips to Avoid a Cesarean Section

Did you know that the United States has a 31.1% Cesarean rate?

Did you know that the hospitals in our area have an even greater rate...40-50%?!

We need to realize that cesareans are major abdominal surgery and that includes all of the risks that go along with major surgery. To name a few: longer hospital stay; longer and more painful recovery; higher risk of infection, organ damage, adhesions, hemorrhage, embolism, and hysterectomy; higher chance of a complication with the next pregnancy; less initial contact with the baby; less success breastfeeding; higher risk of respiratory problems for the baby; and the most catastrophic complication of all: maternal death.

In Susan J. Buckley, M.D.'s book Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering, she states, "Studies show that the risk of the mother dying after cesarean surgery, although low overall, is around four times higher than after vaginal birth, even considering maternal health conditions."(1-3)

Wow! So what can we as women do about this? The following list is a compilation of tips to help any expectant mother avoid the possibility of major abdominal surgery...a Cesarean section.

10 Tips to Avoid a C-Section

1.Choose a doctor who is supportive of normal vaginal deliveries and one who believes cesareans ought to be avoided.

2. Choose a spontaneous labor.

3. Hire a doula, or labor assistant.

4. Choose to move in labor. Upright positions generally give the best results.

5. Choose intermittent fetal monitoring instead of continuous.

6. Choose an unmedicated birth. If you choose an epidural, wait until you are dilated at least 5 cm to get it. Taking a Childbirth Education Class or HypnoBirthing Class can offer many options for non-medicated births.

7. Learn about different pushing positions and talk to your doctor about this.

8. Take good care of you and your baby during pregnancy. Eat 80 to 100 grams of protein daily.

9. Learn about optimal fetal positioning. http://www.spinningbabies.com/

10. Stay at home until you're sure it's labor.

Educate yourself. Know your options. Ask questions. Know the benefits and risks of various procedures.

THE BIG THREE:
*ALLOW LABOR TO START SPONTANEOUSLY
*STAY AT HOME UNTIL YOU'RE SURE IT'S LABOR
*WAIT UNTIL 5CM IF YOU GET AN EPIDURAL

Afterthoughts: We must realize that in some cases a cesarean is needed in order to have a healthy mother, healthy baby. We are thankful for the technology we have today for those few cases that truly need that kind of intervention. If you do find yourself in this category, there is still hope. Vaginal Birth after Cesarean (VBAC) is a safe and empowering option. You can find out more information and support at the following website: http://www.ican-online.org/

References:
1. Harper MA, Byington RP, Espeland MA, Naughton M, Meyer R, Lane K. Pregnancy-related death and health care services. Obstet Gynecol. Aug 2003;102(2):273-278.
2. Enkin M, Keirse M, Neilson J, et al. Effective Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth. 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2000.
3. Deneux-Tharaux C, Carmona E, Bouvier-Colle MH, Breart G. Postpartum maternal mortality and cesarean delivery. Obstet Gynecol. Sep 2006;108(3 Pt 1);541-548.

Childbirth Classes New York & New Jersey

noreply@blogger.com (Pauline) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:07:00 +0000

Birthing Wisdom –Childbirth Classes

Please register early as the spaces fill quickly.
It's recommended that you sign up for a childbirth course three months prior to your due date.

This is a comprehensive 8 week series of childbirth and parenting education classes.
Extensive lectures in the birth process, birthing options and numerous relaxation techniques are taught. Other topics include: exercise, nutrition, anatomy, birth planning, cesarean section prevention, breastfeeding and baby care.

The philosophy of the class is based on the belief that birth is a normal and natural function of the human body. Expectant women/couples need to understand the process that lies ahead but also and more importantly, to prepare for this journey physically, mentally and emotionally. With the knowledge gained from the classes, many fears regarding birth and parenting are diminished and or relieved allowing an expectant mother to understand and trust the physical sensations she experiences.
The coach or birth partner is taught how to physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually support her throughout this wondrous journey.

Pauline Nardella shares with her expectant families 20 plus years experience as a Maternal Child health Nurse and 17 plus years as a childbirth and parenting educator.

