The issue of postpartum depression is one that has gained increasing attention in both the medical and social communities. Many mothers experience what is known as the “postpartum blues” after delivery, but for a group of unfortunate others, these symptoms increase and carry on to become postpartum depressive ones. New research investigates the role of mother/infant skin-to-skin contact (SSC) during the first weeks on postpartum depressive symptoms and physiological stress. As a student member of the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), this article caught my eye while I was browsing through their most recent publications.

Recently, Bloom Spokane held a professionals forum on postpartum depression to gain insight into this problem. The rising rate of postpartum depression now affects approximately 20-40% of mothers in the first 6 weeks after delivery. Symptoms can include feelings of despair, sadness, anxiety, compulsive thinking, fear, and feelings of inadequacy. While this greatly effects the mother, it is of particular concern because of the affect on the infant. They are placed at higher risk for developmental difficulties in cognitive, social, and emotional areas. Yet, mothers without postpartum depressive symptoms are more responsive to infants’ behavior, and the infant, in response, is able to learn how their behaviors affect others.

If you are a mother that does develop these symptoms, it is important to get treated! Your medical provider usually focuses on psychotherapy and prescribing antidepressants to help diminish symptoms. For mothers who are breastfeeding, however, caution must be taken as the medication is excreted through breast milk. The Journal of Obstetric, Gynecological, and Neonatal Nursing now recommends mother/infant SSC as a possible alternative therapy. This is accessible to every mother, as the infant is placed between the mother’s breasts (while wearing only a diaper), the infant and mother are covered, and then the mother is allowed to provide warmth and stimulation through ultimately- cuddling!

While the effect of mother/infant SSC has been well researched in regards to creating positive outcomes for the infant, less research has been done on how it affects the mother. This study looked at mothers who both did and did not provide SSC with their infants. The researchers took saliva samples from the mothers to assess their cortisol level (Cortisol is a stress hormone) when their infants were one week and one month of age. They also had the mothers complete self-report depression scales. Then, the mothers were required to provide 6 hours of SSC with their infants during the infants’ first week of life, and then 2 hours of SSC until the infants were one month of age. The result? The mothers in the SSC group reported fewer depressive symptoms on the depression scales at both the one week and one month marks. Their cortisol levels also were lower, showing that the mothers’ physiological stress was lessened.

Why might engaging in SSC cause these reduced symptoms in the early weeks? Reasons for this are complex, but prior studies that have looked at the effect of SSC on the infant show that there are benefits to postnatal physiologic adjustment, like reducing their crying and facilitating their sleep. Of course this would help reduce mom’s stress! It has also been known for some time that SSC between mothers and infants helps release Oxytocin, a breastfeeding hormone that aids in mother/infant attachment.

Mother/infant SSC provides health benefits to mothers and appears to be key to helping reduce postpartum depressive symptoms and levels of physiological stress. For any mother, regardless of social or economic status, this is an easy and cost-effective way to reduce your risk and enhance your relationship with your infant. This new research is sure to be followed up with more, but it is safe to say that skin-to-skin contact is a great way to enrich every mother and child’s life with just a few hours of cuddle time each day!

Reference: Bigelow, A., Power, M., MacLellan-Peters, J., Alex, M., & McDonald, C. (2012). Effect of Mother/Infant Skin-to-Skin Contact on Postpartum Depressive Symptoms and Maternal Physiological Stress. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 41, 369-382.

About Cristina Rose: Cristina is a recent graduate at Washington State University College of Nursing. She hopes to become either a labor and delivery nurse or work withpostpartum patients in Spokane and any nearby areas.

Co-Teaching Our Birth Options Class

Scholarship Committee

Blog Writing

Distributing Marketing Materials

Before I had kids, I was Plain Jane, or at least I tried to be. I pretty much went with the flow and landed in the middle when it came to most things. Being the middle sister, I had lots of experience with this. I was a good girl (mostly), generally main stream and I did my best to stay under the radar. I was not comfortable being different, though somehow, I knew I was. My name was the only thing about me that I allowed to stand out. So when I became pregnant, of course I wanted to have a baby the normal way, in a hospital with an OB.

I looked forward to becoming a mother, but I was pretty sure childbirth wouldn’t be anything I would want to remember. I wanted modern medicine and serious drugs! In fact I wasn’t even sure that would be enough. My fear of birth led me to do something, different. I hired a doula, but only to help me deal with how bad labor would be until they could get me my epidural. Little did I know where that choice would lead me and all the gifts that I would find along the way.