Location: Blauvelt, NY
Date & Time: April 27th – June 15th on Tuesday evenings from 7:30-9:30pm
For further information contact:
Pauline Nardella RN, MPA
Clinical Nursing Professor
Certified Childbirth Educator
Board Certified Lactation Consultant
845-323-1830
info@BirthingWisdom.com
www.BirthingWisdom.com

HypnoBirthing® Classes in New York/ New Jersey

noreply@blogger.com (Pauline) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 21:59:00 +0000

HypnoBirthing® -The Mongan Method

Birthing Wisdom

Please register early as the spaces fill quickly.

This is a comprehensive 5 week series of childbirth, parenting and self hypnosis education classes.
Hypnobirthing® is as much as philosophy as it is a technique. It is a rewarding, relaxing, stress-free method of birthing that is based on the belief that when a mother is properly prepared for birthing physically, mentally, and spiritually, she can experience the joy of birthing her baby in an easier, more comfortable manner.
The method is based on the belief that severe discomfort does not need to be a natural accompaniment of labor.
The aim of the program is to build confidence in the mother and for her to have confidence in her own ability to birth her baby. The philosophy of the Hypnobirthing® program is to educate the mother about the wonders of her body, to eliminate fear, as well as teach her the skills to work with the birthing process rather than fight against it. In many cases it is fear that undermines the mothers confidence in herself. The mother is introduced to techniques of self hypnosis utilizing controlled deep breathing, visualization and imagery to produce deep relaxation.

The coach and birth partner is taught how to physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually support her throughout this wondrous journey. Extensive lectures in the birth process, birthing options and numerous self- hypnotic & relaxation techniques are taught. Other topics include: exercise, nutrition, anatomy, birth planning, c-section prevention, breastfeeding and baby care.

Location: Blauvelt, NY
Date & Time: March 9th - April 13th Tuesday evenings from 7:00-9:30pm
For further information contact:
Pauline Nardella RN, MPA, CCE
845-680-0385
info@BirthingWisdom.com
www.BirthingWisdom.com
National website for HypnoBirthing: www.HypnoBirthing.com

Prevention of Obesity in Breastfeeding Mothers and their Babies

noreply@blogger.com (Pauline) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 21:49:00 +0000

Prevention of Obesity in Breastfeeding Mothers and
their Babies

Morrisville, NC-The United States Lactation Consultant Association
(USLCA) recognizes that obesity is a common problem in the United States
for both women and children. January is Healthy Weight Management Month. One of
the easiest and most healthy ways to prevent obesity is to breastfeed and to be
breastfed. In the United States 32.7% of U.S. adults 20 years and older are
overweight, 34.3% are obese and 5.9% are extremely obese. The American Obesity Association
states that 15.5% of
adolescents (ages 12 to 19) and 15.3% of children (ages 6 to 11) are obese.These
alarming statistics also drive up health care costs by $100 billion a year.

Since 1960, the rate of obese Americans has been on the rise. Children who are obese
at a young age are at risk for diabetes, heart disease, metabolic disorders,
depression and other diseases which will impact the rest of their lives. It is
estimated that the increase of obesity in this country has also attributed to
the death rate in our country. Each year in the U.S obesity causes at least
300,000 unnecessary deaths. The states with the lowest rates of breastfeeding
generally demonstrate the highest rates of overweight and obesity.

Breastfeeding an infant through the first year can decrease childhood obesity. The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention have reported that "for each month of
exclusive breastfeeding, up to age 9 months, the risk of obesity is decreased
by 4%." By breastfeeding a child for 9 months or more there is a 30% less
chance of a child being an overweight adult. Lactation has also been associated
with postpartum
weight loss in the exclusively breastfeeding mother.

Not only do breastfed infants reduce their likelihood of childhood obesity, they
are taught and learn from an early age what the most nutritious foods are and how
to make healthy choices. These healthy choices can potentially impact an
adult's health and can avoid the many diseases obesity can cause.

USLCA president, Laurie Beck, RN, MSN,
IBCLC calls upon hospitals, physicians, and all other health care providers to
recommend and support breastfeeding as an early preventive health behavior in
the efforts to educate women on the prevention of obesity. "Educating parents
on the optimal nutrition breast milk provides is important for healthy families
and can decrease the rate of childhood obesity in this country." says Beck.

Knowledgeable
professional breastfeeding support can be obtained from lactation consultants
with the IBCLC credential (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant).
To locate a lactation consultant for assistance with breastfeeding go to http://www.uslca.org.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mission: To build and sustain a national association that
advocates for lactation professionals
Vision: IBCLCs
are valued recognized members of the health care team.

The United States Lactation Consultant Association(ULSCA), is
organized exclusively for the advocacy of Lactation Professionals, including
educational and scientific purposes as contemplated by Section 501 (c) (6) of
the United States Internal Revenue Code.
www.BirthingWisdom.com

10 Ways to Dramatically Increase Your Child's Health

noreply@blogger.com (Pauline) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:18:00 +0000

10 Ways to Dramatically Increase Your Child's Health

By Jane Sheppard
Copyright 2010 Healthy Child
Our children are supposed to thrive. And they normally do when we allow them to develop naturally without undue interference and provide them with essential required components for health.
I put together a list of the most important ways you can increase and maintain optimum health in your children. Keep in mind that you don't have to do everything all at once. It can be overwhelming when you try to make too many changes too quickly. You can begin slowly and take one step at a time. There are probably things you are already doing or have done (for instance, your child may be past the time for breastfeeding).
If you're a new parent with a baby on the way, this is perfect timing. This information should help you give them a great beginning.
If your child is older, rest assured that there is always something more you can do to improve your child's health. And it is never too late to begin.
This short list is an introduction to natural child health care. There is much more to know. The articles on Healthy Child's website and future articles, interviews, seminars, etc. that are published in Healthy Child newsletter will provide greater depth of information.
Breastfeed - Exclusively and Extended

You've heard the term, Breast is Best. It's absolutely true. Babies are designed to thrive exclusively on human milk. Breastfeeding promotes proper brain development and protects against infectious and chronic diseases. It provides all the nutrition your baby needs.
When you breastfeed exclusively, you give your baby only breastmilk without any additional food or drink, not even water. Supplementing with formula can inhibit the natural flow and supply of breastmilk, decrease the nutrition and immune factors a baby would receive by getting breastmilk alone, and may undermine the ongoing mother and child breastfeeding/bonding experience.
What is meant by extended breastfeeding is to breastfeed long-term (as long as possible) and let your child decide when to wean. This builds a healthy immune system, increases the mother/child bond, and is by far the healthiest thing you can do for your child. Breastmilk continues to provide nutrition and immune factors during the first and second years of life and even beyond.
The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, followed by continued extended breastfeeding with healthy foods for up to two years or beyond.
If you are unable to breastfeed, the next best thing is to receive donor breastmilk. If not able to obtain donor milk, then make your own formula according to nutritional guidelines that come as close to human milk as possible. Commercial formula is available only as a last resort.
http://www.healthychild.com/for-healthy-immunity/breastfeeding-for-a-strong-immune-system/
http://www.westonaprice.org/Children-s-Health/
http://www.westonaprice.org/Feeding-Babies.html
Formula [http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=9wrFh&m=KdSvVFZg1HeNkG&b=vx1yfbEkqdB9K43gE2VK2Q] Recipes
http://www.westonaprice.org/Recipes-for-Homemade-Baby-Formula.html
Donor Milk
This site provides an alternative to expensive milk banks that pasteurize the milk. Pasteurization not only kills bacteria (both good and bad), it may also kill the essential immune components of breastmilk.
http://milkshare.birthingforlife.com/ ;

Vitamin D - Ensure an Optimum Level
Vitamin D is extremely important to your child's health. It's crucial for your child's brain development and immune system. The current RDA and the usual amounts of vitamin D in multi-vitamins is not enough. And it's impossible to get enough from food alone to maintain optimal levels.
Children should be getting about 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) per 25 pounds of body weight. Both children and adults should have 25(OH)D levels greater than 50 ng/mL, year-round.
If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, your levels need to be optimal so that your baby is not vitamin D deficient. This article explains more:
http://www.healthychild.com/pregnancy/pregnancy-and-gestational-vitamin-d-deficiency/
20-30 minutes of summer sun exposure (without sunscreen) produces approximately 10,000 IU of vitamin D in a light-skinned person. For darker skin, exposure may need to be longer. If your child is not getting a good amount of sun exposure almost every day, vitamin D needs to be supplemented.
Listen to this interview with John Cannell, MD, Director of the Vitamin D Council on preventing vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy, babies and children. He gives specifics on vitamin D and provides important details about vitamin D supplements.
Dr. Cannell's Interview:
http://www.healthychild.com/immune-system-support/vitamin-d-deficiency-in-pregnancy-babies-children/
You'll find plenty of research and information about Vitamin D at this site:
http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/