The first thing my doula gave me was peace of mind. I found comfort knowing that no matter how bad labor got, she would be there to help us. With some of my fear relieved I felt supported to investigate my options and find out what would be best for me. The next thing I know, I’m reading books I’d never heard of like, Birthing from Within and The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth. I found, in me, the courage to make some very important decisions and changes along the way. I chose a better place to birth, a better team of supporters and prepared for an un-medicated birth.

Then, the day came to meet my sweet baby girl.

Instead of dread, I had hope.

Instead of fear, I had confidence.

Instead of numbness, I felt the strength of my body.

Instead of wanting to forget the experience, I remember every day how it showed me so much more of myself.

Over the past five years since becoming a mother, this beautiful path has unfolded in front of me. A path I never dreamed I would travel and a path far more rewarding and fulfilling than I could have imagined. I’ve given up trying to be Plain Jane. Now I’m Xylina, Doula, HypnoBirthing Teacher, Henna Artist, Birth Advocate, Wife and of course, Mother.

These days, I often think of this particular stop along the way and how it greatly changed my path. When my daughter was three months old I packed her up and auditioned for BOLD, Birth On Labor Day, a play about birth. My amazing birth experience inspired me step out of my comfort zone and audition for the “My Body Rocks” part. I wanted to relive my experience in hopes of showing how great birth can be. I had no idea that the part I’d be given was the “Elective C-section” part. I got home and disappointedly told my husband the news. His response was, “Maybe that’s why they call it acting?”

So I began to learn my lines, reluctantly at first, not knowing who this woman was.  Slowly, I began to see that she had her very own reasons for choosing her path to becoming a mother. I began to feel what she felt and to understand a small part of her life.

After the play a few women came up to me and said my performance made them angry. I understood. After all, I too was angry that I had to play that part, at first. But I had come to understand that the best way for me to become a mother was not the best way for the woman I had portrayed that day. I understood and I now understand that we are all on our very own journey through this crazy experiment of motherhood. No two scenarios are the same just as no two women or babies are the same. What is the same is a woman’s need for support, respect and acceptance for who they are, for where they are and for the journey that is so uniquely theirs.

So, for this Mother’s Day, and for all the days after, my wish for all mother’s is for love, support, respect and acceptance from all those around you! Happy Mother’s Day!

It often starts in pregnancy, the sudden inability to remember names, appointments and other details of daily life. You may find yourself struggling to remember the word for toothpaste or that your favorite show is on every Wednesday. This can leave you feeling unsettled and frustrated. You may wonder where you left your brain and why you can’t seem to find it. You may also be concerned about when you’ll have full access to your brain again and the affects this may have on your job, relationships and mothering. Although it is often inconvenient to suffer from “mommy brain” we hope that after learning a little about why this phenomenon happens you can embrace it as a gift from Mother Nature.

As any mom knows, there are many changes that happen within your body during pregnancy. Your brain is not exempt from these changes. The left and right sides of your brain are in charge of very different tasks and processes.

Your left brain is methodical, linear, and calculating; processing numbers and facts. It keeps track of the past and prepares for the future.

Art by Xylina Weaver

Your right brain focuses on right now and sees things in big pictures and colors. It helps you express your emotions and read the emotions of others. It is the home of relationships, feelings and creativity.

As your pregnancy progresses your brain power becomes focused in the right. It prevents you from living in the past or future and encourages you to be present with your baby. The right brain is where your mother’s intuition lives. It’s where you will build a connection with your little one to last a lifetime.

So often in our culture today we are focused on numbers, deadlines, dates and facts. It’s easy to take the same approach to parenting looking outside of ourselves to books and formulas for guidance. As you become a mother, be encouraged that what you are experiencing is normal and comes with benefits. Try not to be concerned about what you forget, what you can’t remember and what you don’t know. We often think of “mommy brain” as a negative. Remember, or try to remember that living in the right brain gives you an edge as a mother!

We have just updated our Local Breastfeeding Resources Guide to reflect the current support groups, classes, hospital lactation offices and private consultants available in the Spokane/CDA region. Click the image below to download a PDF version of this 2-page flyer. We encourage you to distribute it freely to your clients, patients and friends.

We update this document about every 6 months to keep it current and include professionals new to our area or to the field of breastfeeding support. If you’d like to be added to this flyer, please contact us.

Buy Mother’s Day Flowers & Support Bloom Spokane

Buy your Mother’s Day flowers at Anemone–Handmade Paper Flowers, and 15% of your purchase will go to Bloom Spokane’s Scholarship Fund!

Remember to tell them Bloom sent you, and 15% of the purchase will go to our Scholarship Fund.

Address: 309 W. 2nd Ave, Spokane, WA (see map)
Call to Order: (509) 838-7037

Here are just a few of the beautiful paper flower arrangements you can order through their website.