Whole foods Diet
Stop buying the processed, convenience foods that are loaded with corn syrup and other refined sugars, unhealthy fats, processed white flour, preservatives, additives, and colorings. These denatured, processed foods do not provide sufficient nutrients to allow a child's body to reach its full potential of health.
Children need natural, whole foods that are prepared and preserved in a way that promotes health, not disease. Whole foods are unrefined grains, beans, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables as well as moderate amounts of unprocessed, humanely raised, grass-fed animal products. Your child's body relies on the nutrients from these foods for proper growth as well as mental and physical vitality. A deficiency of even one important nutrient can cause imbalances that can lead to disease. Whole foods also provide a wealth of protective compounds that can help prevent disease.
In addition to important minerals, children's diets should contain large amounts of natural vitamins A and C derived from fruits (oranges, strawberries, peaches, nectarines, mango) and vegetables (broccoli, carrots, squash, yams, red bell peppers). Vitamin A is also found in fish and eggs. They also need calcium, magnesium and other minerals to maintain health and process other nutrients. The best non-dairy sources of calcium are dark green vegetables and sesame seeds (or tahini). Vitamin D is needed for calcium absorption and magnesium, zinc, boron, and vitamin K are co-factors necessary for vitamin D to work properly. Please understand the body needs a varied whole foods diet to obtain all the nutrients that work synergistically to optimize health.
http://www.healthychild.com/child-nutrition/whole-foods-nutrition-for-healthy-kids/
http://www.healthychild.com/child-nutrition/processed-food-and-low-fat-diets/
http://www.healthychild.com/child-nutrition/the-health-benefits-of-grassfed-animal-products/
http://www.healthychild.com/child-nutrition/why-grassfed-is-best/
http://www.healthychild.com/teaching-wellness/encouraging-children-to-eat-healthy/

Healthy Fats
Healthy fats supply nutrients that are essential for growth and are necessary for energy as well as the absorption and metabolism of some nutrients. Fats are vitally important to the brain, which is 70 percent fat. They are used for building the membranes around every cell in the body and also play a role in the formation of hormones. Cold-pressed olive and flaxseed oils, fish oils, seeds, nuts, eggs, avocados, grass-fed meats, butter and whole, raw milk from grass-fed cows are good fat-containing foods.
These articles provide important information on essential fatty acids (EFAs):
http://www.healthychild.com/child-nutrition/children-need-fats-to-be-healthy/
http://www.healthychild.com/child-nutrition/fats-and-oils-for-childrens-health/

Reduce the Sugar
Most kids get way too much sugar in their diets. Sugar can suppress immunity and create mineral deficiencies, acidic digestive issues, obesity, diabetes, tooth decay, and a host of other chronic health problems. It also can cause a rapid rise of adrenaline and lead to hyperactivity, anxiety, attention problems, and irritability. You can reduce the amount your child eats, replace it with whole fruit and use healthier sweeteners in baking.
http://www.healthychild.com/sugar-and-sweeteners/sugar-n-spice-and-everything-nice/
http://www.healthychild.com/sugar-and-sweeteners/stevia-healthy-and-sweet/

Reduce the toxins
Babies' small bodies are much more vulnerable to toxic chemicals than adults since their neurological, immunological, respiratory, and other biological systems are still developing, limiting their ability to detoxify and excrete the many different toxins entering their fragile systems. Chemical exposure during the critical period of brain development can be particularly problematic. Low-level chemical exposures during susceptible periods of development can cause more harm than high doses later in life.
Read our comprehensive report on protecting your child from toxic exposures:
http://www.healthychild.cm/protect-your-baby-from-toxic-exposures/
More articles:
http://www.healthychild.com/preventing-toxic-exposures/

Question antibiotics
Antibiotics have saved many lives over the past 45 years. We are truly fortunate to have them available for serious bacterial infections. Unfortunately, antibiotics are excessively prescribed, especially to children. The Center for Disease Control estimates that of the 235 million doses of antibiotics given each year, between 20 and 50 percent are unnecessary. Tragically, this overuse of antibiotics can cause devastating health consequences to children.
http://www.healthychild.com/pharmaceutical-drugs/consequences-of-excessive-antibiotic-use/
http://www.healthychild.com/pharmaceutical-drugs/antibiotics-for-strep/

Question Vaccines
If you dig a little deeper into the vaccine issue, you'll find many gaps and limitations in the data and knowledge regarding vaccine safety. Vaccines are capable of causing serious damage. Because they contain lab-altered viruses, bacteria and toxic substances, vaccines have the ability to cause mild to severe neurological and immune damage, or even death, depending on the vaccine given, the combination of vaccines given, the health of the child at the time of vaccination, and the genetic or biological factors that predispose the child to this damage. Many parents and doctors are beginning to question the practice of injecting toxic substances into the bodies of small babies and artificially manipulating their fragile immune systems during the crucial time of brain and immune development.
http://www.healthychild.com/vaccine-choices/

Establish a Wellness Mindset
In raising healthy children, it's not enough to just focus on the physical aspect of health. To be truly healthy, a child's emotional health must be nurtured and strengthened. Developing a mental attitude of wellness is also essential. When we adopt an attitude of wellness, we take on a belief that being well is a natural, normal state. Our goal is to have outstanding, vibrant health, not just to be free of disease. With a wellness attitude, we know that we have control over our own body and how healthy it will be.
We can teach and help our children to grow up with an attitude of wellness. Children have much more control over their own health than you may think. The mind is a very powerful mechanism with miraculous control over health and healing. The more children learn to use the extraordinary powers of their minds, the healthier and happier they will be. They may also live longer than someone who takes a passive or negative approach to health.
Frequently remind your child that his or her body is amazing and they are healthy and well.
http://www.healthychild.com/teaching-wellness/a-wellness-approach-for-children/

Create and Maintain a Healthy Parent-Child Bond
To help our children reach their greatest potential, we must first create a strong bond and connection with them before, during, and after birth and consistently nurture and strengthen this connection throughout their entire childhood. Children who receive continual nurturing, plenty of loving physical contact, and have a healthy, bonded relationship with at least one parent know at a deep, core level that they are loved and valued for who they are - just because they exist. With a healthy sense of their value and worthiness, children can more easily tap into their natural state of health and happiness and develop their full potential - physically, emotionally, and mentally. We show them how to love and value themselves by being present for them and tending to their emotional needs.
http://www.healthychild.com/attachment-and-connection/parenting-our-children-to-reach-their-full-potential/
More articles on bonding and attachment:
http://www.healthychild.com/attachment-and-connection/

Healthy Child, 1275 Fourth Street, #118, Santa Rosa, CA 95404, USA

Infant/Child CPR, Choking and Safety

noreply@blogger.com (Pauline) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 03:45:00 +0000

Infant/Child CPR, Choking & Safety

In the US nearly 400 children under the age of four die every month due to unintentional accidents!
This class presents age appropriate home proofing and safety concerns inside and outside the home from infancy to toddlerhood. Learn how to deal with an emergency situation.

Infant/Child CPR and choking will be presented and reviewed by participants with hands-on return demonstration on sanitary "CPR Manikins."

Safety & CPR handouts are given to each participant for display at home.
Location: Full Circle Family Care, White Plains, NY
Three Class offerings in 2010.
Date: January 28th, March 4th or May 6th
Time: 10am-12:30pm
Fee: $50.00/person or $75/couple
Class size is limited so sign up early.
You can reserved your space in this class by sending the class fee to:
Pauline Nardella, RN, MPA
2 Private Lovett Ct
Blauvelt, NY 10913

Private classes also offered for 10 participants

To receive further information or to sign up for the next class
go to info@BirthingWisdom.com
or call 845-680-0385