About Bloom Spokane and the Scholarship Fund

Bloom Spokane is working to increase the number of safe and positive births in our region. We support, encourage, and educate childbearing families and birth professionals by promoting mother-friendly maternity care, encouraging informed health care decisions, and striving to improve our community’s birth culture.

Bloom Spokane believes that all women should have access to the resources they desire to create safe and positive birth experiences, regardless of their ability to pay. The Bloom Scholarship Fund was established to improve access to childbirth education classes and Doulas for families with financial need in the greater Spokane/Coeur d’Alene area. All cash donations go directly to scholarship recipients.

Emotional Freedom Techniques also referred to, as EFT or “tapping” is a transformational therapy.  It is part of the family of healing modalities referred to as Energy Medicine and Energy Psychology.

EFT is a tool that is used to resolve or improve any physical or emotional issue, destructive thought pattern or form of self-sabotaging behavior.  Gary Craig, who adapted it from a healing modality called Thought Field Therapy (TFT), created it.  EFT or tapping is a simplified version of Thought Field Therapy.

EFT involves tapping on points along the body’s meridian system, the same system used in acupuncture.  It is acupuncture without the needles!

What does it look like?

While tapping on the points, you bring to mind the emotional and/or physical symptoms of the problem.  By focusing on the very specific memory, feeling or sensation, combined with the tapping, you are able to release life stresses of physical issues from the body’s energy system, thus allowing your mind, body and spirit to simultaneously release and let go of the intensity of the problem.  Amazingly, this process returns your body and being to a state of balance and healing.  Not only is it effective in the moment but also moving forward as it erases the instinctual reaction you tend to have toward a repetitive non-ending fear, anger, trauma, phobia, illness or other issue.

Emotional Freedom Techniques has generated impressive results for post-partum depression as well as chronic fatigue, depression, trauma, sexual abuse, physical abuse, anxiety, panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder, ME, rheumatoid arthritis, MS, IBS, diabetes, asthma, cancer, and many other physical and emotional issues.

Emotional Freedom Techniques is founded in the belief that to heal any condition we have to heal the mind body and spirit simultaneously, and that the most of the diseases that are part of our society have their origins in life stresses and traumas.

How does it help someone with post-partum depression?

For most women as well as baby and family members, the time following birth is a huge phase of transition – just Mother Earth moving from winter to springtime.  There is sunshine and warmth, an occasional snowflake but also rain, wind, sleet hail and cold.

Tapping helps with depression and all that contributes to it.  I like to think of depression as “what is your heart grieving for…?”

Loss of independence,

Isolation,

No time for oneself,

Disruption to family dynamics – the family unit is in the midst of finding its center

Relating to one’s spouse or partner,

Money issues,

Self-doubt,

Birth trauma for both Mother and Baby,

Loss of self,

Loss of voice,

Intimacy issues,

Sibling rivalry,

Exhaustion,

Extended family dynamics,

Change, change and more change.

Tapping helps a woman to transform these issues, providing her a gentle and quick way to reconnect to her inner support system and self-worth.  As her energy shifts and changes, so too does the family’s.

Further resources;

www.youtube.com ~ The Most Inspirational EFT video with founder Gary Craig (Emotional Freedom Technique.)

Who is your maid of honor?

Photo Credit: Xylina Weaver

Your maid of honor is someone who knows your story. She’s someone who understands the importance of your relationship and the event that will set the stage for your marriage. You ask her to take part in your wedding because you know she’ll support you. You know that she’ll help make this day as special as it deserves to be. She doesn’t diminish the role of the groom or any participant in any way. She notices things that may not cross the mind of the groom, like lipstick on your teeth or holding your train. Your maid of honor enriches the experience for everyone.

Your doula is your maid of honor for birth. She knows your story as a woman becoming a mother. She spends time getting to know what’s important to you in birthing your baby. You ask her to support you because you know she’ll make this day as special as it deserves to be. Because doulas are specially trained and experienced in birth she can help your partner to support you in ways that they may not think of on their own. Just like your maid of honor, she’ll help you with the arrangements, she’ll support your choices, and when the day comes she’ll help you see past any rainclouds and focus on what really matters.

Why do you have a maid of honor?

Planning a wedding is wonderful! It’s beautiful, exciting, fun and meaningful. It’s also a lot of hard work. A wedding marks the transition from couple to husband and wife. It often comes with a lot of changes. You may end up dealing with new jobs, new living arrangements and new family members. There may be many opinions to consider all in the midst of planning an important event. It’s a lot to adjust to and can be overwhelming. Your maid of honor is there to listen and support you and help you adjust as well as you can while enjoying the ride.

Planning your birth should be just as wonderful as planning your wedding! It is also a lot of hard work! It marks the transition from husband and wife to parents. Most parents would agree that labor and birth holds unique challenges. Birth is an intense emotional and physical event for both mom and dad. Your doula is there to help you navigate these new challenges, help you get the support you need, and enjoy this special time.

What about postpartum doulas?

Postpartum doulas provide for a supported transition into parenting. Just as a honeymoon allows a couple to focus on each other, to bond and to set the stage for the marriage, a postpartum doula provides the time, space and support to set the stage for a great relationship with your baby. If during your honeymoon you had to spend vast amounts of time learning something new, not resting enough, and being short of confidence what kind of long term effects would that have on your relationship? Postpartum doulas help you come up with solutions for your unique baby increasing your confidence and ensuring you get the rest and support you need to treasure this time with your newborn.

The life changing event of birth is just as significant as a wedding. Just as a couple surrounds themselves with supporters and loved ones at a wedding they also deserve the same kind of support for their birthing.

See “Planning a Day to Remember”, part one of this series.

Last month House Bill 2186 was signed into law with flying colors, passed by the House of Representatives on a 95-0 vote, and the Senate on a 49-0 vote. This new law will allow nurses for the first time to coordinate with and work at the direction of licensed midwives in our state. Rep. Barbara Bailey, who sponsored the bill, credits a constituent with bringing her the idea this summer.

It’s a big win for local midwives, enabling RN’s and LPN’s to work as birth assistants for licensed midwives at both home births and freestanding birth centers.

“This bill is a terrific development. It increases options for childbearing families and creates opportunities for greater professional collaboration between midwives and nurses.” says Audrey Levine, president of the Midwives Association of Washington State and a licensed midwife in Olympia.

And while Audrey was quick to point out to me that this bill does not give licensed midwives hospital privileges, nor does it add LM’s to the list of providers who can work in federally qualified health centers, she also said that one of the goals of this legislation was to remove some of the barriers, and pave the way for these possibilities. “Change is incremental.” she wrote.

When I started nursing school, I had no idea that I would one day want to become an obstetrics nurse. The limited experience that I had with OB revolved around the fact that my mother had natural births with my two siblings and myself. She calls herself “pioneer woman” because of this, and at first, I found it crazy that she had not had an epidural or wanted any pain medication. To me, this seemed pointless, because if the drugs are right there for you, why would you not take them?

Through my OB theory class at Washington State University College of Nursing, however, I quickly learned why my mother had made this decision. I would also soon find that no patient is ever alike, and every mother has the opportunity to plan what type of birth will create the most positive experience for her. In Spokane, our community is lucky enough to have Bloom Spokane offer free classes to inform families of these many choices.

I am a volunteer for Bloom not only because of my love for OB, but also because I thirst for any knowledge that I can get my hands on. In combination with my educational background and now some new experiences with Bloom, I am working towards becoming the most educated nurse that I can be.

Many of the nursing students at WSU College of Nursing and other colleges in Spokane are your future nurses. We have learned more than just what happens when a baby is born andwhat the role of the nurse is. We can answer what is the difference between a midwife andan OBGYN? Do you want to have a water birth, use a birthing ball, or use HypnoBirthing? Should you breastfeed or feed your newborn formula? What are the benefits and risks of getting an epidural? When is a cesarean section warranted? What are some alternative birthing positions? How can you have confidence that you are choosing a skilled midwife? What are some alternative therapies for morning sickness, infertility, and encouraging labor? How canyou promote prenatal bonding? And so many other topics!

It is fascinating to me that nursing students get this well-rounded knowledge about the possibilities and experiences that you can witness in obstetric nursing. Nurses that are currently working in this field are skilled and know this material as well, and it is important for everyone to know that many nurses are willing to accommodate your individual birthing plans. There are so many areas of nursing that one can go into, but the fact that your nurse chose obstetrics means that they are devoted to being there for you, no matter what. It takes a skilled and compassionate individual to be a good OB nurse, and there are many of them out there.

It is my hope that I can be that outstanding OB nurse that goes above and beyond what every mother wants. I know that I am doing all that I can to be informed about what real families in the Spokane community are wishing for with their births. If I am your nurse one day, or you are fortunate to get a nurse that works well with you, I hope that you remember that many of us are excited about your birthing plan no matter what you choose. The world of OB is full of possibilities and your future nurses would not be there if they did not want to help you along the way. I wish everyone the best of luck with their pregnancies and births and I hope that each of you will have great experiences with whatever healthcare professionals you encounter!

About Cristina Rose: Cristina is a senior at Washington State University College of Nursing andwill be graduating in May. She hopes to become either a labor and delivery nurse or work withpostpartum patients in Spokane and any nearby areas.